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

Never Alone

May 19, 2024 Jeff1 Comment

Today is Sunday, the nineteenth day of May, 2024. It is Pentecost Sunday.

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

Day 24,174

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

Lord Jesus, You have established Your church on earth to deliver Your gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Be with Your church this Pentecost, that we may joyfully receive Your gifts and remember who You have made us. Help us support the work of evangelism both in our communities and throughout the world so that more may hear Your Word, be brought to repentance and faith, and receive the gift of Your salvation. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, For the Day of Pentecost)

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon your Church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love, and strengthen our lives for service in your kingdom; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(Lutheran Book of Worship, The Day of Pentecost)

I love you, O LORD, my strength. 
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, 
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, 
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, 
my stronghold.
(Psalms 18:1-2 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for God, my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer
for the Holy Spirit, given to the world on that historical Pentecost Day
for the opportunity to gather together with the community of saints, to worship the Holy Trinity, to hear God’s Word preached, and to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion
that none of us is alone in this walk with Christ, as we strive to do that which He commanded us
for the rich treasure of music and hymns, written over the centuries, to aid us in our worship

Lord our God, we thank you that we have often felt you close to us. We thank you that you are near us and that you strengthen the weak. Remember us and give each one the help he needs to be true to his calling. Remember all humankind and grant that we may go forward in spirit and in truth. Give new light to the peoples who are still in great darkness. Let your kingdom and your reign be revealed and your name at last be honored by all. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:6 NRSV)

“No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”
(Joshua 1:5 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)

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

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20 NRSV)

(Gratitude to LightWriters for the Scriptures)

I was glad when they said to me,
 "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"
(Psalms 122:1 NRSV)

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
(Matthew 18:20 NRSV)

so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
(Romans 12:5 NRSV)

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
(Ephesians 2:19-20 NRSV)

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.
(Ezekiel 36:26-27 NRSV)

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, 
at the presence of the God of Jacob, 
who turns the rock into a pool of water, 
the flint into a spring of water.
(Psalms 114:7-8 NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
(Acts 2:1-12 NRSV)

"But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.

 "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. 
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
(John 16:4-15 NRSV)

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
 your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. 
For the LORD will vindicate his people, 
and have compassion on his servants.
(Psalms 135:13-14 NRSV)

We have many admonitions, throughout Scripture, to do various things. But they are all summed up in Jesus’s words regarding love. This is a constant theme in this blog. We are to love God with all of our being, and love our neighbors, and one another, as we love ourselves, and as Christ has loved us. This, according to Jesus, sums up the entirety of the Law and the Prophets.

At the end of the Transfiguration event, after Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, representing the Prophets, disappeared, “only Jesus” was left with the disciples.

But then, after Jesus ascended, God sent the Holy Spirit, who made His grand entrance in that much-loved passage in Acts 2.

Following the commands of Christ is not easy. We find that it might be not as difficult for some as it is for others. Goodness knows, I have found that some people are much easier to love than others. But the beautiful thing of this is that we are not alone, and this was God’s intent all along. The Trinity is involved in every minute of our lives. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate, our Helper.

"The Holy Spirit lives within us as we walk in Jesus' challenging footsteps. The Spirit is with us as He teaches us, bringing to mind the comfort and promises of God's Word. In our sometimes bold and at other times feeble efforts as witnesses for Jesus, the Spirit is at work, convicting the world of sin and righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth as He glorifies Jesus. In our hymn we pray that the Spirit would make us willing to do His work and that He would not let trials turn us away from Jesus. The Spirit will give us strength us in our weakness even as we endure trouble, fear, and temptation, and He will keep us faithful unto death. We pray that the Spirit, "holy Fire," will fan into living flame the lamp of our faith."
(Lutheran Hour Ministries, May 19)

This devotional was written based on a hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord.” One of the verses is quoted at the beginning.

"Come, holy Fire, comfort true, 
grant us the will Your work to do 
And in Your service to abide;
 let trials turn us not aside. 
Lord, by Your pow'r prepare each heart,
 and to our weakness strength impart 
That bravely here we may contend, 
through life and death to You, our Lord, ascend. 
Alleluia, alleluia!"

Father, I praise You for the Holy Spirit! I thank You that You have not made demands of us and then left us alone to fend for ourselves. Each member of the Holy Trinity, throughout Scripture, has promised us that we would never be left alone, nor forsaken. What great comfort this sweet sentence gives! I know that My Redeemer lives!

Father, as we worship You, this morning, along with the Son, and the Spirit, may our hearts be enlarged, may our spirits soar, and may we be encouraged and strengthened, sustained by the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion. Light a fire in our souls, this morning, Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit.

Father, give us fellowship with the risen Christ, this morning, as we gather together to worship. I pray for spiritual renewal and refreshment throughout Your Church.

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.

"Missionary God, you sent your presence to guide and prophets to proclaim; you sent Jesus, the Word, to announce the good news of the kingdom, to seek and save the lost. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to your church, your missionary people. Brood over and breath on us, sending us out with your life, declaring to all nations and people the promise of the gospel, salvation in Jesus. Amen."
(Seeking God's Face, Easter - Day 50 - Pentecost)

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

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

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13 NRSV)

Grace and peace, friends.

For the Sake of His Name

May 18, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Saturday, the eighteenth day of May, 2024, in the seventh week of Easter.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

Day 24,173

Today is the last day of the Easter season, and tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday, beginning Ordinary Time, which lasts until Advent. Actually, I have just learned that I am slightly wrong (can one be “slightly wrong?”). Pentecost is the final day of the Easter season.

