Today is Thursday, January 7, 2021, in the season of Epiphany.
Peace be with you!
Day 22,946
When I first got on the computer, this morning, WordPress wouldn’t work. But then I noticed that the only things that would work were my email and Facebook, sites that I visit regularly. I switched the Internet connection to my extender that’s in the bedroom, and it works! So weird.
Well, yesterday was a day for the history books. And, depending on who writes the story, it could look very different. The only thing I’m going to say about it is that Joe Biden has been officially certified as Forty-Six.
My work load is rapidly increasing back to “normal.” And by “normal,” I mean perpetually behind. But that’s the nature of the beast.
I have my therapy session scheduled for 6:00 PM today. Originally, the plan was that I was to go to the office and have an in-person visit (masks and distancing protocols followed, of course). However, I got a phone call from their office, yesterday, saying that my doctor had been exposed to Covid. Not positive, I assume, at least not yet. I was given two options. I could have a telehealth session, or push the appointment out two weeks. Since I have already had two telehealth sessions with her, I opted to do that again. I’ll just come home and log in to our session as soon as I get home. This will be our first session since before Christmas. Three weeks, I believe. I feel like I’m doing pretty good.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
"O Lord, you have mercy on all. Take away my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you, for Christ’s sake. Amen." (Prayer for A Renewed Heart, St. Ambrose)
Scriptures and Prayers from Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year
EPIPHANY – DAY 2
INVITATION
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. . . . The appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
(Titus 2:11, 13 NIV)
BIBLE SONG: PSALM 5:2-4, 11-12
Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
BIBLE READING: ISAIAH 60:1-6
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
“Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.”
DWELLING: SILENCE AND MEDITATION
What speaks to me, this morning, is in the first paragraph, mostly. The announcement is made that “your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”
I believe that this is speaking of Jesus, as He is our true Light, and He represents the fullness of the glory of the Lord.
Yes, darkness covers the earth, and it still does in our day. Our world, as a general rule, is so very dark, covered by a deep darkness, thanks to our enemy, who is not flesh and blood.
But look in verse 2. “The LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you!” It is only the LORD who can remove the darkness that covers us! I am reminded, here of Psalm 146.
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God.
(Psalms 146:3-5 NIV)
Father, I praise You that You have risen up and shown us the true Light of the world, that can remove all of our darkness. I pray for the thick, deep, cover of darkness that is currently over our world, and over our land. I pray for eyes and hearts to be opened to Your glory, to seek and see Your beautiful face and know the truth of the Gospel.
"Maker and mover of the stars, we so often fumble about in shadows trying to find our way, searching for illumination, hoping for epiphany. Shine into our dimness and do for us today, through your Word and Spirit, what neither nature nor law can do - reveal to us the gospel of Jesus. In the bright name of the Savior, amen." (Canon of Dort 3.6)
BLESSING
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV)
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalms 119:103-105 ESV)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:1-8 ESV)
“We are called to the new and to change. But by nature we avoid both newness and change. So how do you change? How do you go from a life of failure to a life of victory? It’s an overwhelming prospect. So how do you do it? With the yud. You start by taking the yud of steps, the smallest of steps but toward the greatest of changes. You don’t start out with a great victory, but you take the yud, one small action, one little step toward that great victory. You take that one step, that yud of courage, that iota of change, that smallest stroke of new beginnings, the yud of the life you’re called to live. You begin the greatest of things with the smallest of strokes. You begin by applying the secret of the yud.”
“The Mission: Today, take the smallest of actions, but in a new direction, the first step toward the life of victory you’re called to live – the yud of a new journey.”
Father, I pray that You help me take that first, small, step toward a new victory in my life today, whatever it happens to be. I don’t even know, yet, where it will occur, but You do, because You have already written the story of my life.
Father, I pray today for humanity’s role as caretaker of creation. May we be good stewards of that which You have gifted us. I also pray for our “capacity to see [You] in all things, every creature a word or book from [You].”
I pray for peace in our country, today.
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.
(Psalms 7:17 ESV)
Today I am grateful:
- For music, colors, beauty, and the senses
- For the Light of the world, that can remove the thick, deep darkness from us
- That, when I stray from Your path, You always provide guideposts to direct me back
- For the stories that each of Your children have to share
- For the small first steps of change, newness, and victory
Lord, have mercy on us Christ, have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us
Grace and peace, friends.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 