“Income tax returns are the most imaginative fiction being written today.” ~ Herman Wouk (still alive, by the way . . . 102 years old! 103 tomorrow!!) The Quotations Page
The word for today is ferly. I can always count on dictionary.com to have an interesting word of the day. Ferly is a noun which means, “something unusual, strange, or causing wonder or terror.”
I woke up this morning feeling a bit congested, like maybe I’m catching some kind of bronchial crud. I hope not. It’s a holiday weekend, and we are planning to go to the horse race track after church tomorrow. If I don’t feel any worse than I do at the moment, I should be okay. I took Dayquil, and have taken several puffs on an asthma inhaler, as well as my daily dose of Crazy Water, which I don’t normally drink on Saturday. The good news is that I have a long weekend to rest up.
The Red Sox beat the Braves last night, 6-2. Mookie Betts hit his league-leading seventeenth homer in the seventh inning after J.D. Martinez had briefly caught up with him, hitting home run number sixteen in the fourth inning. E-Rod pitched 5.1 innings to get his fifth win of the season. The Sox now stand at 35-16, one game up on the Yankees in the AL East, and continue as the best team in baseball. They continue their series with the Braves this afternoon.
The Rangers beat the Royals 8-4, behind home runs from Choo, Guzman, and Mazara, as well as six innings of solid pitching by Mike Minor. Their record is 21-32, 13.5 games back in the AL West. They continue their series with the Royals this afternoon.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted
But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
Psalm 102:12-17
Says Wisdom, “Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8:34-36
Power in Prayer is a devotional-style book of excerpts from works by Andrew Murray, well known for his writings on prayer and the holiness of God. In fact, the chapter I read this morning is called, “The Holiness of God.” It begins by quoting 1 Peter 1:15-16. I added verse 14, because it is part of the sentence.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
“It has often been said that the church has lost the concept of sin and the holiness of God,” writes Murray. Now I can’t find when the book from which this was taken (Living A Prayerful Life) was written, but Murray died in 1917. Can you imagine what he would write now? In this day and age when sin is rarely mentioned in modern churches? In a day when “pastors” like Joel Osteen can pack out a basketball arena?
“In the secret place of prayer we may learn anew how to give God’s holiness the place it should have in our faith and our life.” Murray’s writing emphasizes the importance of not just prayer, but private and secret prayer, in knowing the holiness of God.
“if we remain without any practice of prayer, we make it impossible for God to impart His holiness to us.”
God has shown me, over the past few years, the great importance of prayer in the life of the believer. When Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing,” he’s not just trying to write some cute phrase that we can all quote centuries later. He means it. And there are enough saints who have written important books who also believe it; enough to inspire me to believe that it is actually possible to live a life of prayer without ceasing, a life of constant contact with the Trinity.
Trust me, I have not reached that point, yet. I am far from it. But I recognize the importance and strive toward it.
What we also need to understand is that the phrase “the holiness of God” refers, to a great degree, to his hatred of sin. “If you want to understand what that means, remember that He preferred to see His Son die than that sin should rein in us.”
I am shamed at the quickness, sometimes, of my feet to run into sin. But at least I recognize this. I recognize that God wants to make me holy. And the way that he has devised to make me holy involves the practice of disciplines, one of the most important of which is prayer.
More and more I take prayer seriously. Anyone who calls the name of Christ should do so, as well.
“Pray without ceasing.”
With God’s help, we can accomplish that.
“Obey the voice of God that calls you to spend time with Him in the stillness of your prayer room so that He may cause His holiness to rest on you.”
Father, I thank you for the call to pray as well as for the call to holiness. Forgive me when I sin too easily and do not struggle against it. Through those moments, teach me the importance of prayer and holiness. I seek a depth of intimacy in my relationship with you and all of the Trinity. May you show me more of you, more of Christ, more of the Spirit, in my daily walk with you.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:22
If my math is correct, today would be my parents’ 61st wedding anniversary. My father passed just over three years ago.
It’s the birthday of W.P. Kinsella, author of Field of Dreams (1935-2016). He said, “Find something that thrills you, and when you finish reading it for enjoyment, read it again line by line, paragraph by paragraph to see what you liked about it. (BrainyQuote)
The word for today is pasquinade, a noun which means, “a satire or lampoon, especially one posted in a public place.”
We managed to get to the Y last night. I didn’t really feel like going, but I went anyway. I walked on the treadmill, but not too vigorously. Enough to get a decent workout, though. For some reason, I just didn’t have a lot of energy. I’m okay, though. I feel better this morning.
It wasn’t a good baseball night. The Red Sox lost to the Rays, 6-3, making their record 34-16. The Yankees didn’t play, so there was only a half game change. The Sox remain one game up in the AL East, and in MLB as a whole. They begin a series with the Braves, tonight, at Fenway. Could be tough, as the Braves are pretty hot, right now. However, the Sox have a pretty good record against NL teams, I believe.
The Rangers lost 8-2 to the Royals. So figure this out. They just performed majestically against the team that was the best team in baseball when they arrived in Texas. But thanks to the Rangers, the Yankees are now in second place. Then the Royals come to town. Before last night, the Royals were the second worst team in baseball. The Rangers were behind 8-0 at one point in the game. Once again, I will say how much this reminds me of Rangers teams from the seventies. They couldn’t beat the teams who were as bad or worse than they were, but could beat the teams that were having a great year. I don’t get it. Anyway, their record is now 20-32, and they are 13.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West. They continue the carnage with the Royals tonight.
