Labor Day – Listening To His Voice

Praying for All

May 12, 2026 Jeff4 Comments

Today is Tuesday, the twelfth of May, 2026, in the sixth week of Easter.

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways!

It is day 132 of 2026, and there are 233 days remaining in the year.

Day 24,897 of my life

118 days until Labor Day!

By the way, in case anyone is interested, the site I use to calculate/find these dates is called Epoch Converter. It tracks every day number of the year and can tell you how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds have elapsed between any two dates. It is pretty cool in the most nerdy way.

Today is International Nurses Day. Nurses are very important. I had some very good ones in my recent stay in the hospital, back in January, when I received my pacemaker. If you know any, show some gratitude today.

Ooh. It’s also National Limerick Day. I always celebrate that! I tried to find some “biblical” limericks, and after looking at a handful of sites, determined that none of the poets represented truly understand what a limerick is. They all had five lines, but the syllabic content was atrocious.

There once was a man named Zaccheus
Who was really too short to see Jesus
He climbed up a tree
The Savior to see
And wound up at table with Jesus

Okay, so I rhymed the same word twice. I couldn’t think of anything else. But I’m an amateur, at best, so there.

Daily writing prompt

What are the biggest benefits of minimalist living?

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Hard for me to say, because I’m not really into “minimalist living.” I’ve heard of . . . whassername? Maria Kondo? The one who says we should have, at the most, THIRTY books in my home??? I don’t need that kind of negativity! But truly, I think the best benefit of living minimally would be not letting “stuff” have a grip on us. While I am not even remotely practicing minimalist living, in the last decade, all the stuff in my house has much less importance to me. It is, after all, just stuff and nothing more. “You can’t take it with you,” and anything you can’t take with you is expendable. In my eyes, it all belongs to God, so it’s His to do with as He pleases. If He wants me to give it away, I will. One of my favorite Rich Mullins lines is in a song called “If I Stand,” where he wrote, “The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the giver of all good things.”

Today is a normal Tuesday for me, once again. I am planning to go to my shift at the library, this evening, from 4:15-6:15, where I will be working in the computer center. I don’t know if my bestie who had an appendectomy last week will be there or not. She has also found out that her dog is dying, so she’s having a rough time of it right now.

Lunch today will be grilled cheese sandwiches with Meal Simple Broccoli Cheddar Soup (H-E-B). This may be the last Tuesday that C is home for lunch, as she is planning to try to go back to work on Thursday. If that is successful, she will be at the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and working from home on Mondays and Fridays.

Today’s first cuppa Joe is CAFE Olé by H‑E‑B Taste of San Antonio. “For a trio of cinnamon, chocolate and vanilla flavors, try CAFE Olé by H-E-B Taste of San Antonio coffee.” The second cup is Costa Rica Volcanica, by Angelino’s. “Silky cacao, tropical fruit, & vibrant citrus notes.”

Here’s my coffee cup for this week.

JESUS TIME

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

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

God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored the joy of our youth. 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, Tuesday of the Week of Easter 6, Opening Prayer)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
(Romans 10:9-10 ESV)
The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
(Proverbs 16:21 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

That I have believed in my heart and confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord
That even though He has left this place to prepare a place for me in our Father’s house, He has not left me an orphan
That the Cross was not an interruption in the plan; it was the path through which it is secured
That there is one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people
That “sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness”
That You, Lord, are working in ways that I could never imagine

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 65

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
(Psalms 65:1-13 ESV)

For All the Saints – Tuesday of the Week of Easter 6

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
(1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV)

“For this reason Jeremiah, chapter xxix, commanded the people of Israel to pray for the city and land of Babylon, because in the peace thereof they should have peace. And Baruch i: ‘Pray for the life of the king of Babylon and for the life of his son, that we may live in peace under their rule.’

“This common prayer is precious and the most powerful, and it is for its sake that we come together. For this reason also the Church is called a House of Prayer, because in it we are a congregation with one accord to consider our need and the needs of all men, present them before God, and call upon Him for mercy. But this must be done with heart-felt emotion and sincerity, so that we feel in our hearts the need of all men, and that we pray with true sympathy for them, in true faith and confidence. Where such prayers are not made in the mass, it were better to omit the mass. For what sense is there in our coming together into a House of Prayer, which coming together shows that we should make common prayer and petition for the entire congregation, if we scatter these prayers and so distribute them that everyone prays only for himself, and no one has regard for the other, nor concerns himself for another’s need? How can that prayer be of help, good, acceptable, and a common prayer, or a work of the Holy Day and of the assembled congregation, which they make who make their own petty prayers, one for this, the other for that, and have nothing but self-seeking selfish prayers, which God hates?”
(Martin Luther, Treatise on Good Works)

As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility, nay, a command, to pray for all people, including those in positions of leadership, regardless of whether we agree with them or not! I still remember a member of a friend’s congregation posting on Facebook that he refused to pray for an “illegitimate president,” back in 2020. (This is not a political post, so I will entertain no positions/opinions on that election, here.) ALL Christians have an obligation to pray for the peace and well-being of the nation in which they live, just as Israel had an obligation to pray for the peace of Babylon when they were in exile. Not only were they told to pray for the Babylonian rulers, they were also told to live their lives as though everything was normal.

So pray for our leaders, whether they be Democrat, Republican, or other. Pray good things for them (praying for them to die or be removed from office doesn’t count). Pray for their success, because if they succeed, then the nation succeeds. But most of all, pray for their salvation; pray for the love of Christ to be poured out on them, and that they would see the light of Christ and be saved. And do it sincerely.

And just so you know, I’m preaching to myself, here, too. I confess that I am not always faithful to do this, as I am quite weary of politics, these days, and that colors my state of mind about everything. So I pray for Christ’s mercy and love to keep filling me up so that I can overflow into all around me and pray with heartfelt sincerity, and without ceasing, as Christ commands me to.

O Merciful Father in heaven, Who holdest in Thy hand all the might of man, and Who hast ordained the powers that be for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well, and of Whom is all rule and authority in the kingdoms of the world: We humbly beseech Thee, graciously regard Thy servants, the President of the United States, the Governor of this Commonwealth, our Judges and Magistrates, and all the Rulers of the earth; that all who receive the sword, as Thy ministers, may bear it according to Thy commandment; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Tuesday of the Week of Easter 6, Closing Prayer, Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church)

Indeed, Lord Christ, help us all to be obedient to the commands of Your Word, to be in pray for all people, especially those in high places, and that we would pray for the peace of the land in which we live and for the success of the leaders. Let us not pray for the advancement of human agendas, Lord, but let us be faithful in praying for the advancement of Your kingdom in this world. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

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

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Pray for all, because

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

My Firm Foundation

September 1, 2025 Jeff6 Comments

Today is Monday, the first day of September, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

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

It is day 244 of 2025, with 121 days remaining.

Day 24,644 of my life.

Today is Labor Day, a holiday in the US.

There are 21 days of summer left. Maybe I will rephrase that. 21 days until Autumn begins! That sounds more positive. We hit a high of 86 degrees, yesterday, one degree below the prediction. It rained pretty hard during the evening hours. The weather site I use said we only got 1.75 inches, but it sure seemed like we got more than that. Today’s high is forecast to be 88 degrees. The record high for this date was 108 in 2000. The average high over the next ten days is up slightly, at 85.9. Starting Wednesday, we have three consecutive days at 90 or higher, but then it drops into the seventies.

Daily writing prompt

What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

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There are so many ways I could answer this question. Receiving Communion on Sunday mornings usually brings a tear of joy to my eye. Being fed by God’s Word on Sunday mornings also does that. But those tears are not always joyful tears, I will admit. Sometimes those are tears of sorrow as the Word convicts me, but other times, the tears are joyful as it encourages me.

Music of many types can also bring tears of joy to my eyes. Recently, though, the thing that brought joyful tears to my eyes was seeing S having such a good time at the Texas Rangers game, last weekend. I feel like her joys are so few that that one was very special. So maybe my best answer is seeing someone else happy and blessed brings joyful tears to my eyes.

We had a good day, yesterday. The worship service went well, I think, and my time as assisting minister was pleasant and fulfilling. I always get joy in doing that. We had a nice lunch, and the rest of the day was spent relaxing.

Today is my normal Monday off, so the holiday really doesn’t benefit me much, and part time aides at the library don’t get paid holidays anyway. So it’s basically just another day for me. I am, however, switching the grocery order to today for this week, so I will be going to pick those up as soon as I finish this. And there are still chores to do, because laundry and garbage don’t take holidays.

I am glad that C is getting a day off, though. I hope that she takes advantage of it and doesn’t actually do work today.

