Faith That Matters – Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy

Of Ax Handles and Tacos

December 31, 2019 Jeff

Today is Tuesday, December 31, 2019. The Seventh Day of Christmas. The Eve of Holy Name. Peace be with you!

Day 22,573

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day, 2020.

Today is Make Up Your Mind Day. “Make Up Your Mind Day just goes to show that there really is a day for everything.

“This one is aimed at those who may be just a little (or a lot) indecisive. So to all you undecided people out there: no matter whether you have a habit annoying your friends by struggling to pick a dish at a restaurant, or trying to decide if you’re really, really ready for that career change, this is the one day when the choice has to be made. No excuses, no procrastination, no ands, ifs or buts—this day is your chance to stop putting things off for fear of responsibility and get things done. And what a better day to do this than New Year’s Eve, when you’re standing on the brink of a whole New Year and perhaps wondering what you could do to make it your own?

“While it may seem a little scary at first, especially to those unaccustomed to being decisive, the ultimate goal is to take control of you life by making a decision and sticking with it. It’s celebrated by being brave and taking chances, and by learning something new about yourself along the way.”

So as I approach 2020, while I have not made “New Year’s Resolutions” in over a decade, I have made up my mind that a few things are going to be different in this next year. They involve music, prayer, and health. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

I’m going to meet up with my pastor/friend in a little while, this morning. Since I’m taking my last day of PTO (Paid Time Off) for 2019, I’m not at work today. He and I have not yet had an opportunity to meet and discuss the books we are reading for the Renovare Book Club, this year. So, since I have the day off, I suggested meeting this morning. So we are meeting at a coffee shop at 10:00 AM to talk about books. If you recall my new t-shirt, that’s one of the five things that I like almost as much as reading.

After that, I will be bringing home lunch for S and me, then I will probably spend the afternoon playing Days Gone on the PS4, until C gets home from work. We don’t really have any plans for the night. We aren’t big New Year’s Eve partiers, these days. Is that a word? I don’t think it’s a word. Partiers? Partyers? There are red spellcheck lines under both of those. Oh, well. Whatever. We were invited to a get-together at a friend’s house, but C has not been feeling well for the last few days, so I reckon we’ll just stay home chill. Will we stay up until 2020? That remains to be seen. I might, but if I do, I’ll probably be playing on the PS4. Or watching a show on Amazon Prime or Netflix. Who knows???

The Shadow knows!

We’re both off tomorrow for the first holiday of the new year. Then it’s back to work for two days, then another weekend. 2020 is a leap year, so Christmas and New Year’s Day will be on Friday, next year. So it will be at least four years until we have those holidays in the middle of the week again.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah. because they do not change and do not fear God.
Psalm 55.16-19

Today I am grateful:
1. For my last day of PTO for the year.
2. That my PTO resets tomorrow!
3. That the Lord redeems my soul in safety my battles (Psalm 55.18).
4. For examples of people such as Brother Lawrence in doing everything we do to the glory of God.
5. For the things God will do in me in 2020.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
Psalm 70.1
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Psalm 65.4
Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
Psalm 103.20
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19.11-16
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together, old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 148

“Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him,
and to be born of a pure virgin:
Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through my Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory,
now and for ever. Amen.”
(The Divine Hours, The Prayer Appointed for the Week)

(From Faith That Matters)

Do All As Jesus Would, by Dallas Willard

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10.31

“The specific work to be done–whether it is making ax handles or tacos, selling automobiles or teaching kindergarten, performing in the arts or teaching English as a second language–is of central interest to God. It is work that should be done, and it should be done as Jesus himself would do it. Nothing can substitute for that.”

I agree with Willard on this. When we are “at work,” whatever it is that we do, we should do our best to do the work as Jesus would do it. Furthermore, while we are on the job, we should give our full attention to that job, which means that “religious activities” should take a back seat to that job. That doesn’t mean that we are not engaging the power of God in our work, or even that we don’t pray during the job. Personally, I don’t consider prayer as “religious activity.”

Richard Foster, in Streams of Living Water, calls this idea the “Incarnational Stream.” It is the action of living our daily lives to the glory of God, no matter what it is that we do. In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence, who was assigned the menial task of washing dishes in the monastery, says, “Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.”

Willard writes, “Our intention with our job should be the highest possible good in its every aspect, and we should pursue that with the conscious expectation of a constant energizing and direction from God. Although we must never allow our job to become our life, we should, within reasonable limits, routinely sacrifice our comfort and pleasure for the quality of our work, whether it be ax handles, tacos, or the proficiency of a student we are teaching.”

So, if we are followers of Jesus, we should do all of our work for his glory, doing it the way we believe Jesus would do it if he were us. Because we love him, we do everything to his glory, whether we eat or drink or make ax handles or tacos.

