The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  (Zep 3:17 NIV)

Fix your eyes on the goal and your hope on the final day of our salvation. The holy saints that have been called and saved by our gracious Lord are brought to victory. We too will receive the joy of eternal fulfillment – even if only after struggle and strive. Therefore let us not give up or tire beforehand. There’s only a little to hold out. Time is running out and our dearly beloved Lord will surely keep us through this little stretch ahead of us still by his enduring patience and mercy. Already the peaceful air from yonder is refreshing us, the joyful hope form beyond is motivating us without fail, the outlook on Christ’s completion and sure help is strengthening and keeping us constantly and vigilantly. Our Lord himself is holding us up as we serve with loving care wherever he has called and appointed us to hold out and persevere. He is the God of hope and peace. He fills us with these his wonderful gifts so that we remain faithful and joyful in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit himself.

Praise and adoration to you, who lives eternally. We praise and thank you for the life you gave us in this our body, mind and soul. We praise and thank you, who was crucified for us and for all you achieved by this vicarious sacrifice and eternal redemption. We praise and thank you Holy Spirit for your gracious gifts, miracles and wonders. Blessed are those, who are called to taste the grace, peace and mercy of our triune God. Amen.

O blessed spring, where Word and sign  Embrace us into Christ the Vine: Here Christ enjoins each one to be A branch of this life-giving Tree.

Through summer heat of youthful years, Uncertain faith, rebellious tears, Sustained by Christ’s infusing rain, The boughs will shout for joy again.

When autumn cools and youth is cold, When limbs their heavy harvest hold, Then through us, warm, the Christ will move With gifts of beauty, wisdom, love.

As winter comes, as winters must, We breathe our last, return to dust; Still held in Christ, our souls take wing And trust the promise of the spring.

Christ, holy Vine, Christ, living Tree, Be praised for this blest mystery: That Word and water thus revive And join us to your Tree of Life. (Susan Palo Cherwien 1993 Augsburg Fortress 1993)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the holiday of Ascension. It is found on Pg. 200 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949