Making All Things New

Today is Thursday, the eighth day of June, 2023, in the second week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ surround you, today!

Day 23,828

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 719 4/6*

🟨⬛⬛🟨⬛
🟨⬛⬛⬛🟨
🟨🟨🟨⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Sometimes, I sit and stare at the puzzle (and the remaining letters available) for a few minutes, and then the word just comes to me. My streak is at five days. Yesterday’s word was “hater.”

Yesterday’s day at the library was wonderful. It was quite busy for most of the day. Summer (unofficially) is up on us and Summer Reading Club is in full swing. (I have 1924 minutes racked up, as of last night.) We had a Magic Show program, yesterday afternoon, so most of the book returns were done inside. Our inside book drop overflowed several times. Then, suddenly, at around five o’clock, it just died, and was pretty quiet for the last hour. I told one of the librarians that the whole day went faster than the last hour.

This morning, I have an appointment at the eye doctor at 10:00. They want to do another one of those “field of vision” tests. I really don’t like that one. I’m so scared that I’m going to miss the little blips of light or squeeze the trigger when there aren’t any blips. He says I have the beginning stages of glaucoma, so he wanted to test me again. Nothing really to worry about, yet, though. Probably not even enough to start any kind of treatment.

S has a Club Metro event, tonight, as well, so C and I should have a nice evening out while she does that.

The Texas Rangers lost a tough one, yesterday. The Cardinals beat them 1-0, on a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning. Jon Gray (6-2) pitched nine innings and struck out twelve batters! How many times has that happened and the pitcher still lost the game? It’s almost like the offense decided to take a break because the pitcher had this one. I know it’s not like that. It just seems like it. What really hurts is that the Cards pitcher walked the bases loaded in the first inning, and the Rangers couldn’t score! That’s how the whole night went. In the bottom of the ninth, Bochy brought in Adolis Garcia to pinch hit. He promptly struck out on three pitches.

The Rangers are now 40-21, in first place in the AL West, still 4.5 games ahead of the Astros. They have today off and are traveling to the worst baseball stadium in the history of ever, to play the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays for the weekend.

The Boston Red Sox also lost, last night, 5-2, to the Cleveland Guardians. Kutter Crawford (1-3) took the loss for the Sox. They are back at .500, 31-31, in last place in the AL East, 3.5 games behind the Blue Jays. They play the Guardians again tonight, at 7:10 ET, in Cleveland. Matt Dermody (0-0) will start for Boston.

Tampa Bay won again, and is now at 45-19, leading MLB. Texas remains in second place, overall, with 40-21. Oakland has won two in a row, but remains last in MLB, with 14-50. Miami now has a six-game winning streak, while Detroit and the NY Mets both have five-game losing streaks. The Rangers only lost by one run, so their differential of +154 still leads MLB, as does their 386 total runs scored. Oakland’s differential now stands at -200.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Gladden the soul of your servant, 
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
(Psalms 86:4 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• for the animals that frequent my back yard (cats, raccoons, possums, and the occasional fox)
• that the Lord continuously gladdens my soul
• that our God is making all things new
• that, while everything that is seen is temporary, what cannot be seen is eternal
• that if we love one another, God dwells within us
• that God wins (be careful, though, as that may not mean what some of you think it means)

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, 
but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.
(Proverbs 10:28 NRSV)

Lord our God, we wait for you night and day. We believe in you and we long for your righteousness. You will answer our prayer. Bless us, we pray. May your name be kept holy and your kingdom come. O Lord our God, may your will be done among the nations. May your will be done in each of us and be plainly seen, as it is in heaven. Look upon the nations. Watch over all humankind. Let a new path be broken so that a peace that passes all understanding may come, a peace from you, the Lord our God. Amen.

---

O come, let us sing to the LORD; 
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; 
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 
For the LORD is a great God, 
and a great King above all gods.
(Psalms 95:1-3 NRSV)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 
Let your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalms 57:5 NRSV)

Do not let those who hope in you 
be put to shame because of me, O Lord GOD of hosts; 
do not let those who seek you be dishonored 
because of me, O God of Israel.
(Psalms 69:6 NRSV)

“Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
(Mark 13:35-37 NRSV)

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; 
let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 
let the field exult, and everything in it. 
Then shall all the trees of the forest 
sing for joy before the LORD; 
for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. 
He will judge the world with righteousness, 
and the peoples with his truth.
(Psalms 96:11-13 NRSV)

 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.

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.

"O God, from who all good proceeds:
Grant that by your inspiration
I may think those things that are right,
and by your merciful guiding may do them;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

If you have raced with foot-runners 
and they have wearied you, 
how will you compete with horses? 
And if in a safe land you fall down, 
how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?
(Jeremiah 12:5 NRSV)

---

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”
(Revelation 21:5 NRSV)

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 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 4:16-18 NRSV)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”
(Revelation 21:3-4 NRSV)

---

No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
(1 John 4:12 MSG)

---

I have a confession to make. I hate losing. This is not a new revelation. And I seriously doubt that I am alone in this. Even the Oakland Athletics probably don’t like losing.

But it’s more complicated than this. There are a few games I play on my phone. Not a whole lot, but a few. One of them, I have a severe love/hate relationship. It’s called Golf Clash. In Golf Clash, you play a hole of golf against another person. Whoever sinks the ball in the fewest number of shots wins. However, if there is a tie (which there is 90% of the time), a “shootout” happens. A par-three hole is presented, and whoever gets closest to the hole in one shot wins the match.

My win percentage over the thousands of games that I have played is currently 51% (might be 52, I’m not certain). Most people’s percentage is close to this. Rarely, we might see someone who has a win percentage over 60%. This means that most of us lose approximately half of our games.

But I hate losing. Especially more than one match in a row. I hate it so much that I take it personally, and decide that the app has it out for me and is constantly favoring the other player. If this goes unchecked, it can ruin my day.

The Rangers lost last night. I didn’t lose, but it felt like I did. And the tendency, if not avoided, can run in the direction that I saw one person comment on the Book of Face, this morning, that “The Rangers usually fade after the all-star break. They’re starting early this season.”

Dude. That was one game. They had won five in a row, and had just scored thirty runs over three games against the Mariners.

But we hate losing. I still remember that World Series game in 2018 between the Red Sox and the Dodgers. It went 18 innings, with the score tied at two. In fact, the score was tied at one each until the 13th inning! Finally, in the bottom of the 18th inning, the Dodgers scored the winning run.

Thousands of people threw their hands up in the air and felt like giving up. But the Sox (who eventually won the series 4-1, that 18-inning game being the only one they lost) were already up 2-1, at that point.

We just don’t like losing.

What is the point of all of this? Partly it is because of my reaction to last night’s game. It was rapidly heading in the same direction as the person who declared that they were already fading. I managed to catch myself, though, and remind myself that they won the series against the Cardinals, just as they have won the last six or seven series in a row. It’s just one game.

The old saying, “You can’t win ’em all,” isn’t quite true. You most certainly CAN win them all. But you won’t. The odds are most definitely NOT in your favor.

Just like I can’t win all of those wretched Golf Clash games. I can barely win half of them. And it’s not personal when I lose. Also, in reference to that verse from Jeremiah about running with horses, if I allow things like a baseball game and Golf Clash to get to me that much, how am I going to fare in real life??

Life is similar. We win sometimes, and we lose sometimes. But guess what! God is making all things new! And, at the end of the book of Revelation, he wipes away every tear from our eyes. Death, mourning, crying, and pain (and, I assume, losing?) will be no more!

God wins. We win. Forever.

So, in whatever it is in which you are losing, right now, whether it be as silly and trivial as Golf Clash, or it be as serious as a divorce or a terminal illness, have faith in God. He wins.

---

Father, I praise You that You, in and through Jesus Christ, are making all things new. I am so grateful that my inner nature is being renewed, day by day, even though my physical body (along with its mind) is gradually wasting away. The truth that this “momentary affliction” is preparing us for “an eternal weight of glory beyond measure . . .” I don’t even have any words to follow that up with! It raises a song of praise in my heart!

I praise You that death and mourning and crying and pain will be no more, eventually. Along with those things, what I also perceive will pass away is the temptation to sin. And I cannot even fathom the idea of not desiring to sin, occasionally. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy sin, when it is happening. And anyone who claims that they don’t is also lying. If it wasn’t enjoyable, we wouldn’t do it, right? But, on that day when all of those things pass away, we will not even experience temptation any longer, and that completely boggles my mind and soul.

So, Father, help me when I lose, to not embrace the negative attitude surrounding it. Regardless of whether it is a silly game or a serious life situation. Help me to “keep my chin up” (I really am not fond of that phrase, but there it is) and trust in You, because You are making all things new, and “this, too, shall pass.”

I long for Home, Father, for that day described at the end of Revelation. And I love the way one of my favorite poets, Daryl Madden, describes it as and “eternal moment . . . of pure unfiltered love within the trinity.” That’s what I’m looking forward to, Father. That “eternal moment,” and the eternal dance with the Holy Trinity, love beyond reason, love that we have never experienced in all of our earthly lives, love that we cannot even begin to fathom.