2020, bring it on.

Father, as a new year approaches, I pray that I would fulfill your purpose for me in 2020. I pray that I would take this mindset along with me, wherever I go, in whatever I do. May I go to work each day with the intent of doing my work as Jesus would do it, to the glory of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. May your Spirit inspire me and drive me to everything in a spirit of holiness and devotion to you.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

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.

Grace and peace, friends.

Following Jesus

December 29, 2019 Jeff

Today is December 29, 2019. The fifth day of Christmas. Peace be with you!

Day 22,571

Three days until New Year’s Day, 2020!

Today is Tick Tock Day. “Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… This is the sound of the year, and indeed your life, slowly slipping away. Every moment not spent living life to the fullest is another moment that is gone forever, impossible to reclaim. Tick Tock Day reminds you that the year is almost at an end, and there are things still left to be doing, and in fact only two days left to do them in. Don’t let the year end with regret! Get out there and beat the Tick Tock!”

Personally, I prefer not to worry about the Tick Tock. After all, I have nothing that absolutely has to get done before January 1, 2020. And, I’m trying to live by Dallas Willard’s encouragement to “ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” That also eliminates the tyranny of the Tick Tock.

C took down Christmas, yesterday. That sounds rather extreme, doesn’t it? It really just means that all of the decorations are down. She did all of this while I was at the leadership meeting, and while I was finishing up my daily blog. All of the inside decorations, the tree, and the outside decorations are all put away until the weekend after Thanksgiving of 2020.

Sadly, she is not feeling well, this morning. It sounds to me like she has come down with the sinus-bronchitis “crud.” She doesn’t think she feels feverish, so she doesn’t think it’s flu. We certainly hope not. It remains to be seen if she will make it to our church meeting this morning.

Speaking of church meeting, The Exchange Church is “scattered” this morning, as we meet in different homes to devote ourselves to “the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) Each group begins at 10:15. The three homes are at 4760 Baytree Dr (76137), 7117 Payte Ln (76182), and 4033 Jackie Lee St (76180). All are in Fort Worth (or suburbs, thereof). If you’re reading this and in the area, you are welcome and invited to join us.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145.21

Today I am grateful:
1. For another opportunity to worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. For the mild non-winter-like weather we are having.
3. For the steadfast love of the Lord, that reaches to the heavens (Psalm 36.5).
4. That I can learn to be like Jesus by watching him and listening to him daily.
5. For the unceasing presence of the Trinity in my life.

O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, grant me your peace.
(Agnus Dei)
Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Psalm 36.5
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
Psalm 145.1
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'”
Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?
Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
So there was a division among the people over him.
Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
John 7.37-44
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and 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, and I am saved from my enemies.
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?
Psalm 18.1-3, 30-31

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.

“Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.”
(The Divine Hours, The Prayer Appointed for the Week)

(From Faith That Matters)

An Essential Condition, by Dallas Willard

And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

“If I am to be someone’s apprentice, there is one absolutely essential condition. I must be with that person.” That seems rather simple, doesn’t it? If you are going to learn how to be an electrician, you have to study with an electrician. Oh, sure, there are classes, probably, but any craftsman, before he or she can be “released” into the world to do their craft, must be an apprentice.

Obviously, when Levi, later known as Matthew, began following Jesus, Jesus was physically on the earth. And Levi, along with eleven other men, followed Jesus for several years. They learned from him by being with him.

“If I am Jesus’ disciple that means I am with him to learn from him how to be like him.” How do we learn from our teachers? How did we learn how to do math? How did we learn how to read? How did we learn another language? By watching and listening to our teachers. So, we learn how to be like Jesus by watching him and listening to him.

“And provision has been made for us to be with Jesus, as one person to another, in our daily life. But it is also necessary that we have a practical–though not a metaphysical or even a theological–understanding of this arrangement in order to carry on our side of the apprenticeship relation.”

Jesus is not physically here, now. But the Holy Spirit is, as well as the Scriptures, handed down to us from people who were with him on a daily basis. Through those Scriptures, we are able to “watch and listen” to Jesus as he lived on the earth. If I am to be considered a follower of Jesus, this is an essential condition. I must “be with him” daily.

It is also helpful to remember Acts 4:13. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

Can anyone recognize that I have been with Jesus?

Father, I pray that you would remind me, daily, of the presence of you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in Trinitarian reality. Teach me to be like Jesus. Help me to watch him and listen to him daily. May 2020 be a year of unprecedented growth for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13.14

Grace and peace, friends.

Deliver Us From Evil

December 27, 2019 Jeff

Today is Friday, December 27, 2019. The Feast of St. John. Peace be with you!

