Trust

“. . .Blessed are those who trust in the Lord

and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

and they never stop producing fruit.”

—Jeremiah 17:7,8

Forgiveness

“When you forgive, that means you absorb the loss and the debt. You bear it yourself. All forgiveness, then, is costly.”

—Tim Keller

This is why forgiveness is so difficult. It’s not right! It's expensive!

We are to forgive as God forgave us. He took the initiative while we were still his enemies. He paid the price and paved the way to reconciliation and redemption by making the first move, absorbing the pain, the loss, and the injustice of it all. Why? Because he loves us. Check out the Jesus story. It’s quite amazing really.

Thought Control

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

—Proverbs 4:23

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

—2 Corinthians 10:5

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

—Philippians 4:8

Fear

“The psalmist doesn't try to explain evil. He doesn't try to minimize evil. He simply says he will not fear evil.”

—Frederick Buechner

Ultimately, it is about trust. We trust God is good and is for us, even when it seems all is against us. The demonstration of God’s love and goodness is the death and resurrection of Jesus. He loves you, is for you, and wants you to live for him. Do it and don’t be afraid.

Peace through Prayer

How about this as a prayer for today?

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

—Psalm 139:23,24

Love

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

—Jesus (John 13:34,35)

Live Thoughtfully

What we weave in time we wear in eternity.

—J.C. Ryle

Don't be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

—Galatians 6:7

Live intentionally and carefully. You can’t go wrong following Jesus. Even death ends in resurrection.

Childlike Faith

How kind the Lord is! How good he is!

So merciful, this God of ours!

The Lord protects those of childlike faith;

I was facing death, and he saved me.

Let my soul be at rest again,

for the Lord has been good to me.

He has saved me from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling.

And so I walk in the Lord’s presence

as I live here on earth!

—Psalm 116

Rest Awaits

You don’t have to live with anxiety. There is a path of peace and security no matter what happens.

“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.”

—Augustine in Confessions

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” 

—Jesus in Matthew 11:28

Words

Words of truth:

There is perhaps nothing that so marks us as human as the gift of speech. Who knows to what degree and in what ways animals have the power to communicate with each other, but to all appearances it is only a shadow of ours. By speaking, we can reveal the hiddenness of thought, we can express the subtlest as well as the most devastating of emotions, we can heal, we can make poems, we can pray.

All of which is to say we can speak truth- the truth of what it is to be ourselves, to be with each other, to be in the work!- and such speaking as that is close to what being human is all about. What makes lying an evil is not only that the world is deceived by it, but that we are dehumanized by it.

—Fred Buechner in Wishful Thinking 

Transformation

Transformation, metamorphosis, comes as we view and embrace the work of God through Jesus. It sets off a victorious cycle of change.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

—Romans 12:1,2

God Said NO

I asked God to take away my pride. And God said “No.”
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said “No.”
He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said “No.”
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn’t granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said “No.”
He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said “No.”
He said suffering draws me apart from worldly cares and brings me closer to Him.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said “No.”
He said I must grow on my own. But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said “No.”
He said He will give me life, that I may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me.
And God said “Ah, finally you have the idea!”

— Claudia Minden Weisz

Faith and Hope

Hope and faith are inseparable, and they include doubt, confusion, and a lot of trust. I love these two quotes:

Hope is willing to leave unanswered questions unanswered and unknown futures unknown. Hope makes you see God's guiding hand not only in the gentle and pleasant moments but also in the shadows of disappointment and darkness.

— Henri Nouwen

Living by faith isn't living with certainty. It's trusting God in spite of unanswered questions and unresolved doubts.

— Rick Warren

Time Management

Sometimes it really upsets me—

the way the clock's hands keep moving,

even when I'm just sitting here

not doing anything at all,

not even thinking about anything

except, right now, about that clock

and how it can't keep its hands still.

Even in the dark I picture it, and all

its brother and sister clocks and watches,

even sundials, all those compulsive timepieces

whose only purpose seems to be

to hurry me out of this world.

— "Clock" by Linda Pastan from Traveling Light

We live with this directive from Ephesians 5:6: “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” But it must be informed by this from  Psalm 46:10a: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Is this the formula for peaceful and meaningful productivity?

