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!