All glory to You, Lord, through the Son, and by the Spirit!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers!

---

Everything comes from him; 
Everything happens through him; 
Everything ends up in him. 
Always glory! 
Always praise! 
Yes. Yes. Yes. 
(Romans 11:36 MSG)

Grace and peace, friends.

He Lives Within My Heart

Today is Wednesday, the seventh day of June, 2023, in the second week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

Day 23,827

Once again, I want to remind you that the greeting above is not just a greeting. I truly desire for the peace of Christ to dwell within all who stumble across this blog.

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 718 6/6*

🟨⬛⬛⬛🟨
⬛⬛🟨🟨🟨
⬛⬛🟨🟨🟩
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Almost didn’t get this one. But the streak stands at four days, now. Yesterday’s word was “scout.” If you haven’t played Wordle and are interested, I have linked it above all of the squares. It’s a NY Times game.

Yesterday was mostly a good day. I had some kind of sinus stuff going on and had a mild headache for a good part of the day. Just enough to be annoying. But I had a good night at work. I picked up prizes that I have earned, so far, in the Summer Reading Club. I got a cute little stress toy, one of those little square thingies with bumps on it that you can push back and forth. There were several colors available, and I chose the black and white one because it reminds me of Luna (our Tuxedo cat). I also was given the option to select a book from a cart at the information desk. The cart was mostly nonfiction. I had found one or two that were interesting, but then I stumbled across a lone copy of an Anne Lamott book called Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy. I stopped looking and grabbed that one, as I am a huge fan of Ms. Lamott.

I’m almost up to 2000 minutes for my reading club adventure (1815). I should hit 2000 tomorrow or Friday. One of our librarians already has 2500 minutes. Egad.

The Texas Rangers beat the Cardinals again, 6-4. Dane Dunning (5-1) got the win, and Will Smith (not the Fresh Prince) got his eleventh save (out of twelve attempts). The Rangers are now 40-20 for the season, and have the best sixty-game start in the history of the organization. They are in first place in the AL West, and now 4.5 games ahead of the Astros! Marcus Semien has a 25-game hitting streak. They have also won another series, and have a five-game winning streak. They play the Cardinals again tonight at 7:05 PM in Arlington. Jon Gray (6-1) will start for Texas.

The Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-4. James Paxton (2-1) got the win for Boston. Kenley Jansen got his thirteenth save. This put the Sox back over .500, at 31-30, but they remain in last place in the AL East, 2.5 games behind the Blue Jays. They would be tied for first place in the AL Central. They play the Guardians again tonight at 7:10 ET in Cleveland. Kutter Crawford (1-2) will start for Boston.

Tampa Bay continues to lead MLB, at 44-19. Texas is still 2.5 games behind them, with their 40-20 record. Oakland won game! They are 13-50, still trailing everyone. Texas and Miami top the streak category, both with five-game winning streaks. Detroit and St. Louis share the bottom, with five-game losing streaks. Texas also remains atop the run differential category, with +155, and Oakland is at the bottom, with -204. Boston is slightly above the middle, with +10.

It’s my Wednesday to work, so I will be in the circ department today, from 9:15-6:15. It should be a little busier today, since it is unofficially summer. (Real summer doesn’t begin until June 21.)

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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.
(Psalms 90:1-2 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• for life and love and peace
• that the Lord has been my dwelling place throughout my life
• for the grace given us by God, and that He never forsakes us
• that God helps me to have an answer for any questions about my faith
• that Jesus lives, and He lives “within my heart”

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

Lord our God, our refuge forever, bless us who have gathered in your presence and who turn to you in all distress, not only in our personal need but also in the distress of the nations and peoples of the whole world. Grant that we may be your children, with a simple faith that gives us strength to go on working even when life is bitterly hard. We thank you for giving us so much grace, for helping us and never forsaking us, so that again and again we can find joy and can glorify and praise you, our Father. May your name be praised from heaven above and among us here below. May your name be praised by all people throughout the world, and may everyone on earth acknowledge you and receive all that they need from you. Amen.

---

Awake, my soul! 
Awake, O harp and lyre! 
I will awake the dawn.
(Psalms 57:8 NRSV)

Restore us, O God of hosts; 
let your face shine, 
that we may be saved.
(Psalms 80:7 NRSV)

My lips will shout for joy 
when I sing praises to you; 
my soul also, which you have rescued.
(Psalms 71:23 NRSV)

Summon your might, O God; 
show your strength, O God, 
as you have done for us before.
(Psalms 68:28 NRSV)

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
(John 9:4-5 NRSV)

The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
 the floods have lifted up their voice; 
the floods lift up their roaring. 
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, 
more majestic than the waves of the sea, 
majestic on high is the LORD! 
Your decrees are very sure;
 holiness befits your house, 
O LORD, forevermore.
(Psalms 93:3-5 NRSV)

 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.

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.

"O God, from who all good proceeds:
Grant that by your inspiration
I may think those things that are right,
and by your merciful guiding may do them;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;
(1 Peter 3:15 NRSV)

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

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
(John 5:24 NRSV)

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
(Philippians 1:21 NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(1 Peter 1:3-5 NRSV)

---

For GOD is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
(Psalms 96:4 MSG)

---

Peter admonishes us, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to always be ready to make a defense, give an answer, explain our faith, to anyone who asks.

Beloved, that is one of the purposes of this blog. I started it, years ago, on another website, because I was tired of writing it down in notebooks. It was as much for me as for the readers. It has evolved, over time. It still serve the purpose of my spiritual journal, but it has become a project of hopeful inspiration.

I do not share these things for recognition. I post my daily gratitude list in several places, here, and on Facebook, and when I remember, on Instagram. Again, it is not to be recognized or to see how many “likes” I can get. My desire is to inspire gratitude in others.

Here, my desire and purpose is to a) inspire that same sense of gratitude in others, and b) hopefully inspire people to love one another and to love our God through Jesus Christ.

“Christians” and Jesus are getting a lot of negative publicity in the world, these days. I’m trying to combat that with truth and love. I do not have a corner on truth. I might be wrong about some things. But, to loosely quote a pastor from Oklahoma that I have run across on TikTok (which I no longer use) and Instagram, “I would rather be judged for who love than for who I hate.” In other words, I would rather be wrong on the side of love than wrong on the side of hate.

---

Father, You are great, and You are worth more than a thousand hallelujahs! I pray that You would always help me, by the power of Your Spirit, to have an answer for anyone who questions me about my faith in You. Keep me from being overly shy, as I sometimes am, but also do not let me overly bold, as many people are, as this certainly turns some people off. May I be more like Paul, in this respect, who said that he wanted to become all things to all people, that he might, by all means, save some.

May Your glory be seen in all the earth, Father, beginning with my life. Bring about a love revolution in Your people, Father. Let it begin in my house.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers!

---

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along lifes narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Grace and peace, friends.

Ask For the Ancient Paths

Today is Tuesday, the sixth day of June, 2023, in the second week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

Day 23,826

My Wordle for today:’

Wordle 717 4/6*

⬛🟨⬛🟩⬛
🟨⬛🟩🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I really should have gotten that in three. My third guess was a bit silly, as it included a letter that had already been eliminated. My streak is at three days. Yesterday’s word was “ennui.” That one probably tripped up a bunch of people.

There’s not a lot to write about between yesterday and today. It was a pretty chill day, yesterday. As predicted, I put away a couple loads of laundry, and got the trash out for today’s pickup. Isn’t that exciting??

I’ve been tracking weather ever since last summer’s heat wave. I am dismayed to see that, in the ten-day forecast, we are expected to have triple digit temperatures next Wednesday and Thursday. My PC app shows 102 for Wednesday and 105 for Thursday! My phone app has 105 for Wednesday and 106 for Thursday. Even worse! My phone shows chances of thunderstorms all week, this week, but the PC only shows thunderstorms on Saturday. Today’s high is expected to be around 90.

The Texas Rangers pulled out a close one, last night, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3. Martin Perez pitched great, only giving up one run, but didn’t get the win because the bullpen blew the lead and allowed two runs to tie the game. The closer, Will Smith (1-2) (not the Fresh Prince), pitched in the top of the ninth, held the score, and then, after one of the Cardinals missed a tricky pop foul, Nathaniel Lowe hit a ground ball between short and third, to score the winning run from second base. It was pretty intense. Marcus Semien, who scored the winning run, has a 24-game hitting streak.

The Rangers are now 39-20, in first place in the AL West, still 3.5 games ahead of the Astros. The Rangers and Cardinals play again today, at 7:05 CT, in Arlington. Dane Dunning (4-1) will start for Texas.

The Boston Red Sox lost the final game of the series (and the series) to the Rays, 4-1. Brayan Bello (3-4) took the loss for Boston. The Sox are now 30-30, in last place in the AL East. They head to Cleveland to play the Guardians tonight at 7:10 ET. James Paxton (1-1) will start for Boston. Somebody named Bieber is starting for Cleveland. Surely it’s not Justin.

