Good morning. It is Sunday, May 31, 2015. It is the last day of May. I’m looking at a weather forecast that shows 0% chance of rain for the next seven days.
I’ve got three good words of the day today. I can’t pick, so I’m just going to share all of them. From the OED, it is quiddle. No, that’s not the broom game that Harry Potter played. That was Quidditch. Quiddle is a verb, meaning, “To discourse or expound upon a subject in a trifling or frivolous manner.” It can also mean, “To fiddle or play about with,” or, “To quibble or cavil about insignificant details; to fuss; (also) to busy oneself with unimportant matters or trivial tasks; to fritter away time.” Great word! I plan to use that one.
From Merriam-Webster, the word is perseverate. This is verb, also, meaning, “to repeat or recur persistently,” or, “to go back over previously covered ground.” No doubt, there can be much perseverating while quiddling.
From Dictionary.com, the word is moonbow. This is a noun, meaning, “a rainbow caused by the refraction and reflection of light from the moon.” Doesn’t that just sound beautiful? Can you imagine what that guy from the You Tube video would do over a moonbow??
Today is Macaroon Day. More cookies!! Great. Now I’m hungry.
Our prayer and worship gatherings went pretty well, last night. I was really pleased with the prayer gathering. We seemed to really connect last night. After church, my friend Rob and I went out to Mi Cocina for dinner. We had a very good, long, conversation that spanned a number of topics. It was a really good time.
In the meantime, the Red Sox came close being no-hit by rookie pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez, en route to an 8-0 loss. I’m hoping this afternoon’s game will be better. But at least I’ll be in the “all-you-can-eat seats.” 😀 Before the game, though, there are things that need to be done, so I need to get on with things, here.
It was on this date in 1971 that Memorial Day fell on Monday for the first time, according to the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act.” Just remember we pay these people for stuff like this. On this date in 1929, the first talking Mickey Mouse cartoon was released, called “The Karnival Kid.” On this date in 1911, the unfinished superstructure of the R.M.S. Titanic was launched. It would be completed on April 2, 1912.
Today’s birthdays include Walt Whitman (poet), Norman Vincent Peale (positive thinker), Don Ameche (actor), Clint Eastwood (actor/director), Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul, & Mary), Johnny Paycheck (singer), Joe Namath (pantyhose-wearing quarterback), John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Tom Berenger (actor), Lea Thompson (actress), Corey Hart (wears his sunglasses at night), Brooke Shields (actress/model), Kenny Lofton (baseball player), Colin Farrell (actor), and Jake Peavy (pitcher).
John Bonham was Led Zeppelin’s drummer. He was born on this date in 1948, and died in 1980. Here is the song, “When the Levee Breaks,” from their fourth album, which was untitled, but is frequently called either “Runes,” or “Zoso.”
Oddly enough, a notable death on this date is one Millvina Dean, a British survivor of the Titanic (see above note about the launching of the Titanic). She was two months old at the time of the disaster, making her the youngest passenger on the ship.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.
O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.
When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.
Psalm 65:1-3
(From Solid Joys)
Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
2 Chronicles 12:8
Today’s reading is “The Gain of Serving God.”
“Serving God is utterly different from serving anyone else.” Our God, it is stated in Scripture, is a jealous God. He desires for us to understand the benefit of serving him, and that we enjoy it. Psalm 100:2 tells us, Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! We can find the reason for this gladness in Acts 17:25, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
We can serve with gladness because we are not under the burden of trying to meet God’s needs. As we serve him, he meets our needs! “Serving God always means receiving grace from God.”
There is a story in 2 Chronicles (where the initial verse is taken) about Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. Rehoboam ruled the Southern Kingdom, and chose to abandon the law of God. As all Israel followed Rehoboam in serving other gods, the Lord sent Shishak, king of Egypt, against them, with 1200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. As Shishak approached Jerusalem, the Lord, in his mercy, sent the prophet Shemaiah to the council of Rehoboam and the princes of Judah. “Thus says the LORD, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.'” (2 Chronicles 12:5)
Immediately, the king and the princes humbled themselves, saying, “The LORD is righteous” (v. 6). The Lord showed mercy, declaring that they would not be completely destroyed. However, they would become slaves/servants to Shishak, as discipline for their disobedience, so that they would be able to see the difference between serving the Lord and serving rulers of other countries.
Serving the Lord is not burdensome. Rather, it is “a receiving and a blessing and a joy and a benefit.” It should not be considered “burdensome giving to God but a joyful getting from God” (emphasis mine).
Father, may we gain understanding regarding serving you. So often we resist serving you, but in the process, we become slaves to something/someone else. We say that we don’t have time to serve you, then become slaves to our jobs or our families or some hobby or sport. Forgive us, Lord, and grant repentance, that we might truly serve you, and in doing so, gain everything. I am reminded of the popular quote from C.S. Lewis, who said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither.” I pray that your Spirit will guide me to serve you with gladness, knowing that, in serving, I receive.
I pray for this day, Lord, that we might be able to accomplish all that we need to do. I pray for safety and a joyful time as I attend a baseball game this afternoon. I don’t pray for anyone to win, as I don’t perceive that you are that concerned with who wins a baseball game. I pray for safety for everyone in attendance, and that all may have a good time. Help me to be considerate of everyone around me, and that I might display your Kingdom while I am there. I pray for our family, that you will provide for them everything that they need, grace and mercy for each day, and protection for them, as well. Hold us up in your mighty arms, Lord.
I pray for Andy, in California, that you would bring healing where needed, and that you would provide shelter and sustenance for him.
Your grace is sufficient.
May we gladly serve and obey God each day of our lives, knowing that in serving, we receive all that we need.
Grace and peace, friends.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 