This Lenten season we will be going through “The Book of EXODUS: Let My People Go!”
Throughout the book of Exodus God reveals who he is through his absence and his presence, through his silence and his speech, through his wrath and his mercy, and through his judgement and his amazing grace. In doing so, the book paints a beautiful portrait of Jesus.
R. Reed Lessing (series author)
Exodus gives us a wonderful image of God saving His people with “a strong hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 26:8). In fact, the first commandment in the Jewish numbering system is “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2).
That’s something for us to hold on to and a reality we can live in when we look at the chaos of our world, our culture, and our lives.
We can feel so trapped and helpless, and looking to our culture only exacerbates those feelings!
But God is faithful, and as He saved His people by bringing them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, so He has saved us through Jesus and blessed us with His Holy Spirit.
Join us this Lent as we go through God’s command to our enemies, to let us go!
Join us on WEDNESDAY, February 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM for Ash Wednesday worship and the Imposition of Ashes.
“Big Things with Small Stuff”
May we see God’s rescue of our evil ways in our personal prison conquered forever through Jesus.
Genesis 3:19
Exodus 2:1-10
The purpose of repentance is not to be swallowed up by guilt. It is to be freed from a dark and destructive direction by God’s wakening Word, and to be sent on a new path by the sin-conquering Savior. It’s what we all need.
THE REV. MIKE NEWMAN PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS DISTRICT OF THE LC-MS
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten journey, which culminates on Easter Sunday with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
On that night at worship we mark our foreheads with an ash cross and, as that cross is marked, we are reminded of our sins. As we are marked by Jesus’ sacrifice; we are drawn to the realization that “[we] are dust, and to dust [we] shall return” (Genesis 3:19).
On Ash Wednesday and throughout the season of Lent, we also focus on our sins, on repentance, and on our broken world; seeing how we and all of creation has fallen far short of God’s intention and glory.
But we do not despair because we look to the certain hope that is ours through the forgiveness of our sins given to us freely by God’s grace through faith in Jesus.
THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES
Everything we experience in life is
finite and temporal, including our own lives. As the Scripture reports, we came
from the dust of the ground and we will return to the dust of the ground. (Genesis 3:19 & Ecclesiastes 3:20)
For many centuries the use of ashes has symbolized repentance. Imposing ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead of the worshipper on Ash Wednesday is a vivid reminder that such a person has been redeemed by Christ the Crucified. It is a symbol, not primarily of our sins, but upon the forgiveness of them through faith in Jesus.
As Ash Wednesday is a somber time as we remember that Jesus willingly suffering and death come as a result of our sins and His love. As such, at the conclusion of worship that day, we exit the church in silence.
“Repentance slays selfish pride, turns us from sin’s siren call, quiets arrogant arguments, tames out-of-control egos, pulls us back from distraction, leads us to restoration of relationships, places us on the pathway of walking with God, and restores our hearts with compassion and grace.
We need this personally. We need this as schools and congregations. We need this as a District. We need this as a Synod. We need this as Christ’s Church.”
The Rev. Mike Newman President of the Texas District of the LC-MS
Let week we discussed “the Confession of St. Peter” as well as our own confession – verbally and in life.
This week marks “the Conversion of St. Paul.”
Both are such giants in Scripture. Both can make it difficult to relate to or emulate in any meaningful way.
They glorified God because of me.
Galatians 1:24
When we look at St. Paul, he has an amazing story of conversion and transformation; of mercy and grace; of boldness and faith. So much so that we talk about someone’s “Damascus Road” or “”Damascus experience” to signify a person’s colossal life change or coming to faith experience.
But therein lies a problem: the vast majority of us do not have an experience or story life Paul. If we are told to expect that (or if we do) and don’t have a story like his, we can feel let down or that somehow our faith or importance in the Body of Christ is diminished somehow. We fall victim to the fiction that God’s plan for us – our story or witness – is less important or valuable and, consequently, we must be less important or valuable!
Listen and listen well: You are the exact person God has chosen for a part of His plan and loves you beyond measure! He has chosen you before the creation of the world to be His; to do His will and serve in spirit and truth. Your story – however “un-Damascus” it is – matters! It is valid and important!
So, then, what is your story?
Scripture tells us honor Christ as holy in our hearts, “always being prepared to make a defense [of our faith] to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15).
My story began before I was born, as when I was conceived, I was already a sinner – dead throughout and separated from God. But on Sunday, May 4, 1969, my parents brought me to the saving waters of Holy Baptism, where God washed me clean, gave me saving faith, and made me His precious child. There were many, many failures and missteps along the way, but every time I sinned or was unfaithful, God remained faithful to His Word and promise for me through Jesus! He has used me, with all my gift and shortcomings, to know and believe in Him as well as serve and share Him in word and deed.
That’s some of my story. It’s not altogether complicated or by any means spectacular. It won’t be the subject of a screenplay or podcast. But God has saved me and used me in some small way to share with other His saving message of Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the Devil through His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension.
And the same goes for you!
Think about God’s plan through your story today, and thank Him for it; for through your faith in Jesus it – you – are remarkable!
“Thank You, Lord, for reaching into my lost, sinful, failure of a life and saving me through faith in Jesus! Thank you for giving me an everlasting story that matters and is focused on You for the blessing of others. Help me to rejoice in my story, live my story, and share my story in word and deed in every way that brings your glory and honor. In Jesus’ victorious name do we pray. Amen!”