Tampa Bay leads MLB with a 43-19 record. Texas remains second with 39-20, still 2.5 games behind the Rays. Oakland (I need a macro to create this sentence so I don’t have to keep typing it every day) trails, with a 12-50 record. Pittsburgh keeps winning, and has a six-game winning streak. Texas is second with their four-game winning streak. Oh. Along with Miami. Oakland now has a five-game losing streak. The Rangers still lead with a +153 run differential, while Oakland is now at -213.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion. 
Declare his deeds among the peoples.
(Psalms 9:11 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• for my morning coffee
• for the cat that is currently showing me great affection
• for the great and marvelous deeds of our God
• that the steadfast love/mercy (chesed) of the Lord is established forever; it will never rest or depart from us
• that all people are equal at the foot of the cross

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; 
with my mouth I will proclaim 
your faithfulness to all generations. 
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; 
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
(Psalms 89:1-2 NRSV)

Lord our God, gather us together in one flock to praise you with one heart and one voice. Let this praise ring out on earth in the midst of all the evils that still confront us. We thank you for your protection, for all the help and deliverance you give us. We thank you for the hope you put into our hearts. We thank you for the hope that we may yet see great things done through the working of your Spirit, for us your children and for all peoples and nations. For your love will not rest until life on earth has come into your hands and all may rejoice. Amen.

---

May God be gracious to us and bless us 
and make his face to shine upon us,
(Psalms 67:1 NRSV)

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, 
O God of our salvation; 
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth 
and of the farthest seas.
(Psalms 65:5 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. 
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, 
for they have heard the words of your mouth. 
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 perceives from far away. 
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, 
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; 
you stretch out your hand, 
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.
(Psalms 138:1-8 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.

"O God, from who all good proceeds:
Grant that by your inspiration
I may think those things that are right,
and by your merciful guiding may do them;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

Thus says the LORD: 
Stand at the crossroads, and look, 
and ask for the ancient paths, 
where the good way lies; 
and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. 
But they said, "We will not walk in it." 
Also I raised up sentinels for you: 
"Give heed to the sound of the trumpet!" 
But they said, "We will not give heed." 
Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, 
what will happen to them. 
Hear, O earth; 
I am going to bring disaster on this people, 
the fruit of their schemes, 
because they have not given heed to my words; 
and as for my teaching, they have rejected it.
(Jeremiah 6:16-19 NRSV)

Thus says the LORD: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the LORD; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the LORD.
(Jeremiah 9:23-24 NRSV)

---

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.
(Psalms 23:1-3 NRSV)

This entire commandment that I command you today you must diligently observe, so that you may live and increase, and go in and occupy the land that the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
(Deuteronomy 8:1-3 NRSV)

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”
(Luke 8:22-25 NRSV)

---

We love because he first loved us.
(1 John 4:19 NRSV)

---

The Lord has exalted His name and His Word above all other things. And in doing this, He has also regarded the lowly (which, truthfully, is all of us who are not Him). No matter what you may think about yourself, you, in comparison to God, are “lowly.” I realize that there are some haughty “Christians” who don’t like to use that word to describe themselves, thinking that, because they are Christians, that makes them better than others, more worthy than others. This is flawed thinking.

I am constantly drawn to one of those passages from Jeremiah, whenever I stumble across it (and can it truly be called “stumbling” when the Lord is leading us?). “Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the LORD; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Those who believe that they are more worthy than others because of their relationship with Christ are not boasting in the right thing. Do I have wisdom? Maybe, maybe not. But if I do, it is from the Lord. Do I have any might or power? In my thinking, not very much. But if I do, it is from God. Do I have wealth? Compared to many in this world, yes, quite a bit. But I do not boast in it. It comes from the Lord, and has been given me that I might share it.

Then there’s this other passage from Jeremiah 6. “Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”

I have been drawn, in recent years, to these “ancient paths.” I am drawn to seek out writings of people who were closer to the time of Christ; disciples of His disciples. I am most excited to be reading The Book of Concord, this summer, because it includes writings and confessions that predate the Reformation, even.

It seems to me that, the farther removed from Christ we become, the worse our “theology” gets. Things like “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” and “God helps those who help themselves.” One of the reasons I am excited about this “Bumper Sticker Theology” series at my church is exactly that. In fact, he said, Sunday, that one of the ones he will examine is “God is my co-pilot.” God had better be my pilot! I’m the co-pilot!

This rambles a little bit, today. I apologize for that, but it’s where my thoughts are going. God is good to all people, even the unjust, even the ones who refuse to acknowledge Him. He delights in steadfast love (chesed, also translated as mercy), justice, and righteousness. He has shown us, oh humans, what is good, and what He requires of us; “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” There’s that word again, chesed, this time translated as kindness.

---

Father, please help Your people display chesed among others in this world. Please help us to love, because You loved us first. Help us to love You with all our being, and to love others as You have loved us. You have shown us great kindness, great mercy, and You desire that we would do likewise. We don’t seem to be doing very well at that, these days. We have confused righteousness with forcing our way on others, and condemning them for not acting or thinking like we do.

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

Help us to stop our boasting, and to be sure that we truly know You. Help us to seek the “ancient paths,” and to shun modern “theology” that has no basis in Scripture. Teach us Your ways, so that we can walk in Your truth, not in the “truth” of human teachers.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

---

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)

The Jeremiah 9 passage reminds me of this song by a group that I really used to like. I still like them, I just don’t’ think they are active anymore.

Grace and peace, friends.

His Mercy Endures – Be Still

Today is Monday, the fifth day of June, 2023, in the second week of Ordinary Time. (I verified this with one of my pastors, yesterday. Since the Lutheran Church recognizes Epiphany as a “season,” Ordinary Time doesn’t begin until after the Easter season.)

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!

Day 23,825

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 716 5/6*

⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨
🟩⬛⬛🟨🟨
🟩⬛🟨🟨⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

This was a tough word, and I’m glad I figured it out. It’s not one that is used often. My streak is at two days. Yesterday’s word was “beast.”

Yesterday was a pretty good day. My reading, in the early service, went well. I got a number of compliments, one of which emphasized that he liked my reading because he could understand what I was saying. I mean, that is the general intent, right? But I guess it says something about other peoples’ reading.

The service was good, as was the sermon. We have begun a series called “Bumper Sticker Theology,” in which our pastors are going to examine popular bumper stickers, over time. Yesterday’s was “Got Jesus?” which was patterned after the ad campaign “Got Milk?” I had forgotten, but here is the original “Got Milk?” commercial.

I remembered the commercial, but did not remember that it was a milk commercial. So . . . did it actually work?

Anyway, I have observed, over the years, the popularity of taking ad campaigns and “Christianizing” them. “God Jesus?” was one of those. Anyway, the sermon was very interesting, and the pastor illustrated the fallacy of the question and the bumper sticker as he explained (which I figured out early on) that we don’t “got Jesus.” Rather, Jesus got us. Semantics? I think not. It’s all in one’s perspective.

The reading group’s initial meeting went well, too. There were at least twenty of us in the room, and there at least forty people signed up. I got my copy of the book, which, as mentioned yesterday (I think?), is Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions – A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord. We also got our reading schedule for June, and I have completed the first day’s reading. Today, I begin tackling The Augsburg Confession. Good times! Haha!

We had a late lunch from Applebee’s, which I picked up on my way home from church. While we ate, we finished watching the Rangers game that had begun already. The rest of the day was spent relaxing. I read for a while and then played on the Playstation. My reading is going splendidly, this year. I have finished 52 books of my 60 book goal, and the year isn’t quite half over. I have read 1630 minutes, so far, in our Summer Reading Club, which officially began on May 20. My goal, there, is 6000 minutes, because I really want the insulated lunch bag that is the prize for that level. I should easily reach that goal, at my current pace.

Speaking of that Rangers game . . . the Rangers walloped the Mariners again, 12-3, this time. They scored 30 runs over that three-game series! They also swept the series. Nasty Nate Eovaldi (8-2) got the win for the Rangers, pitching six complete innings, only giving up one hit, and striking out seven batters! They only took him out because they were so far ahead, I guess. And, of course, the bullpen immediately gave up runs. The first relief pitcher, Jonathan Hernndez, didn’t even get through one inning. He was, in fact, responsible for all three Mariners runs.

The Rangers are now 38-20, in first place in the AL West, now 3.5 games ahead of the Astros. They also knocked the Mariners below .500. In addition, that win, yesterday, put Bruce Bochy at number ten for all-time wins by a baseball manager, with 2041 wins. The Rangers play the St. Louis Cardinals today, in Arlington, at 7:05 CT. Martin Perez (6-1) will take the mound for Texas.

The Red Sox lost to the Rays, yesterday, 6-2. Tanner Houck (3-5) was the losing pitcher. They have another game today, in a rare series that goes past the weekend. They will play the Rays today at 4:05 ET, in Boston. Brayan Bello (3-3) will start for Boston.