JESUS TIME

O Lord, Your Word is flawless, so I begin this day worshiping You in the splendor of Your holiness. O God, help me understand the promises You’ve made to be gracious to me, and that You rise to show me compassion. I don’t deserve any of Your promises, but because You are rich in mercy, I am delighted to do Your will! Guiding Holy Spirit, You remind me that I am dead to sin but alive to God. Stir up that calm brook of Your wisdom in me this morning into a flourishing fountain of faith so I speak to others readily about Your saving grace. Instill in me the courage to pray boldly, like Daniel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Monday Morning)

“Fear not, keep on, watch and pray
Walk in the light of God’s highway”

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
(Luke 11:1 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

For a good day of worship and fellowship with my Jesus Family, yesterday
That this request by a disciple of Jesus has been answered for all of us
That my transgressions are forgiven, that my sin is cast as far as the east is from the west
That You surround me with shouts of deliverance, and that You instruct me in the way that I should go (Psalm 32:7-8)
For the one holy Christian Church which will remain forever; that I am called as a member of this Church of Jesus Christ
That because of the work of Christ, we will never again face condemnation or punishment for our sins

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?

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
(Psalms 32:1-2 ESV)

Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
Selah.
(Psalms 32:6-7 ESV)

“Father,
it is a good thing to be loved by You;
to receive Your free gift;
to put on Christ.
The record of my sins has been nailed to the cross;
utterly forgotten;
cast behind Your back,
flung the distance of East to West. . . .

If only everyone called by Your name
would behold the face of mercy;
know the depths of grace;
carve a space for silence,
patient for Your presence –
in poverty of spirit
and hopeful expectation.

How quickly I forget
how safe I am with You, Lord –
held by Your hand;
comforted by Your kindness.
Defended.
Delivered.”
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 32: The Face of Mercy)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
(Colossians 2:13-14 ESV)

Behold, it was for my welfare
that I had great bitterness;
but in love you have delivered my life
from the pit of destruction,
for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
(Isaiah 38:17 ESV)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
(Psalms 103:11-12 ESV)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
(John 6:63 ESV)

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

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

“Almighty God, ever-loving Father, your care extends beyond the boundaries of race and nation to the hearts of all who live. May the walls, which prejudice raises between us, crumble beneath the shadow of your outstretched arm. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(Opening Prayer)

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
(Mark 8:11-21 ESV)

“It is also taught among us that one holy Christian church will be and remain forever. This is the assembly of all believers among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity and the holy sacraments are administered according to the Gospel. For it is sufficient for the true unity of the Christian church that the Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacraments be administered in accordance with the divine Word. It is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian church that ceremonies, instituted by men, should be observed uniformly in all places. It is as Paul says in Eph. 4:4, 5, ‘There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.’

“Again, although the Christian church, properly speaking, is nothing else than the assembly of all believers and saints, yet because in this life many false Christians, hypocrites, and even open sinners remain among the godly, the sacraments are efficacious even if the priests who administer them are wicked men, for as Christ himself indicated, ‘The Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat’ (Matt. 23:2).”
(Reading IV: Augsburg Confession, Articles VII and VIII, The Book of Concord)

“Lord God, you have placed me in your church. You know how unsuitable I am. Were it not for your guidance I would have long since have brought everything to destruction. I wish to give my heart and mouth to your service. I desire to teach your people, and long to be taught your work. Use me as your workman, dear Lord. Do not forsake me; for if I am alone, I shall bring all to naught. Amen.”
(Closing Prayer: Martin Luther)

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

“Don’t be disheartened because you feel weak. By grace your Savior lives inside you, and he is your strength.”

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
(Romans 8:1-11 ESV)

The first reality we get from this passage is that “we will never again face condemnation for our sin. . . . Even on days of evident weakness and repeated failure, we will not be punished for our sin.”

While sin leaves us weak, making it impossible for us to keep God’s law, we are empowered by His Spirit as He dwells within us. This enables us “to desire and do what we would be unable to do without his indwelling presence. This means that you do not have to fear or deny your weakness.”

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV)

My Lord Jesus, You are my Firm Foundation, and the Rock on which I stand. I have put my faith in You, and built my life on You, and You have not, and will not ever let me down! I praise You, Lord Jesus! I love You, my Jesus! You are everything to me, and I pray that this remains my state of mind and heart for the rest of my earthly days.

I thank You for the beautiful prayers I have read, this morning, especially the one by Martin Luther. I echo this prayer, Lord. You have placed me in Your Church, and I am most unsuitable for any responsibility or privilege that You have granted me. If not for Your work in my life, I truly would have brought all to ruin, and very nearly did, more than one time in my life. But You are faithful in every season, Lord, and have never failed me. You did not allow me to descend into the grave, Jesus, but kept me in Your arms by Your grace.

Like Luther, Lord, I wish to give my heart and mouth to Your service. I may not be a preacher (probably a good thing) but would be willing to teach others about Your grace and mercy and gladly would share my testimony of Your grace and outpouring of infinite love in my life. But I also long to continue to be taught. And it is not so much knowledge that I long for, except that that knowledge be of You, Lord. I want to know You; I want to possess Your Spirit and Your wisdom in my life. Or, rather, I want Your Spirit and wisdom to possess me! Use me as Your servant, Lord, in any way You deem right and necessary, and never forsake me, Jesus! For if You leave me alone, I will ruin everything.

I love You, Jesus. Christ, You ARE everything!! I am standing strong on You in my weakness, for I am weak; I am nothing without You! All glory and praise to You, my firm foundation and my rock on which I stand!!

Amen.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, you heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Traditional Doxology)

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

Pride vs. Confidence

August 30, 2025 Jeff

Today is Saturday, the thirtieth day of August, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

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

It is day 242 of 2025, with 123 days remaining.

Day 24,642 of my life.

Only two more days until our Labor Day holiday. How cool is it that we celebrate labor by not laboring? Unless you’re in retail, but I will not be contributing to your workload on that day. For me, it probably won’t be much different from any other day.

We have 23 days of summer remaining. We only reached 81 for a high, yesterday, which was three degrees below the projected high, and 19 degrees below Thursday’s high! Today’s high is forecast at 82. The record high for this date was 105 in 2011. The average high for the next ten days is 83.6, which is two degrees lower than yesterday. I am certainly enjoying this trend! Next Sunday’s high (the seventh) is only 73!

Today is a work Saturday for me, so I’m at the library from 9:30-6:15. It is currently raining out there. Yesterday was a pretty good day at the library. It was somewhat dead in the Computer Center in the morning, but picked up some during the afternoon.

JESUS TIME

Dear Jesus, You taught Your disciples that we are created to give You glory in all that we say or do. Guide my tongue today so that what I say reflects Your love to those around me. Stop me from saying unkind words. I need Your strength, Lord, to stand up against temptation, whether it comes from Satan himself or from my own weak, sinful nature. If I am wronged by others, enable me to not want to hurt them back but to treat them with respect. Whether I am working or playing, help me remember that You are here beside me. You created me to be a part of the Body of believers. Your power is great and Your love is endless. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer – Prayer for Saturday Morning)

“From his fullness we have received
Grace upon grace, freely
Reconciled, redeemed

Blessed are those who have not seen,
Yet in his name believe!
Find everlasting life!”

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

Today I am grateful:

That You have poured love into my heart, and have enabled me to live out this command
For the grace upon grace that I have received from You, and that I believe and have found everlasting life
That You have restored me to life and continue to renew me, day after day; You wrestled me from our enemy’s hands, restoring and renewing me
That it is impossible for me to drift away from You, because You are everywhere; there is nowhere I can go where I am not in Your presence
That You are a steadfast rock beneath my feet; though the earth be shaken and the mountains fall into the sea, I will not be afraid

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?

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those
who go down to the pit.

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
(Psalms 30:1-5 ESV)

“Lord God,
as much as this feeble heart can manage,
may it exalt You today.

I am numbered with the redeemed;
an heir of endless grace –
lifted from the well;
drawn from death’s door.

The enemy longed to have me,
but You heard the cry of my heart.
In Your mercy, You wrestled me from his hands –
restored me;
renewed me;
annulled death’s claim on me.
You have raised me up –
a New Creation,
one with Christ.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.
How can I not sing this song as long as I live?
I cannot escape Your mercy.
Once I felt Your face turned away from me,
but now I see You.
Once we were enemies.
Now I sit at Your table.”
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 30: Drawn from Death’s Door)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . . I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
(John 10:11, 14-15 ESV)

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
(Luke 15:3-7 ESV)

“Though the seas and earth may shake
I don’t have to be afraid
Though the mountains move into the sea
You’re a steadfast rock beneath my feet
God my rock
God my strength”

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
(Acts 17:22-31 ESV)

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
(Mark 8:1-10 ESV)

“Give us courage, O Lord, to stand up and be counted, to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, to stand up for ourselves when it is needful for us to do so. Let us fear nothing more than we fear Thee. Let us love nothing more than we love Thee, for thus we shall fear nothing also. Amen.”
(For All the Saints – Saturday of the Week of Pentecost 11, Closing Prayer: Alan Paton)

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

“Grace smashes your pride, but it gives you more reason for confidence than you have ever had before.”

