Reward Enough

Today is Sunday, June 3, 2018. Day 21,997.

Today is “The Feast of Corpus Christi.” Not the city in Texas. But the “body and blood of Christ.”

“The opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a god or not.” ~ Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983, The Quotations Page

The word for today is doss (not an operating system, that was DOS), a (chiefly British) verb which means, “to sleep or lie down in any convenient place.”

We had an awesome time at the really hot church picnic, yesterday. Until, that is, I “tweaked” my back playing a yard game that our pastor had brought. He brought this game called Kubb. His set didn’t look as fancy as the set in the Amazon link, but I think I want that one. It’s a game of Viking origin, which was originally (at least I’m told) played with skulls and femurs, presumably of defeated enemies. We played with wooden blocks and sticks. It was great fun. Up until the point that my back went *erk* and I had to stop. There was also some really good barbecue and stuff.

As for my back, I was in some pretty excruciating pain, last night. The pain radiated all the way from lower back to my hip, and down the outside of my right leg. If I had to lift my right leg to do anything, it was worse. I was able to find a position, though, lying in bed, which did not hurt, so this is nowhere near as bad as the last time my back “went out.” I took some of my wife’s pain pills during the night, to help me sleep, and am better this morning. It still hurts when I walk or stand for very long, so I will not be going to church, this morning. I’m relatively comfortable sitting in my study chair, as long as I don’t slouch, and as soon as I get done with this, I will probably lie back down in bed and watch TV or something. Or maybe fall back asleep.

I’m hoping I will be able to go to work tomorrow.

The Red Sox finally beat the Astros, last night, by a score of 5-4, as David Price got his sixth win. This was also their 40th win, making them the first team to reach that number. Nevertheless, they are still a half game behind the Yankees.

The Rangers also won, beating the Angels by a score of 3-2. Their record is 25-36, and since the Sox beat the ‘stros, they are back to 12.5 games out in the AL West. Both teams continue their series today.

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

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, 
who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 
Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!
Psalm 104:31-35

I echo the words of the Psalmist in verse 33. “I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” I fully intend for this to be true in my life, no matter what. In fact, I long for the day when I will be singing those praises, face to face with my Savior!

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.
Romans 12:6

The basis for this is today’s reading in Daily Guideposts 2018. Gail Thorell Schilling reminds us that it is the plain flowers, in general, that have the most luxurious fragrances. All flowers must attract pollinating insects, but some attract them with vibrant colors, while the more plain flowers have the more attractive fragrances.

Take that truth and apply it to Christians in service. There are some Christians who have more visible gifts; they preach or sing or play instruments, always being right up there in front of everyone. But there are many whose gifts are not so visible. When I was growing up in a local church, there were always lunches and dinners happening at the church. Someone had to put those together. Even when the bulk of the food was “pot luck,” someone had to organize, set up, clean up, and so on. These people are largely behind the scenes. Even more behind the scenes are the ones who quietly and consistently pray for needs in the kingdom of God.

We all have different gifts. Ever since I was a youth, I have been “up front.” I sang in the choir as soon as they would let me. Then I became a “music minister,” leading the songs, directing the choir, organizing seasonal cantatas, and so on. Later, that evolved to “worship leader.” While I no longer “lead worship,” I still play, and sometimes sing, in the worship band at church.

In recent years, however, God led me into a prayer ministry. There is a group of us at our church who, behind the scenes, constantly pray about needs in the church. At the beginning of every worship gathering, a phone number is flashed on the screen. That is a “Google Voice” number that goes directly to a text app on my phone. People can text prayer requests to us, using that number. They don’t know who gets the text. They don’t know who is praying. But they know who hears those prayers!

Jesus said, in Matthew 6, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when 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.” (5-6)

I believe that the state of the heart and motivation plays more into this than location. Whatever our gifts, if we are doing them to be noticed, to get recognition, then that noticing, that recognition, are our reward. But if our heart is in a state of service . . . if I am playing and singing, not to be noticed or to get applause, but to direct that noticing and that applause to the One who gave me those gifts and talents, then he will reward me sufficiently. For the most part, just getting to be a part of his kingdom is reward enough; getting to walk in his presence every day is reward enough.

Knowing that he is always with me is reward enough.