The aforementioned Rays continue to lead MLB with a 42-19 record. Texas remains 2.5 games behind them, at 38-20. Those two teams will be playing after the Cardinals series, in the worst stadium in the history of ever, the Juicebox in Florida. Oakland continues to lose, and is now at 12-49. They are on a pace to lose over 130 games, this season. That would be a modern-day record. The 1962 Mets lost 120, which is the most losses in a season for the modern era. The worst percentage, though, is the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics, who went 36-117, for a .235 percentage. This years Oakland Athletics are currently at .197.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best winning streak, at five consecutive games. The Athletics and Reds both have the worst losing streak, at four games. The Rangers now have a +152 run differential, leading MLB in that category, 30 runs better than the Rays. The Athletics are now at -212. It doesn’t look like they will top the 1899 Cleveland Spiders in that category. Let’s hope not, anyway. Texas also continues to lead in total runs scored, with 376.

Today is chore day for me. Laundry, mostly. But it’s also always a very chill day for me, because I never work at the library on Mondays. Mondays and Thursdays, I am always off, and Tuesdays, I only work four evening hours, so I always have a good “weekend,” even when I work on Saturdays.

I stumbled across this, today, and wanted to share it. It gave me chill bumps.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Surely God is my salvation; 
I will trust, and will not be afraid, 
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; 
he has become my salvation.
(Isaiah 12:2 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• that I am alive and awake
• that the Lord God is my strength and my might and has become my salvation
• that His mercy endures forever
• for the call of Christ, to come to Him when we are weary, and step into His easy yoke
• that God desires to be with me, to do something in and through me

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you are so near us and that we may be near you. We thank you that throughout our days we may be people who listen to you with all our hearts and minds, a listening people who can receive what is good and true for our lives and who can witness to the power you give us through the Savior. Protect us in all things. Look into our hearts and into the situation of each one of us, where many things are still faulty and unclear. Deliver us from evil, for the kingdom shall be yours. From you the power shall come. Your glory shall radiate from our lives, and we shall praise and thank you forevermore. Amen.

---

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, 
all you who wait for the LORD.
(Psalms 31:24 NRSV)

You, O LORD, will protect us; 
you will guard us from this generation forever.
(Psalms 12:7 NRSV)

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

 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.

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.

"O God, from who all good proceeds:
Grant that by your inspiration
I may think those things that are right,
and by your merciful guiding may do them;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

Has a nation changed its gods, 
even though they are no gods? 
But my people have changed their glory 
for something that does not profit. 
Be appalled, O heavens, at this, 
be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the LORD, 
for my people have committed two evils: 
they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, 
and dug out cisterns for themselves, 
cracked cisterns that can hold no water.
(Jeremiah 2:11-13 NRSV)

---

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30 NRSV)

It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, 
"For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever," 
the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
(2 Chronicles 5:13-14 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.
(Psalms 136:1-2 NRSV)

---

But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
(Galatians 1:15-17 NRSV)

---

His mercy endures forever; His steadfast love endures forever. I’ve discussed this word before. The Hebrew word is chesed. That’s pronounced with a rather guttural “k” sound. It is translated both ways throughout Scripture.

God’s steadfast love and mercy is illustrated so wonderfully in the life of Paul. God revealed Himself mightily to Paul, through Jesus Christ. Jesus, the risen Lord, stopped Paul on the road to Damascus. You can read the account in Acts chapter 9.

Here are some words by one of my favorite authors, Eugene H. Peterson, on this.

“It was as if God said, ‘Listen, Paul, you have it all wrong. You have good ideas, your theology is intelligent enough, your sincerity is above reproach, but you have it all wrong. You think religion is a matter of knowing things and doing things. It is not. It is a matter of letting God do something for you–letting him love you, letting him save you, letting him bless you, letting him command you. Your part is to look and believe, to pray and obey. For a start I am going to show myself to you in Jesus. In him you will see that what concerns me is being with you, making you whole.'” (From Traveling Light, quoted in God’s Message for Each Day)

Many of us have it all wrong, too. I’ve been there. And, mind you, I still don’t have it all exactly right, either! That won’t happen until I meet my Savior face to face. But, for a long time, I thought that the answer was in knowing things and doing things. Our churches are really big on doing things. There’s nothing wrong with doing things, either. The church I’m attending does a lot of things, all of them good.

But we realize that doing things is not the end. It is part of knowing Christ, yes. It’s part of that obedience part. But knowing and doing are not the end, they are a means to an end. I know a person who knows more about the Bible than I do, probably. He’s a smart guy. But there is no grace in his knowledge. I don’t see Jesus in him when he expounds his knowledge.

Knowledge and actions become idols, if we are not careful. None of us would admit to worshiping knowledge, I’m sure. But it puts us on the pedestal. Look what I know! Look what I’ve done! Instead, it needs to be an attitude of “letting” or allowing God to do things.

Remember when Israel was trapped between the Red Sea and Pharoah’s army? What did Moses say to them?

But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”
(Exodus 14:13-14 NRSV)

His mercy endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever.

"Be still, and know that I am God! 
I am exalted among the nations, 
I am exalted in the earth."
(Psalms 46:10 NRSV)

Why is this so hard for us?

Be still. Watch what God will do. Stand firm and see His deliverance. Go ahead and know things. Go ahead and do things, too. But don’t let those be the most important part of your relationship with God. Let Him love you; let Him save you; let Him bless you; let Him command you.

---

Father, help us to not focus so much on knowing and doing things, but rather on knowing You and allowing You to do things through us. Most of all, help us to simply be still, sometimes and allow You to love us. That is so hard for us, especially in Western culture. We are too proud, Father. Too self-sufficient.

There is great benefit to stillness and quietness. Solitude is also so helpful in our walk with You. Help us to minimize distractions when we are praying and meditating on You.

Thank You for the great offer of strength from Jesus, who tells us to join Him in His easy yoke when we are weary, when we carry heavy burdens. Help us to surrender our burdens to Him, as we walk in Your kingdom.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

---

Grace and peace, friends.

The Potter and the Clay

Today is Sunday, the fourth day of June, 2023, in the second week of Ordinary Time. It is Holy Trinity Sunday.

May the peace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwell within you today!

Day 23,824 (the number of days since I was born)

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 715 4/6*

⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

The streak begins anew. Yesterday’s word was “nanny.” My last two guesses were “canny” and “fanny.” As you can see, today’s is a similar word, with multiple words having the same letter combination.

Yesterday had its moments of challenge for me, and I did not respond well to some of the challenges. That’s all I’m going to say about that, in remembrance of my post about complaining.

I am scheduled to read the Scripture reading at church, this morning, in the early service, so I am supposed to be there by 8:30-ish. I also have a book reading group that meets at 1:00 PM, today. This leaves me with some time to kill. Fortunately, the church begins serving breakfast between services, this morning (through the summer), so that will help. My plan is to exit the early service right after my reading, and then attend the whole later service, receiving communion at that one. Then I will just hang out somewhere until 1:00. After my group meeting (which only meets five times over the summer), I will pick up a late lunch/early dinner for the family, on the way home.

The book that we will be reading is called Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions – A Readers Edition of the Book of Concord. It’s somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 pages, but we will have the whole summer to read it.

The Texas Rangers erupted for sixteen runs, yesterday, beating the Mariners 16-6. Since Andrew Heaney, the starter, only lasted three innings, he was not eligible for the win. Josh Sborz (2-2) gets credited for the win. The Rangers are now 37-20, in first place in the AL West, still 2.5 games ahead of the Astros. This makes five consecutive series wins for the Rangers. They will play the Mariners again, today, at 1:35 CT, in Arlington. “Nasty Nate” Eovaldi (7-2) will start for Texas.

The Red Sox split the doubleheader with Tampa, yesterday. They won the first game 8-5, with Corey Kluber (3-6) getting the win. They lost game two 4-2, Kenley Jansen (1-3) taking the loss. That’s why you don’t bring in your closer in the top of the ninth when the game is tied. Not a save situation. Anyway, the Sox are now 30-28, in last place in the AL East, 1.5 games behind the Blue Jays. They have a chance to win the series, this afternoon at 1:35 ET. Tanner Houck (3-4) will start for Boston.

Tampa Bay leads MLB with a 41-19 record, with Texas right behind them at 37-20. Texas is 2.5 games behind Tampa, overall. Oakland continues to trail, with 12-48. Pittsburgh now leads in the streak category with a four-game winning streak. Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Oakland all have three-game losing streaks. After yesterday’s game, Texas’s run differential is a league-leading +143. Oakland has surpassed -200, now, with a -210 run differential. Texas also continues to lead with total runs scored, at 364.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

O send out your light and your truth; 
let them lead me; 
let them bring me to your holy hill 
and to your dwelling. 
Then I will go to the altar of God, 
to God my exceeding joy; 
and I will praise you with the harp, 
O God, my God.
(Psalms 43:3-4 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• for the peacefulness of this morning
• for my morning coffee
• for an opportunity to worship with the community of saints and receive communion, this morning
• for the Lord’s unfailing love and mercy, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise (Lamentations 3, TEV)
• for the gracious deeds and praiseworthy acts of the Lord (Isaiah 63)

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, 
fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. 
The Lord is all I have, 
and so in him I put my hope. 
Lamentations 3:22–24, TEV

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for guiding us, your children, here on earth. We thank you that whatever happens to us, we can again and again find joy because you give us what is good even when times are evil and when we go through sorrow. We thank you that your goodness and your faithfulness penetrate everything, and that at last, at long last, they penetrate our hearts. Then we can know and be glad that your Spirit guides us. We can know we are never alone but can receive strength to help us in the struggle and toil of our life. Through your help everything becomes fruitful – good and evil, life and death, health and suffering. Everything must serve you through the working of your Spirit. Amen.