What is the difference between pride and confidence? Let’s let Nebuchadnezzar show us. Neb was “the arrogant king of the conquering nation of Babylon.” He not only conquered Judah and took the people captive, he also took temple implements of gold and used them as tools of idol worship. Then in Daniel 4:30, he says this.

“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
(Daniel 4:30 ESV)

And then this happened:

While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
(Daniel 4:31-33 ESV)

We have no idea how long he was in this condition, but when he came out of it, his pride had been obliterated and replaced with confidence.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
(Daniel 4:34-37 ESV)

He was restored to his place of power and authority, but now gave credit to the Lord for it. “Pride takes credit for what it could not achieve on its own, while confidence stands strong because it recognizes the power and presence of One greater. Only divine grace can lead you from one to the other.”

My Jesus, I am so grateful for what You have accomplished in my life. I thank You for the way You constantly shake me up, in order to keep me away from excessive pride. I also thank You that there is nowhere I can go to “get away” from You, as if I would want to. I know that Your presences is always with me, even when I do not feel it.

Thank You for the gentle reminders, over these last couple of days, that I have let my own pride and selfishness get in the way of my devotion to You. Even this morning, Lord, You led me to repentance of actions and words that were not pleasing to You. I am always grateful for this, Lord, and that You have created my heart to be receptive to Your nudging.

I praise You for the people You have put in my life who are constantly encouraging me in my faith and in my journey with You. I am even grateful for people in my life who challenge me in my walk with You. May I be faithful to love and cherish all of the people You have put in my life.

May I always be overwhelmed with gratitude to You, Lord, for all of my days. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

"Now you who are loved of God,
step forward into this new day
appointed by him, that you might
journey through its hours
in the peace and the grace 
and the love of your Lord."
(Every Moment Holy - A Liturgy of The Hours: Daybreak)

Grace and peace, friends.

In Praise of Christ

August 29, 2025 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.

Dangerous Grace

August 28, 2025 Jeff

Today is Thursday, the twenty-eighth day of August, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

May the peace of Christ surround you, today, and guard your hearts and minds!

It is day 240 of 2025, with 125 days remaining.

Day 24,640 of my life.

Four more days until Labor Day.

There are 25 more days of summer left. Yesterday’s high reached 93, one degree above the forecast. Today’s high is predicted to be 98, as the dog days of summer give us one more desperate gasp. I sincerely hope that today will be the last day that high. But you never know. The record high for this date was 107, in 2011. The average high over the next ten days is now 86.5, down almost three degrees from yesterday. Today is the highest forecast temp in that ten days, and tomorrow is the only other day where it is projected to reach 90 or higher. And Sunday’s high?? 78!! Whee!!

Daily writing prompt

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

View all responses

The answer to this question results in the blog that you are currently reading. The blog, itself, is not the answer to the question. It is the “Jesus Time” that I have in the morning and evening that is the answer. For a long time, it was just in the morning. I’m not sure, exactly, what prompted me to begin having a time at night, as well, but I am glad that I did. So, first thing in the morning, after I get up (after I make my coffee, and, if I am first up, I feed the various animals inside and outside our house), and then the last thing I do before going to bed, is to spend time with Jesus.

Now, as my pastor noted a few months ago, I am always in “Jesus Time,” so these times might be better referred to as “concentrated” Jesus Times, or “intentional” Jesus Times. Whatever. They are times of concentrated Scripture reading, meditation, and prayer, as well as listening to various hymns to guide me. These times have most definitely improved my quality of life, and continue to do so.

Yesterday was an okay day, as S was feeling sick, and C wasn’t feeling great, either. At one point, I wasn’t feeling so hot, either, but I don’t know if that was real or just the power of suggestion. Either way, I took NyQuil before going to sleep, last night, and I feel fine, today. C was feeling better when she got up for work, and S didn’t have any fever, this morning (it was low-grade, yesterday and last night, around 100).

Otherwise, today is a normal Thursday. C is at the office, and I am off work. I did have to take Mama to see her cardiologist, this morning, so that is why this is a little late getting posted.

I really have nothing else on my agenda today.

JESUS TIME

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)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

For Your living water, Lord, that You constantly pour into me
That You hear and answer prayer
For this command to be kind to one another; may we be faithfully obedient, Lord, forgiving one another just as You have forgiven us
That in the silence of my heart, You speak, and it is there that I will know You and You will know me (Audrey Assad – “You Speak”)
That true freedom comes in submitting to the authority of God

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?

Blessed be the LORD!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

The LORD is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
(Psalms 28:6-9 ESV)

“Oh Christ,
help me to know You are near.
I can suffer pain,
rejection,
the loss of many precious things –
but if You are silent;
if Your voice is lost to me,
I don’t know if I can bear it.

For as long as I can remember,
You have spoken to me –
in whisper,
ache,
and tear;
in wind and word:
a language of the heart.
Without that tethering thread
I would be utterly lost –
a cave-dweller,
a stranger to the light. . . .

Have mercy, Lord.
Comfort me.
Speak.”
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 28: Wind and Word)

O LORD, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
(Psalms 26:8 ESV)

Jesus, I pray that You would, indeed, liberate me from the noise inside my own head.

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

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
(Acts 16:25-40 ESV)

And [Jesus] called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
(Mark 7:14-23 ESV)

“In his explanation of the commandments, Luther begins every one with these words, ‘We should fear and love God and . . . ‘

“It is perhaps well known that there are some Christians today who maintain that Luther made a mistake in this. They strike out the ‘fear’ and say that we should love God, nothing more.

“But when the people of our superficial generation have read the Bible as thoroughly as Luther did, they will see that Luther was right also in this.

“He has seen clearly that love to God does not exclude fear, but that they mutually strengthen each other.

“He has seen that there is something about love which is to be feared. He has seen that there something about grace which is dangerous. He has seen the risk connected with grace, yea, that in the last instance nothing is more dangerous than the grace of God.

“It is part and parcel of the risk connected with life as a whole.

“The greater the good in life, the more dangerous it becomes to us, if we misuse it. And since the grace of God is life’s most precious good, grace is more dangerous than anything else in the world, if we misuse it.

“The psalmist saw this more than two thousand years ago when he said, ‘Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile’ (Psalm 32:2).

“This is the precipitous chasm which runs along the narrow way to the very end – to our dying breath. As long as a Christian is watchful and keeps his eye on this chasm, he will continue to live in ‘fear and trembling,’ as the apostle admonishes us to do.”
(Reading IV: Ole Hallesby, Under His Wings)

My God, I pray to You, desperately, this morning, that You would truly silence the noise and chaos in my own head. For it is there where our enemy tries his hardest to derail me and defeat me. But he cannot win, because Jesus wins, always. So in the silence of my heart, Lord, You speak to me, and it is there that I will truly know You and You will know me, as You already do. You know me, Lord, more intimately than I know myself. And I embrace this truth, Father, for I would hide nothing from You.

Jesus, I ask You to make me a better image-bearer. I ask You to make me a window through which all who intersect my life can glimpse Your beautiful, infinite, love for them. That is the desire of my heart, and, as far as I know, the goal of my life. For You have poured into me for these past six months; poured into me until I overflow. Even as I type these words, I can feel in my own heart, this love welling up, getting ready to overflow, yet again. Help me to know how to channel this love into action, into outward love for others.

Teach me to live, Spirit, as You inhabit me, Your temple. Teach me to walk and live in the country of salvation, as all around me, people are living and walking in the country of death. But You are calling us into a different country. As the writer of Hebrews says multiple times, we are seeking a homeland, “a better country,” We have “no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”

As each day passes, my Lord, I am more and more homesick for this homeland, this city, which I have yet to see. I pray that You bring our longing to pass, Lord! But while we remain in this lesser country, help us to live there in Your light, and to be Your light, shining on all around us, showing Your steadfast love that never fails to all around us.

And as the reading shows us, this morning, may we never forget to fear You, Father, and to operate properly in Your dangerous grace.

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

Grace and peace, friends!

Worthy Is the Lamb!

August 27, 2025 Jeff1 Comment

Today is Wednesday, the twenty-seventh day of August, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways!

