Tag: Just Jesus

Just Jesus

Jeff1 Comment

Today is Wednesday, the sixth of May, 2026, in the fifth week of Easter.

May the peace of Christ surround you and yours today and every day!

It is day 126 of 2026, with 239 days left in the year.

Day 24,891 of my life

Only four more days until Mother’s Day

Woohoo! Today is International No Diet Day! Put away those diets (unless they are for legit health reasons, of course . . . don’t eat bananas if they will kill you) and that body-shaming mentality and enjoy the day!

Daily writing prompt
What super power do you wish you had and why?
View all responses

I feel like I’ve answered this before. Are we repeating questions? There are several that I’ve thought about whenever this topic comes up. I don’t want to be able to fly. I don’t really care to have super-strength. Too many people would want me to do stuff for them. I’m already going to be “immortal,” someday. But being impervious to injury or pain would be nice. But I think invisibility still wins for me. Sometimes, one just doesn’t want to be seen. It really would come in handy if someone were looking for you, you know? Like if that really annoying patron walks in the library. POOF! I’m invisible, so they go bother someone else, right? LOL!!

Today is a mostly normal Wednesday around here. C is working on putting a bookshelf together. We needed a new one for a corner up in the front of the house, as the old one is falling apart. This one is one of those revolving ones. It won’t take up as much physical space, but will hopefully hold the same amount of books. She is thinking about going back to work next Thursday. I hope she can do that. She still hurts, but feels some better. I’m off work, as usually, for Wednesday, and will be deciding if I feel enough better to go to choir practice tonight. I definitely feel better than yesterday morning. We both slept until after 9:00, this morning!

Please keep praying for my friend. She is still waiting on a surgery time, as they are “working her in.” They have told her that it will probably be early afternoon today. But last night, they said it would be this morning. And she can’t eat anything, now, because it could happen at any time. If you missed last night’s prayer request, she has appendicitis.

My first cup of coffee, this morning, is Cinnamon Twist, by Angelino’s. “Cinnamon infused flavored coffee.” A simple coffee with a fantastic flavor. Definitely one of the Favorite Five. My second cup is Golden Peach Cobbler, also by Angelino’s, a limited edition. “Peach cobbler flavored coffee.” Quite delicious. Tonight’s dinner will be the Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole, which is C’s favorite thing that I make.

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)

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your devoted servants who spread the Good News of Your death and resurrection and preach the forgiveness of sins. Provide faithful pastors and bless congregations who honor the pastoral office and support their ministers, even when they stumble. Help missionaries understand the peoples they are sent to and present the Gospel in a culturally relevant way while staying true to sound doctrine. Give pastors and missionaries strength and courage in the face of persecution. Be with me and all members of Your family as we encourage those You have called to these positions. I pray this in Your name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Wednesday Morning)

Father of all holiness, guide our hearts to you. Keep in the light of your truth all those you have freed from the darkness of unbelief. 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, Wednesday of the Week of Easter 5, Opening Prayer)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Philippians 4:8 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. That Christ, through His Word, breathes life into me, continuously; His Word is Life
  2. That because the Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack for nothing (Psalm 23)
  3. For the peace that just a few moments of silence and meditation can bring
  4. That He will keep us in perfect peace if we keep our minds fixed on Him
  5. That we are called to make disciples of Christ, not converts to our own opinions
  6. That His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways
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 60

O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; oh, restore us.
You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair its breaches, for it totters.
You have made your people see hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.
You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

God has spoken in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
(Psalms 60:1-12 ESV)

Untamed Prayers – With God We Shall Do Valiantly, by Chad Bird

“The psalms do not hesitate to name names, to speak of the enemy when speaking to God. There is a lesson there, both of specificity, honesty, and humility. One of us prays, ‘Lord, my enemy is pornography; vain is the salvation of man, but you will tread down my foe.’ Another prays, ‘Father, my foe is alcohol; I cannot save myself, but you shall do valiantly, you will tread down that foe.’ What is yours? Name it. Confess it. Bow in humble repentance. Christ will raise your head, speak words of life and forgiveness into you, and give you help against the foe. Yes, vain is the salvation of man, but the gospel of Jesus is ‘the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes’ (Rom. 1:16).”

I can speak from experience to the validity of this. My “enemies” have never been flesh and blood, never been human beings. And if we fall into that trap, as many people have done, believing that people who don’t share their political ideology are their “enemies,” we have completely lost our way.  God has done valiantly in my life, and delivered me from many enemies. We are still working on a few more, but God is good and He is working, and I am confident, as Paul said, that He will finish what He began in me.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
(Galatians 5:1 ESV)

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
(John 5:39-40 ESV)

The standard that we follow should be Christ and Christ alone. Yes, we get the measure of that from Scripture, but Chambers cautions us, rightly so, against demanding that others follow our own interpretation of Scripture.

“Always keep your life measured by the standards of Jesus. Bow your neck to His yoke alone, and to no other yoke whatever; and be careful to see that you never bind a yoke on others that is not placed by Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us out of the way of thinking that unless everyone sees as we do, they must be wrong. . . . Jesus said, ‘Go…and make disciples,’ not ‘make converts to your opinions.'”

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

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Philippians 4:8 ESV)

Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in thy presence will prevail to make!
What heavy burdens from our bosom take,
What parched grounds refresh as with a shower!
We kneel how weak! We rise how full of power!
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others, that we are not always strong.
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy and strength and courage are with Thee!
Amen.
(For All the Saints, Wednesday of the Week of Easter 5, Closing Prayer, Richard C. Trench)

Father, help me to keep my eyes, heart, and mind fixed on Christ my Savior. Help me to never demand that my fellow human beings follow or believe my own opinions about things. In fact, this is why I constantly pray that my opinions about things will be set aside, for the sake of others. You tell us to always consider others as more significant than ourselves, Lord, and if I am doing that, then I will not be demanding that they think like me or believe like me. Let me follow only Jesus and present Him and Him crucified and resurrected to the world around me. My opinions are not part of the job description.

I praise You that Your thoughts and ways are so much higher than mine. You are God; I am not. ‘Nuf said.

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!!!

A Future

Jeff1 Comment

Today is Tuesday, the twenty-fourth day of March, 2026, in the fifth week of Lent.

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 the 83rd day of 2026, and there are 282 days remaining in the year.

Five days until Palm Sunday (and R’s birthday . . . gifts have been sent)

Day 24,848 of my life

Today is National Each Person is A Person of Worth Day. As a Christ-follower, I translate that into a belief that everyone I encounter is created in the image of God, and, therefore, is a person of worth.

Daily writing prompt
What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?
View all responses

I certainly don’t have any “secret skills or abilities.” Although I do seem to be able to cause the traffic light to turn red just as I am approaching. The number of times I am first in line at the light is unnerving, even amusing (except when I’m in a hurry). And this is a lot like wishing I had a “superpower.” I wish that I could completely close myself off from distractions for set periods of time. I wish I could manage my time better. I’m chronically late for things. Not a lot, mind you, just a few minutes. Sometimes, I wish I could make myself not care about some things. But Jesus won’t let me do that.

Today is not a normal Tuesday. C is working from home, still, but I will not be working my usual four-hour shift tonight. I will be working that shift Thursday, this week, as the other computer center guy wanted to switch with someone. I said, sure, why not? So I’ll be working Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday, this week. I don’t really have anything else on my agenda for the day, other than the obligatory trip to get Sonic drinks.

Willow is doing well. She seems to be recovering from getting spayed just fine. Here’s a pic from after she got home, yesterday evening.

She managed to take her cone off within minutes. Fortunately, C had ordered these post-surgery “onesies,” to use instead of the cone of shame.

JESUS TIME

Again, O heavenly Father, You have granted me strength to rise to the tasks of the day. I thank You for Your mercy and love. Without Your power upholding me I should be unable to live. Give me a spirit of gratitude for all Your gifts. Above all, dear Father, keep me grateful for the gift of the forgiveness of all my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ, Your Son and my Savior. Grant that whatever need, whatever sorrow may beset my day, my faith in this forgiveness may remain steadfast and firm. Let not grief or pain, no doubt or gloom, come between me and the certainty of Your love. If it is Your purpose to try me this day with difficulties for the body or the heart, grant that I may, by Your Spirit, conquer in this trial and hold fast to Your mercy, knowing that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory You have in store for me. Make Your Word my joy, Your counsel my guide, Your presence my peace; in Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 22, 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)

Lord, help us to do Your will that Your Church may grow and become more faithful in Your service. 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, Tuesday of the Week of Lent 5, Opening Prayer)

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:13-14 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the living water, always satisfying, never disappointing
  2. For the free gift of God, eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Lord
  3. That, as a “man of peace,” there is a future for me (Psalm 37)
  4. That every prayer I’ve ever prayed, every cup of water given to a thirsty person, ever word of encouragement spoken . . . every action echoes into eternity as a “legacy” that I leave behind (Chad Bird, Untamed Prayers)
  5. That Christ must increase in me as I decrease
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 37:34-40

Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
   and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
   you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
   spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
   though I sought him, he could not be found.

Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
   for there is a future for the man of peace.
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
   the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
   he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
   he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
   because they take refuge in him.
(Psalms 37:34-40 ESV)

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird

Oddly enough, when I read this passage from Psalm 37, this morning, the verse that caught my attention was verse 37, “Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.” One reason that it caught my attention was that I consider myself to be a “man of peace.” One of the tasks that I believe Christ has given me in the past year is to be a peacemaker, a “repairer of the breach” (Isaiah 58:12). So I read this psalm and I think, yes, there is a future for me. Not only a future on this earth, until I am finished with the “good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [I] should walk in them,” but also a future in heaven.

While it is acknowledged that “you can’t take it with you,” Chad Bird also acknowledges that “what we leave behind is not insignificant. We are building up a legacy that will remain in this world.”  I have to confess that I see that statement and I’m skeptical. Me? Building a legacy. “Li’l ol’ me??” According to the psalmist, yes.

“‘There is a future for the man of peace . . . the future of the wicked shall be cut off” (37:37-38). The man of peace waits for the LORD, keeps his way, takes refuge in God, and is saved (37:34, 40).”

“In ways ordinarily imperceptible to us, the Spirit is it work in every Christian to leave behind a legacy. Every prayer we pray we’ll never die in silence but echo unto eternity in the heart of our Father. Every cup of water held to the lips of the thirsty; every word of encouragement spoken to the careworn; every boy or girl we teach to sing, ‘Jesus loves me, this I know . .’; every tiny deed done in love defies time by remaining forever. There will be people resurrected on the last day, who joined Jesus for all eternity in the new heavens and new earth, because the Spirit used you to bring the good news of salvation to them. How’s that for a legacy? There is a future for the man, woman, and child of peace, for all those who are in the Savior, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Lord Jesus, use us in this world for the good of our neighbor and the glory of your name, that when we depart in peace, our legacy of faith and love will remain to bear fruit and abundance.”

What this says to me is that there will be far-reaching consequences to my actions while on this earth, both good and bad. Therefore, I need to be very aware of what I say and do around anyone. You never know what kind of legacy you are leaving behind in your wake.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
(Mark 9:42-50 ESV)

I believe that this passage from Mark goes along with my psalm reading. If any action of ours causes someone else to sin, the consequences are not good. I will admit that I do not know how to reconcile this with our eternal salvation, and probably need to have a conversation with my pastor about it. But consider this, you who claim to follow Christ: if your self-centered opinions cause someone to abandon Christ, what do you think should happen? Do you not bear any responsibility? We are certainly in an era of a lack of accountability, from the top down, it seems. But God does not see things the way we do. All of my sins have been paid for by Jesus Christ. But I am still, somehow, accountable for every thought, word, and deed that I think, say, or do. And that is worthy of great consideration, and, perhaps, fear and trembling, as Paul tells us that we are to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling.”

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
(John 3:30 ESV)

Here is a sobering statement! “If you become a necessity to a soul, you are out of God’s order.” And I think that, though Chambers doesn’t say this, the opposite is true. If a soul is a necessity to me, then I, too, am out of God’s order. I have grappled with this question many times, over the past year? Is my pastor/sister/friend a “necessity” to me?? What would happen to my walk with Christ if she were no longer here?

While there may have been a time when my spiritual existence would have been threatened if such a thing happened, I no longer think that. Jesus and I have worked through this issue, I believe. I love my sister. But she is not Jesus (a representative of Him, for sure); she has not “saved” me, although I have credited her with saving my life, a time or two. She is simply the one who brought me to Him in such a way that my life was eternally impacted.

But if something were to happen and she were no longer here, my walk with Christ would continue. Because it is Christ who is everything. It is He who has transformed me over the course of the last thirteen months, by His Spirit and His Word; His Word is Truth, and His Word is Life.

And I pray that I would never become a “necessity” in anyone else’s life, as well. Chambers goes on to say, “pray that they grow ten times stronger until there is no power on earth or in hell that can hold that soul away from Jesus Christ.” I believe that I am also getting to that point. This is not a boast in anything that I have done, rather it is a boast in His power.

John 3:30 says a lot in only seven words. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I say that a lot, just as I frequently say, “There is still too much Jeff in here.” There always be some me in here, because that’s who I am . . . I am “me.” But the “me” in here needs to be less than the Jesus in here, to the point that it is His will and His Words that must supersede mine, always.

O God, whose blessed Son steadfastly set His face to go to the city where He was to suffer and die; let there be in us this same devotion which was in Him. Forgive us, we beseech Thee, our many evasions of duty. We have held back from fear of men. We have ranked security and comfort higher than justice and truth, and our hearts condemn us. But thou, O Lord, who art greater than our hearts, have mercy upon us. Purge us from the fear that is born of self-concern. Beget in us the fear that we may be found wanting in loyalty to Thee and Thy purpose of good for mankind. Fill us with the compassion of Him who for our sake endured the cross; that we may be delivered from selfishness and cowardice; and that, dedicating our lives to Thy service, we may be used of Thee to help one another and to heal the hurt of the world; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Tuesday of the Week of Lent 5, Closing Prayer, Ernest Fremont Tittle)

My Jesus, You must increase while I decrease. There is still way too much Jeff in here, and I acknowledge this frequently. I pray for my self to decrease while You increase. Help me to always be aware of everything that I think, say, or do, and what kind of impact it might have, not only on someone’s earthly, present life, but on their eternity. I hope that there will be people that I have touched that I may not know about, this side of heaven. And I don’t need to know; but I do need to be aware of the possibility.

Christ, You are everything, and I am nothing without Your everything. Not only are You enough, You are the only enough. I thank You that Your living water fully satisfies me when I am thirsty, that nothing else does. May this always be true for me, Jesus!

I pray all of this in Your holy, precious, and beautiful name, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Christ Knows All

Jeff

Today is Saturday, the seventh day of March, 2026, in the second week of Lent.

May the peace and love of Christ flood your soul, today!

It is the 66th day of 2026, with 299 days remaining in the year.

293 days until Christmas!

Day 24,831 of my life

Today is National Sock Monkey Day. This is meaningful to me, because I have fond memories of a sock monkey at my Grandmama’s house, when I was a child. I have no idea what happened to that sock monkey, but it brought me a lot of joy.

Daily writing prompt
What is the last thing you learned?
View all responses

That my coffee cup is empty.

Seriously, though, the last thing I learned was probably yesterday (I haven’t really learned anything new, yet, this morning). And I’m still in the process of learning what I learned yesterday, which is the relationship between God’s Word and me. This is a powerful revelation that is sinking deep into my being. And this relationship is that the Word that God spoke to create worlds is the same Word that He speaks into me and my life. Therefore, it is authoritative and powerful. He tells me that I am His child, that I am loved, that I am forgiven, and many other things. Those words are true, and because He said it, it is true. This power of His Word even goes back to the two trees in the Garden of Eden, and the effects that they had. The impact of what was revealed to me, yesterday morning, is far reaching. I really have no clue as to the extent of it. I’m not even doing a good job of relating it, here, because it sounds like something that I should have known all along, and probably basically did, but had never quite made the connection that was made, yesterday morning. I’m sure you understand how things just suddenly “click,” sometimes.

Today is an off-work Saturday for me, and I have no other plans or obligations today. Other than to cook burgers for the family this evening, and likely go out to get Sonic drinks. And read. Gotta read. Maybe I’ll have some time for gaming, this afternoon. But S and I have to get up early tomorrow to get to church by 8:10, which will really be 7:10, because we are still changing our clocks twice a year and tomorrow is the “bad” change. And I have absolutely no interest in hearing anyone’s arguments about why DST is a “good thing.” No one has a clue why we do this, anymore.

