Confession – Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy

Confidence

June 25, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Tuesday, the twenty-fifth day of June, 2024, in the sixth week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

Day 24,211

The doctor appointment, yesterday morning, went quite well. C and I both felt very encouraged afterward. Apparently, everything is right on schedule. The pain is normal, it seems, and not an indication that something has gone wrong. I think that was our biggest worry. And yes, I used that word. Sometimes, its’ just the reality. We worry. Most of the time, we find that those worries were unfounded. But even when they are not, they accomplish nothing.

Anyway, they sent another round of pain pills, which I will pick up today, and C was told that she shouldn’t try to work until at least next week. I do know that she slept better last night than she has in some time, so that’s an encouraging thing.

It’s a normal Tuesday for me, so I’ll be working at the library from 4:15-8:15 tonight. It’s my “short” week, though, so after tonight, I’m off until Friday.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; 
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, 
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation 
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
(Based on Psalm 51)

Lord our God, 
grant us courageous hearts, we pray. 
Grant that we may always find our strength and support in you 
and may bear with joy whatever the present days bring us. 
No matter how much evil occurs, 
we know that your peace is already prepared. 
We await your peace, 
and we are allowed to believe that everything will turn out 
according to your will and according to the good you have prepared 
for your people on earth. 
For in faith your people overcome the world, 
and at last through their faith others too may receive
 something from you and may lift their eyes to you, 
the God of truth, of justice, of salvation, and of peace. 
Be with us every day, Lord God. 
Help us. Bless us, and bless all who try to bring help where it is needed. 
Let us praise your name forevermore! 
Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

If you sit down, you will not be afraid; 
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 
Do not be afraid of sudden panic, 
or of the storm that strikes the wicked; 
for the LORD will be your confidence 
and will keep your foot from being caught.
(Proverbs 3:24-26 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

that the Lord is my confidence, and, in reality, there is nothing to fear
that Christi’s recovery is on schedule
for the friendship of the Lord, for those who fear Him (Psalm 25:14)
that the Lord will not permit His children to be moved or shaken (Psalm 55)
that our God is in the heavens and does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115)

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
 O my God, in you I trust; 
do not let me be put to shame; 
do not let my enemies exult over me. 
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; 
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; 
teach me your paths. 
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
 for you are the God of my salvation;
 for you I wait all day long. 

Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, 
and of your steadfast love, 
for they have been from of old. 
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; 
according to your steadfast love remember me,
 for your goodness' sake, O LORD! 
(Psalms 25:1-7 NRSV)

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, 
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. 

For your name's sake, O LORD, 
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
(Psalms 25:10-11 NRSV)

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, 
and he makes his covenant known to them.
(Psalms 25:14 NRSV)

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; 
he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
(Psalms 55:22 NRSV)

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, 
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. 
Why should the nations say, 
"Where is their God?" 

Our God is in the heavens; 
he does whatever he pleases.
(Psalms 115:1-3 NRSV)

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 
The LORD is good to all, 
and his compassion is over all that he has made.
(Psalms 145:8-9 NRSV)

The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. 
The LORD is near to all who call on him, 
to all who call on him in truth.
(Psalms 145:17-18 NRSV)

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, 
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
(Psalms 145:21 NRSV)

The LORD said to Moses, “Is the LORD’s power limited? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”
(Numbers 11:23 NRSV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”
(Romans 1:16-17 NRSV)

 O God, you are my God, 
I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; 
my flesh faints for you, 
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
(Psalms 63:1 NRSV)

“For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
(Luke 19:10 NRSV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6 NRSV)

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16 NRSV)

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. 
From the end of the earth I call to you, 
when my heart is faint. 

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; 
for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. 

Let me abide in your tent forever, 
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. [Selah] 
For you, O God, have heard my vows; 
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
(Psalms 61:1-5 NRSV)

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
 his mercies never come to an end; 
they are new every morning; 
great is your faithfulness. 
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
 "therefore I will hope in him." 

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, 
to the soul that seeks him. 
It is good that one should wait quietly 
for the salvation of the LORD.
(Lamentations 3:22-26 NRSV)

Father, I praise You, this morning, that my confidence is in You. I confess that this confidence does not always exhibit itself, outwardly. In fact, sometimes, it seems that I have no confidence in You. But deep in my heart, I believe all that the Scriptures say about You and how You love us and care for us.

I believe that if we are faithful to cast our burdens upon You (as Jesus bids us come and walk in His easy yoke), that we will never be moved or shaken. All of Your paths are steadfast love and faithfulness, and You have, O God, pardoned my guilt, having erased it completely on the Cross of Calvary.

Help me to daily remember that I can approach Your throne with confidence. Help me to daily remember that Your steadfast love and mercy never fail. You are good to those who wait for You. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, and let me abide in You forever.

High King of heaven, when you approached Adam in the garden, he hid and covered himself. I praise you that I can now boldly approach you without fear or dread because Christ fulfilled all obedience for me. May that encourage vibrant prayer as I grab hold of what you are ready to give, help and grace in my time of need. Amen.
(Seeking God's Face, Ordinary Time - Week 6, Day 3_

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

May the God of peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being--spirit, soul, and body--free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Amen.

Grace and peace, friends.

Lifted Up

June 24, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Monday, the twenty-fourth day of June, 2024, in the sixth week of Ordinary Time.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Day 24,210

Today is The Nativity of John the Baptist.

When I asked C how she was doing, this morning, her reply was, “not horrible.” I guess that’s a good thing. She is planning on trying to do some actual work, today, maybe around four hours or so. We also have her two-week follow up at 10:45, so we will be heading that way around 10:00. Then I have to take S to talk to the tailor (it wasn’t ready last Thursday). At some point, I have to get my car inspected as the state license tag expires at the end of this month.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in Your will
and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your holy name.
Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord our God, we lift our hearts to you, our help in every need. You do so much for us even in difficult times, letting us always see your light and giving us your help in the many things you want us to bear in your strength, O Almighty God. In the end you will help our age come to your light. Through your great mercy let us receive your Word. Bless it within our hearts, and help us to serve you everywhere we go and in everything we are allowed to do. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the truth of these verses; whatever afflictions we might be going through are all temporary, as we are being prepared for “an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure”
that we can always see Your light, O Lord
for the life and ministry of John the Baptizer
that day by day, Lord, You draw my soul up from the pit
that a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere

Almighty God, you called John the Baptist to give witness to the coming of your Son and to prepare his way. Grant to your people the wisdom to see your purpose and the openness to hear your will, that we too may witness to Christ's coming and so prepare his way; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, The Nativity of St. John the Baptist)

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! 
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;
 my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
(Psalms 84:1-2 NRSV)

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. 
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 
than live in the tents of wickedness. 
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; 
he bestows favor and honor. 
No good thing does the LORD withhold 
from those who walk uprightly. 
O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
(Psalms 84:10-12 NRSV)

O LORD, what are human beings that you regard them, 
or mortals that you think of them? 
They are like a breath; 
their days are like a passing shadow.
(Psalms 144:3-4 NRSV)

O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; 
in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
(Psalms 5:3 NRSV)

Every day I will bless you, 
and praise your name forever and ever.
(Psalms 145:2 NRSV)

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; 
give me an undivided heart to revere your name. 
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, 
and I will glorify your name forever. 
For great is your steadfast love toward me; 
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
(Psalms 86:11-13 NRSV)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
(Titus 2:11-14 NRSV)

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, 
and did not let my foes rejoice over me. 
O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
 O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, 
restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
(Psalms 30:1-3 NRSV)

Indeed, Father, how lovely is Your dwelling place! Week by week, my soul longs to be in Your dwelling place, and truly, my heart and flesh sing for joy to You. You are my sun and shield, my God, and I know that You withhold no good thing from us.

