Repentance

Today is Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Day 21,894.

18 days until Glen Rose.

Anthony Stewart Head, born on this date in 1954, said, “I have a very open mind. I believe that there’s a spirit world. I believe that there’s a lot of stuff out there that we don’t know about, don’t want to understand, and sometimes we don’t want to understand it.”
BrainyQuote

The word for today, from Dictionary.com, is thewless, an adjective which means, “lacking in mental or moral vigor; weak, spiritless, or timid.”

Band practice was fun, last night. Good fellowship with fellow trombonists, and a pretty good rehearsal, as well. Our concert is slated for Monday evening, March 5, at Whites Chapel UMC in Southlake. There should be a flyer soon, and I will post it.

C continues to feel better, and we may actually go to the Y tonight, after work!

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

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 
These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 
and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 
I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 
As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42

A very popular Psalm, 42 was not written by David. I have felt the pathos of this one many times. “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” It’s a good thing, I believe, when you recognize that thirst. The writers lament their soul’s condition, but end up on a positive note. “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

(From The Business of Heaven, C.S. Lewis)
The Summons of Lent

“It is a matter of common experience that, when one person has got himself into a hole, the trouble of getting him out usually falls on a kind friend. Now what was the sort of ‘hole’ man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realizing that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor – that is the only way out of a ‘hole.’ This process of surrender – this movement full speed astern – is what Christians call repentance. Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means killing part of yourself, undergoing a kind of death. In fact, it needs a good man to repent. And here comes the catch. Only a bad person needs to repent: only a good person can repent perfectly. The worse you are the more you need it and the less you can do it. The only person who could do it perfectly would be a perfect person – and he would not need it.” (From Mere Christianity)

What a quandary, indeed. I need something that I cannot do for myself. This leads to my favorite definition of grace. Grace is God doing in/for us what we cannot do in/for ourselves. This does not mean that God will repent for me. What it does mean is that God will enable me, a “bad” person, to repent, something only a “good” person can do. The way he enables me is through the indwelling Holy Spirit, which I have because of the sacrifice of Christ.

Father, I confess that repentance is hard. No, that’s wrong. Repentance is impossible. Without your help, without the sacrifice of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit, repentance is impossible. Even with all of those present, it is still difficult, because I am still imperfect. Yes, the life of Christ reforms me, makes me whole. But I still carry this treasure around in an old “jar of clay,” my flesh. And my flesh would ever lead me in a different direction. Help me, Father! I do believe! Help my unbelief! Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth!
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.

Infinite Beauty

Today is Monday, February 19, 2018. Day 21,893.

19 days until Glen Rose.

Smokey Robinson, born on this date in 1940, said, “Had I not come out with an inspirational CD, you perhaps would have never known that I feel like I feel, that all songs, all the music I’ve ever done is a gift from God.”
BrainyQuote

The word for today, from Dictionary.com, is bossdom, a noun which means, “the status, influence, or power of a boss, especially a political boss.” I wonder why “kingdom” isn’t included in that definition, as the word is obviously a mashup between “boss” and “kingdom.”

Monday morning, and things are closer to normal around here than they’ve been in a while. C is feeling better. Still coughing a lot, but feeling better. I’ll be going back to band practice tonight. Our next concert is officially scheduled for March 5, which is only two weeks away, if I’m calculating correctly.

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

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; 
the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. 
The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. 
As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” 
My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?” 
And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. 
All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. 
They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.” 
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 
But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them! 
By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. 
But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Psalm 42

“Blessed is the one who considers the poor!” We might all do well to remember that one.

(From Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die, John Piper)
5: To Show the Wealth of God’s Love and Grace for Sinners

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:7-8
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Ephesians 1:7

“The measure of God’s love for us is shown by two things. One is the degree of his sacrifice in saving us from the penalty of our sin. The other is the degree of unworthiness that we had when he saved us.”

One only has to consider the crucifixion for a moment to see the degree of the sacrifice. Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One, suffered through what was probably one of the most horrific execution methods ever invented by man. If this doesn’t show great love, I don’t know what does.

But this becomes even greater when we seriously consider the state of our unworthiness. What we deserved was “divine punishment, not divine sacrifice.”

Ephesians 1:7, above, gives the only explanation. It was “the riches of his grace.” It was not, as some mistakenly say, “a response to our worth.” In fact, it is from “the overflow of his infinite worth.” It is out of love, and “a passion to enthrall undeserving sinners, at great cost, with what will make us supremely happy forever, namely, his infinite beauty.”

Father, forgive me for the times when I continue to gaze at that infinite beauty and then chase off after something of infinitely less worth. Enthrall me, my God wit your infinite beauty. Help me to celebrate that grace so rich, that love so bountiful.
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.