JESUS TIME

Faithful Father in heaven, I have neither the power nor the ability to praise and thank You enough for all the loving-kindness that You have so graciously shown me my entire life. I am but flesh and blood that can do nothing but evil. Yet You allow an abundant flow of gifts to come to me every day, especially in the past night when You were my shield and my support. Were that not so, the power of the devil surely would have struck me so severe a blow that I could not have hoped to arise again in sound condition. Yet through Your gracious protection I have been defended in a manner unsurpassed. I beseech You from the utmost depths of my being that You would let Your grace flow over me and defend me. I am Yours by the blood of Christ, from now unto eternal life. Amen. Amen. Lord Jesus, take my soul into Your hands and let me be commended unto You. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 44, Saturday Morning) 

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

God our Father, by your gifts to us on earth we already share in your life. In all we do, guide us to the light of your kingdom. 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, Saturday of the Week of Lent 2, Opening Prayer) 

Search me, O God, and know my heart!  
   Try me and know my thoughts!  
And see if there be any grievous way in me,  
   and lead me in the way everlasting!  
(Psalms 139:23-24 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the blood of Jesus – what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus 
  2. For the Word of God; that which spoke worlds into existence, speaks Life into me 
  3. That I do not look to kings or warriors or horses for my rescue and salvation, but to Christ and Him alone (Psalm 33) 
  4. That the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, that He may deliver their soul from death (Psalm 33) 
  5. That “nothing can wedge in between the love of God and the soul of the saint” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest) 
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 33:13-19 

The LORD looks down from heaven;  
   he sees all the children of man;  
from where he sits enthroned he looks out  
   on all the inhabitants of the earth,  
he who fashions the hearts of them all  
   and observes all their deeds.  
The king is not saved by his great army;  
   a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,  
   and by its great might it cannot rescue.  
 
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,  
   on those who hope in his steadfast love,  
that he may deliver their soul from death  
   and keep them alive in famine.  
(Psalms 33:13-19 ESV) 

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird 

In John 2:24-25, it is written, “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.” (Emphasis added) 
 
Bird calls this knowledge “a soul-plumbing, mind-spelunking ability to peer into every inch of the human essence and psyche. It is a comprehensive comprehension to which only the Creator of humanity himself has access.” We see evidence of this comprehension in our passage from Psalm 33:13-15. Chad Bird notes the use of the word “all” four times in this passage. “We see some people, grasp part of their hearts, and are privy to a few of their deeds. God, on the other hand, gets us altogether.” 
 
What follows is this: “imperfect humanity is incapable of self-generated salvation” (16-17). “Power (king), training (warrior), and weaponry (horse) might be useful to get you places in this world, but they are useless when you leave this world. To ‘deliver [our] soul from death’ (33:19), we need someone with power over death. We need Jesus, who trampled down death when he strode forth from his short-term sepulcher. The Savior who himself knew what was in man, demonstrated his grace for every man, for every woman, for every child, in laying down his life for us, then taking it up again, that we might ‘hope in his steadfast love’ (33:18). All our hope is tethered and tied to Christ our God, who knows and loves us all.” 

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  
(Romans 8:35-39 ESV) 

” . . . the remarkable thing is that nothing can wedge in between the love of God and the saint.” The things Paul lists can affect our devotional lives, that much is true, “but none of them is able to wedge in between the love of God and the soul of the saint. The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross of Calvary, a love we never can and never shall merit. . . . 
 
“We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them . . . The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

But now thus says the LORD,  
   he who created you, O Jacob,  
   he who formed you, O Israel:  
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;  
   I have called you by name, you are mine. 
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;  
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,  
   and the flame shall not consume you.  
For I am the LORD your God,  
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 
(Isaiah 43:1-3 ESV) 

Here is a perfect example of what I have been learning over the last couple of days. This is God’s Word. He has spoken it. He has declared that He has redeemed me, called me by name, and I am His. When I pass through troubles, be they waters or fires, I will not be overwhelmed or consumed. Only the love of God can consume me. Nothing else can.  

Here’s another passage. God speaks. I listen, for that is my task for this Lenten season. 

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;  
   I will protect him, because he knows my name.  
When he calls to me, I will answer him;  
   I will be with him in trouble;  
   I will rescue him and honor him.  
With long life I will satisfy him  
   and show him my salvation.”  
(Psalms 91:14-16 ESV) 

O God, who hast made man in Thine own likeness, and who dost love all whom Thou has made, teach us the unity of Thy family, and the breadth of Thy love. By the example of Thy Son, Jesus, our Saviour, enable us, while loving and serving our own, to enter into the fellowship of the whole human family; and forbid that from pride or hardness of heart, we should despise or neglect any for whom Christ died or injure any in whom He lives. And, O Son of Man, as we thus seek with Thy help to walk in Thy ways, fulfill unto us Thy promise. In the hungry whom we feed, and the naked whom we clothe, may we indeed meet Thee, of a surety recognizing Thy presence, and rejoicing in Thy loving word, In as much as ye have done it to these, ye have done it to me. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Saturday of the Week of Lent 2, Closing Prayer, Monier Williams) 

O my Lord, in Your Word, You have spoken and said that nothing can separated me from Your love in Christ Jesus. As Chambers said, nothing is able to wedge in between Your love and my soul. Hallelujah, my God! Thank You for this Word and truth! I am more than a conqueror through Your Word . . . not by any power or weapon or physical training, but only by the power of Your Word, written and spoken into my soul. Let it be so, Father, that You might be glorified in all things! I can earn nothing of which You have gifted me, so I will not try. I will give thanks to You for everything, Lord, that You have given me. And I thank You for the Words that You have spoken into my soul. I am Your child; You have called me by name; You will never leave me nor forsake me; You are my Lord, my God, my Savior!

Because I hold fast to You in love, Lord, You will deliver me and protect me. And You will answer when I call, because I know Your name. You will be with me in trouble and You will always rescue me. However, I seek no honor, my Lord! I only want You. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing that I desire besides You. All I want is You, Lord!

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

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep from the well of the love of Christ!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

By Faith, Not By Sight

Jeff3 Comments

Today is Tuesday, the second day of September, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

“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 245 of 2025, with 120 days remaining.

Day 24,645 of my life.

Twenty days until the beginning of Autumn. Old man Summer is not going quietly, though. Yesterday wasn’t bad, with a high of 87, one degree lower than predicted. However, today’s high is now projected at 90, with 91 tomorrow and {gasp!!} 100 Thursday!! Egad! The record high for this date was 108, again, in 2000. The average high for the next ten days, thanks to resurgence of heat, is 86.3. Here’s to hoping the predictions are wrong for Thursday and Friday (99 for Friday).

Daily writing prompt
What does your ideal home look like?
View all responses

In the spirit of contentment, I will declare that my ideal home looks like the one in which I am living. We have loved this house ever since we moved in, and would literally change nothing about it (except maybe I wish we could put a cover over our deck in the back yard). This home has been ideal for us and will remain so until we leave this world. We have no plans to move, and it should be paid off in less than two years.

Yesterday was a fine day. I was really proud of C. As far as I know, she did absolutely no work, yesterday. After I got the groceries picked up and put away, C, Mama, and I played a game called Really Loud Librarians. It was so much fun!! It’s supposed to be a team game, so C and Mama were a team, and I was a team, even though there is no “I” in “team.” There is, however, a “me” in team, if you get creative. Anyway, they won two out of three games. The premise looks easy until it’s your turn and your brain freezes and can’t think of anything. I look forward to playing this game again. I think it would be fun with maybe six or eight people, but probably no more than that.

Today is a normal Tuesday. C is at the office, and I will be at the library from 4:15-8:15, working my four-hour shelving shift. There should be work to do, as the library was closed, yesterday.

JESUS TIME

On this Tuesday morning, dear God, I am thankful for Your mighty power. Your omnipresence is a comfort because, no matter where this day takes me, You are with me. In my car, at my desk, on my couch, wherever I am, You are there. Your omnipotence is a comfort because I know that all things are within Your power and nothing is beyond Your reach. Your omniscience is a comfort because I know You will handle any problem that comes up. Please help me remember Your might so that when I am confronted with anything today, small or large, I will go to You for answers, protection, power, and comfort. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Tuesday Morning) 

“Jesus be all that I want 
Jesus You’re all that I need 
Jesus be Lord of my life 
Jesus be everything” 

Jesus, You truly are all that I need. As I ask, seek, and knock today, I pray that I will know the beautiful nearness of Your presence. While I do desire the things that I pray for, what I desire the most is simply You; to know You, to be near You, to have You embrace me and completely fill my life and my heart with You. 

