Today is Sunday, the twenty-eighth day of May, 2023, the first Sunday of Pentecost.
May the peace of the Lord be with you always!
Day 23,817
My Wordle for today:
Wordle 708 4/6*
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My streak is at 49 days. Yesterday’s word was “ramen.”
Tomorrow is Memorial Day in the U.S., a day set aside to remember people who gave their lives in service to the nation.
Yesterday’s shift at the library went fine, but it was pretty slow all day. We figured that a lot of people had already headed out of town for the holiday, or were having family outings, or something. I could see the difference in the content of the book drops. For the inside one, I would say that 90% of the content was adult books or DVDs, with only a small amount of children’s books. We saw very few children in the library, yesterday. The drive-thru book drop had more children’s books, but still had more adult books than children’s. We had some good conversation among the staff, though, which helped the day move a little less slowly.
Today is going to be mostly chilling and resting. I’m not going to church, as I still don’t feel even close to 100%. In fact, I feel slightly worse than I did last night. So I’m not going much of anywhere today. I might venture out to get Sonic drinks, at some point.
The Texas Rangers beat the Orioles again, yesterday afternoon, 5-3, behind a solid outing by Andrew Heaney (4-3). They officially have the best start of a season in the history of the organization. They are 33-18, in first place in the AL West, three games ahead of the Astros. They will finish the series (which they have already won), this afternoon at 12:35 CT. Cody Bradford (who?) (0-1) will make the start in place of Dane Dunning, whose wife had a baby. I’m not sure who approved THAT!
The Boston Red Sox also insured a series win, beating the D-backs 2-1. Garrett Whitlock (2-2) got the win, and Kenley Jansen got a save. The Sox are 28-24, in fourth place in the AL East, 1.5 games ahead of the Blue Jays. They will finish the series this afternoon at 4:10 ET, with Tanner Houck (3-3) starting for Boston.
Tampa Bay is 38-16, still leading MLB. Oakland is now 10-44, trailing the pack by almost six games. Texas has moved into second place, overall. Texas is in first place in the streak category, having won four games in a row. Oakland has now lost ten in a row. Texas continues to lead the run differential category with +124, while Oakland has -190. I swear the Athletics are on a pace to have a worse season than the 1899 Cleveland Spiders who finished with a -723 run differential. Texas also continues to lead in runs scored, with 327. The Cleveland Guardians are actually keeping Oakland out of last place in that category, with 174 runs scored.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (Psalms 95:1-2 NRSV)
Today I am grateful:
- for a day of rest to continue to recuperate from my illness
- for water to drink (realizing that this is a luxury that many in the word do not have)
- for grocery deliveries (also a bit of a luxury)
- for the gift of the Holy Spirit, sent to the world on the day of Pentecost
- that we remain children of God, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart
- for God’s abundant provision
for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;
(1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 NRSV)
Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that we may be your children. We thank you that through your Spirit our hearts may know that we are your children. Even when everything around us becomes difficult and we are hemmed in by darkness, we remain your children. Even when we often do not see how we are to go on and everything seems to be taken from us, we remain your children. Even when sin and death surround us and accuse us of being in the wrong, we still remain your children. As your children we entrust ourselves to your hands. In our whole life, in all our work and activity, we dwell in what has come from you, and we rejoice in Christ our Savior. Amen.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. (Psalms 92:1-3 NRSV)
Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways. (Psalms 119:36-37 NRSV)
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
(Matthew 6:5-6 NRSV)
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)
Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
"Holy Father, creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is, both in heaven and on earth, take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful. Give me instead those things that are profitable for me and all who seek rightly to praise you. I ask this grace in the company of all believers and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen." (The Divine Hours)
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4 NRSV)
The way of the righteous is level; O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous. In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and your renown are the soul's desire. My soul yearns for you in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:7-9 NRSV)
therefore thus says the Lord GOD, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: "One who trusts will not panic." (Isaiah 28:16 NRSV)
The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote; so I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing. The wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden. (Isaiah 29:13-14 NRSV)
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15 NRSV)
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
(2 Corinthians 9:8 NRSV)
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. (Psalms 84:11-12 NRSV)
Jesus gives instructions for prayer in Matthew 6. I think they are misunderstood, sometimes. Yes, in the passage quoted above, He tells His disciples to go into a room and shut the door and pray in secret. Context is everything, though. Because of those two verses, there are some who don’t believe in public prayer.
I’ve jumped back and forth over that fence multiple times in my life.
In the context, what Jesus is warning against is praying to be seen (and heard) by others. How many of us have heard preachers and deacons (and other men) put on a different voice than their normal speaking voice when they are asked to pray in church? How many people use words and phrases in prayers that they never use in normal conversation? It leads one to believe that, perhaps, the intent of their praying is not exactly authentic.
Jesus tells us that when our motivation for praying is to be seen or heard, then that is the extent of our reward. That’s a frightening thought. He then warns us against heaping up empty phrases “as the Gentiles do” (I confess I’m not sure what He meant by “as the Gentiles do”).
It is right after these warnings that He gives us the Model Prayer, which usually called “The Lord’s Prayer.” I don’t believe that He intended that prayer, necessarily, to be repeated verbatim every time. But I also don’t see any harm in doing so, as long as, in that repetition, it is not vain or empty. I’ve been guilty of that, to be sure. I put the Lord’s Prayer in most of my daily blogs. There are certainly days when I just gloss over it without thinking. Most days, though, I actively say it out loud while I’m writing it.
We say it in ever worship service at church, in the same spot, every week. But that doesn’t make it “vain repetition.” It is what is in the heart that makes it that.
It can also be an excellent springboard for our prayers. One could easily take each phrase of that prayer and make it one’s own. I have found that especially meaningful, at times.
And then, we must remember that Jesus prayed out loud, in public, at least a couple of times. There are also multiple instances where it is noted that the disciples met in groups and prayed together, especially in some most grievous circumstances. Like that one time when Peter was in jail.
So the key to remember “whenever you pray,” is that it is the motivation behind your actions that matters. It’s okay to pray in public, out loud, if your motivation is pure. But we should also be careful to not overthink things, otherwise we might not ever pray at all. And that would be even worse.
Father, I praise You that You even take the time to hear our prayers. You, the Creator of everything we see and all that we will never see, condescend to hear the cries of Your creation. “What is man that You are mindful of him?” It is a privilege to be able to bring prayers and requests and supplications to You!
Do I type these prayers to be seen? For me, that’s a tricky question. Yes, and no. I type them so others can see them, but not for recognition or notice. I hope to inspire, Father, just as, in the same way, and for the same reasons, I post my gratitude list. I am not doing this to be seen as “super-holy,” for I most surely am not. It is all for the hope of inspiring someone else to do the same, or in leading them into some kind of relationship with You.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be all the glory. And if ever I slip into a mode where I am seeking recognition or any kind of fame, I pray that Your Spirit would squash that immediately, if not sooner.
All glory to You, Father, through the Son, and by the Spirit. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14 ESV)
Grace and peace, friends.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 