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

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

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
(Romans 8:15-17 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the spirit of adoption, by which we cry, “Abba! Father!”
for a new day, and all that God has prepared for me to do in it
for the holiness of the name of the Lord, for which He does all things good
that God will turn all weeping into joy
that nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus

Lord our God, Father of us all, grant that we may know something of you in our hearts. Each one of us is different, with his own particular needs, but we are all your children and should all become children of your Spirit. Then even in the difficulties of life, in the many struggles, temptations, and sorrows, we can keep up our courage and remain in the Spirit, who is victorious in every aspect of life. Protect and strengthen us on all our ways. We praise you for all you have done and for all the help you have given us. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.
(Ezekiel 36:22-27 NRSV, emphasis added)

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

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

Let them praise his name with dancing, 
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre. 
(Psalms 149:3 NRSV)

"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 40:5 NRSV)

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:14-16 NRSV)

(Gratitude to LightWriters for these Scriptures)

Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, 
shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
(Psalms 126:6 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)

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
(Philippians 3:12-16 NRSV)

Praise the LORD! 
Praise, O servants of the LORD; 
praise the name of the LORD. 

Blessed be the name of the LORD 
from this time on and forevermore. 
From the rising of the sun to its setting 
the name of the LORD is to be praised. 
The LORD is high above all nations, 
and his glory above the heavens. 

Who is like the LORD our God, 
who is seated on high, 
who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 
He raises the poor from the dust, 
and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 
to make them sit with princes, 
with the princes of his people. 
He gives the barren woman a home, 
making her the joyous mother of children. 
Praise the LORD!
(Psalms 113:1-9 NRSV)

Then afterward
 I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; 
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
your old men shall dream dreams, 
and your young men shall see visions. 
Even on the male and female slaves, 
in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 

I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
(Joel 2:28-32 NRSV)

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, 
"For your sake we are being killed all day long; 
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." 
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:31-39 NRSV)

Father, I have let myself run out of time, again, this morning, and I confess this lack of discipline. I pray, this morning, for the sake of Your holy name, which is the reason You do all that You do, according to Scripture. It is said that You will bless those who fear Your name. Make us to revere Your holy name as You deserve, Father, that our cup may overflow with blessing and thanksgiving.

I pray, again, for the unity of Your Church and community of saints, this morning. Pour out Your spirit upon us again, O Lord, just as You did, initially, on Pentecost Sunday in the book of Acts. May we, the Church, live as the saints of old lived, simply and humbly declaring the Gospel of Christ in our world.

"Triune God, I pray for what was prophesied long ago and promised by you, a fresh filling of your Holy Spirit - your very presence in my heart, your power to love, and your guarantee of my future glory. Amen."
(Seeking God's Face, Easter - Day 49)

All these things through the Son, Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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

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

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)

Grace and peace, friends.

The Purpose of Gifts

May 15, 2024 Jeff6 Comments

Today is Wednesday, the fifteenth day of May, 2024, in the seventh (and last) week of Easter.

May the peace of Christ surround you, today, and drive away all of your anxieties and fears.

Day 24,170

Four days until Pentecost Sunday!

I would like to request prayer for C, my wife, who is still in a lot of pain due to some spinal issues. She has an appointment with a spinal specialist on Friday.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

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

Know that the LORD is God.
 It is he that made us, and we are his; 
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
(Psalms 100:3 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

that I am part of His people, the sheep of His pasture
for the life with which God has blessed me
that when God opens a door, no human can shut it
that I can lie down and sleep in safety, and wake again in the morning, for the Lord sustains me (Psalm 3)
that we have been made whole by the wounds and suffering of Christ our Savior

Father in heaven, may we recognize and acknowledge that you are God. You have made us, and not we ourselves, to be your people and the sheep of your pasture. Baptize us with the truth we need throughout our lives. Give us the gift to discern who we are and what we should become. Free our eyes from all deception so that we can no longer delude ourselves with short-lived, earthly things. Clear our eyes to see what is eternal in and around us. Make us children, true children, who awake to exult and rejoice in what is childlike and who give thanks to you, O God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

“I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
(Revelation 3:8 NRSV)

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
(Revelation 5:5 NRSV)

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Ephesians 4:1-3 NRSV)

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
(Ephesians 4:14-16 NRSV)

I lie down and sleep; 
I wake again, 
for the LORD sustains me.
(Psalms 3:5 NRSV)

I clothe the heavens with blackness, 
and make sackcloth their covering. 

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, 
that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—
wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 
The Lord GOD has opened my ear, 
and I was not rebellious,
 I did not turn backward.
(Isaiah 50:3-5 NRSV)

“Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.”
(Revelation 3:2-4 NRSV)

But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!
(Hebrews 9:11-14 NRSV)

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
 "He committed no sin, 
and no deceit was found in his mouth." 
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
(1 Peter 2:21-25 NRSV)

In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; 
do not let me ever be put to shame; 
in your righteousness deliver me.
 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. 
Be a rock of refuge for me, 
a strong fortress to save me. 

You are indeed my rock and my fortress; 
for your name's sake lead me and guide me, 
take me out of the net that is hidden for me, 
for you are my refuge.
 Into your hand I commit my spirit; 
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
(Psalms 31:1-5 NRSV)

O how abundant is your goodness 
that you have laid up for those who fear you, 
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you, 
in the sight of everyone! 
In the shelter of your presence 
you hide them from human plots; 
you hold them safe under your shelter 
from contentious tongues.
(Psalms 31:19-20 NRSV)

Love the LORD, all you his saints. 
The LORD preserves the faithful, 
but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily. 
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, 
all you who wait for the LORD.
(Psalms 31:23-24 NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?"
(Acts 2:1-8 NRSV)

As I sit here, in God’s presence, reminding myself (or allowing the Spirit to remind me) that I am in His presence, I ponder what the Spirit might be saying to me, this morning. I’ve been given a couple excerpts from Revelation, one from the letter to Philadelphia, and one from the letter to Sardis. To the saints in Philadelphia, Jesus said that He had placed before them an open door, which no one can shut. This is powerful stuff. When God opens a door for us, there is no human being who has the power to shut it.