Father, I will always and forever be grateful for the gifts that you have given me. I confess that I do not always use them properly. May I always, though, be satisfied with just being in your presence. When I play and sing on Sunday mornings, may my satisfaction come from knowing that I am worshiping you, and, perhaps, helping someone else do the same. It is you who needs to be famous, not me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.

He Was There All the Time

Today is Saturday, June 2, 2018. Day 21,996.

It’s the birthday of Jerry Mathers (Leave It To Beaver), who said, “I had a very special family life. My mother and father made sure when we were home, we were part of the family, not a TV star. And the other thing: my father was fully employed while I was doing the series.” (BrainyQuote)

The word for today is mansplain, a verb which means, “(of a man) to comment on or explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner.”

We have our church picnic this afternoon at 1:00. For now, the forecast high is in a range from 100 to 103. There is a heat advisory in effect. No kidding. We will be bringing a bunch of sodas and water. And maybe a bucket of fried chicken. Because how can you have a church picnic without fried chicken?

Well, another not so good night in baseball. The Red Sox lost another one to the Astros, 7-3, this time. Chris Sale took another loss in this one. Their record is 39-19, and, while they have won more games than anyone else, they are a half game behind the Yankees, who beat Baltimore, last night. The Sox play Houston again tonight.

The Rangers got shut out by the Angels, 6-0, so their record is 24-36, and since the ‘stros beat the Sox, the Rangers are back to 13.5 out in the AL West. They remain six spots away from being the worst in the MLB. They will continue their series in LA tonight.

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

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 
You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. 
The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 
When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. 
Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening. 
O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 
Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. 
There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. 
These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 
When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 
When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
Psalm 104:19-30

I like verse 24. “In wisdom you have made them all.” God knew what he was doing when he created the earth and all the creatures therein. Could it be that God made creatures, such as “Leviathan,” for no other reason than to play in the sea? May we take to heart verse 28, which says, “when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.” May we receive the “good things” from God; good things that are far better than what we can find in the world.

The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 15:1

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. . . . It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:6, 8

In today’s reading from Daily Guideposts 2018, Ashley Kappel writes of summer Saturday afternoons at the community pool. “Every neighborhood kid over thirteen is here alone, being cool at the snack bar and diving off the high board.” But there are also many young families, with their children, enjoying the pool.

Ashley, herself, has a young one that needs to be held, and a two-year-old who is a quick mover. Olivia wears her water wings, so she is able to move around without her mother’s help. One afternoon, however, she wound up in a position where she realized her mother was not right next to her, and was not in her line of sight. Immediately, she panicked. Ashley, of course, could see the whole thing, and tried to call out to Olivia to let her know she was there, she could see her, but in her panic, Olivia could not see her.

We find ourselves getting overconfident in our lives. We strap on our “spiritual water wings,” and, before we know it, we’ve motored on out into the middle of life. Suddenly, we can’t see God. We panic. We splash about, and if we didn’t have those “water wings” on, we might even drown. The truth is, however, that God never left our side. We cannot get anywhere that God isn’t. Psalm 139 says, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” (7-12)

God has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us. We might, momentarily, not be able to see him, but as soon as we start looking again, we will find that he was right there, all the time. There is great comfort in this truth. And on days when I remember to look for God’s presence, I experience the most glorious reality that he is with me all the time. He is around me, above me, below me, beside me, even within me. He is present in the very air that I breathe. I cannot escape him.

If we would be remember this truth, there would never, ever be anything to fear in this life, and we would understand, as Dallas Willard has said, that “this world is a perfectly safe place for us to be.”

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. 
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 121

Father, thank you for this truth. Thank you for the promise of your presence. Forgive me for the times when I run off ahead and lose sight of you. I pray that I will always have the knowledge of your presence in my life, and that I will always seek your face. Thank you for your constant provision and protection over me and my family. Thank you for being our shepherd and filling our lives with good things.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:22

Grace and peace, friends.

In the End

Today is Thursday, May 31, 2018. Last day of May. Day 21,994.

“I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.” ~ Jackie Mason (The Quotations Page)

The word for today is palpebral, an adjective which means, “of or relating to the eyelids.” Now there’s a word everyone needs to know!

Feeling a little better each day. I haven’t had any sinus or cough medicine, this morning, yet, and will try to get through today without any. I might feel like going to the Y tonight, even.