It is day 239 of 2025, with 126 days remaining.

Day 24,639 of my life.

Five more days until the Labor Day holiday.

26 more days of summer remaining. We hit 89 yesterday, which was one degree higher than predicted, but still below 90, so that was nice. Today’s high is projected to be 92. The record high for this date was 106 in 2011. The average high over the next ten days is 89.3, slightly higher than yesterday due to a couple of 90-degree days next week. but the 100-degree day that was forecast for tomorrow has dropped to 99. Labor Day is forecast to be 91, which, while still warm is not horrible. There will probably be a lot of picnics that day, and it looks like there is little to no rain forecast.

Daily writing prompt

What was the last thing you searched for online? Why were you looking for it?

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The last thing I searched for online was pretzels, because I was adding things to my grocery pick up order, which I am picking up between 1:00 and 1:30 this afternoon. If I go back to anything that is non-grocery-related, last night I searched for a book called Luther’s Prayers, and purchased a Kindle edition of it. I ran across this book at the library where I work, a couple weeks ago, because someone had checked it out and I had it in my shelving cart. First of all, I was delighted to see that someone had checked it out, and even more surprised to see that we even have it in our library. I immediately checked it out. I didn’t get around to starting it until last night, and found that it is a very helpful resources, and is, quite literally, a book of prayers written by Martin Luther, and that’s pretty much all it is, with the exception of a brief introduction by the editor.

Last night was a delightful evening at the library. I finished the work that I had to do in around an hour, and spent the rest of the evening hanging out with my library bestie in the circ department. We did actually get some work done, as I helped her with some of her tasks. At one point, I noticed that someone had moved a cart of adult fiction/non-fiction into the hall, so I got about half of that sorted for whoever does the shelving today.

It is a normal Wednesday for us today. C is working from home, and I am off work. Next week, choir practice kicks off again, so I will have to start having dinner ready earlier. And, as previously mentioned, I will be going to pick up groceries in a little while.

S is not well, today, and seems to have come down with something. She was complaining last night of a sore throat, and generally feeling miserable. This morning, she was coughing a bit, and had a low-grade fever (100.6). We did a Covid test, which came out negative. So for now, she is just resting. We will see how she feels tomorrow and see if she needs to see a doctor. I’m hoping that I don’t catch whatever it is, because I’m supposed to work Friday and Saturday, and I’m supposed to be Assisting Minister this Sunday morning.

JESUS TIME

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

“Son of Man, robed in flesh
Bearing our grief, knowing our weakness
Yet despised in our eyes
Pitied and poor, living among us
See how He loves us

Jesus, only Jesus, humble and holy
Lord, we adore You
Jesus, only Jesus, oh, how marvelous
Oh, how wonderful Your love”

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
(Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
(Isaiah 26:3 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

For the promises that You will never leave or forsake us; I truly have nothing to fear
For the peace that inhabits my soul when I keep my mind fixed on You, Jesus
That “there is no darkness so deep, no evil so strong, that it can wrest me from Your presence” (Sheltering Mercy: Psalm 27)
That even the weakest believer’s faith is built on the Rock that is Christ Jesus
For all the saints who have gone before us, who have made it to their blessed harbor of peace and rest; may the Lord protect us and watch over us all, on our journey through the tempestuous seas of our lives

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?

Lord Jesus, may Your Spirit help me to choose only that which pleases You today.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.

One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices
with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the LORD will take me in.

Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
(Psalms 27:1-14 ESV)

“You have delivered me from sin and death;
raised me to new life with You.
There is no darkness so deep,
no evil so strong,
that it can wrest me from Your presence. . . .

In the end,
there is only one thing of lasting worth;
one desire that burns within me:
that I would continually live
in,
through,
from,
the center of Your love,
dwelling in the secret place;
perceiving Your wonder;
beholding Your beauty;
meditating on Your goodness.”
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 27: Light and Life)

Lord, I praise You that You have, indeed, delivered me from sin and death, and even more-so, over the last six months. I praise You that no darkness or evil can possible take me away from Your presence. I confess that there are times when my peace is threatened by darkness, but You always win out. Truly, You are my light and my salvation, and truly, I have nothing to fear.

There IS only one thing of lasting worth, my Jesus, and my heart’s desire is to live and walk ONLY in, through, and from the center of Your love, the center of Your holiness. Let me dwell in the secret place, Lord, beholding Your beauty for all eternity, lifting up Your name with all the saints and angels in heaven, casting down our crowns before You around the glassy sea!

In the meantime, may I meditate on Your goodness, Jesus, keeping my eyes and mind fixed on You, rather than on my problems and issues, that I might know Your amazing and wonderful peace in my life.

“Pensive, doubting, fearful heart,
Hear what Christ the Savior says.
Every word should joy impart,
Change thy mourning into praise.
Yes, he speaks, and speaks to thee,
May he help thee to believe!
Then thou presently wilt see,
Thou hast little cause to grieve.”

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

And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
(Mark 6:47-56 ESV)

I couldn’t find a recording of this hymn that included the following verse, which was included in For All the Saints, this morning.

“Men, devils engage,
The billows arise,
And horrible rage,
And threaten the skies;
Their fury shall never
Our steadfastness shock,
The weakest believer
Is built on a Rock.”

However, most did included these two verses:

“Salvation to God
Who sits on the throne!
Let all cry aloud,
And honor the Son!
Our Jesus’ praises
The angels proclaim,
Fall down on their faces,
And worship the Lamb.

Then let us adore,
And give Him his right,
All glory, and power,
And wisdom and might,
All honor and blessing,
With angels above,
And thanks never ceasing,
And infinite love.”

I’m really honing in, this morning, on those lines, “The weakest believer is built on a Rock.” That is very significant. Even the weakest of us is built on the Rock of Christ Jesus, whose praises the angels proclaim, and fall on their faces, worshiping Him! I tell you the truth, I cannot wait for the day when that last verse becomes reality, as we all fall down before Him, and adore Him, giving Him all glory, and power, and wisdom and might, all honor and blessing, thanks never ceasing, and infinite love! For that I was created, and for that eternal reality I long, daily!

“Blessed are all your saints, O God and King, who have traveled over the tempestuous sea of this mortal life, and have made the harbor of peace and happiness. Watch over us who are still in our dangerous voyage; and remember such as lie exposed to the rough storms of trouble and temptations. Frail is our vessel, and the ocean is wide; but as in your mercy you have set our course, so steer the vessel of our life toward the everlasting shore of peace. Bring us at length to the quiet haven of our heart’s desire, where you, O our God, are blessed, and live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.”
(Closing Prayer: Augustine, Bishop of Hippo)

Thank You, Lord, that my faith is built on the Rock that is Jesus Christ, even when that faith is weak. I praise You for this magnificent hymn, Lord, and for those angels who proclaim the majesty and worth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, falling on their faces before Him, worshiping Him. I cannot wait to join them, Lord! So let us, Lord, adore Him, the author and perfecter of our faith, Him of whom the angels sing, giving Him His rightful praise, ascribing to Him glory, and power, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and blessing for all eternity.

All hail King Jesus!! My thanks will never cease, and may my love for You be infinite, just as Your love for me is infinite!

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

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

Disappointment

August 26, 2025 Jeff

Today is Tuesday, the twenty-sixth day of August, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways!

It is day 238 of 2025, with 127 days left.

Day 24,638 of my life.

Six days until Labor Day holiday.

27 days of summer remaining. We hit 98 degrees, yesterday, again a couple degrees higher than the prediction. Today’s projected high is a surprising 88 degrees!! And I have been outside this morning; it is rather pleasant! The record high for this date was, once again, 108, in 2023. The average high over the next ten days is now only 88.6! There is still a triple-digit day forecast for 8/28 (100), and 95 tomorrow, but every other day in the forecast is below 90! Huzzah!!

Daily writing prompt

What TV shows did you watch as a kid?

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Oh, man!! I probably can’t remember all of them, but my favorite time of day was right after I got home from school. We had this channel, a local channel (Channel 11) . . . okay. Let me preface this by reminding everyone that I’m an old guy, here. When I was a kid, we had four or five channels. We had the CBS, NBC, and ABC affiliates (4, 5, and 8), and we had Channel 11, the local independent station, and we had Channel 13, which was the local PBS affiliate.

So, after school, I would plant myself in the den, turn on Channel 11, sit on the floor with my back against the front of the couch (don’t ask me why I preferred that to actually sitting on the couch . . . I don’t know) and watch shows like Gilligan’s Island, I Love Lucy, Dick Van Dyke, and others. Those three were usually always on, and others rotated in and out over time. Sometimes, The Banana Splits were one. Sometimes H.R. Puf-n-stuf (or however that was spelled) was on.