I am so grateful that Jesus reminded me, last week, that He IS everything! This truth has had such an impact on me since this past March.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  
(Matthew 7:7 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  • For this promise that Jesus gave to us 
  • That Jesus is all that I need 
  • That You, O Lord, have delivered my soul from sin and death 
  • For the joy of walking by faith, not by sight 
  • For the grace that has opened my eyes and heart to spiritual reality 
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?

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,  
on those who hope in his steadfast love,  
that he may deliver their soul from death  
and keep them alive in famine.  
 
Our soul waits for the LORD;  
he is our help and our shield.  
For our heart is glad in him,  
because we trust in his holy name.  
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,  
even as we hope in you.  
(Psalms 33:18-22 ESV) 

“Joy! For the beauty of Your holiness! 
Joy! For the constancy of Your truth! 
Joy! For the might of Your justice! 
Joy! For the goodness of Your heart! 
 
With all the citizens of Heaven 
I sing the wonders of Your name – 
with key, 
string, 
drum, 
voice – 
a merry racket; 
grateful praise for all You have done. . . . 
 
Joy! 
For I walk by faith, 
not by sight. 
Grant me the gift of awestruck wonder, 
that I may learn the limit of my knowledge; 
the number of my days; 
and trust You, 
leaning not on my own understanding. 
 
With great effort, I turn a phrase, 
but Your words make worlds. 
 
Joy! For the beauty of Your holiness! 
Joy! For the constancy of Your truth! 
Joy! For the might of Your justice! 
Joy! For the goodness of Your heart! . . .  
 
Your joy is an ambling brook; 
a river of gladness streaming from Your throne. 
My soul finds rest in its waters. 
I delight in trusting You. 
 
Joy! For the beauty of Your holiness! 
Joy! For the constancy of Your truth! 
Joy! For the might of Your justice! 
Joy! For the goodness of Your heart! 
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 33: The Sound of Joy) 
 

I tell you, that bit about walking by faith and not by sight was exactly what I needed to read, this morning. Such joy from this. And this entire prayer, inspired by Psalm 33, was absolutely beautiful, this morning. I praise Jesus for His joy in my life!

if you seek [wisdom] like silver  
and search for it as for hidden treasures,  
then you will understand the fear of the LORD  
and find the knowledge of God.  
For the LORD gives wisdom;  
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;  
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;  
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,  
guarding the paths of justice  
and watching over the way of his saints.  
(Proverbs 2:4-8 ESV) 

“All that my heart desires I see in You my God 
All that I’m longing for is found in You my God 
Your love flows like a river to my soul 
And You fill up my heart ’til it overflows” 

I know this song has been coming up a lot, lately. But it describes exactly what God has been doing in me since February. So I’m not sorry. Plus, these guys sound like Tears for Fears.

The following is from For All the Saints – Tuesday of the Week of Pentecost 12.

“Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church: and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” 
(Opening Prayer) 

“Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? . . . Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” 
(2 Samuel 7:18, 21-22 ESV) 

I really feel like I can echo this prayer of David, in my life, this year. Who am I that God has done such miraculous wonders in my life? He has done great things for me. I have asked, “Why me?” My pastor’s response, “Why not you?” 💜

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”  
 
And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.  
 
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”  
(Mark 8:22-33 ESV) 

“What must we do to read the Gospels with faith? It surely isn’t enough to believe that everything written there actually happened once: we owe that much respect to any book of profane history by a reputable author. To read the Gospels with faith is to believe that everything in them is actually happening now, that they’re a book of revelation, a book of discovery, that, far more than a history, they’re a prophecy. They tell us who we are and what we’re doing. They tell us how God lived among men. 
 
“But God continues to live with us. He’s always the same, and so are we. What the Gospels relate is still going on today. They show us our life, how God loves us and how we treat Him – how we mistreat Him, too. So we mustn’t read them like ancient history, a pious memoir, a sentimental pilgrimage, but like the revelation they are: a revelation of God and of ourselves. We’re announced, foreseen and prophesied in them, and we’ve only to find the right place, the words that concern us and are spoken directly to us.” 
(Reading IV: Louis Evely, That Man Is You) 

I found this reading to be very interesting, and worthy of meditating on, further.

“Dear Father in Heaven, as you revealed to the apostle Saint Peter the blessed truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, strengthen us in that same faith in our Savior that we too may joyfully confess that there is a salvation in no one else, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” 
(Lutheran Worship) 

And this from New Morning Mercies, by Paul David Tripp.

“Grace causes us to be alive to God and causes our eyes to be open to spiritual realities we once had no capacity to see.” 

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,  
 
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,  
nor the heart of man imagined,  
what God has prepared for those who love him”—  
 
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.  
 
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  
(1 Corinthians 2:6-16 ESV) 

Paul Tripp calls this a “that says it all” passage. It points out our inability to “know all that we need to know in order to be what we’re supposed to be and to do what we’re supposed to do.” We simply cannot do these things by “personal experience and collective research.” We can only receive this wisdom by revelation. “God first reveals this wisdom to us in his grand redemptive book, the Bible, and then he opens our eyes and our hearts so that we can receive and understand what he has revealed.”  

This, I believe, goes hand-in-hand with the reading excerpt from Louis Evely up there, about the Gospel being not just history, but current events, as well. God is still working . . . this is the reality. As my pastor once said, sin is real; hell is real; but God’s grace is “realer.” And heaven is our ultimate, eternal, spiritual reality. But these are things that can only be seen by God’s grace.  

Father, who can contain the depths of Your love? Yet You pour it in and pour it in, until I am overflowing, Lord! I praise You for the joy that continues to flood my soul and overflow from it. I pray for protection against the devil’s schemes, which attempt to steal this joy, Lord, and are sometimes even successful when I find myself to self-absorbed and quit looking to Jesus for everything. I praise You for the beauty of Your holiness, for the constancy of Your truth, the might of Your justice, and the goodness of Your heart. In all of these things I find great joy, Father, as long as I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of my faith.

Indeed, Lord, I walk by faith and not by sight. You reminded me of this, this morning, and it was exactly what I needed. Of course, You knew that, and that is why it appeared in front of me. I pray that You always help me remember that, so that my soul does not become troubled or cast down. Help me to always remember to trust You.

Lord, I thank You for Your Gospel messages. I pray that, as I read those words every day, You would remind me that they are not just history lessons, but that they are spiritual reality that is occurring today, in my life, in real time. Jesus is alive and active in today’s world, through the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. Oh, how marvelous are the riches of Your grace, Lord, and I give You a thousand thank yous! Even that is not enough!

Above all, Lord, never let me again forget that Christ is everything. This colors my life, Lord. It is my reason for living; CHRIST is my reason for living! I must decrease and He must increase until there is nothing left in me but Him. Oh, how I long for Home, Lord, for that day when I will see my Savior face to face and feel His embrace forever!

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

All hail King Jesus!! Christus est omnia!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

In Praise of Christ

Jeff

Today is Friday, the twenty-ninth day of August, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

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

It is day 241 of 2025, with 124 days remaining.

Day 24,641 of my life.

Three more days until Labor Day!

There are twenty-four days of summer left. We actually hit 100, yesterday, two degrees higher than predicted, which was two degrees higher than the prediction. And it was our ninth day of triple-digit temperatures for 2025. There are some who might debate that with me, and say that this is not the “official” record, but frankly, Scarlett . . . you know the rest. It’s the report for where I live. I don’t live at the DFW Airport, which is close to twenty miles away from my house. This is the “official” temperature for my zip code.

Anyway . . . Today’s predicted high is only 84 degrees! The record high for this date was 105 in 2020. The average high over the next ten days is now only 85.6, and there are no days at 90 or higher!

Daily writing prompt
How are you feeling right now?
View all responses

That’s the most vague writing prompt I’ve seen, thus far. I’m actually feeling pretty good, this morning, though. There are things going on that are threatening my peace, but during last night’s Jesus Time, I believe that was dealt with. As long as I can remember who I am trusting for everything, all will be well.