Day 22,569

Five days until New Year’s Day, 2020!!

Today is Make Cut-out Snowflakes Day. “It was a favorite activity in our earliest school years, and many families would share it as a familiar project around the holidays. Surely it ended up with numerous small flakes of paper on the ground as thick as the snow outside, but it was accompanied by a warmth of time spent creatively, and the unique designs that came out of everyone’s individual efforts. Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day encourages us to set out to do it again, and create snowflakes that will persist long after the last crystal of ice has melted into water as the seasons change.” I haven’t thought about doing this in years.

It’s Friday, and we’re ending a really off-kilter work week. We had Monday, then we had a “weekend,” then we had “Monday” again, and now we have Friday. Next week will be the same for me, as I am taking my last day of PTO on New Year’s Eve. So I’ll work one day, have two off, then work two days, then have two off.

By the way, tomorrow’s blog may be later than usual. We “scattered” leaders are meeting with our pastor tomorrow morning, and it has to be earlier than usual, as one of the other leaders’ son has a school soccer game at 10:30. We’re meeting at 8:30 AM. On SATURDAY!! So I may just wait until after we are done to do my blogging.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalm 103.20-22

Today I am grateful:
1. That my knee feels better this morning than it did yesterday morning.
2. That I have opportunity, today, to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to his name (Psalm 92.1).
3. That the Lord has been with us, every step of the way.
4. For Jesus’s encouragement for us to pray that we be not lead into trials, but delivered from evil (Matthew 6.13).
5. For the promise of God to be with me, to strengthen me, to uphold me (Isaiah 41.10).

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Psalm 115.1
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Psalm 118.14
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
John 21.20-25
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
John 92.1-4

“Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born this day of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.”
(The Divine Hours, The Prayer Appointed for the Week)

(From Faith That Matters)

Lord, Lead Me Not Into Trials, by Dallas Willard

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6.13

“This request is not just for evasion of pain and of things we don’t like, though it frankly is that. It expresses the understanding that we can’t stand up under very much pressure, and that it is not a good thing for us to suffer. It is a vote of ‘no confidence’ in our own abilities.

“God expects us to pray that we will escape trials, and we should do it.” When “bad things” happen to us, they challenge our faith. And, frankly, there are times when I fail those challenges. That doesn’t mean my faith is ever destroyed, because it has not been. But it certainly wanes, at times. But we see, also, how people attack God whenever bad things happen to them. These things we call “bad” tend to undermine faith.

“As we attentively make this prayer a part of our constant bearing in life, we will see how God indeed does keep us from trials and deliver us from evil. Constantly.”

And my own side note, here. Some folks seem to have a tendency to seek out trials and sufferings because they think that honors God more. It is my opinion that such folks need professional help. Jesus, himself, encourages us to ask God to keep us from trials and temptations. Why, then, would we not do that?

Father, thank you for Jesus’s teachings on prayer. I am feeble and utterly dependent on you for deliverance. So, today, lead me not into temptation or trial, and deliver me from evil. And cause me to think on this truth throughout the day.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41.10

Grace and peace, friends.

This Much I Love You!

December 25, 2019 Jeff3 Comments

Today is Wednesday, December 25, 2019, The Feast of the Nativity. Peace, love, and joy be with you!

Day 22,567

Today is Christmas Day!

It is also Pumpkin Pie Day. “Pumpkin Pie Day celebrates the humble pumpkin pie, a national favourite in the USA. Pumpkin pie is a traditional North American sweet dessert, eaten during the fall and early winter, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The pumpkin is a symbol of harvest time and featured also at Halloween.

“The pie consists of a pumpkin-based custard, ranging in color from orange to brown, baked in a single pie shell, rarely with a top crust. The pie is generally flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. This pie is often made from canned pumpkin or packaged pumpkin pie filling (spices included); this is a seasonal product available in bakeries and grocery stores, although it is possible to find year-round.”

Seven days until New Year’s Day! 2020. That’s really hard to wrap my head around, let me tell you. I can still remember calculating how old I would be at the turn of the century (which, occurred in 2001). My childhood brain didn’t even fathom that 2020 would happen! Odd are, I won’t be around to see if Zager and Evans’s “In the Year 2525” will turn out to be accurate prophecy.

We’ve had our Christmas morning at the Bickleyhouse. Everyone seems to be happy with their gifts. We all had a wonderful time opening them. I got some books (surprised?). One will be one of my devotionals for 2020, The Songs of Jesus, by Timothy and Kathy Keller. It is subtitled, “A year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms.” Anyone who knows me very well knows that I absolutely adore the Psalms. It’s by far my favorite book in the Bible. I also got a book by James Bryan Smith, called Embracing the Love of God: The Path and Promise of Christian Life, and The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers, by Amy Hollingsworth. That last one was recommended by our pastor.