On Sunday nights, I would camp on Channel 13 and watch shows like Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The Two Ronnies, Benny Hill, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, and other British comedies. Fawlty Towers!!

Ah, the memories. There will be more memories, further in, this morning, not quite as pleasant, but still part of what has contributed to who the Lord has made me.

Yesterday was pretty good, I suppose. Part of the day was really slow, but then it seemed to pick up toward the end. At one point, during the last hour, we actually had a line of people waiting to get things notarized at our information desk. That was unusual.

Today is a normal Tuesday. C is at the office, and I will be working my shelving shift from 4:15-8:15.

Before I get into it, I just want to say that this morning’s Jesus Time has been wonderful. Much-needed!

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)

“Our God, you never will abandon us
Our hope is tethered to your love
When we thought we were forgotten
You gave us so much more and Hallelujah
We thank you Lord”

Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
(Isaiah 26:4 ESV)
“Therefore my people shall know my name.
Therefore in that day they shall know
that it is I who speak; here I am.”
(Isaiah 52:6 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

That You, my God, are my everlasting rock
That I can trust in You even when I am disappointed, even when I am hurting, even when I am misunderstood, even when my heart is breaking
That You have made me to know Your name and that You are my breath of life; You are here
That You are constantly filling me up with gratitude, overflowing my heart
That my reverence (fear) for you overrides any fear that I might have of any circumstances in my life; thank You, Jesus!!

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?

O LORD, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.
(Psalms 26:8-12 ESV)

“The truth is, I have nothing to hide
that You have not redeemed.
To You, all hearts are open;
all desires known;
from You no secrets are hid.

My debts have been paid,
down to the smallest white lie.
I am cloaked and covered in grace:
a righteousness not my own,
and so I stand righteous before You –
firm in Your love
and in Your faithfulness. . . .

I’m filled with gratitude –
cup overflowing;
mouth loosed to sing Your praise. . . .

I stand on Your promises;
lean on Your grace;
and with all the saints
I sing the breadth
and length
and height
and depth
of the love of God.”
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 26: Cloaked in Grace)

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
(Psalms 23:5 ESV)

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 ESV)

“Oh how great is the love of God
He paid our debt on that rugged cross
For all our days we will sing our Savior’s praise
How great is the love of God”

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

“O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
(Opening Prayer)

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
(Acts 16:6-15 ESV)

As I read this passage, I pondered this moving (and prohibiting) of the Spirit. A modern “evangelical” Christian would balk at the thought that the Holy Spirit would not want them to go to a certain place to proclaim the Gospel. But that is exactly what happened, here. First, they were forbidden to preach in Asia. Then they attempted to go to Bithynia (wherever that is), “but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” And then came that “Macedonian call” that the hymn “Send the Light” refers to.

Harry Emerson Fosdick has the reading in For All the Saints, this morning, and it refers to this passage. He opines that Paul, wanting to go to Bithynia, probably tried really hard, as he never did anything “half-way.” We are not give any details about what, exactly, prevented them from going. No doubt, there was some circumstance that got in their way, and it was interpreted as being the act or guidance of the Spirit. But, from Troas, then, this other great opportunity became available, so they took it. Says Fosdick, “Paul rendered his most significant service with the left-overs of a broken plan.”

So often, says Fosdick, the turning point of a career is just such a circumstance, “getting Toras when he wanted Bithynia.” He then spends a few paragraphs writing about someone named Phillips Brooks (I confess I am not familiar with the name). It appears that he was an Episcopal minister, “One of the most popular preachers of the Gilded Age,” according to Wikipedia. Oh. Right. He also wrote “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

Brooks set out to be a teacher. “That was his Bithynia.” It seems that he failed miserably at teaching. He tried and tried, but didn’t even seem to enjoy it when he was able to teach. When he was dropped from his teaching position, he said, “I don’t know what will become of me and I don’t care much.” But Fosdick writes that, out of all the letters he received during his preaching career, the one he cherished most came from a tailor in Boston: “Dear Mr. Brooks: I am a tailor in a little shop near your Church. Whenever I have the opportunity I always go to hear you preach. Each time I hear you preach I seem to forget all about you, for you make me think of God.”

Brooks “wanted Bithynia and he got Troas but through Troas he found the door into a service that if he had lived a hundred lives he might never have found again.”

As I read all of this, it makes me think of my life. I originally set out to be a band director. That was my undergraduate degree. I never actually even tried to do that. Before I even graduated college, I felt drawn to church work/ministry, so I made plans to enter seminary immediately after college. I foolishly entered the Education Department program instead of the Music program. There was some form of logic behind the decision, but I won’t go into that, this morning.

After three semesters of that program, I jumped over to the Music Department to finish up with a Master of Music degree, and in instrumental concentration. During the last couple of years of college, and through my time in seminary, I was a part time music minister at several different churches (not all at the same time, mind you).

I was also a terrible sinner. That’s all I’m going to say about that, at this time, in the way of confession. No one needs to know the details. But I was not walking in the right path with Christ through all of that, and it’s a miracle that I didn’t get kicked out of seminary. I do believe that I was a “Christian” during all of that time, because I was made a disciple on March 19, 1969, at my Baptism.

I can’t remember the year that I left my last position as a worship leader. It was a small Southern Baptist Church in Haltom City, Texas, that was a sort of “satellite” of another larger church. We thought it was a “mission” church, that would eventually be its own church. But it turned out that wasn’t the case. At any rate, I left there after close to ten years of ministry, under circumstances that could have been better.

There have been many disappointments along the way of my life. And honestly, I would be hard-pressed to say what my “Bithynia” was. Probably being a successful full-time music minister/worship leader at a larger church than I was ever part of. But God had other plans. And here’s the thing: God had plans for me that saw through all of the ugly, ugly sin of my life during those years. He somehow saw something in me that transcended my weaknesses, my willfulness, my . . . I don’t even know what to call it.

On February 17 of 2025, He began a transformation of me that has completely baffled me and made me “gobsmacked.” I know that’s a primarily British term, but I like it. It means “overwhelmed with wonder, surprise, or shock,” and it perfectly describes my feelings about what has happened to me since that day.

After 66 years of life (that’s how old I was on February 17, I’m 67 now), the beautiful and loving Spirit of God in Jesus Christ launched me into “Troas.” I wrote a blog entry a while back, asserting that, yes, I am still a “minister.” I don’t get paid to do it, and, frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn. I’m not “leading” in a music ministry, but I am very active in one, and hope very much that, when I sing and play, people have the same reaction as that tailor did to Phillips Brooks.

I am also an active part of the prayer ministry of my church, and that, I hope is growing into something bigger, as well.

I know this has been rather lengthy. But the point, to me, of all of this, is that we must carry through the disappointments in life. God works through those. Sometimes, He is the orchestrator of those, as was Paul’s case. In my case, I pretty much orchestrated my own disappointments. And if I focus too much on all of that time, I start “beating myself up” and feeling really bad about something that is long over, and that God, in His mercy, according to His Word, doesn’t even remember! (That’s a topic for a whole ‘nother blog, right there!)

Either way, if we persist in our faith, we will get our Troas. Some folks will get their Bithynia, and that’s great. I have no resentment or envy toward those folks. Because I am enjoying my Troas immensely. I am enjoying Jesus immensely!

“O Lord, by all Thy dealings with us, whether of joy or pain, of light or darkness, let us be brought to Thee. Let us value no treatment of Thy grace simply because it makes us happy or because it makes us sad, because it gives us or denies us what we want; but may all that Thou sendest us bring us to Thee, that knowing Thy perfectness we may be sure that in every disappointment that Thou art still loving us, and in every darkness that Thou art still enlightening us, and in every enforced idleness that Thou art still using us; yea, in every death Thou art giving us life, as in His death Thou didst give life to Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.”
(For All the Closing Prayer, Phillips Brooks)

Father, I thank You for what You have brought to me, this morning. I thank You for always working through the disappointments of my life, the “broken plans” and purposes that I went through. I, of course, could not see what You saw, through all of it. There were times when all I could see was the ugliness of my sin, forgetting that You no longer saw my sin, because of the beautiful work of my Jesus on the cross. You also had the “broader view” of my life, knowing full well where I would be on this day.

I praise You that You did not give up on me. I praise You that I did not give up on me, because it certainly would have been easy to do. And now, as I look forward, Lord, I see Jesus only. I do not worry about anything else in my future, Lord, because I know that You are there. I know that Christ awaits me in my heavenly home, and, while I think myself ready to go, You still have other plans for me. Therefore, I patiently wait while You continue to work all things together for Your glory and my good.