The Red Sox swept the Blue Jays, winning yesterday afternoon’s game by a score of 6-4, as E-Rod got his sixth win. The Sox are now 39-17 on the season, and remain two games up on the Yankees in the AL East. They begin a series in Houston tonight. Houston just lost a series to the Yankees, and has the fourth best record in MLB.

The Rangers beat the Mariners by a score of 7-6, this time scoring four runs in the seventh inning. They are now 24-34 on the season, 11.5 back in the AL West. They play Seattle again tonight.

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

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 
covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; 
he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. 
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. 
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 
At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. 
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. 
You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.
Psalm 104:1-9

Another of the “Bless the Lord, O my soul” Psalms, this one is full of beautiful metaphors and language about the splendor and majesty of God. I find myself, again, wishing I could have heard the original music that went with this song. I know it probably would have sounded strange to my ears, but I can’t help but think it would still be beautiful, knowing the content of the words.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 13:3

(From The Business of Heaven, C.S. Lewis)
Two Kinds of People in the End

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.” (The Great Divorce)

Father, I thank you that you have put it in my heart to choose life. I believe, with all my heart, that if you had not chosen me for this life, that I would be living a life destined for hell, with no second thought about it. My life has not been perfect, and I have made many bad decisions, and I have paid the consequences for those decisions. Nevertheless, my heart is steadfast and my gaze is firmly fixed on you as I walk in this journey toward your kingdom. May I walk in your kingdom today; may I walk in the easy yoke of Jesus today; may my lips be guarded and keep my mouth closed, unless some edifying word is needed.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:22

Grace and peace, friends.

Praying or Dictating?

Today is Monday, August 8. 11 more days until S turns 23!

Quote of the Day

“The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.” – Marcus Aurelius

Word of the Day

Presentiment – a feeling or impression that something is about to happen, especially something evil; foreboding.

Today is Bowling Day! We love bowling! C and I met in a bowling league. And now she works for the rulers of bowling, USBC (United States Bowling Congress).

Today is also International Cat Day. I don’t normally do two “holidays,” but how can I choose between bowling and cats?? I love cats. If I could only have a cat or a dog (we have both in our house), I would certainly choose the cat.

I’ll share a bit of trivia. It was on this date in 1988 that lights first appeared at Wrigley Field, allowing the Cubs to finally join the rest of the baseball world by playing night games. What I didn’t know until this morning was that Phil Wrigley had purchased lights and scheduled them to be installed at the field in 1942. He wound up donating them to the war effort. And so it would be another 46 years.

I feel much better today. Still not 100% right, but much better. We had a good worship gathering, yesterday morning, and I feel like I played well. The music sounded pretty good, over all. Jacob’s message was, as usual, thought provoking and stirring. Much to think about, going forward. And lately, I really like that. I like to have good stuff to “chew on,” as I make my drive to work in the morning.

R & J came over for lunch, which was steaks and mashed potatoes, prepared by C. I was recovered enough from whatever was wrong with me Saturday night to thoroughly enjoy the lunch. It was absolutely delicious! After lunch, we played Cards Against Humanity for a few hours, chatted for a bit, then called in some dinner from Tony’s Pasta and Pizza. Then we talked some more, which got really depressing, because R is having a hard go of it right now. I won’t share details, but if you happen to be one who prays, please lift one up for her, just that some things will fall into place that don’t seem to be currently coming together for her.

It’s back to work, this morning, and then band practice tonight. Long day for me, and I will be tired tomorrow morning. But being able to play my trombone in a band is quite fulfilling.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! Psalm 104:31-35

As believers in Jesus, we are in a unique position to realize the impact that creation has in our lives. We live in a world “made and maintained by the Creator God.” I challenge you to just look at creation on a daily basis. Things that we drive by every day can take on a whole new meaning when we examine them in this light.

The final words of this psalm are also the first words, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” At the end, the psalmist adds the “hallelu Yah!” This two word phrase translates to “Praise the Lord,” and is almost exclusively used in Psalms, the first time being in Psalm 104.

“Great and eternal God: I immerse myself in your creation gradually beginning to comprehend the inventive attention you bring to each detail – and then realize that I am one of the details! Hallelujah! Amen.”

