Category: Epiphany

What Is Truth?

Jeff

Today is Tuesday, the seventeenth day of February, 2026, in the sixth week of Epiphany. It is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

It is the 48th day of 2026, with 317 days left in the year.

Ash Wednesday is tomorrow.

Day 24,813 of my life.

Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. You know what to do.

I’ve written about it enough, I suppose, but today is the one-year anniversary of the day that I marked down as the official beginning of my transformation. It was a Monday night, last year, February 17, when God shook me to my foundations and began rebuilding, delivering, and tearing down walls, some of which I didn’t even know I had built. And He is still working. I think it no coincidence that Lent begins tomorrow, because February 18 was the morning I woke up and realized what God had begun the night before. I am absolutely stoked to see what He is going to do in the next 46 days. And the enemy has been working overtime this whole year, so far, to bring me down.

Daily writing prompt
Write about your approach to budgeting.
View all responses

Hahahahahahaha!!!! That’s funny. We don’t, really. Our approach to “budgeting” is that we don’t spend more than we make. The only thing I do that even remotely resembles budgeting is to sit down in November and figure out approximately how much my pledge to the church is going to be for the next year. So far, we have surpassed our pledge every year. (Not a boast . . . don’t misunderstand. I don’t talk about how much we give to the church or any charities. It’s just rather relevant to the topic at hand.) And the only debt that we have outstanding is what is left on our home mortgage, which will, if the Lord says so, too, be paid off in about thirteen months.

Today is a half-normal Tuesday. C continues to work from home (I’m not sure how long that will go on . . . she has her next follow-up next Thursday, the 26th, so we will see if she gets a release to go in to work), and I will be at the library from 4:15-8:15 tonight. C has physical therapy at 11:00 today.

JESUS TIME

In Holy Baptism, O triune God, You entered into my heart and made it Your temple and dwelling-place. Keep me always mindful of this high distinction. Whenever Satan seeks to seduce me to sin, to neglect Your Word and will, to dishonesty, selfishness, and envy, help me to resist him in Your strength, to beat back his attacks and obtain the victory. Father in heaven, let me never forget that I am Your child and that Satan’s only purpose is to separate me from You. O Savior, Jesus Christ, keep Your bitter suffering ever before me, so that I hate and abhor every sin, no matter how small it may seem. O Holy Spirit, who has regenerated me, keep me in this newness of life, and let not Satan lure me back into the way that leads to eternal damnation. Triune God, keep me constant in Your means of grace – the Word and Sacraments – that in the power of Your might I may be able to withstand in the evil day and, having done all, to stand. Hear me for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 8, Tuesday Morning) 

Gracious heavenly Father, I thank You for keeping me safe through the quiet hours of this past night. As a new day dawns, help me to see, through the eyes of faith, that the challenges that might be in front of me today are not greater than the power behind me. Help me to see that everyone I engage with today was created in Your image and thus worthy of respect. If someone has a need, help me to meet that need where I am able. Enable me to trust the promise that You have the power to work all things for my good. In the name of Jesus, Your dear Son, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Tuesday Morning) 

God our Father, teach us to cherish the gifts that surround us. Increase our faith in you and bring our trust to its promised fulfillment in the joy of your kingdom. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Tuesday Before Ash Wednesday, Opening Prayer) 

“Christ is my firm foundation 
The Rock on which I stand 
When everything around me is shaking 
I’ve never been more glad 
That I put my faith in Jesus 
‘Cause He’s never let me down 
He’s faithful through generations 
So why would He fail now? 
He won’t!” 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
(Romans 8:35, 37-39 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the last twelve months of transformation in Christ; may He continue working in me for the rest of my days! 
  2. That nothing at all, in all of creation, can separate me from His love! 
  3. That everyone I meet today (and every day) is created in His image and worthy of my respect 
  4. That by doing good to others, I am doing good to God 
  5. That by the grace of God, I am “of the truth” and I listen to the voice of the Way, the Truth, and the Life 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 25 

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.  
O my God, in you I trust;  
     let me not be put to shame;  
     let not my enemies exult over me.  
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;  
     they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.  
 
Make me to know your ways, O LORD;  
     teach me your paths.  
Lead me in your truth and teach me,  
     for you are the God of my salvation;  
     for you I wait all the day long.  
 
Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,  
     for they have been from of old.  
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;  
     according to your steadfast love remember me,  
     for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!  
 
Good and upright is the LORD;  
     therefore he instructs sinners in the way.  
He leads the humble in what is right,  
     and teaches the humble his way.  
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,  
     for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.  
For your name’s sake, O LORD,  
     pardon my guilt, for it is great.  
Who is the man who fears the LORD?  
     Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.  
His soul shall abide in well-being,  
     and his offspring shall inherit the land.  
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,  
     and he makes known to them his covenant.  
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,  
     for he will pluck my feet out of the net.  
 
Turn to me and be gracious to me,  
     for I am lonely and afflicted.  
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;  
     bring me out of my distresses.  
Consider my affliction and my trouble,  
     and forgive all my sins.  
 
Consider how many are my foes,  
     and with what violent hatred they hate me.  
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!  
     Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.  
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,  
     for I wait for you.  
 
Redeem Israel, O God,  
     out of all his troubles.  
(Psalms 25:1-22 ESV) 

From For All the Saints – Tuesday Before Ash Wednesday 

Who has ascended to heaven and come down?  
     Who has gathered the wind in his fists?  
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?  
     Who has established all the ends of the earth?  
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?  
     Surely you know!  
(Proverbs 30:4 ESV) 

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  
(Philippians 3:7-11 ESV) 

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.  
 
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”   
(John 18:28-38 ESV, emphasis mine) 

“It is very easy for us today, of course, to poke fun at the theologians of the Confessional Period . . . [but] those men of the Age of Orthodoxy excelled our age in at least one respect. They knew one thing which the modern man does not know, and does not care to know. They knew that, as individuals and as nations, we literally live by truth, and literally die by falsehood. Hence they never shared the cold skepticism and wearied resignation of modern relativism, which holds that there are only relative truths, no absolute truths, and that it consequently does not pay to wrestle for the truth. . . . Their quest after truth, their struggling for the truth, was conditioned, moreover, by the conviction that there is One who is the Truth in person, One who said, to the truth-seekers of all the ages, ‘Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice,’ One who promised His church on earth that His Holy Spirit would guide it into all truth. It is from this point of view that the mighty struggle of the Reformation and the battling of the rising confessional churches for the pure doctrine of divine truth, must be understood.” 
(Hermann Sasse, Here We Stand: The Nature and Character of the Lutheran Faith) 

So I am hit like a sledge-hammer, this morning, by that little sentence in verse 37 of the passage in John 8. “Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Consequently, the opposite is true. Those who are not listening to the voice of Jesus are not “of the truth.” They know not truth. And what is Pilate’s response? “What is truth?” Moral relativism, as it turns out, isn’t so “modern.”  

Today, people ask “what is truth?” Many people have decided, as Herman Sasse wrote (I’m not sure when, but it had to have been before 1976, because that’s when he died), that there is no absolute truth. Of course, that statement, in itself, is “absolute truth,” so it’s meaningless. But there is truth, and those of us who are “of the truth” listen to the Voice of that truth. And that Truth is Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is also the Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us.  

At His transfiguration, which we celebrated two days ago, a voice came out of the heavens that commanded us to “listen to Him.” That is only one of the reasons that I am so enjoying the current sermon series at my church, “The Red Letters,” as we examine the words of Christ as recorded in Scripture. If we are of the truth, we will listen to Him, and we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. 

Almighty and Most Merciful God, who hast given Thy Word to be the revelation of Thy great love to man, and of Thy power and will to save him: Grant that our study of it may not be made in vain by the hardness or carelessness of our hearts, but that by it we may be confirmed in penitence, lifted to hope, made strong for service, and above all filled with the true knowledge of Thee and of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Tuesday Before Ash Wednesday, Closing Prayer, George A. Smith) 

My Jesus, I praise You for the last twelve months! I have not stopped thanking and praising You for this, and don’t plan to. My gratitude cannot be adequately expressed. My life is Yours, my Lord, to do with as You please. I thank You, also, that I have not fallen prey to my enemy’s wiles, during the first couple of months of this year. If I were not in Your grasp, Lord, I know that I would have faltered and failed, I might have given up and become discouraged and disillusioned. But You have held me fast through these trials. I thank You for this. The people of Israel looked at the enemies they would face in Canaan, and hesitated. They put their eyes on their circumstances instead of You and turned back, longing to go back into captivity and slavery! I have no such longing, my Lord! I do not want to go back. Ever. So I face my “enemies,” and press on, with You by my side (You and all the saints)! Thank You, Jesus!

I thank You for Truth! I thank You that You are the Truth and that Your Word is Truth. O, how I love Your Word, my Lord! But that little sentence You said in front of Pilate . . . how have I never noticed that before?? But You made me see it today! You opened my eyes to that Word, this morning, and I embrace it. You have made me to be “of the truth,” and I do listen to Your voice, Jesus! Were it not for Your Spirit, and Your claim on my life, I would not have heard You. But You own me; You purchased me; I am part of Your treasure, the “pearl of great price” for which You sacrificed everything. Thank You, my Jesus! Thank You!

And now, we move into another season of Lent, Lord, and I am beyond excited to see what You will do next. I am not focusing on that, though. Rather, I will simply focus on the next thing that there is to do, just like You had Elijah do on that cliffside that day, when He was simply told to “arise and eat.” You have work for me to do, and I will joyfully do it. Whatever the next thing is, that which is seemingly ordinary (Brother Lawrence washed the dishes), I will do it. And I will worship You in that thing, Lord, as I serve You and my neighbor. For I know and believe Your Word when it tells me that when I do good to my neighbor, I am doing good to You.

It is in Your precious, holy, and most beautiful name that I pray, Amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

The King of Glory Wants Us to Stop Complaining!

Jeff

Today is Monday, the sixteenth day of February in the sixth (last and partial) week of Epiphany. It is the Monday before Ash Wednesday.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

It is the 47th day of 2026, with 318 days left in the year.