Hardly a day goes by when I do not wonder, in amazement, with the same question that the psalmist asks, “O LORD, what are human beings that you regard them, or mortals that you think of them?” For truly, we are nothing more than a breath, in comparison to You. We are like the grass that withers, and the flowers that fade. But praise to You, Your Word will stand forever.

Oh how I love these mornings with You, Father, for You never fail to draw me out of whatever pit I have found myself in. You remind me that these “momentary afflictions” are temporary and preparing us for an “eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” Those words give me chill bumps, Father. But it seems that every time I sit down here and don’t feel like doing this, don’t feel like reading Scripture or praying, by the time I am finished, You have lifted me up and caused me to praise You, yet once again.

Teach me Your way, Father, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart, that I might revere Your name, and may I do this in front of all who see me, never being ashamed of You, or Christ, or the Holy Spirit within me. For You are my only glory, Father. I have none beside You. I will praise You with my last breath, Father, and then for all eternity. Will we breathe in eternity? I’m sure I don’t know.

All glory to You, Lord, through the Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

The LORD bless you and keep you;
 the LORD make his face to shine upon you, 
and be gracious to you; 
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, 
and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26 NRSV)

Grace and peace, friends.

Peace Out

June 23, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Sunday, the twenty-third day of June, 2024, in the sixth week of Ordinary Time. It is the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. This is counted a little weirdly, as Holy Trinity Sunday comes right after Pentecost, and then the first Sunday after Pentecost is the Sunday after that.

May the peace of Christ surround you and yours today and every day!

Day 24,209

C had a rough night, last night, but claims that, overall, she is doing better. I felt better, yesterday, than I have felt all week, much more energetic. Today, I am assisting minister in the 11:00 service at my church, so I will be there by 10:40. S says she is going with me today.

Tomorrow, I take C to her spine specialist for follow up, and then I need to take S to the tailor shop to check on the alterations for a dress she will be wearing at her cousin’s wedding in August.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Almighty God, merciful Father:
I, a troubled and penitent sinner,
confess to you all my sins and iniquities
with which I have offended you and for which
I justly deserve your punishment.
But I am sorry for them, and repent of them,
and pray for your boundless mercy.
For the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ,
be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being; forgive my sins,
give me your Holy Spirit for the amendment of my sinful life,
and bring me to life everlasting. Amen.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the truth of those verses: NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus!
for the opportunity to gather with the saints, this morning, to worship the Holy Trinity, hear the Word preached, and receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion
for a new week, full of potential and opportunities; may I be faithful to move forward into the works that God has prepared for me in advance
for Psalm 23, and the comfort it brings me
that I have trusted in Your steadfast love, O Lord, and my heart rejoices in Your salvation (Psalm 13)
that “the peace of Jesus depends always and only on Jesus” (Lutheran Hour Ministries daily devotional)

O God our defender, 
storms rage about us and cause us to be afraid. 
Rescue your people from despair, 
deliver your sons and daughters from fear, 
and preserve us all from unbelief;
 through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, Prayer for Fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

Lord God, heavenly Father, 
in You, all things are new. 
Today, I begin a new week, 
a new opportunity to see Your work in my life. 
As I look forward to what lies ahead, 
let me rejoice in the blessings of the past week.
 Remind me of the mercies You showed me,
 the gifts You gave me, 
and the ways You used me in Your service. 
With gratitude, I take with me that which was good 
and leave behind the mistakes, the sins, 
the flaws, and the failings that Your Son erased on the cross. 
As I stride into the new week before me,
 strengthen my heart to share Your love 
and my hands to do Your work. 
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Sunday Morning)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures; 
he leads me beside still waters; 
he restores my soul. 
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 
I fear no evil; for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me 
in the presence of my enemies; 
you anoint my head with oil; 
my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 
all the days of my life, 
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD 
my whole life long.
(Psalms 23:1-6 NRSV)

Let them know that you alone, 
whose name is the LORD, 
are the Most High over all the earth.
(Psalms 83:18 NRSV)

Who is like the LORD our God, 
who is seated on high, 
who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 
He raises the poor from the dust, 
and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 
to make them sit with princes,
 with the princes of his people. 
He gives the barren woman a home, 
making her the joyous mother of children. 
Praise the LORD!
(Psalms 113:5-9 NRSV)

I remember the days of old, 
I think about all your deeds, 
I meditate on the works of your hands. 
I stretch out my hands to you; 
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. 
                                                          [Selah]

Answer me quickly, O LORD; 
my spirit fails. 
Do not hide your face from me, 
or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, 
for in you I put my trust. 
Teach me the way I should go, 
for to you I lift up my soul. 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. 
Let your good spirit lead me on a level path. 
For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life. 
In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
(Psalms 143:5-8, 10-11 NRSV)

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, 
The LORD bless you and keep you; 
the LORD make his face to shine upon you, 
and be gracious to you; 
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, 
and give you peace. 
So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
(Numbers 6:22-27 NRSV)

And [Jesus] said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
(Luke 12:15 NRSV)

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind: those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.
(Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 NRSV)

But I trusted in your steadfast love; 
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 
I will sing to the LORD, 
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
(Psalms 13:5-6 NRSV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5 NRSV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
(John 14:27 NRSV)

Lord, be our light when worldly darkness veils us;
Lord, be our shield when earthly armor fails us;
And in the day when hell itself assails us,
Grant us Your peace, Lord.

Peace in our hearts, where sinful thoughts are raging,
Peace in Your church, our troubled souls assuaging,
Peace when the world its endless war is waging,
Peace in Your heaven.
(Lord of Our Life, Lutheran Service Book 659)

It’s kind of funny, really. I get really excited when one of my daily devotionals or other sources directs me to Psalm 23. It’s not like I can’t read it any time I want to. But that psalm brings me such peace and comfort. Yes, it is probably the most popular passage in all of Scripture (with the possible exception of John 3:16, but I bet it is even more loved than that verse), and it is cited very frequently by many people. But it has become more special to me in the last decade or so, as I read it and pray it, contemplating on the words contained therein.

And even though the word, itself, is not present in Psalm 23, the over-riding sense that I get from it is “peace.” And that is the theme that I’m getting today.

We struggle for peace in this world, and that struggle seems to get more intense as we go. The hymn quoted above gives us a good representation of that. Full disclosure, I have never heard of that hymn until today, and have no idea what the tune sounds like. I just went and searched for on You Tube. I rather like the haunting melody of this one and will share it at the end.

We struggle for peace because “worldly darkness veils us;” we feel exposed because “earthly armor fails us;” and we feel that “hell itself assails us,” so we plead with our God for peace. We struggle for peace because “sinful thoughts are raging;” our souls are troubled and seek to be assuaged; and we sense that the world wages endless war against us.