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

Prayer in the Father’s Honour

. . . therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. Luke 1:35

“If the Son of God is born into my mortal flesh, is His holy innocence and simplicity and oneness with the Father getting a chance to manifest itself in me?” It is a direct act of God by which Jesus Christ is born in me, and I have to exercise “the right of a child, the right of being always face to face with my Father.”

Am I allowing this realization, this identifying with the Spirit of Christ, or am I quietly and carefully placing him off to the side? In our world today, people are clamoring for the death of God, either directly, or by simply ignoring him altogether. “There is no room here for the Son of God just now, no room for quiet holy communion with the Father.” And here is an interesting question: “Is the Son of God praying in me or am I dictating to Him?”

I need to make room for Jesus. I need to allow the simplicity, solitude, and oneness of Jesus to be born in me, to live in me, to fill me, and to direct me.

Father, I keep praying along these lines, and will continue to do so. I need this life to be realized in me. I need the simplicity and other disciplines that we see in Jesus Christ to become a standard part of my life, that I might, as much as is possible in this world, live the way Jesus lived. Help me to study his life, along with the writings of Paul, to see these characters lived out, and to inspire me to do the same.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.

Dependent Upon His Spirit

Today is Sunday, August 7, 2016. 12 more days until S turns 23!

Quote of the Day

“One reads books in order to gain the privilege of living more than one life….” ― Garrison Keillor

Word of the Day

Enervate – 1. To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality. 2. Lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor. “Prolonged exposure to the sun and dehydration enervated the desert racing team.”

Today is Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day. That’s a mouthful, huh? This is a day to encourage you to speak up when manufacturers’ packaging causes you stress and anxiety. Those plastic packages, for example, that things like electronic device headphones come in. You know the ones. They’re next to impossible to open. You eventually have to take a pair of scissors to them, which can’t possibly be good for the scissors!

I’m a little blurry this morning, as I was up late with some stomach issues. I think I’m okay, this morning, but I’m not having my cup of coffee, and really don’t feel hungry yet. I’m going to church, in spite of the fact that I would much rather stay home and sleep.

I’m also really behind, so I need to move on to the devotional portion.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. Psalm 104:27-30

“The pulsing creation in all its interrelated parts is as dependent upon the Creator Spirit as the human body is upon its respiratory system. The Spirit of God ‘moving over the face of the waters’ in creation (Genesis 1:2) also supports and renews daily life.”

“Send your Spirit, Father. My inner life disintegrates without daily infusions of your Spirit. My energy for love dissipates without fresh visitations of your love. My faith atrophies without exercise in your grace. I receive, gratefully, what you give in Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Father, how true those statements are in my own life! If I am not consciously with you throughout my day, my “inner life disintegrates, my energy for love dissipates, my faith atrophies!” I find myself acting and reacting in most un-Christlike ways! Infuse my life with your Holy Spirit every day, healing me both physically and spiritually. Make me be aware of your presence in and around me at all times.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.

Identification in Prayer

Today is Saturday, August 6, 2016. 13 more days until S turns 23!

Quote of the Day

“The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more.” – Kin Hubbard

Word of the Day

Bumptious – offensively self-assertive.

Today is Mead Day. Mead is my favorite of all of the alcoholic beverages, and the hardest to find. It is referred to, in some cultures, as “honey-wine,” and is very sweet and slightly “heavier” (I call it thicker) than most beverages. I am usually only able to get it at Scarborough on on our yearly trip to the Ren-Faire. I may have to see if I can scrounge some up today.

My work day was pretty good, yesterday. In fact, I didn’t have much to do for the last hour I was there, so we got to leave on time. C, on the other hand, had some production issues and wound up having to stay pretty late. She didn’t get home until after 7:30. We watched a couple of TV shows and went on to bed. I didn’t even stay up late and play games, because I was pretty tired.

Another reason I didn’t stay up late was because I am taking my car in to the dealership this morning for a 10:00 AM appointment. I have a brake light out and something is leaking underneath, so I want to get it checked out. I’m hoping it’s not something really expensive or time consuming. I already had to replace a battery this week.