Two more days until Ash Wednesday!

And tomorrow is a one year anniversary for me, the beginning of Christ’s miraculous transformation of my life!

It is day 24,812 of my life.

It is Daisy Gatson Bates Day, as well as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. Look ’em up. It is also National Do A Grouch A Favor Day. If you’re the grouch, hang tight, someone will be right there.

Daily writing prompt
Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?
View all responses

I will begin my answer to this question by saying that my true citizenship is in heaven and I owe no allegiance to any country or government. I seek no lasting city here, as proclaimed by Scripture. That being said, I do enjoy the privileges and freedoms that I have as a result of living in the country where I live (the United States of America, mistakenly referred to as simply “America” by many people). But keep in mind that I did not ask to live here. I did not move here by choice. I was born here. I don’t like many things here, but I will not complain about those in this forum, because that’s not what this blog is about.

Am I “patriotic?” That’s almost a loaded question, these days. There are a lot of people declaring themselves “patriots” that are doing their dead-level best to completely dismantle our Constitution and democracy, itself. The definition of patriotism is pretty simple. It is “love for or devotion to one’s country.” So, yeah . . . I suppose I’m a patriot. But my love and devotion for Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven supersede my love for any country, flag, or government. In fact, I have no love for any flag. A flag is nothing more than a colorful rag.

Today is an off work Monday for me. C is working from home, but hasn’t been feeling well for a few days. I’m going to pick up groceries in a little while, and really have no other firm plans for the day. There are quite a few things that need to get done, this week, though, and a number of appointments to keep. Somehow, it will all work out.

Today’s header photo was taken by my pastor/friend/sister on her recent Disney cruise! 💜

JESUS TIME

Lord, in this morning hour I come boldly to Your throne of grace in full assurance that there I shall obtain mercy and find grace and help in time of trouble. I need Your help and Your grace as I again return to the routine of my vocation and schedule. Grant me true faithfulness in the performance of my calling. Guard me against becoming selfish, careless, and lazy in carrying out my daily work, so that all I do has not only the appearance of being pleasing among men, but is also true service to my neighbor, that I may be a servant of Christ, doing the will of God. 
Grant to all who are out of work useful employment. Feed us all with food necessary for our lives, and teach us to receive it with thanksgiving. Grant us the godliness and contentment without which there can be no true happiness, and let us so walk through the things temporal that we may not lose the things eternal; for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 6, Monday Morning) 

Lord Jesus Christ, today I begin another week of service to You and to my neighbor. Give me the motivation and energy I need to fulfill my vocations, occupations, and responsibilities. Watch over my coming in and my going out, that I may always remember that You are with me. Help, guide, and teach me to follow Your example, that I may take pleasure in the work of my hands. Help me resist temptations to sin. “Thus, Lord Jesus, ev’ry task be to You commended; may Your will be done, I ask, until life is ended. Jesus, in Your name begun be the day’s endeavor; grant that it may well be done to Your praise forever” (LSB 869:5). 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Monday Morning) 

Father, your love never fails. Hear our call. Keep us from danger and provide for all our needs. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Monday Before Ash Wednesday, Opening Prayer) 

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  
(1 John 3:11 ESV) 
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.  
(2 John 1:6 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For this message of love; may I be faithful to walk in it as He has commanded 
  2. For His constant presence in my life, the center of my life, that holds me together when my enemy tries to break me down 
  3. That His heart will never stop coming after me 
  4. For the gentle and awful power of God in Christ (it must be both in order to be effective);  
  5. For the admonition in Philippians 2, for us to not do anything out of selfish ambition or conceit, but rather to be humble in all things, following the example of Christ our Savior; may we also stop our complaining and grumbling 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 24 

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,  
     the world and those who dwell therein,  
for he has founded it upon the seas  
     and established it upon the rivers.  
 
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?  
     And who shall stand in his holy place?  
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,  
     who does not lift up his soul to what is false  
     and does not swear deceitfully.  
He will receive blessing from the LORD  
     and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  
Such is the generation of those who seek him,  
     who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah.  
 
Lift up your heads, O gates!  
     And be lifted up, O ancient doors,  
     that the King of glory may come in.  
Who is this King of glory?  
     The LORD, strong and mighty,  
     the LORD, mighty in battle!  
Lift up your heads, O gates!  
     And lift them up, O ancient doors,  
     that the King of glory may come in.  
Who is this King of glory?  
     The LORD of hosts,  
     he is the King of glory! Selah.  
(Psalms 24:1-10 ESV) 

From For All the Saints – Monday Before Ash Wednesday 

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  
 
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.  
(Philippians 2:1-13 ESV) 

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. . . .  
 
 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. 
(John 18:15-18, 25-27 ESV) 

“God’s kind of justice is not blindfolded. It sees with the longing, steady eyes of Jesus; and they mean to win, with God’s unbroken promise in them: the God whose awful power had to be gentle, or it would never have been great; and had to be awful, or for all his gentleness he would never have been of any use. A pity like that on Calvary did not break into human life to wander about helpless and witless, wasting its breath, unable to do anything. It broke in to probe and cut away, and so set at naught every costly fear men have – all the galling slavery of little souls, the odds that pile up, the things people out to do and cannot – to make nothing of it, cancel it, set God in its stead. The majesty which is back of God’s compassion is what makes the compassion matter.” 
(Paul Scherer, Love Is A Spendthrift) 

From Everyday Gospel, by Paul David Tripp

The reading was Numbers 11-13.

“Complaining is always dangerous because it causes us to be willing to question the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.” 

We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.  
(1 Corinthians 10:9-10 ESV) 

“Complaining is the default language of fallen humanity.” As the Children of Israel traveled through the land, they were nomadic, so they didn’t have the time or means to plant crops and harvest food. So God “caused edible material to appear every morning like dew on the ground. This is both a visible demonstration of God’s commitment to unleash his almighty power to provide for his people and a visual prophecy of his ultimate provision from above, Jesus. Jesus is the bread of life, the manna come down from heaven.” 

But the people began complaining. They wanted meat. They started looking back at their time in Egypt as some kind of “great Middle Eastern deli,” rather than a time and place of horrible slavery. “You can’t complain about God’s provision without questioning his wisdom, goodness, faithfulness, and love. If you question his goodness, then you will stop relying on him for help; you don’t trust someone you don’t thing is good.” Eventually, one even begins to see bad things as good. 

One of the FAtS Scriptures for today was Philippians 2:1-13. If you keep reading into verse 14, you get this: 

Do all things without grumbling or disputing,  
(Philippians 2:14 ESV) 

This is something that I have been working on for a while, now, and most especially in the last twelve months. I can’t say I’m doing real great about it, but maybe I’ve gotten better. You see, Tripp is right; it is our default language. More and more, in our present cultural setting, we believe it is our “right” to have everything exactly the way we want it, with no concern whatsoever for how someone else might want it. So we complain and grumble.  

And I keep saying this . . . it must be exhausting to be so angry about everything all the time. May God have mercy on us. 

O Lord our God, who dwellest in light unapproachable, and by Thy great mercy hast led us through this day, graciously accept our prayers, save us from the darkness of sin, and enlighten our minds; that, abiding in Thy fear and walking in Thy light, we may know Thy glory and praise Thee for all things, Thou who art the only true and gracious God; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Monday Before Ash Wednesday, Closing Prayer, Janns Lilje) 

My Jesus, there is so much on my heart and mind, this morning, and our enemy is hammering away, trying to break me down. I think he senses that something even more great is coming, in the next few weeks, and I certainly hope he is right. I’m looking forward to this Lenten season, even more than I was last year, if that’s even possible. All of my hope and trust is in You, Lord, and I believe that, as this anniversary comes, You have something even more wonderful and marvelous in store for me. Especially considering how “bad” this year has started out for us. But You see, Lord, that I put “bad” in quotation marks, because I know and am confident that You are working out everything for our good, because we love You and we are called according to Your purposes. Therefore, I will not fall for my enemy’s tactics.

I thank You for Your gentle and awful power, my Lord. You are both gentle and demanding of us, and rightfully so, because You own us. I am utterly and completely Yours, Jesus, and when I step outside of that boundary, You have every right to not-so-gently nudge me back. And I praise You that You will not allow me to stay outside of Your will for very long. You are the King of Glory, and the gates of my heart and life are wide open for You!

I also praise You that I am a citizen of Your Kingdom. And I praise You that You are the one who gave up everything in order to purchase us, Your treasure and pearl of great price. I am grateful, Lord, that I was born where I was born, and that I was born into a family of people who loved You and worshiped You, so that I was raised to do the same. And I am so, so very grateful that You led me down a path that resulted in me being in the church family that I am in today, with the wonderful pastors and friends and brothers and sisters that I have there. The amount of growth that I have experienced in the last few years is so incredible!

Lastly, Lord, help me to not be a complainer. I confess that I still slip up, sometimes, and allow myself to fall into an attitude of ungratefulness and complain and grumble. But Your Spirit corrects me quickly, these days, and I am very grateful for that. I pray for the entirety of Your Church, Lord Jesus, that You would cause us to be satisfied in You, and to not allow our vision to be clouded by worldly problems, which are all doomed for failure, anyway. May we not put our trust in men and world systems, but trust and hope only in You, our King, our Savior, our Lord, and our Deliverer!

All glory and power to You, the King of Glory, as I pray in Your beautiful and holy name, Amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Transfiguration

Jeff1 Comment

Today is Sunday, the fifteenth day of February, 2026, in the sixth week of Epiphany. It is Transfiguration Sunday.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

It is the 46th day of 2026, with 319 days left in the year.

Ash Wednesday is in three days.

Day 24,811 of my life.

Today is World Whale Day.

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever unintentionally broken the law?
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I have, probably many times. But one the comes to mind is a time that I unintentionally ran a red light. I was traveling down the main thoroughfare in our area, probably heading to either the grocery store or an appointment of some kind (I think S was with me), and I was distracted by something. I looked up and the light in front of me was red, and I didn’t have time to stop. Fortunately, no one else had stopped in front of me, and no one was coming through the intersection.