The Orioles remain the worst team in baseball, followed closely by the White Sox, then the Royals. The Reds are fourth from the bottom, and the Rangers have now moved into fifth from the worst.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
All Scriptures are from the ESV unless otherwise noted
A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.
Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!
For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
Psalm 102:1-11
This is one of those Psalms that starts out depressing, but then gets better. As it continues tomorrow, we will see a shift to the positive, which is typical in these Psalms. The writer may have complaints, but seldom leaves it in that mode. Almost always, they end in praise and/or thanksgiving. We can learn a lot from Psalms like this one. It is perfectly acceptable to pour out our complaints to God. But we need to remember to not stop with that.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Karen Valentin, in Daily Guideposts 2018, reminds us of the importance of using our gifts and letting our light shine.
She was playing guitar and singing for a children’s birthday part in Central Park when she noticed one particular girl watching her with great attention. As the music portion ended, Karen set up her face-painting table. The little girl was the last one to sit down, and asked for a butterfly to be painted on her face.
The girl’s parents watched in amazement as she allowed Karen to paint her face. At that point, they revealed that the girl was on the autism spectrum, and never allowed anyone to touch her face.
Use the gifts that God has given you. Don’t hide them. You never know when they will touch someone deeply.
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'”
Matthew 25:40
Father, may I never shy away from an opportunity to use the gifts that you have given me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Skylark – to frolic; sport: The children were skylarking on the beach. There once was a Buick called “Skylark.”
Today is Talk In An Elevator Day. I probably won’t be in an elevator today, so someone talk for me, okay?
Friday is here! The weekend is just around the corner. I have a few things that need to get done. For example, I need to put together music for band rehearsal, which kicks back off Monday night. But wait . . . I don’t know what part I’m going to be playing on this round. I’ll have to get with our section leader and find out. If I’m not playing first, I’ll have to get new music.
The gate is finally finished. So our fence is done. Now, we just wait for the replacement part on our pool heater, and all of this will be done. The guys did a great job on the fence and gate, in my opinion.
Nothing much going on this weekend, I think, other than a PAT meeting after church on Sunday. I do have a little “work” to do before the meeting, as we are supposed to do an analysis on how we think the church is doing since we moved to the Y location. I’ve been thinking about it, I just don’t have anything written down.
The Rangers pulled off a win, last night, over KC, 3-2, while the Red Sox managed to lose to the Angels in the bottom of the 9th, 2-1. Needless to say, I’m concerned about them, as they have now lost four in a row, and six of their last ten. But as “they” say, there’s still a lot of baseball left.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
(From Praying With the Psalms)
He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.
“O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days— you whose years endure throughout all generations!”
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you. Psalm 102:23-28
“All life is unfinished.” At face value, a rather depressing sentence. It seems like nothing in our lives is ever complete. But when we join the work of God, “we find a proper beginning and a satisfying ending to our existence.” Only then do our lives make sense.
“Take, Lord, all my parts–whatever years and whatever acts you can salvage out of my sin–and build a new life. Lay foundations of eternity in me; construct spacious stretches of salvation around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
(From My Utmost For His Highest)
What Do You See in Your Clouds?
Behold, he is coming with the clouds. . . Revelation 1:7
“In the Bible clouds are always connected with God.” However, clouds also seem to symbolize sorrows, sufferings, or other troubles that make us doubt God’s very existence. “It is by those very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were no clouds, we should have no faith.” That reminds me of a false statement that became very popular a few years ago, “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Poppycock! If God did not give me more than I could handle, I would never need him, would I? It’s the same with the clouds. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3)
Now, Chambers makes an interesting statement. God does not want to teach us something in our trials. Rather, “He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child.” Other people in our lives will become shadows in our clouds. If we are relying on anyone but Jesus, our cloud will get darker.
Father, I pray that, when clouds come, I will recognize your presence in them. I pray that I will “unlearn” anything unhealthy that I have begun to believe about you and our relationship, while in the clouds. Let me get to a place where my life is so simplified that you are all there is, and that nothing else matters, at least spiritually. I pray for the wisdom and strength to rely solely on Jesus and no one else.
Come, Lord Jesus!
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numinous – 1 : supernatural, mysterious; 2 : filled with a sense of the presence of divinity : holy; 3 : appealing to the higher emotions or to the aesthetic sense : spiritual. “Pilgrims to the shrine spoke to the congregation about their numinous experiences.”
Today is Milk Chocolate Day. While I prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, still . . . chocolate!! So, yeah.
So the brand new pool heater has a leak in it. The good news, is, though, that the part that is leaking is replaceable. So the technician said he would call the manufacturer and get them to send him a new part. At this point, we don’t have a time line. The fence isn’t finished, either. They may have taken a night off. Perhaps they even went to church. Some folks still do that on Wednesday night. We sort of had “church.” There were four of us at the prayer gathering last night, and it was a good time of fellowship and prayer. And all of the fellowship was centered around prayer requests.
Again, both the Red Sox and Rangers lost, last night. Rangers lost 6-4 after giving up four runs in the eighth inning. Red Sox lost 4-3 after giving up a home run to Miggy in the top of the ninth. Fortunately for the Sox, both Baltimore and Toronto also lost. Unfortunately for the Rangers, the Astros did not lose. But they are still in first place, 2.5 games up.