Today is a normal Friday. C is working from home, and I am at the library computer center from 9:15-6:15. S is still not feeling well, but I think her fever has stayed away. C feels okay, except for her head and hip hurting. She’s really getting tired of pain.

JESUS TIME

Light of the world, a new day has dawned, and I seek Your blessings as I begin. Move me forward with energy and hope, and help me see what You wish to reveal today. Make me a good friend to those who need one, just as You are the friend to all sinners, hearing our sorrows, sharing our joys, and carrying our burdens. Thank You for those who encourage me in big and small ways, and show me how I can share the light of Your love with all who need it. Keep me from sin, for I will be tempted; forgive me when I fail, and direct me in Your ways. Trusting in You, Jesus, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Friday Morning) 

“Oh, how gracious is the God who came to us 
How wonderful and righteous is His love 
Our Jesus 
Oh, through the suffering and the hatred of the cross 
He gathered every hope we thought was lost 
Our Jesus” 

Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;  
GOD probes for what is good.  
Put GOD in charge of your work,  
then what you’ve planned will take place.  
(Proverbs 16:2-3 MSG) 

Today I am grateful:

  • That You, Jesus, are a friend to sinners, hearing our sorrows, sharing our joys, and carrying our burdens; may we be faithful to let You carry those burdens by walking in Your easy yoke 
  • That You look for what is good, and will do whatever is for Your glory, which will be for our good 
  • That my job (and my joy) is to obey Your commands; Your job is everything else 
  • That You are above me, below me, around me, and within me 
  • For You, Jesus, the radiance of the glory of God; You are everything to me 
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?

“God, I want my life to be lived for Your glory. In moments where it’s difficult for me to surrender my plans to You, please help me to focus on Your vision for the future. I want all of my work and anything I do to point others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 
(Verse of the Day Prayer, You Version Bible app) 

God, I open my heart anew to You, this morning, that Your love, the life of Jesus, and the breath of the Holy Spirit would quicken within me a greater affection for You and Your ways. 

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,  
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.  
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;  
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.  
 
The voice of the LORD is over the waters;  
the God of glory thunders,  
the LORD, over many waters.  
The voice of the LORD is powerful;  
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.  
 
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;  
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.  
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,  
and Sirion like a young wild ox.  
 
The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.  
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;  
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.  
 
The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth  
and strips the forests bare,  
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”  
 
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;  
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.  
May the LORD give strength to his people!  
May the LORD bless his people with peace!  
(Psalms 29:1-11 ESV) 

“Living Word, 
enthroned upon grateful praise, 
seen and unseen – 
creation testifies to Your glory: 
all made through You and for You, 
who are before all things, 
and in whom all things hold together. 
I marvel to think that I, 
one with unclean lips, 
have seen the King. . . .  
 
Father. 
Son. 
Spirit: 
Living Word – 
Above me. 
Below me. 
Around me. 
Within me. 
Strengthen my heart today; 
lead me in the path of peace. 
Amen.” 
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 29: Living Word) 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  
(John 1:1-4 ESV) 

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 
(Colossians 1:16-17 ESV) 

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  
(Hebrews 1:3 ESV) 

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”  
(Revelation 4:8 ESV) 

The following is from For All the Saints – Friday of the Week of Pentecost 11

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.  
(Acts 17:1-4 ESV) 

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.  
(Mark 7:24-30 ESV) 

In our reading for today, William Barclay writes of how the word “dog” was used, by the Jews, as an insult to the Gentiles. However, he also makes note that Jesus used a diminutive of the word, which made it softer, referring to “the little pet lap-dogs of the house.” And in the Greek language, these diminutives “are characteristically affectionate. Jesus took the sting out of the word.” We can’t see the tone of voice that He used, in the text, but it appears that He was speaking gently, with affection, perhaps even with a smile on His face. He did not shut the door.  

The woman, being a Greek, “had a gift of repartee; and she saw at once that Jesus was speaking with a smile. She knew that the door was swinging on its hinges.” The custom of the day, being that people ate with their hands, was to wipe their hands on a piece of bread and throw that bread to the house dogs. This is the context of her next statement, “I know the children are fed first, but can’t I even get the scraps the children throw away?” Jesus looked at her and loved her. “Here was a sunny faith that would not take no for an answer, here was a woman with the tragedy of an ill daughter at home, and there was still light enough in her heart to answer with a smile. Her faith was tested and her faith was real, and her prayer was answered. Symbolically she stands for the Gentile world which so eagerly seized on the bread of heaven which the Jews had rejected and thrown away.” 
(Reading IV: William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark) 

“Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, 
which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; 
give me an unconquered heart, 
which no tribulation can wear out; 
give me an upright heart, 
which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. 
Bestow on me also, O Lord my God, 
understanding to know you, 
diligence to seek you, 
wisdom to find you, 
and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.” 
(Closing Prayer, Thomas Aquinas) 

Jesus, all glory and honor goes to You! I pray for a steadfast heart, just as Aquinas prayed. Let no unworthy affection drag me down, Lord; let no trial or tribulation or circumstance wear this heart out; let no unworthy purpose distract it from my purpose. You have worked miracles in my heart, Lord, and You continue to do so. Let nothing bring this down; let nothing tear me away from You, Jesus. You are everything and must remain so for me.

I pray for more knowledge of You, through the Scriptures and through Your Spirit within me. I seek Your face, Lord, as directed by Your Word. I thank You, Lord, that You were made available to us Gentiles, else we would be eternally lost. I praise You that there is enough You for everyone.

I long for the day when I will join in with the angels of heaven in praising You for all eternity. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

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

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, Lord, be ever with us.
(The prayer of St. Patrick)

Grace and peace, friends.

Jesus, You’re All that I Need

Jeff

Draw me to the very heart of You, Jesus!

Good evening, Lord. As I move closer to the end of the week, I am reminded of the importance of being totally faithful to You and to the truth of Your Holy Word. You have said, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32). Help me to be a faithful follower of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Help me stay focused on Him who is the way and who goes before me to provide the way to communion with my heavenly Father. In Your precious name, the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Friday Evening) 

“All I want is Jesus 
Nothing satisfies me like You do 
Abba my Father 
Draw me to the very heart of You” 

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.  
(Genesis 15:1-6 ESV) 

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.  
(Hebrews 11:4 ESV) 

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.  
 
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.  
(Hebrews 11:11-16 ESV) 

“For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.  
 
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  
(Luke 12:30-34 ESV) 

The king is not saved by his great army;  
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,  
and by its great might it cannot rescue.  
 
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,  
on those who hope in his steadfast love,  
that he may deliver their soul from death  
and keep them alive in famine.  
 
Our soul waits for the LORD;  
he is our help and our shield.  
For our heart is glad in him,  
because we trust in his holy name.  
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,  
even as we hope in you.  
(Psalms 33:16-22 ESV) 

You are a hiding place for me;  
you preserve me from trouble;  
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.  
Selah.  
(Psalms 32:7 ESV) 

He said,  
 
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,  
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,  
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,  
my stronghold and my refuge, my savior;  
you save me from violence.  
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,  
and I am saved from my enemies.”  
(2 Samuel 22:2-4 ESV) 

The LORD is good,  
a stronghold in the day of trouble;  
he knows those who take refuge in him.  
(Nahum 1:7 ESV) 

“Lord God,  
You know I have spent time in bondage,  
a slave to darkness,  
bound to all manner of unworthy things. 
 
But in Your mercy,  
You have led me out of slavery  
into a land of promise,  
a place of belonging,  
with roots in fertile soil. 
 
At every turn  
You have gone before me,  
carving paths through sea and sand,  
stemming time and tide,  
that You might lead me home.” 
(Excerpt from Endless Grace: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 114: Out of Slavery) 

“Jesus be all that I want 
Jesus You’re all that I need 
Jesus be Lord of my life 
Jesus be everything 
Just Jesus . . .  
You are all that I need” 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  
 
“Glory to God in the highest,  
and on earth peace among those  
with whom he is pleased!”  
(Luke 2:8-14 ESV) 

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,  
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;  
but let them not turn back to folly.  
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,  
that glory may dwell in our land.  
(Psalms 85:8-9 ESV) 

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,  
and perform your vows to the Most High,  
and call upon me in the day of trouble;  
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”  
(Psalms 50:14-15 ESV) 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  
(Philippians 4:4-7 ESV) 

Jesus, You are all that I want. Jesus, You are all that I need. I ask You constantly, Lord, “draw me to the very heart of You.” That is where I want to dwell, my Lord. I in You and You in me, just as You are in the Father and the Father in You.