All praise to You, Lord, through the Son, and by the Spirit. Amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

Pretending

August 25, 2025 Jeff1 Comment

Today is Monday, the twenty-fifth day of August, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

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

It is day 237 of 2025, with 128 days remaining.

Day 24,637 of my life.

Seven days until Labor Day!

28 days of summer left. We had a high of 97 yesterday, which it reached while we were sitting in the air-conditioned comfort of Globe Life Field, watching the Texas Rangers complete a sweep of the Cleveland Guardians. That was a couple degrees higher than the initial forecast of 95. Today’s high is projected to be 96. The record high for this date was 108, in 2023. The average high over the next ten days is now 90.3, getting lower every day, thank the Lord! There is still one day of triple-digits in the forecast, still on 8/28, now at 101.

Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite time of day?

View all responses

I’m not sure which time I would say, but probably the morning, soon after I get up, when I’ve got my coffee and starting my morning Jesus Time. It is generally peaceful, as C is either working in the living room or at the office, and others haven’t awakened yet. I could say that my favorite time of day is “Jesus Time,” and, according to my pastor, I am always in Jesus Time! And I am also quite fond of my evening Jesus Time, right before I go to bed at night.

We had a wonderful time, yesterday. S and I started the day with a great worship service (the early one, this time) and then went back to the house for little while before heading to Globe Life Field for the Texas Rangers baseball game. Our seats were amazing, and the Rangers won 5-0! Plus S received a goody bag from the Player Relations people, that included an autographed hat from Jonah Heim, so she was on cloud nine! We finished off the day with concretes from Andy’s Frozen Custard. Don’t ask me why they call them concretes.

Today is a work Monday for me, so I’m at the library from 9:15-6:15. C is working from home, today, as usual.

JESUS TIME

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)

“Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Holy Communion, three-in-one

Come with your peace, with your invitation
Bind us together in Holy Love”

Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble.
(Psalms 119:165 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

For a wonderful time of worship, Word, and Sacrament yesterday morning
For a great, fun time at the baseball game, as we finished Stephanie’s birthday celebrations
For God’s faithfulness and steadfast love, even when I allow the enemy to win a battle
That when my soul is burdened and all heaven seems silent, You give me a new song to sing
That my faith enables me to look at life and the world realistically, without trying to sugar coat things and put on a front that things are always perfect

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?

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.
(Psalms 25:1-22 ESV)

“See how my heart is open, Lord;
how I long to know the wisdom of Your ways;
the mysteries of Your mercy.

Have You not ransomed me with blood,
that I might draw closer,
and closer still,
to the very heart of God? . . .

When my soul is burdened
and all Heaven seems silent;
when the hope of New Creation
rings hollow in my heart –
Raise my up.
Restore me.
Give me a new song to sing.”
(Excerpt from Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 25: A Hypocrite Hymn)

“All I want is Jesus
Nothing satisfies me like you do
Abba my Father
Draw me to the very heart of You
That my heart might beat with the rhythm of Yours
And Your chains of love set me free evermore
I cry Abba, Father
Draw me to the very heart of You”

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

“Father, we come, reborn in the Spirit, to celebrate our sonship in the Lord Jesus Christ. Touch our hearts, help them grow toward the life you have promised. Touch our lives, make them signs of your love for all men. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(Opening Prayer)

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
(Mark 6:14-29 ESV)

“Unless you are careful, praise from others may harm you greatly, for when once it begins it never ceases, and generally ends in running you down afterwards. This usually takes the form of telling you that you are more holy than others and suchlike flattering speeches.

“For the love of God, I implore you never to find your peace in such speeches for you might come to believe them, or to think you had done all you need and that your work was finished.

Remember how the world treated our Lord Jesus Christ, yet how it had extolled him on Palm Sunday! Men so esteemed St John the Baptist as to mistake him for the Messiah, yet how barbarously and for what a motive they afterwards beheaded him!

Always struggle within your own heart against these dangerous flatteries, then you will go forth with deeper humility.

May God, of his great bounty, give us light.”
(Reading IV: Teresa of Avila, Living Water: Daily Readings with St. Teresa of Avila)

This is one reason I have always been shy about getting praise from other people when I sing or play in church. I’ve gotten better at receiving it, but it has always made me uncomfortable. For the longest time, I simply didn’t know how to respond, but Jesus has helped me with that. I don’t really need to hear that I played or sang well. But what I do like to hear is that my playing or singing drew someone closer to Jesus or helped them worship. That is the best compliment I could receive.

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

“Real faith never calls you to swindle yourself into thinking that things are better than they are. Biblical faith is shockingly honest and hopeful.”

“Biblical faith is not about wearing a saccharine smile while living in a constant state of religious denial. . . . It’s not about priding yourself on your ability to keep God’s rules or thinking you’re more sanctified because you’re on pace to read through the whole Bible again this year. . . . It’s not about saying you’re okay when you give daily empirical evidence that you are anything but okay. . . . The faith of the Bible will never call you to deny reality in any way. The faith of the Bible is so in awe of the grandeur and glory of God that it is able to look at the darkest of realities in life and not be afraid.”

“It is only when you look at this dark world through the lens of the existence, power, authority, wisdom, faithfulness, love, and grace of the King of kings and Lord of lords that you see reality with clarity.”

There is way too much of this, still, in the community of faith. I remember, in years gone by, how popular it was to always be smiling or to always act like everything was just “hunky-dory,” or “peachy-keen,” in our Christian walk, because to indicate anything else was seen as either weakness or lack of faith. I mean, if my life is not perfect, then my faith must be weak, right?

Well, if you can find this in the Bible anywhere, I’ll wait for you to show me.

Yes, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but if we read that in context, “all things,” means suffering, too. Paul speaks of learning how to be content in any situation. “I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need,” he says.

Now, I would be the first to tell you that my life is just about the best it has ever been. My pastor and I were talking, this morning. Most of my life is spent in places I love. I spend time at my church with my Jesus family, I spend time at home with my “blood” family, and I spend time at this place full of books, the library, with my work family.

But I still go through struggles and I still battle daily with our enemy. My life is not perfect, nor will it ever be until I reach the other side of glory. And I don’t have to have a smile on my face all the time, either. One of the things that we learn from Psalms is that it is okay to vent to God. In fact, like it or not, psalms teach us that we can even swear at God (or at least to Him). We can tell Him exactly how we feel about things. And without going into detail, I can tell you that I did exactly that last night. Complete with some unsavory words.

And though I initially felt as though my enemy had won a battle, I understand, now (again, thanks to my pastor) that he did not, because I did exactly what I was supposed to do . . . I took my troubles to the Lord.

So I encourage you to be honest . . . with yourself and with God, because, while we might be able to fool ourselves and others, we never fool Him, anyway.

Stop pretending.

Father, I praise You that we can be honest and open with You and You can handle it. I thank You that You led me to bring my troubles to You, last night, even though I felt defeated at the time. And I thank You that You have calmed my spirit and soul, this morning.

I also thank You that You have helped me learn how to graciously accept compliments from people. But I also keep praying that my playing and singing will always draw them closer to You, too, as the song says, draw them (and me) “to the very heart of You.” Because that’s where I always want to be.

I pray all of this in the beautiful name of Jesus, who is everything! Amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters!

Jesus, There’s No One Like You

August 23, 2025August 24, 2025 Jeff3 Comments

Today is Saturday, the twenty-third day of August, 2025, in the Season of the Church.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

It is day 235 of 2025, with 130 days remaining.

Day 24,635 of my life.

It is nine days until our next holiday, which is Labor Day, which falls on September 1, this year. It won’t be an official day off for me, because I wasn’t scheduled to work that day, anyway. I mean, it will be a “day off,” but not because it’s a holiday. The library will be closed that day, though.

There are 30 days of summer left. Yesterday’s high was only 92, a couple degrees below the forecast. We had rain in the morning (while I was driving to work, naturally), a little over a half inch in my zip code. Today’s projected high is 94. The record high for this date was 107 in 2010. The average high over the next ten days is now 91.4, a whole degree down from yesterday. And there are now no triple-digit days in the forecast! The highest is 98 on Monday, and there are four days under 90 in the forecast! Dare I hope that September actually acts like September, this year, instead of August 2.0?

Daily writing prompt

Tell us about the last thing you got excited about.

View all responses

The last thing I got excited about was God’s Word. I know that sounds like such a preachy “Christianese” kind of thing to say, and frankly, I don’t care what anybody thinks about it. Because it’s not that. It is as real as anything I have ever experienced. And anyone who reads this on a regular basis knows that what I have experienced in the last six months is the real, authentic moving of Christ in my heart.