Psalm 86

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;

answer me, for I need your help.

Protect me, for I am devoted to you.

Save me, for I serve you and trust you.

You are my God.

Be merciful to me, O Lord,

for I am calling on you constantly.

Give me happiness, O Lord,

for I give myself to you.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,

so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;

hear my urgent cry.

I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,

and you will answer me.

No pagan god is like you, O Lord.

None can do what you do!

All the nations you made

will come and bow before you, Lord;

they will praise your holy name.

For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.

You alone are God.

Teach me your ways, O Lord,

that I may live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

so that I may honor you.

With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.

I will give glory to your name forever,

for your love for me is very great.

You have rescued me from the depths of death.

O God, insolent people rise up against me;

a violent gang is trying to kill me.

You mean nothing to them.

But you, O Lord,

are a God of compassion and mercy,

slow to get angry

and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Look down and have mercy on me.

Give your strength to your servant;

save me, the son of your servant.

Send me a sign of your favor.

Then those who hate me will be put to shame,

for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.

Grace

The grace of God is amazing! Amongst many things, it teaches us to say “no,” as it forms us into people who do good, people who follow Jesus–the one who reveals the face of grace.

The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

—Titus 2:11-14

As recipients of grace, we must be purveyors of grace. This means loving all people all the time.

Lord, help me.

Light

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

—Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16)

Joy

Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God. 

—  Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Joy is interesting. You cannot make it or pursue it. It is something that comes as a result of being other-directed because you are Other-focused.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:4-7

Which Way?

Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a creature that is in harmony with God, with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself.

– C.S. Lewis

Last Day?

What if you knew today is your last day? What would you do?

Powerful Prayer

. . . I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

—Ephesians 3:14b-21

Actions > Words

So why do you keep calling me “Lord, Lord!” when you don’t do what I say? 

I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 

But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.

—Jesus (Luke 6:46-49)

Nothing to Fear

Even though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death. . .

If/when we follow Jesus, there is nothing to fear, really. Abundant life simply moves toward life eternal. Peace that transcends understanding comes from trusting the promises of God and submitting to his will.

Think through these wonderful words of Henri Nouwen:

When Jesus came close to his death, he no longer could experience God's presence. He cried out: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:47). Still in love he held on to the truth that God was with him and said: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).

The loneliness of the cross led Jesus to the resurrection. As we grow older we are often invited by Jesus to follow him into this loneliness, the loneliness in which God is too close to be experienced by our limited hearts and minds. When this happens, let us pray for the grace to surrender our spirits to God as Jesus did.

Out of the Pit

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

    and he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

    out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

    and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,

    a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

    They will put their trust in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,

    who have no confidence in the proud

    or in those who worship idols.

O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.

    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.

    You have no equal.

If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,

    I would never come to the end of them.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

    Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

Then I said, “Look, I have come.

    As is written about me in the Scriptures:

I take joy in doing your will, my God,

    for your instructions are written on my heart.”

I have told all your people about your justice.

    I have not been afraid to speak out,

    as you, O Lord, well know.

I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;

    I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.

I have told everyone in the great assembly

    of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

–Psalm 40:1-10

Love is the Answer

I believe it was Thomas Merton who said this:

A tormenting sense of unworthiness is the root of hatred.

True.

Love is the answer, the solution, the resolution and the way to change ourselves and the world – one person at a time. I try to follow the One who said this:

1. Love God with all you have.
2. Love others as you love yourself.

My worthiness and my identity are found in being a beloved child of God. He loves me in spite of my many flaws and failings, my sin and stupidity, etc. I love me because God loves me. My call and challenge is to demonstrate that to others by loving them.

Lord, help me.

Psalm 67

May God be merciful and bless us.

May his face smile with favor on us.

May your ways be known throughout the earth,

your saving power among people everywhere.

May the nations praise you, O God.

Yes, may all the nations praise you.

Let the whole world sing for joy,

because you govern the nations with justice

and guide the people of the whole world. 

May the nations praise you, O God.

Yes, may all the nations praise you.

Then the earth will yield its harvests,

and God, our God, will richly bless us.

Yes, God will bless us,

and people all over the world will fear him.