We have a Pastoral Assist Team meeting this Sunday, and guess where we are going to have it? Never mind . . . you would never guess! Pancho’s!!! That’s right, a new Pancho’s Mexican Buffet has opened up, just minutes from our house! Who knew they were even still a thing?? I’m excited. I love Pancho’s!
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
(From Praying With the Psalms)
Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,
that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,
when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD. Psalm 102:18-22
In spite of the troubles listed in the previous passage, hope springs up, for “a people yet to be created.” Yes, pain and sorrow are certain in this life, but even more so are praise and salvation. “If the results of sin are inevitable, the consequences of grace are irresistible.”
“Lord God, I survey the ruins around me–broken promises, plotted malice, failed love–and I am brought low. Then I review the expectations of faith–the visitation of your spirit, the deliverance by the Messiah, the praising worship of the redeemed–and I am lifted up. Amen.”
(From My Utmost For His Highest)
After Obedience–What?
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side . . . Mark 6:45
I’ll say right off the bat that I don’t necessarily agree with everything in this reading, but there is, I think, some good truth within. And that truth does involve our tendency to think that if we obey Jesus, “He will lead us to great success.” I suppose that, as humans, it is difficult, if not impossible, to have some ulterior motive for following Christ. But, “We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite.” I dreamed, for years, of being a professional musician, but it never happened. I could blame my lack of motivation, which certainly may have had something to do with it. But it is entirely possible that this was not God’s plan for me. I’m not wise enough to know for certain. It is also entirely possible that God is not leading us, individually, to a “particular end, a desired goal.”
“His purpose is that I depend on Him, and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God.” While I don’t necessarily disagree with the sentiment, there, I think Scripture says otherwise. I do believe that there is a future purpose that God has for us, but it includes what Chambers speaks of, here. I believe that purpose is to become more like Christ, and walk in the kind of life that Jesus walked. This requires, though, for us to depend upon God now. And if we look to longingly toward that future, we fail to pay attention to what is happening now. So I think a healthy balance of both is in order for us. We need to be sure that we are walking in his Kingdom now so that we can be ready to walk in it for eternity.
Father, I pray again for this kind of obedience in my life. I pray that I might be more focused on what is now than what is to come. I know what your will for my life is. It does not include my dreams. It does not include what I think might be really cool to do. What it does include is that I be more like Christ and walk in his way. Train me to succeed in this, Father, as it is truly the only thing that matters.
Come, Lord Jesus!
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Sonorous – 1. rich and full in sound, as language or verse. 2. giving out or capable of giving out a sound, especially a deep, resonant sound, as a thing or place: a sonorous cavern. 3. loud, deep, or resonant, as a sound.
Today is Scotch Whiskey Day. I’ve only tasted Scotch a couple of times. The first time, was many years ago, and I do not remember liking it. However, most recently was just about a year ago, and it was good. I don’t know if I had better Scotch that time, or my tastes have changed. Considering that the first time was in a bowling alley, there’s a pretty good chance that the latter time was better Scotch.
The pool heater is installed, but we smelled gas when we got home, so the guy is going to have to come back out and look at it. The fence gate is almost finished, but not quite. It looks like they have just a little more to do, and some cleanup, and it will all finally be done.
C continues to feel better. There’s some drama going on at work, about which I am not at liberty to speak. It will all be okay, though.
Tonight, we have our semi-monthly Anchor prayer gathering, at 7:00 PM. This is a really cool time when several of us from our church gather and pray for each other, and then for some general topics concerning (usually) the church at large.
The Red Sox and Rangers both lost last night. The Sox have dropped to third place, now behind the Boo Jays. The Astros lost, so the Rangers are still 3.5 up in first place.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
(From Praying With the Psalms)
A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!
For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. Psalm 102:1-17
Sin has horrible consequences. “It cuts us off from experiences of intimacy, driving us into positions of isolation where we are enclosed in self-pity and a withering preoccupation with the self.” Heavy words, there, but true. In this psalm, we have the image of the owl and the “lonely sparrow” that are “similes for the soul sunk in sin.”
“There is nothing worse than feeling separated from you, Father–no pain more hurting, no desolation more desperate. At the places where my sin has turned me in upon myself expand me outward in faith to receive forgiveness and engage in praise. Amen.”
(From My Utmost For His Highest)
The Way to Know
If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. John 7:17
“The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience.” If we want scientific knowledge, we rely on intellectual seeking. But if we want spiritual insight, understanding of the teachings of Jesus, we must be obedient; we must be willing to do what he says. “Spiritual darkness comes because of something I do not intend to obey.”
The moment we receive “a word from God,” we are tested on it. We must be careful of the things that we shrug our shoulders over. “At the risk of being thought fanatical you must obey what God tells you.”
Father, teach me this way. But before I can be obedient, I must know what you are telling me, so drive me deeper into your word, each day. I confess that my Scripture reading has faltered. May your Spirit motivate me to delve deeper and read more of your words, that I might know what you are telling me. These brief devotional readings are not enough. Sure, they are “food,” but they are more like “snacks,” as opposed to the “main course.” Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth. And then, when you teach me, give me the desire and strength to be obedient, that I might truly understand the ways of Jesus.
Come, Lord Jesus!
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Today’s word of the day, from the Oxford English Dictionary, is largifical. This chiefly British adjective means, “Liberal, generous, bountiful.” It is generally used in humorous contexts.