The Rangers got shut out by the Astros, in Houston, last night. They couldn’t touch Dallas Keuchel; only got three hits off of him. Martin Perez had a bad third inning, giving up four runs. Final score, 5-0, Astros. In LA, the Red Sox did some shutting out of their own, beating the Dodgers 9-0, “while Scully danced over the airwaves.” Steven Wright, the knuckle-baller, got the win, while Scott Kazmir took the loss. Wright pitched the complete game, making it his fourth complete game for the season! Unfortunately, both Baltimore and Toronto also won, so no ground was gained in the standings.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.
There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. Psalm 104:24-26

“The range of creation, from small to great, is staggering. There is an intricacy and extravagance in living forms that embraces rotifers and giraffes, dragonflies and whales. Clearly, there is exuberance and delight in the Creator.”

I had to look up “rotifer.”

“‘All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful; the Lord God made them all. . . . He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well’ (Cecil Frances Alexander, ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’). Amen.”

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

The Cross in Prayer

In that day you will ask in my name . . . John 16:26

We think, too often, that the Cross is something we have to get through. But the only way we get through it is to get into it. “The Cross stands for one thing only for us–a complete and entire and absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is nothing in which this identification is realized more than in prayer.”

Jesus told us that the Father knows what we need before we ask. Then why ask? Because the purpose of prayer is not to get answers from God. “Prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God.” If we only pray to get answers, we will get frustrated with God. Answers do come, but not always in the way we expect or desire them. And our frustrations show that we have not fully identified ourselves with Jesus in our prayers. “We are here to be living monuments of God’s grace.”

We must beware of trying to attach blame on someone or something else when our prayers seem to go unanswered. “You will find there is a reason which is a deep instruction to you, not to anyone else.”

Father, help me gain this deep identification with Jesus, both as I live, and as I pray. Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth. Teach me the way of praying not just to get answers, but to be deeply identified with Christ in the Cross.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.

Whose Purpose Am I After?

Today is FRIDAY!! (I’m so excited I had to back up and re-spell it twice!) August 5, 2016. 14 days until S turns 23!

Quote of the Day

“I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.” – Charles M. Schulz

Word of the Day

Cosmopolis – an internationally important city inhabited by many different peoples reflecting a great variety of cultures, attitudes, etc.

Today is International Beer Day. Personally, I can’t stand the stuff. But I have some friends who like beer, especially all of those weird “craft” beers. Like Peter Cotton Ale, Hoptimus Prime, Audrey Hopburn IPA, Honey Boo Brew American Honey Ale, Blind Pig IPA, Bad Elf, Magic Hat #9, Dogfish Head. I know you think I’m making those up, but those are all real beers.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth
and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.
Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening. Psalm 104:14-23

This psalm shows the “detailed thoughtfulness evident throughout creation.” As man simply goes about his daily work, all of these other things just happen, exactly as they were designed by the Creator.

“I walk in wonder through this world which you, O God, made and called good. You forgot nothing. You left nothing out. I will never, it seems, come to the end of discovering what is before my eyes, and never run out of reasons for lifting up my discoveries in praise to your great name. Amen.”

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

The Baffling Call of God

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.” . . . But they understood none of these things. Luke 18:31, 34

By all appearances, the life of Christ was a dismal failure. He was called by God to what appeared to be disaster, and he called his disciples to watch him die. “He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. . . . But what seemed failure from man’s standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God’s, because God’s purpose is never man’s purpose.”

So, in our own lives, God also issues this “baffling call.” It’s like what some call “the call of the sea.” No one can hear it, save he who has the nature of the sea within him. It is impossible for us to describe God’s call on our lives. Oh, sure, many people have said, “God has called me to thus and so.” But in many cases, they have set their own purposes and simply believe that God has endorsed them. The Republican party had about a dozen “candidates” this year that all said God told them to run. The outcome makes their statements doubtful.

The call of God is “to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what He is after.” I don’t have to know what he is after. I just have to believe in him and follow him in faith. “If we are in communion with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes, we shall no longer try to find out what His purposes are.” This is important. And it actually makes the Christian life easier. Dallas Willard spoke frequently of what he called “the easy yoke.” The yoke is easy because we are simply walking in God’s Kingdom, letting him be the guide and letting him show us what to do. It is his work, we are just helping. We don’t have to figure it out. But, “if we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the leisureliness which ought to characterize the children of God.”

