Published pieces

Last week I linked you to some devotional pieces published at LinkedIn by Naomi Unnasch.  That got me thinking about devotional items written by persons during classes with me that were published in other online or magazine venues.  Let me link you to some of those items here.  This is not a complete list of published pieces by those who've participated in classes with me, but these are some that are easily accessible.

Several writers have had things published in Forward in Christ magazine:

• "Lean on God" by Christine Rindfleisch 
• "My Refuge" by Tracy Siegler 
• "Honor Thy Father"  (The author worked with me on the article, but her name is kept private due to sensitive nature of the story.)
• "My Life as a Child of Divorce"  (by another author who worked with me on the article, again with name kept private).

Some others have done work with WELS Women's Ministry via classes with me or with me as their liaison to that ministry group:

• "Squeeze Your Duck and Move On" by Katrina Brohn
• "Pounding Rain" by Hannah Hackbarth
• "From Pain to Praise" by Brooke King
• "Who Are We, Really?" by Lauren Grove  (at the Minnesota District newsletter for Women's Ministry)
  

Sarah Frost's article, "Please Be Patient with Me -- God Is Not Finished Yet," was published by Issues in Lutheran Education.

Gina Grove regularly writes articles for her congregation's school newsletter in Rochester MN, such as this wonderful piece titled, "You Go Where You Focus."

Then also, a number of my writers provided messages for the Martin Luther College 2015 devotional booklet for Advent, titled, The Coming of Christ: Promises Made, Promises Kept.  I had shared some samples of those messages on this blog also -- which you can find at the December archives page for Electric Gospel.

A new round of classes begin for me soon as a new semester gets underway.  I look forward to more items from my new students to share here on the blog before long!

Linking to some LinkedIn devotions

One of my dear friends and fellow writers, Naomi Unnasch, has posted some of her devotional thoughts via LinkedIn Pulse.  I'd like to use this week's blog update here on The Electric Gospel to point you to Naomi's Pulse postings:

• "Count the Stars" - highlighting how God keeps his promises.
• "Thoughts on Psalm 18" - a reminder that God is our Rock.
• "Lifted Up," a message which originally had been published here as part of The Electric Gospel.

Be sure to offer a comment for Naomi if one of her devotional pieces touches your heart today.

Burdened no more

by Kristen Koepsell

Recently I read about a woman who hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1950. Modern long-distance hikers disagree whether more or less gear is best. Imagine hiking with someone there only to carry your stuff. You don’t have to carry anything. No rubbing straps, sore shoulders, pressured spine, tired body from the extra weight, regret of every unnecessary thing packed. …

That is us. We carry nothing. We walk free and tall, with light step and heart, because our Savior daily bears our burdens.

What’s weighing you down today? If you hefted a backpack that held one rock for every concern on your heart, what would those rocks be? May I share mine? I’m responsible for 171 kids and 87 volunteers next week at VBS, and the task list is outpacing the hours left. My online class requires three revised devotions and one brand-new by Saturday. My brother and sister-in-law just changed states without job plans. My best friend cries because her marriage is cracking. My mother is diabetic. Bible camp might be cancelled due to lack of interest. Two Sunday school teachers just quit.  The refrigerator is nearly empty.  My Bible reading is nonexistent.  One of my turn signals is out.  And I’m still single.

Two things answer this weight.

• One, Jesus shouldered our sin for us, the root of human burdens. When I cry, “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear,” (Psalm 38:4), the Holy Spirit answers, “He himself bore [your] sins in his body on the cross.” (1 Peter 2:24). Every day as we collect more burdens of sin, Jesus says, “No, I’ll take that. That one’s mine, and that one….” 
• Two, he does not carry only our sin, leaving us to carry the “smaller” issues. He doesn’t say, “I’ll take care of Mom but you have to handle VBS.” The God who sees a sparrow fall and counts our very hairs also shoulders every one of our day-to-day concerns. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19).

I pray that each day you can praise God your Savior, living with light heart and mind. He is carrying the weight. You are burdened no more. 

Then use his strength to assist others, to carry each other’s burdens when you can (cf. Galatians 6:2), but ultimately to extend the invitation:  “Come to [him], you who are…burdened, and he will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Kristen wrote this devotion earlier this summer
in connection with a course on Devotional Writing
offered through MLC Continuing Education.