---

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, 
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; 
bring an offering, and come into his courts. 
Worship the LORD in holy splendor; 
tremble before him, all the earth.
(Psalms 96:7-9 NRSV)

As a deer longs for flowing streams, 
so my soul longs for you, O God. 
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 
When shall I come and behold the face of God?
(Psalms 42:1-2 NRSV)

For who is God except the LORD? 
And who is a rock besides our God?
(Psalms 18:31 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. 
He provides food for those who fear him; 
he is ever mindful of his covenant. 
He has shown his people the power of his works, 
in giving them the heritage of the nations. 
The works of his hands are faithful and just; 
all his precepts are trustworthy. 
They are established forever and ever, 
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 
He sent redemption to his people; 
he has commanded his covenant forever. 
Holy and awesome is his name. 
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; 
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
 His praise endures forever.
(Psalms 111:1-10 NRSV)

Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us

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.

"O God, from who all good proceeds:
Grant that by your inspiration
I may think those things that are right,
and by your merciful guiding may do them;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, 
because the LORD has anointed me; 
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, 
to bind up the brokenhearted, 
to proclaim liberty to the captives, 
and release to the prisoners; 
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, 
and the day of vengeance of our God; 
to comfort all who mourn;
(Isaiah 61:1-2 NRSV)

I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, 
the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, 
because of all that the LORD has done for us, 
and the great favor to the house of Israel 
that he has shown them according to his mercy, 
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
(Isaiah 63:7 NRSV)

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; 
we are the clay, and you are our potter; 
we are all the work of your hand.
(Isaiah 64:8 NRSV)
(I would encourage you to read the entire chapter of Isaiah 64)

---

Father, I am so very grateful, today, for Your work in my life. Truly, You are my Father, You are the Potter, and I am a simple jar of clay, malleable in Your hands as You create Your work of art within me.

Sometimes, when You work, it is painful. Those are times that we may not understand, and we may think that “bad” things are happening to us. But we do not fully comprehend “good” and “bad,” even in our spiritually reborn state, because we are not looking at things through Your eyes. Help us to see our world through Your eyes; help us to looke at time through Your eyes.

You see our time in a different way than we, because, I believe, You exist outside of our time. We will not be able to understand that fully, so help us to trust You implicitly, in all things.

Who is God, besides You? How is our Rock besides You? There is no other, nor can there be. Forgive us when we forget this; forgive us when we act as if we have other “gods.” Keep our eyes on You and You alone, Father, through all our days.

Help us to work alongside Jesus, as His virtual hands and feet in this world, to do the things that Your Spirit has anointed us to do through Him; to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

---

"God of grace and truth,
make me whole,
a person of integrity who heals and makes peace.
I pray for eyes that see what's best in others,
a graceful and candid mouth,
hands that never twist but hold up truth,
a heart that aims to encourage,
and feet that pursue my neighbor's best.
Amen."

Grace and peace, friends.

The LORD Reigns

Today is Saturday, the third day of June, 2023, in the first week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you, today.

Day 23,823

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 714 X/6*

⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛
🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩

Sad face. The streak has ended. Too many words with that combination of letters. Yesterday’s word was “humid.” Fitting for north central Texas, but I’m not sure about NY (this game originates from the NY Times).

Yesterday was a great day at the library. It was moderately busy in the computer center, more so in the afternoon, than the morning. We aren’t planning anything, today. I have groceries being delivered from Kroger, and I’m picking up a small order from Braum’s, because they have a much better selection of low-fat yogurt flavors than Kroger has. Also, red grapes seem to be in short supply right now. Weird.

The Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0, last night. Jon Gray (6-1) got the win for Texas, and Will Smith (not the Fresh Prince) got his tenth save for the season. The Rangers are 36-20, in first place in the AL West, still 2.5 games ahead of the Astros. They play again today, at 3:05 CT, in Arlington. Andrew Heaney (4-3) will start for Texas.

The Red Sox and Rays were postponed, last night, and they will play a double-header today. First game at 1:10 ET, with Garrett Whitlock (2-2) starting. Second game at 6:10 ET, with TBD starting.

The Rays remain at 40-18, since they were postponed yesterday. Texas is still in second place overall. Oakland remains last, at 12-47. The Diamondback continue to roll, now with a six-game winning streak. The Phillies are at the bottom with a five-game losing streak. Texas is atop the differential column, with +133, and Oakland is back at -199. Boston remains at +15. Texas still leads with 348 total runs, eight runs ahead of Tampa.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; 
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 
(Psalms 95:2 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• that the Lord has given me a thankful heart, and filled me with songs of praise
• that the steadfast love of the Lord is higher than the heavens; His faithfulness reaches to the clouds (Psalm 57)
• for the hope of dwelling eternally in the courts of God
• that the Lord is King; He reigns over all things
• for His great patience with us when we forget the above

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
(Ephesians 2:17-18 NRSV)

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for all your goodness and for the peace you give us. Unite us as your people, we pray. Unite us as one people with all your children who have ever lived, as one people with all who want to serve you. The more faithfully and joyfully we are your people, the more blessing you can give. Let the material world come under your hand. Guide your children on earth. Lead us in such a way that others may be helped. When we suffer, grant us strength and understanding of your will. Protect us today and every day. Amen.

---

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; 
give ear, O God of Jacob!
(Psalms 84:8 NRSV)

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. 
I will sing and make melody. 
Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! 
I will awake the dawn. 
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 as high as the heavens; 
your faithfulness extends to the clouds. 
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 
Let your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalms 57:7-11 NRSV)

This is the day that the LORD has made; 
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
(Psalms 118:24 NRSV)

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
(John 14:18-21 NRSV)

Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 
Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and do not forget all his benefits— 
who forgives all your iniquity, 
who heals all your diseases, 
who redeems your life from the Pit, 
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 
who satisfies you with good as long as you live 
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(Psalms 103:1-5 NRSV)

For the LORD is a great God, 
and a great King above all gods. 
In his hand are the depths of the earth; 
the heights of the mountains are his also. 
The sea is his, for he made it, 
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
(Psalms 95:3-5 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.

"Holy Father,
creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is,
both in heaven and on earth,
take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful.
Give me instead those things that are profitable for me
and all who seek rightly to praise you.
I ask this grace in the company of all believers
and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God forever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

"Why do we fast, but you do not see? 
Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" 
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, 
and oppress all your workers. 
Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight 
and to strike with a wicked fist. 
Such fasting as you do today 
will not make your voice heard on high. 
Is such the fast that I choose, 
a day to humble oneself? 
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, 
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? 
Will you call this a fast, 
a day acceptable to the LORD? 
Is not this the fast that I choose: 
to loose the bonds of injustice, 
to undo the thongs of the yoke, 
to let the oppressed go free, 
and to break every yoke? 
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 
and bring the homeless poor into your house; 
when you see the naked, to cover them, 
and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, 
and your healing shall spring up quickly; 
your vindicator shall go before you, 
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; 
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am."
(Isaiah 58:3-9a NRSV)

---

Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; 
(Psalms 37:7a NRSV)

As a deer longs for flowing streams, 
so my soul longs for you, O God. 
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 
When shall I come and behold the face of God?
(Psalms 42:1-2 NRSV)

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)

---

The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; 
the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. 
He has established the world; 
it shall never be moved;
(Psalms 93:1 NRSV)

---

“The LORD is king.” Some versions say, “The LORD reigns.” This is what I am drawn to, throughout today’s readings. I was already in a mode of simply worshiping when I came across the last verse. And here is what Eugene H. Peterson says about this truth:

"Whether men and women know it or not they are now living under God's rule. Some live in rebellion that can be either defiant or ignorant. Some live in an obedience that can be either reluctant or devout. But now one lives apart from it. . . .
"There are no days when the rule is not in operation. The week is not divided into one Lord's day when the rule of God is acknowledged and six human days in which factories, stock exchange, legislatures, media personalities, and military juntas take charge and rule.
"Neither ignorance nor indifference diminishes God's rule. Day after day 'the LORD reigns.'"
(From Where Your Treasure Is, quoted in God's Message for Each Day)

---

Father, You are a great God and King above all “gods.” Everything is Yours, because You have created it. All that we can see, and all that we cannot see (which is far, far greater than what we can see), belongs to You. I worship You, Lord, and I praise You. I long to dwell in Your courts, to see Your face. How I long for Home, Lord.

But while I wait for that day, lead me by Your Spirit to observe the “fast” that You have called for, to work toward feeding the hungry and poor, clothing the naked, and setting free the oppressed. Help me to love the loveless and the “unlovable.” Let not any opinions of my own stand in the way of Your purpose, but let me be obedient (and not reluctantly) to Your commands to love You and to love my neighbor as myself.