What Might Have Been

“Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.”~~Yogi Berra
(BrainyQuote)

Today’s word of the day is brevity, “the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness.” I’ve never been said to possess that quality.

Today is Chocolate Mousse Day. You can bet if it has the word “chocolate” in it, I will be celebrating.

We had a great time with Rachel and Justin last night. We had dinner at Hoffbrau, and then sat around and chatted at home for a couple hours. Oh, and we watched an episode of Jane the Virgin. We also had some of this delicious strawberry cake that Christi made for the celebration.

This was made from the recipe of a good friend of my mother’s. Thank you, Shirley!!

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:6-11

“God is not a surface phenomenon, slight and changeable like moods or weather. He comes to us in the depths, sharing what is most eternal in himself with what is most needful in us.”

“Eternal God, I thank you for getting underneath the surface clamor and frenzy of my life and creating a reality in me that is impervious to oppression, springing up in hope and praising your great name in Jesus Christ. Amen.”

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

“If Thou Hadst Known”

Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:42

How often are we haunted by things that might have been? How often have doors been closed because we refused to enter into them? These doors are closed permanently. God will not open them again. And he will remind us that we, ourselves, closed them. There is, potentially, great and profound sadness in what might have been. But God can redeem the “might have been,” if we will allow it. We can wallow in the regret of what might have been, or we can let God use it in our lives to open other doors. “Never be afraid when God brings back the past. Let memory have its way. It is a minister of God with its rebuke and chastisement and sorrow. God will turn the ‘might have been’ into a wonderful culture for the future.”

Father, when those memories come, of the times when I failed to be obedient and doors were forever closed, let them minister to me to the possibilities of the future, rather than wallowing in them and proclaiming, “Oh, I wish . . . how could things have been if only . . .” There is no “if only.” Let the “might have been” become, instead, “what will be.”

Come, Lord Jesus!

Grace and peace, friends.

The Highest Desire

“Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile.”~~Christy Mathewson
(BrainyQuote)

Today’s word of the day, from the Oxford English Dictionary, is nullibiquitous, which means, “existing nowhere.” I guess it’s the opposite of ubiquitous.

Today is World Autism Day. April is also Autism Awareness Month. Since we have a daughter who is high-functioning autistic, this is meaningful to us.

We found out yesterday, at work, that our yearly raises are being delayed at least another quarter. It seems that, on a national level, the company is “underperforming.” We aren’t very happy about this, as we are very aware that our particular facility is making good money, and our customer is extremely happy with us. We were pretty much promised that, not only would merit increases happen in April, but that they would also actually be true merit raises, based on our reviews. After all . . . if raises are going to be across the board flat rate raises, why bother having reviews?

Today is Saturday, and Rachel and Justin will be coming over this evening, to celebrate Rachel’s birthday, which was this past Tuesday. We’ll be going out to eat somewhere.

On this date in 1513, Ponce de Leon, while searching for the legendary “Fountain of Youth,” discovered Florida. He immediately set up a retirement community. You can read the whole story at History.com.

Today’s birthdays include:

742–Charlemagne
1805–Hans Christian Andersen, Danish writer
1875–Walter Chrysler, American auto pioneer
1891–Max Ernst, German painter
1908–Buddy Ebsen, American actor/dancer
1912–Herbert Mills, American singer, The Mills Brothers
1914–Sir Alec Guinness, English actor
1920–Jack Webb, American actor
1939–Marvin Gaye, American singer
1940–Penelope Keith, English actress
1941–Dr. Demento, American radio personality
1942–Leon Russell, American blues-rock pianist/singer
1945–Linda Hunt, American actress
1947–Emmylou Harris, American singer
1953–Debralee Scott, American actress
1964–Pete Incaviglia, American baseball player

Buddy Ebsen was an American actor who, at least by my generation, was probably best known for playing Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies. Here is a rather strange clip from that show, that I found on You Tube.

Samuel F. B. Morse, Esther Morris, Hermann Rorschach, Gil Hodges, Buddy Rich, and Edwin Starr are among notable deaths on this date.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:1-5

“God is to the soul what water is to the body: an absolute need, felt intensely.” The very fact that we long for him is evidence of “the reality of the God who is there to fulfill our being.”

“‘As pants the hart for cooling streams when heated in the chase, so longs my soul, O God, for Thee, and Thy refreshing grace.’ In Jesus’ name (Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady, ‘As Pants the Hart’). Amen.”

