Greetings everyone,
The last time I posted a daily devotion was on August 24th. Since many of you continue to write asking “What happened?” I thought it might be good to send you all a quick note.
As you know I am now serving in a new call. I’ve been at Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire, TX, since January, 2011. This has proven, as I hoped, to be a challenging and exciting call. It has also meant many more early mornings and late nights, wrapped around a 20+mile commute in each direction. The “old days” of serving a much less demanding parish just 2 miles down the street are over.
I made a commitment to myself this year to finish up a long slow walk through the Gospel according to Mark. That came to an end on August 24th and I decided to give myself some morning breathing room. I haven’t posted a devotion since then.
Does that mean that I’m through writing in the mornings? I doubt it. We spent September this year listening each week to James. I read that letter every day for the entire month and kept running into these words: “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.” Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.”
So that is where it stands with me right now. I look back with gratitude at many years of showing up every morning to listen to the Bible with you, amazed at times that words came out of what felt like a very empty vessel.
For now, it feels right to focus on the ministry of Faith Lutheran Church. And to trust that, should the Lord wish it, I will get a sense that it is time again to write.
God bless you all.
Daily Devotions 
October 23, 2012 at 2:34 am |
I’m still following your messages from the site of Faith church! Do miss your daily devotions but realize what you are saying.
God continue bless your ministry!
October 23, 2012 at 2:51 am |
I am a firm believer that God puts us in the right places at the right time. When the time is right, we will once again get the pleasure of reading devotions from you.
God’s peace be with you.
October 23, 2012 at 4:16 am |
Good luck – I too enjoyed your devotions. Check in with all of us every now and then!!!
October 23, 2012 at 4:44 am |
Thanks for so many years. You have been, and will continue to be, a blessing to many, in whatever direction you are led to serve. Love always.
October 23, 2012 at 6:55 am |
Thank you Pastor Kerry. Your daily writing was there for me for so very long and often was life changing, uplifting, challenging, sweetening, softening and the best start to my day and my week. I remember the time years ago when my devotion to your visits was met with a surprise: My son got really addicted to Oxycontin a few years after the Navy. One day he was offering ME some spiritual advice and said he got it from his girlfriend, Amy. But guess where Amy got it??? From your daily devotionals! Amy and I didn’t know that about each other. Anyway, I have a memory problem that is worsening and one day I won’t remember you or your writing. But I heard it when it counted and the help you gave me will be in my heart when I pass on one day and see Jesus. PS I grew up Lutheran. : )
October 23, 2012 at 4:46 pm |
Thank you so much for the update, Pastor Kerry! Although I so miss your guiding light in your writings, I support you in the new focus. May you be blessed as you, strong in the Lord, continue to bless so many! You are missed, but not forgotten through prayer for you and your family!
October 23, 2012 at 5:05 pm |
So good to hear from you again! Thank you for touching base with us . God bless you in all you do!
October 23, 2012 at 5:39 pm |
Thanks for the update. Your devotionals were powerful and I will miss them, but completely understand the fact that you’re in a new season of your life and it calls you to a different place. Actually, the only thing I still don’t understand is how you could generate such good devotionals on a daily basis for as long as you did! Amazing work, and may God bless your current path.
As an afterthought–any chance you might publish them in a book format? I’ll buy it!
October 23, 2012 at 5:47 pm |
I thank you too for the update. Your morning writings were forwarded everyday to my husband by his manager, who was an executive (vice president), for one of the largest corporations in America. My husband brought the printed copy home to me and we read them together at dinnertime. I have been grateful to God that He works everywhere and through everyone. You are not an empty vessel, you are filled with The Holy Spirit. I will look forward to what God will continue to do in your life!
October 23, 2012 at 6:00 pm |
Thank you Pastor Kerry, for the many mornings where I was able to start my work day with your devotions. I do miss them but respect your decision to focus on other ministries. I will look out for the day that you return, I know the Lord will call on you again to bless us with his word. Thanks again for all you do.
October 23, 2012 at 6:02 pm |
You have always touched me with your thought provoking words. They had a ring of truth.
Priority setting is one of the most important tasks we do; once again, you lead by example-making the difficult decisions. Thank you.
I heard in a recent sermon that we don’t need to ask for God’s guidance – it is always there. We just need to see and follow.
If you have some words to share with us in the future, it will be like hearing from an old friend.
I pray that God continues to bless you as you seek to serve Him.
Pam
PS. I like the idea of your devotions in a published book. I also would buy copies to have and share with those I care about.
October 23, 2012 at 6:07 pm |
I understand your need to re-focus your attention to where you are now, and just want you to know how grateful I have been for your daily devotions over the years. I, too, work in ministry, and know how wonderful and how wonderfully demanding it can be at times. Your devotions were always thought-provoking, sometimes sobering, always uplifting, and always grounded me for the day ahead. I consistently used them during my morning prayers and meditations. I also used them during our congregation’s Evening Prayer service each Thursday. All of us will miss them, but we will continue to oray for you and ask God’s blessing upon you and your ministry always, wherever He places you.
October 23, 2012 at 6:20 pm |
Thanks for the update, you are missed. I am studying James right, love the verse you included in your letter.
God Bless You!
October 23, 2012 at 6:28 pm |
We are studying the Psalms in our Senior Bible Study. This is ongoing for 2 years. What a wealth of information.
Thank you for your devotions of the past. You are missed . God bless your new call. Roy Nell Fergus
Falls, MN
October 23, 2012 at 6:29 pm |
When I see your name pop into my inbox I get a little jolt of excitement…like hearing from an old friend. Even tho we’ve never met, I feel connected to you through your words of inspiration and contemplation. I thank God that he does fill your vessel often and that you’re able to share it with all of us. Thank you.
