From the Pastors Desk - November 04, 2026
“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night..” Psalm 92:1,2.
My friend, I commend to you that it is a good thing to praise the Lord. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord. It is a good, good thing for each of us to, “forget not all His benefits,” Psalm 103:2
I would throw out a thought to you that there is something better for the believer than just God’s benefits. That is the knowledge of and fellowship with God Himself.
Great saints of the past sought after God rather than for God’s benefits:
Charles Wesley wrote, “Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine, the joy and desire of my heart, for closer communion I pine; I long to reside where Thou art.”
Nahum Tate, writing in the 17th century, penned this, “For Thee, my God, the living God, my thirsty soul doth pine; oh, when shall I behold Thy face, Thou Majesty divine?”
Albert B. Simpson wrote a song that strongly influenced my heart and life. In his hymn, “Himself” Simpson wrote, “Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord; Once it was a feeling, Now it is His Word; Once His gift I wanted, Now the Giver own; Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.” Now Himself alone. That is how it can and should be.
The Psalmist was not asking for things from God but for God Himself when he wrote in Psalm 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
The heart aspiration of the Apostle Paul was expressed not in a prayer for material prosperity or for greater peace and happiness. Instead, Paul proclaimed, “I want to know Christ.” (Philippians 3:10).
These writers understood that God Himself is a greater treasure than any blessing God can give. Communion with God is far more satisfying than the riches God may extend to us, or the benefits God might provide. God Himself is enough.
Actually, when we think about God’s blessings, they can be a temptation to cause us to miss the Lord Himself. Sometimes we can be taken up with God’s gifts to us that we have little time for the Lord. Sometimes it is those who have gone through personal sorrow and suffering, who seem to know the greater riches of deep communion with God.
My dear friend, it is proper for us to say “Thank you” to our generous God for all the gifts God gives. It is proper to have the attitude of gratitude not just on Thanksgiving Day, but each day. It is a good, good thing to also give thanks for God Himself.
Your Activities Committee has planned a Lunch Away on November 10th at the Hartville Kitchen. Reservations are for 1pm.
We are also wanting to have lunch and enjoy a musical program at the Massillon’s Woman Club on December 1st. We are gathering more information and will pass that along ASAP. – Eli
From the Pastors Desk - 10/04/26
I Am With You
From the Pastors Desk - 08/31/26
Angels
From the Pastors Desk - 08/03/26
Forgetting God
From the Pastors Desk - 06/28/26
Guilt Free Leisure
From the Pastors Desk - 05/31/26
People of Integrity
From the Pastors Desk - 05/03/26
God’s Riches
From the Pastors Desk - 03/29/26
“Fact or Fable?”
From the Pastors Desk - 03/01/26
“Hallelujah, What a Savior”
From the Pastors Desk - 01/29/26
“Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’”
From the Pastors Desk - 01/04/26
This is The Moment
From the Pastors Desk - 09/28/25
More Devotions and Dates!
From the Pastors Desk - 08/31/25
More Devotions and Dates!
From the Pastors Desk - 08/01/25
Devotions and Dates!
From the Pastors Desk - 06/29/25
Wow, What a Month!!!
From the Pastors Desk - 05/30/25
Odds & Ends
Notes from the Choir Loft - 04/28/25
What is that large candle?
From the Pastors Desk - 04/28/25
THANK YOU!!!
From the Pastors Desk - 03/28/25
SURPRISE!!!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 02/28/25
Goodbye to Alleluias
From the Pastors Desk - 02/28/25
I’m Going to do Something Weird..
From the Pastors Desk - 02/02/25
Odds & Ends
From the Pastors Desk - 01/12/25
Winter Hobbies
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/24/24
Welcome Dr. Maira Liliestedt!!!
From the Pastors Desk - 11/24/24
Odds & Ends
From the Pastors Desk - 11/03/24
Thanks Be To God for ALL of You!!
From the Pastors Desk - 09/30/24
Serving Others
From the Pastors Desk - 09/01/24
A Busy Month!
From the Pastors Desk - 08/11/24
Where Did Everyone Go?
From the Pastors Desk - 07/10/24
Small Can Be Mighty!
From the Pastors Desk - 06/09/24
Dandelions!
From the Pastors Desk - 05/05/24
Keep It Short!
From the Pastors Desk - 04/07/24
When “Thank You” Seems Insignificant
Notes from the Choir Loft - 02/29/24
Searching for an Organist/Choir Director
From the Pastors Desk - 02/29/24
Always Living in the Future
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/07/24
Thank You!
From the Pastors Desk - 01/07/24
“We are doing the best we can!”