The source of our peace can be none other than Jesus Christ. See the verse from John 14, where Jesus tells us, “Peace I leave with you.” It is not so hard to envision Jesus saying, “Peace out,” as He leaves the disciples, ascending to the right hand of the Father. Well, it’s not hard for me, at least . . . some of you might have a hard time thinking of Jesus saying a phrase like that.

But the key statement in today’s devotional from Lutheran Hour Ministries is this: “The peace of Jesus depends always and only on Jesus.”

Yes!! It cannot depend upon anything else! And when we try to depend on anything else for our peace, we will be disappointed!

Thank You, Jesus, for Your peace, the peace that only You can give. Forgive me for the times I try to find that peace elsewhere, for there is no one else and nothing else that can give me peace! May Your Holy Spirit nudge me when I try to find peace somewhere else, and remind me that that simply will not satisfy. In You and You alone can I be satisfied!

I long for the peace of heaven, Lord, that day when all sorrows and pains shall cease. It is nigh impossible to even fathom that time; it is nigh impossible to envision a life without pain and sorrow. It is nigh impossible to envision a life without temptation, yet this is what we will have, in that day. Oh, to have a day go by with no temptations to sin! I cannot even imagine such a thing!

So, indeed, Lord, when “worldly darkness veils us,” and our “earthly armor fails us,” “when hell itself assails us,” “when sinful thoughts are raging,” when our souls need assuaging, and when it seems that the world “its endless war is waging,” give us Your peace. Have mercy, O Lord!

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. 
May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; 
for Yours are the kingdom and the power 
and the glory forever and ever. 
Amen.

Creator and sustainer of all things, 
scientists seek the mysteries that hold the universe together, 
a theory that explains everything. 
But you already have a name for that reality.
 It's Jesus, 
who upholds heaven and earth and everything in it. 
He is the still point in the universe, 
the clearest expression of your mind, 
the sustaining word that holds everything together.
 In the name of him who holds and keeps my life, 
amen.
(Seeking God's Face, Ordinary Time - Week 6, Day 1)

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
(Colossians 3:14-15 NRSV)

O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, 
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O, Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world,
grant us Your peace.
(Agnus Dei)

Grace and peace, friends.

A Shining Light

June 22, 2024 Jeff4 Comments

Today is Saturday, the twenty-second day of June, 2024, in the fifth week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ surround you, today, and guard your hearts and minds!

Day 24,208

I totally missed that Thursday was the official first day of Summer, the Summer Solstice, and longest day of the year. There was also, allegedly, this thing called a “Strawberry Moon,” but I was never able to get a glimpse of it. I walked outside several times, yesterday evening, but was never able to see the moon. Oh, well. Happy Summer, y’all!

Like a broken record, I say that C is still experiencing a lot of pain when moving around. She is able to get into comfortable positions, and it’s not so bad then. But walking is still quite hard. But, again, it has been less than two weeks since the surgery. We go back to the doctor for follow up on Monday.

It’s my Saturday to work, so I will be in the circulation department at the library, today, from 9:30-6:15. If you live in Texas, you can get a library card at the Hurst Public Library!.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Holy and Gracious God,
I confess that I have sinned against You.
Some of my sin I know - 
the thoughts and words and deeds
of which I am ashamed - 
but some is known only to You.
In the name of Jesus Christ
I ask for forgiveness. 
Deliver and restore me,
that I may rest in peace.

Heavenly Father, 
You renew me every day with Your care. 
Thank You for last night’s sleep and rest. 
Give me the energy to fill this day 
with all that You have prepared for me to do. 
Make Your plans clear to me
 so that today shows Your care for me and those around me.
 Remind me of Your promises and especially Your saving work 
in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 
Help me see beyond this world to eternal life with You in heaven. 
Your promises are wonderful because they rest on Your mercy 
and no accomplishment of mine. 
By grace, You have called me Your own and adopted me as Your child.
 I give You thanks in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Saturday Morning)

But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
(Malachi 4:2 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for a good night’s rest; best one this week, so far
for this new day and the opportunities it will bring; may I be faithful to see beyond this world
for the “sun of righteousness” arising in my life, as I continue to revere His name
that for all of us who put our faith in Christ, help is always on the way
for His spiritual armor; may I be faithful to stand

All the ends of the earth shall remember 
and turn to the LORD; 
and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 
For dominion belongs to the LORD, 
and he rules over the nations. 

To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; 
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, 
and I shall live for him. 
Posterity will serve him; 
future generations will be told about the Lord, 
and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, 
saying that he has done it.
(Psalms 22:27-31 NRSV)

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. 
I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 
I will thank you forever, 
because of what you have done. 
In the presence of the faithful 
I will proclaim your name, 
for it is good.
(Psalms 52:8-9 NRSV)

I cry to you, O LORD; I say, 
"You are my refuge, 
my portion in the land of the living."
 Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low.

. . . Bring me out of prison, 
so that I may give thanks to your name. 
The righteous will surround me, 
for you will deal bountifully with me.
(Psalms 142:5-7 NRSV)

May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
(Galatians 6:14-16 NRSV)

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
(Matthew 17:1-8 NRSV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
(Ephesians 6:10-13 NRSV)

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
(Ephesians 6:18 NRSV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”
(John 14:15-17 NRSV)

Father, this morning, You have shined light on me, and in this light, revealed some shortcomings. But in that revelation comes hope, the hope that, as one who follows Christ, and tries to keep His commands, help us always on the way, in the form and person of Your Holy Spirit. I praise You for this, Father.

I pray for the wisdom and strength that comes from knowing You; that I might be able to keep Your “armor” on and stand in the face of trial and temptation. Lately, I have been struggling there, so I need Your grace and mercy to fill me up. I feel it already.

Help me to listen only to Jesus, as Your voice told His inner circle of disciples on that day of Transfiguration. Remind me, and remind all of us that, at the end of that event, when it was all said and done, all that remained on the mountain was Jesus. Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, were gone. Jesus alone, stood, showing us the true way to live for You Help us to listen to only Him.

Captain of my life, 
help me grasp the cosmic battle 
that rages in my heart and throughout the world. 
I'm in a fight far beyond my strength and understanding, 
so I pray that you make me wise and strong. 
Outfit me with all your spiritual armor, 
so that I can stand and not go down to defeat 
in this spiritual struggle.
 In the name of Jesus, amen.
(Seeking God's Face, Ordinary Time - Week 5, Day 7)

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

May the LORD richly bless both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
(Psalms 115:14-15 NLT)

Grace and peace, friends.

Open My Lips, But Guard Them

June 21, 2024 Jeff2 Comments

Today is Friday, the twenty-first day of June, 2024, in the fifth week of Ordinary Time.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C’s recovery continues to be slow going. i do believe she had a better night, last night. I know she was in bed until I got up to get ready for my work day, which is a definite improvement over the last few nights. We looked at the incision, yesterday evening, and it seems to be looking good. But what do I know about incisions?

