Category: Gratitude

Whom Have I in Heaven but You?

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Wednesday, the tenth day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church.

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

It is day 161 of 2026, and there are 204 days left in the year.

Day 24,926 of my life

21,633 days since I was baptized into Christ

Nine days until Juneteenth.

Today is National Frosted Cookie Day. I just may need to “celebrate” that, today.

Daily writing prompt
What’s a song that always puts you in a good mood?
View all responses

That’s hard to think about, right this second, and I will explain that in a moment. But here is a song that immediately came to mind.

This is anything but a normal Wednesday. A couple days ago, we noticed Rocky, our Russian Blue cat (maybe full-blooded, who knows, we got him at the humane society), was not acting quite right. C and three of the cats have a daily ritual that she calls a “picnic.” It involves Rocky, Luna (tuxedo), and Willow (Maine Coon) sharing a squeezy treat. Monday night, Rocky didn’t come to her chair for the picnic. He just lay on the floor next to the loveseat. Tuesday morning, he did appear for the morning picnic, but didn’t jump up on the chair. I also noted, Tuesday afternoon (cue the Moody Blues?), that he failed at an attempt to jump on our bed while I was getting ready for work. The most alarming things were that his breathing was shallow and rapid, and his belly had gotten really big, rather swollen looking.

He had gained weight over the course of the last few months, but we just thought he was getting lazy and gaining weight. We had an appointment scheduled for a vet tomorrow morning at 10:40, but C decided we needed to get him in to see the emergency vet. That was after getting up at 5:00, this morning, to get ready for work. So I went ahead and got up and we took him in. I was not expecting to bring him home. But that didn’t make it any easier. He had massive amounts of fluid around his lungs. “Pleural effusion,” they called it. The prognosis was bad. None of the things that could be causing that are good. Could be heart failure, could be cancer, and two or three other things, none of which are really treatable, or at least not curable.

We could have spent $2500 for diagnoses, only to find out what the cause was, and that we would likely lose him, anyway. We made the hard decision (which everyone at the emergency clinic agreed with, by the way) to put him down. They made us all very comfortable, in a very nice, private room where we could hold him for a bit. Then it was very quick.

RIP Rocky. 💔

C is taking PTO for the rest of the day, and I had nothing else on my agenda, anyway, other than cooking dinner and going out for Sonic drinks, later. And reading. There’s always reading. Dinner is going to be C’s favorite, Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole, along with Grandma’s Corn Pudding.

My first cup of coffee, this morning, was Cinnamon Twist, by Angelino’s. Part of it was consumed at home and part of it on the way to the Vet ER. “Our wonderfully flavorful cinnamon-infused coffee is perfect for any time of year. Each sip of our Cinnamon Twist is filled with warm, sweet, and aromatic cinnamon spice flavor that’s sure to delight.” And for anyone interested, Angelino’s sells these in bulk whole beans or ground, as well, not just in K-cups. The second cup, also by Angelino’s, which I am drinking now, is Mad Professor. “In the hills above Ciudad Bolívar are rows of carefully cultivated coffee cherries by a man known to the locals as the madman or the professor – or just Sammy to friends and family. Sammy’s coffee combines old world coffee production with a spark of new world innovation in our staple reserve coffee – Mad Professor. Each cup bursts forth with dark chocolate, nectarine, and plum notes with hints blueberry and salted caramel.” I don’t taste all of those things, myself, but I do like the flavor of this coffee. It’s about as dark a roast as I care for.

And now I run to the place where I can get the most comfort.

JESUS TIME

Lord Jesus, You have chosen me out of the world to be Your own in time and in eternity. Though I am no longer of this world, You have not yet taken me out of this earthly tent into my eternal home. I am still in this world surrounded by dangers I cannot begin to number and exposed constantly to temptation. Let me never forget that this world will end with all its evil pleasures and only those who do the will of God will abide forever. Increase and preserve in me that faith in You and in Your redeeming work which is the victory that overcomes the world. Give me that fervent love that would not think of choosing the things of this world – its riches, its glories, and its pleasures – and on their account forgetting You and Your salvation. Teach me to despise the world’s mockery, its hatred, and its threats, knowing that even if it should succeed in depriving me of some advantage in this life, it can never rob me of You and Your promise of life forever at Your side. While I yet travel through life, preserve me in the faith that claimed me as a child of Your heavenly household, until that time when You would receive me into my heavenly home. Amen.
(Lutheran Prayer Book, Prayer 10, for Wednesday morning)

Heavenly Father, I have again entered the morning of midweek. Help me be appreciative of every morning You give me, no matter what day of the week. Help me see each day as an opportunity to serve and glorify You. To that end, send Your Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide me during my various routines and during the fulfillment of my vocations, that all may be done out of love and concern for others. Help my words and actions so that through them Christ may be glorified and magnified, that those near me may realize that by Your grace I am His sibling. In His name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Wednesday Morning)

O God, whose never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth, put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things, and give us those things that are profitable for us; 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, Wednesday of the Week of Pentecost 2, Opening Prayer)

Cast your burden on the LORD,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.
(Psalms 55:22 ESV)
Wait for the LORD;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the LORD!
(Psalms 27:14 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. That the Lord will sustain me when I cast my burden upon Him, and He will not allow me to be moved or shaken
  2. For the gifts of a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience; may I be faithful to practice them all and be generous with them
  3. That the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life, dwells within me, and that, though this outer self is wasting away, I am being renewed daily, preparing me for that eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
  4. That though my flesh and heart fail, the Lord is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73)
  5. That the joy of the Lord is not contingent on circumstances
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 73:23-28

Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.
(Psalms 73:23-28 ESV)

Untamed Prayers, Whom Have I in Heaven but You?, by Chad Bird

Asaph is very clear that God is our only hope in this world. “Our flesh and heart may be as shifting as sand, but God is not.” The psalm says, “My flesh and my heart may fail . . .” They have! They have, and they will again! There is nothing more desirable on earth, in heaven, or anywhere else, than Jesus Christ.

The psalm begins with the words, “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” Jesus says, in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” The psalmist closes with these words: “It is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all of your works.” Bird says, “And what better work is there than what Christ, our Redeemer, has done in giving his life for us and for the world?”

                                                “If I painted
Such a picture for you once, just feeling
Without understanding that I envied
Not another person but a creature of my dreams,
Then my mind would curdle, heart dry up,
And I’d have been the dream beast I invented.
But the real touched me, cool and smooth,
Taught me to be able to have everything,
Need nothing, like the names of things
That are not you and are not those things
Either, in a picture story song.”
(Excerpt from Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 73, AS IF)

Hopefully understandable, I am a bit scattered today. But what is not “scattered” is my understanding and firm belief that earth has nothing that I desire more than Jesus. And that the joy that He brings to my life falls outside the realm of circumstances, like, for example, the putting down of a much-beloved cat.

You see, this life is not the main event. And really, if you think about it, that makes sense. Here I am, 68 years old (24,926 days, to be exact). A drop in the proverbial bucket, compared to eternity, which cannot be measured. If I am going to spend eternity in the presence of Christ, what is 68 years? Yet we spend so much time and energy focusing on these few years!

The Gospel of Christ is not about the pleasures and riches of this life. So many folks try to make it that by preaching health, wealth, and prosperity in this life. God wants you to be rich! God wants you to be healthy! God wants you to be . . . honestly, those charlatans have no clue what God wants.

What God wants is you to magnify and glorify HIM! Through Jesus Christ, His Son, who lived the life of a virtual pauper, with hardly a penny to His name. So that you and I can spend eternity with Him, where we will then have all the riches of eternity at our disposal.

These physical bodies, these mortal coils, these jars of clay, are wasting away. And in spite of what some might tell you, there is nothing that can be done about that. Aging cannot be stopped. The deterioration of the human body cannot be stayed. Because we are not meant to inhabit them forever. In addition to the wasting away of these imperfect bodies, the pull and temptations of sin still linger. But that is not the truest thing about us.

The Holy Spirit dwells within us and we live in a “decisively new dimension” (James D.G. Dunn). It is the reality of Christ alive in us.

“If your faith only reaches for comfort and never longs for resurrection, then your gaze is set too low.” (Grant Fishbook, A Miracle Every Day)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

Back to Psalm 73. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail [they will and they have], but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion . . .

Forever.”

“But God.”

Oh, my Father, I praise You! I thank You for being my portion forever. I thank You that You are here with me, in all things, guiding me through this mess of life. God, we have spent far too long focusing on the things of this life and the things of the world. Forgive us and draw us to You and only You. Christ is everything, Lord! Christ is all; He is all in all; He has everything that we need. Why would I go anywhere else? Why would I look to anyone else? Why is anyone looking to anyone else?

Even my prayers are scattered, today, Lord, as I try to focus. Forgive me. But You know my heart, and You know that I have nothing in heaven or on earth but You. There is nothing that I desire more than You. And You have given me You. Thank You, thank You, thank You.

Amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Evidence

Jeff1 Comment

Today is Tuesday, the ninth day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church.

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

It is day 160 of 2026, with 205 days left in the year.

Day 24,925 of my life

21,632 days since I was baptized into Christ

Twelve days until Father’s Day

Today is World Pet Memorial Day. I’m willing to bet most of us could name some. Midnight, Screamer, Tessie, Duke, Honey, Amber, Juliet . . .

Daily writing prompt
What’s a fear you’ve overcome — and how did you do it?
View all responses

This is a tough one. First off, I might say that I, myself, have never overcome a fear. I didn’t do it. Christ did it for me. Yeah, I know. It’s always about Jesus, innit? Too bad. Get over it. Because Christ is everything! He is all and in all, and I will not apologize for that perspective in my life.

But I digress. Yes, I have been delivered from fear, over the past fifteen months. What kind of fear? Fear of the unknown, fear of death, fear of suffering. But even in the face of that deliverance, our enemy frequently (and by “frequently” I mean “non-stop”) tries to re-instill many fears into me. Much of the time, that comes in the form of overthinking. I’m struggling with that, even this morning. But fortunately for me, one of the Psalms that I was led to pray, this morning, was Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
(Psalms 46:1-3 ESV)

When I acknowledge what is happening, the fear is defeated. Have I overcome it? From my perspective, no. Others might say, yes, I did overcome it? Potato, potahto, perhaps. I have lived most of my life from the mindset that I am nothing without Christ. I’m not the one that overcomes anything. Without Him, I can do nothing. I simply be still and know that He is God.