Celebrate Valentine’s Day while making a meaningful impact!
Our Valentine’s Gifts Fundraiser features beautiful, hand-crafted treats that are perfect for spouses, friends, teachers, or anyone you want to bless.
All proceeds will directly support our mission teams traveling this summer, helping cover travel, supplies, and outreach efforts as they serve other and share hope.
What’s Available (Pre-Order Only)
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries Fresh strawberries dipped in rich chocolate- perfectly sweet and gift-ready.
Mason Jar Bouquets Charming Valentine-themed bouquets arranged in mason jars-long-lasting and lovely.
Each item is prepared with care and makes a thoughtful gift that gives back.
How it works
Pre-order by: February 7th, 2026
Pick-up date: February 13th, 2026 at 5-6pm at LifeBridge Community Church
Delivery: on February 13th, and 14th, 20206
Quantities are limited, so we encourage ordering early!
Calling all ladies of LifeBridge to come enjoy a Galentine‘s brunch, photo shoot, and fellowship. Saturday, February 7, 2026. We will be at LifeBridge 9:00am to 12:30 pm.
Come with hair and make-up done in your favorite Valentine’s attire or colors for a professional photo. A fun photo booth will be available as well.
You’re one of the apostles, sitting with the others and with Jesus. You’re “in class” and the Teacher is calling on all of you to give an answer to two questions. You can either raise your hand and try to go before others and get it out of the way or you can wait a little and use the time (and the answers of others) to formulate a better answer. Then it happens: someone goes and gives the perfect answer (and He the Teacher’s pet, too)!
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
What do you do now? Do you try to copy his answer in a different way or do you just resign yourself to the answer, “that’s what I was going to say!”?
But you know you can’t say it better. The answer given was perfect. Absolutely perfect!
I wonder if that was the feeling of the disciples when Jesus asked His questions, “who do people say that I am?” and “who do you say that I am?”
The first question seems pretty subjective and innocuous. The second one is different. There’s more behind the question; a seriousness. Something with weight. With import. There is more to the question. More behind it. But what?
If you were there with the others, what answer would you give – and why?
Jesus passed over the answers to the first question, “who do people sy that I am?” and gets right to the real, personal, essential question: “why do you say that I am?”
The question He has for Peter is for us, too. It gets at the heart of Faith.
If Jesus is just “one of the prophets,” there is no forgiveness. If Jesus is just a good person or teacher, there is no payment for sin. If He just showed us a way to live, there is no victory over death and the Devil. If He isn’t “the Christ” of God, all is lost.
That’s the Trust: “Jesus is the Christ of God,” He is the One in Whome there is salvation, and in no one else! He is it!
But that Truth isn’t yet personal. It is true whether or not we believe it, but when we take it to heart and believe by the power of the Holy Spirit, it changes from The way of Salvation to my way of salvation. It goes from a true confession to my confession. It goes from the way of Life to my way for everlasting life.
Halleluiah!
“Lord Jesus, we confess that You are the Christ of God and the only that salvation is found in no one else but You! Thank you for not just being the Christ, but being my Christ. Send me Your Holy Spirit to move me every day from confessing and living in any way contrary to You. In Your holy, precious, and saving name do we pray. Amen!”
Help the Sealy Resource Pregnancy Center (“SPRC”)walk along side and help parents who choose life this “SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE SUNDAY” on JANUARY 18.
The SPRC helps those choosing life by providing classes, resources, helps, support, and everything a parent and child need up until a child’s third birthday.
In addition, the SPRC is an Austin County DIAPER BANK, providing free diapers for any who need!
Help the SPRC help others by bringing these much-needed supplies to LifeBridge on Sunday, January 18:
When tasked for items or even in life, there are often dueling philosophies:
do your best and
do the bare minimum.
We know we should strive to do our best and go “above and beyond” when we can, but often we are too beat, lazy, uninterested enough to do anything beyond the bare minimum.
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Matthew 3:15ab
In school we all know the folks (not saying I was one of them, even if I was) who spent a fair amount of time figuring out what the minimum grade I could get on something and still get the grade I wanted in the class. Had I spent less time doing the math for the grade instead of studying math for the class, I would have done better overall – and probably felt better about the result.
We are Called to believe in Jesus for forgiveness, for life, and for salvation. We are Called to follow Him and His ways; to live in obedience and using the gifts He has blessed us with. We are Called to live as best we can because we rejoice in the Gift of Salvation He has given us, not the minimum because we are already saved and we can just “ride life through.”
Jesus gave us the example: He was perfect and did not need to be baptized. Yet He did so, “to fulfill all righteousness.”
The goal isn’t just to be saved, but also to live as His saved!
One of the implications is that we do not go on living a life of sin “that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1). We are not to live in the sin that once held us, but let the life we live, “live to God” (Romans 6:10).
Instead of a mindset that says, “God has saved me through Jesus and has done everything, so all is good and I don’t ever need to worry” (a true statement), we should be living in the joyful reality that “God has saved me through faith in Jesus and has done everything, empowering me with the Holy Spirit to do all things to God and for others!”
We have been saved; fully and completely!
Respond to that free Gift by doing your best and living for God!
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us and fulfilling all righteousness! Grant us a grateful and generous heart that responds to this gift by living our fullest to You and for others by the power of the Holy Spirit. And let us do so with the best of intentions and to the best of the abilities You have given us. In Your precious name. Amen.”
WE HAD NO POWER TODAY, SO NO RECORDING! Our apologies.