Today is Iguana Awareness Day. Not quite sure what to say about that. Other than if you’re thinking about getting a reptile for a pet, you’d better be ready to also have a cricket farm.
Yesterday went pretty much as we expected. We did leave to house to pick up some lunch and a couple of movies at the Redbox. We watched This is Where I Leave You, which we both really liked, and The Boy Next Door, which was very silly, but mildly entertaining. If I were giving stars, I would give This is Where I Leave You five stars and The Boy Next Door a half of a star. If that.
We had our roast and mashed potatoes for dinner, but something didn’t set well. We aren’t sure what happened, because the roast tasted fine, but who knows. Christi was sick afterward, and I felt weird for a little while. I got over it by bedtime, though, and feel okay, this morning.
Today, it’s back to work, but for a short week. And then Friday, after work, we’re heading to Oklahoma, to Winstar Casino, where we will see Jim Gaffigan’s show on Saturday night. We’ll be picking up Rachel and Justin on the way up.
Oh, and it’s also Huddle night. I need to make sure I remember that, because it will feel like Monday all day.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
Today’s Psalm, from Heart Aflame, is Psalm 102:25-28.
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.
“True believers are taught to consider with all humility, when they come into the divine presence, how frail and transitory their condition is, that they may bring nothing with them but their own emptiness.” (p 252)
(From Solid Joys)
What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116:12-14
Today’s reading is “How to Repay God.”
Your first thought might be, “Wait a minute! We can’t repay God!” And you would not be wrong. I believe that is the gist of the reading.
What we find, here, is that the paying of vows, to which the Psalmist refers, is not quite like a normal debt. In fact, it appears to be more receiving, “receiving which magnifies the ongoing grace of God.”
The Psalmist asks a question, which could be paraphrased, “How can I repay God for all he has done for me?” His answer is, essentially, “that he will go on receiving from the Lord so that the Lord’s inexhaustible goodness will be magnified.”
The first part of his answer is that he will “lift up the cup of salvation.” Consider that this means the same as the modern phrase, “raise a glass.” In other words, he will continue to drink deeply of the salvation that God has already provided. He will drink and then expect more.
Then he says he will “call on the name of the LORD.” How can I repay God for answering my call? I will call on him again! “I will render to God the praise and the tribute that he is never in need of me, but is always overflowing with benefits when I need him (which I always do).” I will repay God by returning to him with my seemingly infinite needs.
Finally, he says, “I will pay my vows.” But how will he do this? By lifting up the cup of salvation and calling on the Lord. It’s a circle. The Psalmist has declared that we repay God by continuing to return to him for more. Our “vows” will be paid by our faith in future grace.
Father, we acknowledge that we cannot truly repay you for the benefits you have given us. To attempt to do so would be an insult to your grace, and would render it not grace. Nevertheless, we can, in a way, “repay” you by continuing to drink from the cup of salvation, and continuing to call on your name. So let me do that today. Whenever trials cross my path, may I drink deeply from your cup, raising a glass to your glorious grace and mercy, and then call out to you for more. Let me do this, rather than curse the trial. May my faith in you grow stronger and stronger each day, as I see the great salvation that you have provided. May I “repay” you by drawing in more.
I pray for this day, that we will have safe travel to and from work. I pray that Christi’s leg will continue to improve. Especially this evening, as her work bowling league starts back up, let her not re-injure the muscle. I pray that our work day will be free from anxiety and stress. I also pray that you will give us opportunity to show your kingdom in our lives. May your grace fall on the rest of our family, this week, giving provision and protection to Stephanie, Rachel, Justin, and Mama.
I continue to lift up R.J. and his family, as they grieve the loss of his father. May you be ever close to them during this time, and be their comfort and peace. I also pray for Brandon and his family, as they continue to deal with the mess of his dad’s house burning down. May you be his strength through this.
Come, Lord Jesus.
We cannot truly repay God, this is truth. However, we can, in a way, repay him, by continuing to receive from him. Lift up the cup of salvation today; raise a glass and drink deeply from the infinite grace of God.
Good morning. It is Monday, September 7, 2015. Labor Day holiday in the U.S.
Today’s word of the day, from Merriam-Webster, is ampersand. This noun is a word designating the symbol “&.” The actual definition is, “a character & that is used for the word and.” It looks like they didn’t finish the sentence. 😀
Today is Buy A Book Day. Now here is a case of getting holidays backwards! Yesterday was Read A Book Day, but today is Buy A Book Day. Shouldn’t we buy the book first? Unless, of course, you check it out at the library . . . And, if you’re like me, and you are, sometimes, you already have a veritable plethora of books, so it is not necessary to buy another one in order to read one.
I don’t want to spend a lot of time going on about yesterday’s accomplishments, as I don’t feel it proper to boast in things we’ve done. We will just leave it at saying that yesterday felt like a very good day. We were very busy for most of the day, but the “busyness” was for good purposes, and we feel like we did some good things. Hopefully, we did, at least.
Today, we have nothing planned. Christi is cooking a roast in the crock-pot, and she has already put the algaecide in the pool to try to clear up our green water. We took a bottle of water to Leslie’s Pool Supply yesterday, and they told us that, plus some shock, was what we needed to fix this problem. So, we shall see if this works. We also just discussed the possibility of going bowling today. So we might do that.
I think my “go-to” app for history is missing a few things today. So I’m heading to History.com’s This Day In History page.