It’s a normal Tuesday, here. C is at the office. I will be working my four-hour shift in the computer center at the library, this evening, from 4:15-8:15. For lunch today (and dinner for C), we will be having Meal Simple by H‑E‑B Chicken & Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese, along with the ubiquitous Caesar Salad and garlic Texas Toast.

My first coffee this morning is Jamaican Me Crazy, by Angelino’s. “A smooth medley of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate flavors inspire the bold taste featured in our Jamaican Me Crazy coffee.” The second coffee is Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, also by Angelino’s, a “new” flavor for me. “There’s never been a better match than raspberries and chocolate. Each cup of our Chocolate Raspberry coffee features rich and creamy swirls of milk chocolate with juicy ripe raspberry flavors that burst forth with each sip.” There’s definitely a nice aroma, and the smell of raspberry is not overpowering . . . just a hint. And a very nice flavor!

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)

Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by your providence; and that your Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Tuesday of the Week of Pentecost 2, Opening Prayer)

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
(Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
(John 15:16 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life; convicting me of sin, stirring up more affection for Christ, and transforming me, daily
  2. That God chose me to be a part of His Kingdom/family, and I do not need to strive or work to maintain that status; it is firm and permanent
  3. That Christ has led me to the “narrow gate”
  4. That God is my refuge and my strength; therefore, I will not fear, though the earth gives way, though the mountains fall into the sea (Psalm 46)
  5. For the hope that people will see in me the light, joy, depth, and love of Christ
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?

You Version Bible Plan – From Lost to Loved: A 30-Day Study of Romans 8

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
(Romans 8:9 ESV)

“The Holy Spirit is the only authenticating mark of salvation.” The author of this devotional writes this after an introduction about “authenticating” our identity when we try to access certain apps or websites. We’ve all experienced that, especially those annoying, “click on every picture that contains a bus” things! Some sites even require what they call “two-factor authentication,” usually requiring some kind of activity on the phone. Every time I log into my email on my work computer, I have to tap on a number generated on my phone.

But we don’t have “two-factor authentication” in salvation. Paul lays it out, here, dismantling all “false credentials,” when he says, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Period.

“You cannot behave your way into the Kingdom. You’re not authenticated by feelings or Sunday habits. The question is this: does the Holy Spirit dwell in you? He is not a reward for the religious. He’s the gift to those who believe. His presence authenticates your adoption.”

Now for the big question. How do you know? If the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is the only way to know that you are “saved,” then how do you know?

“First, He convicts of sin. This doesn’t create shame but leads you into repentance with a soft and teachable heart (2 Corinthians 7:10). Second, He stirs affection for Christ. You will grow hungry to know, trust, and obey Jesus in greater measure . . . Third, He empowers real change. You won’t be instantly perfect, but you will evidence a pattern of repentance, obedience, and growth (2 Corinthians 3:18).”

I can speak, personally, to the truth of each of those points, and can witness to the truth that the Holy Spirit does, in fact, dwell within me. I am constantly convicted of sin. He has stirred so much affection for Christ in me (especially over the course of the last 15 months) that, sometimes, I can hardly stand it. And He has definitely empowered real change.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
(2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV)

O God, stay with me; let no word cross my lips that is not your word, no thoughts enter my mind that are not your thoughts, no deed ever be done or entertained by me that is not your deed. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Tuesday of the Week of Pentecost 2, Closing Prayer, Malcolm Muggeridge)

Father, thank You for choosing me. Thank You that my identity is secure in You and not dependent on human recognition. Help me walk confidently in the purpose You have given me. Remind me that my life is meaningful because You have called me, not because of what others see. Teach me to bear lasting fruit in every season of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
(Grant Fishbook, A Miracle Every Day)

My Jesus, I praise You for delivering me from fears, from doubt, and from lust, over the course of the past fifteen months. I thank You that You have become everything to me, through all of this miraculous transformation. I praise You for the people You have brought into my life who have walked through this with me, and continue to do so. But my enemy continues to pound me with temptations to irrational fears, that are not based in reality. Help me to not fall prey to these fears, these temptations. Your Word says there is always an escape, a way out, and that way out, I believe, is trust in You. So help me to trust. O, Lord, I do believe! Help my unbelief!

Thank You for the Holy Spirit, Lord, and the evidence in my life that He is truly there, truly dwelling within me, for I have surely been convicted of sin, daily, and I have a constantly growing affection for You, dear Christ, in my heart. And there has been miraculous change and growth, as well. So thank You for the reassurance that I am, indeed, Your child, Your brother! And I also point back to my baptism, on March 19, 1967, at which time I became a part of Your Church, Your Body, for ever and ever!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, just as I was baptized, amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Embrace the Spirit within you!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Preachers

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Monday, the eighth day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

It is day 159 of 2026, and there are 206 days left in the year.

Day 24,924 of my life

21,631 days since I was baptized into Christ

Thirteen days until Father’s Day

Today is National Best Friends Day. Try to do something with your best friend. If not, at least let them know you are thinking about them. Now, I know that I frequently mention my library bestie and my pastor/sister/friend, but my true “best friend” is C, my wife. We’ve been best friends for over 40 years, now. 💜💜💜💜💜

Daily writing prompt
What’s the best way to build self-confidence?
View all responses

I think the best way is to forget about seeking acceptance and approval from others. That will only serve to lower self-confidence. I get mine from knowing that God sees me and cares for me, and that there is nothing more that I need to do to gain His acceptance.

It’s an off-work Monday for me. C is working from home. I do have a Urologist appointment at 1:30 this afternoon, so I had to schedule the grocery pickup a little earlier than usual. I will be picking them up at 11:00-11:30, this morning.

Tonight’s dinner will be tomato basil soup (from H-E-B) and grilled cheese sandwiches.

My first cup of coffee, this morning, is CAFE Olé by H‑E‑B Taste of DFW. “Offering the delicious flavor of caramel, chocolate and pecans, CAFE Olé by H-E-B Taste of DFW coffee is a medium roast variety.” My second cup is Coconut Macaroon, by Angelino’s, another new variety for me. “Buttery coconut flavored coffee. . . . Rich toasted coconut flakes and buttery cookie flavors combine perfectly to deliver the satisfying deliciousness of a beloved treat in this smooth flavored coffee. Coconut lovers, this one’s for you.” I can definitely smell the coconut. It has a great aroma. The taste is pleasant, not overpowering. I like that, when the flavors don’t get in the way of the coffee, but rather, enhance it. I can taste the coconut, but it still tastes like coffee.

I forgot to show you my coffee cup for the week. The Rabbit Room is an excellent source for books and other things.

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)

With You, Lord, I begin my task, praying You direct it. For Your aid and counsel, I ask, knowing You will perfect it. Every morn with You I rise, and when this day is ended, in Your name I will close my eyes and be to You commended (see LSB 869:1). Lord Jesus, may such words always jubilantly ring in my ears that I never lose confidence or hope. Amid the stresses that arise with work and life, let my heart not be filled with anxiety or impatience with You or others. Bless all my family and especially protect all those whose work is dangerous or life-threatening. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Monday Morning)

Father in heaven, words cannot measure the boundaries of love for those born to new life in Christ Jesus. Raise us beyond the limits this world imposes, so that we may be free to love as Christ teaches and find our joy in your glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Monday of the Week of Pentecost 2, Opening Prayer)

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
(Psalms 139:1-2 ESV)
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer’s;
    he makes me tread on my high places.
(Habakkuk 3:19 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. That God sees me and knows me
  2. That my worth and identity are not tied to human visibility
  3. For the steadfast love of the Lord that endures forever; in the heart of Christ, this is clearly seen
  4. For daily opportunities to practice solitude, where I can enter the presence of Love and encounter God
  5. For my pastors, who faithfully preach God’s Word, and fill my ears “with the good news that [I am] free and forgiven in Jesus, who gives [me] true contentment in himself” (Chad Bird, Untamed Prayers)
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 73:13-17

All in vain have I kept my heart clean
    and washed my hands in innocence.
For all the day long I have been stricken
    and rebuked every morning.
If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
    I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

But when I thought how to understand this,
    it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
    then I discerned their end.
(Psalms 73:13-17 ESV)

Untamed Prayers, Until I Went into the Sanctuary, by Chad Bird

In yesterday’s segment, we saw Asaph envying the “prosperity of the wicked” (v. 3). This results in the complaint seen in verse 13, today: “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.” He was not only envious, but also angry and bitter. But, in the end, he kept this all to himself. One might think, but wait, he’s writing about it here. But we have to keep reading, don’t we? Verse 15. I admits that if he had fallen prey to the temptation to voice these opinions and feelings to others, he would have “betrayed the generation of your children.”

Complaining is betrayal. Now, there’s a concept that I have never really pondered until today. I have been trying to reduce, significantly (as in “eliminate altogether”) the amount of my complaining in my life. So far, I haven’t done a great job of that.

But where does Asaph get his clarity? In the presence of God. “Only in the Lord’s presence did he sober up from his intoxicating envy and begin to think clearly.” There are two ways to interpret this idea of going into the “sanctuary of God.” And I believe both of them are valid. One of them is solitude. Solitude is important, getting alone with God. Jesus did it on a regular basis. We are told frequently that He went of to a “lonely place” to pray. I “hide” in this study for several hours a day, away from the rest of the family. I’m not alone in the house, but I am able to practice solitude in this room.

And while I am always in God’s presence, no matter where I am, there is something about being alone in a place like this that lends itself to a deeper feeling of that presence. I feel closer to God when I am in solitude with His Word.

The other way to think about going into the “sanctuary of God,” and Brother Bird nails that in the last paragraph today.

“We all need a preacher. We need a voice not our own, who can take the Word of God and speak the light of divine truth into us when we are stumbling in the darkness of our temptations, envies, bitterness. Left alone, we go astray. So our Lord has seen fit not to leave us alone, but to send us preachers in the sanctuary of God. To call us to repentance, yes. And most importantly, to fill our ears with the good news that we are free and forgiven in Jesus, who gives us true contentment in himself.”