I got a couple of cool t-shirts. One says, “That’s what I do. I read books and I know things.” The other one says, “5 things I like almost as much as reading: 1. Looking at my books 2. Talking about my books 3. Going to the bookstore or library to get more books 4. Websites about books 5. Bacon.”

I got a couple of new games for the PS4. Days Gone and The Sinking City, which is an H.P. Lovecraft inspired game.

There was other cool stuff, too, including a couple of table games we can play with R & J (and other people, too), a bit of candy, some Fallout pint glasses, along with some Fallout “Nuka Cola” inspired soda, and some Peanuts themed cocoa and mugs. There was also a cool gear bag to carry cables and pedals and whatnot for my music stuff.

After a little bit, we will head over to Mineral Wells to spend the afternoon with my mother and have Christmas lunch.

By the way, the current temperature is sixty degrees, with sunshine. It doesn’t look a bit like Christmas. Not here, anyway. I’m not mad about that, either.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32.11

Today I am grateful:
1. That our family is together, this morning, and that we are full of joy.
2. For the celebration of the gift of Jesus Christ.
3. The Jesus loves me “from one scarred hand to the other.”
4. That Jesus did not “count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself” (Philippians 2.6-7).
5. That my heart is full, this morning. I don’t think I could be more content.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Psalm 67.3-5
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Psalm 30.12
Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40.7-8
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2.1-20
Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98

Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia. Amen.
The Gloria

(From Faith That Matters)

How Much Do You Love Me?, by Brennan Manning

. . . that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength 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, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3.17-19

“I went to pray in the parish church in Tamarac, Florida, at two in the afternoon. The usual tenor of my prayer life is dryness, longing, and experiencing the absence of God in the hopes of communion. But the moment I knelt down my mind was filled with the image of a three-year-old boy playing on the rug in his living room. Off in the corner his mother sat on the floor in the lotus position, knitting. Suddenly she dropped her work and beckoned to him. He toddled over and climbed up on her lap. She smiled down at him and asked softly, ‘How much do you love me?’ He extended his tiny arms as far as they would go and exclaimed, ‘This much I love you.’

“In an instant, it was thirty-some years later; the little boy in the fullness of manhood hung nailed to a crossbeam. His mother looked up and said, ‘How much do you love me?’ His arms were stretched out to the ends of the universe. ‘This much I love you.'”

Have you experienced the “love of Christ that surpasses knowledge?” Behold how much he loves you.

Father I thank you that Jesus loves me “this much!”
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

“O God, you have caused the holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that I, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.”
(The Divine Hours, The Concluding Prayer of the Church)

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3.20-21

Grace and peace, friends.

As A Matter of Fact, I AM A Saint

December 21, 2019 Jeff

Today is Saturday, December 21, 2019, in the third week of Advent. Peace be with you!

Day 22,563

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Well … shortest amount of daylight. All days are approximately the same length. Also, the first day of Winter. But, since this is Texas, that’s pretty meaningless. It’s going to be about fifty degrees today. In fact, the forecast for Christmas is a balmy seventy-one degrees, with little to no chance of any precipitation. I think it is safe to say that we will not have a “white Christmas.” Unless the Lord has a surprise in store for us.

Speaking of Christmas, I think most of the gifts are in. I’m still waiting on one package to be delivered to the house. Today, there will be some wrapping done, I believe.

For many folks, today is Humbug Day. “For many people, Christmas can be an incredibly stressful time of year. Coping with the pressures of shopping for gifts and planning events and parties whilst embracing the holiday spirit can be a lot to ask!

“Humbug Day encourages a controlled venting of all that stress before Christmas so that you can enjoy the festive season to the fullest.”

In addition to Humbug Day, today is also Dalek Remembrance Day, Crossword Puzzle Day, Ribbon Candy Day, Short Girl Appreciation Day, Short Story Day, Don’t Make Your Bed Day, and Look On the Bright Side Day. That’s a lot of “holidays” on one day!

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
Psalm 34.3

Today I am grateful:
1. For the weekend to rest for the upcoming week (which will be an abbreviated week).
2. For the grace of God, marvelous, infinite, matchless grace.
3. For the mercy of God, great to the heavens.
4. For the “communion of saints.”
5. That I am one of those “saints.”

