A Life Worthy

Category: Holiday

  • Whole One-a-Day Thursday  12/4/25

    Whole One-a-Day Thursday  12/4/25

    Give thanks with a grateful heart.

    Give thanks to the Holy One.

    Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

    And now let the weak say, “I am strong…”

    Let the poor say, “I am rich,”

    Because of what the Lord has done for us.

    And now let the sick say, “I am whole…”

    (Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

    God is not bound by time.

    Stay with me here.

    God created time.  He exists outside of it.  He is simultaneously present at all moments of eternity.

    So…..?

    So, my body may ache, my soul may weep, my society may be wracked with sin and pain and loss.

    but

    God sees more.  He sees me as I am, but also as I will be.  He sees the aching, but also the relief.  He hears the weeping, but also the rejoicing.  He knows the sin, but also the redemption.

    Singing this line is not a denial or what is.  

    It is a celebration of what also is.

    Not just someday, but right now.  Because for God, it’s all right now.

    When God looks at you…what does he see?

    Wow

    Happy Thursday, Beloved.

  • Rich One-a-Day Wednesday  12/3/25

    Rich One-a-Day Wednesday  12/3/25

    Give thanks with a grateful heart.

    Give thanks to the Holy One.

    Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

    And now, let the weak say, “I am strong…”

    Let the poor say, “I am rich,”

    Because of what the Lord has done for us.

    (Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

    Yes you are.

    Rich

    Oh, your car may be falling apart and your dishwasher may be dying and you may be checking the sofa for enough change for a Del Taco run, but you are rich.

    First, in this world you are rich. Beloved, there are people out there who pray for shoes so they won’t have to walk barefoot

    who pray for clean water to wash the dishes with

    who pray for dishes…and food to put on them.

    And in the spiritual world…are you kidding?  You’re the beloved child of the King of, you know, Everything.

    You are in possession of the greatest treasure the universe has ever known:

    the love of God.

    Baby, you are rolling in it.

    Bask in your wealth today, Beloved.

    Happy Wednesday.

  • Strong One-a-Day Tuesday  12/2/25

    Strong One-a-Day Tuesday  12/2/25

    Give thanks with a grateful heart.

    Give thanks to the Holy One.

    Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

    And now, let the weak say, “I am strong…”

     Context is really important.

    This line from Don Moen’s song is found in the Bible in Joel 3:10.  Of course, those of you who look it up will find that the Lord is actually speaking to the enemies of Israel, the nations who have plundered and destroyed his people.  God is essentially telling them to “Bring it on,” to prepare to fight, because God is going to turn them to powder.

    Not exactly the same feeling Mr. Moen was looking to engender in his song.

    Why am I telling you this?  Well, for one thing, I want you to be Biblically literate.  If we’re going to use Scripture, we should at least know what it really says.  

    Also, even with the contextual confusion, this remains one of my all-time favorite worship songs.  And the message is true, even if the reference is a bit askew.  The Bible is full of the truth that God gives strength to the weak.  He offers–may I be so bold as to say that he longs–to show his strength in our feebleosity.

    Do you feel weak?  

    Well, you are…you know… in and of yourself.

    But in Christ…oh, baby!

    In Christ you are mighty.  In Christ, you have the power to do battle with whatever comes against you today.  In Christ, your weakness is transformed into his great strength.

    So now, though you are weak, say, “I am strong!”

    Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

  • Grateful One-a-Day Monday  12/1/25

    Grateful One-a-Day Monday  12/1/25

    Before we say goodbye to Thanksgiving, I’m going to take a look at one of my favorite worship songs.  It’s written by Don Moen.  Part of it is Scripture; all of it is scriptural.  Feel free to sing along!

    Give thanks with a grateful heart.                                                      

    Give thanks to the Holy One. 

    Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

    Are you thankful today, Beloved?  Do you even have time to stop and think of all you have to be thankful for? Or are you so busy preparing your house or your travel plans that preparing your heart has slipped down the list? Even worse–has your Christmas to-do list leapfrogged Thanksgiving entirely?  Look, I’m not judging; I know you’ve got a lot to do.  Myself, I’m looking at a garage that needs to be cleaned–I’ve been putting it off for eighteen months now–just so I can get to the Christmas lights, most of which are broken, if I remember correctly.  I have a vague memory of an entire string of lights falling from the roof last January, resulting in a string of mini-explosions and a decision that I would replace all the lights “Next year,” when finances would undoubtedly be better, except they’re not.  So I’ve probably gotta buy lights, and garland, and maybe a lawn elf–but no inflatables, I’m passionately against inflatables–before I can even start decorating, and some of the neighbors are done already…

    Yeah, so I get it.

    But, for those of us in Christ, the One we gave thanks for last Thursday is the same One we celebrate at Christmas.  It’s pretty much the same holiday; you just have to swap funny hats.

    Of course, you know that already…you’re a bright one.

    So, hey, take time this week–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

    For him

    For you and him

    Happy Monday, Beloved.

  • Still Thankful?  One-a-Day Friday  11/28/25

    Still Thankful?  One-a-Day Friday  11/28/25

    …always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).

    Are you still thankful today, Beloved?  Or has the Christmas to-do list already kicked aside your “Things I am thankful for” list?  Look, I’m not judging; I know you’ve got a lot to do.  Myself, I’m looking at a garage that needs to be cleaned–I’ve been putting it off until next Saturday for eighteen months now–just so I can get to the Christmas lights, most of which are broken, if I remember correctly.  I have a vague memory of an entire string of lights falling from the roof last January, resulting in a string of mini-explosions and a decision that I would replace all the lights “Next year,” when finances would undoubtedly be better, except they’re not.  So I’ve probably gotta buy lights, and garland, and maybe a lawn elf–but no inflatables, I’m passionately against inflatables–before I can even start decorating, and the neighbors are pretty much done already…

    Yeah, so I get it.

    But, for those of us in Christ, the One we were thankful for yesterday is the same One we celebrate at Christmas.  It’s pretty much the same holiday; you just have to swap funny hats.

    Of course, you know that already…you’re a bright one.

    So, take time during the craziness–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

    For him

    For you and him

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

  • Thanks One-a-Day Thursday  11/27/25

    Thanks One-a-Day Thursday  11/27/25

    Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16: 34).

    Busy day today.

    You’ve got a turkey to burn, cranberries to sauce, potatoes to mash, tables to set, dishes to break, shards to sweep up, relatives to enjoy/endure/escape…

    Beloved, take a moment, right now, before the craziness descends.  Offer your heart and your mind and your day and your life to Him in thanksgiving.  If you don’t do it now…

    Breathe deep, and thank him that he chooses to be good

    That he chooses to love you

    That he chooses to love you forever, not until he gets bored with you or until you mess up in some way and displease him

    Because…no offense…but I’m sure that’s already happened.

    He could choose to stop loving you, but he won’t.

    It’s in his power, but it’s not in his nature.

    His love endures forever.

    You are his Beloved.

    You are his, Beloved.  

    Forever

    Happy Thanksgiving

  • He is Good One-a-Day Monday  11/24/25

    He is Good One-a-Day Monday  11/24/25

    Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (Psalm 107:1).

    God is good.

    He doesn’t have to be.

    He chooses to be.

    God loves us.

    He doesn’t have to.

    He chooses to.

    Look, we can get into a theotechnical debate about whether God is bound by his own nature to be what he is, or whether he possesses self-determinative power

    and that would be fun

    but until you convince me otherwise, I’m gonna go with the fact that God is…you know…God, and he could have done it any way he wanted to.

    There is an image that comes to my mind as I write these words.

    It’s Calvin and Hobbes.

    Not the theologian and the sociopolitical philosopher, although…

    No, I’m talking about the kid and the tiger.

    If you aren’t familiar with the famous comic strip by Bill Watterson, I weep for your ignorance and encourage you to avail yourself of the great riches to be found before you continue here. For the enlightened among you, I’m thinking of the strip in which Calvin imagines himself as God, “but Calvin is no kind and loving god…and the puny inhabitants of Earth displease him!”