My soul rejoices in You, Lord, as I embrace Your presence. You flow around me and in me and through me, like the very air that I breathe. You are all that I need, because You are everything. I say that at least once a day, and it is not, by any stretch of the imagination, “vain repetition.” Because I mean it and I feel it. My heart feels it. My heart longs . . . my soul thirsts . . . my mind wants more of You. I want to be so caught up in You that there is never any doubt, never any fear, never any wavering; would that I could never sin again, Lord. But I know that I will, because I still carry around this man of flesh, this “jar of clay.”

But someday, Jesus . . . I will know as I am known, perfectly and completely. Oh, the rapture of my soul to think of that day when I will physically embrace you, Jesus! There are no words . . . my heart is full. It overflows.

Jesus, You are all that I need. Jesus, You are all that I want. Your love is enough. Your grace is enough. Jesus, You are everything.

Come and taste and see

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters.

Christ Is Everything

Jeff

God, I come to You at the close of this day, knowing that I can praise You wholeheartedly, no matter what this day has brought to me. Whether I had a pleasant day or a difficult one, I can praise You for Your unending goodness and love. I praise You for sending Your Son to die for my sins and for Your promise of eternal life. Forgive me my sins this day. Thank You for promising to always hear my prayers. Be with me now as I prepare for sleep. Calm my heart and mind in the security of Your provision and will for my life, knowing that You are in control and that I am in Your strong hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Thursday Evening) 

“When I feel lost 
And the clouds arise 
I long for home 
As the hope within dies 
Jesus is my portion, he sets me free” 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.  
(Colossians 3:1-11 ESV) 

“Our image, knowledge, and actions ought to be shaped by Christ Jesus, for He alone is everything for those who believe in His name.” 
(Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal – Year C, Proper 13: Theme of the Readings) 

“Lord, You are gracious, humble and kind 
Full of compassion, Jesus is mine 
When all other ground is sinking sand 
On Christ the solid rock, I stand 
It’s You, only You” 

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.  
(1 John 4:7-16 ESV) 

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,  
for his wondrous works to the children of man!  
(Psalms 107:8 ESV) 

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  
(Romans 5:7-8 ESV) 

Over and over, ever since March 23 of this year, I have been saying “Christ is everything!” Scripture validates this statement, as Paul tells us in Colossians that “Christ is all, and in all.” Just a few verses earlier, Paul writes the verse that has been weighing on me since last Thursday, also in Colossians.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
(Colossians 2:9-10 ESV)

This is the verse I focused on last night. But tonight, it is the belief that Christ is everything, which is further validated by the “Theme of the Readings” in the Enduring Grace journal.

This is now the theme of my life. Christ is everything. He is all and He is in all. All of the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily, and I am crammed full of Him! He has poured Himself into me to the point that I am overflowing. I need nothing else. I lack for nothing, because He is everything.

Here is the end of that sermon again. Listen to it. Believe it.

Jesus, I thank You that You are everything! I praise You because I lack nothing. Only when I stop trusting do I find myself lacking. Only when I take my eyes off of You and put them on myself do I feel incomplete. So I pray that Your Spirit would help me keep my eyes on You. Let me not focus on me. For focusing on me is not humility; focus on me is selfishness, self-centeredness. I must be selfless; I must be Christ-centered. For You, my Jesus, are truly everything! I cannot stop saying this, and it will be the theme of my life for the rest of my days on this earth. I cannot wait for the day when I can live with You for the rest of eternity, and there will never again be a temptation for me to take my eyes off of You.

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

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

The Window

Jeff

Today is Thursday, the twenty-fourth day of July, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

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

It is day 205 of 2025, with 160 days remaining.

Day 24,605 of my life

26 days until S’s birthday.

60 days of summer left. And the first triple-digit day may be pushed to tomorrow, as today’s high is only projected to be 99, which is what it wound up being yesterday. Tomorrow is predicted at 102, which is the highest temp over the next ten days.

Daily writing prompt
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?
View all responses

That’s interesting. I don’t have much strategy for maintaining my health. I mean, I make regular doctor visits, a couple times a year (unless there is an issue with my bloodwork, like there was this last time), and I take three regular prescriptions. I try to watch what I eat . . . oh, who am I kidding? But I have managed to lose a few pounds, this year.

As for my “well-being,” that, again, is interesting. I don’t define “well-being” like a lot of folks, I don’t think. Webster’s defines it as “the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous.” Psychology Today defines it as “the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity.” They go on to say, “It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress.” Hmm . . . they had a quiz, so I took it. We will see what happens. It diverted to the Berkeley Well-Being Institute and is trying to get me to download a free book.

I agree with part of PT’s definition. I do believe that well-being is definitely related to “good mental health,” life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. The ability to manage stress is also good. My strategy for well-being is what you see in this blog. I place the entirety of it in the hands of Christ. And when I keep it there, my sense of well-being is nearly perfect. I am content with, or at least in, all things. Maybe more “in” than “with,” because there are certainly things going on in the outside world with which I am definitely not content. But I am content with my life within those circumstances, and they do not affect my contentedness.

However, when I take my focus off of Christ, and begin to try to deal with things myself, or, as the book of Proverbs puts it, lean on my own understanding, things begin to unravel quickly. I worry about things over which no worry is needed.

So my strategy involves prayer and meditation, but not just and “empty-minded” kind of meditation. I don’t empty my mind. I fill it with God’s Word, and I meditate on that and on His presence in my life. And I am fulfilled. I am as content and happy, right now, as I have ever been in my 67 years on this earth. Love pours into me, and love pours out because it overflows; it cannot be contained or hoarded.

Enough about that, for now. Today is a normal Thursday. C is at the office, and I am off work. I don’t have much on my agenda today at all. I will probably take S to get her shot around 11:30, and pick up our obligatory Sonic drinks then. I will definitely practice some music this afternoon, and hopefully get my reading done. I should finish a short book, this afternoon, then have to decide what I’m reading next. According to my book tracking app (The StoryGraph), I am four books behind schedule to reach my goal of 100 books this year. The interesting thing is that I am a little over 2000 pages ahead of my 25,000 page goal. The fact that I am behind does not affect my well-being.

JESUS TIME

He loves righteousness and justice;  
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.  
(Psalms 33:5 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  • That the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord; may I be faithful to display that love that He has poured into me, daily 
  • That the Lord is my help and my shield; my heart is glad in Him; I trust in His holy name 
  • That You, O Lord, deliver me from every trouble (Psalm 54:7) 
  • That if I am Your child, Lord, I am never alone; You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me, so matter how alone I might feel, the reality is that You are with me; always really 
  • That Christ is everything and I am nothing 

Our soul waits for the LORD;  
he is our help and our shield.  
For our heart is glad in him,  
because we trust in his holy name.  
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,  
even as we hope in you.  
(Psalms 33:20-22 ESV) 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for being with me during the night, for keeping me safe, and for helping me get a good night’s rest. Now that I am about to begin another eventful day, I am thirsty for refreshment from Your Holy Word. I remember what You told the woman of Samaria at the well: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Please give me this living water so that my soul will be refreshed and renewed as You so desire. In Your name I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Thursday Morning) 

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?

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  
(Deuteronomy 6:4-6 ESV) 

How do I show my love for Him and His love to others? 

“By remembering him at all times. By cultivating thankfulness for his many blessings, and trusting his good providence for the meeting of [my] needs. By loving all whose lives intersect [my] own. By choosing to serve rather than to be served, to be wounded rather than to wound, and by bearing patiently with the failings of others, extending the same kindness, mercy, and compassion that God in Christ has so graciously offered [me].”  
(Every Moment Holy – A Liturgy of the Hours: Daybreak) 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  
(Philippians 4:4-7 ESV) 

I realize that I share this passage quite a bit. There’s a reason for it. I am on a “quest” to “prove” God’s Word. Not that its truth needs to be proved, but that it is effective and real in my life. This quest began last Tuesday evening as I meditated on these verses while shelving DVDs at the library. I began to test its efficacy as I laid out my requests to Him, with thanksgiving in my heart.  