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

“The Glory That Excels”

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 9:17

When Paul’s sight was restored to him, he also received “insight into the Person of Jesus Christ.” The rest of his life consisted of nothing other than preaching the Gospel of Christ. “No attraction was ever allowed to hold the mind and soul of Paul save the face of Jesus Christ.”

If we are to be spiritual people, we must have this “concentrated passion” in our lives. “Never allow anything to deflect you from insight into Jesus Christ.” We must fight against things that push to have a growing fascination for us. It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? But it’s not. I struggle daily with things that present themselves to me in such a way as to distract me from Christ. And all too often, they are successful.

Father, strengthen my will, my mind, my imagination, and my spirit, that I might fight harder against these things that draw my attention away from Christ. While it is okay to have “hobbies” and other interests, these things should not occupy the bulk of my attention or desires. May Jesus Christ be my highest desire.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Grace and peace, friends.

I Long For the Day

Good morning. It is Wednesday, April 29, 2015.

Today’s Word of the Day is psychotronics. This is a noun, meaning, “The (study of) the interactions between matter, energy, and consciousness, esp. as supposedly found in parapsychological phenomena and the ability of energy produced by mental effort to have a physical effect on people and objects.” I find that to be very interesting.

Today is World Wish Day. This all centers around an event that launched the formation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I wish . . . never mind.

The first day back at work was okay, I guess. Nothing really eventful happened. My knee still hurts whenever I move. I should probably get to a doctor, but I’ve missed so much work in the past three weeks or so, that I don’t want to do that, just yet. I keep hoping it will get better.

Christi is having a nice time at the USBC convention in Omaha. But I miss her. She will be returning on Thursday night.

I really don’t have much else to write about so I’ll move on to the devotional.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42

(From Solid Joys)

Today’s reading is “The Day Is at Hand.”

The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
Romans 13:12

“This is a word of hope to suffering Christians. It’s a word of hope to Christians who hate their own sin and long to be done with sinning. It’s a word of hope to Christians who long for the last enemy death to be overcome and thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).”

At first glance, this would probably not appear to be a word of hope, especially for those who suffer in any way. But if we consider that “night,” stands for the age of darkness, that brings sin, misery, and death, we begin to see hope. Paul says that, “the night is far gone.” “The age of sin and misery is almost spent.”

Of course, 2000 years seems like a long “dawn,” doesn’t it? And in our hearts, we cry out, “How long, O Lord?”

We must consider that the day dawned with Jesus Christ. “Jesus is the end of this fallen age. He defeated sin and pain and death and Satan. The decisive battle is over. The kingdom has come. Eternal life has come.”

When dawn happens, just as it did with Jesus, the coming of day is certain. Even if the dawn lasts 2000 years. “It is certain. The day has arrived. Nothing can stop the rising sun.”

Father, help me to see this hope. I have faith; you have given it to me. Even in times like this, my faith stays with me. But I’m struggling with pain. I know that pain is temporary, but while we feel it, it does not seem so. I know that “this, too, shall pass.” Give me endurance, Father, and let me not sink into despair. I know that the age of darkness is defeated by Jesus. I know that there will come a day when sin and sorrow will no longer exist. My mind and heart cannot even fathom such a time. I have lived in this wretched, sinful flesh for so long that I cannot comprehend the reality that, someday, there will be no more desire for sin. Hasten that day, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus! Maranatha!

I pray for Christi, this morning, that she would know your grace and peace completely. May she have a good day today, working at the convention. Keep her safe, Father, as she walks about, and as she flies back home tomorrow. I pray for Stephanie, that she would also know grace and peace today. Comfort her as she continues to miss her Grandpa. Comfort and strengthen my mother, as well, as you have already done. May she know your peace today. I pray for my work day, that it will go well, and that I will have some success getting caught up. I also pray that my knee pain will subside as the day goes by. May you bring healing, Father.

Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth. I fear that my path has become muddy, of late. Guide me, Father. May your Spirit guide me through this day. Help me to show your Kingdom in my life. May the life that I live in the flesh be lived in the power of the life of Jesus Christ.

Your grace is sufficient.

Is your soul downcast today? Hope in God; quench your thirst in him today.

Grace and peace, friends.

Body-Building

Good morning. It is Thursday, July 12, 2012. I really want to roll over and go back to sleep this morning. Today is “Different Colored Eyes Day.” So if you have “heterochromia,” celebrate because it’s your day! Have a piece of pecan pie, because it’s also “National Pecan Pie Day.”

