Day and Night One-a-Day Tuesday 11/9/21

Posted on by November 9, 2021
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A life worthy

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me–a prayer to the God of my life (Psalm 42:8).

When I’m stressed, I don’t know which is worse–

Day, when I have to deal with all the garbage that is arrayed against me, or

Night, when I can’t sleep because I can’t escape all the things I didn’t do right today and probably won’t accomplish tomorrow.

And yet HIs love is with me, day or night or twilight or dawn or sunset or sunrise or gloaming.

He is the God of my life.

And yours

All will be well, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

Water One-a-Day Monday 11/8/21

Posted on by November 8, 2021
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A life worthy

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me (Psalm 42:7).

Water is an interesting thing.

It is necessary for life and delightful in a tall glass with ice, but it can also 

crush, 

drown, 

sweep away.

It can be wild and uncontrollable and utterly unstoppable.

All in all, a pretty solid metaphor for the sorrow and pain David is feeling.

And maybe not just David.

Beloved, when the water threatens to sweep you away, remember that you have an Anchor.

And your Anchor holds.

Happy Monday, Beloved

Remember Him One-a-Day Friday 11/5/21

Posted on by November 5, 2021
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A life worthy

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon–from Mt. Mizar (Psalm 42:6).

Whatever

Whenever

However

Whoever 

Wherever God takes you in this life, remember that it is He who takes you.

You know, the One who 

loves you and

calls you and

keeps you and

guides you and

redeems you.

He’s got you, Beloved.

Happy Friday

Pep Talk One-a-Day Thursday 11/4/21

Posted on by November 4, 2021
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A life worthy

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5)

What, you never talk to yourself?

Sure you do.

That’s what the Psalmist is doing here. He’s giving himself a pep talk, looking in the mirror and saying “Suck it up, Boyo! God is still God, and you’re gonna praise him, come what may!”

Kinda one part cheerleader, two parts drill sergeant.

I love this. I love that the Psalmist is not giving in to despair, nor is he letting his emotions rule the day. He is making a conscious decision that he will praise God.

And it is a matter of will.

Lord, let me hope in you, even when I see no hope. Let me praise you even when I don’t feel like it. 

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Church One-a-Day Wednesday 11/3/21

Posted on by November 3, 2021
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A life worthy

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng (Psalm 42:4).

So…church this Sunday.

You excited?

As the Psalmist writes this, he is unable to go to the temple. Don’t know why–maybe he has been carried off by a foreign army, maybe he is sick or disgraced in some way. Whatever it is, it’s resulting in mocking by the ungodly and anguish in his soul.

And what is on his mind, in the midst of all this trouble?

He wants to go to church.

He wants to lead the crowd, singing at the top of his lungs and crying “Hallelujah” from the pews/folding chairs.

Because of his circumstances, he can’t.

But you can.

Will you?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Where? One-a-Day Tuesday 11/2/21

Posted on by November 2, 2021
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A life worthy

My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:3)

When life is hard, the world is watching.

When you are at your lowest, they wait and wonder how you will respond.

Perhaps they mock, or taunt, or ridicule.

Perhaps they simply stand back to see how you handle this dark day.

You see, though they may not show it, they want to see how real God is 

to you

for  you

in you. 

This is your chance, Beloved.

This is your witness.

When the tears pour out

let your heart hold firm

that the world may see

and know

that you are Beloved.

Need One-a-Day Monday 11/1/21

Posted on by November 1, 2021
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A life worthy

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?  (Psalm 42:1-2).

Does time with God feel like a precious, priceless gift

or 

a chore,

something to be sandwiched between

checking your news feed

and 

racing to the shower?

I’m not accusing you, Beloved.

I’m just looking in the mirror.

Father, give me the desire for you, the hunger, the thirst, the aching need that can only be met by the One who knows me completely

and loves me anyway. 

Amen, Beloved?

Happy Monday

Guardian One-a-Day Thursday 10/28/21

Posted on by October 28, 2021
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A life worthy

Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you (Psalm 25:20).

Why?

Because I work so hard?

nope

Because I know so much?

huh uh

Because I give my 10%?

um…no

Because I offer wise advice?

not so much

Because I have the Jumbo Study Bible with built in concordance?

Ooooohhh…swingandamiss

Because, in the end, I’m such a groovy guy?

seriously

Because I’m his.  Hear that, Beloved. Because I’m his, I have the right to claim refuge in him, the right to run to him when I am in distress. Because I’m his I have confidence that the yuck will never get too deep, the mountains never too high, the stress never too much. You have a whole Thursday full of stuff to deal with today. Don’t be afraid to run to your Father and claim the shelter that is rightfully yours.

Because you are the Beloved of Christ.

Happy Thursday

Enemies One-a-Day Wednesday 10/27/21

Posted on by October 27, 2021
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A life worthy

See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! (Psalm 25:19).

OK, so I don’t literally have people out to kill me.

To the best of my knowledge

Although I do teach middle school, so…

Still, there are days when finances and job stress and finances and traffic idiots and finances and people and finances and house repairs and finances and car issues and finances leave me feeling that I am surrounded on all sides by people with bad attitudes and pointy sticks. Beyond that, I live in a society that is moving further and further away from the values that I hold and into a nether region of silliness and sin. It may not attack my body, but it daily attacks my sense of right and wrong.

Not to mention my logic

So, yeah, I can identify in a very small way with David’s plight here. Far more importantly, I can identify with David’s rescue. The Psalmist knew he would be saved, because he knew his savior.

As do I

As do you

Take a deep breath, Beloved of Christ.

Happy Wednesday