This is why it is not enough to be alone with God. We simply must be in communion with other believers, under the tutelage of pastors/preachers who faithfully preach God’s Word of Truth and Life. And I praise God that I am. I love my pastors and am so very grateful for them!

For All the Saints, Monday of the Week of Pentecost 2

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
(1 Timothy 1:3-7 ESV)

“Today you join the company of those who, like the Good Shepherd, gather the lambs in their arms and carry them in their bosom. They are not hirelings, but are faithfully leading the lambs of Christ into the green pastures and by the still water. They are doing this because they believe that their Good Shepherd bought them with His blood, bought them with His tears, bought them with His thorny crown, bought them with the agonies of Calvary. They reckon, therefore, that their ministry is a debt which they cannot choose but pay.

“You link yourselves with men and women who look to Jesus Christ and say: ‘Thy love to me is wonderful,’ with Christian teachers whose holy calling requires the long and penetrating look of faith. To be a teacher worthy of the name given to Him, Who was called ‘A Teacher sent from God,’ you must understand by faith that not until you yourself have passed in at heaven’s gate and beheld its lofty thrones, not until the palm of victory is in your own hands and a blood-bought crown is on your own head, not until you walk the streets that are paved with gold and join the songs of the heavenly choir, not until then will you full understand what you owe to the love of Christ, and why you may justly say: ‘thy love to me was wonderful!’ And on that day, when souls redeemed claim you as the friend who put their hands into the clasp of the Friend of sinners, then shall you better understand why I say that you are about to find yourself in a great tradition and a great ministry. . . .

“By the grace and mercy of our God, today you are declared fit to enter the great tradition of men and women who count it a joy to spend themselves and be spent in serving the people of God. You will find yourself working at the side of people who are earthen vessels of the treasures of His grace. They are far from the point of being perfect saints fit for a perfect heaven. They are sinful servants, and you, being what you are, will fit into their company. You will need to join them in daily intercessions for the pardoning grace of a faithful Father in heaven. . . .

“Go, then, to work for the God Who loves you; work for the Savior Who bled for you; work for the world that, sinking into its doom, needs men and women who have tasted of the Lord’s mercies and found that they are good.”
(Martin Luther Koehneke, My Sons and Daughters in Christ, addressing graduates of Concordia Teachers College, 1955)

I believe this fits hand-in-hand with the Chad Bird reading up there, the part about the preachers. My pastors fit firmly into the category of those that Koehneke describes in this address.

O Lord, who calls Thine own sheep by name, grant, we entreat Thee, that all whom Thou callest by the voice of conscience may straightway arise to do Thy most compassionate will, or abide patiently to suffer it. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Monday of the Week of Pentecost 2, Closing Prayer, Christina Georgina Rossetti)

“Lord, thank You that I am fully known and fully seen by You. Help me release the need for human approval and rest in Your constant presence. Teach me to walk in quiet confidence, trusting that my life matters deeply to You, even in unseen moments. Shape my heart to seek faithfulness over recognition, and obedience over applause. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
(Grant Fishbook, A Miracle Every Day)

Dear Lord Jesus…. Through your human heart we can catch a glimpse of the divine love with which we are loved and with which you yourself love us, because you and your Father are one.
It is so hard for me to believe fully in the love that flows from your heart. I am so insecure, so fearful, so doubtful and so distrustful. While I say with my words that I believe in your full and unconditional love, I continue to look for affection, support, acceptance and praise among my fellow human beings, always expecting from them what only you can give… O Lord, why is it that I am so eager to receive human praise and human support even when experience tells me how limited and conditional is the love that comes from a human heart.
(Henri Nouwen)

Father, I praise You for my pastors, who are, indeed, faithfully leading the lambs of Christ into green pastures and by the still water. Their love for Christ and His Word is unparalleled, in my opinion, and I am so very grateful that You have led me to this congregation. Keep me faithful to serve You in any way that I can, here, Lord.

And please help me to stop complaining about things.

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

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Christ Is the “Blessed”

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Sunday, the seventh day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church.

May the peace of God embrace you today and may You feel His love for you.

It is day 158 of 2026, with 207 days remaining in the year.

Day 24,923 of my life

21,630 days since I was baptized into Christ

Four days until the Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle

Today is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day!!! Woot!! That’s it. What more do we need?

Daily writing prompt
How do you build loyal subscribers?
View all responses

What? I don’t worry about that. I’ve said before that this whole thing originally started as an online journaling project (on a different site, many years ago). I couldn’t care less how many “loyal subscribers” I have. That being said, there are a few of you out there that I really love, who do at least look over here most days. I think you know who you are. I’m afraid to start tagging, because I don’t want to forget anyone. Anyway, I would keep writing this, even if there were no subscribers, on the hopes that one person might “randomly” stumble across this and maybe their life might be transformed.

This is my pebble in the lake, rippling outward. *wink wink nudge nudge* I hope that the person that that is directed at gets it. 💜

This morning went well. Yes, I have already been to church and back, had lunch, ordered groceries, and so on. It’s after 4:30 PM, at the moment. I will still paste in the “morning” prayers, though, as this is still reflective my morning Jesus Time. Church was good. In fact, the more I reflect on it, the better it was. The sermon was great (although the pastor said it was better in the early service), the music was good, and I always love getting to read the Scripture readings. And, of course, there was Communion, which is always wonderful.

C and I may go get some ice cream soon. Maybe CHOCOLATE!!

My first cup of coffee, this morning, is CAFE Olé by H‑E‑B Medium Roast Cinnamon Hazelnut. This favorite of mine is back in the Favorite Five lineup. My second cup is Crème Brûlée, by Angelino’s, another new flavor for me (I think . . . I don’t remember ever trying this one, before). “Creamy vanilla bean custard flavored coffee.” It has a lovely aroma and a very nice flavor. Lunch today was from Pizza Buzz. Love their pizza!

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)

Heavenly Father, this is the day of resurrection and rest. Thank You for this day to hear Your living Word and obtain the blessed Sacrament of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! Forgive me all my sins and prepare me rightly in heart and mind to joyfully receive all Your generous gifts so that I may serve You well in Your kingdom. Bless all pastors who powerfully proclaim the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection that all may come to repentance and new life! Bless Your church throughout the world in order that it may be a burning lamp, attracting all who see it to You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Sunday Morning)

God of wisdom and love, source of all good, send your Spirit to teach us your truth and guide our actions in your way to peace. We ask 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, Sunday of the Week of Pentecost 2, Opening Prayer)

Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God. . . . 

For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.
(Psalms 90:2, 4 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the opportunity to gather with the community of saints to worship the Lord, hear the absolution of my sins declared, and be fed with Word and Sacrament, as His Word is preached and His Body and Blood shared in Holy Communion
  2. For the opportunity to read His Word in today’s worship service
  3. That from everlasting to everlasting, You are God
  4. That the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6)
  5. That this day, my life, and all things belong to You, Lord
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 73:1-12

Truly God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pangs until death;
    their bodies are fat and sleek.
They are not in trouble as others are;
    they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
    violence covers them as a garment.
Their eyes swell out through fatness;
    their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff and speak with malice;
    loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens,
    and their tongue struts through the earth.
Therefore his people turn back to them,
    and find no fault in them.
And they say, “How can God know?
    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Behold, these are the wicked;
    always at ease, they increase in riches.
(Psalms 73:1-12 ESV)

Untamed Prayers, I Was Envious of the Arrogant, by Chad Bird

Bird begins this one by quoting Matthew 5:8 (which, ironically, is the You Version VotD today): “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” And in Psalm 73:1, Asaph writes that God is good to those who are “pure in heart.” But we have a huge problem. Our hearts are anything but pure. And Asaph, himself, even illustrates this with his struggle with envy. “He almost sulks because unbelievers have it way too easy on this life (73:4-12).”

But why should we care about the success of the unrighteous?? Why does that matter to us? Ultimately, it is because, in our flesh (remember Romans 8:6 up there?) we desire what they have. That is the very essence of envy . . . Desiring what someone else possesses. Do we even stand a chance?

“Indeed, we do, when we stand beneath the one who himself was pure in heart for us. There is no clearer picture of the fulfillment of all the beatitudes than our Lord on the cross: poor in spirit, mourning, meek, pure in heart, being the blessed one that we, by faith in him, might be blessed, too. Let us repent, therefore, of our envy, the impurity of our hearts, and cast ourselves upon the mercy of Jesus, praying, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God’ (51:10).”

That right there was a little bit of a “whoosh” for me, this morning, as I reflected on Jesus’s fulfilling of His own teaching. 💜

“Here’s a picture of the bad ones I once envied:

Everything came easily: they did not need
To work to make their living, want
A catchy line, an angle to find lovers or companions
At the dining table: tan and fit from laps and basking
Poolside, they order drinks and gaze at the deep sky,
Chuckle at the devil, protest unjust god:
Superstitions meant for dimlit losers.
They eat the land bare, suck the ocean
Dry as though they had it in their goblet, tall
And frosted, with their tongues’ tips swish
Strong currents of the deep.”
(Excerpt from Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 73, AS IF)

I keep getting these reminders, over the past few weeks, that we are not required to be “striving” or “working” for this life. It is Spirit-led . . . we are, of course, to be walking in the Spirit. But Christ wants to do it all for us, via His “easy yoke.” I had more of that today. In the You Version Bible plan, From Lost to Loved: A 30-Day Study of Romans 8, we focused on Romans 8:6, today.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
(Romans 8:6 ESV)

First, let’s remember that the “righteous requirement of the law” has been fulfilled in those of us who are baptized into Christ. But here, Paul gives us some advice about where we set our minds, upon what we set them. The mind set on the flesh is “a life obsessed with comfort, control, and self-preservation. It preaches peace through escape or achievement.

“But the mind set on the Spirit is entirely different. It lives awake to God’s presence and responds to His prompting. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just comfort, He reforms. He reshapes how we think, what we value, and how we walk. Life in the Spirit isn’t just sin avoidance or behavior modification; it’s the presence of a new inner life.”

This is all rooted in the Gospel of Christ. The world around us defines peace as “escape or numbness, but . . . Anything short of Spirit-given peace is death disguised as calm. True peace is the settled assurance that even in the storm, you belong to God.”

My life is not anchored in striving, but in Spirit-given peace.