The important thing to note is that, while there is a promise in this passage, that promise is not that I will get those requests as I want them. The promise is that I will have peace. And this is my testimony. That peace is real. When I stop the worry and anxiety over a situation, and pray over it, letting my request(s) be made known to God, with thanksgiving in my heart, I receive peace. And that peace surpasses all understanding because it is peace in the midst of the same circumstances that were previously causing me worry and anxiety. I have handed them over to the Lord, and the result of that is peace, even when I don’t know if He will grant those requests as I offered them to Him. 

This is how we “prove” God’s Word.  

I acknowledge that I do not have the necessary strength, within myself, to do those things quoted above, from Every Moment Holy. I acknowledge that I am “weak and inconsistent, and often buffeted by fear and pride and selfishness.” But in my impoverished and ill-equipped state, I “look to the grace of God and to the sanctifying work of the Spirit to accomplish His purposes in and through [me] this day, as [I], in grateful response, seek to choose that which pleases Him.” 

Lord, I open my heart to You, that Your love, the life of Jesus, and the breath of the Spirit would quicken within me a greater love for You and Your ways, and that I would be a better image-bearer of Christ. Pour Your love into my open heart, Lord, and then pour it out when it overflows. 

Lord, in Your mercy, hear my prayers. 

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,  
the world and those who dwell therein,  
for he has founded it upon the seas  
and established it upon the rivers. 
(Psalms 24:1-2 ESV) 

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;  
I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.  
For he has delivered me from every trouble,  
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.  
(Psalms 54:6-7 ESV) 

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!  
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD;  
my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.  
 
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.  
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God  
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.  
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;  
the LORD bestows favor and honor.  
No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! 
(Psalms 84:1-2, 10-12 ESV) 

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

Those two verses are prominent in our house, and even written somewhere in the framework of it. Actually, it turns out it is written on the foundation in the exact (or close, at least) center of our house. 

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,  
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,  
lest the LORD see it and be displeased,  
and turn away his anger from him.  
(Proverbs 24:17-18 ESV) 

“Let us pray for the Churches throughout the world for their truth, unity, and stability; that charity may flourish and truth may abound in them all; and for our own Church, that what is unsound in it may be corrected and what is lacking may be supplied. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints – Thursday of the Week of Pentecost 6, Opening Prayer: Lancelot Andrewes) 

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.  
 
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  
(Luke 22:24-30 ESV) 

“O great God, Father of all things, Whose infinite light is darkness to me, Whose immensity is to me as the void, You have called me forth out of yourself because You love me in yourself, and I am a transient expression of Your inexhaustible and eternal reality. I could not know You, I would be lost in this darkness, I would fall away from You into this void, if You did not hold me to Yourself in the Heart of Your only begotten Son. 
“Father, I love You Whom I do not know, and I embrace You Whom I do not see, and I abandon myself to You Whom I have offended, because You love in me Your only begotten Son. You see Him in me, You embrace Him in me, because He has willed to identify Himself completely with me by that love which brought Him to death, for me, on the Cross. Amen.” 
(Closing Prayer: Thomas Merton) 

In an email devotional a few days ago, from the Henri Nouwen Society, I read this, entitled, “A Greater Love Than We Can Contain.” 

“Love, as Jesus reveals it to us, is a relationship between persons. The word ‘person’ is a wonderful word. It comes from the Latin words per, which means ‘through’ and sonare, which means ‘to sound.’ A person is someone who is sounding through. 
What are we sounding through? We are sounding through a greater love than we ourselves can contain. When we say to somebody, ‘I love you,’ that really means, ‘You are a window through which I can get a glimpse of the infinite love of God.'”

This morning, as I was beginning my prayers, I was praying for that to be true of myself, that I would be a window through which others can get a glimpse of this love of God. Then a though occurred to me. When you look through a window, what do you not see? THE WINDOW!! The window does not draw attention to itself! It exists for two reasons: to let the light in (or to let the light shine through it), and to give us a glimpse/view of what is on the other side.  

Therefore, If I am to be a window through which others get that glimpse of the amazing, wonderful, infinite love of God, I must get out of the way! I must make sure that I am pointing to Christ at all times, and never to myself. Even further than the words of John the Baptist, who said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” He must be everything and I must be nothing.  

And understand this. It is not a case of “poor self-image” that causes me to say “I am nothing.” Self-image doesn’t even enter the picture, my brothers and sisters. If I am focusing on self-image, I am focusing on self, which is wrong. I want to be an image-bearer of Christ, which means I need to be focusing on the “Christ-image.”  

 The more I think about that, the bigger that gets, and it is something that I really need to meditate on further, because it just occurred to me. 

Father, I am so grateful for what You have done in me, are doing, and are going to do. The further I go on this journey, this crazy adventure, the more You show me, and the more I love You. This whole idea of being a window has become very attractive to me, and the thought that Your Spirit gave me this morning has really resonated with me. I want this to be true of me, Lord. I want to be that window that lets Your light shine through, and that points only to Christ and not to myself (or anything else, for that matter).

And then, Lord, this whole thought about self-image. This is kind of a new thought for me, and I need to process it some more. So give wisdom and let the Spirit lead my thoughts on this over the next few days.

All glory to You, Lord, in Christ, who is everything, and by the Holy Spirit, who is Your presence within us, always really.

Amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

The Way, The Truth, The Life

Jeff3 Comments

I almost didn’t write a blog tonight. But Jesus spoke to me again, so here we go.

Heavenly Father, at the close of this day, I cast my burden on You because You sustain me. I marvel that the God of the universe invites me to do so. You invite me to lay my sins, hurts, and fears at the feet of Jesus, knowing that You are all-sufficient for everything I need in this life and the life to come. For I am sure that “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Tuesday Evening) 

The closer I get, the more this is true. All I want is Jesus. Don’t misunderstand, I still love my wife, family, and friends. More than ever. You see, the closer I get to Jesus, the more I love everyone. This love gets deeper and deeper and flows outward from me in all directions. The ones who are closest to me get the . . . the . . . most intense? I’m at a loss for words. Maybe it makes sense.

“Restore to me the years the locusts have eaten. 
May all that is dead in me 
be resurrected, 
that I may walk with renewed purpose 
and replenished joy –  
a testimony to Your redeeming work. 
 
For You do not hold my wasted time against me, 
the hours and days and years I have squandered. 
With gentleness, 
You grant me a new beginning.” 
(Excerpt from Endless Grace: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 90: A New Beginning) 

And this is where He started speaking to me. I think it was last Wednesday morning when this thought first came to my mind. And I may have shared it in this blog that day, I don’t remember, and I’m not looking back to see. That bit about restoring the years comes from Joel 2:25.

I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.
(Joel 2:25 ESV)

Now I don’t remember any locusts, hoppers, or destroyers, but there have been some “wasted years.” And as I was out and about that morning, I began, with tears to recount some of those wasted years, and this Scripture came to mind. And I was like, “Is that what You have been doing for these last five months, Lord??” Because I had mentioned to my pastor that it felt like I was getting a lifetime of blessing and growth in just a few months.

I got a chance to talk to her later that day, too, and mentioned that verse in Joel, and she said that gave her chill bumps. So then, tonight, I see this prayer, inspired by Psalm 90, that incorporates Joel 2:25 in it, and even goes on to say that God does not hold the wasted time against me. What a beautiful statement! And I believe it is true, even though that isn’t exactly from the Bible. But the last line of that stanza is, in 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

And I tell you, brothers and sisters, that is exactly what God has been doing; making me new!

My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.  
(Psalms 119:20 ESV) 

This feels more and more true, as well. My whole being is consumed with the longing for His Word. There have been some mornings and evenings that I simply did not want to leave this room, even though I know His presence goes with me everywhere.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”  
(John 14:1-7 ESV) 

The LORD is righteous in all his ways  
and kind in all his works.  
The LORD is near to all who call on him,  
to all who call on him in truth.  
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;  
he also hears their cry and saves them.  
The LORD preserves all who love him,  
but all the wicked he will destroy.  
 
My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,  
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.  
(Psalms 145:17-21 ESV) 

“Everything about Jesus is the truth—how He thought, how He acted, how He talked, how He lived a life of holiness, how He taught, how He laughed, how He cried, how He suffered, how He died, how He conquered Satan, how He rose from the grave, how He ascended back into heaven. Jesus is God, who not only spoke the truth but also speaks truth to you today in His Word.” 
(Portals of Prayer – Tuesday, July 15, 2025) 

Last night, I read that all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Tonight, I read that “everything about Jesus is the truth.” And, I also read that Jesus declared Himself to be THE way, THE truth, and THE life. And the truth that He dropped after that supersedes all other religions. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

All wisdom, all knowledge, and all truth reside in Jesus Christ. And we, His brothers and sisters, His followers, are one with Him for all eternity. That has already happened, and is not something that we are waiting for. Christ truly is everything. 