It’s Friday, so I’ll be spending the day in the library computer center, helping people print documents from their phones. My current Mounjaro journey continues to have good results. My glucose was up a bit, this morning, but still below the top of the desired range. And I’ve lost 8.8 pounds since Tuesday. That will slow down, of course, after the shock to the system reduces.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, 
we poor sinners confess to you
 that we are by nature sinful and unclean 
and that we have sinned against you 
by thought, word, and deed; 
therefore we flee for refuge 
to your boundless mercy, 
seeking and imploring your grace 
for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father,
 give me strength and energy to do the work 
that is before me today.
 Guide me through the many decisions that I have to make. 
While I have my own plans for today, 
put Your plans over mine. 
Make clear the direction I should go 
so that I fulfill Your desires. 
Make me also a benefit to others. 
Especially give me a listening ear 
and a caring heart to those around me who are hurting. 
As You have been merciful and caring to me, 
help me reflect that same care to others
 who are hungry for Your grace. 
Let my words echo Your words of forgiveness and hope 
so that people turn to You in their need. 
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer - Prayer for Friday Morning)

“Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”
(John 17:24 NRSV)

The LORD has done great things for us, 
and we rejoiced.
(Psalms 126:3 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

that the Father has given us to the Son, and the Son desires for us to be where He is, that we may see His glory
that the Lord has done great things for us; let us rejoice in Him and be glad, remembering that these momentary afflictions are temporary
that I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13)
that our Father is in the process of sanctifying us, that He may present us blameless to Himself
that the one who calls us is faithful, and He will do what He says He will do

Lord our God, we thank you that you have revealed your glory in your Son Jesus Christ. We thank you that today we can still see and feel the glorious grace which streams out from Jesus Christ in his victory over the world, the powerful help which benefits all those who find faith. Grant that a further glory may be revealed, faith dwelling in the hearts of all people, faith that can conquer all the need and suffering on earth, faith that is the power to look to you, to become inwardly quiet in you, and to hope in you at all times. Then your help will come quickly, more quickly than we can imagine. It will come on us unawares, for the Savior has said, “See, I shall come quickly.” We want to hope and believe and trust till the end. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

O Lord, open my lips,
 and my mouth will declare your praise. 
For you have no delight in sacrifice; 
if I were to give a burnt offering, 
you would not be pleased. 
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; 
a broken and contrite heart, 
O God, you will not despise.
(Psalms 51:15-17 NRSV)

Praise the LORD! 
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, 
in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 
Great are the works of the LORD, 
studied by all who delight in them. 
Full of honor and majesty is his work, 
and his righteousness endures forever. 
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; 
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
(Psalms 111:1-4 NRSV)

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
 keep watch over the door of my lips. 
Do not turn my heart to any evil, 
to busy myself with wicked deeds 
in company with those who work iniquity; 
do not let me eat of their delicacies.
(Psalms 141:3-4 NRSV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.
(Galatians 6:2-5 NRSV)

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
(Galatians 6:9-10 NRSV)

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Philippians 4:8 NRSV)

I believe that I shall see 
the goodness of the LORD 
in the land of the living. 
Wait for the LORD; 
be strong, and let your heart take courage; 
wait for the LORD!
(Psalms 27:13-14 NRSV)

See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. 
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15-24 NRSV)

God, You are faithful in all Your ways. You have done great things for us, and we will rejoice and be glad in them! Help us to never repay evil for evil (we seem to have a tendency to want to do that), and to “seek to do good to one another and to all.” Indeed, Father, help us to work for the good of all, not just for ourselves.

Help us also to be willing to bear one another’s burdens. Make us willing, as well, to accept help when offered, but never let us be lazy and expect someone else to do everything for us. Help me to wait on You, Lord, and to be strong and take courage in this walk in Your kingdom. For truly, there is nothing that any human can do to me.

I pray that You would open my lips, Lord, that I might sing Your praises, but at the same time, set a guard over my lips, that I may not say anything harsh or unkind or unpleasing to You. Let my words be few, but also let them be uplifting and helpful, when called upon. If I have negative or hurtful thoughts, keep them from coming out of my mouth.

God of light, 
you call me to be a child of light, 
but often I live in gray-tones and shadow. 
Inspire me to walk each day 
in the bright light of your holiness. 
As I join with others to sing your praises, 
may my whole life be a song of gratitude and love to you, 
that others may begin to hum along. 
Amen.
(Seeking God's Face, Ordinary Time - Week 5, Day 6)

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Let the words of my mouth 
and the meditation of my heart
 be acceptable in your sight, 
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(Psalms 19:14 ESV)

Grace and peace, friends.

How Shall We Live?

June 20, 2024 Jeff2 Comments

Today is Thursday, the twentieth day of June, 2024, in the fifth week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ surround you and yours today and every day!

Day 24,206

It’s been a heck of a week. C continues to struggle with pain. We go back to the surgeon’s office on Monday, so we will see what happens, then. She was feeling better, yesterday morning, when I left for work, but it’s possible she overdid, during the day and is not feeling better, this morning.

Willie Mays died on Tuesday, at the age of 93. Then we found out that they are going to demolish old LaGrave Field, in Fort Worth, where we used to see the Fort Worth Cats play baseball. And then, yesterday I found out that my high school math teacher and good friend of our family passed away on Tuesday, as well. He was 76 and had been struggling with leukemia. His memorial service is tomorrow afternoon. I would really like to go, but I simply don’t think I can do it. I’m so tired. Also, I would have to take the day off from work, but that has never been an issue with my job, yet another thing that makes it the greatest job I have ever had. But I’m supposed to work on Saturday, as well, and I just don’t think I could handle the trip (it’s in Mineral Wells, about 65 miles from here), either physically or emotionally. This is not a pity party, though, and “this too shall pass.”

Today’s my regularly scheduled day off, and I have S’s appointment with her therapist at 11:00, after which we will visit the tailor who is doing alterations on the dress she will be wearing at her cousin’s wedding in August. Outside of receiving a grocery delivery this afternoon and cooking dinner, that is all that is on my agenda for today.

S, by the way, has been spectacular, these last few days. She has been very helpful, and doing a great job of helping to take care of C.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in Your will
and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your holy name.
Amen.

"I praise You, God, for this day. 
I begin by asking that You would strengthen my resolve. 
I know I am born sinful and live in a broken and sinful world. 
Help me, however, to avoid sinful temptations today. 
Keep me, I pray, from careless thoughts and words, 
selfish actions, gossip, envy, and other sins. 
Make my life instead a witness to the hope that I have in Christ. 
As He sacrificed His life out of love for me, 
help me follow His example and sacrifice of my own well-being 
to love and serve others in my life. 
In all things, preserve me in the faith by Your Word, 
that I may rejoice in my identity in Christ. 
In Jesus' name. Amen."
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Thursday Morning)

Even youths will faint and be weary, 
and the young will fall exhausted; 
but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, 
they shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
they shall run and not be weary, 
they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:30-31 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

that God is faithful and will renew my strength
that He is working all things together for good
that we are of more value than many sparrows (Matthew 10)
for the privilege and responsibility of praying for others; may I be faithful in this ministry
that God wants us to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another

Restore us, O God; 
let your face shine, 
that we may be saved.
(Psalms 80:3 NRSV)

I know that the LORD maintains the cause of the needy, 
and executes justice for the poor. 
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
 the upright shall live in your presence.
(Psalms 140:12-13 NRSV)

You have multiplied, O LORD my God, 
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; 
none can compare with you. 
Were I to proclaim and tell of them, 
they would be more than can be counted.
(Psalms 40:5 NRSV)

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
(Genesis 1:27 NRSV)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Matthew 10:29-31 NRSV)

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
(Ephesians 4:25-5:2 NRSV)

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
(Mark 4:35-41 NRSV)

I don’t really have much commentary for today, other than simple encouragement. When we feel down or discouraged, it is good to remember that God values us more than “many sparrows.” It is good to remember that Christ came to earth to live and die for us, that we might experience life in Him.