Likewise, of course, when God closes a door, there is no human power that can reopen it. And this mumbo-jumbo of “When God closes a door, He opens a window,” is sentimental claptrap. Another one of those popular sayings that is not at all biblical. I confess that I remember falling for that, in my college days. There may have even been a popular CCM song about that. I found one from 1983, by The Continental Singers, but I’m not sure it’s the one I remember.

But I digress.

The letter to the saints at Sardis is basically a call to wake up and repent.

Waking up is something we do, hopefully, every morning. I love the two psalms together, Psalms 4 and 5. Now we have quoted Psalm 3 in today’s readings, but Psalm 4 ends with this verse:

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; 
for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.
(Psalms 4:8 NRSV)

Psalm 4 is known, by many, as the “Evening Psalm.” Verse 4 corroborates that idea.

When you are disturbed, do not sin; 
ponder it on your beds, and be silent. 
[Selah]
(Psalms 4:4 NRSV)

Psalm 5 is known as the “Morning Psalm.” This, because of the first three verses.

Give ear to my words, O LORD; 
give heed to my sighing. 
Listen to the sound of my cry, 
my King and my God, 
for to you I pray. 
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
 in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
(Psalms 5:1-3 NRSV)

I’ve made note, in the past, of the fact that, in the Hebrew mindset, even going all the way back to Genesis 1, the day began with evening. The Jewish Sabbath begins at 6:00 PM (approximately sundown) on what we know as Friday. This is what we seen in Genesis.

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
(Genesis 1:5 NRSV)

Am I digressing again? Maybe. But God blesses us with sleep and then, again, in the morning, waking up. We rest, from the previous day’s work, and then we wake up, hopefully refreshed and ready for a new day (in the Western mindset).

God also calls us to “wake up” in a different sense. He sends us warnings when we are heading down the wrong path. Then, on the day of Pentecost (which, by the way, was something the Jews celebrated from back in Old Testament days), we received the ultimate “wake-up-call.” The Holy Spirit descended on the believers who were gathered together, “all together in one place.” We aren’t sure, exactly where they were, but it says that the sound filled the “house,” and I think it is logical to think that they might have been in the upper room where the Last Supper was held.

The miracle of that Pentecost was the tongues. But it was not babbling, as many groups of people seem to think, when they think of “speaking in tongues.” Each believer was gifted with the ability to speak the Gospel of Christ in a known language, other than their own, so that someone from another country and language could hear the Gospel message! They all began to speak in other languages, “as the Spirit gave them ability.”

The purpose for this was seen in the result, recorded in verse 41, that tells us that “about three thousand persons were added” that day.

The purpose for all gifts, given by the Spirit, is for the glorification of Christ and the edification of His Church. Period. There is no gift given us to make us look good, or to edify us as individuals. If we seek glory in anything we do, we are told by Jesus, that that human glory will be all the reward we receive. I would rather receive the reward held for me in heaven, and use my gifts humbly on this earth.

Father, I praise You for the gifts of the Spirit, given to us, as the Spirit sees fit, to glorify You, the Son, and edify Your Church. I acknowledge, willingly, and eagerly, that this is the sole purpose of these gifts.

I thank You for placing open doors before us, when You so desire, and knowing that there is no power on earth that can close those doors. It is simply up to us to walk through them, though. I know (with much regret) that there are times when You placed an open door before me, and I failed to go through it. And those doors will not stay open indefinitely. I also know that I have tried to go back to a door like that, to find it closed.

But a closed door does not mean that You are finished with me. If You were finished with me, I would not be walking this earth, anymore. The closed door means “wait.” Perhaps it is a time of waiting to grow, so that, one day, another door may open (not a window), and another opportunity will present itself to me.

I thank You for giving me the confidence in You to lay down and sleep each night, and then waking me up each morning, to face another day of opportunities in Your grace. May I be faithful to walk in those “good works” that You prepared in advance for me to walk in. And finally, I give You praise that, by the wounds and suffering of our Savior, we have been made whole.

"Ascended Jesus, I often move through my days with a guilty conscience, an accusing voice that tells me of the evil I have done, or the good I have failed to do. Cleanse my conscience by your shed blood, and strengthen me to serve the living God. Amen."
(Seeking God's Face, Easter - Day 46)

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

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

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

Grace and peace, friends.