Take away any remnant of judgmentalness that I still possess. I desire to serve and worship only You, Lord. May my “righteousness” (which isn’t mine at all, for I possess no righteousness that I can call my own) shine like the noonday sun, Lord. May it be Jesus Christ and His love that shines through me, to light this darkened world.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers!

---

Here’s a mighty new song by Matt Maher.

Grace and peace, friends.

Joy and Resentment

Today is Friday, the second day of June, 2023, in the first week of Ordinary Time.

Peace be with you.

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 713 4/6*

🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛
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I’m a little groggy, this morning, but the word just kind of came to me, out of the blue. My streak is at 54 days. Yesterday’s word was “jazzy.” Tough one.

As predicted, yesterday was pretty chill after we got home. I cooked Chicken Taco Rice Skillet for dinner, last night, from Emily Bites. It is one of my family’s favorite meals that I cook, if not the favorite. I’m pretty fond of it, as well. I have linked the recipe, if anyone is interested. Note that I use a cup and a half of brown Minute Rice, two chicken breasts, and only simmer for 30 minutes, which seems perfect.

The Rangers didn’t play, yesterday. They are 35-20 for the season, in first place in the AL West, 2.5 games ahead of the Astros. Today, they are back in Arlington, beginning a series with the Mariners at 7:05 CT. Jon Gray (5-1) is scheduled to start.

The Boston Red Sox finally beat the Reds, last night, 8-2. They lost the series, though. Chris Martin (1-1) got the win. The Sox are now 29-27, in last place in the AL East, a half-game behind the Blue Jays. They will tangle with the Rays tonight, in Boston, at 7:10 ET. Garrett Whitlock (2-2) will start for Boston.

Tampa finally won that fortieth game. They are 40-18, leading MLB. Texas is still second, overall, at 35-20. Oakland still trails, with 12-46. The D-backs are on a roll, with a five-game winning streak. Philadelphia and Colorado both have four-game losing streaks going. Texas is still on top of the differential column with +131, while Oakland is at -195. Boston is currently at +15. And Texas remains in the lead with 346 total runs scored. Bruce Bochy and Chris Martin seem to be having a very positive effect on this team.

Since it is Friday, I will be spending the day in the computer center at the Hurst Public Library. I have Chicken Ranch Crockpot Soup going for dinner tonight.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

With my whole heart I cry; 
answer me, O LORD.
 I will keep your statutes.
(Psalms 119:145 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• for the peace that God gives, in spite of surrounding circumstances
• for a heart of generosity
• that, when we trust in God, we have nothing to fear
• that His Word will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent
• that we may seek Him while He may be found (He is not hiding; He is not difficult to find)

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

Bless the LORD, O my soul. 
O LORD my God, you are very great. 
You are clothed with honor and majesty, 
wrapped in light as with a garment. 
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
(Psalms 104:1-2 NRSV)

Lord our God, our Father in heaven, with all our hearts we want to thank you for giving us joy on earth and for sending us your radiant light from heaven. We praise you for the light you give our hearts, the light that lets us find great joy together because we become one in you, one in your Spirit, one in awaiting your promised good. Grant that we may be your children. May we always find the paths where you can go with us and give us what we cannot give ourselves. May our whole life glorify you and our every breath belong to you. Through communion with you may we remain in your safekeeping in body, soul, and spirit. For all you have done and for all you will do for us, we ask you to accept our thanks. Amen.

---

Bless our God, O peoples, 
let the sound of his praise be heard, 
who has kept us among the living,
 and has not let our feet slip.
(Psalms 66:8-9 NRSV)

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD. 
I will keep your statutes. 
In your steadfast love hear my voice; 
O LORD, in your justice preserve my life. 
(Psalms 119:145, 149 NRSV)

My vows to you I must perform, O God; 
I will render thank offerings to you.
 For you have delivered my soul from death, 
and my feet from falling, 
so that I may walk before God in the light of life.
(Psalms 56:12-13 NRSV)

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; 
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
 in those who hope in his steadfast love.
(Psalms 147:10-11 NRSV)

Extol the LORD our God, 
and worship at his holy mountain; 
for the LORD our God is holy.
(Psalms 99:9 NRSV)

Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us

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.

"Holy Father,
creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is,
both in heaven and on earth,
take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful.
Give me instead those things that are profitable for me
and all who seek rightly to praise you.
I ask this grace in the company of all believers
and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God forever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

I, I am he who comforts you; 
why then are you afraid of a mere mortal who must die, 
a human being who fades like grass? 
You have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, 
who stretched out the heavens 
and laid the foundations of the earth. 
You fear continually all day long 
because of the fury of the oppressor, 
who is bent on destruction. 
But where is the fury of the oppressor? 
The oppressed shall speedily be released; 
they shall not die and go down to the Pit, 
nor shall they lack bread. 
For I am the LORD your God, 
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the LORD of hosts is his name. 
I have put my words in your mouth, 
and hidden you in the shadow of my hand,
stretching out the heavens 
and laying the foundations of the earth, 
and saying to Zion, "You are my people."
(Isaiah 51:12-16 NRSV)

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; 
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! 
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, 
and your labor for that which does not satisfy? 
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, 
and delight yourselves in rich food. 
Incline your ear, and come to me; 
listen, so that you may live. 
I will make with you an everlasting covenant, 
my steadfast, sure love for David.
(Isaiah 55:1-3 NRSV)

Seek the LORD while he may be found, 
call upon him while he is near; 
let the wicked forsake their way, 
and the unrighteous their thoughts; 
let them return to the LORD, 
that he may have mercy on them, 
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways 
and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, 
and do not return there until they have watered the earth, 
making it bring forth and sprout, 
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; 
it shall not return to me empty, 
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, 
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 
For you shall go out in joy, 
and be led back in peace;
 the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, 
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
(Isaiah 55:6-12 NRSV)

---

for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
(2 Timothy 1:7 NRSV)

David said further to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.”
(1 Chronicles 28:20 NRSV)

For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; 
it is I who say to you, "Do not fear, I will help you."
(Isaiah 41:13 NRSV)

---

I received my daily email from the ministry of Henri Nouwen, and it said this (I have linked the site, should you wish to explore further):

“Of one thing I am sure. Complaining is self-perpetuating and counterproductive. Whenever I express my complaints in the hope of evoking pity and receiving the satisfaction I so much desire, the result is always the opposite of what I tried to get. A complainer is hard to live with, and very few people know how to respond to the complaints made by a self-rejecting person. The tragedy is that, often, the complaint, once expressed, leads to that which is most feared: further rejection. . . . Joy and resentment cannot coexist.”

Complaining seems to be what we do best, these days. I am not exempt, although I do believe that I have gotten better at avoiding it, in recent years. (My wife and mother might disagree, I’m not sure.)

Social media provides the biggest example. Many are familiar with an app that has come up in recent years, the Nextdoor Neighborhood. It has its uses. People are able to collaborate to find good doctors and other services. But the majority of posts are nothing more than bitter complaining, many times serving no purpose other than simple rants.

I have begun muting everyone who uses it for that purpose. I don’t need to see everyone’s complaining. It’s hard enough to keep from complaining without the encouragement of my neighbors.

After the great hymn of praise to Jesus Christ in Philippians 2, Paul tells us this:

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.
(Philippians 2:14-15 NRSV)

Other versions use words like “complaining,” and “grumbling.” But the message is the same. As people of God, followers of Christ, we are supposed to live our lives without these things. I know, from personal experience as a human being, it is very difficult to do this. But I also know, as Scripture also tells us, “with God, nothing shall be impossible.”

---

Father, I pray that You help me get through this day without any grumbling, complaining, or resentment, that joy might be the overflowing characteristic of my self today.

You have given us Your Spirit to lead us in these things. Help us, O God, to eschew murmuring, grumbling, complaining, and anything else that fits in that category. We are not here for that, Father. We are here to spread the Good News of the Gospel of peace of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

---

Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
(Psalms 70:1 ESV)

Grace and peace, friends.

Surrender

Today is Thursday, the first day of June, 2023, in the first week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you, today!

Day 23,821

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 712 6/6*

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Barely got that one. The streak is at 53 days. Yesterday’s word was “agile.” Which I’m not really.

So I have a short time, this morning, as I need to have C to the colonoscopy facility by 8:00 AM. I still may not have time to get this all in, but will at least try. Therefore, I will forego the baseball stats, this morning. The Rangers and Red Sox both lost.

Update: We have been to the endoscopy center and returned. Everything went great. Then something else came up that I needed to take care of. A sort of “ministry” opportunity, I suppose.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

O Lord, open my lips, 
and my mouth will declare your praise.
(Psalms 51:15 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• for the display of love/appreciation that was shown to a retiring co-worker/friend, yesterday
• for libraries and the services that they provide to our communities
• for lips that praise God
• that our Father will not allow our hope to be disappointed (as long as said hope is in Him)
• that our God is eternal, and we shall live secure, in His presence, in His eternity

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

“For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
(John 6:33 NRSV)

Dear Father in heaven, in your Word we trust, in your Word of eternal life, given us in Jesus Christ our Savior. We build on this Word of life in these days when it seems that everything is losing strength and value, and yet there is so much longing in people’s hearts. You will not let our hope be disappointed. What you have spoken must be fulfilled. What is promised in Jesus Christ must come into being, not only for a few but for the whole world, for which he died and was raised from the dead. Be with us. Keep us so fully alive that our lives reflect all the goodness we are allowed to experience and we overcome all the evil which tries to attack us. We thank you for calling us to life and for renewing us again and again. May your name be praised among us forever. Amen.