    What follows is destruction on ohsomany levels.

    Beloved, we need never ever even for a moment fear that God will decide to stop being good, or stop loving us, or restructure the foundation of the Universe to reflect darkness rather than light.

    He has chosen to be good, and it is so.

    He has chosen to be kind and loving and giving and gracious and merciful.

    And it is so.

    Forever.

    Give thanks, Beloved.

    Happy Monday

  • Halloween         One-a-Day Friday  10/31/25

    Halloween         One-a-Day Friday  10/31/25

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

    This would be why I don’t go in for Halloween.

    Look, I’m not saying that everything I think about is good, noble, true, etc. My thought life goes astray plenty on any given day. But to go out of my way to dwell on darkness and evil and death and all that is against God?

    Nope

    I know some folk think the whole thing is harmless. I mean, you can read Little Red Riding Hood–doesn’t mean you’re going to go off and cavort with wolves, right?

    True enough, except that talking wolves are pretend.

    Evil isn’t.

    It’s too bad, because I like costumes, and I find candy to be an important part of life, and I have fond memories of trick or treating as an eight-year-old in my plastic Frankenstein mask. But now that I’m a certified grownup I see the shadow behind the silliness, and I just don’t think it’s what we’re supposed to be about.

    You, of course, are free to disagree with me. I have never claimed to be anything more than a Michael. You can dispute me here in the comments.

    Better yet, you can come over and we’ll talk it out.

    But bring candy.

    Happy Friday, Beloved

  • Twenty-Four Years  One-a-Day Thursday  9/11/25

    Twenty-Four Years  One-a-Day Thursday  9/11/25

    Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men (Psalm 71:4).

    Twenty-Four years.

    Twenty-Four years since “Nine-One-One” became “Nine-Eleven.”

    Twenty-Four years since we awakened to fire and smoke and terror and grief.

    Twenty-Four years since the hand of the wicked reached out to strike at our nation.

    It was a horrific reminder that there is evil in this world.  Evil will always attack the innocent.  Evil will always set itself against the people of God.

    And yet, you didn’t really need the reminder, did you?  You’ve known the attack of evil—maybe not on so grand a scale, but you’ve known it.

    And you will again.

    It comes with the territory.  It’s part of the package of being His, of living for Christ in this world.

    And so is deliverance.

    As surely as the sun rose this morning.

    As surely as the Son rose long ago.

    God will not let evil win.  Not in this world.  Not in your life.

    So as you remember 911 today, as you see the proud flags and hear the lofty speeches and see the heartfelt posts, remember your own personal 911’s, and how God has brought you through them.

    And trust that he will again.

    Walk in remembrance today, Beloved.

  • Freedom One-a-Day Friday  7/4/25

    Freedom One-a-Day Friday  7/4/25

    It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

    Today is Independence Day.  

    Today we celebrate our freedom.  

    Of course, as Americans we celebrate our national and political freedom. 

    As men and women of God, we celebrate our spiritual freedom.  Christ has set us free from our bondage to sin. He has set us free from our need to try to earn our salvation, to somehow save ourselves.  He has set us free from the stress and worry and angst and anxiety which so often attack us.

    Hear me, Beloved.  I’m not saying that those things are gone.  

    Because they’re not.

    I mean, just look around.

    What I am saying is that we are no longer in bondage to them.

    So why  do we act like we are?

    When Paul wrote the above verse to the Galatians he was talking about freedom from the Mosaic Law.  Some Jews had chosen to follow Christ, but still felt compelled to meet the demands of the old covenant.  Paul was pointing out that a person who has Christ no longer needs the old law, and to try to follow it is like being a slave who, once free, returns to his chains.

    Who would do that? Who would choose the chains?

    That would be crazy, right?

    Right?

    So, Beloved–what yoke will you lay down today? What chains will you leave behind as you walk with your Lord? 

    Today is the day to celebrate your independence.

    And your dependence.

    Happy Fourth, Beloved.