Yet You Are Near, O Lord

May 11, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Saturday, the eleventh day of May, 2024, in the sixth week of Easter.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

Day 24,166

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

Lord our God, we thank you for making us into a community whose refuge and certainty is Jesus Christ. We thank you that he will not remain hidden from us forever; his life will be revealed, perhaps soon, in our times. Lord God, how long, how long have your children waited! Now a new time is coming, the end of this age, and we rejoice in this even if you must also judge and punish. No matter what happens, we are at peace. We live in your future, in the future of Jesus Christ, in the great day when humankind will receive the Spirit and their old works will come to an end. Be with us. Bless us this night and help us in what we have most on our hearts. We have so much on our hearts, but you see everything and you know our needs. Lord God, your grace will overcome all earthly troubles, and your name will be glorified on earth if only there is a church that believes and truly awaits your help. Praise to your name! You have done immeasurably much for us and you will do even more. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
(Colossians 3:1-4 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the hope of being revealed in Christ in glory
that I am part of a community whose refuge and certainty is in Jesus Christ
that we are no longer strangers and aliens, but citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19)
that God is near to us, and His Word is true
for the Word of God, perfect, sure, right, clear, pure, true, and righteous altogether (Psalm 19)

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. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
(Ephesians 2:17-22 NRSV)

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
(Hebrews 1:8-9 NRSV)

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; to provide for those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
(Isaiah 61:1-3 NRSV)

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.
(2 Corinthians 9:10-12 NRSV)

Oh, how I love your law! 
It is my meditation all day long. 
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
 for it is always with me. 
I have more understanding than all my teachers, 
for your decrees are my meditation. 
I understand more than the aged, 
for I keep your precepts. 
I hold back my feet from every evil way, 
in order to keep your word. 
I do not turn away from your ordinances,
 for you have taught me. 
How sweet are your words to my taste, 
sweeter than honey to my mouth! 
Through your precepts I get understanding;
 therefore I hate every false way.
(Psalms 119:97-104 NRSV)

Yet you are near, O LORD, 
and all your commandments are true.
(Psalms 119:151 NRSV)

Some of the most precious words found in Scripture can be seen in Psalm 119:151. “Yet you are near, O Lord.” And if you look at the verse immediately preceding that one, it gives a little more perspective.

Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near; 
they are far from your law.
(Psalms 119:150 NRSV)

The problem with those who have “evil purpose” is defined in the second half of the verse. They are “far from your law.” In fact, the answer to the often asked question, “What is wrong with people today?” or “What is wrong with the world today?” is answered by that same statement. The following paragraph is quoted from today’s devotional from Luther Hour Ministries.

“When men turn their back on God and begin to love and trust something else more than they love and trust God, the result is always ruinous (see 2 Chronicles 28).”

2 Chronicles 28 describes the idolatry of one of the most evil kings in Judah’s history, Ahaz. Of course, we all know that part of the driving force behind his evil was his wife, Jezebel. And we know, from the biblical record, that his reign was, indeed, ruinous. I love the statement from the devotional.

I find, from experience, that it can happen, though, even to a believer. We can, at least for a moment or two, turn our backs on God and begin to lean on idols more than we love and trust God. Certainly, it is not usually intentional. And, equally certainly, God will not allow it to carry on for long.

The truth of this next paragraph, though, is staggering, staggering because it is so true, and we so seldom take advantage of this truth.

“God can be as real to us as He was to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God can be as true to us as he was to Abram during his pilgrimage from Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land. God can be as evident to us as he was to Moses by the burning bush. And God can be as close to us as He was to David when he wrote, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).”

This is reality. The God that we see in the Old Testament, and His relationship with those people whom He chose, is still present today. Yes, He is present in the person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, but He is every bit as real as He was then, and can be every bit as present and personal in our lives as He was to Adam and Eve and Abraham and Moses and David.

Psalm 119 gives a clue as to how this can be accomplished and enjoyed. It is through His Word. Reading and meditating on Scripture is one of the most important things that we can do, as followers of Christ. It can make us wiser than our enemies, give us more understanding than our teachers, or even those older than us. It can keep our feet back from evil ways, and prevent us from turning our backs on God and trusting idols.

Psalm 19 has a beautiful passage about this.

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

Father, I rejoice in Your nearness, this morning. I confess that I too frequently turn from You and run after idols. Forgive me for these times. I praise You for always chasing after me to bring me back to Your path and Your ways. I pray that You will continue to teach me Your ways, that I may walk in Your truth, even in my old age, for I am never too old to learn Your truth and Your ways. Unite my too-often divided heart, Lord, that I might properly and fully revere Your holy name.

Thank You for Your Word, Lord, that revives my soul, makes me wise, rejoices my heart, enlightens my eyes, and endures forever. It is true and righteous altogether; it is truly more to be desired than gold (what use will I have for gold in Your kingdom?), and sweeter than any honey ever found. I hunger for the “great reward” found in Your Word, Father. Keep me always in Your Word, reading and meditating on it daily.

I also thank You for the Word that became flesh, Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

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

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

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)

Grace and peace, friends.

Hold Fast

May 10, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Friday, the tenth day of May, 2024, in the sixth week of Easter.

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

Day 24,165

Nine days until Pentecost Sunday!

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

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

"There is no Holy One like the LORD, 
no one besides you; 
there is no Rock like our God."
(1 Samuel 2:2 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for God, the Holy One; there is no Rock like our God
for the strength to engage in this new day; may I be a benefit to others today; may I have a listening ear and a caring heart
for the ability, throughout my life, to heed the words of Christ and build my “house” on the Rock
for God’s rich mercies, through which He saved us by grace through faith, and created good works for us to walk in; may I be faithful to walk in those works today
that God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light

"There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; 
there is no Rock like our God. 
Talk no more so very proudly, 
let not arrogance come from your mouth; 
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
 and by him actions are weighed."
(1 Samuel 2:2-3 NRSV)

But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
(Ephesians 2:4-10 NRSV, emphasis added)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”
(Matthew 7:24-27 NRSV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
(1 Peter 2:9-10 NRSV)

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

God has gone up with a shout,
 the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
 Sing praises to God, sing praises; 
sing praises to our King, sing praises. 
For God is the king of all the earth; 
sing praises with a psalm.
(Psalms 47:5-7 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,
(Psalms 105:1-5 NRSV)

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Hebrews 10:19-25 NRSV)

Father, I have run short of time, this morning, and I confess my lack of discipline in time management. I ask for help in this, going forward. Nevertheless, today, “it is what it is.” So I give thanks to You, almighty God, for who You are, and for all You have done. I give thanks to You for all Your wonderful works, as You have called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light.