Because of the grace shown us by Him, we ought, therefore, try to live in the manner of that passage from Ephesians, up there, putting aside all falsehood, speaking truth, “for we are members of one another.” We should watch carefully what comes out of our mouths, just as the other day, when we read the words of Jesus, telling us that it is not what we eat that defiles us, but, rather, what comes out of our mouths, because what comes out of the mouth reveals the heart.

Therefore, what comes out of our mouths should be intent on building others up, not tearing them down.

Let us put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling, slander, and malice. Let us be kind to one another, tenderhearted and forgiving, just as Christ has forgiven us

Father, I thank You for the words of Scripture that I have read, this morning. Once again, You have taken me from “nothingness” into encouragement. Help me to walk in the truths I have read, this morning, letting no bitterness, wrath, anger, nor any of these other negative qualities come out of my mouth. And keep me from judging others, especially when I have no idea what their circumstances are.

Give me kindness in increasing measure, and make me tenderhearted and forgiving, just as Christ has forgiven me. And remind me that, whenever I pray for help in trouble, I might also be “accidentally” praying for others around me.

Word of Life, 
I love the everydayness of this gospel life, 
that honest speech is included in holy living. 
How necessary it is in this age of spin and hype,
 where falsehood spreads with viral intensity. 
Teach me to speak as Jesus lived, 
full of grace and truth. 
Guide all my words - spoken or written - 
by your love and the needs of others.
 In Christ's name, amen.
(Seeking God's Face, Ordinary Time - Week 5, Day 5)

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, 
who alone does wondrous things. 
Blessed be his glorious name forever; 
may his glory fill the whole earth. 
Amen and Amen.
(Psalms 72:18-19 NRSV)

Grace and peace, friends.

From Nothingness to His Love

June 19, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Wednesday, the nineteenth day of June, 2024, in the fifth week of Ordinary Time. It is Juneteenth in the U.S.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Day 24,205

C walked around the house several times, yesterday, and seems to be a bit better, this morning. She was certainly in better spirits, when I got up. As far as I know, she has not gotten any notification of a new script for her pain meds, but she will likely call them again today, just to remind them.

I’m feeling not very well, this morning, though. It’s totally the result of my Mounjaro injection Monday. I had pretty bad gas all night, so didn’t sleep very well. I know . . . TMI, right? But I lost 2.6 pounds in one day, and my glucose reading is already down by almost forty points, from the highest recent reading, which was Sunday morning. So it’s working. And I’m not really hungry, this morning.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Holy and Gracious God,
I confess that I have sinned against You.
Some of my sin I know - 
the thoughts and words and deeds
of which I am ashamed - 
but some is known only to You.
In the name of Jesus Christ
I ask for forgiveness. 
Deliver and restore me,
that I may rest in peace.

Lord God, You have brought me safely through the night. Thank You for Your mercy to me, especially for Your grace in granting me forgiveness and life through Christ. As I begin a new day in the middle of this week, strengthen me to faithfully and joyfully do the work You have set before me. Please remove any weariness or bitterness that comes from complacency. Help me love and serve my neighbor, whom You have put before me this day. Give me steadfastness to not waste time but instead to count every hour as another opportunity to be Your hands and feet in this world. Strengthen my faith through Your Word today and grant me and all in Your church the peace of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Wednesday Morning)

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,
(Jeremiah 29:11-13 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the day ahead of me; indeed, Lord, help me love and serve, regardless of how I feel
for God’s plans for me, whatever they may be (Yes, I know the verse is written explicitly to Israel, but I see no harm in believing that God has good plans for all of His children), and that He has made Himself easy to find
for Psalm 139, as I prayed this back to the Lord, this morning
for inspirational poetry that fills me, each morning
for the freedom we have in Christ; may we utilize that freedom for the right things

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; 
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; 
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; 
the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes; 
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; 
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; 
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. 
Moreover by them is your servant warned; 
in keeping them there is great reward.
(Psalms 19:7-11 NRSV)

O LORD, you have searched me and known me. 
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; 
you discern my thoughts from far away. 
You search out my path and my lying down, 
and are acquainted with all my ways. 
Even before a word is on my tongue,
 O LORD, you know it completely. 
You hem me in, behind and before, 
and lay your hand upon me. 
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 
it is so high that I cannot attain it. 

Where can I go from your spirit? 
Or where can I flee from your presence? 
If I ascend to heaven, you are there; 
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
 If I take the wings of the morning 
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 
even there your hand shall lead me, 
and your right hand shall hold me fast. 
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, 
and the light around me become night," 
even the darkness is not dark to you; 
the night is as bright as the day, 
for darkness is as light to you. 

For it was you who formed my inward parts; 
you knit me together in my mother's womb. 
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 
Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. 
My frame was not hidden from you, 
when I was being made in secret,
 intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
 In your book were written 
all the days that were formed for me, 
when none of them as yet existed. 

How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! 
How vast is the sum of them! 
I try to count them—they are more than the sand; 
I come to the end—I am still with you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; 
test me and know my thoughts. 
See if there is any wicked way in me, 
and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalms 139:1-18, 23-24 NRSV)

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Galatians 5:13-14 NRSV)

I want to share a poem, this morning, by Daryl Madden, called “Nothingness.” I found it to be very powerful. Please visit his site at the link provided, to read more inspirational poetry.

No sunrise this morning
No inner stirring
No senses of soul
I’m feeling nothing

No inspirations
No spiritual spark
No song of singing
No journey, embark

Parched is the desert
Dry is the well
Not even depressed
Feeling like a shell

I went to a chapel
With an empty prayer
With nothing but nothingness
Blessed another view here

I found it was a gift
As strange as it might be
A space of nothingness
To let Jesus love me

I have felt this very thing on mornings just like this one. There have been many times where I began my morning devotional time feeling “nothingness.” But by the end, the love of Christ was there, filling me with His joy. I am very grateful to Daryl and his poetry.

Father, I am grateful, this morning, for brother Daryl and how he listens to You each day. His poetry inspires me, daily. Thank You that, when my morning begins with “nothingness,” You show me the love of Jesus, as I go.

I praise You, this morning, for the truth of Psalm 139. It was a favorite of my father’s, and it is a favorite of mine. The truth therein is staggering and comforting, all at the same time. For me, to know that there is nowhere I can go where You are not is a great comfort, even when I am engaged in sinful practices. To know that You know things about me that I don’t even know, myself, is also comforting, because it means that I cannot surprise You with anything.

And when I combine this with the knowledge that You remember that we are dust, I am given fuel for the day, to live in the love of Jesus Christ, and the freedom that we have been granted in that love. I pray that, as we walk through our days, we would engage in that freedom to love each other as You have loved us.

