Waiting on God – Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy

Do You Not Know? Have You Not Heard?

May 30, 2023 Jeff5 Comments

Today is Tuesday, the thirtieth day of May, 2023, in the first week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you, today!

Day 23,819

My Wordle for today:

Wordle 710 5/6*

⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨
⬛⬛🟨🟩⬛
⬛🟨🟩🟩🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

This one was an interesting progression. My streak is now at 51 days. Yesterday’s word was “mouse.”

We had a lovely holiday, yesterday. Everyone seems to be feeling gradually better. By “everyone,” I mean C and I. I went the whole night without any meds, last night, and haven’t had any, other than my standard, daily ones, this morning. C went to work, today, so I guess she’s feeling better, too.

Instead of normal hot dogs, we wound up having crescent roll dogs, topped with chili, last night. That was S’s idea, and I was actually able to get a grocery delivery from Kroger, to get the rolls (along with a few other things). My cooking left a little to be desired, though, as the rolls were a little doughy on the bottom, and I think I burned the chili a little. But it was still good.

The Texas Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 5-0. Nathan Eovaldi (7-2) got the win, pitching five shutout innings. He struggled with control, walking a few and giving up four hits, but surrendered no runs. Corey Seager popped a three-run home run in the fifth inning, which was enough to win the game. Seager has been amazing since he came back from the IL. The Rangers are now 34-19, in first place in the AL West, three games ahead of the Astros. They play Detroit again, this evening, at 5:40 CT, in Detroit. Martin Perez (6-1) will start for Texas.

The Red Sox were off, yesterday. They begin a series against Cincinnati, today, in Boston, at 7:10 ET. Brayan Bello (3-2) will start for Boston.

Tampa Bay leads MLB at 39-17, with Texas in second place at 34-19. Oakland won a game! They are now 11-45! The Yankees, the Marlins, and the Reds all have three-game winning streaks. The Pirates and the Other Sox both have three-game losing streaks. The Rangers lead in run differential, with +128. Oakland trails with -194. Boston stays at +11. Tampa Bay has the most runs scored, with 335. Texas is right behind them with 334.

Today is a normal Tuesday. I will be shelving (or whatever needs doing) at the library, this evening. I expect there to be some shelving to do, as the library was closed, yesterday. But one never knows. I will be heading to Subway to pick up lunch and dinner for the family.

I almost forgot. C has the dreaded colonoscopy on Thursday morning, so she can’t eat any solid food at all tomorrow.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, 
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
(Psalms 90:14 NRSV)

Today I am grateful:

that I am satisfied with the steadfast love of the Lord
for the ability we have to help one another, rather than burden one another
that when we wait on the Lord, our strength is renewed
that if we do not grow weary in doing good works, we will be rewarded
that the heavens declare the glory and righteousness of God

Daily Prayer from Plough.com

Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and all that is within me, 
bless his holy name. 
Bless the LORD, O my soul, 
and do not forget all his benefits— 
who forgives all your iniquity, 
who heals all your diseases,
(Psalms 103:1-3 NRSV)

Lord our God, O Holy One, we thank you that we may lay aside our own nature and be lifted in spirit above all that is temporal and human and have joy in you. In spite of all the evil surrounding us, in spite of the thousandfold misery of humankind, we may still rejoice in you, in all you do and will yet do for us. Grant that we may go on rejoicing, having joy together, helping instead of burdening each other, until this earth is filled with the jubilation of those you have so richly blest. Forgive us all our sins. Heal us in mind and body. Deliver us from all the corruption that tries to take hold of our souls. Amen.

Praise the LORD! 
Praise the name of the LORD; 
give praise, O servants of the LORD, . . . 
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; 
sing to his name, for he is gracious. . . . 
For I know that the LORD is great; 
our Lord is above all gods. 
(Psalms 135:1, 3, 5 NRSV)

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
 God shines forth. 
The heavens declare his righteousness, 
for God himself is judge. 
(Psalms 50:2, 6 NRSV)

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
(John 14:11-12 NRSV)

 Glory be to God the Father, 
God the Son, 
and God the Holy Spirit. 
As it was in the beginning, 
so it is now and so it shall ever be, 
world without end. 
Alleluia. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. 
May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; 
for Yours are the kingdom and the power 
and the glory forever and ever. 
Amen.