Thank You for the richness of Your mercies, through which You saved us, by grace, through faith. Thank You that I am Your workmanship, and that You created me to walk in good works, prepared for me long before I was even born. May I be faithful, Father, to walk in those.

I pray that we will also be faithful to hold fast to our confession of faith, proclaimed by many of us each Sunday morning during our worship. Help us to “provoke one another to love and good deeds,” Lord, as we walk through the trials and temptations of this world.

Through Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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

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

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.
(The Prayer of St. Francis)

Grace and peace, friends.

Delight, In A Different Direction

May 8, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Wednesday, the eighth day of May, 2024, in the sixth week of Easter.

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

Day 24,163

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

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

God is our refuge and strength, 
a very present help in trouble.
(Psalms 46:1 NRSV)

The LORD of hosts is with us; 
the God of Jacob is our refuge. 
[Selah] 
(Psalms 46:7 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

that our God is always with us, a refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble
for this new day and the opportunities it will present; may I be faithful to channel His grace throughout
for the example Christ lived for us; may we be faithful to follow Him
that the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him; He delights in us!
that my identity is found in Christ alone; my deliverance and salvation rest in Him alone

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:7-10 NRSV)

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
(John 13:14-15 NRSV)

The LORD will keep you from all evil; 
he will keep your life.
(Psalms 121:7 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)

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
(1 Peter 2:1-3 NRSV)

For God alone my soul waits in silence, 
for my hope is from him. 
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; 
I shall not be shaken. 
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
 my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
(Psalms 62:5-7 NRSV)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.
(1 John 5:13-15 NRSV)

There’s that word, “delight,” again. Only this time, it is referring to God’s attitude toward us. Believe it or not, if you are a follower of Christ, and you “fear” (reverence not terror) God, He delights in you! He takes pleasure in you! Not only that, but remember Zephaniah 3:17?

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

There’s a guy whose worship songs have spoken deeply to me, over the years, named Dennis Jernigan. I haven’t kept up with him much, recently, but those songs still have a lot of meaning to me. Songs like “Thank You, Lord,” and “You Are My All in All.” But there’s one that started it all, called “When the Night is Falling.”

That song was inspired by Zephaniah 3:17, and Dennis translated that verse for himself. It came out like this:

“The eternal self-existent God: The God who is three in one. He who dwells in the center of your being is a powerful valiant warrior. He has come to set you free, to keep you safe and to bring you victory. He is cheered and He beams with exceeding joy and takes pleasure in your presence. He has engraved a place for Himself in you and there He quietly rests in His love and affection for you. He cannot contain Himself at the thought of you and with the greatest of joy spins around wildly in anticipation over you . . . and has placed you above all other creations and in the highest place in His priorities. In fact, He shouts and sings in triumph joyfully proclaiming the gladness of His heart in a song of rejoicing! All because of you!”

So if you’re feeling down, today, if you’re feeling like nobody cares, or if you’re just feeling alone, consider this. God delights in you. He sings over you. “With the greatest of joy spins around wildly in anticipation over you . . .”

God LOVES you. He loves you more than any human being has ever even thought about loving you. If you’re a mother, God loves you more than you love your own children, or more than they love you. Ditto if you are a father. He loves you more than a spouse or a best friend loves you. And His love is never-ending and never-failing. His love is unconditional.

Father, I praise You for Your never-ending love. I praise You that You, alone, have the ability to love in ways that we cannot. Our love is conditional, and we cannot help it. If someone makes us angry, our love for them diminishes, if not quits altogether. We are fickle creatures. But You are not. You are constant, and You are the only One who has the ability to agape.

Thank You for these words that inform us of Your delight over us. Help us to embrace that; help us to receive it. And then help us to act delightful! In my mind, there is only one proper reaction/response to knowing that You delight over me, and that is joy. And that joy should be reflected in the way I treat other people. If I know You delight in me, how can I not delight in other people; even those who don’t seem to know how to act delightful.

Help me to be delightful today.

. . . through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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

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

You shall no more be termed Forsaken, 
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
 but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, 
and your land Married; 
for the LORD delights in you, 
and your land shall be married.
(Isaiah 62:4 NRSV)

Grace and peace, friends.

My Refuge and Strength

May 7, 2024 Jeff1 Comment

Today is Tuesday, the seventh day of May, 2024, in the sixth week of Easter.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

Day 24,162

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you with all our hearts because we know you are holding us by your hand and leading us on all our ways, in spite of all contradiction, strife, distress, and confusion within ourselves. What are all these compared to your love, which does not let us go but watches over us and finally brings us to what is good? Release us from our many burdens. Free our spirits and our souls more and more until we can do nothing but give praise and thanks with heart, soul, and strength for all you are to us. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
(1 John 4:13 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for the Holy Spirit within me, evidence that I abide in Him and He in me
for God’s leadership, via the Spirit, in my life, leading me in all my ways
for God’s Word, a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
that God is my refuge and strength, a “very present help in trouble”
that the Lord our God rejoices over us, renews us in His love, and exults over us with loud singing

I will place my dwelling in your midst, and I shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be their slaves no more; I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.
(Leviticus 26:11-13 NRSV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time.
(1 Timothy 2:1-6 NRSV)

You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
(Psalms 119:114 NRSV)

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
(Psalms 46:1 NRSV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet 
and a light to my path.
(Psalms 119:105 NRSV)

I treasure your word in my heart, 
so that I may not sin against you.
(Psalms 119:11 NRSV)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; 
the righteous run into it and are safe.
(Proverbs 18:10 NRSV)

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—
in peace because they trust in you.
(Isaiah 26:3 NRSV)

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 43:2 NRSV)

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
(Matthew 5:44-45 NRSV)

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
(Luke 12:32 NRSV)

then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the LORD your God has scattered you.
(Deuteronomy 30:3 NRSV)

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

Hear my prayer, O LORD; 
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; 
answer me in your righteousness. 
Do not enter into judgment with your servant, 
for no one living is righteous before you. 