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
Psalm 119.18
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Psalm 57.9-10
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!
Psalm 79.11
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1.76-79
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah.
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
Psalm 82

“Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.”
(The Divine Hours, The Prayer Appointed for the Week)

(From Faith That Matters)

The Earthiness of Saints, by Frederick Buechner

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5.8

What is a saint? There are a number of “official” definitions. For the Catholic Church, a saint is “one officially recognized especially through canonization as preeminent for holiness.” Some think if a saint as “one of the spirits of the departed in heaven,” or, “one of God’s chosen and usually Christian people.” A saint is also thought to be someone who is “extra-virtuous” or “extra-pious.” In short, most people think of a saint as a sort of “super-Christian.”

Buechner says, “In his holy flirtation with the world, God occasionally drops a pocket handkerchief. These handkerchiefs are called saints.” Then he goes on.

“Many people think of saints as plaster saints, men and women of such paralyzing virtue that they never thought a nasty thought or did an evil deed their whole lives long.” But do “real saints” think of themselves in this way? “The feet of saints are as much of clay as everybody else’s, and their sainthood consists less of what they have done than of what God has for some reason chosen to do through them.” This reminds me of yesterday’s blog.

Consider for a moment. “Saint Mary Magdalene was possessed by seven devils.” “Saint Augustine prayed, ‘Give me chastity and continence, but not now.'” Saint Francis began “as a high-living young dude in downtown Assisi.” In truth, there is no one that God cannot use “as a means of grace, including even ourselves.”

I believe that anyone who considers themselves to be a Christ-follower is, in fact, a “saint.” When we draw our power from the Holy Spirit, the source of life, we are, ourselves, “life-givers.” It’s true … we don’t always act like “saints.” Sometimes, we act like demons. More often than not, when we get into political arguments (I try like heck to avoid those). But when we are truly living in the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring life to the place where we are. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If we are living with him, walking with him, then we also bring Life, wherever we go.

David wrote, in Psalm 16.3, “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” I’ll be gathering, tomorrow, with the saints of The Exchange Church. I can’t wait. Because they are the ones in whom I delight. I pray that whoever reads this can feel that same delight in the presence of the saints.

Father, thank you for choosing me to be a “saint.” But I also thank you that I have a firm grip on how imperfect I am, and that “saints” aren’t perfect people. We are people who depend on you for everything in our lives. Forgive me when I step off the path and forget that. Thank you for everything that you have done for and through me. I pray that you will continue to work through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

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.

Grace and peace, friends.

It’s Not What I Have Done, But What He Has Done

December 20, 2019 Jeff1 Comment

Today is Friday, December 20, in the third week of Advent. Peace be with you!

Day 22,562

FIVE DAYS until Christmas!

And, fitting for the season, today is Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. “Lurking in the murky depths of many people’s wardrobes is a colorful, brash and (in most cases) highly embarrassing novelty Christmas jumper which, were it not for Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, would probably never see the light of day.

“When for [sic] Ugly Christmas Sweater Day comes along, it’s time to stop being ashamed of the contents of your (likely gifted) wardrobe and start busting out the ugly. There is such a thing as ‘so awful you can’t really hate it’ (the nether-regions of Netflix has multiple movies that fit these criteria), and Ugly Christmas Sweaters fit the bill in your wardrobe.”

If you don’t have an ugly Christmas sweater (sadly, I don’t), you can always celebrate Go Caroling Day. And if you’re more of the “Bah! Humbug!” type, you can participate in Sangria Day. Maybe that will help you get through all the people singing and wearing ugly Christmas sweaters.

C brought home about half of her steak last night. I haven’t tasted it, yet, but it looks delicious. She also received a $100 gift card for Morton’s Steakhouses, which, I believe includes Saltgrass. Actually, it includes any restaurant owned by Landry’s.

I think R and J are coming over tomorrow with some insane notion of cleaning out the closet in her old bedroom. So we’ll probably have lunch with them. C and S have a dental appointment tomorrow morning. We need to pick up groceries for all of the Christmas festivities, and we have our “gathered” church time Sunday morning. I still have to pick one more song to lead for that. I’m leading “O Holy Night” for one of them, and our worship leader’s wife is going to sing “Breath of Heaven.”

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
Psalm 55.16-17

Today I am grateful:
1. For the deliverance accomplished by my Redeemer.
2. That God alone is my rock and my fortress and my salvation (Psalm 62.6).
3. That nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8.38-39).
4. That God’s love for me is not based on anything that I have done, rather, on what Christ has done.
5. For the joy of the season, joy which is available all year long.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
Psalm 70.1
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Psalm 65.4
Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33.20
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.
And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”
And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3.31-35
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.
Psalm 62.5-12

(From Faith That Matters)

Christ’s Commitment Is To Us, by James Bryan Smith

For I am sure 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

“For most of my Christian life,” says Smith, “I related to God on the basis of what I did for him.” How true is that for many of us. “If I prayed well, studied hard, served much, and sinned little, then I felt reasonably sure God was pleased with me.” The reverse of that, however, is the accompanying fear that if we fail in any of those things, God will remove his love from us. This also results in a paralysis of our ability “to love God, love myself, and ultimately, love others.”

