A Life Worthy

  • Triumph One-a-Day Sunday  3/29/26

    Triumph One-a-Day Sunday  3/29/26

    Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

    O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success.  

    Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

    From the house of the Lord we bless you.

    The Lord is God, and he has made his face shine upon us.

    With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar (Psalm 118:25-27).

    Jesus was arriving in Jerusalem for the Passover.  This week would be the climax of his ministry, and would represent the very reason he came to live among us.  The time had come to declare himself the Messiah.  (“Messiah,” by the way, is a Hebrew word that means “anointed one,” or “chosen one.”  The same word is translated “Christ” in the Greek.)

    So, Jesus did what anyone would do—he sent for a donkey.

    This really does make sense.  Zechariah had prophesied that the Messiah would arrive as a king, and would come to claim his throne riding on a donkey.  By arriving in this manner, Jesus was sending an unmistakable signal to the crowds.  Now, I know that a donkey is not the manliest of animals…certainly not very king-like.  But to the Hebrews, the donkey was significant.  A king used a stallion when he rode to war, but a donkey when he came in peace.  Thus, Jesus came as the King of Peace, to make peace between man and God.

    The crowds loved it.  They spread cloaks and leafy branches on the ground for Jesus to ride upon—sort of a red carpet treatment.  They cried out “Hosanna!” which means, “Save us,” and, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”  They were quoting Psalm 118, essentially acknowledging Jesus as Messiah and pledging themselves to him.

    Crowds are so fickle.

    As he descended the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem was spread out before him.  Jesus wept over the city, knowing that, though they praised him at that moment, they would soon turn on him.

    Do you praise him, Beloved?  I know you pray, and you study his word—at least you’re reading this—but when was the last time you threw your head back, spread your arms wide, and declared your love for the King of your heart?

    You know what?  Don’t worry about the last time.  When will be the next time?

    How about now?

    Happy Sunday, Beloved

  • At His Right Hand One-a-Day Saturday  3/28/26

    At His Right Hand One-a-Day Saturday  3/28/26

    You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11).

    You know where you’re going.

    You know who awaits you.

    What more do you need?

    Isn’t it good to be beloved, Beloved?

    Happy Saturday

  • Holy One One-a-Day Friday  3/27/26

    Holy One One-a-Day Friday  3/27/26

    …nor will you let your Holy One see decay (Psalm 16:10b).

    So, is David talking about himself here, or is he talking about Jesus?

    Yes

    Does that help?

    As the anointed king, David was certainly the Holy One, set apart for God. 

    And, you know, good for him.

    But ultimately this verse is speaking of the Christ, the One who would bust Death in the chops and stride out of the tomb under his own power.

    I wonder how much David knew. I wonder how much God shared with him about the One who would come to fulfill the reign David had begun. 

    Maybe we’ll get to ask him one day.

    Probably not today though.

    For today, walk in the knowledge that he who destroyed Death has chosen you to be his Beloved. Death cannot have you, 

    ever, 

    because you are already Christ’s. Whatever today may bring, it’s nothing that can separate you from the love of God.

    Happy Friday, Beloved

  • Temporary Housing One-a-Day Thursday  3/26/26

    Temporary Housing One-a-Day Thursday  3/26/26

    …for you will not abandon me to the grave… (Psalm 16:10a).

    Assuming Jesus does not return first, one day you will die. Your heart, lungs, synapses and phalanges will all cease to function, and you will slowly begin to decompose, unless you die in a warm and moist climate, in which case you will rapidly decompose, unless your family has you embalmed, in which case you will slowly shrivel over time, locked in the darkness of the earth as your spirit wanders for all eternity.

    Happy Thursday, Beloved

    Wait

    That’s not true.

    Oh, the part where you die might be true. And the part about your phalanges. But it won’t be for eternity.

    And you won’t wander in darkness.

    God has promised you an eternity with him.

    That eternity includes light and life and being in the presence of God forever.

    Beloved, I don’t know exactly what happens when you die. None of us does. But I know that in Christ death has no victory, no sting.

    You will not be abandoned; you will be welcomed home.

    Now, Happy Thursday, Beloved

  • Secure One-a-Day Wednesday  3/25/26

    Secure One-a-Day Wednesday  3/25/26

    …my body will also rest secure (Psalm 16:9b).

    This is one of those lines that I can read in two ways.

    When I read this in the context of the preceding verses, I think of the here and now. Because God is with me, I can relax. I can know peace. I can–or at least I should be able to–release the stress of this world that makes my stomach ache and keeps me awake at night. I can rest, secure in the knowledge that the Lord of the Universe is in control.