–Psalm 67

Being and Doing

For me, it is easier to do than to be. For some, it is easier to do something than be someone or to be with someone.  Both are important, but doing needs to come from being. We are, after all, human beings first.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

—Luke 10:38-42

Contentment

To accumulate is to broaden; to simply is to deepen.

I’m not sure who said that, but it is true and reflects these ancient words of wisdom:

. . .I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

—Paul (Philippians 4:11b-13)

Don't Trust Worldly Wealth

Listen to this, all you people!

Pay attention, everyone in the world!

High and low,

rich and poor—listen!

For my words are wise,

and my thoughts are filled with insight.

I listen carefully to many proverbs

and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

Why should I fear when trouble comes,

when enemies surround me?

They trust in their wealth

and boast of great riches.

Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.

Redemption does not come so easily,

for no one can ever pay enough

to live forever

and never see the grave.

Those who are wise must finally die,

just like the foolish and senseless,

leaving all their wealth behind.

The grave is their eternal home,

where they will stay forever.

They may name their estates after themselves,

but their fame will not last.

They will die, just like animals.

This is the fate of fools,

though they are remembered as being wise.

Like sheep, they are led to the grave,

where death will be their shepherd.

In the morning the godly will rule over them.

Their bodies will rot in the grave,

far from their grand estates.

But as for me, God will redeem my life.

He will snatch me from the power of the grave. 

So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich

and their homes become ever more splendid.

For when they die, they take nothing with them.

Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.

In this life they consider themselves fortunate

and are applauded for their success.

But they will die like all before them

and never again see the light of day.

People who boast of their wealth don’t understand;

they will die, just like animals.

Psalm 49

Together

“We’re in this together! I will help you.”

—Jesus

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had  the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

—Hebrews 2:14-18

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

—Hebrews 4:14-16

Choose Humility

. . .Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 

“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 

“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

—Luke 18:9-14

Love Everyone

From the womb to the tomb, all lives–red, yellow, black, and white–matter to their Creator. He loves them all and has a goal for each one: abundant, eternal life. If I follow Jesus, then my goal is the same, and it starts with every person I know. Lord, help me.

Press On!

In the daily discipline of faithfulness in all things, this is a needed prayer.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a loyal spirit within me.

—Psalm 51:10

Some miles seem longer than others and some days are more difficult than others, but we keep going. It is and will be worth it all! Press on.

Fully Known and Loved

Probably our deepest desire is our greatest fear: to be truly and fully known. We need it but are afraid if others really know us they will reject us. So we work hard to hide things about ourselves and create an image that others will like.

These words accurately describe what it means to be known and loved by God and how it affects our human relationships:

To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.

— Timothy Keller

Lord, help me to be real and really love as I am really loved.

July 4 Prayer

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion us into one united people. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer

Trusting God

O Lord, I give my life to you.

I trust in you, my God!

Do not let me be disgraced,

or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,

which you have shown from long ages past.

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, O Lord.

The Lord is good and does what is right;

he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

He leads the humble in doing right,

teaching them his way.

The Lord leads with unfailing love and 

faithfulness

all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

—Psalm 25:1-10

Hope

We put our hope in the Lord.

He is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,

for our hope is in you alone.

–Psalm 33:20-22

Words

My daily prayer:

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

I’m thankful for grace and mercy at the end of each day.
I need it.
Always.

Loving Right

Don’t fall in love with this corrupt world or worship the things it can offer. Those who love its corrupt ways don’t have the Father’s love living within them. All the things the world can offer to you—the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority—do not come from the Father. These are the rotten fruits of this world. This corrupt world is already wasting away, as are its selfish desires. But the person really doing God’s will—that person will never cease to be.

–1 John 2:15-17 The Voice

Big Day Ahead

#TBT So. . . Daddy’s little girl, Rebecca, is marrying a fine young man, Micah, on Saturday afternoon. There are wagers being placed in Las Vegas as to how long old Daddy will be able to go before he cries. We’ll see. . . Ha ha! Prayers appreciated. I love my little girl more than words can express and am so proud of the good and godly woman she has become. Kedra and I are so happy to add Micah to the group we call our children. We thank God for his blessings.

Love

What the world needs now is love, sweet love. . .