---

O send out your light and your truth; 
let them lead me; 
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. 
Then I will go to the altar of God, 
to God my exceeding joy; 
and I will praise you with the harp, 
O God, my God.
(Psalms 43:3-4 NRSV)

O LORD God of hosts, 
who is as mighty as you, O LORD? 
Your faithfulness surrounds you. 
Righteousness and justice 
are the foundation of your throne; 
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 
(Psalms 89:8, 14 NRSV)

I walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
(Psalms 116:9 NRSV)

Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, 
and the heavens are the work of your hands. 
They will perish, but you endure; 
they will all wear out like a garment. 
You change them like clothing, and they pass away; 
but you are the same, and your years have no end. 
The children of your servants shall live secure; 
their offspring shall be established in your presence.
(Psalms 102:25-28 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.

"Holy Father,
creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is,
both in heaven and on earth,
take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful.
Give me instead those things that are profitable for me
and all who seek rightly to praise you.
I ask this grace in the company of all believers
and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God forever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

---

pray without ceasing,
(1 Thessalonians 5:17 NRSV)

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

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
(1 John 4:11 NRSV)

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“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
(Jeremiah 1:5 NRSV)

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“We are not merely imperfect creatures who must be improved: we are . . . rebels who must lay down our arms.” (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain)

---

Surrender. We Americans don’t like that word. Not even “Christians” in America. Especially that bit about laying down our arms.

But it is what we are called to do. Just as Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, so are we to lay ours down. This doesn’t mean that we are literally supposed to physically die for anyone. That is not what Paul means in Romans 12. We are to be a “living sacrifice,” but it is spiritual.

We are called to lay down our rights to ourselves. We really seem to struggle in our comprehension of this. Especially in this country, where we seem to be all about our “rights.”

But you see, that is what it means to follow Christ. That’s why Jesus told that rich young ruler that he needed to go sell everything he had and give the money to the poor.

Each of us has something in our lives that creates a barrier between us and truly following Christ. If you don’t believe me, think about whatever it is that you would be very angry about if someone stole it from you. It doesn’t even have to be a physical thing.

I used to be very attached to my stuff. Musical instruments, books, possessions. And I was always trying to acquire more (especially the musical instruments and books). I would cringe if someone wanted to borrow one.

I can say that Jesus has delivered me from this. I still buy books, but if someone wants to “borrow” one, I would likely just give it to them. Even if I haven’t read it yet.

Why should we surrender? Because of the reality of our lives with God, for one thing. “Long before we got interested in the subject of God, before it ever crossed our minds that God might be important, He singled us out as important. Before we were formed in the womb, God knew us.” (Eugene H. Peterson, Run with the Horses, quoted in God’s Message for Each Day)

There’s that, as well as those verses from the Psalms quoted above. He is the one who laid the foundations of the earth, ages ago, and while the earth and skies and everything we see will pass away, He will not. He will endure forever. And those of us who have, in fact, surrendered, will live in His presence.

And, in the end, everyone who refuses to surrender willingly will be forced to. That’s not a pretty thought. This event, the “Day of the Lord,” will be a terrifying event. This is the event of which it is said that kings and rulers will hide in caves and call on the mountains to fall on them, rather than face the God to whom they refused to surrender.

---

Father, my surrender to You, so many years ago, was not out of fear or terror. It was because I saw the truth of what You had done for me, and wanted to be a part of it. I saw what You sacrificed for us, and chose to align my life with Jesus Christ. I do confess that it has only been a decade or so that I have realized the extent of this surrender, and how I am supposed to be living my life loving You and loving people in the same way that Christ has loved me. I praise You for revealing these truths to me.

I pray desperately for anyone out there who claims to follow You, who has not learned this truth of surrender, and continues to fight for certain “rights.” We have no “rights” in You, other than the right that You have given us to be Your children. No one owes us anything. We owe all to You. Period. I own nothing. You own everything.

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

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

---

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; 
and what does the LORD require of you 
but to do justice, 
and to love kindness, 
and to walk humbly with your God?
(Micah 6:8 NRSV)

Grace and peace, friends.

Great and Precious Promises

Today is the thirty-first day of May, 2023, in the first week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

Day 23,820

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 711 5/6*

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⬛🟨🟨🟨⬛
🟨🟨⬛⬛🟩
🟩⬛⬛🟩🟩
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My streak is at 52 days. Yesterday’s word was “kneel.”

I slept rather late, this morning, past 8:30, which is not normal for me. But I certainly enjoyed it. I have to take S to her therapist appointment at 11:00, though, so I don’t have a lot of time to dilly-dally. I also have an event at the library at 2:00, this afternoon, as our youth department manager is retiring today! I don’t work today, but I will be up there for this special occasion!

C has to start prepping for her dreaded colonoscopy, this evening at 6:00. It will be a rough night for her. She has to take the first dose at 6:00 tonight, and the second dose five hours before she is to arrive at the facility. She is supposed to be there at 8:00 AM, so that means the second dose has to begin at 5:00 AM. I will, of course, need to drive her there, so I will be up early tomorrow, as well.

Last night was rather busy at the library, and it is evident that “summer” has begun. I put that in quotations, because it’s not officially summer until Wednesday, June 21 (Summer Solstice), the longest day of the year. Anyway, it was much more active and noisy than it has been in recent weeks, and there were many shelves that were disturbed, as though, perhaps, children had run amok and just shoved books and DVDs around. Sigh.

We discussed the possibility of signs such as “Unattended children will have a leash attached and tied to the bike rack out front,” and “Unattended children will be given chocolate, a puppy, and a drum set.” We decided that puppies wouldn’t be a good idea because Sara would take them all home and there wouldn’t be any left for the children.

The Texas Rangers defeated the Detroit Tigers 10-6, last night. Martin Perez didn’t make the necessary five innings, so a new reliever, Grant Anderson (1-0) go his first MLB win, and struck out seven batters in the 2.2 innings he pitched! He gave up no runs, so his ERA is 0.00. He may be the best thing that has happened to the Rangers since Bruce Bochy! The Rangers are not 35-19, in first place in the AL West, three games ahead of the Astros. They will play the Tigers again today at 12:10 CT, with Dane Dunning (4-0) starting. Then they will have tomorrow off, returning home to begin a weekend series with the Mariners.

The Boston Red Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds 9-8. They rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short. Brayan Bello (3-3) took the loss. The Sox are now 28-26, back in last place in the AL East, a half-game behind the Blue Jays. They will play again this evening at 7:10 ET, with James Paxton (1-1) taking the mound for Boston.

Tampa has still failed to win that fortieth game, but continue to lead MLB at 39-18. Texas is only 2.5 games behind them, though. Oakland has won two in a row!! They still trail the pack, though, at 12-45. KC is only 5.5 ahead of them. The Yankees and Reds both have four-game winning streaks going. The Washington Nationals have a three-game losing streak. Texas continues to lead in the run differential category, with +132. Oakland is still at the bottom with -193 (and will be for a long time, as the closest to them is at -70). Texas is back on top with total runs, at 344.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

For you, O Lord, are my hope, 
my trust, O LORD, from my youth. 
Upon you I have leaned from my birth; 
it was you who took me from my mother's womb. 
My praise is continually of you.
(Psalms 71:5-6 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• that the Lord has been my hope from my youth
• for the wonderful promises of God
• that when we keep His commandments, He continues to revel Himself to us, more and more
• for His promise to be with us and strengthen us
• for new songs of praise to sing from the ends of the earth

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.
(1 John 2:24-25 NRSV)

Lord our God, we want to find our joy in you and in all your promises to us. For you have promised that in the midst of all the pain and sorrow, you are preparing what pleases you and serves your honor in every heart. May we experience in our lives the fulfillment of many of your promises, so that again and again we can go forward joyfully, rising above difficult times and situations. Have mercy on us and protect us in your strength. Amen.

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Bless our God, O peoples, 
let the sound of his praise be heard, 
who has kept us among the living, 
and has not let our feet slip.
(Psalms 66:8-9 NRSV)

But I am poor and needy; 
hasten to me, O God! 
You are my help and my deliverer; 
O LORD, do not delay!
(Psalms 70:5 NRSV)

"Be still, and know that I am God! 
I am exalted among the nations, 
I am exalted in the earth."
(Psalms 46:10 NRSV)

“They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
(John 14:21 NRSV)

O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, 
make known his deeds among the peoples. 
Sing to him, sing praises to him; 
tell of all his wonderful works. 
Glory in his holy name; 
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 
Seek the LORD and his strength; 
seek his presence continually. 
Remember the wonderful works he has done, 
his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, 
O offspring of his servant Abraham, 
children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 
He is the LORD our God; 
his judgments are in all the earth.
(Psalms 105:1-7 NRSV)

Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us

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.