At one point, I was positive that “my sinfulness would separate me from the love of Christ. Now I am certain that nothing will ever separate me from the love God has made visible in Jesus.”

We would do well to realize that our “feeble attempts at righteousness” have absolutely nothing to do with the way God feels about us. My commitment to Christ is not what matters, in this case. Of course that commitment matters, but what matters more is Christ’s commitment to us. Know this truth: There is nothing that you can do to cause God to love you less than he loves you right now. And there is nothing that you can do to cause him to love you more than he loves you right now.

Don’t let anything build an imaginary wall between you and God.

Father, once again, thank you for this truth that your love for us is not based on what we do, but on what Christ has done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

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.

Grace and peace, friends.

Stop Condemning and Blaming

“When we condemn another we really communicate that he or she is, in some deep and just possibly irredeemable way, bad–bad as a whole, and to be rejected. In our eyes the condemned is among the discards of human life. He or she is not acceptable. We sentence that person to exclusion.”

December 19, 2019 Jeff

Today is Thursday, December 19, in the third week of Advent. Peace be with you!

Day 22,561

SIX DAYS until Christmas!!

Today is Look For An Evergreen Day. “Every year one thing remains the same around the holidays, people everywhere have to decide at what point before the big day they’re going to go out and hunt down a Christmas tree· Look for an Evergreen Day is about the last opportunity you have if you haven’t already gotten yours to ensure you have a tree for the Holidays

“Even if you’ve already got your tree for this year, this is a great opportunity to go out and familiarize yourself with the other types of Evergreens in your neighborhood, and discover that these regal giants are around you all year round.”

We wound up not going to the dinner thing, last night. C was very tired, and S didn’t feel well. Or at least she said that. But C kind of talked her out of going, so we stayed home and ordered out Italian food for dinner. Not the healthiest of dinners.

Today is my Christmas lunch at work. We are also having a dessert contest, as well as our Secret Santa gift exchange. And C’s company is taking the leadership team out for dinner tonight.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51.15

Today I am grateful:
1. For the music that helps us celebrate the season.
2. To work for a company that provides a little something extra for holidays.
3. The provision of “daily bread.”
4. That Jesus is teaching me how to live life without condemning and blaming.
5. That there is no condemnation for me in Christ Jesus (Romans 8.1).

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Psalm 86.1-2
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90.1-2
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Psalm 85.9
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'”
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1.1-4
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
…who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.
Psalm 66.5, 7-9

(From Faith That Matters)

Imagine A World Without Condemnation, by Dallas Willard

Judge not, that you be not judged.
Matthew 7.1

“If we would really help those close to us and dear, and if we would learn to live together with our family and ‘neighbors’ in the power of the kingdom, we must abandon the deeply rooted human practice of condemning and blaming.” I can appreciate Dallas’s usage of the phrase “deeply rooted human practice.” If we are honest (and we frequently are not), we would acknowledge that this practice of condemning and blaming is, indeed, deeply rooted. What is our initial, knee-jerk reaction when something goes wrong? We immediately look for someone else to blame, someone at which to point the finger.

But Jesus is telling us, in the Sermon on the Mount, that we can “become the kind of person who does not condemn or blame others. As we do so, the power of God’s kingdom will be more freely available to bless and guide those around us into his ways.”

What happens when we condemn someone? “When we condemn another we really communicate that he or she is, in some deep and just possibly irredeemable way, bad–bad as a whole, and to be rejected. In our eyes the condemned is among the discards of human life. He or she is not acceptable. We sentence that person to exclusion. Surely we can learn to live well and happily without doing that.”

Social media, today, is chock full of condemnation. The “conservatives” condemn the “liberals,” and vice versa, without even thinking about what they are doing. “If you don’t agree with the way I think, I condemn you.”

As the title of the reading suggests, can you even imagine a world where this kind of thinking is, at least, not the norm? I, for one, intend to do my part to make my little corner significantly less condemnatory. Remember Paul’s words in Ephesians 4.29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” That doesn’t appear to leave any room or excuse for condemning or blaming.

We are created in the image of God. Therefore, by what right do we condemn another image-bearer?

Father, thank you for this reminder, today. I’m pretty sure I was guilty of a fair bit of condemnation at work, yesterday. Please set my heart right so that I do not participate in that practice, but only allow things that are good for building up to come out of my mouth, that I might give grace to those who hear.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

Grace and peace, friends.