It looks like I will be going solo to church, this morning, as S is not feeling well. And this blog will likely not be finished until after I get home and we have lunch.

JESUS TIME

“Lord God, You are the Almighty One who fills all eternity and whose name is holy. Yet You have assured us that You dwell with each baptized believer in Christ. On this first day of the week, I pray that all who hear Your holy Word would experience the fulfillment of that promise. 
By Your holy Gospel enter my heart and make it Your own dwelling place. As Your holy Word is being preached and Your holy Sacraments given to me, let me receive Your grace with a believing heart, that being so strengthened I may be not only a hearer of Your Word, but also a doer of Your will to my neighbor. 
Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and give me the strength to put into practice what I have heard and confessed. Keep me a humble learner for as many days as You give me on earth, and then receive me into the heavenly home You have prepared for me; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Redeemer. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 4, Sunday Morning) 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with me today. Remind me that I am Yours and that You have saved me through the precious blood of Jesus. I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me. Help me hear You speaking to me through my pastor’s mouth today. Thank You for feeding me Your very body and blood through the bread and wine of Your Supper. Strengthen me through Your Word and Sacrament. Help me stay connected to You, the true vine, by connecting with Your Body, the church. May I never neglect meeting together with Your church, that we can encourage and love one another (Hebrews 10:25). Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Sunday Morning) 

“O God, who on the holy mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thy well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, The Transfiguration of Our Lord, Opening Prayer) 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  
(Philippians 4:8 ESV) 
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  
(John 17:17 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the opportunity to gather with the saints and worship the Lord, being fed by Word and Sacrament; may we see the King in all His beauty 
  2. For this day of celebration of the Transfiguration of Our Lord; may we see the King in all His beauty; “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mark 9:7) 
  3. For all that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise; may I think only on those things, all embodied in Christ my King 
  4. For the Truth; Your Word is Truth, Your Word is Life 
  5. That You, my Jesus, are a friend to sinners, of which I am one of the worst 
  6. That You have made my life a life of gratitude, surprising me constantly with “new manifestations of life” (Henri Nouwen) 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 23 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  
     He makes me lie down in green pastures.  
He leads me beside still waters.  
     He restores my soul.  
He leads me in paths of righteousness  
     for his name’s sake.  
 
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,  
     I will fear no evil,  
for you are with me;  
     your rod and your staff,  
     they comfort me.  
 
You prepare a table before me  
     in the presence of my enemies;  
you anoint my head with oil;  
     my cup overflows.  
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me  
     all the days of my life,  
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  
(Psalms 23:1-6 ESV) 

“No trouble now to sit 
Down with my enemy. He too must chew. 
We dip our bread in oil. 
Wine splashes over the cup’s lip. 
Good within surrounds me, certain life 
Is all I ever know.” 
(Excerpt from Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 23, SOLO) 

From For All the Saints – The Transfiguration of Our Lord 

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.  
 
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  
(2 Corinthians 3:7-18 ESV) 

Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”  
 
And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”  
 
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”  
(Luke 9:18-27 ESV) 

“How good, Lord, to be here! 
Your glory fills the night; 
Your face and garments, like the sun, 
Shine with unborrowed light. 
 
How good, Lord, to be here! 
Your beauty to behold 
Where Moses and Elijah stand, 
Your messengers of old. 
 
Fulfiller of the past 
And hope of things to be, 
We hail your body glorified 
And our redemption see. 
 
Before we taste of death, 
We see your kingdom come; 
We long to hold the vision bright 
And make this hill our home. 
 
How good, Lord, to be here! 
Yet we may not remain; 
But since you bid us leave the mound, 
Come with us to the plain.” 
(Joseph A. Robinson, A Hymn, “How Good, Lord, to Be Here!”) 

What a beautiful hymn, written in honor of Christ’s Transfiguration! And what a glorious morning of worship we had, this morning! Today is the fourth anniversary of my first visit to Living Word Lutheran Church, a day that changed my life forever and started me on this journey of transformation that is still going on. Of course, I still count February 17, 2025 as the true beginning of this transformation, because that is the date on which Christ truly shook me to my foundations. But the spark was lit on March 6, 2022, which as I do some investigating, may not have actually been Transfiguration Sunday. According to an Internet search, that was actually on February 27, 2022. But my visit was on March 6.

Anyway, Jesus shook me up a little more, this morning, as our lead pastor preached on a couple of parables from Matthew, this morning, Matthew 13:44-46.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
(Matthew 13:44-46 ESV)

In this sermon, he explained that the “man” in the first one, and the “merchant” in the second one are actually Christ. I have gone my whole life thinking that they were us, that we were selling everything that we had in order to obtain Christ, the pearl of great price. But Christ is the one who gave all in order to purchase US, to redeem US, and WE are the “treasure,” the “pearl of great value.” And this makes perfect sense, because I cannot buy my salvation! I cannot buy Jesus! He, rather, has bought me!

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

“Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow any private deflections from God in my life, everyone about me suffers. . . . When once you allow physical selfishness, mental slovenliness, moral obtuseness, spiritual density, everyone belonging to your crowd will suffer.” How can I even be enough for this?? But my sufficiency is in Christ, and Christ alone. In Him alone am I up to the task before me! 

“How many of us are willing to spend every ounce of nervous energy, mental, moral and spiritual energy we have for Jesus Christ?” But then, Chambers offers up this jewel. “It takes time, be patient with yourself.” Yes! I can be so impatient with myself, because I want to be perfect, and I want it NOW! Why does God keep me around? Is it just to be “saved and sanctified? No, to be at it for Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? To be spoilt for this age, for this life, to be spoilt from every standpoint but one – saving as I can disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ.” That is my “thank You” to God for His “unspeakable salvation.” And I constantly remember that I am but a step away from a life of sin and degradation, one act away from falling into the pits of despair.  

But Christ is my salvation; He is strength and my song, and He will not fail me. He is my firm foundation, the rock on which I stand.

 Hallelujah! 

“O God, in the glorious transfiguration of your only-begotten Son you once confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the ancient fathers, and in the voice that came from the bright cloud you wondrously foreshadowed our adoption by grace. Therefore mercifully make us co-heirs with our King of his glory, and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, The Transfiguration of Our Lord, Closing Prayer) 

My Jesus, I praise You and thank You for giving all in order to purchase us, to redeem us from our sin and grant eternal life to us! I praise You for my baptism, in which I was brought into fellowship with You and all the saints, and my salvation was secured for all eternity. I thank You for the Sacrament, the Holy Communion, which sustains me by Your Body and Blood Sunday after Sunday. I praise You for the words of forgiveness that I hear every Sunday morning, as my pastor tells me that my sins are forgiven! Amen, and hallelujah, my Jesus!

Lord Jesus, I thank You that in the transfiguration, Your glory shined. May I be faithful to listen to You, as that voice commanded, as Your disciples looked on in fear and wonder. And even as Your glory appeared to be diminished as You suffered on the Cross, I praise You that, in Your Resurrection, Your glory was secured. And I praise You that in our baptism, we receive the promise of living in the presence of Your glory eternally! Thank You, my Jesus! Thank You! I cannot thank You enough, my Savior!

In Your glorious, precious, holy, and most beautiful name! Amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

On Death and Darkness

Jeff

Today is Saturday, the fourteenth day of February, 2026, in the fifth week of Epiphany.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

It is day 45 of 2026, with 320 days left in the year.

Four more days until Ash Wednesday!

Day 24,810 of my life.

As predicted, today is Valentine’s Day! I guess it’s cool that it fell on Saturday, so many people might have the day off to share with their valentine. It would be lovely to have a whole day to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

But it is also International Book-Giving Day! That’s amazing! As you know, I’m all about celebrating anything to do with books. And I will be “giving” books to people all day, today at the library. I mean, they do have to eventually bring them back.

Daily writing prompt
If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?
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Funny question. I mean, it would be so easy to get pompous and self-centered, here. I thought about titles like How to Waste A Life, or Scattered: A Life of Misdirection. But here’s what I would seriously hope for. Transformed: Life Because Jesus. I just thought of another one. Imperfect, but Chosen Anyway: A Life Transformed by Christ.

Today is a work Saturday for me. I’ll be at the library from 9:30 – 6:15, today, working in the circulation department. We will give a library card to anyone who lives in the state of Texas, as long as you can prove your address. So stop by and get one, if you’re around.

JESUS TIME

“Our Father who art in heaven, deliver us from evil. O dear Lord, God and Father, Your Son defeated sin, death, and the devil so that I may enjoy the fruits of His labor. You are faithful to me as You keep me in Your grace. Grant me faithfulness in this life, especially when I experience the attacks of the devil through misery and misfortune, uncertainty and evil. Should I grow weary of life and long for death, give me strength and confidence in my dear Savior’s victory over sin, death, and the devil. And, when my last hour comes, mercifully grant me a blessed departure from this valley of sorrow. Grant that in the face of death I do not lose heart or fear it, but, with certain trust and hope in You, remain confident that You will take my soul into Your hands; for the sake of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 58, Saturday Morning) 

“All praise to Thee, who safe hast kept and hast refreshed me while I slept; grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake” (LSB 868:3). Loving heavenly Father, gracious Lord God, my strength and my solace, I begin my day with prayer, asking You to guide and direct me, cheer my spirit, and deepen my love for You, who loves me as a father loves his child. I love You because You sent Jesus to redeem me. For this I give You my heartfelt thanks, praise, and adoration. I rely on You; I depend on You; I trust You. Having You at my side, I am confident and content. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Saturday Morning) 

“O God, who art eternally both merciful and just, be thou our God: and that not in our way but in Thine. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.” 
(Opening Prayer) 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  
(John 13:34-35 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. That God knew me and chose me long before I was born, even knowing that I would fail and be imperfect; He chose me because He loved me 
  2. For the transformation that He has worked in me, over the past year 
  3. For the “new commandment” that Christ gave us; may we do better at obeying it 
  4. That death for the Christ-follower, while it may look the same, is different, as it is the beginning of our true life 
  5. For the Word of God that comes to me in times of darkness; may I be faithful to be quiet and listen to it 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 22:19-31 

But you, O LORD, do not be far off!  
     O you my help, come quickly to my aid!  
Deliver my soul from the sword,  
     my precious life from the power of the dog!  
     Save me from the mouth of the lion!  
You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!  
 