It was on this date in 1813 that the U.S. nicknamed Uncle Sam. In 1896, an electric car, built by the Riker Electric Motor Company, won the first auto race in the U.S. Second place was also an electric car. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty that would give control of the Panama Canal back to Panama in the year 2000. In 1953, Maureen Connolly won the U.S. Open, becoming the first woman to win the Grand Slam of tennis. And on this date in 1785, William Fox headed up a meeting, at Paul’s Head Tavern in London, that would result in the formation of the first Sunday School Society for Britain. Its purposes were as follows: “to prevent vice; to encourage industry and virtue; to dispel darkness and ignorance; to diffuse the light of knowledge; to bring men cheerfully to submit to their stations; to obey the laws of God and their country; to make that useful part of the community, the country poor, happy; to lead them in the pleasant paths of religion here, and to endeavor to prepare them for a glorious eternity.”
Today’s birthdays include Queen Elizabeth I of England, Grandma Moses (American painter), David Packard (American businessman, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard), Arthur Ferrante (American pianist, Ferrante and Teicher), Peter Lawford (American actor), Buddy Holly (American musician), Gloria Gaynor (American singer), Julie Kavner (American actress, voice of Marge Simpson), Chrissie Hynde (American musician, The Pretenders), Susan Blakely (American actress), Corbin Bernsen (American actor), and Evan Rachel Wood (American actress).
Arthur Ferrante was a concert pianist who teamed up with Lou Teicher as part of a magnificent piano duo. Ferrante was born on this date in 1921 and passed away in 2009, at the age of 88. Here are Ferrante and Teicher performing their hit, “Exodus.”
John Greenleaf Whittier, J.P. Morgan, Jr., Warren Zevon, Bud Fisher, Kirsten Flagstad, Keith Moon, and Joe Cronin are among notable deaths on this date.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
Today’s Psalm, from Heart Aflame, is Psalm 102:16-24.
For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,
that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,
when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.
“O my God,” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days— you whose years endure throughout all generations!”
Calvin hits on one of the great mysteries of prayer in his commentary on this passage. “It is worthy of notice, that the deliverance of the chosen tribes is ascribed to the prayers of the faithful. God’s mercy was indeed the sole cause which led him to deliver his Church, according as he had graciously promised this blessing to her; but to stir up true believers to greater earnestness in prayer, he promises that what he has purposed to do of his own good pleasure, he will grant in answer to their requests. Nor is there any inconsistency between these two truths, that God preserves the Church in the exercise of his free mercy, and that he preserves her in answer to the prayers of his people; for as their prayers are connected with the free promises, the effect of the former depends entirely upon upon the latter.” (p 141)
(From Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)
I’m moving on to chapter nine in the book, titled “The Touchstones of Prayer.” The purpose of the current section is moving “from theory toward practice by listening to the main insights on prayer given to us by some of the great teachers in the history of the church.” Of course, these principles intersect each other, as Calvin wrote from a more theological perspective, Luther from a more practical point of view, while Augustine, not surprisingly, focused more on “the motives of the heart.” In this chapter, Timothy Keller will attempt to “distill what we have learned from our master teachers,” calling the results “touchstones.” He defines a touchstone as “a small rock containing silica that was rubbed against a piece of gold or silver to test its degree of purity or genuineness.” It is important to note that this is “not a set of rules that merit or trigger God’s response in some magical or mechanical way.” There are too many Christians who do not understand that our Father cannot be manipulated in this way.
The first group of touchstones is headed “What Prayer Is.” The first touchstone is “Work–Prayer Is a Duty and a Discipline.” Keller begins by saying, “Prayer should be done regularly, persistently, resolutely, and tenaciously at least daily, whether we feel like it or not.” Our prayers should go on, even if we don’t feel as if we are getting anything out of it.
Consider two roommates, one of which never speaks to the other. When questioned, the reason is given that one just doesn’t get much out of talking to the other. Regardless, it is simply rude not to speak to someone. “Of course rudeness is far too weak a word to use for a failure to directly address your Maker, Sustainer, and Redeemer, to whom you owe your every breath.”
We must be persevering in prayer. It is striving, which means that we must stick with it, “through the ups and downs of feelings.” Do not fail to pray because you don’t feel like you are “in the spirit.” Rather, pray until you do feel it. Consider, also, those who spend hours gazing at great works of art, constantly finding new things to appreciate in them. “How much more should we give this kind of patient attention to prayer?” Is there a painting that is even minutely as great as our God?
“Prayer is always hard work, and often an agony.” There are times when we must wrestle in prayer. We all know, I’m sure, those instances when it is time for our prayer session, and everything around us seems to conspire to prevent it. Sometimes we must wrestle in order to concentrate. “No Christian outgrows the need to struggle and persevere in prayer.”
Father, keep me involved in this hard work of prayer. Yes, I have experienced mornings where it was almost impossible to concentrate or focus enough to succeed in prayer. Sometimes, I have to abandon my list of needs and simply focus on you and a verse that spoke to me that morning. Other times, I simply fail. I pray for more consistency in this work of prayer. Please continue to teach me about it, theologically, practically, and existentially.
I pray for the day ahead of us. May we have a fun day of relaxation and play, if we choose to do so. Give us good rest for the remainder of the week ahead, and prepare us to display your kingdom to those around us as we work.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Prayer is hard work. We must struggle and strive through it, even when we do not feel like it.
