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God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:42:03 GMT

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Giving is part of our lives. To those we love, we give birthday, anniversary, and Christmas gifts. As Chris-tians, an important way that we express our faith, love, and gratitude to the Lord for His wonderful blessings and goodness to us is though our giving.

Do you ever wonder how God views our gift-giving activity? Does God see us giving cheerfully or grudg-ingly? Are we giving less or more than our ability? Regardless of how we give, God loves to give because His nature is to give. Because of His tremendous love for us, He gave us the perfect gift and what we needed the most—His Son our Savior. The gift is given to us without any effort or merit on our part. He does not take back His gift of love; it is ours whether we like it or not. We may reject the Gift, but He will not take back His Gift of salvation and love.

God’s gift was giving Himself. “But when the time had fully come, God sent His son…” (Galatians 4:4a). Jesus poured Himself out so that we are forgiven and stand as redeemed saints. What a gift!

The wonderful thing that I see at our church is that so many of you are giving more than just financial gifts; you are giving yourselves. You are serving and giving with the use of your time and your talents to our ministry here at the church and to your brothers and sisters within our church. In essence, you are becoming the gift. Your gift is wrapped up in love for the Lord, for His Church, and for your neighbors.

I thank all of you for your continued prayers and the financial support of our mission and ministry at Immanuel Lutheran Church. With God’s help, we will continue to be a beacon of hope in our community.

May our Lord and Savior fill your heart with hope, your spirit with joy, and your life with peace while we continue to reflect on the gift of eternal life we receive through Him.

Sharing the Fruit of God's Love

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:41:20 GMT

Sharing the Fruit of God's Love

Grace and peace to you in Jesus’ name,

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). We will reap what we sow. If we sow kindness, we will reap kindness. If we sow discord and selfishness, that is what we will reap.

There is a parable about a selfish man who inherited a rice field. The first year the man irrigated the field and it was fruitful. The water, in fact, flowed onto his neighbor’s field and it also produced an abundant harvest.

But the next year the selfish man thought: Why should I let this water flow through my field into his? Water is precious and I must keep it. So, he built a dam. This prevented the water from flowing into his neighbor’s field but it proved disastrous to his own crop as well. Irrigation water nourished the field only if it flowed. When it did not move because of the dam, the water became stagnant and the field became a swamp.

We don’t own any rice fields. Still the parable is clear. Think of what we have inherited from God; think of all He has given us. If we are selfish, refusing to share, and keep it all for ourselves, our lives become stagnant, dismal swamps of mere existence. But if we give back to God by giving to others, both the giver and the receiver share in the fruits of God’s love.

This is what Jesus did in his earthly ministry. Our Savior always put others first and by doing so, he revealed the love of the Father to fallen humanity. Think about your everyday interactions and the places you frequent, not just in church. Assess your surroundings and look for someone that you can share the love of God with.

As we come to the end of the 2024-25 school year, I would like to thank the faculty and staff of ICA for giving back to God by sharing the fruits of his love with their students and families. This past year has been especially challenging, yet God has provided for ICA in ways we could not foresee. Be sure to thank our faculty and staff for their commitment, patience, endurance, and selflessness for this past year of education at ICA.

Lastly, during the month of June we move into the longest season of the Church year—Pentecost. It is also known as the Time of the Church—the time we focus on growing together in the life of the Holy Trinity. I look forward to joining you on The Day of Pentecost, June 8, as we enter the next season of worship at Immanuel, growing together and sharing the Fruit of God’s Love.

In the fellowship and love of Christ,

Pastor Deombeleg

A Stewardship Thought from Steward Builders

God-pleasing stewards are faithful in their prayer life, in worship, in reading God’s Word, and in receiving God’s Sacraments. God-pleasing stewards are faithful in sharing the Gospel. God-pleasing stewards are faithful stewards of the compassionate love of Jesus for others. God-pleasing stewards are faithful stewards of their time, talents, and treasures. God-pleasing stewards are faithful stewards of the kingdom of God in their families, in their work, and in daily living.

Keep The Easter Momentum Going

Tue, 20 May 2025 19:13:32 GMT

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On Easter Sunday, April 20 ^th , the whole Church throughout the world rose with our Lord. Proclaiming our “Alleluias,” we praised the Lord because Jesus is alive! Like a refreshing drink of cool water after a hard workout we shouted from the rooftops that “He is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!”

After the long season of Lent we gave up our Alleluia’s to focus on repentance, ( “Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” Joel 2:13b). What a relief to once again shout out praises to our Lord. And what a beautiful service it was with so much singing and praising God for raising His only begotten Son from the grave. And the reading from Luke’s Gospel when the women visited Jesus’ tomb was so inspiring: “ ⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” ⁸ And they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (Luke 24:5-9).