"Holy Father,
creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is,
both in heaven and on earth,
take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful.
Give me instead those things that are profitable for me
and all who seek rightly to praise you.
I ask this grace in the company of all believers
and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God forever and ever.
Amen."
(The Divine Hours)

A voice cries out: 
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, 
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 
Every valley shall be lifted up, 
and every mountain and hill be made low; 
the uneven ground shall become level, 
and the rough places a plain. 
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, 
and all people shall see it together, 
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
(Isaiah 40:3-5 NRSV)

A voice says, "Cry out!" 
And I said, "What shall I cry?" 
All people are grass, 
their constancy is like the flower of the field. 
The grass withers, the flower fades, 
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; 
surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers, the flower fades; 
but the word of our God will stand forever.
(Isaiah 40:6-8 NRSV)

See, the Lord GOD comes with might, 
and his arm rules for him; 
his reward is with him, 
and his recompense before him. 
He will feed his flock like a shepherd; 
he will gather the lambs in his arms, 
and carry them in his bosom, 
and gently lead the mother sheep.
(Isaiah 40:10-11 NRSV)

Have you not known? Have you not heard? 
The LORD is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth. 
He does not faint or grow weary;
 his understanding is unsearchable. 
He gives power to the faint, 
and strengthens the powerless. 
Even youths will faint and be weary, 
and the young will fall exhausted;
 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, 
they shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31 NRSV)

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
(Galatians 6:9 NRSV)

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”
(2 Chronicles 15:7 NRSV)

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13 NRSV)

It is the truths of Isaiah 40 (“Do you not know? Have you not heard?”) that lead to the faith and courage to believe that we can, indeed, do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

The Lord gives power to the faint; He gives strength to the powerless; He renews our strength so that we can run and not be weary and walk and not faint. In this strength, in the waiting on the Lord, we can not grow weary in doing what is right, assuring that we will reap at harvest time. We can take courage and know that our work will be rewarded.

We are not working for God’s approval; we are not working for salvation. That has been accomplished. We are working for our God. The “works” that I do, I do because I love my Lord; I love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Of course, I want to make them happy; I want to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That motivation always exists.

But I also need to remember that there is nothing that I can do to make God love me more than He already does. Neither is there anything I can do to make Him love me less.

Do you no know? Have you not heard?

I have heard. I have known. I have tasted and I’ve seen that the Lord is good.

Father, I praise You for the strength that You give us when we simply wait on You. There are a lot of possible definitions as to what that means, but that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that we wait on You. We look expectantly to what You will do in and through us.

Father, help us to have an impact on this world that seems to be spiraling out of control. We believe that it is not, and that “history” is right on track. But that is only because we are trying to step back and look at the “big picture” of Your story and what You have planned for us all.

I pray that all of Your people would calm down and rest in You, with confidence that You know what You are doing and have everything under control. You do not need us to “control” anything (as if we could, anyway . . . more and more we are proving that we humans are incapable of controlling even the simplest things). You have it all in Your hands. We sing it, sometimes, “He’s got the whole world in His hands,” but something tells me we aren’t too sure we believe that.

I believe! Help my unbelief! And when I think I can’t do it, remind me that I am, in fact, doing it.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers!

May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26 NLT)

Grace and peace, friends.

Mind Your Own Business!

October 25, 2022 Jeff5 Comments

Today is Tuesday, the 25th of October, 2022, in the 30th week of Ordinary Time.

May you find the peace of Christ in your heart today!