Father, I praise You for giving me this humbled heart. I don’t boast of humility, because, well, that would be a lack of humility, wouldn’t it? But I know that You have humbled me by choosing to do the miraculous work that You have done during these last five months.

I thank You that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I thank You that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him, and that I am in Him, just as He is in You. I thank You that every single one of us is one with Him forever and ever, amen! This has already happened! What blessed glory, Lord!! What ecstasy! What rapture! (You know, the synonym of “ecstasy,” because You know I don’t believe in the other “rapture.”)

In the words of the song right above here, “All I can say is ‘I need You;’ All I can do is fall down on my knees; all I can offer is praise upon praise for the grace upon grace I’ve received. Be exalted, be glorified, our Humble King, we lift You high!!!”

I love You, Lord! I love You, Jesus! I love You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! My life is Yours! Do with me as You will!

From this humbled heart to the Humble King! Amen! You are everything, My Jesus!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

A Vision Problem

Jeff1 Comment

Today is Monday, the seventh day of July, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

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

Today is day 188 of 2025, with 177 days remaining.

Day 25,588 of my life

43 days until S’s birthday!

Daily writing prompt
What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?
View all responses

This is a tricky question. In fact, I might go so far as to say that it’s a bad question. It would be easier to answer what I would not let go of, and I’m willing to bet that would be the case for most people. And who gets to define what “harmony” means? One definition is “agreement, accord.” But another definition is “internal calm.” If this question is implying the definition that is “agreement, accord,” at this point in our society, my answer would be “not much,” because I don’t think it is even possible right now. We have two political sides that are in the harshest state of division that I have ever seen in my life.

I think a better question is “What would you be willing to DO for the sake of harmony?” And that, I can answer. I am willing to refrain from posting my political opinions in this blog or on social media and doing the best I can to promote and declare the love of Christ, because this country is in desperate need of a Love Revolution. And trust me, I do have political opinions. But they don’t figure at all into my “job description,” which is to love God and love people.

So, maybe, in a way, that is also what I am willing to “let go of.” I’m not letting go of my opinions, but I am letting go of any perceived “right” to express them. And that actually has led me to a legitimate answer to the question! I am willing to let go of some of my supposed “rights” for the sake of harmony. Yes. Because, when I became a follower of Christ (which happened on March 19, 1969, when I went through the waters of baptism), I surrendered those rights to Him, anyway. I see way too many people insisting on their “right” to this and their “right” to that. It’s all quite selfish, really. Yes, the Constitution does guarantee all of us some rights. But, as I have heard it said, my right to swing my fist ends where your face begins. Any alleged “right” that I have must be sacrificed if practicing that right impinges on someone else’s “right” or freedom. And here is the verse that I go to, to support that belief.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
(Philippians 2:3 ESV)

Today is a normal Monday, around here. C is working from home (although still not feeling great, but here temperature was down to normal or below, this morning), and I am off work today. I have a few things I want to get done, but not a lot, so it should be a relatively chill day for me. I’ll be making our traditional chili for dinner tonight. Which reminds me, I need to go set the meat out to thaw. Be right back.

Thanks for waiting. I also got my second cup of coffee. And started a load of laundry. Let’s get on to the important stuff.

JESUS TIME

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,  
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.  
(Proverbs 9:10 ESV) 

This God—his way is perfect;  
the word of the LORD proves true;  
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.  
(Psalms 18:30 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  • That Your Word, O Lord, proves true, and that You are a shield for all who take refuge in You 
  • That You have placed in my heart this reverence and love for You, and You are giving me more knowledge of You daily 
  • That there is room in our worship for both complex, theological hymns, and simple, meditative songs that lead me to sit and soak in the amazing, beautiful presence of Jesus 
  • That You, Jesus, are all that I need; You are everything! 
  • For the enlightening of the eyes of my heart, that I may see the hope to which He has called me, the riches of my glorious inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of His power 

O Dayspring, O Morning Light, arise in my heart at the resurrection of all flesh on the Last Day! Keep me until that day. Continually remind me with each morning’s awakening that I shall arise to live before You in righteous perfection forever. Use my labor this day to provide for those whom You have given into my care. Permit my actions to confess the one, holy faith. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14); for You live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, one God forever. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Monday Morning) 

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?

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”  
(Deuteronomy 6:4-6 ESV) 

“Jesus be all that I want 
Jesus you’re all that I need 
Jesus be Lord of my life 
Jesus be everything” 

Sometimes, all I want to do is simply sit here and soak in the beautiful presence of Jesus! Songs like this, while very repetitive, are conducive to that kind of meditation. I praise God that there is room for both complex, theological hymns, and simple, meditative songs such as this. 

Trust in the LORD, and do good;  
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.  
Delight yourself in the LORD,  
and he will give you the desires of your heart.  
 
Commit your way to the LORD;  
trust in him, and he will act.  
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,  
and your justice as the noonday.  
 
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;  
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,  
over the man who carries out evil devices!  
(Psalms 37:3-7 ESV) 

May God be gracious to us and bless us  
and make his face to shine upon us,  
Selah.  
that your way may be known on earth,  
your saving power among all nations.  
Let the peoples praise you, O God;  
let all the peoples praise you!  
 
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,  
for you judge the peoples with equity  
and guide the nations upon earth.  
Selah.  
Let the peoples praise you, O God;  
let all the peoples praise you!  
(Psalms 67:1-5 ESV) 

Unless the LORD builds the house,  
those who build it labor in vain.  
Unless the LORD watches over the city,  
the watchman stays awake in vain.  
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,  
eating the bread of anxious toil;  
for he gives to his beloved sleep.  
(Psalms 127:1-2 ESV) 

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.  
(2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ESV) 

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.  
 
As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.  
(Luke 18:31-43 ESV) 

“O Lord, let nothing divert my advance towards you, 
But in this dangerous labyrinth of the world 
and the whole course of my pilgrimage here, 
May your heavenly dictates be my map and 
your holy life be my guide. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints – Monday of the Week of Pentecost 4, Closing Prayer: John Wesley) 

The following is from New Morning Mercies, by Paul David Tripp.

“As God’s child, you don’t sit and wait for hope. No, grace makes it possible for you to get up and life in hope.” 

“Perhaps one of the dirty secrets of the church is how much we do out of fear and not faith.”  

Tripp says we don’t have a hope problem, but rather a sight problem. “Hope isn’t a thing. Hope isn’t a set of circumstances. Hope isn’t first a set of ideas. Hope is a person, and his name is Jesus.” We have been given hope, and it is real and constant. “The issue is whether you see it.”  

. . . having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  
(Ephesians 1:18-21 ESV) 

Paul prays for us, that the eyes of our hearts will be enlightened, so we can know this hope, and the riches of our glorious inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward us who believe. So, you see, we don’t really have a hope problem. We have a vision problem, and we need to have our eyes enlightened by His grace. 

Jesus, our Savior, looks at us and says, “What do you want me to do for you?” And just like Bartimaeus, my answer is, “I want to see!” And, bless His holy name, He is doing that for me!  

Father, I praise You for the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, or at least the beginning of said enlightenment, as there is still far to go in me in this area. Thank You for allowing me to see the hope that is mine in Christ, and that He truly is everything that I need in this life. I thank You for the outpouring of love into my life, that You have been doing pretty much nonstop this year. I only wish that I could come up with adequate words to describe what I am feeling in Christ. But I do the best that I can.

I pray that Your power would keep becoming more and more evident to me, in my life. I don’t want power, myself. I have no power, just as I have no righteousness of my own. I seek Your power, and that not for myself, that I should boast about anything. Heaven forbid . . . “forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God!” And that leads right into my gratitude for the heart that You have given me concerning any perceived “rights,” as discussed up there in the writing prompt response. “All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through His blood.”

What do I want You to do for me? I want You to keep doing what You have been doing in my life, until the day that I meet You face to face, on the other side of this life. I want to know You more, I want to know Christ more, and I want that knowledge to be the thing that drives my every word, though, and action in this world, that others might know this same love that You have for them!

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

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!