And last night, during my Jesus Time, I got excited about God’s Word. That’s not to say I’m not excited about it, this morning, because I am. But the readings and prayers that I got into last night focused more on the topic of His Word, and how it is the “love of my heart” and “the reflection of my mind” (from Endless Grace: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms). In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.”

The further and deeper I go into this journey, the more this is true for me and real for me.

So today is an off day for me, and I don’t have much on my agenda for the day. I need (I say “need,” but that is probably not the right word) to go to World Market to get a can of my favorite tea. That happens to be Republic of Tea’s Bridgerton series, specifically the Ginger Peach Vanilla flavor. I am completely out of it, which is why I “need” to go get some. I also need to go to CVS to pick up a couple of scripts.

S wants to make a sign for her favorite baseball player for tomorrow’s game, so we may go somewhere to pick up some supplies to make that. That player is Jonah Heim, by the way.

I’ll be cooking my “signature” burgers for dinner tonight, probably inside on the oven, because it’s still a little warm outside to be grilling.

Since we have the afternoon baseball game tomorrow, S and I are planning to attend the 8:45 worship service and then come straight home so we can get to the ballpark plenty early. It was my idea to do that, because I just don’t want to miss Communion.

JESUS TIME

“You’re here
You prepare a table before me
You’re here
In the presence of my deepest pain
You’re here
And my heart is overflowing
‘Cause Your goodness and Your mercy follow me
All of my days”

It is significant that this song came up “randomly” in my feed for this hymn. Nothing is random in God’s kingdom, my friends.

When I thought, “My foot slips,”
your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
(Psalms 94:18-19 ESV)
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
(Romans 12:12 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

That Your steadfast love, O Lord, holds me up when I feel that I am slipping into darkness
That it is possible, in Christ, to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer
That I got to read Psalm 23 this morning; He knows, He loves, He cares
That You, O Lord, are leading me “Further up. Further in.” Praise to You, Jesus!!
That I can walk through my days, fearful of nothing, confident that, in all things, I am held secure in Your steadfast love. I have been set free by Your truth

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?

“Lord of those who gave us this Book of Life, speak now to our waiting souls through the lips of your servant and may every word be sanctified and declared in obedience to the law of Christ. IN his name we pray. Amen.”
(For All the Saints – Saturday of the Week of Pentecost 10, Opening Prayer)

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
(Psalms 51:15 ESV)

Indeed, Lord, my mouth will declare Your praise for all of my days.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
(Psalms 23:1-6 ESV)

“Christ,
in Your presence I lack no good thing.
You are the shepherd of my soul,
guiding me to places of rest,
far from noise and clamor;
a meadow of the heart –
tall grass against an azure sky;
cooling waters at my side.
Lead me, Lord.
Further up.
Further in.

When death looks like a specter over me
and I wander in a godless land,
speak comfort to me.
May Your Spirit be the light on my path;
the crook of Your staff guide me to safety.

With mercy, You lead me to Your table;
a feast of rich food and aged wine
in Your presence –
my Head and Host.
You delight in honoring me,
that all who see would know
I am the beloved of God.

My head is blessed with oil;
my joy overflowing.

Your grace chases me.
Your kindness pursues me.
How can I outrun You?

In Your house are many rooms.
In Your presence I find rest.”
(Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms – Psalm 23: Further Up and Further In)

The significance of this is not to be missed, this morning. Today being August 23, when I went to read my psalm for the day, I realized that it would be Psalm 23. I had already listened to the first hymn, the one above, “All of My Days,” by Ellie Holcomb. Again, that came up “randomly” as the first song in my playlist when I clicked “shuffle.” But there is no “random.” I, along with Anne Lamott, do not believe in “out of the blue.”

There is something going on that I don’t want to share, just yet, that makes all of this very significant. And this is Jesus, reassuring me, through His Word, and through the prayers of others, that everything in His Kingdom is going to be okay. There are trials; there are afflictions; we are never promised otherwise.

When Paul, in Philippians, tells us to “be anxious for nothing,” and to let our requests be made known to God, with thanksgiving, he does not say that those afflictions are going to go away. What he does promise, though, is peace; peace that passes all understanding. Just like the psalmist, who says that when he walks through the valley, he will fear no evil.

Notice that he does not pray to be kept away from the valley. He knows that he will walk through that valley. We have to walk through those valleys. But we don’t have to fear. And we can have peace.

Jesus knew exactly what I needed, this morning. After showing me, last night, that His Word is the delight of my heart, this morning, He gave me that Word, knowing that I would delight in it and take great comfort from it.

Christ is everything! Nothing else matters. Nothing and no one else satisifes.

“You give me life
In abundance joyful and complete
And Your steadfast love
Is so much better
Than anything I’ve seen

Oh, Lord, You satisfy me
Like nobody else can
Lord, You satisfy me

In Your presence there is fullness of joy
At Your right hand
Are pleasures forevermore”

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

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
(Mark 6:1-13 ESV)

“Healing is a sacrament because its purpose or end is not health as such, the restoration of physical health, but the entrance of man into the life of the Kingdom, into the ‘joy and peace’ of the Holy Spirit. In Christ everything in this world, and this means health and disease, joy and suffering, has become an ascension to, and entrance into this new life, its expectation and anticipation.

“In this world suffering and disease are indeed ‘normal,’ but their very ‘normalcy’ is abnormal. They reveal the ultimate and permanent defeat of life, a defeat which no partial victories of medicine, however wonderful and truly miraculous, can ultimately overcome. But in Christ suffering is not ‘removed’; it is transformed into victory. The defeat itself becomes victory, a way, an entrance into the Kingdom, and this is the only true healing.”
(For All the Saints – Saturday of the Week of Pentecost 10, Reading IV: Alexander Schmemann, For the Life of the World)

“This week we may be given
challenges instead of ease,
courage instead of contentment,
opportunities instead of rest.

But we have a Savior who brings
strength out of service,
faith out of struggle,
and victory out of defeat.

Go then, fearful of nothing,
sure that in everything,
we are held secure
in the Master’s steadfast love. Amen.”
(For All the Saints – Saturday of the Week of Pentecost 10, Closing Prayer: E. Lee Phillips)

to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
to grant us that we,
being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
(Luke 1:72-75 ESV emphasis added)

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
(John 8:31-32 ESV)

My Jesus, You have truly set me free. I admit that I am still processing what You did with this verse on Wednesday night. I think I will be processing this for quite a while. But I know that, in You, I am abiding in Your Word, in Your Truth (You ARE Truth, You ARE the Word, and Your Word IS Truth), and because of this, You have set me free. From what? Maybe from everything. I’m still kind of standing in awe of all of this, Lord, unable to fully digest what is happening, and what has been happening for six months.

I wish that I could adequately express everything, Jesus. I just can’t. The words that I come up with, even when I’m trying to tell other people what You have done in me, aren’t adequate. They just don’t express what is going on in my soul, what I am feeling in my heart, sometimes even physically! It is so beautiful, my Jesus, but even “beautiful” isn’t enough!

But I thank You! I thank You that You are giving me life, life abundant and free; that You have set me free from all fears and doubts and that You are holding me close when I am tempted, so that I do not fall. And when the enemy tries to drag me into darkness, You have made me able to lean in to You, Your Word, Your Truth, and give me that peace and hold me up in the light.

I love You so much, Jesus! You are life, You are light, You are everything!

And I pray everything in Your holy name, Your beautiful name, Your powerful name, Your wonderful name, the name above all names, the name by which I am saved, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Thank You, thank You, thank You!

Amen.

“There is no song we could sing
To honor the weight of Your glory
There are no words we could speak
To capture the depth of Your beauty

Jesus, there’s no one like You
Jesus, we love You, ever adore You,
There’s no one like You
Jesus, we love You, ever adore You
We adore You”

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

What I Believe

September 5, 2022 Jeff3 Comments

Today is Monday, September 5, 2022, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

May the peace of Christ dwell in your soul today!

Day 23,552

Today is Labor Day in the US, a holiday for many people (not the retail folks, though).

We had a nice thunderstorm with a decent amount of rain, yesterday afternoon. During the storm (we were under a “severe thunderstorm warning,” but it didn’t seem that severe in our location), the temperature dropped from 93 (the high for the day) to 70, in the space of less than an hour. I ventured out to get Sonic drinks between 3:30 and 4:00, and it was very nice outside. According to the site I use to check the amount, we got .38 inch in the last 72 hours. That’s the way I like my rain, not 9.5 inches in, say, twelve hours.

Today’s high is predicted to be 91, and our highs seem to be stuck in the 89-92 zone for the next ten days. The record high for today’s date was, once again, in 2000, at 105. I’m glad I don’t live in Citrus Heights, CA. One source predicts a high of 113 there, today. Egad.