On this date in 1984, Geraldine Ferraro was named as vice presidential running mate for Walter Mondale. If my memory serves me (which is frequently does NOT), she was the first female to be nominated for VP. Mondale/Ferraro lost by the greatest landslide in history to Reagan/Bush. R/B won every state but Minnesota. On this date in 1389, Geoffrey Chaucer was named “chief clerk” by Richard II. I’ve always loved the spelling “Geoffrey.”
This next one, I never heard about…I wish I had, because it’s legen…wait for it…DARY! On this date in 1979, the Chicago White Sox organization, in collaboration with a couple of local DJs, decided to have a “Disco Demolition” night between a couple of double-header games. The deal was, they would issue 99-cent tickets to anyone who brought a disco record to add to the dumpster already in place, which would be blown up between the two games. Unfortunately, they underestimated the appeal of this. After a sellout crowd of 40000 had entered the stadium, there were reportedly close to that many more outside on the streets. They failed to collect all of the records, which became dangerous projectiles as the crowd got out of hand, stormed the field, climbed up foul poles, tore up the grass, lit vinyl bonfires on the diamond, etc, all the while being begged by the scoreboard to return to their seats. The Detroit Tigers were awarded the game by forfeit. Those wacky White Sox fans! It reminds me of the last 10-cent beer night in Cleveland…who EVER thought that was a good idea???

---

Yesterday was another pretty good day, although I didn’t feel well for a good part of it. I’m not sure what was wrong, but my stomach was “going round and round,” as Stephanie would say. So much so that, at the last minute, I decided not to go work out. I think that was the better choice…as I sat and rested, it began feeling better, and Christi and I wound up going to Subway to fetch our dinner. I feel fine this morning.

---

Father, I pray for some vision of you, a little of the “light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ.” I pray you show me something of your glory today, that will keep me focused on you throughout this day. May my prayers be effective today.

---

Today, I’m reading Psalm 42. The beginning of this psalm of the “sons of Korah” is pretty famous, being made so by a praise chorus written in 1981.
As the deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God? (1-2)

Have you ever felt this way? I know I have, and frequently. I guess it’s a good thing, though, because if my soul is panting, thirsting, for God, then my heart is in the right place. The psalm later serves to encourage the downcast soul.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God. (5)

By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life. (8 )

It closes with a repetition of verse 5.

---

My Utmost For His Highest

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Ephesians 4:13

That verse is in the middle of a section explaining why God has given us the various ministers in the church, for equipping us. Chambers has written about the “spiritual sluggard,” then the “spiritual saint.” Today, he writes about the “spiritual society.” What Jesus Christ did in redemption was to put the human race back into right relationship with God. “The Church ceases to be a spiritual society when it is on the lookout for the development of its own organization.” That is a very powerful statement. I’m reading it again. Just as the individual must be about Christ-realization rather than self-realization, so must the Church be the same. This is why the apostles and teachers were sent by Christ – that the “corporate Personality might be realized. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy spiritual retirement; we are here so to realize Jesus Christ that the Body of Christ may be built up.”
What does this mean for me personally? It means that I need to be working on the realization of Christ, that I may know him, not just to know what he has done for me. “Whenever I want things for myself, the relationship is distorted.” As I work on this ministry of intercessory prayer, the goal is to build up the body. I don’t pray just for me (I do pray for some things for myself, but usually, those prayers are fashioned to benefit my other prayers), I pray for others; for the body of Christ, and for potential members of the body. My heart’s desire is to be abandoned to him.

---

Father, I pray that you keep me from being a spiritual sluggard. Make me permanently aware of the “spiritual society” that is the Church. May I never be looking out solely for my own spiritual well-being, but be realizing Jesus Christ, both in my life and in the life of the church. This is the purpose of my life…to help build up the church. You have made me a worship leader in the past, which is a means of building up the church as it worships you through praise, and now you are causing me to pray for people, thereby continuing to build up the body of Christ in different ways. Make me a blessing, Lord. I pray that your glory will shine through me as I intercede on behalf of others. I pray that the Scripture will be fulfilled that tells us that the Spirit intercedes when we don’t know what to pray, because there will be times when I don’t know what I need to be praying for people, and I know there will be times that words will just not be available to express what I want to pray. I also pray for the segment of the body that is at The Exchange, that we, as a church, will not fall into the trap of seeking our own development, but will, rather, be about realizing Christ in our world, and seeking to further build up the corporate Body of Christ. I pray, as always, for the leadership and elders of our church, that you would guide them by your Spirit, filling them with wisdom to know what direction to lead us. Then give us hearts to follow.

I pray for this day, Lord. I pray that Christi will have another good day at work, with little or no stressful situations. I pray the same for me. I pray that I will have a joyful attitude throughout this day, Lord, no matter what happens. I pray for Stephanie today, Lord, that she would be joyful and enjoy her time off from school responsibilities. I pray that your Spirit would dwell mightily within her and inspire her to read your word and pray today. Even in her state of disability, Lord, she could be a powerful warrior for your kingdom. I pray you make her so.