I will tell of your name to my brothers;  
     in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:  
You who fear the LORD, praise him!  
     All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,  
     and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!  
For he has not despised or abhorred  
     the affliction of the afflicted,  
and he has not hidden his face from him,  
     but has heard, when he cried to him.  
 
From you comes my praise in the great congregation;  
     my vows I will perform before those who fear him.  
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;  
     those who seek him shall praise the LORD!  
     May your hearts live forever!  
 
All the ends of the earth shall remember  
      and turn to the LORD,  
and all the families of the nations  
     shall worship before you.  
For kingship belongs to the LORD,  
     and he rules over the nations.  
 
All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;  
     before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,  
     even the one who could not keep himself alive.  
Posterity shall serve him;  
     it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;  
they shall come and proclaim his  
          righteousness to a people yet unborn,  
     that he has done it.  
(Psalms 22:19-31 ESV) 

“If I have blown the horn of what I have imagined 
To be true, it came from you. And shuddered. 
Fear is praise to one who shows his face, 
Who hears his name called in an empty place, 
A name not known. Who but the meek 
Could eat and not want more? The fat sit down 
At groaning tables and remember to recall their souls. 
While every time a world ends, seeds 
Drop in the dust, then sprout, and someone 
Else is born to care for what’s beyond 
Bad dreams. I live. The unborn queue.” 
(Excerpt from Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 22, WANTING) 

From For All the Saints – Saturday of the Week of Epiphany 5 

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  
(Romans 14:1-4 ESV) 

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  
(Romans 14:7-8 ESV) 

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. . . .  
 
Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. . . .  
 
Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”   
(John 8:47, 51, 58 ESV) 

“We resemble them that die, nor is the outward appearance of our dying unlike that of others; but the thing itself is different, because for us death is dead. In like manner all our sufferings are like the sufferings of other men; but it is only in the appearance. In reality our sufferings are the beginning of our freedom from suffering, as our death is the beginning of our life. This is that which Christ saith in John viii, ‘If a man keep my saying he shall never see death.’ How shall he not see it? Because when he dies, he begins to live, and so he cannot see death for the life that he sees. For here the night shineth as the day; since the life that breaks upon his is brighter far than departing death. These things are assured to all who believe in Christ, to the unbelieving they are not.” 
(Martin Luther, Fourteen Consolations) 

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.  
(Matthew 10:27 ESV) 

Regarding times of darkness, Oswald Chambers advises us to be quiet during them. “Watch where God puts you into darkness, and when you are there keep your mouth shut. . . . If you open your mouth in the dark, you will talk in the wrong mood: darkness is the time to listen. Don’t talk to other people about it; don’t read books to find out the reason of the darkness, but listen and heed. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.” 
 
And, he says, after the darkness comes both delight and humiliation. He opines that if all we feel is delight, we may not have heard God at all. But the humiliation should be in that it took us so long to hear God’s Word. “Now He gives you the gift of humiliation which brings the softness of heart that will always listen to God now.” 

“Eternal, Almighty God and Father, I return unto Thee most heartfelt thanks for having, during this past night and all former times, graciously kept me by Thy holy angels from all harm and danger of body and soul; and I pray Thee, from the inmost of my heart, to forgive me all my sins wherewith I have ever provoked Thee, and to quicken my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may daily grow and increase in Thy knowledge. Also grant me grace to guard myself on this day against sin and shame and to be found in accord with Thy divine will, in order so to walk that, guarded against all ill, I may always keep Thee in my heart and thoughts. And when the hour of my death draws nigh, and I am to depart, grant, I beseech Thee, that I may fall asleep unto eternal life, in the true knowledge of Thy dear son, Jesus Christ. Amen.” 
(Closing Prayer, Abridged Treasury of Prayers) 

Father, I thank You for our understanding about death that makes us not fear it. While there is always a sense of the unknown surrounding it, our faith in You makes it so that we can live life freely, without being fearful of death, knowing that death, while the last enemy to be defeated, is merely our doorway to Life. And I praise You for this Life, Lord, that we have received in Christ and through His Word, for the Word that He speaks to us is Life. I love Your Word, Lord, and look forward to my times of reading and meditation upon it, each day.

I also thank You for those times of darkness that You allow to come my way, for I know that they are times that are designed for my good and my growth. Help me to not rush headlong into seeking advice from others when those times do come. Help me to sit still and wait for You to speak to me. Quiet my mind and soul, that I might hear Your voice coming to me out of those times of darkness. The enemy will try to use those times to confuse me and break down my faith. But You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, will hold me fast.

I pray for ongoing transformation through Your Word in by Your Spirit, Lord. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Always in Jesus Time

Jeff

Today is Friday, the thirteenth day of February, in the fifth week of Epiphany.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

It is the 44th day of 2026, with 321 days remaining in the year.

Five days until Ash Wednesday. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. For the record, C and I don’t “observe” Valentine’s Day. We haven’t for years. And lest you think it’s me being an “old fogey,” it was most definitely a mutual decision.

Day 24,809 of my life.

It’s World Radio Day. I don’t listen to the radio much, these days. I don’t even have a subscription to Sirius/XM anymore. I pretty much stream my music playlists in the car. But I have a deep appreciation for radio and the impact it has had on my life, over the years. I still remember recording songs direct from FM radio to my monaural cassette player, back in the seventies. In fact, I still remember recording “Stairway to Heaven” the first time our local FM station played it one night. In honor of radio, I give you my favorite Rush song.

Daily writing prompt
What were your parents doing at your age?
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They were retired, and enjoying being grandparents. They had built an extra room onto the house I grew up in. My dad enjoyed reading and listening to his records, as well as categorizing and cataloging everything he owned. My mother enjoyed cross-stitching and reading. They were very active in their church for as long as they could be until my dad’s Inclusion Body Myositis disabled him.

Today is a mostly normal Friday. C is working from home and I will be at the library computer center from 9:15-6:15 (and will likely be there before this blog entry is completed, as is my custom . . . we will see). As previously mentioned, we have no plans for tomorrow. In fact, I am scheduled to work tomorrow. Maybe I will order Valentine’s Day cookies for the library staff.

JESUS TIME

“Our Father who art in heaven, lead us not into temptation. O dear Lord, Father and God, keep us prepared and alert, eager and diligent in Your Word and service, so that we do not become complacent and careless as though we had already achieved everything. We implore You by Your mercy not to let the devil sneak in and take away from us Your precious Word or stir up strife and factions among us, or otherwise lead us into spiritual and physical sin and disgrace. Grant us wisdom and strength through Your Spirit that we may bravely resist the devil and gain the victory. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 56, Friday Morning) 

Dear Lord, “Direct, control, suggest this day all I design or do or say that all my pow’rs with all their might in Thy sole glory may unite” (LSB 868:5). You have awakened me for another day of service and witnessing to Your greatness. Grant me opportunities to do so with a cheerful spirit. Give me patience and perseverance where needed. May my service encourage other Christians to witness and serve You. Keep far from me Satan and his temptation to sin. Watch over those whom I love. Guard them with Your holy angels and strengthen their faith and trust in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Friday Morning) 

“Cleans us, we beseech thee, O God, and deliver us from all other fears save that fear of thy name, which is the coming among us of thy holy love. In Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Friday of the Week of Epiphany 5, Opening Prayer) 

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  
(John 15:4 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. That, by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit, I am abiding in Christ 
  2. For strength against temptation, for there is no temptation that has come upon me that is not common to all; yet, with the temptations, there is always provided a way of escape, for He will not allow me to be tempted beyond my ability to resist 
  3. That my true citizenship is in heaven, and I seek no lasting city here (Philippians 3:20-21) 
  4. That, until the day that I reach Home, my Lord will never leave nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) 
  5. For the fruit of the Spirit; may I be faithful to allow it to grow and flourish within me 
  6. For the unconditional love of God; may I be faithful to make it visible to others 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.  
(Philippians 3:20-21 ESV) 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  
(Hebrews 13:5 ESV) 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV) 

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”  
(Luke 6:27-28 ESV) 

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 22:1-18 

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  
     Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,  
     and by night, but I find no rest.  
Yet you are holy,  
     enthroned on the praises of Israel.  
In you our fathers trusted;  
     they trusted, and you delivered them.  
To you they cried and were rescued;  
     in you they trusted and were not put to shame.  
 
But I am a worm and not a man,  
     scorned by mankind and despised by the people.  
All who see me mock me;  
     they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;  
“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;  
     let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”  
 
Yet you are he who took me from the womb;  
     you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.  
On you was I cast from my birth,  
     and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.  
Be not far from me,  
     for trouble is near,  
     and there is none to help.  
 
Many bulls encompass me;  
     strong bulls of Bashan surround me;  
they open wide their mouths at me,  
     like a ravening and roaring lion.  
 
I am poured out like water,  
     and all my bones are out of joint;  
my heart is like wax;  
     it is melted within my breast;  
my strength is dried up like a potsherd,  
     and my tongue sticks to my jaws;  
     you lay me in the dust of death.  
 
For dogs encompass me;  
     a company of evildoers encircles me;  
they have pierced my hands and feet—  
I can count all my bones—  
they stare and gloat over me;  
they divide my garments among them,  
     and for my clothing they cast lots.  
(Psalms 22:1-18 ESV) 

“But you delivered me into the world, 
Made hope the milk I drank, cradled me 
Between your elbow crook and wrist, 
Held up my head until I found my strength. 
Support me now, when troubles 
Ring me, paw like highland bulls, snort 
Steam and heave fat divots with their hooves. 
You must be near, must pick me up 
And give me strength to save my life from bitterness.” 
(Excerpt from Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 22, WANTING) 

From For All the Saints – Friday of the Week of Epiphany 5 

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. . . .  
 