    I like this.

    I can also tie this line to the following verse, you will not abandon me to the grave. Now the line seems to be talking of death. When my time here is over, I will rest in peace, because the Lord of Everything will not forget me.

    I like this, too.

    Which reading is correct? Oh, Beloved, you know that I am not a theological scholar, and my trusty study Bible only gets me so far. My gut tells me that it means both of these, and more.

    So very much more

    God loves you, Beloved.

    Rest secure.

    Happy Wednesday

  • Speak Up One-a-Day Tuesday  3/24/26

    Speak Up One-a-Day Tuesday  3/24/26

    Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices (Psalm 16:9a).

    When was the last time you praised God outside of church?

    Sometimes it’s not easy. I mean, if you start singing at the top of your voice in strange tongues and dancing with all your might wearing only a linen ephod while standing in the households section of WalMart, you may produce the wrong kind of reaction.

    Then again, it is WalMart. You may get no reaction at all.

    But there are other ways, Beloved. Make God part of your conversations with the world. Show the people around you that “your heart is glad” and make sure they know Who is responsible for your joy. Name-drop the Almighty as though you were talking about a real person who has done great things for you.

    Because he is

    And he has

    Maybe the ephod stays home.

    Maybe not…your call.

    Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

  • Heart One-a-Day Monday  3/23/26

    Heart One-a-Day Monday  3/23/26

    Therefore my heart is glad…(Psalm 16:9a).

    Your heart

    The seat of your emotions–those somewhat turbulent, often troublesome, seldomtobetrusted emotions.

    Your heart, that can be so frail and so fickle and so foolish.

    So weak, so wicked

    Sorry, I’m out of alliterations for the moment.

    You know, it doesn’t have to be so complicated, Beloved.

    God loves you.

    God has chosen you.

    God is with you, and his Spirit lives within you.

    Your heart knows this, and really wants to be glad.

    Let it.

    Happy Monday, Beloved.

  • Right Hand Man One-a-Day Friday  3/20/26

    Right Hand Man One-a-Day Friday  3/20/26

    I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken (Psalm 16:8).

    Remember those “God is my co-pilot” bumper stickers?

    It’s like that, only

    God is your copilot

    and

    God is your pilot

    and

    God is your navigator

    and

    God is your flight attendant

    and

    God is your air marshal

    and

    God is your air traffic controller

    and

    God is the plane

    And

    God is the engine

    and

    God is the air

    and

    God is your destination.

    And what are we? We are the little kids that get wings pinned on our t-shirts and think we can fly the plane–while everyone around us grins knowingly.

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

    Enjoy the flight.

  • Night  One-a-Day Thursday  3/19/26

    Night  One-a-Day Thursday  3/19/26

    I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16:7).

    Reason #4,398 to be glad I’m not God: I take naps.

    And when I’m napping, I am not thinking about you.

    Not trying to hurt your feelings here, but it is what it is.

    So, if you need my advice, such as it is, and I happen to be napping, you’re out of luck my friend.

    If it’s night, and I’m actually sleeping—forget about it.

    God doesn’t nap, you know.  He is there for you, his Beloved, every day and all the time.  So at 3am, when your heart finally quiets down enough to hear him, he’s there.

    Speaking softly.

    Listening intently.

    Loving completely.

    Happy Thursday, Beloved.

  • Inheritance One-a-Day Wednesday  3/18/23

    Inheritance One-a-Day Wednesday  3/18/23

    Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance(Psalm 16:5-6).

    You know, there’s this thing about an inheritance—you don’t earn it.

    Oh, maybe you’re thinking about all the holidays over the years when you’ve driven 100 miles just to eat petrified turkey with your freakshow of a family and you’re saying to yourself, “Oh, I’m earning it, Baby.  Every nickel!”

    But you aren’t, really.

    An inheritance is a gift that comes to you but was earned by another.  If you earned it yourself, it would be wages.

    When it comes to dealing with God, you don’t want your wages, trust me.

    You want the gift.

    The Psalmist understood this, and he was totally cool with it.  He didn’t stake his claim; he didn’t demand his rights.  He rested in the provision of God and trusted in the One who knew him best and loved him most.

    So how about it, Beloved?  Are you content with the boundary lines that God has laid down for you?  Do you trust him enough to let enough be enough?

    Surely you have a delightful inheritance.

    Happy Wednesday, Beloved.