For the enemy has pursued me, 
crushing my life to the ground, 
making me sit in darkness like those long dead. 
Therefore my spirit faints within me; 
my heart within me is appalled. 

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

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

Save me, O LORD, from my enemies; 
I have fled to you for refuge. 
Teach me to do your will, 
for you are my God. 
Let your good spirit lead me on a level path. 

For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life. 
In your righteousness bring me out of trouble. 
In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, 
and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant.
(Psalms 143:1-12 NRSV)

Father, I have no commentary on today’s Scriptures. I merely lift them up to You, back to You in prayer. One of my favorite things to do is pray Scripture back to You, for it says things much better than I could ever do myself. One of my favorites is the prayer of the tax collector in Jesus’s parable, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I like the form that it has taken in what we call “The Jesus Prayer.” “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I pray this prayer to You almost daily, sometimes multiple times a day, because I realize what a sinner I am, and how my feet seem to always run toward sin instead of away from it.

I thank You for the Holy Spirit within me, the evidence that I do belong to You, and that I abide in You and You in me. I do feel Your presence, daily, in the Spirit. And when I don’t “feel” You, I rest in the confidence of the promise that You are always there and will never leave me.

You are my hiding place, my shield, my refuge, my strength. Your Word, which I love, is, indeed, a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, and I have been treasuring Your Word in my heart since I was a child, before I was even able to read it. I have my parents to thank for that, Father.

When I trust in You, You keep me in peace. When I fail to trust, the peace is disturbed. You would think I would have learned by now. You are fully trustworthy, Father, and You have never abandoned me.

Psalm 143 speaks to me, mightily, this morning, and I ponder the fact that my “enemies” are those who are attempting to draw me away from Your path. But it’s not really personal, as these “enemies” don’t know me, don’t even know I exist. But our spiritual enemy uses them to distract me and pull me away from my fellowship with Christ. So I pray that You would save me from them, preserve my life (both physical and spiritual), and cut off my enemies in Your steadfast love.

Help me to keep my mind focused on things above, rather than things on the earth. My treasure is in heaven. My love is in heaven.

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

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

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

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

Grace and peace, friends.

Delight

May 6, 2024 JeffLeave a comment

Today is Monday, the sixth day of May, 2024, in the sixth week of Easter.

May the peace and love of Christ flood your soul, today!

Day 24,161

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

"Father God, 
on Monday, people everywhere head to their workplaces to begin their work week. Some of them spring joyfully to their assigned task, eager and confident. Others shuffle to work with unwilling feet, knowing a difficult task lies before them. Bless all who work with strength of body, clarity of mind, willingness of heart, and the knowledge that they bless others by their labor. Fill me with gratitude for the work of those around me and help me support and encourage them, whatever their role may be.
 In Jesus' name. Amen."
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Monday Morning)

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)

Today I am grateful:

for that promise that death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more
for this day and the opportunities and challenges it will bring; may I be faithful to be fully present in it
that I have delighted in God’s Word since I was a child
for the admonitions to not worry about tomorrow; “Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
that we have been ransomed, not with silver or gold, or things corruptible, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19)

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

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
(Colossians 1:11-12 NRSV)

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
(Matthew 6:34 NRSV)

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.” Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
(James 4:13-14 NRSV)

You forgave the iniquity of your people;
 you pardoned all their sin. 
[Selah] 
You withdrew all your wrath; 
you turned from your hot anger. 

Restore us again, O God of our salvation, 
and put away your indignation toward us. 
Will you be angry with us forever? 
Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 
Will you not revive us again, 
so that your people may rejoice in you? 
Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, 
and grant us your salvation.
(Psalms 85:2-7 NRSV)

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.
(1 Peter 1:17-21 NRSV)

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, 
or take the path that sinners tread, 
or sit in the seat of scoffers; 
but their delight is in the law of the LORD, 
and on his law they meditate day and night.
(Psalms 1:1-2 NRSV)

Oh, how I love your law! 
It is my meditation all day long.
(Psalms 119:97 NRSV)

“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
(John 8:31b-32 NRSV)

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
(John 15:5-8 NRSV)

Delight. It means (as a noun) “great pleasure.” Something that is a delight to me is “a cause or source of great pleasure.” As a verb it means to please greatly.

What things delight me? There are many, to be truthful. A good cheeseburger delights me. Great music is a delight to me. A really good book is a delight to me. I also take great delight in God’s Word, just as the psalmist who wrote Psalm 1, and the psalmist who wrote Psalm 119. Both of those are “orphan” psalms, meaning we don’t know for sure who wrote them. But that really isn’t important.