We watched the Elvis movie, yesterday, on HBO Max. It’s a very well-done movie, and the young man who plays Elvis Presley did a very good job. I understand he did a lot of the singing, and also plays piano and guitar. Tom Hanks plays Col. Tom Parker. In this movie, it is coming from Parker’s POV, as he tries to convince us (not successfully) that he is not the villain, here, but that Elvis wouldn’t have existed without him.

I think I might do a separate review of the movie, later.

The Texas Rangers lost the fourth and final game to the Boston Red Sox, yesterday, 5-2. The Sox swept the Rangers. Have the Rangers given up? Or are the Red Sox surging? Hard to say. The Sox may have a slim chance of making the playoffs, and the Rangers have slim to none. The Rangers are now 58-75, soon to be twenty games below .500. The Angels lost, though, so the Rangers are still in third place in the AL West, 27.5 out of first place and 15.5 out of a Wild Card spot. Their division E# is 2, and the WCE# is 15. They have 29 games left, and begin a series in Houston today.

The Red Sox are 67-68, almost back to .500. They are still in last place in the AL East, 13.5 out of first and 7.5 out of a Wild Card spot. Their division E# is 15, and their WCE# is 22. They have 27 games left, and begin an important series in Tampa today.

The Minnesota Twins have caught up with the Cleveland Guardians, as the Guardians have lost five in a row. This is important for Minnesota, as there is currently no team in the AL Central in a Wild Card spot, because they are still locked up by two AL East teams and one AL West team. The Red Sox could knock Tampa out of that spot this week. Here’s hoping.

The Dodgers won again, so their MLB leading record is now 92-41. With 29 games left, they have to win 25 of those to break the 116 win record. The Nationals won again, but still have the worst record, at 47-87. The Mariners continue to win, now having a seven-game win streak. The Rangers, feeling the need to be the “best” at something, are in sole possession of an eight-game losing streak. The Dodgers edge closer to a +300 run differential, now at +294. The Pirates have overtaken the Nationals with the worst run differential, now at -209.

Not much on the agenda for today. Groceries are on the way, I’ve ordered some Crumbl cookies for the family, and we might have Lone Star BBQ for lunch. It’s Monday, so I’ll probably make chili for dinner, this evening. There might be a movie at some point, too.

JESUS TIME

We thank you, Father in heaven, that you concern yourself with us and that you bind us to yourself through all your deeds and all your help. We thank you for showing us a way of hope, a way that becomes always clearer, always firmer under our feet. On this way we can defy every evil of this world and time, knowing for sure that everything will come out right and we will all be brought to the great, eternal goal, even though we have to deny ourselves and go through much suffering. Your kingdom must come to the glory of your name, so that all people may live on a higher plane and follow you, the only true help and true life. Amen.
(Daily Prayer from Plough.com)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV)

Today I am grateful:

that God concerns Himself with us and helps us, showing us a way of hope, which, if we are following Him, becomes ever more clear
that we who long for Christ’s appearing will be awarded a crown of righteousness at the end of the race
that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and, though we physically die, yet we shall live
for the rest that comes with my relationship with Christ
for the example of Jesus and His prayer life

So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
(John 11:3-4 ESV)

Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
(John 11:14-15 ESV)

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
(John 11:21-27 ESV)

We give thanks to you, O God; 
we give thanks, for your name is near. 
We recount your wondrous deeds.
(Psalms 75:1 ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28 ESV)

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:27-30 ESV)

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:33 ESV)

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
(Mark 1:35 ESV)

“All things work together for good.” When Jesus received word of Lazarus’s (did anyone else grow up hearing people call him “Lasaruth?”) illness, He purposefully delayed His visit. I think it is important to understand this, to comprehend it fully, or at least as fully as it is possible for our human brains.

Jesus let Lazarus die, in order for God to be glorified by raising him from the dead!

Take a few minutes to process this. It’s not unlike the man that was born blind, to whom Jesus restored sight. Jesus declared that it happened that God might be glorified.

There are people who would explain away things like this, try to reason humanistic values into the truth. “My God would never do something like that; He wouldn’t intentionally cause someone pain.”

The Bible says differently. And if you’re not okay with that, then your understanding of God Almighty is somewhat incomplete.

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
(Psalms 115:3 ESV)

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
(Psalms 138:2 ESV)

Here’s the thing. God created everything. He created the universe, then He created life on this planet. He may or may not have created life on other worlds. If He has, He hasn’t deemed it necessary to tell us about that.

He has the right to do whatever pleases Him, including things that will glorify Himself. And He is worthy of all of that glory because, as previously stated, He is the Creator. If you create something, it is yours, and it is your right to do whatever you wish with that creation.

Anyway . . . back to Lazarus. He was allowed to die so that the world could see the power of God in resurrection. It was a foreshadowing of what would happen to Jesus, who allowed Himself to die, so that God could be glorified in His resurrection.

And yes, Jesus allowed Himself to die.

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
(John 10:18 ESV)

And this, again, causes us to consider our thoughts about Jesus. I’ve mentioned this before, and will likely do so again. Any thoughts of Jesus simply being a “good person,” or a “good teacher,” are simply ridiculous, because of the claims He, Himself made. If any “normal” human being said the words in John 10:18, today, he would be locked up as crazy and be forced into therapy.

Either Jesus was exactly who He claimed to be, or He was insane, or He was an outright liar. Those are the only three options.

And if we believe that He was exactly who He claimed to be, then we should be believing His words and obeying His commands.

I do my best, in human terms, to do that. I believe that He was who He claimed to be; I believe His words, believing that He is the resurrection and the life, and that, even though I die, which I will, that I will live on into eternity, after the resurrection. Lazarus died again. He wouldn’t be the only person in history to do so, but there are only a handful of people who would die twice. And Lazarus will live again, after the resurrection, which will occur at the second coming of Christ.

I will remind you that I do not believe in the popular notion of a “rapture.”

I also try my best to obey the commands of Jesus, which are, as previously stated (perhaps ad nauseum to some), to love the Lord with all of our being, lover our neighbors as ourselves, and to love one another (all the saints) the way Christ has loved us.

So that’s what I believe. That wasn’t the original direction this was going to take, but, as any real writer (not that I’m a “real writer,” mind you) knows, sometimes your characters take you into some strange places.

I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 
and born of the virgin Mary.
I believe He lived a sinless life and performed many miracles while on earth,
and was crucified, buried, and rose again on the third day.
I believe He ascended into heaven (I'm not sure about the descending into hell part)
where He sits at the right hand of God (except for that bit when Stephen was stoned and He was standing up)
until the day He will return to resurrect those who have "fallen asleep,"
and gather up the rest who are still alive
to live with Him in eternity in a new heaven and a new earth, 
wherever those will be.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the unified Church, the Body of Christ,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

That’s mostly the Apostles’ Creed, with some modifications.

I also believe in the rest that comes from following Christ and walking in His easy yoke. He bids us come to Him when we are weary and He will give us rest. He does the hardest work, if we will but let Him.

Father, I have lived most of my life believing in You and in Christ. I have believed longer than I can remember. I have loved Your Word since I have been able to read. Sure, there are some times, in the course of my life, that my belief waned, and that maybe I didn’t love Your Word as much as other times. Nevertheless, I still believe, today. In fact, my belief today is stronger than ever, and I praise You for bringing that to pass in me.

My belief and acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit and His power has not been as long or consistent as my belief in You and Christ. That is more complicated, and my “understanding,” if we can call it that, of the Holy Spirit came much later in life. I now, while not necessarily claiming to understand or comprehend, embrace the truth of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all equally loving and directing our attention to the other two. Three in One, God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

I believe that You are the Creator and that You do whatever pleases You. I am very glad that one of the things that pleases You is to commune with us, Your creation, Your people. I am grateful that You condescend to be concerned about us, and that You give us light and life. It is because of this belief that I can read the account of Lazarus without being upset about him being allowed to die so that You could be glorified. You are God; it is all about You, it is not about me or us. It is also about Jesus Christ, Your Son, and His glory.

I thank You for Jesus and all that He has done for us. I feel like I am rambling a bit, today, but there are a lot of thoughts running through my head, and I can’t quite make them all make sense. But another thing I believe is that the Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I do not know how to put my prayers into words. So I have faith that this is happening today.

Help me to be a light in this world of trouble. Help me to follow the commands of Jesus, to love You and to love people, giving them encouragement instead of criticism (oh, how critical I have been in the past . . . my God, I pray for forgiveness for that!). There is more than enough criticism in this world, Father. Help me be light, life, and encouragement to people. Salt and light.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, you heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Traditional Doxology)

Grace and peace, friends.