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.  
(Romans 13:8-10, 13-14 ESV) 

“[Writing about his conversion] In that very moment, from the absolute bottom of my soul there came together like a knot in my heart all of my past struggles and present arguments, and it caused me to break into tears. So that I would not embarrass anyone and so I could let myself go completely, I left Alypius [one of his closest friends, later bishop of Thagaste]. He knew what was happening and let me go by myself. I found myself in a garden and collapsed there under a tree, sobbing like a baby and babbling about my worthlessness. . . . As I was carrying on, suddenly I heard from somewhere a voice – like a child’s – saying softly, over and over, ‘Pick it up and read it.’ My confused mind cast about, trying to remember if these were the words to some game that children play, but I couldn’t think of any. I got control of myself and stood up. I decided that this was a direct answer to me from God, directing me to take up His Holy Scripture and to read the first chapter that I opened to. . . . Quickly I raced back to where Alypius sat and sized the Epistles of Saint Paul which I had left there. Opening it, I read to myself the first words that came to my eyes [Romans 13:13]: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in concupiscence. I did not need to go on; as soon as I finished that one sentence perfect truth filled my heart; confusion and doubt were gone forever.” 
(Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Confessions, 8:12) 

What a beautiful account of Augustine’s conversion!

From My Utmost for His Highest 

“Speak, for your servant hears.” 
(1 Samuel 3:10) 

Do I only hear the voice of God during “Jesus Time?” Or am I devoted to hearing Him at all times. Just because I have heard Him say one thing to me, doesn’t necessarily mean that I will hear everything He says to me. 

If I am His “friend,” as Christ has said we are, then I should always be listening for His voice. Most of us are not good friends. I am guilty, even with my best friends, of not being a good listener. I honestly believe that is a skill that is rapidly fading in our culture. We are far too self-centered, even at our best times. I do love my friends, but do I do a good job of listening to them?  

I confess that I have had wonderfully deep conversations with my pastor friend, but then, by the time I get home, I am hard-pressed to remember what she said. Likewise, I find, with God. If I don’t keep a good record of what I hear from Him, I forget. Memory, as it seems, can be a blessing and a curse.  

“The destiny of my spiritual life is such identification with Jesus Christ that I always hear God, and I know that God always hears me (John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God, by the devotion of hearing all the time. A lily, or a tree, or a servant of God, may convey God’s message to me.” But if I am caught up in other things, I may not hear the message.  

My attitude should always be that of little Samuel, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” Now back to my initial question. Do I only hear the voice of God during “Jesus Time?” Well, the truth of the matter is that I should always be in “Jesus Time!” In fact, I am always in Jesus Time! This is a truth that my pastor pointed out to me months ago. Now, whether I recognize this, is another matter, entirely. But I am always in Jesus Time because Jesus is always with me.

Ironically, as I was going through my prayers, this morning, I prayed that God would help me to maintain childlike faith. And I had not yet read this devotional. 

Dear Father in heaven, first I am grateful for Augustine’s humble account of his own conversion. This is always inspiring to me, and I am grateful for the many writings of the fathers of our faith, which we have to look back at.

I am also grateful to be considered Your “friend,” as Christ called us, His disciples and followers. But as a friend, I confess that I have constantly failed in being attuned to Your voice at all times. The flesh prevails far too often, and, as I frequently say, there is still too much Jeff in here. I must decrease as Christ increases in my life. Please continue to mold and transform me by Your beautiful, holy Word, each day, Lord! And please keep making me more and more like a child in my faith, so that I have more and more confidence that You hear me, while I listen to You. Only let me be better at listening to You all the time, for I truly am always in Jesus Time!

I thank You so much, Lord, for everything You have done in me and for me. As I look forward to the coming Lenten season, I pray for true abiding in You, day in and day out. And, by abiding in Christ, I pray that my life would be a mirror of Christ, reflecting Him outwardly toward everyone who encounters me. May be filled with humility, Lord, as well as the ongoing fruit of the Spirit.

In holy, precious, and beautiful name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

A Heap of Burning Coals

Jeff3 Comments

Today is Thursday, the twelfth day of February, 2026, in the fifth week of Epiphany.

May the peace of Christ surround you, today, and drive away all of your anxieties and fears.

It is the 43rd day of 2026, with 322 days remaining in the year.

Only six more days until Ash Wednesday. Two days until Valentine’s Day.

Day 24,808 of my life.

Today is Hug Day. Hugs are very important, especially to me. I’m a hugger. I won’t be getting around much today, so I’ll get some family hugs at home. My best friend hugs will have to wait until tomorrow and Sunday.

Daily writing prompt
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
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I’ve been thinking about this for a little while, this morning. This is a tough question, because it can easily spiral into political debate, and I’m not really interested in that. And I don’t know if it is one single law that I think needs to be changed or a whole set of laws surrounding a particular industry. But it is my strong opinion that health care should never have been allowed to be a for-profit industry. That is a huge reason that we are in the seemingly un-fixable mess we are in with health care in our country. So, whether that is one law or many, that is what I would change. I would throw prisons into the mix, as well, another industry that should never have been made for-profit.

Today is not quite a normal Thursday, yet. I am off work, as usual, but C continues to work from home. She has a PT session at 11:00, which I will be taking her to, and S gets her weekly injection today. That’s the only time I plan to leave the house. I have a couple of things that I would like to get done, but we’ll see how that goes. Sadly, I never took my guitar down to play it, yesterday. Time got away from me. I do plan to do that today, though.

JESUS TIME

“Our Father who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. O dear Lord, God and Father, do not enter into judgment against us, for in Your sight no one who lives is justified before You. Do not count it against us as sin that we are so unthankful for all your indescribable spiritual and physical blessings. Do not judge us on account of our daily sin. We stumble and sin many more times than we even know or recognize. ‘For He who avenges blood is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted’ (Psalm 9:12). 
 
Look away from our accomplishments as well as our wickedness; in Your boundless compassion look instead upon Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Forgive also those who are our enemies or who have wronged us, just as we forgive them from our heart. By their actions against us, they around Your anger and hurt themselves, yet we are not helped by their ruin and would much rather that they be saved with us. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 54, Thursday Morning) 

Omnipotent, heavenly Father, as I awake to a new dawn, I entrust my life to Your care and favor. I thank You for another day to serve You. The apostle Paul exhorts, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5); may my thoughts be fixed on You. As my body is Your temple, enable me to remember that my physical life is not my own, but is Yours. As my soul can find satisfaction only with faith in Christ, help me to bring honor and glory to Him in both word and deed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Thursday Morning) 

“God, our Father, we thank thee for the revelation of thyself to us, thou who at sundry times and in diverse manners didst speak unto the fathers by the prophets, but in these days hast spoken to us by thy Son. Show us thy glory, whose face we may not see save in him whom thou didst send; and in him deliver us, not just from peril, not just from pain, but out of the bondage of our narrow, selfish ways into the freedom of thy love – for his name’s sake. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Thursday of the Week of Epiphany 5, Opening Prayer) 

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,  
     nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,  
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,  
     in those who hope in his steadfast love.  
(Psalms 147:10-11 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For laughter; Jesus is my joy everlasting; His steadfast love never ends 
  2. For the “holy contagiousness” that I see in the lives of some others; may I be a source of that, as well 
  3. That the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, who hope in His steadfast love 
  4. For God’s grace in Jesus Christ, the only way in which I am able to stand in His Holy presence 
  5. That God has spoken to us, by His Son, and through His Word, both living and written 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 21 

O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices,  
     and in your salvation how greatly he exults!  
You have given him his heart’s desire  
     and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.  
For you meet him with rich blessings;  
     you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.  
He asked life of you; you gave it to him,  
     length of days forever and ever.  
His glory is great through your salvation;  
     splendor and majesty you bestow on him.  
For you make him most blessed forever;  
     you make him glad with the joy of your presence.  
For the king trusts in the LORD,  
     and through the steadfast love of the Most  
          High he shall not be moved.  
 
Your hand will find out all your enemies;  
     your right hand will find out those who hate you.  
You will make them as a blazing oven  
     when you appear.  
The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath,  
     and fire will consume them.  
You will destroy their descendants from the earth,  
     and their offspring from among the children of man.  
Though they plan evil against you,  
     though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.  
For you will put them to flight;  
     you will aim at their faces with your bows.  
 
Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength!  
     We will sing and praise your power.  
(Psalms 21:1-13 ESV) 

From For All the Saints – Thursday of the Week of Epiphany 5 

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  
 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  
(Romans 12:9-21 ESV) 

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.  
 
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  
(John 8:21-32 ESV) 

The reading, this morning, from Henry Ward Beecher, relates a story in which a man, whose wife and daughter had been “awakened” during a revival, heaped insult after insult upon him and demanded that he never darken the doors of his home again. Beecher honored that demand, but always spoke kindly of the man and to him, whenever he met him on the street. When the man ran for sheriff, Beecher actually campaigned for him. After he won the election, the man came to Beecher, “awkward and stumbling, and undertook to ‘make up.'” He told Beecher he would be very glad to have him call on him at his house. “And from that time forth I never had a faster friend in the world than he was.” Had Beecher heaped upon the man the same kind of treatment that he received from the man, he would have maintained an enemy. But kindness “killed him,” and Beecher “won his confidence.” 

This is a great illustration of the end of that passage from Romans, on overcoming evil with goodness, and heaping “burning coals” on their heads.

And I do believe that this feeds into the end of the passage from John, for in knowing this truth, we are free . . . free from the enslavement of vengeance for evil, because it is not ours to exact any vengeance. We do not return hatred for hatred or evil for evil. We are commanded (this is not negotiable, folks) to return good for evil and love for hatred. THIS is how we identify ourselves as people of God.