Day 23,602

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYERS

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
(Psalms 119:1 ESV)

Lord our God, grant that our spirit may recognize your Spirit and your love, so that our lives cannot be swallowed up by passing concerns but are lifted to something higher. Help us hold fast to all the blessings you have allowed us to experience, the blessings you will certainly continue to give, even though new battles and new troubles are all around us. Send a great light to shine among the many people whose task is to lead the way so that your kingdom may come. Send light so that your name may be honored through our human deeds and you may be known as life for all. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 
John 8:12, RSV

Today I am grateful:

for the Light of the world, the Light of life
that our God is in the heavens, and does all that He pleases (Psalm 115)
for the biblical admonitions to be patient, to be silent, and to be slow to anger; Father, please make this come to pass in Your children!
that Paul tells us to mind our own business! (1 Thessalonians 4)
for allergy meds; seriously, ’tis the season

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
(1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 ESV, emphasis added)

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, 
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 

Why should the nations say, 
"Where is their God?" 
Our God is in the heavens;
 he does all that he pleases.
(Psalms 115:1-3 ESV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . . a time to keep silence . . . 
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7 ESV)

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
(Proverbs 17:28 ESV)

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
(James 1:19 ESV, emphasis added)

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.“
(Mark 9:7 ESV, emphasis added)

“If you keep silent before God and give Him time, He will leave within you impressions that will be as the rays of His glory shining in you.” (Andrew Murray, The Best of Andrew Murray on Prayer, quoted in Spiritual Classics, by Richard J Foster and Emilie Griffin)

I waited patiently for the LORD; 
he inclined to me and heard my cry. . . . 
He put a new song in my mouth, 
a song of praise to our God. 
Many will see and fear, 
and put their trust in the LORD. 
(Psalms 40:1. 3 ESV)

It appears that the topic of the day must be being patient, silent, and being slow to anger.

It starts up there in 1 Thessalonians, as Paul admonishes the people to “aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs.” Isn’t it odd that I don’t hear this preached about very often? I mean, right here in the Bible, Paul tells us to mind our own business!! And to live quietly.

Instead, when I look around me, I see of lot of loud, noisy, meddling.

The trend continues in Ecclesiastes. Listed in all of the things for which there is a time and a season is “a time to keep silence.” Admittedly, yes, there is a time to speak. But it may not be an accident that silence is written first. In truth, do we even have a right to speak if we have not first listened?

How often, in conversation, do you spend the time, while the other person is talking, thinking about what you are going to say next, rather than truly listening to what they are saying. Even worse, how often do we interrupt each other?? I am guilty, I know. It is a hard habit to break.

The writer of Proverbs tells us that a fool who manages to keep quiet is thought of as wise. And our brother James instructs us to be quick to hear (listen) slow to speak (keep silence), and then he adds “slow to anger.” Oh, dang. That James is a real meddler, isn’t he?

Once again, I see the opposite when I look around. Social media outlets are full of loud, angry “Christians.”

I added the verse from Mark, myself. After Jesus was transfigured and the disciples had blurted out their say (because they just had to say something, right?), that voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Listen.

That means stop talking. Be quick to hear, slow to speak.

Wait patiently for the Lord. It’s okay to pray, sure. But wait patiently, and, when applicable, quietly, silently. Stop talking and listen. That is what meditation and contemplation are for. The essence of those two disciplines are silence, which can, itself, be a spiritual discipline.

The reward is worth it. Andrew Murray left out verse 2, and I think it’s part of the reward, as well.

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, 
out of the miry bog, 
and set my feet upon a rock, 
making my steps secure.
(Psalms 40:2 ESV)

This is the result of waiting, of patience, of living quietly. That, and the new song in our mouths, a song of praise to our God.

“True patience is so foreign to our self-sufficient nature, yet so indispensable to our waiting on God.” (Andrew Murray, Waiting on God, quoted in Power in Prayer)

“In waiting on God, it is important that we submit not because we are forced to, but because we want to be in the hands of our blessed Father.” (ibid)

Father, I have always had trouble keeping quiet. When I was in grade school, I kept getting separated from the rest of the class because I couldn’t stop talking. Do I really love the sound of my own voice that much? Or do I truly believe that what I have to say is so important?