And then, the reading excerpt from For All the Saints, this morning focused on Mary and Martha, from the Luke 10 passage.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

“The mental states of Mary and Martha were analyzed. The two sisters were equal in their love of the Lord but differed in temperament. Mary was ravished by the words of the Master. Martha was flitting about the house that nothing should be lacking to perfect hospitality. Martha, well knowing that her sister could never be detached from the feet of Jesus, did not chide her, but in a way remonstrated with Jesus for so charming her sister that she neglected to do what needed to be done. ‘Master,’ she said, ‘don’t you care that my sister leaves me to do all of this alone? Tell her to help me. I know she won’t leave you unless you tell her to, so entrancing are your words. But the dinner must be made ready and one pair of hands is not enough.’ Then the Lord, who was delighted with the devotion of both women, did not chide the attachment of Mary, nor did he blame the complaint of Martha, though he leaned to Mary. ‘Martha! Martha!’ he said, ‘Don’t be so worried about getting the dinner and all worked up about many things. Mary has chosen the better part, to forget the things of the body and to be concerned for the things of the soul. I am grateful to you for preparing the dinner for me and my disciples, but to save souls is my meat and drink. The things of the body will pass away when “that which is perfect is come.” At the same time, those who do as you have done will not lose their reward. They feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and entertain strangers. Yet those who attend to the one thing needful do more. But let no one complain of another, for each serves according to the gift received from God.'”
(Desiderius Erasmus, Erasmus of Christendom translated by Roland Bainton)

Notice that third sentence. It really caught my attention. “Mary was ravished by the words of the Master.” Mary, the one who didn’t strive, didn’t work, and boy is Martha upset about that! Don’t we see that in our world today, as well? The people who strive really don’t like the ones who like to just sit at the feet of Christ and soak Him in, those of us who are “ravished by the words of the Master.” That is so me. I love His Word. His Word is Truth; His Word is Life. Where else can I go?? Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life!! And oh, how I cherish those words!!

Lord God, source of light and life, by the light of your truth let the virtuous know your goodness and sinners feel your mercy, so that together they may drink from your river of delight and rejoice now and ever in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(For All the Saints, Prayer following Psalm 36)

“I place this day into Your hands because it already belongs to You anyway.
I exchange my plans for Yours.
Yes, I want to pay attention to the voice of the Holy Spirit today.”
(Déborah Rosenkrantz, A Miracle Every Day)

My Jesus, I praise You for Your Words. Thank You for making me love them so much! Thank You, Lord, that when I hear truth preached and sung, it makes my heart burn within me, literally. Now, Lord, I pray that You help me to disperse my pebbles wisely, that the ripple effect of the Gospel of Christ would spread and spread, affecting all around me. Whether it is through this writing, or through songs that I sing, or prayers that I pray, or through the words of my mouth as I speak to people, O let Your Word go forth in its power an glory, affecting all who see and hear. All to Your glory, O Lord!

I thank You that You are the “blessed” one in the Beatitudes, Lord Jesus! Yes, we should try to live as they describe, but You already did it for us! And then, Lord, as we are crucified with You and then baptized into Your life, we no longer have to strive or work for any kind of approval. We don’t have to work or strive for forgiveness, for You have already won it. Our Father loves us as we are, because we are brothers and sisters of You, Jesus! Oh, how I love You!! Thank You, thank You, thank You!

In Your holy, precious, and beautiful name I pray. Amen! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

Because Jesus!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Two Paths

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Saturday, the sixth day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church. It is Saturday After the Holy Trinity.

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
(2 Peter 1:2 NRSV)

It is day 157 of 2026, with 208 days left in the year.

Day 24,922 of my life

21,629 days since I was baptized into Christ

141 days until Reformation Sunday

Today is National Drive-In Movie Day. We had one of those in my home town, when I was but a lad. I still remember the first movies that I saw there. In fact, the two movies that we saw that night (they always showed a double feature) are the first movies I ever remember seeing. We saw The Rounders and First Men in the Moon (based on the H.G. Wells story). My love for Science Fiction was manifesting early, because, while I remember virtually nothing about the first movie, I remember quite a bit about First Men in the Moon. It had quite an impact on me.

It is also National Yo-Yo Day. Sadly, I no longer have one of those. I got fairly good at it back in my Jr. High years.

Daily writing prompt
Share a proverb you think is completely wrong and make your case.
View all responses

There are plenty of those. The first one that comes to mind has been very popular in the last decade or so. “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Pure and utter “BS.” Also not in the Bible. This was featured in our recent sermon series on things that Jesus didn’t say. The reason it is wrong is actually quite logical. If God didn’t give us (or allow) more than we can handle, we would not need Him, would we? The erroneous “proverb” comes from a legit verse in 1 Corinthians.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)

A bonus false “proverb” is “God helps those that help themselves.” You mean like that thief on the cross when Christ was crucified? You mean the way he “helped” himself? Here’s the thing. Hang on . . . Gospel coming. Before we come to Christ, we are dead. Not “sick.” Not “weak.” DEAD.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
(Ephesians 2:1 ESV)

What can a dead person do to help themself?? I used to hear “gospel” presentations that said something to the effect that sharing the Gospel of Christ with someone was like throwing a life preserve to a drowning person. But we are not drowning. We. Are. Dead. Already drowned. It’s too late for life preservers!

God helped us when we couldn’t help ourselves!

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Ephesians 2:4-9 ESV)

Anyone who knows me very well knows that my two favorite words in Scripture are “But God.” And grace? My favorite definition of grace is “God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves.”

Today is an off Saturday for me. S and I will be attending a birthday party today, in McKinney, about forty miles from where we live (or something like that, depending on the route). It’s a party for a young lady who, like Stephanie, is autistic. She is delightful and loves Disney and Peanuts. And Karaoke, apparently. Should be a fun party. I’m not looking forward to the drive, though. I don’t think we can get there without driving through Dallas. The only thing I dislike more than driving in Dallas is driving in Houston.

My first cup of coffee, this morning is CAFE Olé by H‑E‑B Taste of San Antonio. “For a trio of cinnamon, chocolate and vanilla flavors, try CAFE Olé by H-E-B Taste of San Antonio coffee.” My second cup is Hazelnut Creme, by Angelino’s, another new flavor for me, from a variety box I got. “Creamy hazelnut flavored coffee.” It’s good, but the flavor isn’t very strong. I have no idea what tonight’s dinner will be. I didn’t plan on burgers because of the party, not knowing what time we would be home. We will probably pick something up on the way home.

JESUS TIME

Father, today is another gift from You. Every good thing I enjoy is from You, and I thank You for Your abundant blessings. All I own is Yours, to be used for Your good purposes and especially for the good of others. Where I would take these blessings and use them selfishly, move me instead to generosity, kindness, goodness, and love. Among the greatest gifts You’ve given me are the people in my life—especially my family, friends, and neighbors. I want them to know Your love and to feel cared for and blessed when they are with me. Fill me with Your Spirit that they see Jesus through me today. In His name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Saturday Morning)

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. That Christ dwells in my heart through faith
  2. That I am rooted and grounded in love
  3. That I know this love of Christ that is beyond knowing
  4. For the love of friendships
  5. For the peace that Christ gives us (John 14:27)
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?

You Version Bible Plan – From Lost to Loved: A 30-Day Study of Romans 8

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
(Romans 8:5 ESV)

There are two paths described in this verse. “The way of the flesh and the way of the Spirit. One leads to chaos and death while the other leads to life. The false gospel always flows from a flesh-focused mind; one that exalts self, craves control, and tries to hijack heaven for gain. The true Gospel crucifies the flesh and renews the mind.”

It is important to note, also, that the comparison here is not between two types of Christians. It is a comparison between the Christian and the non-Christian. “Following Jesus is not a lifestyle enhancement. Christ is not a spice we sprinkle to improve the dish. He is the meal.”

I want to briefly revisit the verse from Psalm 113 that was mentioned yesterday.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of the LORD is to be praised!
(Psalms 113:3 ESV)

First off, I will say that I only did “okay” at that, yesterday. But I suppose one cannot be expected to instantly excel at the attempt to develop a new habit. I do feel that I was mildly more cognizant of His presence during the day, but failed to remember to give Him praise throughout the day.

To add to that, today, I’m simply focusing on the truth that we should praise Him, not just because of all the blessings He lavishes on us, but just because He is God. Lift praise to Him because He is the Lord! And most especially when we cannot feel His presence. I know that He is always here; but my heart doesn’t always feel it. And it is in those times that we should praise Him even harder.

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)

Lord, I thank You for the peace that you leave with us, daily. Help me to walk in that peace, as I walk in Your Spirit, daily. Help me to remember to praise and thank You throughout this day, sometimes just because You are who You are. I thank You that You brought me to life, Lord. I thank You for the grace that led me to Christ and brought me into Your kingdom. I praise You for my baptism back in 1967, when I was baptized into Christ, securing my place at Your table.

Thank You for the friendships that You have brought into my life, Lord. I thank You for my family, as well. For parents who taught me to love You, from my childhood. For a wife who loves me and is devoted to me, as I am to her. For children who love us, Lord.

May You bring healing and peace to all who need it today, my Father. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, I pray, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

From the Rising of the Sun

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Friday, the fifth day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church. It is Friday After the Holy Trinity.

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

It is day 156 of 2026, and there are 209 days left in the year.

Day 24,921 of my life

21,628 days since I was baptized into Christ

Sixteen days until Father’s Day

It’s National Fish and Chip Day. If you can run down an On the Hook food truck today, I would highly recommend it. They serve up some delicious fish and chips, as well as some darned good New England Clam Chowder. And by “run down,” I mean “find.”

It’s also National Donut Day AND National Sausage Roll Day! If I had known that, I would have stopped at a donut shop on the way to work!

Daily writing prompt
Do you believe in soulmates? Why or why not?
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Actually I do. And I believe there are different kinds of soulmates. I do believe that my wife, C is my soulmate. The first time we ever met, there was obviously a connection between us. And that connection has lasted over forty years. Soulmates don’t have to be romantic, though. They can also result in some deep friendships. I believe that my pastor/friend/sister is a “spiritual soulmate,” having bonded in Christ. I think my library bestie is also a sort of soulmate. As for the “why” portion of the prompt . . . because I have experienced it.