Daily Bread

December 18, 2019 Jeff2 Comments

Today is Wednesday, December 18, 2019, in the third week of Advent. Peace be with you!

Day 22,560

SEVEN DAYS until Christmas!!

Today is International Migrants Day. “Migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a better life. Today, globalization, together with advances in communications and transportation, has greatly increased the number of people who have the desire and the capacity to move to other places.

“This new era has created challenges and opportunities for societies throughout the world. It also has served to underscore the clear linkage between migration and development, as well as the opportunities it provides for co-development, that is, the concerted improvement of economic and social conditions at both origin and destination.”

C made fudge last night. I’ll be taking some to work tomorrow. As part of our Christmas lunch, we are having a Christmas dessert contest. I feel like this fudge should win something.

Tonight, we will be meeting up with some of S’s old classmates for dinner. Her old English teacher from Keller High School organizes one of these dinners several times a year. It’s really a cool thing. Tomorrow night, C has her company Christmas dinner. They usually take them to some ritzy steak place. You know the kind. Where the steaks cost $100 and you have more plate than food. So S and I will be on our own for dinner.

‘Tis the season, the busy, busy season. But it’s usually good times and fun, as well.

I think I have three more packages to pick up at the Amazon hub locker this evening.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145.22

Today I am grateful:
1. For the mercy of God, that reaches to the heavens (Psalm 36.5).
2. That, no matter how bad things might appear, there is a bigger picture, and the Lord has it firmly in hand.
3. That God still has a purpose for me.
4. That Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13.8).
5. That I am sheltered under the Lord’s wings (Psalm 91.4).

O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, grant me your peace.
(Agnus Dei)
Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Psalm 36.5
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
Psalm 145.1
…but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
John 19.25-27
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 above all things your name and your word.
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Psalm 138

(From Faith That Matters)

Daily Needs, Daily Requests, by Dallas Willard

Give us this day our daily bread…
Matthew 6.11

This verse is part of a prayer that I pray at least once a day. I believe that this little phrase speaks of more than just food, though. “Food, of course, is symbolically central,” says Willard, “but whatever else we really need to live in a functional manner is included in this request.” In 1 Timothy 6.8, Paul says, “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” This seems to line up with the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6.25-34, as well as with God’s provision for the Israelites in the wilderness.

“Of course this request embodies that confidence in our Father that relieves us from all anxiety. The emphasis is on provisions today of what we need for today. This is because God is always present today, no matter which day it is.”

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis said, “Almost certainly God is not in time. His life does not consist of moments one following another… Ten-thirty–and every other moment from the beginning of the world–is always present for Him.”

This, of course, is a concept that we struggle with comprehending. But the reign of God is “the Eternal Now. So we do not ask him to provide today what we will need for tomorrow. Today I have God, and he has the provisions. Tomorrow it will be the same. So I simply ask today for what I need for today or ask now for what I need now.”

May we be confident that the Lord will meet our needs for today.

Father, I thank you for the promises that you will provide for us what we need. May I not get greedy and ask for more than I need today. May I not worry about tomorrow, because you are already there and already have things well in hand.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Grace and peace, friends.

Worship At the Center

December 17, 2019December 18, 2019 Jeff2 Comments

Today is Tuesday, December 17, in the third week of Advent. Peace be with you.

Day 22,559

Eight days until Christmas!! (We’d better start rapping. Oops. I mean “wrapping.”)

Today is Maple Syrup Day. “Oh, hey! Did you know that maple syrup had its own holiday? No? Neither did we! So, before we delve into the history of and the most popular thing to put on pancakes, waffles, French toast and more, let us take a moment to thank the maple trees for the sap that becomes the sweet syrup we know and love today! That’s the whole focus of Maple Syrup Day!” And you can have your Log Cabin and Mrs. Butterworth syrups. Give me pure maple syrup any day! Grade A amber, please.

I practiced the piano, a little last night. Well, not a “real” piano. But it was a piano patch on my Nord keyboard. Does that count? I get to play “Breath of Heaven” this Sunday morning for our worship leader’s wife to sing. It’s not a difficult song, but the intro to the first, second, and third verses is challenging. I’m also planning to sing O Holy Night. I’ll be leading one other song, but I haven’t decided what, yet. I was suddenly struck with this idea of writing some “Christmasy” lyrics to one of our other worship songs. Maybe there’s still time. We’ll see.

The Christmas presents continue to roll in. I picked up another package at the Amazon hub locker last night. It had six gifts in it. And one was delivered to the house, because it was too big for a locker. S brought it in the house for us, so it didn’t get stolen by the Porch Thieves. The challenging thing is to keep up with what we have received and what is still coming.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Psalm 95.1
My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.
Psalm 71.23
I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 89.1

Today I am grateful:
1. For singing. I love to sing and make melody to the Lord on instruments.
2. For a new life in Christ yesterday!
3. For the Psalms, which can teach us to pray and sing to the Lord.
4. That our transgressions are cast as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103).
5. For fresh visions of God.

Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
Psalm 144.5
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3.10-13
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103.10-14

(From Faith That Matters)

The Center of Christian Spirituality, by N.T. Wright

The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 4.10-11

“Worship is at the very center of all Christian living. One of the main reasons theology (trying to think straight about who God is) matters is that we are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. It matters that we learn more about who God is so we can praise him more appropriately.”

The book of Revelation gives us this glimpse of how important worship is. Even with this word picture that has been given us by the John the Revelator, I can only imagine what the scene will look “when we all get to heaven.” I mean, sure, “what a day of rejoicing that will be.” But this scene of those “living creatures” mentioned in verse 9 of Revelation 4, followed by the twenty-four elders falling down before him who is seated on the throne . . . it brings chills to me.

How does the worship in our modern churches compare to this? Says Wright, “Perhaps one of the reasons why so much worship, in some churches at least, appears unattractive to so many people is that we have forgotten, or covered up, the truth about the one we are worshiping. But whenever we even glimpse the truth, we are drawn back. Like groupies sneaking off work to see a rock star who’s in town for just an hour or so, like fans waiting all night for a glimpse of a football team returning in triumph–only much more so!–those who come to recognize the God we see in Jesus, the Lion who is also the Lamb, will long to come and worship him.”

Those words cut me to my soul, folks. You can be sure I will be chewing on these thoughts all day today.

“We will praise him appropriately only when we’ve encountered the one true God!”

Father, I praise you for who you are. I thank you for this fresh vision of you. May it stir my soul today, as I ponder these thoughts. May I be eagerly looking forward to encounters with you, as though I were about to meet my favorite musician or baseball player. Even more so, as you are much more important than they are.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Grace and peace, friends.

Pitiful

December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 Jeff2 Comments

Today is Thursday, December 12, 2019. Peace be with you!

Day 22,554

13 days until Christmas!!

Second week of Advent!

No real news this morning. We got some more of our Christmas shopping done, last night, and several packages are ready to pick up at a couple of different Amazon lockers. Different because one of them was full when I placed some more orders. Fortunately, they are across the street from each other.

Today is Poinsettia Day. “Poinsettia Day, a day to celebrate the ever popular red flower used around the Christmas holiday season. When looking at a Poinsettia, all we can think of is “The Poinsettia is to Christmas like a pumpkin is to Halloween” But where is the Poinsettia from, and how did it become a Christmas staple? That’s why we’re here to find out what Poinsettia Day is all about!” Click the link to learn more about the origins of the Poinsettia.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 96.9

Today I am grateful:
1. For food, shelter, and clothing, things we so often take for granted.
2. For transportation to drive to work.
3. That we both have jobs to drive to.
4. For the mercy and compassion (pity) that the Lord shows us.
5. For the admonishment to show that same compassion toward others.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah.
Psalm 67.1
Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.
Psalm 119.164
May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Psalm 25.21
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up
and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”
He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,
was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”
And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
So they answered that they did not know where it came from.
And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Luke 20.1-8
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Psalm 37.1-7
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, grant me your peace.
(Agnus Dei)

“Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
(The Divine Hours, The Prayer Appointed for the Week)

(From Faith That Matters)

Lord, Forgive Me, by Dallas Willard

And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
1 Kings 8.30

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103.10-14

This is the “wonderful, healing nature of the kingdom among us.” Take a moment to read that passage from Psalm 103, really read it. Let it sink in, digest it. Meditate on it.

We might replace the words “shows compassion” with “pities.” Let us not mistake this “pity” with the idea of feeling sorry for someone. That is not what it means in this context. That’s why the ESV renders it “shows compassion.” In fact, the dictionary defines it as “the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.”

“Once we step into this kingdom and trust it,” writes Willard, “pity becomes the atmosphere in which we live. Of course it is his pity for us that allows us in to start with, and then it patiently bears with us.” James 5.11 tells us, “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

But then, 1 Peter 3.8 tells us, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” The King James Version renders that verse like this: “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” (Emphasis mine) In this case, “pitiful” means full of pity.

So we are to share the same pity (compassion) for others that the Lord has shown us. “It is not psychologically possible for us really to know God’s pity for us and at the same time to be hardhearted toward others. So we are ‘forgiving of others in the same manner as God forgives us.’ That is a part of our prayer.”

Father, today, I am grateful for the pity/compassion that you have shown me. Help me to show the same pity on others today as I go through my day. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Grace and peace, friends.