All glory to You, Father, through the Son, and by the Spirit.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Let the words of my mouth 
and the meditation of my heart
 be acceptable in your sight, 
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(Psalms 19:14 ESV)

Grace and peace, friends.

Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil

June 18, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Tuesday, the eighteenth day of June, 2024, in the fifth week of Ordinary Time.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Day 24,204

C continues to struggle with pain. I feel like a broken record, these days. She’s okay, as long as she keeps taking the pain meds, but she doesn’t have enough pills to last her until next Monday, if she takes one every 4-6 hours. I think she’s going to call the doctor again, today. I need to remind myself of my own devotional blog, yesterday.

It should be a more “normal” Tuesday, today, unless I wind up needing to take C somewhere. I’m scheduled to work, this evening, 4:15-8:15. I finally got some Mounjaro, yesterday, a 7.5 dose, which is the last dosage I was taking. The 10 dose still isn’t available from the retailers. I can’t even remember the last time I had some, but it’s been several months. It must be working, though, already, because I don’t feel like eating anything, this morning, and my glucose reading was back down to a more normal level.

Update: C has spoken with someone at the doctor’s office, and was assured that they would refill her pain meds. This was encouraging, and, after a brief conversation, she decided to try to get some more walking in. Things are looking up. We have to remember . . . it has barely been a week since this major surgery. I might also add that C is terrified of becoming addicted to pain meds, as there was a history of that with her mother. That affects her whole mindset toward the pills.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in Your will
and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your holy name.
Amen.

Lord our God, radiant, light giving, and almighty God through all the ages, be with us in our time too. Strengthen the grace we have received from Jesus Christ, and let it be known over all the world so that your name may be honored everywhere. Bless us, we pray, and let your blessing spread from us to others, to the glory of your name. Grant that the good may be strengthened in us, the good you have let us hear about for so many years. May everything that belongs to your Word come alive in us and in the world. May your blessing be on our actions, for we want to remain under your blessing, to the glory of your righteousness and truth. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, 
for in you I put my trust. 
Teach me the way I should go, 
for to you I lift up my soul.
(Psalms 143:8 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the grace of God in all things
for His steadfast love in the morning
that You, O Lord, sustain me through times of doubt and trouble
that God alone can make me worthy of His call
that God’s way is perfect and His promise is true

I love you, O LORD, my strength. 
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, 
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, 
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, 
so I shall be saved from my enemies. 

In my distress I called upon the LORD; 
to my God I cried for help. 
From his temple he heard my voice, 
and my cry to him reached his ears.

This God—his way is perfect; 
the promise of the LORD proves true; 
he is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 

For who is God except the LORD? 
And who is a rock besides our God?— 
the God who girded me with strength, 
and made my way safe. 
He made my feet like the feet of a deer, 
and set me secure on the heights.
(Psalms 18:1-3, 6, 30-33 NRSV)

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples, 
and I will sing praises to you among the nations. 
For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, 
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, 
and let your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalms 108:3-5 NRSV)

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; 
before the gods I sing your praise; 
I bow down toward your holy temple 
and give thanks to your name 
for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; 
for you have exalted your name 
and your word above everything. 
On the day I called, you answered me, 
you increased my strength of soul. 

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; 
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. 
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
(Psalms 138:1-3, 8 NRSV)

Indeed, you are my lamp, O LORD, 
the LORD lightens my darkness.
(2 Samuel 22:29 NRSV)

Hear my prayer, O LORD; 
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; 
answer me in your righteousness. 
Do not enter into judgment with your servant, 
for no one living is righteous before you.
(Psalms 143:1-2 NRSV)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:14-19 NRSV)

To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NRSV)

Just a couple of things that stick out to me, today. The first is just above the most recent purple line, in 2 Thessalonians. Note that, in his prayer, Paul prays that “God will make you worthy of his call.” God will do it. I cannot make myself worthy of the call of God in my life. I cannot prepare myself.

To me, this is reminiscent of Jesus’s parable of the soils. There are, perhaps, several lessons to learn from that parable, but the one that struck me the most was that the “good soil” did nothing to make itself good. Soil is soil. It cannot do anything to make itself good or bad. In the same way, I can do nothing to change my basic makeup.

One of the choruses we sing, regularly, at my church, goes like this:

Lord, let my heart be good soil,
open to the seed of your Word.
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
where love can grow and peace is understood.
When my heart is hard,
break the stone away.
When my heart is cold,
warm it with the day.
When my heart is lost,
lead me on your way.
Lord, let my heart,
Lord, let my heart,
Lord, let my heart be good soil. 
(Handt Hanson, 1985)

So, yes. May we pray that God would make us worthy of His call, because only He can.

The other thing comes from Psalm 18. “This God—his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” (v. 6) In the last reading that I read, today, I was directed to the end section of Job, where God finally answers all of the rhetoric that has been spewed forth in the preceding chapters.

In Job 38, God begins hammering Job with questions. Non-stop; bam bam bam! After several chapters of this (including one that I will forever believe proves the existence of dragons), Job’s only possible response comes in 42:6. ” . . . therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

God is God; I am not. In essence, God is telling Job, “You wouldn’t understand, even if I told you.” But the fact that God answered Job at all is remarkable, because He didn’t have to.

And God doesn’t have to interact with us. Some folks don’t believe He does. But I believe that He does; I believe that He condescends (and for God it truly is condescending) to deal with us. And we would do well to remember that His way is perfect. His promise is true. And He is definitely a shield for all who will take refuge in Him.

Father, I thank You and praise You for Who You are. You are God, and I am not. I do not need to understand everything that You do. Yet, You have sometimes explained Yourself to us, anyway. You and Your ways are perfect. Your promise is true and sure. And You are a shield about me, whenever I take refuge in You.

I do note, however, that when I stop taking refuge in You, I open myself up to a lot of unpleasantness in my life. And I confess that this is my own doing. Conversely, I also confess that there is nothing that I can do to make myself worthy of Your call in my life, nor is there any way I could be worthy of Your grace, mercy, and good promises.

So I, like Job, repent in sackcloth and ashes, turning from any ill-conceived notion that I know best about anything at all. You are God, and I am not. You are in the heavens and I am here on earth. Therefore, I should let my words be few. And the words that I will speak will magnify Your name, not mine.

“Lord, let my heart be good soil.”

Father in heaven, 
make my life a Christ-home,
 fully furnished with his grace, beauty, and strength.
 Today I guard in my heart the gospel declaration 
that I am approved and accepted in Christ. 
In faith, I claim for myself the righteousness of Jesus
 and apply all his power and riches, 
the fullness of God in me. 
Fill me with your love.
Amen.
(Seeking God's Face, Ordinary Time - Week 5, Day 3

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21 NRSV)

Grace and peace, friends.

Adversity

June 17, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Monday, the seventeenth day of June, 2024, in the fifth week of Ordinary Time.

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways!

Day 24,203

C seems to be a little better, this morning. We hope this trend continues. She slept well, last night, which is always helpful.

I have a couple things to get done today. First, I have to go to the pharmacy at my doctor’s office, where I will pick up my prescription for Mounjaro. I will be starting this again, and hopefully, will be able to continue to get it. Then, this afternoon, Mama has an appointment with the cardiologist, to go over results of the echo test a couple weeks ago. We are thinking that, since we haven’t heard anything, that things are probably okay.