After cautioning us against following the advice of the wicked, taking the path of sinners, or sitting in the seat of scoffers, Psalm 1 then lets us know that the person who delights in God’s Word, and meditates on it constantly, is happy. That word, “happy,” is also translated “blessed” in other translations. We find the same thing happening in Jesus’s Beatitudes. I will never forget when Good News for Modern Man came out. I was not even ten years old when it was published (1966 is what I’m seeing as the first publication date). We noted, immediately, that, where the Beatitudes said “Blessed is . . .,” the Good News Bible (as it later came to be called) said “Happy is . . .” At the Baptist church where I grew up, all we had was King James Version, at that time. I think the Revised Standard Version and American Standard Version existed, but I had not heard of them.

But I digress. The point was that “blessed” and “happy” come from the same Greek and Hebrew words.

We will be happy, it says, if we delight in God’s Word.

I’ve pointed out Psalm 119 before, in this blog. In Psalm 119, the psalmist waxes on about God’s Word and how wonderful it is, for 176 verses. The entire psalm is a Hebrew acrostic, divided into groups of eight verses, in which every verse of the group begins with the same Hebrew letter, and each group goes in order of the Hebrew alphabet. In some versions, you can see the name of the Hebrew letter as a subheading for each group of eight verses. The entire psalm is quite beautiful in its composition, and almost every single verse of the 176 mentions God’s Word in same way, shape, or form. There are a handful of verses that do not, as they seem to be part of a couplet.

There I go digressing again. I take delight in the wonderful imagination of the psalmist and the composition of his work. And that psalmist definitely delights in God’s Word. And he didn’t have nearly as much of it as we have, today.

Jesus encouraged us to “continue” in His word, which would make us His disciples and give us true freedom. Then, in a later chapter in John’s gospel, He encouraged us to abide in Him and His Word, which would result in having our prayers answered, and our desires met, and His Father being glorified.

We had a wonderful sermon, yesterday morning, on God’s Word. We were reminded of its inerrancy and infallibility, and that it is totally trustworthy.

More importantly, the Word of God is living and active, and Jesus Christ is its embodiment.

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
(Hebrews 4:12-13 NRSV)

So blessed, indeed, is the one who delights in the Word of God and meditates on it day and night. He will be firmly planted, as a tree on the banks of a river. “In all that they do, they prosper.”

Father, I thank You that, from my childhood, You have caused me to delight in Your Word. I know that there have been periods in my life when I did not delight in it quite as much. But You have always kept it right in front of me, and I have always loved it. I have delighted, as well, in Jesus, who is not only my Savior, but is the living representation of Your Word, made flesh, and dwelling among us.

I pray that, as my days go on, that I will delight in Your Word even more and more, until that day when I meet Your Living Word face to face in eternity. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and without Him, I can do nothing. Keep me planted, like that tree, Father, keep my “leaves” from withering, and may all I do prosper. And You know my heart, that when I use the word “prosper,” I am not speaking of material wealth or goods. I am speaking only of things that will have eternal value, as my treasure is in heaven.

"Lord, lead me daily to delight in You and in Your holy Word. Amen."
(Lutheran Hour Ministries, Monday, May 6)

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

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

Grace and peace, friends.

My Song Is Love Unknown

May 5, 2024 Jeff

Today is Sunday, the fifth day of May, 2024. It is the sixth Sunday of Easter.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

Day 24,160 (the number of days since I was born)

I’m a little groggy, this morning, with some brain fog going on. Hopefully, I will be coherent.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

"O God, from whom all good things come: Lead us by the inspiration of your Spirit to think those things which are right, and by your goodness help us to do them; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever."
(Lutheran Book of Worship, Prayer for the Sixth Sunday of Easter)

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

for Jesus’s promise to always be with us
for the calling to be the light of Christ, shining into the dark places in the world
that God satisfies us with good, as long as we live, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:5)
that the Lord does not deal with us according to our sins, but removes them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:10, 12)
for the love shown to us, who were loveless, that we “might lovely be” (My Song Is Love Unknown, Lutheran Book of Worship 94)

Lord our God, we are not worthy of all the mercy and faithfulness you show to us. We thank you for your love and ask you to keep our hearts united in the hope we have together for all things. Keep our hearts united, that again and again we can receive something new from your mighty hand. Keep us true to the calling you have given us. Let light shine out into the world, right into the dark places. Remember those all over the world who are sighing to you, longing that in your great and wonderful goodness light may come to the peoples and to the nations through some deed from your hand. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

Do not be deceived, my beloved. 
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
(James 1:16-18 NRSV)

and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
(Ephesians 4:32 NRSV)

You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
(Deuteronomy 11:18-19 NRSV)

but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
(2 Corinthians 12:9 NRSV)

The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
(Isaiah 58:11 NRSV)

who satisfies you with good as long as you live 
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(Psalms 103:5 NRSV)

Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
(1 Peter 1:13-16 NRSV)

The LORD is merciful and gracious,
 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 
He will not always accuse, 
nor will he keep his anger forever.
 He does not deal with us according to our sins, 
nor repay us according to our iniquities. 
For as the heavens are high above the earth, 
so great is his steadfast love 
toward those who fear him; 
as far as the east is from the west, 
so far he removes our transgressions from us. 
As a father has compassion for his children, 
so the LORD has compassion 
for those who fear him. 
For he knows how we were made; 
he remembers that we are dust.
(Psalms 103:8-14 NRSV; emphasis added)

Holy God, conform us to Your will, making us sober-minded and gracious each day for God’s good gifts that are ours in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Sunday, May 5)

My song is love unknown,
My Savior's love to me,
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from his blest throne,
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know.
But, oh, my friend, my friend in deed,
Who at my need his life did spend!

Sometimes they strew his way
And his sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King.
Then "Crucify!" is all their breath,
And for his death they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight.
See injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and 'gainst him rise.

They rise, and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The prince of life they slay.
Yet cheerful he to suff'ring goes,
That he his foes from thence might free.