— Dionne Warwick (in 1963)

Specifically, it needs the love of God demonstrated in Jesus. It’s a love unconditional that encompasses all, including enemies. That easy to say and hard to do. What can we do practically? Henri Nouwen says this:

How can we choose love when we have experienced so little of it? We choose love by taking small steps of love every time there is an opportunity. A smile, a handshake, a word of encouragement, a phone call, a card, an embrace, a kind greeting, a gesture of support, a moment of attention, a helping hand, a present, a financial contribution, a visit ... all these are little steps toward love.

Each step is like a candle burning in the night. It does not take the darkness away, but it guides us through the darkness. When we look back after many small steps of love, we will discover that we have made a long and beautiful journey.

Help Available

Jesus wept.

These two powerful words, found in John 11:35, are packed with significance and encouragement. They are spoken in the context of Lazarus’ death and right before Jesus raises him from the dead.

Undoubtedly the resurrection of Lazarus created a celebration unmatched! Prior to the party, while the people are weeping and mourning, Jesus sympathizes and weeps also, even though he knows resurrection is coming.

Some say it’s sadness; others say they are tears of anger at death. Maybe it’s both? Either way, it is encouragement for our sorrow in this world.

Jesus provides the hope and power of resurrection, but while we are struggling with sin, sorrow, and death, he is sympathetic and helpful. Listen:

Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

—Hebrews 2:18

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

—Hebrews 4:16

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

—John 11:25,26

He is worth giving up everything to follow!

Help Us

The world is so broken, and so am I. We all are. But there is hope and peace, rest and relief, and even joy because there is Love. Love leads to redemption and resurrection. Lord, help us all.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

–Matthew 11:28-30

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

–John 16:33

Remember?

Three sisters ages 92, 94 and 96 live in a house together. One night the 96-year-old draws a bath, puts her foot in and pauses. She yells down the stairs, “Was I getting in or out of the bath?”

The94-year-oldd yells back, “I don't know, I'll come up and see.” She starts up the stairs and pauses, then she yells, “Was I going up the stairs or coming down?”

The 92-year-old was sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, “I sure hope I never get that forgetful.” She knocks on wood for good measure. She then yells, “I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door.”

* * *

Remembering/Not Forgetting is a huge theme in God’s message to us. The most important remembrance is found in communion with Christ and one another. Paul explains it to the Corinthians:

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

—1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm, and it is an acrostic. It has 22 stanzas–one of each letter of the Hebrew alphabet–and each verse of those stanzas begins with that letter of the alphabet. Of course, we can’t see that in our English translations, but what we can see are some amazing inspirational thoughts.  For example, read carefully the Taw stanza:

ת Taw

May my cry come before you, Lord;

give me understanding according to your word.

May my supplication come before you;

deliver me according to your promise.

May my lips overflow with praise,

for you teach me your decrees.

May my tongue sing of your word,

for all your commands are righteous.

May your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

I long for your salvation, Lord,

and your law gives me delight.

Let me live that I may praise you,

and may your laws sustain me.

I have strayed like a lost sheep.

Seek your servant,

for I have not forgotten your commands.

—Psalm 119:169-176

Great words for a great day!

This is basically it

Trust Me

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

“And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

—Jesus (John 14:1-6)

Love

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. 

Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.

--C.S. Lewis

Routine

Now, where did that well-established routine go? A schoolteacher wife ending the year, a new granddaughter, a holiday weekend, and other things all challenge the ordinary rhythms.  It’s time to focus on the fundamentals, the things that center, ground, and anchor the soul. Here’s a good prayer from the Paraclete Psalter.

Lord, our eternal God,

you alone are worthy of our highest praise. 

Make us love you above all things, 

that we might serve our brothers and sisters with a love that is worthy of you. 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 

Amen.

A Child is Born

Sweet little Elsie Mae made her way into this world yesterday! She is so sweet and precious – new life so full of potential. It’s amazing how much you can love someone who has no clue who you are! This provides some insight into God’s amazing love for us.

I hold her and wonder what she will be. I hope she will dare to dream great dreams and do great things to glorify her Father. The greatest thing of all, and this is my prayer daily for all my children and those who belong to them, is that she will know she is a beloved child of God. I want her to know Jesus and to follow him, finding life eternal. She is blessed with a good family and a good “village,” the Mitchell Church of Christ. Blessed be the name of the Lord!