Today is Sunday, the third of October, 2021.
Peace be with you!
Day 23,215
Nine days until our 36th anniversary!
I haven’t been paying a lot of attention to baseball season, lately, and am a bit surprised to see the scenario on this, the last official day of the 2021 season. The Texas Rangers have been out of the picture since the beginning of the season. It’s been a terrible season for them, which reflects the horrible management in the organization. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. My other favorite team, though, the Boston Red Sox have bounced around all season, having been in first place for a little bit, and now finding themselves in a quite precarious situation.
Sadly, the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays have clinched the division title, and have the best record in the AL, having won 100 games. But here’s the thing: on the last day of the season, the Red Sox and Yankees (I suppose this is fitting), are tied for the two AL Wild Card spots. And the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays are tied, one game behind the Yankees and Red Sox. There are several different ways this could play out, as none of those four teams is playing any of the other. The Red Sox are playing the Washington Nationals, who are in last place in their division. Not necessarily a gimme. The Yankees, on the other hand, are playing Tampa Bay. But that also doesn’t necessarily mean anything, because Tampa has no reason to try to win this game.
Toronto is playing Baltimore, the second worst team in MLB, but that is not necessarily a gimme, either. The really bad teams always have a tendency to mess up seasons for good teams. Seattle is playing the Angels, who aren’t that great this season, either.
If all four teams win their games, nothing changes. The Red Sox and Yankees will play one Wild Card game to see who gets to the real playoffs. If the Sox lose and the other three win, there apparently will be a three-way tie for the second spot, and a series of playoff games will occur. I’m getting this from the Bleacher Report, by the way. The best thing is for the Sox to win, and it won’t matter what the other three do. But if they win, and the Yankees lose, and the Mariners and Blue Jays both win, there will still be a three-way tie for the second spot.
Does your head hurt, yet? It’s been a while since I’ve seen a WC race like this, so it’s rather exciting. On the other hand, the way the Sox have been playing, going into this time, they don’t deserve a playoff spot. First, they got swept by the Yankees last weekend, then they lost a series to the Orioles. But we’ll see what happens. I might watch, or at least listen to, some baseball today.
My day at the library was good, yesterday. Most of the day was spent at the circulation desk, with an hour processing new books, and another hour (a little more, actually) clearing the book drops. I also found out that I’m still not perfect (that’s a joke . . . I’ll never be perfect, but I certainly want to be). Several scenarios occurred in which I needed help from the assistant librarian, who was more than happy to help me. I like this lady. She can be intimidating if you don’t understand her, but she is just very direct with her answers. It’s not personal. It’s just the way she is. You ask a question, and you get an answer. It might sound like she’s being impatient, but she really isn’t.
Oh, and I was also given a nice shirt, yesterday. There’s this patron, a lady who comes in pretty much every day and spends a great deal of time in the computer center. She apparently has a history of being very appreciative towards the library staff, and she already likes me. So she gave me a rather nice polo-style shirt, yesterday. I checked with the circulation manager to make sure it was okay for me to accept it. In some companies, that’s not allowed. But she said as long as I was comfortable accepting it, it was okay.
My next work shift is Tuesday evening, 4:15-8:15.
Today, we have our zoom church gathering. Last week, some people actually met in person at the host home. But this week, the other two leaders are at “the ranch,” and it is one of their turn to lead, so we will be zooming, only, today.
Today is Change A Light Day. I realize that the concept represented is switching from incandescent bulbs to more energy-efficient sources. But it does remind me that we have a few bulbs, in our house, that are burned out.
The word for today is fetching, an adjective that means, “charming; captivating.” Harold thought himself quite fetching in his new corduroy jacket.
Today’s quote is from Winston Churchill: “Personally I’m always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.”
Significant birthdays on October 3:
James Herriot, English veterinarian and author (All Creatures Great and Small), 1916-1995 Ken Berry, American actor (F Troop, Mayberry RFD), 1933-2018 Eddie Cochran, American rock musician (Summertime Blues), 1938-1960 (car crash) Lindsey Buckingham, American rock musician (Fleetwood Mac), 1949 (72) Dennis Eckersley, American baseball HOF pitcher, 1954 (67) Stevie Ray Vaughan, American blues guitar player, 1954-1990 Gwen Stefani, American singer/songwriter (No Doubt), 1969 (52) (SEVEN years older than Blake Shelton) Shannyn Sossamon, American actress (A Knight's Tale), 1978 (43)
I did not remember to sing a song of praise, last night, before going to bed. But I did sing one, this morning. I played and sang this one:
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS
Thy Will Be Done, by Daryl Madden
A lesson to pray Taught by His Son When we say our Father Let Thy will be done What is this will? It’s Gods’ concrete ways Of how He loves us For all of our days And as we pray more In many ways shown The will of His love To us is made known Begin now to see The beauty within The small, hidden life That Jesus dwells in Let Your will be my will May actions align Knowing in the finding We live a life divine
Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia. Amen.