In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death, no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav'n was his home;
But mine the tomb wherein he lay.

Here might I stay and sing - 
No story so divine!
Never was love, dear King,
Never was grief like thine.
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend!

(My Song Is Love Unknown, Lutheran Book of Worship 94, Samuel Crossman)

I’ve never seen or heard this hymn before this morning. It is featured in the daily devotional from Lutheran Hour Ministries. And what a beautiful hymn it is. I’ll be sharing a You Tube of it, toward the end.

The hymn is essentially the story of the trial and crucifixion of our Savior. Seven verses, all in my hymnal, but I doubt, if we have ever sung this one at my church, that we would sing all seven. The devotional features the first and last verses.

This “love unknown” was displayed by God toward us, manifest in the death of His Son on the cross. Jesus defined this love in John 15:13.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
(John 15:13 NRSV)

He said that right after He told His disciples to love each other the way that He has loved them.

But the part that really speaks to me is the line in the first verse, “Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.” You see, God, in Christ, has made us “lovely.” He has made us righteous. Here is the direct quote from the devotional.

“Created anew through faith in Christ Jesus, we are ‘lovely,’ that is, righteous, in the sight of God. Our sins are washed away in Jesus’ blood and now, as the apostle John explains, ‘We love because He first loved us’ (1 John 4:19). We are called to walk in love as Christ walked, to forgive as we have been forgiven. Through works of love and words of witness, we reflect the astonishing love of God in the world. It is love that is no longer unknown. It is the love of God revealed in the sacrificial love of the cross, in the victory of Jesus’ resurrection, and in the promise of eternal life. We sing the praise of our God and King, who is now well-known to us: ‘This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.'”

Indeed, not only has He made us “lovely,” He has given us the ability to truly love.

Hallelujah!

Oh, my God, I could not pray enough words, nor eloquently enough to express my gratitude for this “love unknown.” Thanks and praises be, You have made it known by revealing it to us in Your Son. Praises to You, for You have not dealt with us as our sins deserved, but have removed them from us as far as the east is from the west. Thanks be to You that You remember that we are dust! For the compassion that You show us, I will daily praise You!

O, Lord, You have lifted me out of the pit of despair! I thank You and praise You for Your love, mercy, and compassion. Thank You for inspiring Samuel Crossman to write this beautiful hymn, and thank You for loving us through the Cross of Christ, that we might lovely be. Indeed, I would, as the hymn writer expressed, stay and sing the sweet praise of my friend, Jesus, all my days.

“Dear King, I will spend all my days in praise of Your steadfast love. 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.

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

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

Grace and peace, friends.

Loosen My Lips

May 3, 2024 Jeff

Today is Friday, the third day of May, 2024, in the fifth week of Easter.

May the peace and love of Christ flood your soul, today!

Day 24,158

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

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

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

O God, you are my God, I seek you,
 my soul thirsts for you; 
my flesh faints for you,
 as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, 
beholding your power and glory. 
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
 my lips will praise you.
(Psalms 63:1-3 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

that I am alive and awake for this new day
for the steadfast love of the Lord, better than life
for lips that praise Him
for ears that can hear the sounds of His praise
for Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him

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

So I will bless you as long as I live; 
I will lift up my hands and call on your name. 
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, 
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips 
when I think of you on my bed, 
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
 for you have been my help, 
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. 
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
(Psalms 63:4-8 NRSV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 NRSV)

O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things. 
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 
The LORD has made known his victory; 
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 
He has remembered his steadfast love 
and faithfulness to the house of Israel. 
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
(Psalms 98:1-3 NRSV)

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 
the world and those who live in it. 
Let the floods clap their hands; 
let the hills sing together for joy 
at the presence of the LORD,
 for he is coming to judge the earth. 
He will judge the world with righteousness, 
and the peoples with equity.
(Psalms 98:7-9 NRSV)

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 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.
(John 14:5-11 NRSV)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus said that. He made that declaration to His disciples. There are not “many roads to God.” There is only one. This declaration adds credence to C.S. Lewis’s statement about there only be three possibilities when dealing with Jesus. It is not possible to simply believe that Jesus was only “a good teacher.” Either He was a liar, or He was a raving lunatic, or He was exactly who He said He was.

I believe that He was who He said He was. I believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

O God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You; I will seek You because my soul thirsts for You. Your steadfast love is, indeed, better than life itself. Therefore, my lips will praise You as long as I have breath.

There are days when I do not feel like praising You; days when I feel distant from You. I know that this is of my own doing. My sin, while it does not separate me from You, because there is nothing that can separate me from You, my sin puts me in a state of mind that feels unworthy to praise You, unworthy to worship You. In those times, I must force myself to praise You, and in doing so, I find that the funk is lifted.

It is said that You inhabit the praises of Your people. I believe this to be true, based on experience. And I thank You for the work of the Holy Spirit when this happens. When I struggle to feel worthy, when I struggle to praise You, when I feel inadequate (in all honesty, I am always inadequate), Your Spirit reminds me that Jesus Christ makes me worthy, Jesus Christ fills me and makes me enough, because He is enough.

Let the sea roar, Lord, let the oceans clap their hands. Let everything in creation lift up its voice to praise Your holy name! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

"Jesus our Savior, you don't give us detached morality, depersonalized dogma, or a tidy set of life principles. You won't allow for that because you've made it all personal - you are the way, the truth, and the life. Help me to reorient my whole life around you; show me all the ways you are all that I need and seek. Amen."
(Seeking God's Face - Easter, Day 34)

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

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

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NRSV)

Grace and peace, friends.