“O Thou who art good and doest good, who extendest Thy loving-kindness to all mankind, the work of Thine hands, Thine image, capable of knowing and loving Thee eternally, suffer me to exclude none, O Lord, from my charity, who are the objects of Thy mercy, but let me treat all my neighbours with that tender care which is due to Thy servants and to Thy children. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Thursday of the Week of Epiphany 5, Closing Prayer, John Wesley) 

Indeed, O Jesus, give me more love . . . for if I love only those who love me, what good is it? If I love only those who agree with my politics and philosophies (even my “religion”) what good am I? If I speak with the tongues of angels and give away everything I own to the poor, but I have not love, what good am I?? Give me love, Jesus. You have poured and poured into me. But I leak, Lord. Fill me up and patch me up with love, that I might overflow, rather than leak. I want to be love, Lord. You are love and I want to be like You; I want to be love. My heart’s desire is to have not even an inkling of hate in me. I don’t even want to know the word; I want it to be erased from my vocabulary.

You love me, Jesus! I love You, Jesus! Help me to love my brothers and sisters and neighbors and enemies the way You love me. That’s what I want You to do for me.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

Because Jesus!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

I Am At Peace

Jeff

Today is Wednesday, the eleventh day of February, 2026, in the fifth week of Epiphany.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

It is the 42nd day of 2026, with 323 days remaining in the year. (It should be Hitchhiker’s Day; or Douglas Adams Day – IYKYK)

It is one week until Ash Wednesday!!

Day 24,807 of my life.

It’s National Get Out Your Guitar Day! Mine stay “out” because they hang on the wall. But I will get one down today and play a bit.

Daily writing prompt
Write about your dream home.
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My dream home . . . sure, I could regale you with visions of massive houses with separate rooms for libraries, music studios, video gaming, and TV/Movie watching. But honestly, I don’t need anything that I don’t already have. In face, I don’t need a lot of what I do have! For example . . . Monday evening, upon arriving home from work, I opened the garage door to move the trash bins out to the curb for Tuesday’s trash pickup. I was greeted with a disaster scene.

You see, we are part of the twisted group of people that seems to think the garage is junk storage, not a place to park cars. Oh, sure, we would love to park our cars in there. We just can’t, because there’s too much junk in there. Why? I’m afraid I have no answer to that question.

Anyway . . . what I saw Monday night was quite disheartening. We have a couple of twin mattresses for adjustable beds. C and I used to have two of those pushed together to make a King-sized bed, but with both sides being adjustable separately. Pretty cool, right? But we got tired of the small gap in the middle and decided to get a single mattress and sync the two frames so that they adjust at the same time. But we didn’t get rid of the mattresses. They were standing on edge in the middle of the garage. With junk stacked on top of them and around them, with enough space to walk from front to back in the garage.

Monday night, I opened the garage to find that the mattresses had toppled over, dumping everything that was on top of them over, and things that were stacked on the other side also fell over. So basically, there is a huge pile of **** in the middle of our garage. C is recovering from hip-replacement surgery, and I am still not supposed to lift anything over ten pounds, or raise my left arm higher than my head, because of pacemaker surgery five weeks ago (six weeks, next Monday, and I am allegedly “free” to move as needed). So nothing will be done about that until at least next week.

Now . . . what was my point? Oh! Right! I was describing how I don’t need a lot of what I have. I have a garage full of stuff (ever notice how the British pronounce that GAR-aj? They also say “zeh-bruh” rather than “zee-bruh.” In fact, I think we’re the only country in the world that says “zee-bruh.”) that I don’t need! And I’m planning to get rid of a lot of it in 2026.

As for my dream home? I live in it. It’s perfect. Sure, it could be bigger. Sure, I could have a cover over my back deck, so it’s not in the sun until 4:00 PM every day. But is filled with what I need most, and that is love.

By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
(Proverbs 24:3-4 ESV)

Today hasn’t been normal. I had an eye appointment at 10:00 this morning, in which my eyes were dilated for my annual diabetic eye exam, so I still can’t see very well. I sported the traditional, stylish sunglasses on my way home from the clinic, and had to go to Sonic and Taco Casa (that’s what C wanted for lunch today) afterward. That was lots of fun. My eyes are gradually getting back to normal, and I should be fine to drive to choir practice in a few hours.

The good news is that the doctor said my eyes look perfect, with no damage from the diabetes.

JESUS TIME

“O almighty, merciful God, gracious Father in heaven, You once again have defended me this night through the protection of Your holy angels, so that I have lived to see yet another day refreshed and sound. For that, I give You thanks and praise. Let all my doings and my will match Yours, and of Your great mercy, forgive me the miserable sin that accompanies me. Govern with Your Holy Spirit all my efforts, heart, intellect, desires, and thoughts, all my words and works, that I might understand that which is good and that which is evil. May I also be able to live and find my way today in this evil and perverted world, so that, above all else, forgiven of my sins, I may carry a heartfelt longing for the eternal heavenly home that has been purchased and won for me by Christ, my Savior. May I not belittle, fritter away, and finally lose that with my sinful life. To that end, graciously help me with Your divine love and the power of the Holy Spirit; for the sake of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 38, Wednesday Morning) 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for new-morning mercies. Great indeed is Your faithfulness. You have watched over me during the hours of sleep and now awaken me to go forth into Your bright and beautiful world. Grant that no word of mine may darken the brightness of the sun and no deed of mine may cloud the glory of Your name. I pray for the homebound, the sick and the dying, the poor and the needy, and all whose lives are ravaged by war. And if I find myself among the despairing and despondent, enliven me with Your precious promises in the Gospel: sin forgiven, death defeated, and Your sustaining grace for every circumstance. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Wednesday Morning) 

“Keep us, O God, from presuming lightly to preach or lightly to hear thy word, so upholding us, and so opposing us, that in all our weakness thy strength may be made perfect. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Wednesday of the Week of Epiphany 5, Opening Prayer) 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the unconditional love of God, which enables me to not expect more from others than they can give, to generously forgive offense (and hopefully to not even be offended), and to always respond to hostility with love (Henri Nouwen) 
  2. For the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23); may it be ever growing in all of us 
  3. For our great High Priest, who has been tempted in every way that we have been, and remained without sin 
  4. That one day, He will wipe every tear from our eyes, and death, mourning, pain, and crying will be no more (Revelation 21:4) 
  5. That my imagination is held captive by Jesus Christ, and when my mind is fixed on Him, I am at peace 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 20 

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!  
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!  
May he send you help from the sanctuary  
     and give you support from Zion!  
May he remember all your offerings  
     and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah.  
 
May he grant you your heart’s desire  
     and fulfill all your plans!  
May we shout for joy over your salvation,  
     and in the name of our God set up our banners!  
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!  
 
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;  
     he will answer him from his holy heaven  
     with the saving might of his right hand.  
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,  
     but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.  
They collapse and fall,  
     but we rise and stand upright.  
 
O LORD, save the king!  
     May he answer us when we call.  
(Psalms 20:1-9 ESV) 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  
(Romans 12:3 ESV) 

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
(Philippians 2:14-16 ESV)

After this past Sunday’s fiasco of everybody fighting over the Stupid Bowl halftime show . . . I present these two very important Scriptures. It seems that many people have completely forgotten about them. I am quite fearful that we have reached a time in our culture where we will never again see a major cultural event that will not see groups from all sides fighting, whining, and complaining about something. Not only is it ridiculous and embarrassing, it is tragic. What has happened to us? We are so self-centered! We all seem to have this mindset that, “If I don’t like it, it shouldn’t be allowed to happen!” And if I ask “How have we come to this place?” I will get answers that all point fingers at the “other side.” And this comes from God’s people, too, who should know better.

Oh. And I did not watch the SB at all. Because I couldn’t care less about football. I’m a baseball fan, and it’s baseball season, now. The World Series doesn’t have halftime shows. Thank goodness. We just fight over how the National Anthem should be sung. LOL!!

The following is from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  
(Isaiah 26:3 ESV) 

In the reading, Chambers substitutes “imagination” in place of “mind,” and this reading carries on from yesterday’s.  

“The starvation of the imagination is one of the most fruitful sources of exhaustion and sapping in a worker’s life.” It is imperative that I use my imagination to put myself before God, daily. “Imagination is the greatest gift God has give us and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him.” This is how we work to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  “Learn to associate ideas worthy of God with all that happens in Nature – the sunrises and the sunsets, the sun and the stars, the changing seasons, and your imagination will never be at the mercy of your impulses, but will always be at the service of God.”  

I can testify that, for the last year, my imagination has been almost entirely captivated by Christ. More of my thought are toward Him than toward any other single thing. I look at beauty in nature and see God, just as Chambers describes, here. I love being near the ocean, because I recognize His majesty in it and around it. I have been drawn more toward spiritual reading than fictional reading. Even the music I have listened to has drastically changed, through the last year. I rarely listen to anything but devotional/worship music anymore. My imagination belongs to Christ. And, because of this, I am more at peace than not at peace.  

Worry not, I still experience plenty of “not-peace” in my life. I am far from arrival to a place where I experience only peace. But the difference between now and before last February is stark. But as long as my mind/imagination is fixed on Christ, I am at peace.  

“Accept, O Lord God, our Father, the sacrifices of our thanksgiving; this, of praise, for your great mercies already afforded to us; and this, of prayer, for the continuance and enlargement of them; this, of penitence, for such only recompense as our sinful nature can endeavor, and this, of the love of our hearts, as the only gift you ask or desire, and all these, through the all-holy and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Wednesday of the Week of Epiphany 5, Closing Prayer, John Donne) 

I thank You, Jesus, that You have truly captured my imagination since last February. You have worked within me, over the past year, to gradually shift my mind from things of this world to things of heaven. I look back and consider the things that You have delivered me from, and the walls that have been torn down, and I marvel, I celebrate, and I worship. I am filled to overflowing with gratitude, as I render “praise upon praise for the grace upon grace I’ve received” (thanks, Sarah Kroger).

You are beautiful beyond description, my Jesus, and I truly do stand in awe of You. Thank You for rescuing me; thank You for saving my life; thank You for giving me chance after chance after chance, for all these years, before You finally took my life and made it completely Yours! I could ask why You waited so long, but I honestly don’t need an answer to that question. Because You did it. And that’s all that matters, in the long run. Thank You, my Jesus! You are everything, and I am nothing! I am Yours to do with as You will, and I pray that You do.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Broken Bread and Poured-Out Wine

Jeff6 Comments

Today is Tuesday, the tenth day of February, 2026, in the fifth week of Epiphany.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

It is day 41 of 2026, with 324 days remaining in the year.

