Slow of Heart to Believe “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27) Thursday, Second Week of Easter Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate our study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen Dear friends, Slow hearts transformed into burning hearts, that’s what Jesus brings into our lives. Many of us have tremendously slowed down from the frantic pace we experienced several months ago. It is both easy and hard to slow down. Time with family, finishing unfinished projects can be a blessing. Then there’s a sense of restlessness, a wanting to get back to normal. Some are experiencing a crisis of depression, lethargy, lack of purpose, over-eating, financial strain, and feelings of isolation and loneliness. What is normal anymore? The effect of these stay-at-home orders have the power to change the way we live for good. Experts tell us that it takes about 30 days for us to develop new habits. We are well on our way of developing new ruts and habit trails in in this new territory we are walking in. Not everyone is slowing down. I want to shout out a big “Thank You!” to our front line workers who are working harder and longer under very difficult, stressful and fearful conditions. You are all in our prayers! May God protect you, be with you, and give you peace in the midst of this storm! Hang in there. We are with you! Whatever your experiences are in this moment, may God open your heart to believe what God has promised you in his Word. It’s easy to be skeptical, even cynical in a time like this: Where’s God in the loss of my job? Does God care that I don’t have health insurance anymore? Is God going to feed my family when the money runs out? And what happens when my loved one dies because of a virus–Is God going to pick up the shattered pieces of my life? Often we are slow of heart to believe what God has declared and promised to us in his Word. On the road to Emmaus, the two disciples still didn’t recognize Jesus walking with them. Jesus begins to explain to them everything that Moses and the Prophets proclaimed about himself. Oh to be a fly buzzing around that conversation–Jesus interpreting the Old Testament scriptures and giving them the inside scoop on how to read and understand how He is the centerpiece of all that was written before! How rich that must have been for Cleopas and the unnamed disciple! At first, they are slow to believe, but later they reflect on that moment with Jesus, and they say, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” It’s easy to be a cynic or a skeptic. We all by nature have slowness of heart to believe. But that path is a foolish venture that leads nowhere good. May the Holy Spirit enable you to walk the higher path. Use the time God has given you (or make the time) so that you may read, mark, study, and inwardly digest the Holy Scriptures for yourself and for your family each day. Indulge yourself on the delicacies of the Bread of Life given for you! And Jesus will turn your slow heart into a bright burning heart filled with compassion, purpose, life, and every blessing as you rediscover the glory of the Living God who is always with you. Walking with you on the road,
Pastor Langdon Reinke P.S. Hope you and your family are healthy and safe. We are in this together. We have help available if there are needs. Please let us know. | 