Today, I ask, Father, that you glorify yourself through us. Be glorified in me, individually; be glorified in us as a family, and be glorified in us as the Church.

I pray now, that you will keep me focused as I go into my private prayer time. Help me remember everything that I need to pray for.

---

What we are a part of is bigger than the individual, and even bigger than the local church. The staggering truth is that we are a worldwide Body of Christ, and we should be about building that up.

I leave you with the song that has been stuck in my head this week.

Grace and peace, friends.

As the Deer…

Ah, it’s Saturday morning, once again. So nice to have a few hours to just sit and do nothing constructive. And then after a bit, I decide it’s time to get serious and do some devotional reading.

Things seem to be getting gradually better in the scenario involving Christi’s mother and step-dad. That’s a relief. If we can just keep it stabilized, it will keep getting better, I think. Christi is gathering information on assisted living places for them.

Okay, so here goes…

---

Today’s Bible readings:
Mark 8:1-26
Jesus miraculously feeds 4000 people. Then the Pharisees come to him, looking for a “sign from heaven.” Does anyone else see the absolute asininity of this request?? I mean…that’s pretty much all Jesus has been doing the whole time. Nevertheless, after a deep sigh, he tells them that “no sign will be given to this generation.”
Think also, though, about what drove the multitude of people out to hear this message. The message that Jesus had was compelling. It was distinctive from the tired old legalism that the Pharisees were teaching. Can we emulate that today? We have the same message, right? Or at least, we should. Perhaps we don’t…perhaps that is why people are not flocking to hear it. Perhaps we have changed the original message.

Deuteronomy 15-16

Chapter 15 describes the law the “Sabbatical Year.” Basically, at the end of every seven years, all debts would be released. But there is a warning, also. Since the Lord has commanded that they should always open their hand to their brother who becomes poor, he warns that they not “harden your heart of shut your hand against your poor brother” just because the Sabbatical Year is nigh. The command, in verse 11, says, You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.
Also at the end of the seventh year, any Hebrew brother or sister that has been sold as a slave is to be released and furnished “liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press.” However, if that slave desires to stay, then the master would take an awl and pierce the ear of the slave against the doorpost.
Chapter 16 gives laws about Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. There is a warning against showing partiality in justice (boy, have we “gone south” with that one!!) and then, a section begins about “Forbidden Forms of Worship,” that is continued in chapter 17. Another awkward chapter break.

Psalm 42
We’re back into the Psalms after finishing Job. Psalm 42 is a beautiful Psalm, a favorite of many.

1 To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

It is also the inspiration for this song:

---

A note from Dennis Jernigan in Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers. We don’t get to decide if God loves us. I love the way he puts that. God loves us. He decides that, not us. I can go around all day long thinking I’m not worthy of God’s love because of this or that or the other. It doesn’t change a thing! I don’t get to decide! I have two choices. I can embrace God’s love, or I can reject it. But I cannot change the fact that he loves me. And I can’t do anything to either increase or decrease that love. The pressure of trying to do things so that God will love me is eliminated! He loves me. Period. Hallelujah!

---

Father, thank you for loving me! And I praise you that I can’t change that! I don’t want to change that. I do confess that there are times when I don’t feel worthy of that love. But I know that your love is there, whether I feel worthy or not.

I pray that I will always thirst after you, Father. Sometimes, I know how that psalmist felt in Psalm 42. There are times when I can feel my spirit panting with thirst for your spirit! And my soul becomes cast down. But then your spirit says to me, “Hope in God!”

I pray that we would have more of an “open hand” to our brothers and sisters, Lord. Christi and I are relatively generous, at least with financial and physical resources. Perhaps we could do better with our time…we are selfish with that. But I pray that we would be even more generous, when opportunities arise.

I also pray for our churches. I pray for your Church! I pray that the message of the Church would be the same message that Jesus had. I do believe that we have changed the message over the years and added to it (which, in effect, actually subtracts from it!). People flocked to Jesus, being drawn by his magnetic character and the astonishing difference of the message he preached. Let us recapture that message and that character.

I pray for Christi as she continues to research places for her mom and Don. I pray for our time together later today, that it will be refreshing and fun; relaxing and rejuvenating. I love Christi with all my heart, Lord. I know I don’t always do the best at showing it, but she is the joy of my heart. I pray that we will enjoy our time with each other immensely today.

---

Remember the liberating truth that we do not get to decide whether or not God loves us.

Grace and peace, friends.