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.
Romans 15:30
Good morning. It is Sunday, September 6, 2015. Welcome to the Weekend Edition!
Today’s word of the day, from the Oxford English Dictionary, is haver. This verb means, “To talk foolishly or inconsequentially; to talk nonsense; to blather, ramble; to chatter, gossip. Freq. with on, about.” It can also mean, “To behave indecisively or hesitantly; to vacillate between opinions or courses of action; to waver, dither.” I like this word, and this definition helps me understand this song a little better.
Today is Read A Book Day. Yes, please. I will certainly make sure to do that, at some point, today. And, since it is also Fight Procrastination Day, what better way to fight procrastination than to read that book you’ve been wanting to read? I’m currently reading The Devil in the White City, an historical narrative of events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, written by Erik Larson.
Yesterday was a very busy Saturday, at work. So busy that I reached my Fitbit step goal by 11:00 AM! That never happens! But, thanks to the help of a couple of associates, we got finished by noon, and got out of there. I rested for a while at home, then went up to church for our prayer gathering and worship gathering. It was a good evening, but bittersweet, as we prayed for comfort and peace for a friend whose father passed away Thursday night/Friday morning. Christi and I will likely be taking some food over to them, sometime today.
We also prayed for another friend, whose father’s house burned to the ground Thursday night. This is a long story, but the house was supposed to be empty. Our friend’s father passed a couple years ago, and no one was supposed to be living in the house. However, his brothers had been using the house, and one of them was there when the house burned, and suffered terrible burning on his body, as well. Initial reports say that a generator, being used for power, since there were no utilities, caused the fire. Anyway, our friend is having to try to get everything cleaned up. The sad part of all of this is that he had just been to court on Monday to get all of the legal stuff worked out so the house could be declared in his name. It’s quite a mess.
After church, we came home and just relaxed for a couple of hours. We finished watching an episode of Masterchef that we had started earlier in the day, and then started watching a movie we had recorded, called August: Osage County. I’m pretty sure we aren’t going to finish it. Meryl Streep’s character is too much like my mother-in-law. Way too much.
Today, we have several things to do. As stated earlier, we will probably take some food over to our friend’s house and maybe visit with them for a bit. We will touch base with the family of the guy dealing with the burned house, to see if they need anything. Our pool water decided to turn green during the last week, so we’ve got to see what’s going on, there, and fix that. Fortunately, tomorrow is a holiday, being Labor Day in the U.S. At this point, we have no plans at all, so it’s wide open.
On this date in 1522, the Victoria the last surviving ship of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, returned to Spain, becoming the first ship to circumnavigate the world. On this date in 1620, the Pilgrims set sail from Plymouth, England, on the Mayflower, to settle in North America. Exactly eight years later, in 1628, they settled Salem, which would later become part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. On this date in 1847, Henry David Thoreau left Walden Pond and moved in with Ralph Waldo Emerson, in Concord Massachusetts. On this date in 1901, Leon Czolgosz shot and fatally wounded President William McKinley. On this date in 1972, the Munich Massacre occurred at the Olympic Games, when 9 Israeli athletes were kidnapped and killed by a Palestinian terrorist group. On this date in 1995, Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2131st consecutive baseball game, breaking Lou Gehrig’s record, which had stood for 56 years. He would go on to play in one more, making the current record 2132. Ripken would be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Today’s birthdays include Jane Addams (American social worker and recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize), Max Schrek (German actor, Nosferatu), Jimmy Reed (American blues singer), Jo Anne Worley (American actress), David Allan Coe (American country singer), Roger Waters (British musician, Pink Floyd), Swoosie Kurtz (American actress), Larry Lucchino (American baseball executive, Boston Red Sox), Jane Curtin (American actress), Anne Lockhart (American actress), Michael Winslow (American actor), Jeff Foxworthy (American comedian), Alice Sebold (American novelist), Macy Gray (American singer/songwriter), Dolores O’Riordan (Irish musician, The Cranberries), China Mieville (English writer), Nina Persson (Swedish musician, The Cardigans), and Sarah Danielle Madison (american actress).
Dolores O’Riordan was born on this date in 1971, and is the lead singer for the Irish group, The Cranberries. She turns 44 today. Here is their song, Zombie.
William Tyndale, Ernest Tubb, Tom Fogerty, Nicky Hopkins, Luciano Pavarotti, and Madeleine L’Engle are among notable deaths on this date.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
Today’s Psalm, from Heart Aflame, is Psalm 102:103-15.
You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
“That the faithful might not sink into despondency, through the long continuance of their calamities, they needed to be supported by the hope that an end to their captivity had been appointed by God, and that it would not extend beyond seventy years. . . . And surely if, in our prayers, we do not continually remember the Divine promises, we only cast forth our desires into the air like smoke.” (p 250)
(From Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.]
Matthew 6:9-13
I’m sure you’ve noticed that this is the only time I have included the “ascription” at the end of the prayer. As is commonly noted, the last phrase is not in the oldest manuscripts of Matthew’s gospel. Augustine does not mention it, and neither does Luther. However, Calvin includes it in his treatise, saying, “it is so appropriate to this place that it ought not to be omitted.”