Today is a normal Friday. C is working from home, and I am at the library computer center, from 9:15-6:15 today. My first cup of coffee, this morning, was Cinnamon Twist, by Angelino’s. “Cinnamon infused flavored coffee.” The second cup was French Vanilla, also by Angelino’s. “Nutty vanilla flavored coffee.” It was my first time to try that flavor, and it was good. Tonight’s dinner will be Meal Simple by H‑E‑B Chicken Alfredo Penne Pasta, along with the ubiquitous Caesar Salad and garlic Texas Toast. Last night’s Cowboy Spaghetti was quite good, and I’m having some of the leftovers for lunch today.

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) 

Heavenly Father, the week has been long and arduous as I tended to the many needs in front of me every day. It is so tempting to let self-pity direct my day. Give me grace for this day, I pray. Help me to faithfully perform the tasks and duties before me. Keep me attuned to the needs of others instead of turned inward to my own wants. Help me be aware of how You are at work in the lives of all people I encounter today, and enable me to respond with grace and kindness in all situations so that I reflect Your love and point people to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Friday Morning) 

Show us thy ways, O Lord; teach us thy paths: thou who art always the same in thy coming, yesterday, today, and forever. On thee do we wait. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Friday After the Holy Trinity, Opening Prayer) 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  
(Jeremiah 29:13 ESV) 
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  
(1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV) 
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  
(Matthew 5:6 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the promise of filling to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness 
  2. For the encouragement that I get from other believers; may I be faithful, in turn, encourage and build up others (may we all be more about building up than tearing down) 
  3. For the promise that we may find the Lord when we seek Him with our whole heart 
  4. That the righteous requirement of the Law has been fulfilled in me (Romans 8:4); I do not have to strive for it 
  5. That I belong to the Lord; I am not my own; this day also belongs to Him, because “this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” 
  6. For Jesus Christ, highly exalted above all things in all of Creation, given all authority in heaven and on earth 
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?

A Miracle Every Day 

From the rising of the sun to its setting,  
    the name of the LORD is to be praised!  
(Psalms 113:3 ESV) 

Is it unrealistic to think that we can praise the Lord from the beginning of the day to the end of it? This reminds me of Paul’s admonishment to us, in Thessalonians. 

pray without ceasing,  
(1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV) 

I used to look at that verse and shake my head, thinking, “That’s not possible.” But when we consider prayer to be a lot like breathing, maybe I was wrong. How many prayers do I breathe out in the course of a day? How many times to I mumble, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” under my breath. In, out; in, out. 

Praising Him can be the same, can’t it? This verse reminds us Who this day belongs to! This verse reminds me Who I belong to!  

I belong to the Lord; I am not my own. He owns me! 

This is the day that the LORD has made;  
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.  
(Psalms 118:24 ESV) 

Déborah Rosenkrantz, who wrote this devotional, paraphrased Psalm 133:3. “From the place where my problems begin, to the place where they disappear, I will lift up the name of the Lord everywhere.” 

For All the Saints, Friday After the Holy Trinity 

“Take my instruction instead of silver,  
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,  
for wisdom is better than jewels,  
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.  
 
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,  
    and I find knowledge and discretion.  
The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.  
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil  
    and perverted speech I hate.  
I have counsel and sound wisdom;  
    I have insight; I have strength.  
By me kings reign,  
    and rulers decree what is just;  
by me princes rule,  
   and nobles, all who govern justly.  
I love those who love me,  
and those who seek me diligently find me.  
Riches and honor are with me,  
enduring wealth and righteousness.  
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,  
and my yield than choice silver.  
I walk in the way of righteousness,  
in the paths of justice,  
granting an inheritance to those who love me,  
and filling their treasuries.  
(Proverbs 8:10-21 ESV) 

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 
 
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. 
 
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 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. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. 
(2 John 1-11 ESV) 
 

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 
 
He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. 
(Matthew 12:1-14) 

“In this brief summary the statement of Scripture can be understood: the Son of Man has received eternal power, has been anointed above all His brothers, has been given all authority, all power, and all strength, or all omnipotence and rule in heaven, on earth, or anywhere; has received the name which is above every name; His flesh is life-giving and worthy of adoration (for nothing is life-giving and worthy of adoration which does not have the praise, the name, and the substance of the eternal omnipotence); the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin; the Seed of the woman crushes the head of the serpent; in the seed of Abraham the people are saved; Christ is made higher than the heavens and sits as Lord at the right hand of God in the council of the Trinity; and He has received all judgment and many other gifts. Each one of these statements refers to the assumed and exalted human nature of Christ, to which are given and communicated these divine gifts and properties so that in, with, and through it they shine forth, reveal themselves, and accomplish their work, and they do so in no other way. Those who deny or contradict these matters in the least degree do not have God. As John says: ‘Everyone who turns away and does not remain in this doctrine does not have God, but he who remains in this doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, nor bid him Godspeed; for he who bids him Godspeed is a partaker of his evil deeds.’ (2 John 9-11)” 
(Nikolaus Selnecker, Preface to The Two Natures in Christ by Martin Chemnitz) 

After reading this excerpt, I had even more desire to do what Ms. Rosenkrantz encouraged in A Miracle Every Day, and that is to worship this Christ from sunrise to sunset and beyond. Christ is truly everything!

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers 

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.” So we can confidently say, 
“The Lord is my helper; 
    I will not fear; 
what can man do to me?” 
(Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV) 

“My say-so is to be built on God’s say-so.” In the reading, the emphasis is placed on two phrases in those two verses; “He has said,” and “So we can confidently say.” And truly, that is the crux of the matter. He has said, so we can say. But it has to be in that order. When I am tempted to fear, I must take a deep spiritual breath and remember God’s say-so, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Says Chambers, “The only way to get the dread taken out of us is to listen to God’s say-so.” 
 
As indicated, the order is important. It is necessary that I only say things after listening to God. Too often, we are guilty of saying things and then “trying to make God’s word fit in.” We have to listen to Him first. My say-so must echo His. 

Finally, in Walking in Grace 2026, one of my favorite Psalms verses was featured.

You make known to me the path of life; 
    in your presence there is fullness of joy; 
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  
(Psalm 16:11 ESV) 

Edward Grinnan wrote about looking for “clues of God’s presence in my daily life . . . the tangible wonder of God’s presence.” I am never alone. That is God’s say-so, and that is why it is important for me to honor Psalm 113:3!  

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. 
(Psalm 23:1-6 ESV) 

One thing have I asked of the Lord, 
    that will I seek after: 
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord 
    all the days of my life, 
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord 
    and to inquire in his temple. 
(Psalm 27:4 ESV) 

O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. 
 
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. 
 
O Lord Jesus, we praise Thee, that Thou did come among us, a gracious gift to the ungrateful race of men, and, undismayed by our sin and blindness did live out Thy life of holiness and power, bringing health and peace to all who came to Thee. 
 
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, for Thy loneliness and failure, for Thy stress of spirit and Thy strong prayer, for Thy Cross upon the hill, for Thy death that gives life, for Thy life that overcomes death, we worship Thee our Lord and Master, our Saviour and Redeemer. 
 
Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Friday After the Holy Trinity, Closing Prayer, A Book of Prayer for Students) 

Thank You, my Lord, that You have promised to never leave nor forsake me, and on that “say-so,” I can rest. In this is my strength, as I purpose to praise Your name from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. In the name of Christ is all things. In Him all things were created, including me. In Him, we are all ransomed from the grave, and in Him, You own us all. I gladly submit to this ownership and will, by Your Spirit, base all of my “say-sos” on Your say-so.

My soul is stirred, my heart is burning within me, as I consider the preeminence of Christ in all things. He is worthy, dear Lord God Almighty! He is worthy of all praise and glory, and I will give Him that. He is my life; He is everything, and in Him I live and move and have my being. My identity is in Him; my worth is in Him; “He declares my standing, and He declares my state . . . I belong to the Lord, I am not my own.”

And it is in His holy and precious and beautiful name that I pray, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Praise His name all day!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Rooted

Jeff3 Comments

Today is Thursday, the fourth day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church

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

It is day 155 of 2026, and there are 210 days left in the year.

Day 24,920 of my life

21,6127 days since I was baptized into Christ

Seventeen days until Father’s Day!

Today is National Hug Your Cat Day. Well. I’d better get busy. I think I can manage all the ones in the house, but I don’t think the strays in the back yard will allow it.

Oof. It is also National Cheese Day. I could hug one of those, too. But I would rather eat it. And I generally eat some cheese every day. I also usually hug at least one cat every day, too.

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you’d love to see in the future, but know you probably won’t live to witness?
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I’m not sure I can come up with a good answer for this. I mean, the standard answer would be something like “world peace,” and I’m sure I won’t live to witness that, because it isn’t going to happen. None of the things that I would love to see in the future are going to happen in this life. It doesn’t mean that I should stop praying for/working toward them, though.

Today is a normal Thursday for us. C is at the office, and I am off work. I don’t have anything scheduled for today, but I will be taking S to get her injection in a little while. C has an ultrasound, this morning, ordered by her doctor’s office, as we continue to try to get a handle on the weird things that are going on with her. But she was feeling/sounding much better, yesterday evening, so that was a blessing.

My first cup of coffee, this morning was Jamaican Me Crazy, by Angelino’s. “Caramel, vanilla, & chocolate flavored coffee.” The second cup was Midnight Mocha Blueberry, also by Angelino’s. “Dark chocolate covered blueberry flavored coffee.” My favorite of their limited editions. It’s still on the menu, but currently out of stock. But I have another whole box of it behind the one I’m working on. I believe I will be having one of my new flavors tomorrow morning.

Tonight’s dinner will be Cowboy Spaghetti, one that seems to have been popular among my family. I tone down the heat a little bit, though. I’m not sure what we will have with it. Probably some canned veggies.

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)

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Thursday After the Holy Trinity, Opening Prayer, Book of Common Prayer)

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
(1 Chronicles 29:11-13 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the peace of Christ, that passes all understanding
  2. For the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty of our God
  3. That I am rooted in Christ and I find my identity in Him
  4. That I am being transformed into His image, “from one degree of glory to another,” by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18)
  5. That Christ will never leave me nor forsake me
  6. That the Lord is my helper, therefore, I shall not fear; what can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:6)
  7. That His grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)
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 72:1-7

Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge your people with righteousness,
    and your poor with justice!
Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness!
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the children of the needy,
    and crush the oppressor!