Outside of those two things, it is a normal Monday. I’m off work, and will have a few other household chores to get done.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Almighty God, merciful Father:
I, a troubled and penitent sinner,
confess to you all my sins and iniquities
with which I have offended you and for which
I justly deserve your punishment.
But I am sorry for them, and repent of them,
and pray for your boundless mercy.
For the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ,
be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being; forgive my sins,
give me your Holy Spirit for the amendment of my sinful life,
and bring me to life everlasting. Amen.

Gracious Lord, 
On this Monday morning, 
I seek the peace that only You can provide. 
Calm the anxieties and worries that may try to steal my joy.
 Fill me with hope and grant me the patience
 to navigate through the busyness of the week. 
Help me find moments of stillness and reflection amidst the chaos. 
May this week be marked by Your peace, 
and may I be a source of peace to those around me. 
In Your loving presence, 
I find everything that I need.
 Amen.
(A Monday Morning Prayer for Peace and Hope, from Crosswalk.com)

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
(Mark 1:15 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the kingdom of God and its nearness to us
for the hope and peace that only God can give
for the hope of the day when I will behold the face of God in righteousness (Psalm 17:15)
for the love and support of family and friends
that in the day of my trouble and adversity, I can seek the Lord, and He is there to help me

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; 
incline your ear to me, hear my words. 
Wondrously show your steadfast love, 
O savior of those who seek refuge
 from their adversaries at your right hand. 

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; 
when I awake I shall be satisfied, 
beholding your likeness. 
(Psalms 17:6-7, 15 NRSV)

I cry aloud to God, 
aloud to God, that he may hear me. 
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; 
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; 
my soul refuses to be comforted. 
I think of God, and I moan; 
I meditate, and my spirit faints. 
                                                                                [Selah]
(Psalms 77:1-3 NRSV)

I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; 
I will remember your wonders of old. 
I will meditate on all your work, 
and muse on your mighty deeds. 
Your way, O God, is holy. 
What god is so great as our God? 
You are the God who works wonders; 
you have displayed your might among the peoples. 
With your strong arm you redeemed your people, 
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. 
                                                                        [Selah]
(Psalms 77:11-15 NRSV)

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that will come after them.
(Ecclesiastes 7:14 NRSV)

A friend loves at all times, 
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.
(Proverbs 17:17 NRSV)

With patience a ruler may be persuaded, 
and a soft tongue can break bones.
(Proverbs 25:15 NRSV)

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
(Colossians 3:12 NRSV)

I cry to you, O LORD;
 I say, "You are my refuge, 
my portion in the land of the living."
(Psalms 142:5 NRSV)

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come? 
My help comes from the LORD, 
who made heaven and earth. 

He will not let your foot be moved; 
he who keeps you will not slumber. 
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 

The LORD is your keeper; 
the LORD is your shade at your right hand. 
The sun shall not strike you by day,
 nor the moon by night. 

The LORD will keep you from all evil; 
he will keep your life. 
The LORD will keep your going out 
and your coming in 
from this time on and forevermore.
(Psalms 121:1-8 NRSV)

The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it,
 the world, and those who live in it; 
for he has founded it on the seas,
 and established it on the rivers.
(Psalms 24:1-2 NRSV)

Adversity. Difficulties; misfortune. Some people say “bad luck.” I don’t really believe in luck. I do, in fact, believe that “everything happens for a reason.” However, I do NOT say that to people who have just lost loved ones in tragedy. That is one of the least comforting things that you could possibly say to someone.

We all experience adversity. Sometimes, we bring it upon ourselves, as consequences of decisions that weren’t exactly the brightest thing we could have done. (“Hold my beer and watch this!”) Sometimes, it seems as though things just happen. One of my favorite rock bands, Rush, recorded a song that said, “Why does it happen? Because it happens, roll the bones.” Obviously, I am not quite that fatalistic.

The Bible tells us that the same God who gives us prosperity also gives us adversity. Some folks don’t like to consider that adversity could possibly come from God. But the Scriptures tell us that it most certainly can. Even Job says, “Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” (Job 2:10)

I have always tried to look at any adversity that I might experience in light of the troubles of the world. There is always someone worse off than me, I reason. And that is so very true. Many of my “problems” are definitely “first world problems.” In addition, one of my “life phrases” is “It could always be worse.” In fact, I will NEVER ask the question, “Could this possibly get any worse?” because the answer is, most definitely, “YES!”

Scripture tells us to be thankful in all circumstances. It does not tell us to be thankful for all circumstances, though. I remember well-meaning folks who used to say that, whenever something “bad” happened, they would thank God for it. I don’t think that’s what that means. I think it means that, no matter the circumstances, I can stop and think of something to be grateful for, that my faith in God is not damaged or weakened.

One other thing that I like to consider. There is a verse in Psalms that is one of my “go-to” verses when I don’t understand something that is happening.

Our God is in the heavens; 
he does whatever he pleases.
(Psalms 115:3 NRSV)

I have accepted this truth. So, whenever adversity strikes, “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases,” is my answer. I may understand why, someday, or I may not. I don’t need to.

Father, I praise You, today, for who You are. You are God in heaven, and I am here on earth. Therefore, I should let my words be few. I’m sure anyone reading this would doubt that I really believe that, because I seem to have a difficult time letting my words be few. Or maybe it’s more that I’m not very good at putting my thoughts into words.

Help me to always be thankful in all circumstances, even when adversity strikes. Thank You for working in my spirit so that I can truthfully say, “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases,” and really mean it. I have long be convinced, persuaded, that You have every right to do anything You want to, because You are the creator of everything that I can see, and all that I cannot see (which is more than I can see).

Nevertheless, I fail You, daily. I read something today, that said, “Live about 30 seconds in this world and you will see a great man do terrible things, an honest man lie, a faithful man cheat, a man created in God’s image slouching toward the gutter. Sure, there will be seasons in life when he’s pretty much on the straight and narrow, but he will detour, if not in action then in speech and desire.” (Chad Bird wrote this.) I felt as though he was writing about me, there. There are certainly seasons where I am on the “straight and narrow.” But then, and quite suddenly, it seems, off I go, on a detour.

But You always draw me back to that path, Father, and I am so grateful for that. I pray that You keep me faithful, especially during this time of adversity in our family, as C continues healing and recovering from this surgery. I pray for her relief from pain, and her healing, Lord. This one seems worst than past surgeries, but we know and trust that all is in Your hands. And I will always be able to find something to be grateful for.

All of this, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Let nothing disturb you,
let nothing frighten you,
all things will pass away.
God never changes;
patience obtains all things,
whoever has God lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.
Amen.
(St. Teresa of Avila)

Grace and peace, friends.

The Father’s Love

June 16, 2024 Jeff3 Comments

Today is Sunday, the sixteenth day of June, 2024, in the fifth week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ surround you and yours today and every day!

Day 24,202

There’s not much to update on C’s progress. We did come up with something that we think might be helpful, for a bit, and she slept pretty well, last night. Hopefully, today will be a better day, pain-wise.

It is Father’s Day in the US. I don’t know if that transcends national borders or not. Either way, I wish a Happy Father’s Day to any fathers out there who might read this. I received an early gift, yesterday, from our oldest (referred to as “R” in this blog), who lives in Indiana. I was quite thrilled at the contents.