The glorious season of Easter has now begun and it is such a special time for God’s people— The Church—as we celebrate the Great Fifty Days of Easter. Keeping the momentum going may be hard but it should be worth the effort. During this time we will confront the Risen Christ each Sunday in worship. It will be a kind of “foretaste of the feast to come,” a celebration of our togetherness as the family of God—looking forward to feasting with the Lord eternally at his heavenly banquet table even as we gather around the Lord’s table now and around our own tables in his name. As followers of Jesus Christ our celebration of his Resurrection should be at the top of our list. Paul writes, “ ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.” (1 Cor. 15:3-6). There is nothing more important than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has conquered death!

Therefore, let’s keep the Easter momentum going in our worship attendance, hearing and studying the Word of God, praying regularly, and in giving back to God with our time, talent, and treasure. Let’s keep the Easter momentum going as we share this message of Christ with those who have yet to believe. Let’s keep the Easter momentum going by connecting with our school families and students. Let’s keep the Easter momentum going by engaging our communities with the love of Christ through service and words. Let’s keep the Easter momentum going as we serve one another in love—Jesus’ new command—love one another.

“Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Pastor Steve Deombeleg

Using our abilities for God's purpose

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:51:36 GMT

Using our Abilities for God’s Purpose

This month we will be offering our stewardship emphasis, Stewards Living with Purpose. Through faith, we understand that we were made by God and for God. God’s amazing love is seen in His creation and in His desire to have all people live with Him for eternity. To fulfill His purpose, God gives us different abilities and talents in all areas of life so that we may do His work. Not only is God the source of our abilities and talents, He gives us motivation to develop them and opportunities to use them in His service. Whether we are given many or few abilities, we can be thankful for what we receive and use our gifts to extend His kingdom and in service to others.

God wants us to be productive people. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God wants people to be “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). He does not appreciate laziness, idleness, or fruitlessness. He calls us to bear fruit (John 15:16), to serve (Ephesians 6:7), to give (Matthew 10:8), to love (Matthew 22:37-38), to witness (Ephesians 3:7), and to obey (John 14:23). God seeks people through whom He can work.

Through our lips, He tells others of His life-saving Gospel; through our hands and feet, He brings love and care to those in need; and through our minds, hearts, and checkbooks, He financially supports the work of the Church As Christians, we are called into ministry. Through faith, we become more than just spectators. We are God’s representatives who are called to serve, just as our Master, Jesus, ministered to the people of His time. “For I have given you an example that you also should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). Our ministries take place wherever we are. Rev. Robert Morris in his book Beyond Blessed wrote, “I believe the Bible calls us to live our life on mission. Living on mission means that we don’t focus on ourselves and our desires but on what God is doing in the world and how we can partner with His work.”

As God’s people, we are to use what we’ve been given in service for the Lord and to bring glory to Him. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to resist the temptation to use our time, abilities, and money for our own purposes. The Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament enables us to use all of our blessings according to God’s plan and for His glory. We are not given the same or equal abilities or opportunities. We are called only to serve our Lord as He equips and enables us.

Serving Christ Together,

Pastor Steve Deombeleg

Return to the Lord

deombeleg@gmail.com (Steve Deombeleg) — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 16:47:12 GMT

Return to the Lord

God’s Peace to you all,

We have officially entered the season of Lent but before I talk about that, I first would like to revisit our theme for the month of February. As you recall, each Sunday in February we heard about specific aspects of “Stewards Living with Purpose.” As we move through the year, I pray that you will be mindful of them and what it means to be a Good Steward of God’s gifts. We explored what it means to Do All to the Glory of God, to be a Witness for Christ, to Serve One Another, and to Be Generous in Every Way. If you missed any of these Sundays, they are available for you to view on our YouTube channel or if you prefer, I would be happy to print the sermons for you.

Now let’s talk about the Season of Lent. Lent is such an important time for Christians throughout the world. It’s all about preparation. With a somber tone and focus on repentance, we are preparing for Holy Week, the week that our suffering Savior endured our shame and punishment all the way to the Cross. It was there that God’s love for us was on display for all to see. On Ash Wednesday we begin our 40-day journey remembering that we are dust and dust we shall return as well as the call of the prophet Joel to, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” (2:13). This is how we prepare for Holy Week and ultimately, Easter Sunday. We have all turned away from the Lord in our hearts, therefore, the Lord says: “return to me with all your heart…” (2:12). The season of Lent is a time for reflection and renewal; a time to reflect on and renew our devotion to God. This begins with repentance.

I invite you to join us on Ash Wednesday. Our series is titled, “Good News from the Beginning: The Gospel in Genesis.” Midweek services help us to focus more intently on our Savior Jesus Christ who came to seek and to save the lost by paying the ransom price to deliver us from sin, death, and the devil. So, let’s all “return” with true hearts to the Lord our God for forgiveness, strengthening of our faith, and the promise of life everlasting. During midweek worship we will gather to share a meal and fellowship with one another at 6:00 p.m. each Wednesday prior to worship. This too is important. Look for the sign up sheet in the narthex. You’re invited to come and be part of the family of God for both physical and spiritual nourishment. Invite a friend. I look forward to seeing you all in church as we explore the “Good News from the Beginning: The Gospel in Genesis.”