Nothing is more important than listening to You. And it is impossible to listen when my mouth is running amok. Please help me to obey the admonitions of brothers Paul and James. Help me to be slow to speak, quick to listen, and dear God, please help me to be slow to anger. I have gotten better at that in recent years, but I still find myself getting angry over the most ridiculous things. Subway or Sonic got my order wrong. Again! How dare they not be perfect!!!

Grace, Father. Help me to display the same grace that You have displayed to me and all the saints. I cannot be perfect, I know. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.

I pray for the patience to wait on You as Scripture teaches. I know the dangers of praying for patience. It’s like praying to have faith increased. As soon as one prays for something like that, one should be prepared for immediate testing. But, in this case, I am praying for the ability to patiently wait on You, and to do so by honoring silence. I believe silence can be sacred. So help me to observe that, and to obey Your commands to us.

I also pray that we would do a better job of minding our own business. We seem to be working real hard to create laws to keep people from doing whatever we disagree with. And we are loudly and angrily expressing our opinions while doing so. I believe this harms the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Help us to get back in focus, Lord, to do the things that are really important, which is love You and loving others. Help us to trust You with the rest of it.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
(2 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV)

Grace and peace, friends.

Waiting

December 3, 2015 Jeff

“Success is more attitude than aptitude.”~~Peter Guber

Today’s word of the day, from Dictionary.com, is foudroyant, “striking as with lightning; sudden and overwhelming in effect; stunning; dazzling.”

Today is Disability Day, a day to raise awareness of the plight of disabled people, as well as to make them more aware of their rights.

I don’t have much to share on a personal level (that seems to happen a lot on Thursday mornings). We didn’t get home from work, last night, until around 6:30. Traffic was horrible, pretty much everywhere. We cooked chili and watched a couple of TV shows, one being the elimination episode for The Voice. At the end, when Braden Sunshine was the one saved by viewers’ tweets, his reaction was pretty adorable. He was visibly disappointed that Korin didn’t get to stay. From what we could see, the results were very close, like 51% to 49%. They kept saying that next week is the semifinal round, but there are still nine voices left. I’m not sure how they plan to do that.

The shocking and sad news yesterday was that someone (apparently multiple people) opened fire on people in a San Bernadino, California, county resource center of some kind. Reports are that there were at least 14 dead and 17 wounded. It’s beyond sad that this has happened right on the heels of the Planned Parenthood shooting. Immediately, Facebook was filled with opinions. I wish just once, we could spend a little time mourning the victims and tragedy before we start attempting to place blame. But I guess everyone is an expert on how we can fix this.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)

There is a third category of petitionary prayer. We have looked at asking and lament or complaining. This one is sometimes called “waiting on God.” Many people might not consider this a form of “prayer,” but consider that it might be so.

Jesus tells a parable, in Luke 18, of a woman who was very persistent with a human judge, who finally gave in to her request for justice, if for no other reason than she was driving him crazy. In verse 7, Jesus says, And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

First of all, we need not believe that the reason that God finally answers our prayers is to get us to shut up and stop bothering him. In this case, Jesus uses a case of human extreme to illustrate a point. The point is that “we should be confident that God will hear us,” but we should also be patient with God, as his timing is not the same as ours. In all honestly, we should be prepared to wait months, or perhaps even years, for an answer to some prayers.

2 Peter 3:9 says, The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, which means that “our time frames are not in touch with ultimate reality.” You might compare our perspective on timing to that of a two-year-old in relationship to an adult. Remember how long it used to take for Christmas morning to get here? Christmas Eve was at least three times as long as a normal night!

There are valid reasons that God makes us wait. One might be that we need to change before the request can be granted. In other cases, it might become apparent that the waiting actually brought about the thing we were praying for. Waiting also develops in us “a far more patient, calm, and strong temperament.”

Father, you have taught me much about waiting in recent years. There are several prayers that I have been waiting on answers for. One was finally answered this past April, although not necessarily in the way I wanted. I continue to wait on another one, but will keep persisting. I pray for this “patient, calm, and strong temperament” that Keller speaks of. Build these characteristics within me, along with wisdom and understanding in prayer.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Grace and peace, friends.

