A Life Worthy

Category: Holiday

  • Brothers and Sisters One-a-Day Monday 1/15/24

    Brothers and Sisters One-a-Day Monday 1/15/24

    How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore (Psalm 133).

    When I was little, my mom used to sing to me at bedtime. One of my favorites went like this:

    Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world

    Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight 

    Jesus loves the little children of the world.

    In today’s climate, some will consider that song wildly inappropriate. “Red children? Yellow? How racist!” Others will ask, “What about brown children? Why are they left out?” None of those questions ever came into my little-kid brain.  All I heard was that Jesus loved us all; all children were precious to him.

    Today we honor Martin Luther King, Jr. The best way to do that? Dwell together in unity, brothers and sisters of the One who loves us all.

    The oil is entirely optional.

    Happy Monday, Beloved

  • What Fear?   One-a-Day Wednesday,  1/3/24

    What Fear?   One-a-Day Wednesday,  1/3/24

    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?  (Psalm 27:1)

    We have just celebrated the New Year.  When you think about it, it’s just an arbitrary date on an imaginary calendar.  I mean, it’s not like today actually looks different from last week.  Sky is still  blue (or in my town, gray), grass is still green, gravity seems to have remained fairly constant.

    Still…

    We look at the New Year as a time to start fresh, to begin (or re-begin) new things.  We wonder about the future and what it will hold for us.  What opportunities await us in this new year? What challenges?  What treasures lie in our paths, and what monsters lie in wait?  It can be an exciting time—and a scary time.

    As you gird your loins for the days ahead, ask yourself the same question David asks: With God as my light, my life, my protector, what can possibly frighten me?

    Happy Beginnings, Beloved.

  • All New   One-a-Day Tuesday  1/2/24

    All New   One-a-Day Tuesday  1/2/24

    If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new!  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

    New day

    New year

    New you

    We serve a God of second chances and new beginnings.  No matter what 2023 looked like, it is gone.  Today you begin again. If last year was one of triumph, great—remember and rejoice, but don’t live there. Press on. If last year was one of failure, or pain, or loss—praise God for this new beginning.

    The image in my head this morning is of the land after a snowfall, when nothing has yet touched the surface of the snow.  It is fresh, clean, and waiting.

    So…go make snow angels.

    Happy 2024, Beloved of Christ.

  • The Righteous One One-a-Day Friday  12/22/23

    The Righteous One One-a-Day Friday  12/22/23

    He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,

    or decide by what he hears with his ears,

    but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

    He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

    Righteousness will be his belt 

    and faithfulness the sash around his waist (Isaiah 11:3-5).

    Our leaders…

    meh.

    Oh, I’m sure there are some in leadership who are trying their best to do the job wisely and well, but overall I am unimpressed.  I look at the upper echelons of power and I see corruption and narcissism and a fundamental refusal to submit to truth. And this comes from both sides of the proverbial aisle.

    It disgusts me.

    It frustrates me.

    It frightens me.

    Then, I read this passage, and peace washes over my spirit.

    Go ahead, reread it–I’ll wait…

    …

    See what I mean?

    Even so, come Lord Jesus.

    Happy Friday, Beloved

  • The Spirit One-a-Day Thursday 12/21/23

    The Spirit One-a-Day Thursday 12/21/23

    The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him–

    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

    the Spirit of counsel and of power,

    the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord–

    and he will delight in the fear of the Lord  (Isaiah 11:2-3).

    The Son,

    guided by the Holy Spirit,

    submissive to the Father,

    being what I could not,

    and showing me the Way to become

    whole. 

    Even so, come Lord Jesus!

    Happy Thursday, Beloved

  • Life From Death One-a-Day Wednesday 12/20/23

    Life From Death One-a-Day Wednesday 12/20/23

    A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1).

    A stump is dead.

    It’s kind of the epitome of dead.

    And yet, to quote Miracle Max, sometimes it’s “only mostly dead.”

    Sometimes, new life will break out of the stump.

    The line of David was dead–stump dead.

    Israel was done.

    But God wasn’t.

    Come, Lord Jesus!

    Happy Wednesday, Beloved of Christ.

  • Zeal One-a-Day Tuesday 12/19/23

    Zeal One-a-Day Tuesday 12/19/23

    He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7)

    Not through political activism.

    Not through military strength.

    Not through personal charisma.

    Not through any power of man.

    The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

    Chew on that today.

    Happy Tuesday, Beloved

  • Big Government One-a-Day Monday 12/18/23

    Big Government One-a-Day Monday 12/18/23

    Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:7)  

    I’m not really a fan of big government.  More of a low taxes, leavemealoneandlletmelivemylifewithoutyouconstantlytellingmewhattodoandtryingtoprotectmefrommyself kind of guy.

    But His government?  I’m all in.

    You know, the best form of government would be a truly benevolent dictatorship.  We get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining their own pockets.  

    The problem, of course, is that people are people, and since even the best of men and women tend to be sin-encrusted narcissists, that kind of rule is just not possible.

    Outside of Christ.

    One day Jesus will rule here on Earth, in the flesh.  We will get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining his own pockets. His reign will go on and on and just get better and better.

    Until then, we can know his government in our hearts and lives.

    If you belong to Jesus, his peace, his power, his rule in your life is growing each day.  Oh, you may not feel it all the time, but it’s happening.

    Chew on this today: are you allowing Christ to govern your life, or are you getting in his way?

    Happy Monday, Beloved

  • Prince of Peace One-a-Day Friday  12/15/23

    Prince of Peace One-a-Day Friday  12/15/23

    Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

    We know him by many names.

    Jesus Christ

    Alpha

    Omega

    Emmanuel

    I Am

    Lamb of God

    Prince of Peace

    Mighty God

    Light of the World

    The Bright Morning Star

    Wonderful Counselor

    The Amen

    Man of Sorrows

    Lion of the Tribe of Judah

    The Word

    The Author and Finisher of Our Faith

    Bread of Life

    Living Water

    God calls him by another name, the name which is above all names.

    Son.

    And here’s something really crazy.  Because of Christ’s sacrifice, do you know what God now calls us?

    Yes, you do.

    How can that be?  What can that mean?

    Chew on that today.

    Happy Friday, Beloved

  • Father One-a-Day Thursday   12/14/23

    Father One-a-Day Thursday   12/14/23

    Everlasting Father,  (Isaiah 9:6).

    I hope you have a great dad.  I hope he is loving and strong and gentle and a daily blessing to your life.  I hope this, not only to make those family Christmas dinners a little less awkward, but because it will give you a better picture of God.  You see, God presents himself to us in many ways through Scripture, but I think the one that hangs most people up is the image of a father.  It can be difficult to see God as loving and caring if your earthly father was cold, distant, or absent altogether.

    Look, I’m not gonna get all psychological on you, but I need to point something out.  Whatever your earthly dad did well, your heavenly father does even better.  Whatever your earthly dad messed up, your heavenly father gets right.  He is the perfection we all fall short of.  He is the goal we can never quite attain.  He will always be there to cheer you when you win, and comfort you when you lose.  His advice will always be perfect, and his discipline will always be just.  He will come to all your ball games, all your dance recitals, all your spelling bees.  He will be there at the hospital bed and at the wedding altar.

    He will always love you.

    Always, as in Everlasting.

    Walk in his love today, Beloved.

    Happy Thursday