The Necronomnomnom is a cookbook inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, and has been on my wish list for a while. The book on Psalms with Luther has also been on my wish list for a while, and I am glad to have gotten that, as well. I will start going through it in my morning devotionals soon, probably next month. I may or may not ever make any of the recipes in the Necronomnomnom. But I have the book, and it will be most entertaining.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Most merciful God,
Have mercy on us.
We confess to you that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done 
and by what we have left undone.
We have not trusted You with our whole heart;
we have not loved one another in deed and in truth.
In Your compassion forgive our sin
and so uphold us by Your Spirit
that we may live and serve You 
in newness of life through Jesus Christ
our light and our truth.
Amen.

God, our maker and redeemer, you have made us a new company of priests to bear witness to the Gospel. Enable us to be faithful to our calling to make known your promises to all the world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, Fourth Sunday After Pentecost)

In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
(John 14:2-3 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

this day when we honor our fathers
that Jesus is preparing a place for us, and will come again to take us there, that where He is, there we may also be
that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever (Psalm 136)
for the fullness of joy in His presence (Psalm 16:11)
that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12)
that, as a father has compassion for his children, so God has compassion for those who revere Him (Psalm 103)

Protect me, O God, for in you 
I take refuge. 
I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; 
I have no good apart from you." 

The LORD is my chosen portion 
and my cup; 
you hold my lot. 
The boundary lines have fallen for 
me in pleasant places; 

I have a goodly heritage. 
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; 
in the night also my heart 
instructs me. 
I keep the LORD always before me; 
because he is at my right hand, 
I shall not be moved. 

Therefore my heart is glad, 
and my soul rejoices; 
my body also rests secure.

You show me the path of life.
 In your presence there is 
fullness of joy; 
in your right hand are pleasures 
forevermore.
(Psalms 16:1-2, 5-9, 11 NRSV)

God is our refuge and strength, 
a very present help in trouble. 
Therefore we will not fear, though 
the earth should change, 
though the mountains shake 
in the heart of the sea; 
though its waters roar and foam, 
though the mountains tremble 
with its tumult. 
                                       [Selah]

"Be still, and know that I am God!
 I am exalted among the nations, 
I am exalted in the earth." 
The LORD of hosts is with us; 
the God of Jacob is our refuge. 
                                           [Selah] 
(Psalms 46:1-3, 10-11 NRSV)

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
 for his steadfast love endures forever. 
O give thanks to the God of gods, 
for his steadfast love endures forever.
 O give thanks to the Lord of lords, 
for his steadfast love endures forever; . . . 

O give thanks to the God of heaven, 
for his steadfast love endures forever.
(Psalms 136:1-3, 26 NRSV)

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
(Luke 12:32-40 NRSV)

“The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure.”
(Matthew 12:35 NRSV)

As a father has compassion
 for his children, 
so the LORD has compassion for 
those who fear him.
(Psalms 103:13 NRSV)

The fear of the LORD is the 
beginning of wisdom; 
all those who practice it have 
a good understanding. 
His praise endures forever.
(Psalms 111:10 NRSV)

I call upon you, O LORD; come 
quickly to me; 
give ear to my voice when I call to you. 
Let my prayer be counted as 
incense before you, 
and the lifting up of my hands 
as an evening sacrifice. 

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; 
keep watch over the door of my lips. 

But my eyes are turned toward 
you, O GOD, my Lord; 
in you I seek refuge; do not 
leave me defenseless.
(Psalms 141:1-3, 8 NRSV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet 
and a light to my path. 
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, 
to observe your righteous ordinances.
 I am severely afflicted; 
give me life, O LORD, according 
to your word.
 Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, 
and teach me your ordinances. 
I hold my life in my hand continually, 
but I do not forget your law. 
The wicked have laid a snare for me, 
but I do not stray from your 
precepts. 
Your decrees are my heritage forever; 
they are the joy of my heart. 
I incline my heart to perform 
your statutes 
forever, to the end.
(Psalms 119:105-112 NRSV)

It’s Father’s Day. But not everyone has positive experiences with their fathers. I did. I had a wonderful father, and we had, for the most part, a wonderful relationship. It wasn’t always perfect, but relationships never are. I would dare to venture that, when it wasn’t, it was usually my fault.

But so often, we suggest that people consider God as Father, and try to compare His relationship with us to that of earthly fathers. Even the verse I’m focusing on today kind of does that. “As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:13)

But here’s the thing. The earthly father is supposed to have compassion for his children. If he doesn’t, he is a failure, plain and simple. So the comparison in Psalm 103 is to a good father, one who has compassion on his children.

I will also point out, again, that the word translated “fear” in the NRSV can be translated “reverence.” We are not talking about terror. We are not supposed to be terrified of God. Unless we are walking contrary to His commands, in which case there might be reason.

I owe a lot to my father. He taught me to play guitar. He taught me to play and to love baseball. Both of my parents had musical talent, so I inherited that from both. They gave me a love for music of all kinds, and did not limit my exposure to only one kind of music. The result of that is that, today, I enjoy listening to and playing rock music, blues, classical, some country, pop, and other forms. Most of all, though, I enjoy worshiping with music, because my parents taught me that more than anything.

So, this Father’s Day, I am grateful that my father had compassion on his child, and that, because of that, I can easily envision my heavenly Father’s love for me. I realize that God’s love for me, though, is infinitely greater than my dad’s love was, because I have at least some understanding of how greatly infinite our God is.

Please understand that, when I say that, I don’t, for a second, believe that I totally understand God! There is no one on earth who does. But what I believe about God and His great love and compassion for us reaches to and beyond the skies. I read all of those psalms that speak of His love reaching to the heavens and His faithfulness stretching to the clouds, and I get it.

I feel like I’m rambling today, and I apologize for that. My thoughts are scattered. But I also believe that God knows what I’m trying to say, and I believe (hopefully) that He is honored by my rambling. So, on this Father’s Day (even if you are in a country where they don’t observe this), I would ask you to consider the Father’s love for you

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
 a warrior who gives victory; 
he will rejoice over you with gladness, 
he will renew you in his love; 
he will exult over you with loud singing
(Zephaniah 3:17 NRSV)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. 
May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; 
for Yours are the kingdom and the power 
and the glory forever and ever. 
Amen.

My Father, I thank You and praise You for Your love for us. I thank You for giving me a father whose compassion and love for me was evident. Thank You for the many things that he taught me in my life, not the least of which was how to love You. I pray that I do not disappoint You, although I feel that I must. But I am comforted by the truth that You remember that we are but dust, imperfect creation.

I love You, Lord, and I long to please You. Help me to walk in ways that lease You. Help me to know the perfection of Your presence, the fullness of joy in Your presence, and the pleasures forevermore at Your right hand. Thank You, my Father.

Eternal God,
the staggering truth that I was loved in Christ
before the foundation of the world
dwarfs my imagination.
While I cannot fathom it,
let this truth bring me to my knees in gratitude,
that I may wholly love you who first
so greatly loved me.
But it's not only about me - 
you will unite all things in Christ.
What a plan!
What a God!
Amen.
(Seeking God's Face, Ordinary Time - Week 5, Day 1)

Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Grace and peace, friends.