Bad At Waiting

July 20, 2012 Jeff

Friday has arrived! It is Friday, July 20, 2012. Today is “Moon Day,” so designated because of what is also my first “This day in history” entry. It was on this date in 1969, that Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon. As he did so, he uttered those famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Of course, he meant to say, “That’s one small step for A man…” On this date in 1973, Bruce Lee died from a brain edema that was possibly caused by an adverse reaction to prescription painkillers. And on this date in 1963, “Surf City,” by Jan and Dean, hit number one. Here’s a pretty amazing quality video of the song.

There was a shooting last night in Aurora, Colorado, at the opening screening of The Dark Knight Rise. A lone gunman burst into the emergency exit at the front of the theater, released a smoke bomb, and opened fire. At least 12 people are dead and dozens more injured. The gunman was apprehended. At this point, I know of no reason for the shooting. “They can see no reasons, ’cause there are no reasons, what reason do you need to be shown?” (Boomtown Rats, “I Don’t Like Mondays”) It’s just a senseless tragedy. Please pray for everyone affected by this tragedy.

Father, I pray for some vision of you this morning. Some kind of inspiration that can help make sense of a world that is becoming increasingly nonsensical.

Today, I’m reading Psalm 50. This psalm, by Asaph, describes the power and majesty of God.
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
Our God comes; he does not keep silent;
before him is a devouring fire,
around him a mighty tempest.
He calls to the heavens above and to the earth,
that he may judge his people:
“Gather to me my faithful ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
The heavens declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge! (1-6)

It is in this psalm where it is declared that the Lord owns the “cattle on a thousand hills” (v. 10). In regard to the sacrifices, he says,
If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness are mine.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. (12-15)

The psalm closes with this verse:
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God! (23)

My Utmost For His Highest

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

When we are in an unhealthy state, emotionally, we look for thrills. In the spiritual life, this leads to “counterfeiting the Holy Ghost.” In the emotional life, “it leads to inordinate affection and the destruction of morality.”
“The reality of God’s presence is not dependent on any place, but only dependent upon the determination to set the Lord always before us.” The problems we experience come when we don’t rely on the reality of God’s presence. He was there all the time. In Psalm 46, the psalmist says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. This psalmist has a lock on the reality of the presence of God. Is it really necessary for us to constantly be saying, “O God, lead me and guide me?” If our lives were based on the reality of his presence, we would not need to ask for such guidance, because we would be walking always before him. We are bad at waiting; “They that wait…” those are the ones who mount up on wings of eagles.

Father, help me wait. I’m bad at waiting. I confess it. It’s true. I forget your presence. I need your Spirit to remind me constantly that you are here. You will never leave me or forsake me, you have promised. So when it seems like you aren’t here, it is because I have forgotten. You are teaching me to wait…I don’t need to ask for that…it’s already happening.

Father, I pray for the people affected by this tragic shooting in Colorado. The depravity of men is staggering when it works itself out in situations such as this. We cry and shout because we don’t understand. But ultimately it is the sinfulness of man that results in things like this. I’m not saying that anyone’s sin caused them to die in this shooting. What I am saying is that is sin that drove this young man to do such a senseless act. We are NOT okay, Lord. We need you. We need Jesus. Desperately. As always, there will be people who try to point at such an event and say that it’s proof that you don’t exist. I will never doubt your existence, Father. I will strive to point others to you. Strengthen me with your Spirit.

I pray for this day. I pray that those who survived this shooting will be comforted in the aftermath of it. Surely there were some present in that theater who know you. May they pray diligently today for the families of those injured or killed. May they pray for the comfort of those who will never understand why this happened. May we all pray for these people today.

I pray for this work day. I pray for a smooth day for me at my job, and for Christi as she works from home today. I pray that Stephanie will not be a distraction to her today. Give us enough grace for this day, Father, for your grace is sufficient.

I’m bad at waiting. Are you? But the result of waiting is the strength of eagles’ wings.

I leave you with this, today. “Let go, let go, come to life. Take a walk in the burning heart of God!”

Grace and peace, friends.