Tim Keller says, “After descending into our needs, troubles, and limitations, we return to the truth of God’s complete sufficiency.” I don’t know when it was added to the text, or who added it, but someone obviously felt the need to put it in there. And who knows . . . perhaps Jesus really did say those words. It certainly is not out of place, as Calvin noted. Even to this day, I feel like I’ve left something out when I stop at “deliver us from evil.” With the last phrase, we can end by remembering that “nothing can ever snatch away the kingdom, power, and glory from our heavenly, loving Father.
We have reached the end of the section treating the Lord’s Prayer. Calvin tells us that this prayer does not bind us to rote recitation of words. Rather we should find ourselves imitating “its content and basic pattern.” Even Luke did not write this down using the same words as Matthew. When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:2-4) Keller says, “The Lord’s Prayer is a summary of all other prayers, providing essential guidance on emphasis and topics, on purpose and even spirit.” Our words might be completely different, but the sense should remain intact.
Yet, there is something much more important for us to realize, as we finish looking at this prayer. This is something that continues to impress itself upon me, the more I study and learn about both God and prayer. And that is that “the Lord’s Prayer was given to us in plural form. We ask God to give us what we need.” John Calvin truly believed that our private prayers should be shaped by our corporate worship.
We should not think of prayer as purely private. “As much as we can, we should pray with others both formally in gathered worship and informally.” The reason has to do with how much better we can know someone in community.
For an explanation of this, we look to C.S. Lewis, who argued that “it takes a community of people to get to know an individual person.” Many are familiar with the fact that Lewis frequently met with J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and many others. Lewis observed that “some aspects of his friend’s personality were brought out only through interaction with a second friend.” If you think about this, you might realize that a person you know might act slightly differently when alone with you or when with a larger group. Lewis said, “By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets.”
If we apply this concept to prayer, and to Christ, “By praying with friends, you will be able to hear and see facets of Jesus that you have not yet perceived.” We really need to simply stop and ponder that truth for a bit, for it is rather staggering. Also, consider the angels in Isaiah 6. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (verse 3, emphasis mine) The Angels were crying out to one another! Says Keller, “Each angel is communicating to all the rest the part of the glory it sees.”
Finally, we must consider the communal nature of the Godhead. Our God is three in one, Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are in constant communication with each other. Knowing this, it should encourage us, all the more, to “pray and praise together.” As C.S. Lewis says, “the more we share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall all have.”
Father, I am somewhat overwhelmed, at the moment, by this revelation of the importance of community in prayer. Perhaps I skimmed over this part during my first reading of the book. Perhaps it stood out, but I quickly forgot it. Either way, it seems brand new to me, this morning. You have long been increasing my knowledge of the importance of community. That, combined with our pastor’s emphasis on The Supper, has served to make that particular part of each week’s worship gatherings one of the most special parts of my week. But this idea of the importance of praying together . . . we do that, each week. A small group of us gather before our worship gathering to pray for each other, along with other topics. But how often do we physically listen to each other’s prayers? What can we learn from each other about you? I pray that you lead me in this, that I might learn more about you from my interaction with other believers.
I pray for this day, Father. Our hearts are heavy as we pray for R.J. and his family, in the loss of his father. My heart, especially, is heavy with him, as I have known this loss, recently. I will not dare to compare my grief to his, as we all experience things differently. I will simply share in his grief. May we be available to help them as needed. I pray that you will be comfort and peace to his family.
Our hearts are also heavy as our brother Brandon deals with this recent disaster involving his father’s house. I pray for your strength for him and his family, along with everyone who is helping with the cleanup process. Give Brandon and Kristin wisdom as they suss out how to deal with the legal and financial implications. May we also be available to help them, however we can.
May we also find time to rest well, during this holiday weekend.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Community is crucial to the believer, even in, and especially in, the matter of prayer. May we learn from and support each other in this community of faith that we call the Church.
Good morning. It is Friday, September 4, 2015. 36 more days to Playa Del Carmen.
Today’s word of the day, from dictionary.com, is ibidem. This is a Latin word, meaning, “in the same book, chapter, page, etc.”
Today is Hug Your Boss Day. I don’t know about that. My boss is pretty big. Well, tall, at least. Maybe I’ll surprise him.
Christi didn’t make Huddle last night. She had to work late. So we watched the season finale of The Whispers, and an episode of Chopped. I’m not terribly happy with the ending of The Whispers, especially considering there is no word on if it will return. Just like the almost ancient series, VR5, we are left hanging with an eternal cliff-hanger. Ah, well . . . such is the experience with upstart TV shows. At least every episode of Chopped is self-contained. I like their format quite a bit.
Today is Friday, but I have to work tomorrow. I’m hoping that we won’t have to work terribly late tonight, since I have to be back up there at 7:00 in the morning. I’m also hoping that the current trend continues, and I will be off work by noon tomorrow. At least I’ll have a two-day weekend, since Monday is Labor Day. We currently have no plans for the day.
I should also add that there will likely not be a blog entry tomorrow.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
Today’s Psalm, from Heart Aflame, is Psalm 102:11.
My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
(I do realize that this is not the most uplifting portion of a Psalm.)
“In the end of the verse the similitude of withered grass, used a little before, is repeated, to intimate that their life during the captivity was involved in many sorrows which dried up in them the very sap of life. Nor is this wonderful, since to live in that condition would have been worse than a hundred deaths had they not been sustained by the hope of future deliverance. But although they were not altogether overwhelmed by temptation, they must have been in great distress, because they saw themselves abandoned by God.” (p 248)
(From Solid Joys)
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4
Today’s reading is “Base Your Life On This.”