Father, may I step into this easy yoke today, living my day in your grace, allowing you to direct my path. May I not try to figure things out, and may I most especially not try to direct things toward my own purposes. I long for the simplicity of life that is spoken of. I long for the kind of communion with you that makes this life easier. Draw me into your kingdom, Father.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.

It’s About the Relationship

Today is Thursday, August 4, 2016. 15 more days until S turns 23! Also, Pre-Friday.

Quote of the Day

“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” – P. J. O’Rourke

Word of the Day

Synthespian – A computer-generated character in a film.

Today is Coast Guard Day. This day honors the courageous work of Coast Guards.

If you recall, I was trying to leave early, yesterday. And I got out the door a few minutes after 6:00 AM. Unfortunately, my car wouldn’t start because my battery was dead. Fortunately, C was still home because I was leaving early. We were able to get me jumped off pretty quickly, and I got to work about 7:15 AM. Unfortunately, the batter must have been really bad, because it didn’t hold a charge on the way to work, and was still dead. Fortunately, I was able to get hold of Hyundai Roadside Assistance. Unfortunately, they don’t bring batteries, they just provide a jump start so that you can get to a repair shop. I did not need that at 8:30 AM. Fortunately, a co-worker was able to give me a jump so I could get started after work and get to the Auto Zone store across the street from our neighborhood. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the batter I needed. Fortunately, an Auto Zone three miles away had some, he was able to put on on hold for me, and also gave me another jump so I could drive to the other store. Fortunately, there is no more unfortunately in this story. The guy at the other Auto Zone got the new battery installed quickly, and it started right up. As I pointed out on my Facebook status, the one thing in the day that kept it from being a complete disaster was the fact that C was still home because I was leaving early. Had it been a “normal” work morning, she would have already been gone, and I likely would have had to try to call someone for help. God is good.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. Psalm 104:10-13

“The very environment in which we live is evidence of provision for our basic needs; fulfillment is built into the basic structure of creation. God the maker is also God the satisfier.”

“I turn my dissatisfactions over to you, O God. I know that every need I experience is a stimulus to come to you. I know that you have a way of dealing with each need so that I will live completed, not deprived, praising, not complaining. Amen.”

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

The Brave Comradeship of God

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.” Luke 18:31

God is brave to trust us! We might say that God was unwise to choose us, because we have nothing of value to bring. But that is exactly why he chooses us! “As long as you think there is something in you, He cannot choose you because you have ends of your own to serve; but if you have let Him bring you to the end of your self-sufficiency then He can choose you to go with Him to Jerusalem, and that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.”

“The comradeship of God is made up out of men who know their poverty.” We, as Christians, we do not champion any “cause” of our own, but the cause of God. This is what truly bothers me when I see “Christians” on social media pushing their opinions about certain politicians, or, even worse, bashing the politicians that they don’t like. My place is not to push politics or candidates. My place is to spread the Gospel of Christ, which is that the Kingdom of God is here, and is available for you to receive and step into. The moment I begin to champion a cause of my own, is the moment I lose focus and step off of the path.

Also, it is important to realize that “the main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship.” The work flows out of that relationship and atmosphere. This is why the disciplines are so important.

Father, I have only begun to truly understand the disciplines and what they mean to my life. I pray that, as I continue to study and learn, that these will become permanent additions to my life, shaping my character more and more like that of Christ. I pray that I may truly begin, as much as is possible, to live like Jesus. Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth. Unite my heart to fear your name. Show me your way, show me your truth, show me your glory.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.

You Set A Boundary

Today is Wednesday, August 3, 2016. 16 more days until S turns 23!

Quote of the Day

“A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.” – Charles Gord

Word of the Day

Fletcherize – to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. It comes from an early 1900s nutritionist named Horace Fletcher.

Today is Watermelon Day. Perfect refreshment on such a hot summer day! (It’s supposed to be 102 here, today.)

I have to hurry, this morning. Our main computer system was down from lunch-time yesterday, and most of us wound up leaving at around 3:00 PM. So I need to go in early this morning, both to make up for the lost time and to try to get caught up on the work I couldn’t do yesterday afternoon.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. Psalm 104:5-9

As we consider God as Creator, we do not meditate on boundless infinity. Rather, we see the boundaries which he has created, “the framework and structure within which our habitation takes place.” We also see the obedience of creation, “evidence that God’s commanding word is obeyed.”

“Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, Creator of all the things I see and all the things I don’t see: thank you for this carefully crafted world in which I can daily experience your love and your grace. All praise to you in Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Father, I, too, celebrate your creation almost daily. I confess that there are some days that I forget; some days that I don’t recognize the awesomeness of everything around me that you have created and put on display. But when I do remember, I experience you, your grace, and your mercy. I pray that all people would recognize and experience the same things from observing your creation. May they see it as something that was “carefully crafted,” and not something that just kind of fell together by accident.

I also praise you that you have a path for me. I may not always see it; in fact I seldom do. But my faith in you keeps me moving toward whatever it is that you have for me to do in your big picture. Keep me following you and keep me determined to work on your purpose and ambitions, not on my own.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.

No Strain, No Strength

Today is Tuesday, August 2, 2016. 17 days until S turns 23!

Quote of the Day

“A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.” – Andre Maurois

Word of the Day

Galluses – a pair of suspenders for trousers.

Today is Ice Cream Sandwich Day. I’m a big fan of ice cream sandwiches. Especially those round ones with chocolate chips all around the edge!

Band practice went well, last night. We started working on some “new” music (I put it in quotes because it’s all music that the band has played before, but not recently, and I have never played it) for a concert on September 17. I was thrilled when I realized that one of the pieces incorporates the theme music from Looney Tunes! Or maybe Merry Melodies. Or perhaps both. It’s the first one in this clip.

The band is going to be busy over the next few months, as they are talking about two potential concerts in October, and there is a great possibility that I might not be able to make either one, as my 40 year HS reunion is the first weekend in October, and we are leaving for Galveston on October 14, for a week. I’m really looking forward to that trip!

The Rangers made some good deals at the trade deadline, yesterday. The acquired Carlos Beltran from the Yankees, who, even though he is toward the end of his career, is still putting up some good numbers at the bat. They also acquired Jonathan Lucroy, a catcher, from the Brewers, who is reported to be a great catcher and a good hitter, as well. Thrown in with that deal was a decent relief pitcher. Still lacking a fifth starter, though. The Red Sox didn’t do a lot, landing a relief pitcher from the Twins. The Rangers were off last night, and play in Baltimore tonight, while the Red Sox helped the Rangers by beating the Mariners 2-1, in Seattle. This also put the Sox back in second place (tied with the Boo Jays) and only one game behind Baltimore. So tonight could be a win-win for both of my favorite teams, if the Rangers beat Baltimore. As an added bonus, Cleveland lost last night, which puts the Rangers back on top of the AL.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. Psalm 104:1-4

Eugene Peterson points out that there are no “nature psalms,” but there are “Creator psalms.” In other words, the writers of the psalms did not glorify nature; rather, they used nature to glorify the Creator. They developed “a rich vocabulary of praise to God out of the stuff of his creation.”

“Like the wind, O God, you are invisible; yet all your effects are visible–from the gentle breeze that cools and comforts, to the roaring hurricane that moves and rearranges. I ready myself to respond to every aspect of your creative work in me: ‘Breathe on me, breath of God’ (Edwin Hatch). Amen.”

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

The Discipline of Difficulty

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

You won’t see many lists of “spiritual disciplines” that include the discipline of difficulty. It’s not one of the “classic” disciplines. However, Chambers certainly makes a good case for it. “An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different.” That “average view” is what spawns the proliferation of incorrect statements such as “God will never give you more than you can handle.” I have discussed the serious issue with that statement in previous blogs.

The psalmists also addressed this truth. For example, Psalm 34:19 says, Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. It does not say that the Lord keeps the righteous from having trouble. God gives us strength through the strains of difficulty. “If there is no strain, there is no strength.” It’s just like muscle strength. You have to strain the muscles in order to build up strength. And God gives us strength for the moment. “God never gives strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the minute.”

Father, I pray for this attitude about difficulties. Of course, I never want to face any difficulties, because they’re, well, difficult. But I know that, in your plan for my life, there must be difficulties so I can grow in strength and in faith. So help me to face them head-on, with the confidence that, as the psalmist wrote, you will deliver me out of those difficulties. Let me never lose heart and cave in.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Grace and peace, friends.