May they fear you while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth!
In his days may the righteous flourish,
    and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
(Psalms 72:1-7 ESV)

Untamed Prayers, Like Showers that Water the Earth, by Chad Bird

Chad Bird opines that this prayer has been written by David, over his son, Solomon. The Hebrew title at the beginning could either mean “by” or “of,” indicating “about” or “for.” In face, in the KJV, the title says, “A Psalm for Solomon.” But it is more than just a psalm or prayer for David’s immediate offspring. “David, being ‘a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne’ (Acts 2:30), wrote Psalm 72 also about his coming descendant.” So when we pray Psalm 72, we are certainly able to envision Solomon, Israel’s next king, but we should, “more importantly, see King Jesus, in whom this psalm transitions from black and white to full color.”

The “poor” that are mentioned in verses 2 and 4 are the “afflicted and humble, the very people to whom Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matt. 10:28). . . .

“In the Messiah’s kingdom, he is ‘like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth,’ for he satisfies our deepest thirst, suffusing us with his own life (72:6). In him, ‘the righteous flourish’ and peace abounds, for in Christ we are made the people that our Father always desired us to be. We are rooted in him. We find our identity in him. Beholding our King by eyes of faith, we ‘are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’ (2 Cor. 3:18).”

My son, keep my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you;
keep my commandments and live;
    keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and call insight your intimate friend,
to keep you from the forbidden woman,
    from the adulteress with her smooth words.
(Proverbs 7:1-5 ESV)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. . . .

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
(1 John 5:13-15, 20 ESV)

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:25-30 ESV)

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

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.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”(Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

“We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God’s say–so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.”

And during those “ordinary days,” where do my thoughts turn to? Do they turn to what God says or to what I fear? And here’s the thing . . . even though I have been delivered, by Christ, from fear, in general, our enemy, the devil, doesn’t just give up and go away. He doubles down. Mornings like today, he doesn’t “whisper” lies into my ears. He screams them, he shouts them, he mocks me and taunts me.

The devil is a bastard.

But God is good and He is faithful, and, as the writer of Hebrews says, He will never leave me nor forsake me. And He faithfully drew my mind away from those fears onto Himself. You’ll notice that I have more gratitude points than usual today. All of them came through the thing with which I was grappling, this morning. And if you go back up and read that bit from Chad Bird, the defining moment was when I read his words, “We are rooted in him. We find our identity in him. Beholding our King by eyes of faith, we ‘are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’ (2 Cor. 3:18).”

Once I acknowledged that, and gave the appropriate thanks for that, it was revealed to me that the thing I was being foolishly fearful of was not reality.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)

All Holy Trinity,
Have mercy on us,
Lord,
Cleanse us from
Our sins.
Master,
Pardon our
Iniquities,
Holy God,
Visit and heal
Our infirmities for
Thy Name’s sake.
Amen.
(For All the Saints, Thursday After the Holy Trinity, Closing Prayer, Anonymous)

Lord, I praise You that I am rooted in You! You have shown me this and proved it beyond any doubt. You have demonstrated, faithfully, to me that my identity is found in You and not in anything else. My identity is not found in my work, my marriage, my family, or in any other relationships. You, my Jesus, are responsible for my life; You are responsible for my growth, my transformation, my maturity. It is by Your Spirit and Your Word that I am alive, and You are transforming me into Your image, “from one degree of glory to another.” The thing is, I look at that statement and see “one degree” at a time. That means slow and steady. You are not in a hurry, because You know how much time there is. I don’t. That means that I HAVE to trust You, or I become a hot mess of insanity.

And I do, Lord. I trust You. I trust You with my life; I trust You with my wife and family and everyone else that I love. I trust You with my friends who do not know or acknowledge You. Help me to portray Your love to them in my daily interactions with them. I pray that they would know the depths of Your love and be swept up in Your grace.

Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness, especially when I am being foolish.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be
forever. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
    hallowed by thy name,
    thy kingdom come,
    thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
    and the power, and the glory,
    forever and ever. Amen.


Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Stay rooted!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

The Friendship and the Fear

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Wednesday, the third day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church. It is the Wednesday After the Holy Trinity.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

May He dwell within us all.

It is day 154 of 2026, with 211 days remaining in the year.

Day 24,919 of my life

21,626 days since I was baptized into Christ. One might wonder why I post this number every day. The primary reason is so that one of the first things I think about, after getting up, is that I am a baptized child of God. 💜

31 days until July 4th, Independence Day, which falls on a Saturday, this year. And, I would be scheduled to work that day, so I get an extra Saturday off!

Today is National Repeat Day. Is there something you really like to do? DO IT TWICE!!!

Today is National Repeat Day. Is there something you really like to do? DO IT TWICE!!!

Today is also Love Conquers All Day. You know I’ll get behind that. Apparently, the Roman poet Virgil (you know, the guy Dante followed into hell) coined the phrase in 38 BC. And while Scripture never says those exact words (another “Jesus didn’t say that” sermon?) what it does say is this:

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
(1 Corinthians 13:7-8 ESV)

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
(Romans 8:37 ESV)

Daily writing prompt
Do you believe in minimalism?
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“Believe in” is such a quirky phrase. Asking if I “believe in” minimalism is like asking if I believe in veganism. I believe that minimalism is a thing. Do I practice it? No. Am I a proponent of it? Not really. Maria Kondo, the queen of minimalism, famously said that we should have maybe no more than 30 books in our house. Pft. Later, she back-pedaled from that statement and said that she was misunderstood. Whatever.

I will say this, though. There is nothing wrong with de-cluttering. I, myself have way too much clutter in my life. And maybe someday I will try to do something about that. But honestly, I have more important things to do.

Today is a normal Wednesday, at least in the “new normal” phase. C is at the office, and I am off work. S and I do not have choir practice tonight. I need to make a trip to CVS to pick up my Mounjaro, so I will do that when I make the Sonic run, provided I manage to do that before 1:30 PM, because that is when the pharmacy department closes for lunch. I may put a fan together. And I will get some reading done. I’m currently reading Bridgerton: The Duke and I, by Julia Quinn. I am mildly alarmed at mow much I am enjoying this book! It is quite fun, and even better than the series was. Later today, I need to do my May reading recap (I don’t think I did one for April) on my other blog, The Constant Reader.

My first cup of coffee, this morning, is CAFE Olé by H‑E‑B Taste of DFW Medium Roast Coffee. This is, so far, my favorite of the Favorite Five, but not by much. “Offering the delicious flavor of caramel, chocolate and pecans, CAFE Olé by H-E-B Taste of DFW coffee is a medium roast variety.” My second cup is Costa Rica Volcanica, by Angelino’s. “Silky cacao, tropical fruit, & vibrant citrus notes.” Dinner tonight will be simple. Meal Simple, in fact. I did not intend for that to happen when I started the previous sentence. We’re having Meal Simple by H-E-B Chicken Noodle Soup, with grilled cheese sandwiches. My family loves this meal, and this is one of their favorite soups. Tomorrow, I will cook something from scratch.

JESUS TIME

Our Father who art in heaven, give us this day our daily bread. Dear Lord, God and Father, grant us Your blessing in our temporal and physical life. Graciously grant us blessed peace. Protect us against war and disorder. Grant to our president success against our enemies. Grant him wisdom and understanding to administer his duties and office in peace and happiness. Grant to all elected and appointed leaders good counsel and the will and ability to preserve this land and this people in tranquility and justice. Especially aid and guide the governor of this state, under whose protection You have sheltered us, so being protected against all harm, the administration may be blessed and we can live free from evil and disloyal people. Grant to all the people to serve our leaders loyally and obediently. Grant to all of us diligence in our vocation and charity in our dealings with one another. Grant us favorable weather and good harvest. I commend to You my house and home, spouse and children. Help me to manage my household well and support and educate my children as a Christian should. Defend us from the destroyer and his wicked angels, who work against us, looking for every opportunity to harm us and cause mischief in this life. Amen.
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 52, Wednesday Morning)

Heavenly Father, I have again entered the morning of midweek. Help me be appreciative of every morning You give me, no matter what day of the week. Help me see each day as an opportunity to serve and glorify You. To that end, send Your Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide me during my various routines and during the fulfillment of my vocations, that all may be done out of love and concern for others. Help my words and actions so that through them Christ may be glorified and magnified, that those near me may realize that by Your grace I am His sibling. In His name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Wednesday Morning)

Almighty and everlasting God, since you have given us, your servants, grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith, and to worship the true Unity in the power of your divine majesty, keep us also steadfast in this true faith and worship, and defend us ever from all our adversaries; for you, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Wednesday After the Holy Trinity, Opening Prayer)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
(Jude 1:20-21 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life
  2. That I don’t have to schedule an appointment with God; He is always with me, always available
  3. That my lips shout for joy, and my soul also, which You have redeemed (Psalm 71:23)
  4. For friendship; both that of humans in my life, and that of the Lord (Psalm 25:14)
  5. That those friendships “sharpen” me (Proverbs 27:17)
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 71:19-24

Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.

I will also praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    my soul also, which you have redeemed.
And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
    who sought to do me hurt.
(Psalms 71:19-24 ESV)

Untamed Prayers, Who Is Like You?, by Chad Bird

The psalmist, in verse 19, asks that question, “O God, who is like you?” The question, of course, is rhetorical. Our God is peerless. There is none like Him. The confession that follows that question is quite stirring. “You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again” (20-21).

“How perfect is that? The psalmist, who began this autobiographical psalm by praising the god upon whom he learned from birth, now looks forward to the horizon of the resurrection, when his body – and our bodies – formed by God in the womb will be reformed and glorified to mirror the body of Jesus.

“. . . Who is like you? No one. You are peerless in power, in grace, and in promise, Lord Jesus. Our lips should shout for joy as we sing praises to you; our souls, also, ‘which you have redeemed’ (71:23). From womb to tomb to the glorious day of resurrection, you are our God.”

Yes! You are my God, and I belong fully to You!