It begins with a test. “What is your mindset? Do you begin with God and his rights and goals? Or do you begin with yourself and your rights and wishes?”
This is a difficult test. Personally, I would estimate that I’m about half and half on this. While I recognize God’s right to every inch or moment of my life, I am still guilty of frequently attempting to assert my own rights and desires.
Keeping in mind this question of mindset, what happens when we look at the death of Christ? Do we make it an occasion to boost our own self-esteem? “Christ died for me! I must be worth something!” “Or are you drawn up out of yourself and filled with wonder and reverence and worship that here in the death of Jesus is the deepest, clearest declaration of the infinite esteem of God for his glory and for his Son?”
The foundation for our hope is that our forgiveness of sin is grounded, not in my own worth or value, “but in the infinite worth of the righteousness of God–God’s unswerving allegiance to uphold and vindicate the glory of his name.”
This is what our lives should stand on. This is what my life should be based on. My hope needs to be grounded in this. “When God’s exaltation of God in Christ is your joy, it can never fail.”
Father, I have long ago dispensed with the idea that your choosing of me had anything to do with any value or worth on my part. Your choosing of me was based solely on your good pleasure. My gratitude for this can scarcely be adequately expressed. That being said, I still find myself insisting that I have some rights, along the way. I pray that your Spirit will continue to work in me to recognize your sole authority in my life, that my rights and desires are not truly significant, unless I have aligned them with your desires. Let the desires of your heart be the desires of my heart! As several contemporary songs have asked, “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth. Unite my heart to fear your name. Dare I ask you to break me? Dare I ask for increased faith? I ask only for what will strip away all that does not honor you in my life, that my life will glorify you and you alone.
I pray for this day, that our travel to and from work will be safe. I pray for Christi’s leg to continue to feel better. I pray that no further procedures will be necessary. May our work day be smooth and productive. I selfishly pray that nothing will be left over for tomorrow. May your overwhelming love flow over Stephanie today. I pray for your peace to envelope Rachel and Justin, and for your great grace to flow over my mother.
I pray for overwhelming peace to rain down on Brandon, who is experiencing an especially difficult time right now. God, you know what is best. May you provide for and protect him and his family.
Your grace is sufficient.
May we base our lives and hope on the glory of God in the death of Christ, and nothing else.
Good morning. It is Thursday, September 3, 2015. Pre-Friday.
Today’s word of the day, from Merriam-Webster, is bluestocking. This noun is not referring to an article of clothing, but means, “a woman having intellectual or literary interests.”
Today is Welsh Rarebit Day. Welsh Rarebit is, essentially, cheese on toast. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t go wrong with cheese on toast.
Christi’s leg is feeling better this morning, possibly due to wearing her boot yesterday. She is quite upbeat about how much better, in fact, so she’s going to keep wearing the boot for a few more days, hoping that this will allow the muscle to heal. Perhaps the MRI will not be necessary.
Christi also had a good talk with a rep from APS (Adult Protective Services) about her mother, yesterday. The lady with whom she spoke was very kind, understanding, and encouraging. She’s going to go see Christi’s mother and step-dad again, today, to explain to them what there options are. None of those options involve any more responsibility on Christi’s part. It was very encouraging to both of us.
Tonight is Christi’s Huddle night. Once again, I consider getting in some trombone practice while she is gone. Hopefully, I can make myself do that, tonight, especially since I won’t be at band practice this coming Monday.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
Today’s Psalm, in Heart Aflame, is Psalm 102:10.
because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
“Whenever, therefore, God, after having stripped us of the blessing which he had conferred upon us, gives us up to reproach, let us learn that we have so much the greater cause to lament, because through our own fault, we have turned light into darkness.” (p 247)
(From Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:9-13
Today, we reach the final petition in the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from evil.” Calvin considered this as part of the sixth petition, combining it with “lead us not into temptation.” However, both Luther and Augustine considered it separately, as a seventh petition. Many have said, including my pastor, that it should be translated, “deliver us from the evil one,” meaning the devil, or Satan.
Luther writes that this phrase is “‘directed against specific evils that emanate from the devil’s kingdom . . . poverty, dishonor, death, in short . . . everything that threatens our bodily welfare.'”
Augustine says that the sixth petition is asking for deliverance from evil within us, while this seventh one asks “for protection from evil outside us, from malignant forces in the world, especially our enemies who wish to do us harm.”
Father, as I continue to pray through Jesus,s prayer example, I pray for wisdom and understanding to help make it applicable to my life. Over the course of the last year, there have been multiple sources that have helped me with this, and I am grateful for that. I am, perhaps, most grateful for Timothy Keller and his shared wisdom from his own studies of Calvin, Luther, and Augustine, et al. But beyond them, I ask for your Holy Spirit’s help in understanding what I read. I pray these requests each day, trying to personalize them in some way. May you truly deliver us from the evil one, as we try to live our lives by your precepts and commands. But even this is only possible through the power of the Spirit. May your Spirit be my strength today.
I pray for this day, that our travel to and from work be safe. I pray that Christi’s leg will continue to heal and feel better. May our work day go smoothly today. I pray for your grace to rain down on the rest of my family today, and that you would draw us all closer to you in some way.
Your grace is sufficient.
Consider the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, if you will. As you pray through them, try to personalize them to your own situations, not simply repeating them by rote. Ponder each of them, individually, and what they mean to you.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 