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

Pastor Deombeleg

Keep Calm and Listen On

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:03:00 GMT

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:17

Do you like roller coasters? I love them. I can’t get enough of them; the more hoops, twists, and turns, the better. I enjoy moving so fast that the world becomes one big blur. Bring it! I find riding roller coasters to be rather therapeutic. Riding a roller coaster is a great way to stimulate anti-stress (happy) hormones in the brain; I’m pretty sure my doctor would prescribe roller coaster rides for me as an antidepressant. Super-fast twists, turns, and loops can work wonders for a stressful life. But what about when our world feels like we’re riding a non-stop roller coaster?

The world today often feels like that and let’s face it; we want to get off this out-of-control ride as soon as possible. Not so therapeutic. We try everything under the sun to figure out how to best deal with it. We entertain ourselves with movies, television, and music. Go out to a nice dinner. Visit a friend or family. Take a hot bath. There are many ways we try to reduce the level of stress on the roller coaster ride we call America. It’s not easy with all the noise and confusion. Much like a roller coaster ride, you only hear the screams of others.

All this stress can lead to anxiety and anxiety can be overwhelming. The catch phrase, “Keep calm and carry on,” is posted everywhere, but the words seem to fizzle out as quickly as we read them. The Bible has a word for that. “Listen.”

Sometimes listening to God’s voice is hard, especially when today is crazy and tomorrow looks worse. The apostle Paul wrote, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ,” (Rom 10:17). Is your faith falling and your stress soaring? In your despair have you been turning to God or away from God? If God’s Word no longer holds your attention maybe you need something more. Maybe you need the full package that God provides right here at Immanuel. It’s here that God gives you His Word and Sacraments—His means of grace—the tangible to strengthen your faith. The prophet Jeremiah says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts” (Jer 15:16).

All Scripture (God’s Word) points to Christ. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14). Jesus, the Word made flesh, comes to your rescue. In Him, God has spoken His final Word. It’s the most justifying, hopeful, victorious, and enduring Word ever. Jesus came to carry our sins to the cross, bear our burdens on His shoulders, defeat sin and Satan, and then live to tell us about it. With a Word like this, we can say goodbye to stress. We keep calm and listen on! I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday. Come listen to more of God’s Word at our Advent Midweek Services beginning November 30 ^th at 7pm.

In the Fellowship and Love of Christ,

Pastor Steve Deombeleg

God is Our Refuge and Strength

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 17:01:27 GMT

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble Psalm 46:1

Greetings in the name of Christ our Lord,

Fall has come upon us. Many people enjoy this time of year. The temperature begins to slowly cool down. We gradually begin adding more articles of clothing. First a sweater, then a light jacket, maybe a pair of gloves. As the days grow shorter, the leaves begin to change their colors. Even the air takes on a different scent. It’s refreshing.

But in the back of our mind, we know full well that this nice weather will become something very different. I’m from the west coast and I remember watching the evening news during the winter months. It was hard for me to imagine living in such harsh weather. Now I am living it! I have learned how to adapt to a new climate. It has not been easy but obviously, I have weathered the storm (pun intended).

In the United States the Church is experiencing a new season with its own changes. But change is not unique. The Christian Church has learned to adapt throughout its existence. Just read Paul’s Epistles. He writes to the early Churches about how to live in a changing world that struggles with Christianity. These early Christians knew firsthand what it was like to “not” be popular, to be shunned for their faith in Christ, to be reviled for their Biblical world view. Like changing seasons, society has moved from a positive view of Christianity, to taking a neutral stance, to what we see today, a negative view of Christianity. This is the world we live in today.

“And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me’” (Luke 18:39). Like the blind man who was rebuked by those around him as he called out to Jesus, you too may be criticized, ridiculed, or mocked, because your desire to see clearly reveals the truth that people are blind and walking in darkness.

I and many other Church leaders believe that we are beginning to experience what the early Church went through went it first started. We don’t like the discomfort because we’ve been comfortable for a very long time. Maybe God is getting our attention. Either way, we will continue to be the Church trusting that our God is greater than any drastic change that comes our way. The early Church knew this, they lived it.

God has placed us on His earth to be His representatives (we are made in His image) and we will continue to do just that. God speaks to us with words of encouragement, hope, and comfort because the world can be a harsh place for Christians. So it’s time for us to bundle up, to prepare, and to enter into a new climate where we may not feel as comfortable as we once were.

But God is merciful. He provides everything we need in this life. He gives us His Word that nourishes and strengthens us each day. He provides His Holy Sacrament for the forgiveness of sins, strengthening of our faith, and life everlasting. This is what we need, it’s what we have always needed. It’s all here. So, come and get it. Don’t neglect it. Receive it and rejoice in who you are in Christ. Hear the psalmist, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (46:1).

In the Fellowship and Love of Christ,

Pastor Steve Deombeleg