“Closer to the end, I always trusted
Life continues, though at times
The outlaw bands surrounded me
On horseback in the open plains,
Fired repeated shots
And no rock, no cave, no cliff nor cover near.
Since childhood, I have survived
Their godforsaken consultations,
A young man born to rule
Himself, and others. Now white hair
Wisps, my grip slack on the walking stick,
And people when they look at all
See baggy suit, large knuckles folded
One upon the other, don’t quite catch
The name, the choice that made me
What I am.
                   I lift my head up
From the table doze. Late afternoon
In winter sunlight floods our benches
Anchored to the traffic islands.
My companions ply their canes,
Beat time while sitting, but I sing
Because I’m able: God
                  Of Israel, still twang
           The evening string, my soul
Caught sweetly in the longer shadows:
Darkness swallows up confusion
Baking gravel smooth around the ruin.”
(Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 71, OLD)

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
(Psalms 25:14 ESV)

It is interesting that the KJV, which Chambers quotes in the “classic” version of MUFHH, says it this way:

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him;
    and he will shew them his covenant.
(Psalms 25:14 KJV)

Chambers speaks of an intimacy with God that is so close that we are privy to His “secrets.”  “Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys, or are we telling God our secrets so continually that we leave no room for Him to talk to us?”

Later in the reading, Chambers quotes verse 12.

Who is the man who fears the LORD?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
(Psalms 25:12 ESV)

As we get closer to God, we find that we don’t need to ask Him, so often, what His will is. We are guided by our “ordinary choices,” and, if we begin to choose something that He does not want, His Spirit will check us.

As I continued reading my other devotionals, this morning, I was led to read the following passages.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV)

Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another.
(Proverbs 27:17 ESV)

When I read the Ecclesiastes passage, my thoughts were immediately drawn to my wife, who is also my best friend. And this passage is frequently quoted at weddings, or in regard to marriages, and I believe that is fitting. Together, she and I have, along with Christ, that “third strand” in the “threefold cord,” built a life. It is a beautiful life. It is not perfect, but it is beautiful. And I am grateful for her, grateful for us.

I have other friendships that have and are sharpening me. Hopefully, I have sharpened them, as well.

But going back to MUFHH, I know that Jesus is my Friend, just as I know that He is my Brother. All those years that I thought I was an only child, Christ was my Brother! He, too, has sharpened me, and He does show me His “secrets,” although they really aren’t secrets, because anyone can know them if they just take the time and effort to draw near and experience His intimacy.

Thank You, my Jesus, for Your Friendship. Thank You for being my Brother. Or, perhaps, I should say thank You for making me Your brother! I also thank You that You have given me the proper fear of God in my heart and life. Not “fear” as in “I’m afraid of You,” but the fear of awe and the utmost respect. On the other hand, I think it is right and proper that we should, at times, be afraid. Not because we think You are going to do something bad to us, but more just because of Your awe-inspiring power and might.

Anyway, thank You, Lord. And truly, there is no one like You. Not even close. And while I have experienced many troubles and trials in my life, I know that You will “revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.”

I thank You, Lord, for my wife and the life that You have given us and built with us. I pray for her healing, Lord. May Your healing hands be upon her, even as I am typing these words. I love her, Lord, as I have told her, more than anyone but You. She is the most important person in my life. I trust in You to hold her and keep her, Lord, and to open up her heart, pouring Yourself into her, and let her be swept up in Your grace.

I pray for ongoing transformation and maturity in Your Spirit, Lord, and that You would continue to mold me by Your beautiful Word until the day that I stand in Your presence. I pray for that day to be hastened, Lord. But in the meantime, show me the path that I should walk, and let me know that fullness of joy that exists in Your presence, for all of my days.

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

Grace and peace, my brothers, sisters, and friends.

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Overflow

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Tuesday, the second day of June, 2026, in the Season of the Church.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

It is day 153 of 2026, with 212 days left in the year.

Day 24,918 of my life

21,625 days since I was baptized into Christ

Nineteen days until Father’s Day

Today is International Volkswagen Bus Day. I would have liked to have owned one of those, once upon a time. What a symbol of the “summer of love.”

Daily writing prompt
What’s a moment in your life that felt like it was straight out of a movie?
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Not too long after my wife and I got married, when we lived in the first house we rented together (what a dump, too), in the middle of the night, one night, C got up to go to the bathroom. Something, probably a noise that she made, stirred me from my sleep, and I didn’t realize she wasn’t in the bed. Suddenly, a shadowy figure walked through the door into the room. I sat bolt-upright and screamed, “Aah! Aah! Aah! Aah!” She jumped up and down and screamed, “It’s me! It’s me! It’s me! It’s me!” It was at that moment that I realized that I would be probably the first to die in a horror movie. We still laugh about that moment.

Today is a normal Tuesday around here. C is at the office, and I will be working at the library from 4:15-8:15 tonight.

Today’s first cup of coffee is CAFE Olé by H‑E‑B Snickernut Cookie Medium Roast Coffee. It is my last cup of that flavor, and will be replaced by Cinnamon Hazelnut, next round. The second cup is Moka Java, by Angelion’s. “Full-bodied with nutty and chocolate notes.” Today, I will be making lunch for Mama, S, and me, and C will have her portion for dinner tonight. It will be Meal Simple by H‑E‑B Chicken, Rice & Broccoli Casserole, along with the usual Caesar Salad, and garlic Texas Toast.

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)

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep us, we pray, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with free hearts those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Tuesday After the Holy Trinity, Opening Prayer)

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
(Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the assurance of Christ’s return to save us who are eagerly waiting for Him
  2. For the promises of answered prayer (knowing, though, that the answer may not always be in the form or the time frame I am hoping for)
  3. That there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)
  4. For the love of God, the source of all of our love for one another; if we abide in His love, we will love one another . . . we can’t help it
  5. That Christ wants to do everything in me and for me; I simply need to surrender and stop striving; “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14)
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 71:7-18

I have been as a portent to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
    forsake me not when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak concerning me;
    those who watch for my life consult together
and say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue and seize him,
    for there is none to deliver him.”

O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!
May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come;
    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
(Psalms 71:7-18 ESV)

Untamed Prayers, Old Age and Gray Hairs, by Chad Bird

Many things get better with age. Cheese and wine, for example. People, for the most part, are not among those things. In the words of Thomas a Kempis, “If it is a fearful thing to die, it may be perchance a yet more fearful thing to live long.” (The Imitation of Christ) Bird writes, “Some, while living long, have souls shortening, wrinkling, withering into small and grotesque chambers full of nothing but the gasping wheezes of ego.”

Egad.

I, myself, have often been heard to say things like, “I almost hope I don’t live that long.” Easy for me to say, because I have a hope of an imperishable, incorruptible inheritance in Christ.

The psalmist, after beginning his autobiography “in utero,” now fast forwards to old age with statements like, “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent” (v. 9), and “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come” (vv. 17-18).

“He is a marvel, a portent, an example of a believer who trust that, no matter what, the Lord’s innumerable ‘deeds of salvation’ are his haven of rest (71:15). Grant, dear Father, that such a confession of faith in your loving, faithful, rescuing Son may be our legacy, as we praise you and proclaim your saving ‘power to all those to come’ (71:18).”

For All the Saints, Tuesday After the Holy Trinity

“Get wisdom; get insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
(Proverbs 4:5-9 ESV)

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
(Proverbs 4:18 ESV)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
(1 John 4:7-21 ESV)

Charles Haddon Spurgeon compares our love for one another to a huge fountain in a city square, with multiple levels of water cascading down. Yes, there is water in the fountain, but it must come from a larger, deeper source. “Thus the love we have to our fellow-creatures drops from us like the descending silvery cataract from the full basin, but the first source of it is the immeasurable love of God which is hidden away in His very essence, which never changes, and never can be diminished. Herein is love! If you and I desire to love our fellow Christians and to love the fallen race of man, we must be joined on to the aqueduct which conducts love from this eternal source, or else we shall soon fail in love!

“Observe, brethren, then, that as the love of God is the source of all true love in us, so a sense of that love stimulates us. Whenever you feel that you love God you overflow with love to all God’s people; I am sure you do. It is when you get to doubt the love of God that you grow hard and cold; but when you are fired with the love of the dying Saviour who gave Himself for you, you feel as if you loved every beggar in the street, and you long to bring every harlot to Christ’s dear feet; you cannot help it. Man, if Christ baptizes your heart into his love, you will be covered with it and filled with it.”
(Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Humility and How to Get It)

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Who is the man who fears the LORD?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
(Psalms 25:12 ESV)

Chambers asks the question, “What are you haunted by?” Everyone is haunted by something, either by ourselves or by an experience. But Chambers says we should be haunted by God. “The abiding consciousness of the life is to be God, not thinking about Him. The whole of our life inside and out is to be absolutely haunted by the presence of God. . . . So we are to live and move and have our being in God, to look at everything in relation to God, because the abiding consciousness of God pushes itself to the front all the time.”

If this is true of us, “nothing else can get in, no cares, no tribulation, no anxieties.” This is why Christ emphasized worry so much. “How can we dare be so utterly unbelieving when God is round about us?” (Emphasis added)

This flows quite well along with my realization, yesterday, from the book of Leviticus, that my heart is His altar, and that I must keep the fire burning, non-stop, never allowing it to be extinguished. And then, last night . . . as I was about to fall asleep, I had a bit of an epiphany (I call them “whooshes”). You see, Christ wants to do everything. I am still striving too hard, trying to hard to “do better,” to “be better,” when all I need to do is surrender. And if my abiding consciousness is God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so much so that I don’t even have to think about Him, but He is always there, surrounding me, then He accomplishes everything for me!

Christ invites us into His “easy yoke.” And when we step into that yoke with Him, He takes our burden from us! And since He is all-powerful, then that yoke is easy, that burden is light to Him!

Indeed, how dare I be “so utterly unbelieving when God is round about” me!! Have mercy, Lord!