8 days until Ash Wendesday, 7 days until Shrove Tuesday (aka “Fat” Tuesday, or Mardi Gras).

Day 24,806 of my life.

It’s National Umbrella Day. Ella. Ella. Eh. Eh. Eh.

Daily writing prompt
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
View all responses

Ironically, I got some not-so-great news, this morning, but I’m not going to go into that. If I were to receive “great, amazingly fantastic news,” I would immediately give thanks to Jesus. Then I would share the news with my wife and family. Then I would share it with my best friends. There might be hugs. Depending on the nature of the news, there might be a small celebration.

Today is a partially normal Tuesday. C is still working from home, as she continues to recover from her hip-replacement surgery, and I will be heading in to the library at 4:15 for my four-hour shift in the computer center, this evening. I still don’t know if that is permanent, but there has been no indication that they are going to replace the full-time staff person who left last year.

I will be taking C to her physical therapy session at noon today, after which we will have a late lunch before I go to work.

JESUS TIME

“Our Father who art in heaven, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. O dear Lord, You know that if the world cannot destroy Your name or Your kingdom, there are those who work day and night with tricks, fraud, and many strange conspiracies to try and do so. They encourage and support every evil intention raging against Your name, Your Word, Your kingdom, and Your children, threatening to destroy them. 
 
Therefore, dear Lord, God and Father, convert and restrain them. Convert those who have yet to acknowledge Your good will, that together with them we may obey Your will. Let us gladly and patiently bear every cross and adversity and thereby acknowledge, test, and experience Your good, gracious, and perfect will. Constrain those who seek to harm us, and turn against them their own tricks and devices, as we sing: 
 
‘He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High’ (Psalm 7:15-17) Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 50, Tuesday Morning) 

Gracious heavenly Father, I thank You for keeping me safe through the quiet hours of this past night. As a new day dawns, help me to see, through the eyes of faith, that the challenges that might be in front of me today are not greater than the power behind me. Help me to see that everyone I engage with today was created in Your image and thus worthy of respect. If someone has a need, help me to meet that need where I am able. Enable me to trust the promise that You have the power to work all things for my good. In the name of Jesus, Your dear Son, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Tuesday Morning) 

“Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Tuesday of the Week of Epiphany 5, Opening Prayer) 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.  
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. That I have love, the gift of live poured into my heart by Jesus Christ; may I be faithful to manifest that love toward all people, in all circumstances, at all times 
  2. For the privilege and responsibility of prayer; may I be faithful to constantly ask, seek, and knock, that doors would be opened, life would be found, and light would be seen 
  3. For the perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true, and righteous Word of God (Psalm 19) 
  4. That Christ has brought my imagination into captivity, and I look to Him alone for my life, and not to my experiences 
  5. That I am broken bread and poured-out wine before my Savior 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 19 

The heavens declare the glory of God,  
     and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  
Day to day pours out speech,  
     and night to night reveals knowledge.  
There is no speech, nor are there words,  
     whose voice is not heard.  
Their voice goes out through all the earth,  
     and their words to the end of the world.  
In them he has set a tent for the sun,  
     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, 
     and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.  
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,  
     and its circuit to the end of them,  
     and there is nothing hidden from its heat.  
 
The law of the LORD is perfect,  
     reviving the soul;  
the testimony of the LORD is sure,  
     making wise the simple;  
the precepts of the LORD are right,  
     rejoicing the heart;  
the commandment of the LORD is pure,  
     enlightening the eyes;  
the fear of the LORD is clean,  
     enduring forever;  
the rules of the LORD are true,  
     and righteous altogether.  
More to be desired are they than gold,  
     even much fine gold;  
sweeter also than honey  
     and drippings of the honeycomb.  
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;  
     in keeping them there is great reward.  
 
Who can discern his errors?  
     Declare me innocent from hidden faults.  
Keep back your servant also  
          from presumptuous sins;  
     let them not have dominion over me!  
Then I shall be blameless,  
     and innocent of great transgression.  
 
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 19:1-14 ESV) 

The following is from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Lift up your eyes on high and see:  
     who created these?  
He who brings out their host by number,  
     calling them all by name,  
by the greatness of his might,  
     and because he is strong in power  
     not one is missing.  
(Isaiah 40:26 ESV) 

Chambers asks, “Is your imagination of God starved?” We have this wonderful thing in nature; Chambers calls it “sacramental” to the saint. “if we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in Nature.” Of course we are not to worship nature, but, rather, allow it to lead us to worship the Creator. “In every wind that blows, in every night and day of the year, in every sign of the sky, in every blossoming and in every withering of the earth, there is a real coming of God to us if we will simply use our starved imagination to realize it. 
 
“The test of spiritual concentration is bringing the imagination into captivity.” But is my imagination looking upon an idol? Is it myself? Is it my work? Perhaps it is even my own experience of salvation and sanctification? It is sobering to think that we could make our own salvation/sanctification experience an idol! But it is possible. If I find that my imagination is starved, then I must look not to those experiences, but to the God who gave them to me. I must turn my imagination to God.  

This makes itself most evident in prayer. I have to deliberately put myself before God in this. “We have to learn how to be broken bread and poured-out wine on the line of intercession more than on the line of personal contact.”  

I have had quite the experience, over the last eleven months (seven days away from the one-year anniversary), but I do not look to that experience for inspiration. I look back on it, yes, because I am still amazed at what Christ has done. But I do not want the glory of the experience; I do not seek that. I seek the Christ who gave it to me. Jesus is the center of everything, and He is who/what I want, not the experience, itself. The experience is a bonus. It is a beautiful thing. But Christ is more beautiful! He is everything! 

Truly, I am broken bread and poured-out wine, before Him! 

I am beyond grateful, Jesus, for Your wondrous transformation in my life. I thank You that You have captured my imagination by Your Spirit, and that You are making me, more and more, broken bread and poured-out win. I am, of course, not perfect, nowhere close. But You are perfecting me as we walk. And it is true that we walk together; I do not walk alone, nor will I ever walk empty. I will not run out of “fuel,” because You will never stop pouring into me. I praise You for the love that I feel coming from You, for the love that I have for You, and for the love that I have for others.

I thank You that, because of this wondrous love (what wondrous love is this, O my soul!), that I am not like a clanging cymbal or a noisy gong. I may not speak with angelic language, but I speak with love, as long as I am allowing You to have free reign in my life. I have love, my Lord, because You have given me it. No other reason, and by no other source, do I have love. It is all from You, and it is all You!

You are everything, and I am nothing; You own me, body, soul, and spirit, and I am Yours to do with as You please, even unto death. All glory be to You, my Christ!

Amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

Because Jesus!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Sanctification

Jeff3 Comments

Today is Sunday, the eighth day of February, 2026, in the fifth week of Epiphany. It is the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. Next Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday!

May you experience the peace of the Lord in your soul, today!

It is day 39 of 2026, with 326 days remaining in the year.

Ten days left until Ash Wednesday. Six days until Valentine’s Day. Also, there is a Friday the thirteenth this month, which means there is also one next month! In fact, my birthday is on Friday the thirteenth, in March. But I am not friggatriskaidekaphobic.

Today is Autism Sunday. I don’t remember this, but that’s what it says. S is high-functioning autistic, and we have some new members at our church who have a son who is also high-functioning autistic.

I think there might be an important football game today? *shrug*

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite candy?
View all responses

Whoa!! Candy is my favorite candy! Seriously, I almost love all candy. Except for candy corn. That’s an abomination. I don’t think I can nail down a favorite. I love Red Hots, and pretty much anything cinnamon, so those Brach’s Cinnamon Disks are also right up there. But I also love all things chocolate. Especially Dark chocolate. So I’m always getting bags of Ghirardelli chocolates, and those Lindt Lindor Truffles. And Hershey’s Nuggets. And, furthermore, I really love dextrose candy. SweeTarts, Smarties, anything like that. And salt water taffy. And toffee . . . see?? I have a serious candy problem.

We had a great worship service, this morning. The choir sang in the early service, so S and I had to be there by 8:10, which is why this blog is just getting written. We’ve already had lunch and everything. So let’s get on with it.

JESUS TIME

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Yes, Lord God, dear Father, hallowed be Your name, both in us and throughout the whole world. Destroy and root out the abominations, idolatry, and heresy of those who war against the Church: all false teachers and the divisive spirits who wrongly use Your name and in shameful ways take it in vain. They horribly blaspheme and insistently boast that in Your name they teach Your Word, when in reality it is the devil’s deceit and trickery in the guise of Your name by which they seduce many poor souls throughout the world, even killing and shedding much innocent blood, and in such persecution they believe that they render You a divine service. 
 
Dear Lord God, convert and restrain them, that together we may hallow and praise Your name both with true and pure doctrine and with a good and holy life. Restrain those who are unwilling to be converted so that they are forced to cease from misusing, defiling, and dishonoring Your holy name and from misleading the poor people. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 46, Sunday Morning) 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with me today. Remind me that I am Yours and that You have saved me through the precious blood of Jesus. I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me. Help me hear You speaking to me through my pastor’s mouth today. Thank You for feeding me Your very body and blood through the bread and wine of Your Supper. Strengthen me through Your Word and Sacrament. Help me stay connected to You, the true vine, by connecting with Your Body, the church. May I never neglect meeting together with Your church, that we can encourage and love one another (Hebrews 10:25). Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Sunday Morning) 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  
(John 15:5 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For another opportunity to gather with the community of saints, to worship Christ, and to be fed by His Word and Sacrament 
  2. That real love never fails; “Every act of love – whether it’s seen or unseen – will echo throughout eternity” (A Miracle Every Day) 
  3. For the call of God on my life, and how He has kept me faithful, my whole life (not perfect, but faithful) 
  4. That we don’t bear fruit by struggling, but by abiding; apart from Him, we can do nothing 
  5. That Jesus prayed that we might be one with Him, just as He and the Father are one 

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 17 

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;  
     incline your ear to me; hear my words.  
Wondrously show your steadfast love,  
     O Savior of those who seek refuge  
     from their adversaries at your right hand.  
Keep me as the apple of your eye;  
     hide me in the shadow of your wings,  
from the wicked who do me violence,  
     my deadly enemies who surround me.  
 