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/26/23
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Worship
From the Pastors Desk - 11/26/23
A Toast to Ed!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/31/23
All Saints Sunday, November 5th & Christ the King Sunday, November 26th
From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/23
November Already!!!???
From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/23
November Already!!!???
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/01/23
Reformation Sunday, October 29th Combined service with Zion United Church of Christ
From the Pastors Desk - 10/01/23
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God!
From the Pastors Desk - 08/31/23
God’s Amazing Creation
From the Pastors Desk - 07/26/23
Oh, for a Thousand Thanks to Give!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/27/23
Lutheridge Bound…
From the Pastors Desk - 06/27/23
Fifth Sunday Combined Worship
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/02/23
Trinity Sunday
From the Pastors Desk - 06/02/23
Happy Father’s Day!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 04/30/23
Organ Concert and Space Dedication
From the Pastors Desk - 04/30/23
Random Thank Yous!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 04/03/23
Holy Week Schedule
From the Pastors Desk - 04/03/23
Worship Opportunities with Zion
From the Pastors Desk - 02/25/23
The Future of the Church
Notes from the Choir Loft - 02/01/23
Ash Wednesday and Additional Lenten Worship and Bible Study…
From the Pastors Desk - 02/01/23
Care and Concern Committee
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/01/23
January Sundays and Inclement Weather
From the Pastors Desk - 01/01/23
An Interview!
From the Pastors Desk - 11/28/22
Working Together
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/31/22
November/December Upcoming Events
From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/22
Thanksgiving!
From the Pastors Desk - 10/02/22
Future Possibilities
From the Pastors Desk - 09/02/22
Thanks Plus More
Notes from the Choir Loft - 07/31/22
Upcoming Events…
From the Pastors Desk - 07/31/22
Odds & Ends
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/30/22
This month I will be attending Music Week at Lutheridge
From the Pastors Desk - 06/30/22
Dream Big!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/30/22
This month I will be attending Music Week at Lutheridge
From the Pastors Desk - 06/30/22
Dream Big!
From the Pastors Desk - 05/29/22
Waiting!
From the Pastors Desk - 05/04/22
Thankful for Others
From the Pastors Desk - 04/10/22
The Sure and Certain Hope of Easter
Notes from the Choir Loft - 02/27/22
The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area
From the Pastors Desk - 02/27/22
Spring IS Coming…Really!
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/30/22
Look Up
From the Pastors Desk - 01/30/22
Chilly Musings
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/07/22
The 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25, and last through January 6, also known as Three Kings’ Day or Epiphany.
From the Pastors Desk - 01/07/22
Let’s Get Back to Normal Living Again… Maybe????
From the Pastors Desk - 12/19/21
Christmas Time… Again, Already??!!
From the Pastors Desk - 11/07/21
Always Living in the Future
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/06/21
november Voice 2021
Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/31/21
The Easter season starts out with dwelling on the resurrection appearances,
Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/31/21
The Easter season starts out with dwelling on the resurrection appearances, and then moves back in the gospels to Jesus’ farewell speeches while simultaneously moving forward in the book of Acts as th
Notes from the Choir Loft - 03/02/21
The Paschal Triduum (Latin: Triduum Paschale), Holy Triduum (Latin: Triduum Sacrum), or Easter Triduum, or the Three Days,
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/31/21
The year of Mark can be confusing for anyone looking for a sequential narrative.
Notes from the Choir Loft - 01/03/21
What is it that makes for a good story? A novel that grabs and keeps our attention gradually reveals that which is not known
Notes from the Choir Loft - 11/01/20
November is generally a month that we give thanks for family, friends, life, food and health, just to name a few.
From the Pastors Desk - 11/01/20
Are you familiar with the term Minnesota Nice?
Notes from the Choir Loft - 10/01/20
Music in church has taken on a different tone since the pandemic started.
From the Pastors Desk - 10/01/20
The Northeastern Ohio Synod held its Synod Assembly online
Notes from the Choir Loft - 09/05/20
As the Sanctuary Worship Team looks at the guidelines we will use in October for sanctuary worship, I thought I would share a little about our musical options for the fall and winter.
From the Pastors Desk - 09/05/20
A global pandemic. Civil unrest. A society divided. A church struggling to find its place.
Notes from the Choir Loft - 08/01/20
What Do We Do This Fall?
From the Pastors Desk - 08/01/20
Do you watch the TV show Jeopardy?
From the Pastors Desk - 07/04/20
At Good Shepherd we are fortunate to have a large parking lot
From the Pastors Desk - 07/04/20
At Good Shepherd we are fortunate to have a large parking lot
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/06/20
On Singing Together1
From the Pastors Desk - 06/06/20
One of my favorite church holidays is Pentecost
Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/06/20
On Singing Together