October 23, 2012 at 6:37 pm |
Pastor Kerry, Thank you so much for your devotions. My husband and I have been blessed by your wisdom and willingness to share Gods, love with us. It inspired us to have devotions each evening together. We will miss you, but know that you will be filling your call to our Lord and whenever we hear from you we will again be blessed. You and your family are loved in Kalispell, Montana
October 23, 2012 at 7:05 pm |
Thank you, Pastor Kerry! May God bless you in your present and future ministries, one of which may be to publish your devotionals in book format.
October 23, 2012 at 7:06 pm |
Pastor Kerry, I to have appreciated all your writing and sharing!!! It has made a real difference in my life, Thank YOU!!! I wish YOU well in your new call, I know that the people around YOU will benefit in huge ways through your ministry!!! Thank YOU again!!! GOD BLESS!!!
October 23, 2012 at 7:31 pm |
GOOD to hear from you Pastor Kerry!! I’ve been praying for you and your ministry. I hope and pray to hear from you when ever you can get around to putting out a word or two. I myself am “too busy” right now and praying for a more balanced life. God bless you well!
October 23, 2012 at 7:38 pm |
Thank you Pastor Kerry for all your years of devotion to this writing ministry. I met you in Helena, Mt and have subscribed since you first started. The Lord will lead you in the direction he wants you to go and if that is back to daily devotions so be it.
Leone Nuessle
Great Falls, Mt.
October 23, 2012 at 8:09 pm |
Blessings on your ministry, wherever, whenever, and however God chooses to use you to fulfill his purpose.
October 23, 2012 at 9:23 pm |
When I saw your name pop into my inbox I had a little jolt of excitement…like hearing from an old friend. Even though we’ve never met, I miss your daily devotions that was a welcome start to my busy days. If, or whenever you are again called to write a daily devotion to share, I will again be blessed. May God bless you in your present and future ministries, one of which I pray may be to publish your devotionals in book format.
October 23, 2012 at 10:47 pm |
Thanks for all the years of devotions – I’ve been following for 7 or 8 years and so appreciate your insight. Hope to see you in my inbox again one day.
October 24, 2012 at 12:20 am |
Hang in there. Miss ya.
Grace and Peace
October 24, 2012 at 1:06 am |
Thank you, Pastor Kerry for your note. I wondered what had happened when the devotions stopped coming each day. I would forward them off to a friend too. Needless to say, I missed them; so if and when you feel called to write again, they will be welcome in my Inbox. I was amazed that you could do such thoughtful and inspiring work everyday. You are an important vessal in the work of the Kingdom of God. May He continue to bless you where ever He leads you.
God’s blessings of grace and peace be with you always.
Bernice Knutson Heck from Tolna, ND.
October 24, 2012 at 1:06 am |
Thank you for sharing your insight and wisdom with us. Looking at the website for your parish , you obviously have big challenge.
Peace be with you always.
October 24, 2012 at 1:20 am |
Your devotionals have been a real blessing to me. I am in your debt. Hopefully, you will be blessed and successful in your new venture and be able to continue your extra mission as a devotional writer.
Charles North
October 24, 2012 at 2:03 am |
God’s Blessings in your new life. Thank you for sharing God’s Grace with us for many years. I cannot begin to tell you how many times your devotionals were spot on in my life. A real gift to me.
Grace and peace to you and your family.
October 24, 2012 at 3:01 am |
Thank you for the devotions. I listen to your sermons on Vimeo and find them inspirational as your written devotions.
October 24, 2012 at 4:06 am |
Have missed your devotions–they have been a great spiritual help to me and I have shared them with others. Thanks for what you have done and what you will be and do in the days to come–God’s blessings to you.
October 24, 2012 at 4:31 am |
Thanks for letting us know what is going on with you. I miss the devotions. You must do what God leads you to do. Keep me on your mailing list if you decide to write again.
October 24, 2012 at 3:58 pm |
God Bless you in your ministries where ever they may lead you.
October 24, 2012 at 4:03 pm |
Pastor Kerry, I will most certainly miss your daily postings. Your thoughts and your words have been a source of inspiration and guidance for many years. I also write a devotional and post it daily to a list of email friends, and have been doing so for nearly ten yearsl, so I know how demanding but also how personally uplifting it an be to know God is using you as a vessel for his Word. I will miss your thoughts, but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as you focus you ministry on your congregation. Look forward to the time when God will once again lead you back to the printed page.
Blessings,
Gus from Pennsylvania
October 24, 2012 at 6:57 pm |
You have been a blessing in my life and your devotions have always seemed so based in today’s life in a way that made them more meaningful. Please know that whether your thoughts come daily or just once in a while, they touch our hearts and change our lives. God bless you.
October 24, 2012 at 9:15 pm |
I am sad to hear that you will not be returning to the daily devotions for awhile I have missed them. They became such apart of my daily communication with God,my husband and I have enjoyed them since living in Bermuda. I know that though we will miss them you are following God’s call for you and our prayers will be with you. We too are following new paths set before us Gene to work as a prison educator teaching Horticultue and myself waiting for God’s call for my new direction. God’s blessings and peace be with yuo
October 24, 2012 at 9:18 pm |
Thank you for your past devotions. I looked forward to them each day and appreciated your interpretation and understanding of the Bible verses. It stretched my own understanding. Blessings on your new endeavors.
October 29, 2012 at 11:41 am |
Is there ANYTHING you don’t do well? Thanks, Pastor for the privelege of reading these devotions, and I will look forward to the day when and if you can resume them. They have been a real blessing to me personally, and I know that others feel the same way! God bless you!
Richard
February 9, 2013 at 12:01 pm |
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