"Holy Father,
creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is,
both in heaven and on earth,
take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful.
Give me instead those things that are profitable for me
and all who seek rightly to praise you.
I ask this grace in the company of all believers
and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God forever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

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do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10 NRSV)

Thus says God, the LORD, 
who created the heavens and stretched them out, 
who spread out the earth and what comes from it, 
who gives breath to the people upon it 
and spirit to those who walk in it: 
I am the LORD, 
I have called you in righteousness, 
I have taken you by the hand and kept you; 
I have given you as a covenant to the people, 
a light to the nations, 
to open the eyes that are blind, 
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, 
from the prison those who sit in darkness. 
I am the LORD, that is my name; 
my glory I give to no other, 
nor my praise to idols. 
See, the former things have come to pass, 
and new things I now declare;
 before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
(Isaiah 42:5-9 NRSV)

Sing to the LORD a new song, 
his praise from the end of the earth! 
Let the sea roar and all that fills it, 
the coastlands and their inhabitants. 
Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice, 
the villages that Kedar inhabits; 
let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy, 
let them shout from the tops of the mountains. 
Let them give glory to the LORD, 
and declare his praise in the coastlands.
(Isaiah 42:10-12 NRSV)

But now thus says the LORD, 
he who created you, O Jacob, 
he who formed you, O Israel: 
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 
I have called you by name, you are mine. 
When you pass through the waters, 
I will be with you; 
and through the rivers, 
they shall not overwhelm you; 
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, 
and the flame shall not consume you.
(Isaiah 43:1-2 NRSV)

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Father, I thank You for all of these great and precious promises, that You will strengthen us and help us, that You will protect us with Your might hand, that we will walk through waters and fires and not be harmed. You have not promised to keep “bad things” from happening to us. You didn’t keep bad things from happening to Yourself, even! But what You have promised is to bring us through those things, and that we would be stronger on the other side of them.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me! You anoint my head with oil . . . my cup overflows!

Teach me Your ways, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers!

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Everything comes from him; 
Everything happens through him; 
Everything ends up in him. 
Always glory! 
Always praise! 
Yes. Yes. Yes. 
(Romans 11:36 MSG)

Grace and peace, friends.

Do You Not Know? Have You Not Heard?

Today is Tuesday, the thirtieth day of May, 2023, in the first week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you, today!

Day 23,819

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 710 5/6*

⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨
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This one was an interesting progression. My streak is now at 51 days. Yesterday’s word was “mouse.”

We had a lovely holiday, yesterday. Everyone seems to be feeling gradually better. By “everyone,” I mean C and I. I went the whole night without any meds, last night, and haven’t had any, other than my standard, daily ones, this morning. C went to work, today, so I guess she’s feeling better, too.

Instead of normal hot dogs, we wound up having crescent roll dogs, topped with chili, last night. That was S’s idea, and I was actually able to get a grocery delivery from Kroger, to get the rolls (along with a few other things). My cooking left a little to be desired, though, as the rolls were a little doughy on the bottom, and I think I burned the chili a little. But it was still good.

The Texas Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 5-0. Nathan Eovaldi (7-2) got the win, pitching five shutout innings. He struggled with control, walking a few and giving up four hits, but surrendered no runs. Corey Seager popped a three-run home run in the fifth inning, which was enough to win the game. Seager has been amazing since he came back from the IL. The Rangers are now 34-19, in first place in the AL West, three games ahead of the Astros. They play Detroit again, this evening, at 5:40 CT, in Detroit. Martin Perez (6-1) will start for Texas.

The Red Sox were off, yesterday. They begin a series against Cincinnati, today, in Boston, at 7:10 ET. Brayan Bello (3-2) will start for Boston.

Tampa Bay leads MLB at 39-17, with Texas in second place at 34-19. Oakland won a game! They are now 11-45! The Yankees, the Marlins, and the Reds all have three-game winning streaks. The Pirates and the Other Sox both have three-game losing streaks. The Rangers lead in run differential, with +128. Oakland trails with -194. Boston stays at +11. Tampa Bay has the most runs scored, with 335. Texas is right behind them with 334.

Today is a normal Tuesday. I will be shelving (or whatever needs doing) at the library, this evening. I expect there to be some shelving to do, as the library was closed, yesterday. But one never knows. I will be heading to Subway to pick up lunch and dinner for the family.

I almost forgot. C has the dreaded colonoscopy on Thursday morning, so she can’t eat any solid food at all tomorrow.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, 
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
(Psalms 90:14 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

• that I am satisfied with the steadfast love of the Lord
• for the ability we have to help one another, rather than burden one another
• that when we wait on the Lord, our strength is renewed
• that if we do not grow weary in doing good works, we will be rewarded
• that the heavens declare the glory and righteousness of God

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and all that is within me, 
bless his holy name. 
Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and do not forget all his benefits— 
who forgives all your iniquity, 
who heals all your diseases,
(Psalms 103:1-3 NRSV)

Lord our God, O Holy One, we thank you that we may lay aside our own nature and be lifted in spirit above all that is temporal and human and have joy in you. In spite of all the evil surrounding us, in spite of the thousandfold misery of humankind, we may still rejoice in you, in all you do and will yet do for us. Grant that we may go on rejoicing, having joy together, helping instead of burdening each other, until this earth is filled with the jubilation of those you have so richly blest. Forgive us all our sins. Heal us in mind and body. Deliver us from all the corruption that tries to take hold of our souls. Amen.

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Praise the LORD! 
Praise the name of the LORD; 
give praise, O servants of the LORD, . . . 
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; 
sing to his name, for he is gracious. . . . 
For I know that the LORD is great; 
our Lord is above all gods. 
(Psalms 135:1, 3, 5 NRSV)

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
 God shines forth. 
The heavens declare his righteousness, 
for God himself is judge. 
(Psalms 50:2, 6 NRSV)

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
(John 14:11-12 NRSV)

 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.

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.

"Holy Father,
creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is,
both in heaven and on earth,
take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful.
Give me instead those things that are profitable for me
and all who seek rightly to praise you.
I ask this grace in the company of all believers
and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God forever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

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A voice cries out: 
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, 
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 
Every valley shall be lifted up, 
and every mountain and hill be made low; 
the uneven ground shall become level, 
and the rough places a plain. 
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, 
and all people shall see it together, 
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
(Isaiah 40:3-5 NRSV)

A voice says, "Cry out!" 
And I said, "What shall I cry?" 
All people are grass, 
their constancy is like the flower of the field. 
The grass withers, the flower fades, 
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; 
surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers, the flower fades; 
but the word of our God will stand forever.
(Isaiah 40:6-8 NRSV)

See, the Lord GOD comes with might, 
and his arm rules for him; 
his reward is with him, 
and his recompense before him. 
He will feed his flock like a shepherd; 
he will gather the lambs in his arms, 
and carry them in his bosom, 
and gently lead the mother sheep.
(Isaiah 40:10-11 NRSV)

Have you not known? Have you not heard? 
The LORD is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth. 
He does not faint or grow weary;
 his understanding is unsearchable. 
He gives power to the faint, 
and strengthens the powerless. 
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 40:28-31 NRSV)

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So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:9 NRSV)

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”
(2 Chronicles 15:7 NRSV)

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13 NRSV)

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It is the truths of Isaiah 40 (“Do you not know? Have you not heard?”) that lead to the faith and courage to believe that we can, indeed, do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

The Lord gives power to the faint; He gives strength to the powerless; He renews our strength so that we can run and not be weary and walk and not faint. In this strength, in the waiting on the Lord, we can not grow weary in doing what is right, assuring that we will reap at harvest time. We can take courage and know that our work will be rewarded.

We are not working for God’s approval; we are not working for salvation. That has been accomplished. We are working for our God. The “works” that I do, I do because I love my Lord; I love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Of course, I want to make them happy; I want to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That motivation always exists.

But I also need to remember that there is nothing that I can do to make God love me more than He already does. Neither is there anything I can do to make Him love me less.

Do you no know? Have you not heard?

I have heard. I have known. I have tasted and I’ve seen that the Lord is good.

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Father, I praise You for the strength that You give us when we simply wait on You. There are a lot of possible definitions as to what that means, but that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that we wait on You. We look expectantly to what You will do in and through us.

Father, help us to have an impact on this world that seems to be spiraling out of control. We believe that it is not, and that “history” is right on track. But that is only because we are trying to step back and look at the “big picture” of Your story and what You have planned for us all.

I pray that all of Your people would calm down and rest in You, with confidence that You know what You are doing and have everything under control. You do not need us to “control” anything (as if we could, anyway . . . more and more we are proving that we humans are incapable of controlling even the simplest things). You have it all in Your hands. We sing it, sometimes, “He’s got the whole world in His hands,” but something tells me we aren’t too sure we believe that.

I believe! Help my unbelief! And when I think I can’t do it, remind me that I am, in fact, doing it.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers!

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May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26 NLT)

Grace and peace, friends.