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;  
     when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. 
(Psalms 17:6-9, 15 ESV) 

“My heart had a visitor come in the night: 
No moonbeam in gauze robe, nor sweet-scented raptor: 
But straight-talking, heartfelt, so turn a good ear: 
 
I’ve watched strong men work shovel and pickax, 
Saw, hammer and nails. Cursed, they build steel 
Towers for others. But I call to you, and you hear. 
 
You hear me, surrounded by goat-headed hoodlums, 
Loudmouths and lions too young to be gentle. 
I think my soft song must be better than roaring. 
 
You heard from the shelter of apple tree shadows 
And gave me a home life, the hope of small children, 
Unbroken sleep with no thought of the others, and 
 
Mornings I wake looking like, looking at you.” 
(Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 17, YES) 

The following is from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

A bold and deep reading on sanctification. 

Chambers says we take it too lightly. Are we prepared for it? “It will cost an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth, and an immense broadening of all our interest in God. Sanctification means intense concentration on God’s point of view. It means every power of bod, soul and spirit chained and kept for God’s purpose only. Are we prepared for God to do in us all that He separated us for?” 

That last question is worth reading again! “Are we prepared for God to do in us all that He separated us for?” 

“Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the disposition that ruled Him will rule us. Are we prepared for what that will cost? . . . Are we prepared to say – ‘Lord, make me as holy as You can make a sinner saved by grace?’ Jesus has prayed that we might be one with Him as He is one with the Father. The one and only characteristic of the Holy Ghost in a man is a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, and freedom from everything that is unlike Him.” 

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  
(John 17:20-21 ESV) 

“O Thou, with whom is the fountain of life, and without whom we can do nothing; whose grace is sufficient for us, and whose strength is made perfect in weakness; inspire us evermore by the fulness of thy life, that we, keeping thy commandments, may abide in thy love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Sunday of the Week of Epiphany 5, Closing Prayer, John S.B. Monsell) 

Dear Jesus, You did, indeed, pray that we would be one with You and the Father, just as You and the Father are one. What a beautiful and glorious prayer! I pray, too, that You would bring this about during our time. It may be that we may not experience this reality until we are completely transformed in glory. Right now, Jesus, we are quite possibly the farthest away from being unified that we have ever been. Have mercy, dear Jesus!

I pray for a “strong family likeness” to You, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Make Your presence known in my life, both to me, that I might glory in Your presence, and to others, as well, that they might give glory to You for Your presence in my own life. I ask not for any glory for myself, Lord, but that You would, indeed, do all in me that You have separated me for. May the disposition that rules You also rule in me. Narrow all of my interest on this earth and broaden all my interests in You.

You are everything, my Christ. Please be everything to me, be all that matters, and make me Your vessel through and through. Use me however You wish, Lord. Even unto death.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

I know I keep posting this song, but it keeps fitting. Lord Jesus, prune everything away that doesn’t belong. Make me utterly Yours!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Ready To Be Offered, pt. 2

Jeff

Today is Friday, the sixth day of February, 2026, in the fourth week of Epiphany.

May you experience the peace of the Lord in your soul, today!

It is day 37 of 2026, with 328 days left in the year.

Twelve days left until Ash Wednesday, February 18.

Day 24,802 of my life.

It is National Bubble Gum Day. It is also National Woman’s Heart Day, which, after receiving a pacemaker a month ago, I think is more important than bubble gum (although I do love me some bubble gum). Take care of your hearts, y’all!

Oh, and it is also National Working Naked Day. Rest assured, I am NOT celebrating that, out of compassion for my coworkers. My wife works from home, Fridays, so she could get away with that, unless she had to get on a Zoom meeting.

Daily writing prompt
The most important invention in your lifetime is…
View all responses

Wow. This is a tough question, and so subjective. I mean, what I think is important may be different than what someone else thinks is important. For reference, here is a list that I found, of things invented since the fifties. I was born in 1958. The jet airliner was invented in 1958 (I’m not sure what month), and that’s pretty important. Integrated circuits were invented in 1959 . . . again very important to everything we do in our age. Since I have recent experience with one, though, I believe I will say the pacemaker, which was invented in 1960. But honestly, there is so much that I have seen come about in my lifetime. Just peruse the list at that link, and you will see what I mean.

It’s actually a pretty normal Friday, today. C is working from home, and I am at the computer center of the Hurst Public Library all day. I am off work tomorrow, though, so it should be a nice weekend. Depending on how C is feeling, she and I may go out and have lunch somewhere.

JESUS TIME

“In Your name, O crucified Lord Jesus Christ, I now arise from sleep. You suffered the all-painful death on the trunk of the holy cross as the true, patient, sacrificial Lamb for me. You have bought my freedom from all my sins, death, the devil, and hell through Your rose-colored blood. Rule my heart by Your Holy Spirit, refreshing it with the heavenly dew of Your grace. Preserve me with Your divine love and hide me – body and soul – in Your holy wounds. Wash me clean of all my sins, maintain me in every good work, and lead me out of the vale of tears that is this world into eternal joy and glory, O faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, my only solace, hope, and life. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 42, Friday Morning) 

Dear Lord, “Direct, control, suggest this day all I design or do or say that all my pow’rs with all their might in Thy sole glory may unite” (LSB 868:5). You have awakened me for another day of service and witnessing to Your greatness. Grant me opportunities to do so with a cheerful spirit. Give me patience and perseverance where needed. May my service encourage other Christians to witness and serve You. Keep far from me Satan and his temptation to sin. Watch over those whom I love. Guard them with Your holy angels and strengthen their faith and trust in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Friday Morning) 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 
(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the author and perfecter of my faith, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross for me 
  2. For true love, that never rejoices at wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth 
  3. That the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and made my heart His home; may I be faithful to abide in Him and His Word 
  4. That all that God requires of me, He gives me 
  5. That I am ready for my life to be offered up as an offering to God; because of this, I find Him to be more than I ever dreamed He would be 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

This morning, as I read my Bible Reading Plan on You Version (Abiding in Jesus), they offered this Scripture verse.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” 
(John 15:1 ESV) 

Then this activity suggestion. “Set aside time this week to spend in quiet and prayer. Ask God where He may be wanting to prune you in this season. Pray and give that specific thing over to Him and ask the Holy Spirit to be at work in your heart and life. Make sure to share with a trusted, believing friend to help hold you accountable and to help you see where God is at work.” 

This is something that I definitely want the Lord to do in my life, and it reminded me of this song, by Sarah Kroger.

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 15 

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?  
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?  
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right  
     and speaks truth in his heart;  
who does not slander with his tongue  
     and does no evil to his neighbor,  
     nor takes up a reproach against his friend;  
in whose eyes a vile person is despised,  
     but who honors those who fear the LORD;  
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;  
who does not put out his money at interest  
     and does not take a bribe against the innocent.  
He who does these things shall never be moved.  
(Psalms 15:1-5 ESV) 

“The minimum? 
        Say what you mean. 
        Do what you say. 
Point no finger at another. 
        Welcome strangers. 
        Not strange dealers. 
Never waver. 
        Feed the hungry. 
        Charge no interest: or 
The minimum.” 
(Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 15, BARELY) 

I thank God that all of those requirements have been met for me by Jesus Christ, my Savior.

The following is from My Utmost for His Highest , by Oswald Chambers

This reading continues the theme that was begun yesterday.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering . . .  
(2 Timothy 4:6 ESV) 

Telling God that you are ready to be offered is “a transaction of will, not of sentiment. Tell God you are ready to be offered; then let the consequences be what they may, there is no strand of complaint now, no matter what God chooses. . . . If you do not transact in will with God along this line, you will end in awakening sympathy for yourself.” 
 
The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!  
(Psalms 118:27 ESV) 

“The altar means fire – burning and purification and insulation for one purpose only, the destruction of every affinity that God has not started and every attachment that is not an attachment in God. You do not destroy it, God does; you bind the sacrifice to the horns of the altar; and see that you do not give way to self-pity when the fire begins. . . . you realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. 
 
“Tell God you are ready to be offered, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.” 

I can already tell you that, in the past year, God has proved Himself to be more than I ever dreamed He would be, and He keeps on doing it. He surprised me again, yesterday afternoon, literally driving me to the floor, on my face, in tears. I am beyond ready to be offered. My life is completely His.

My dear Jesus, I love You so much! I praise You for who You are and for what You have made me! I rejoice in the fact that I am not my own, but You own me, heart, soul, and body. I am constantly amazed at the transformation that You have worked in me, my Lord, and You continue to surprise me, day after day. I pray that You keep this work going in me, as I never want to sink back into the way I was before. I want to get closer and closer to You; I want to be a pure reflection of You in my life, so that when people see me, they don’t see me, but You. As Your cousin John said, I must decrease and You must increase.

As I continue to grow in You, I pray that You simply point me in the direction that I should go. You have made known to me the path of life. I celebrate that in Your presence there is fullness of joy, and I am always in Your presence! I celebrate that I am never alone, and that I am never emptied out, because You are constantly pouring Yourself into me. You have called me to be a peacemaker, Lord. I pray that You work that out in me and in my circumstances. Whether You show me what I should do or not, is pretty irrelevant, as long as I am willing to act in whatever circumstances You place me in.

I am willing and ready to be offered up as an offering to You, Jesus, to be poured out. And I know that, when You do pour me out, You will fill me up again, until that day when You have no further work for me, and then You will bring me to Your side, where I will never be apart from You, for all eternity.

I am Yours; I am not my own. Thank You, thank You, thank You! Forever and ever thank You!! My heart is Yours. Everything is Yours, because You are everything!

Amen, my Jesus, amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!