Good Shepherd Lutheran Church / Tuesday, April 13, 2021 / Categories: Publications, Daily Devotions Daily Devotion by retired Pastor, Pete Rudowski LIFTING UP THE POSITIVE Pastor Charlie Shedd, a marriage counselor in the 1960s, wrote a book titled Letters To Karen. The book contains the advise he gave to his daughter, Karen, as she prepared to be married. Pastor Shedd’s advice fit perfectly for the 1960s but is woefully out of date today. With that said, there is one chapter appropriate for any age, namely, lifting up the positives builds and strengthens relationships. For example, when Pastor Shedd counseled a couple in a strained marriage, he had each create a list about what they liked in their partner. This was not an easy task when divorce is being considered. Then, each was to read out loud their list to themselves every day. The rationale behind this exercise is 80% of most relationships is positive but couples are tempted to stress only the negatives. When the positive is lifted up, it becomes a strong counterbalance to the negatives in a relationship. Easter, the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection occurs after a week where Jesus is challenged by the religious and secular authorities. It occurs three days after Jesus’ crucifixion. And, it occurs before Jesus’ church faces persecution. Easter is making a list of positives in our relationship with God in the midst of difficult times. In making a positive list about our experiences in our relationship with God, we are affirming no matter what we are experiencing today, no matter what struggles we have, no matter how weary we are, God who resurrects Jesus from the dead will also deliver us from our pains and sorrows. Jesus who said to the thief on the cross, “You will be with me in paradise” also says to us, “You will be with me in paradise.” Lifting up the positives in the past gives courage and hope for the present and the future. Even when we hang on in faith by our finger nails we are given the hope and strength to hang on. Finally, Easter invites us to remember one way we build our faith is to continually lift up the positive places we have experienced God in the past so we can experience God in the present and the future. Previous Article Daily Devotion Next Article Daily Devotion Print 7006 Rate this article: 3.7 Leave a comment Name: Please enter a name. Email: Please enter an email address. Please enter a valid email address. Comment: Please enter comment. I agree This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data. You must read and accept this rules. Add comment