All New   One-a-Day Tuesday  1/2/24

Posted on by January 2, 2024
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A life worthy

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.

Green Pastures One a Day Friday 12/29/23

Posted on by December 29, 2023
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A life worthy

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…(Psalm 23:2).

Lie down

Rest

Now

The verb here is makes. God makes David rest. God knows that, left to his own devices, David will work himself to the bone, trying to do more and be more and make more and become more and–

and God says to rest.

When did you last rest, Beloved? When was the last time you set aside the backpack full of gottado’s and stretched out in the green pasture for a snooze?

You can take that metaphorically or literally–your choice.

Look, I know you have a lot on your plate, and sometimes it seems like you’ll never get through it, but your body and your mind and your spirit all need rest.

And God commands it, so there.

Pull up a patch of grass and have a seat.

Happy Friday, Beloved

Home   One-a-Day Thursday  12/28/23

Posted on by December 28, 2023
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A life worthy

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1).

Where do you live?

Don’t worry, I’m not going to show up at your door—I’m being metphoricalish.  You see, this entire Psalm is God’s pledge of protection, but there is a caveat.  The promise only applies to those who “Dwell in the shelter of the Most High.”

So, again, where do you live?

Is your home in Christ?  Is he the one you trust, the one you turn to, the one you serve?  Do you, in fact, dwell in the shelter of the Most High?

Don’t answer too quickly.  Sure, you’re a believer—few who do not know Christ are interested in reading a daily devotion like this blog—but are you really dwelling in Christ, or in the world?

There’s a simple way to know.  When I come home at the end of the day, I am able to relax.  I find peace, because this is where I belong.

How do you feel when you spend time with God?  Does it feel like a chore, a duty, a burden, an awkward interaction?

Or is it like coming home?

Something to chew on, Beloved.

Happy Thursday

Shh… One-a-Day Wednesday  12/27/23

Posted on by December 27, 2023
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A life worthy

My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me (Psalm 131:1-2).

This image is so powerful—a small child walking quietly along, holding his mother’s hand and going wherever she leads.  The child is not worried about where they are going or when they will get there or how they will pay the rent or who will be President.  Mom is there, and so all is well.  And that’s all that matters.

God is here.

Isn’t that all that matters?

Take his hand today, Beloved.  Walk quietly with him, content that he is here, and so all is well.

Breathe deeply, and have a peaceful Wednesday.

Moo One-a-Day Tuesday  12/26/23

Posted on by December 26, 2023
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A life worthy

The last week of the year can be chock full of crazy. Perhaps we need to think a little about resting…

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30).

So here’s what I think…

As you well know, a yoke is a contraption that allows an ox, or some other suitable creature, to pull a plow.  Oxen are yoked together in teams of two, with one ox leading, and the other ox more or less along for the ride.  This second animal is called the “off” ox.  It is constrained by the yoke to follow the lead ox and do what he does.

Jesus is inviting you to be his off ox.

Follow his lead.  Do what he does.  Be conformed to his image.  That’s the offer.  And what is the result of this?

You will find rest for your soul.

Now Jesus could be talking about that rest as a reward for faithfully serving him, but I think it’s more than that.  I think rest is a natural byproduct of following Jesus.  Because following Jesus means walking in obedience to the Father, and obedience to the Father is the key to a peaceful heart.  Think about it—how could Jesus say that his yoke was easy, his burden light?  He was going to the cross to bear the sin of all mankind, and he knew it.

He could call it easy and light because it was the Father’s will, and doing the Father’s will put him in harmony with—at peace with—the Father.  He was doing what he was sent to do.  He was fulfilling his destiny.

When we obey God, when we allow him to direct our steps, we know peace, even when the path itself seems impossibly difficult.  When we do what we were designed to do for the One who designed us, our souls will know rest.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus…

What is he calling you to this day, Beloved?  Where are you most likely to fight against the yoke?  Could that—fighting against his lead—could that be the source of that stress you’re feeling?  Could submission bring rest to your soul?

Who am I to say?  What do I know?  But, maybe…

Oxen are notoriously dull-witted creatures, but they manage to get it right.

I think there’s hope for us, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

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

Posted on by December 22, 2023
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A life worthy

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

Posted on by December 21, 2023
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A life worthy

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

Posted on by December 20, 2023
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A life worthy

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

Posted on by December 19, 2023
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A life worthy

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

Posted on by December 18, 2023
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A life worthy

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