Today I am grateful:
1. for a time to worship You with other saints, if only by reading Your Word and pondering it 2. for songs of praise, declaring the infinite worthiness of Your holy Name 3. that You love righteousness and justice and that the earth is filled with Your unfailing love 4. that I can say, along with Jesus, "Thy will be done" 5. that holiness dwells within the saints 6. for the ocean and its representation of Your awesome power
Scriptures and Prayers from Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year
ORDINARY TIME – WEEK TWENTY – DAY ONE
INVITATION
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
(Psalms 33:5 NIV)
During this quiet moment, I pause and consider the worthiness of Jesus Christ, to receive blessing and honor and power and glory from every human being and all of creation. Is He worthy? He is!
BIBLE SONG
The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
The seas have lifted up, LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty.
Your statutes, LORD, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.
(Psalms 93:1-5 NIV)
BIBLE READING
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'”
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
(2 Samuel 5:1-5 NIV)
DWELLING: SILENCE AND MEDITATION
As I continue to be aware of Your presence with me, this morning, I ponder these Scriptures, seeking Your face within them, looking for Your truth and a path to follow. Holy Spirit, guide me!
Psalm 93, attributed to no author that we know of, stands as a majestic hymn of praise to our God. The theme is stated in the first three words, “The LORD reigns.”
The word pictures are tremendous. “He is robed in majesty.” And again, we are reminded of the timeless nature of our God. His throne was established “long ago,” and He is “from all eternity.”
Anyone who knows me for very long knows that I am a fan of the ocean. I love the ocean. I had a conversation with a new friend at work, last week, where we discussed our like or dislike of the beach. She is not a fan of the beach, primarily because of sand. At first I said I love the beach. But I amended that. It is not the beach I love. I can take it or leave it. It’s the ocean that I love.
The sheer enormity of it; its vastness and power; it is truly intimidating. Yet we puny mortals bravely venture out into it, sometimes on foot, to play. And sometimes, tragedy reminds us of our mortality, just as the ocean reminds us of its power.
The psalmist reminds us that, as powerful and majestic as the ocean is, our God is mightier. “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty.” (Verse 4)
Maybe that is why I love the ocean so much. It’s the closest thing I can see, on earth, to the power and majesty of God.
The psalmist then closes out with a simple truth. The statutes of our God stand firm, they will never be moved. And His house is adorned with holiness.
One thing to consider . . . where is God’s house? It is not a building made with brick and mortar, or with timber and nails.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
(Revelation 21:3 NIV)
The dwelling place of God, by the Holy Spirit, is within the heart and soul of humans. Consider, too, then, that this “house” is adorned with holiness. We may not act very holy, sometimes, but it is there. Holiness is within us, because holiness dwells within us.
Father, I praise You for this truth. I pray that You would help me remember it more often. Like every minute of every day, so that I would stop acting in unholy ways. I thank You for the ocean, and its representation, faulty as it is, of Your awesome power. And, as powerful as it is, we can see your rule over it, as it has a line that it generally does not cross, even though there is no wall to stop it. And, at the same time, when man attempts to stop it with walls, it laughs at us, just as You laugh at mankind when we try to box You in or thwart Your plan. You are worthy, Lord, of all blessing and honor and glory!
May resurrection hope and joy fill our lives today, Father, and may we be faithful to share the good news of the Gospel of Christ.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
"Son of David, throned on a cross, crowned with thorns, and coronated amid tears and taunts, You appeared nothing like a king. But through Your obedient sacrifice, You are my eternal King, my selfless Sovereign, my loving Lord. Willingly I bend the knee, asking You to govern me by Your Word and Spirit, to guard and keep me in the freedom You have won for me. Amen."
BLESSING
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
(Matthew 5:6 NIV)
He said to [the Pharisees], “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
(Luke 16:15 NIV)
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
(Isaiah 64:6 NIV)
Verses like this call for humility, as we tend to get all puffy and self-righteous. Yes, as the “house of God,” we are adorned with holiness, but this does not give us cause to flaunt this in self-righteousness. We need to be careful what we value.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
(Matthew 13:44 NIV)
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
(Luke 18:22 NIV)
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
(Philippians 3:7-9 NLT)
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
(2 Peter 1:4 NLT)
“But the treasure is so great, that if you truly receive it, if you realize what you have, it will lead you to do everything you can, to use everything you have, and to give everything you can in response to having found it. If you’ve truly found this treasure, then it must lead you to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love others as yourself, to forgive as you have been forgiven, to give as you have been given to, to make your life a gift of love, and to do all this in joy in light of the treasure that has now come into your life. “
(From The Book of Mysteries, by Jonathan Cahn)
I truly love the contrast of Philippians 3:7-9 with Luke 16:15.
I pray for peace in our nation, peace in our world. I pray for racial injustice to end, and I pray for the pandemic to be over. Above all else, though, I pray for Your will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(Psalms 19:14 ESV)
Grace and peace, friends.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 