Blessing and honour, thanksgiving and praise
more than we can utter be unto thee,
O most adorable Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
by all angels, all men, all creatures
for ever and ever Amen and Amen.
To God the Father, who first loved us,
and made us accepted in the Beloved;
To God the Son who loved us,
and washed us from our sins in his own blood;
To God the Holy Ghost,
who sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts
be all love and all glory for time and for eternity.
Amen.
(For All the Saints, Tuesday After the Holy Trinity, Closing Prayer, Thomas Ken)

My Lord, I thank You for all that You have been pouring into me, recently. I acknowledge Your desire to do all for me and in me. I know, Lord, that it is not about what I desire, but about what You have determined; it is not about what I want, but about what You will. Help me to rest in this, Lord, to rest in Your will. It is about loving Jesus, His Word, and walking with Him in His easy yoke!

Help me to surrender, Lord! Utterly and wholly surrendered to You, Your Word, and Your will for my life. Help me to stop striving, and to stop beating myself up when my striving fails, as it always will, because I am an imperfect human. But You, Lord, are perfect in all of Your way; You are good and You do good. Haunt me, Lord!

I do believe! Help my unbelief!

May Your flow into me, like the waters into a fountain, and may it overflow on to everyone around me, Lord.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Resting in His Will

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Sunday, the thirty-first (and last) day of May, 2026, in the Season of the Church. It is Holy Trinity Sunday. 💜

“May the peace of God wrap around you
As you’re held in His love
May He meet you with hope and healing and truth
As You’re held in His arms.”
(Held, Dana Miller and Megan Tibbits)

It is day 151 of 2026, with 214 days left in the year.

Day 24,916 of my life

21,623 days since I was baptized into Christ.

154 days until All Saints Sunday

I’ve already mentioned that today is Trinity Sunday. It is also National Smile Day. I think you know what to do.

Daily writing prompt
What’s the first book you ever finished and still remember to this day?
View all responses

That’s a tough question, y’all! I mean, I’m, like 68 years old! Sadly, my reading list only goes back to April of 1974. The first book on my list was People of the Mist, by H. Rider Haggard. Number two was The Hobbit. But I remember books before that. For example, I remember one called Fortunately, Unfortunately. I also remember one called either I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly, or I Know An Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly. And, of course, remember Harold and the Purple Crayon. But the first “real” book I read? Not a clue. I remember reading Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and Ray Bradbury around time that list started.

I’ve already been to church and back. I’ve picked up groceries and ordered our lunch to be delivered. Church was marvelous, this morning. The sermon was great, our last one in the Red Letters series, and this one, finishing up the chapter on things that Jesus didn’t say, dealt with the well-meaning, but erroneous phrase, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” I really love the way our pastor treated this one, and will share the sermon as soon as it gets broken out into its own video. I was assisting minister, this morning, which is always a very meaningful job to do.

My first cup of coffee this morning is Cinnamon Twist, by Angelino’s. “Cinnamon infused flavored coffee.” My second cup is White Chocolate Marshmallow, a limited edition from Angelino’s, which is, sadly, no longer available. It was my favorite out of that variety box, and I just made my last cup of it. Lunch is coming from MAD Mexican Grill, in Keller. Oh, by the way. By the time I finished this, my new box of coffee was delivered. 96 pods in four smaller boxes of flavor varieties! Let the flavor fun begin!! Well, it will be a few days before I get to one of the new flavors.

This week’s coffee cup

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)

Eternal God, we believe You are a unity, which means we believe You are not only one God but a unified plural—the Trinity. Help us never to lose this central faith, confessing that our creating Father is God, that the Son who died for us is God, and that the Spirit who sanctifies us is God. Guide our hearts to confess that there are not three Gods, for You, O Trinity, are a unity. In Your holy name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, The Holy Trinity, May 31)

Lord Jesus, even as John the Baptist confessed You by leaping for joy in his mother’s womb, so guide us in the womb of the church to joyfully confess You because, for us, You became incarnate in the womb of the blessed Virgin. And even as John would later confess You to be the sin-removing Lamb, bless us with the same confession. In Your name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, The Visitation, May 31)

Heavenly Father, this is the day of resurrection and rest. Thank You for this day to hear Your living Word and obtain the blessed Sacrament of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! Forgive me all my sins and prepare me rightly in heart and mind to joyfully receive all Your generous gifts so that I may serve You well in Your kingdom. Bless all pastors who powerfully proclaim the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection that all may come to repentance and new life! Bless Your church throughout the world in order that it may be a burning lamp, attracting all who see it to You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Sunday Morning)

Father, you sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us to worship you, one God in three persons, by proclaiming and living our faith in you. 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, Trinity Sunday, Opening Prayer)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the opportunity to gather with the saints, this morning, worship Your holy name, be filled with Your Spirit, and be fed by Word and Sacrament; may Your Word go forth as intended and not return to You empty
  2. For the opportunity to sit at Your feet in daily devotion; may I be filled by Your presence as I rest in You; may I be more like Mary than Martha
  3. That I am blessed because I trust in You; may I be like that tree, planted by streams of water
  4. That Your grace is sufficient for all things, and that in my weaknesses, You are shown to be strong
  5. For the Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God in three persons; holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty!
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?

Most of what I want to share today comes from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. But I want to throw in a couple other things, just because I can’t help but make this thing too long. One of the things I read today featured this verse.

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:41-42 ESV)

Most of us are familiar with the story behind these two verses. I find that I am more like Mary and always have been. I want to sit at the feet of Jesus and just soak Him in.

Then I have the Psalm of the Day, which is Psalm 70, today, along with the accompanying devotional by Chad Bird.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
    O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let them be put to shame and confusion
    who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt!
Let them turn back because of their shame
    who say, “Aha, Aha!”

May all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
    say evermore, “God is great!”
But I am poor and needy;
    hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
    O LORD, do not delay!
(Psalms 70:1-5 ESV)

Bird says that the first verse of this Psalm may be the most prayed verse in all of the psalms. “In the early centuries of Christianity, this opening verse of Psalm 70 was used by Egyptian monks as the unceasing prayer of the heart. Those who follow the Rule of St. Benedict have prayed this verse seven times a day for 1,500 years. In the traditional prayer services of Anglican, Lutheran, and other Protestant churches, Ps. 70:1 has been a standard feature for centuries. More literally, this verse reads, ‘God, to deliver me, LORD to my help, hurry!’ Telling God to shift out of granny gear and to get moving may seem to some of us a bit brazen, but not to the psalmist. Six times in the psalms, the poet implores God to ‘Hurry!,’ using this same Hebrew verb.

“So when getting dressed for the day, driving the kids to school, working, exercising, relaxing, or whatever you happen to be doing, pray these words. Like incense, they will rise to the throne of God. Purified by Jesus, they will be a welcome fragrance to the Father. It’s hard to imagine a verse that more accurately, succinctly, and fervently sums up what we need (help and deliverance), from whom we need it (our God and Lord), and when we need it (quickly, now). ‘Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!’ and he will.”
(Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird)

Here is Laurance Wieder’s take on that psalm in a poem called “QUICKLY.”

“Hurry, carry me away
From those who wish me ill and hurt.
Give them confusion for dessert.
Stump them with flusters as they go
            ‘Tsk, tsk.’
Let all who look outside themselves
Make happy choices, bless their chances:
But I have nothing, now, so help me
            God, do not delay.”
(Words to God’s Music, Laurance Wieder, Psalm 70, QUICKLY)

Finally, here is the devotional from MUFHH.

But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
(John 2:24-25 ESV)

  • Put God First in Trust. “If I put my trust in human beings first, I will end in despairing of everyone; I will become bitter, because I have insisted on man being what no man ever can be — absolutely right. Never trust anything but the grace of God in yourself or in anyone else.”
  • Put God’s Needs First. “Behold, I have come to do your will.”  (Hebrews 10:9 ESV) “When God’s needs in us have been met, then He will open the way for us to realize His needs elsewhere.”
  • Put God’s Trust First. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” (Matthew 18:5 ESV) “Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be manifested in my mortal flesh.”

I have been in the situation where I put trust in humans before trust in God. It never ends well. Like Chambers says, I begin despairing of everyone. I become bitter, “because I have insisted on man being what no man ever can be.” And now, I am still waiting on God’s needs in me to be met, so I can realize His needs elsewhere. I was in a hurry, it seems, to get on with things, but I sense that He is simply not ready for that. For one thing, I still have some transformation to go, because I still insisted on people being what they can never be! So I move on to the third point, allowing my natural life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling of life of the Son of God.

To quote my pastor, this morning, “It’s not about what we desire; it’s about what He determines. It’s not about what we want; it’s about what He wills . . . It’s about loving Jesus!.”

I will rest in His will.

Dear God: Speak sweetly in my silence. When the loud external noises of my surroundings and the loud internal noises of my fears continue to drive me away from you, help me to trust that you are still there, even when I cannot hear you. Grant me ears to hear Your serene and gentle voice, which says: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest […] for I am gentle and humble of heart.” May this loving voice be my guide. Amen.
(Henri Nouwen)

Glory be to Thee, O most adorable Father, who after Thou had finished the work of creation, entered into Thy eternal rest.

Glory be to Thee, O holy Jesus, who having through the eternal Spirit offered Thyself a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, did rise again the third day from the dead, and had all power given Thee both in heaven and on earth.

Glory be to Thee, O blessed Spirit, who proceeding from the Father and the Son, did come down in fiery tongues on the Apostles, on the first day of the week, and did enable them to preach the glad tidings of salvation to a sinful world.

Glory be to Thee, O holy undivided Trinity, for jointly concurring in the great work of our redemption, and restoring us again to the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

Glory be to Thee, who in compassion to human weakness, hast appointed a solemn day for the remembrance of Thy inestimable benefits.

Amen
(For All the Saints, Trinity Sunday, Closing Prayer, John Wesley)

Thank You, my Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for Who and What You are! We will never comprehend You, O Holy Trinity, until that day when we stand before You, and we then, as Paul declares, know as we are known, which is fully and completely. Until that day, my Jesus, I pray for ongoing transformation and maturity by Your Holy Spirit, and I pray to be continuously molded by Your Word! You are the “gardener,” and I pray that You prune away anything that does not accomplish Your will in me. If it grows and is good, please let it stay.

Thank You for my faithful pastors and their adherence to Your Holy Word. Your Word is Truth; Your Word is LIFE. May I rest in Your will and Your Word until You are ready to do something else with me. Use me however You deem necessary, even unto death, My Lord and Savior.

In Your holy, precious, and beautiful name I pray, amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Rest in His will!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!