Hear Me   One-a-Day Tuesday  1/9/24

Posted on by January 9, 2024
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A life worthy

Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me (Psalm 27:7).

You know what I like about David?

He’s human.

I mean, look at him. He just finished declaring that Almighty God will–not may, but will–keep David safe and enable him to stand tall over his enemies.

Yesterday David was shouting and singing.

Today he whispers, “Oh, please, Father, be there.”

That is so utterly, wholly, completely human.

So…me.

God rejoices in our strength, Beloved.

He rejoices in our weakness.

He rejoices every time our hearts turn to him.

So turn your heart to Him today, this moment, right now. Whether in triumph or tragedy or temptation or fear or frustration or failure turn to him and let him hold you up.

It’s the only way to bring glory to God

and peace to your heart.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Sing One-a-Day Monday  1/8/24

Posted on by January 8, 2024
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A life worthy

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord (Psalm 27:6).

Sing

Sing a song

Sing out loud

Sing out…

Sorry.

Are you feeling all ‘70s, now?

Sorry again.

You know, there’s wisdom in that little ditty from the land of bell-bottoms and grooviosity. That Sesame Street advice is spot-on.

Sing your song.

Don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing…

God has saved you from unimaginable yuck, my friend, and he’s just getting started. Sing his praises today, loud and long, in any combination of keys you can manage. He’s worth it, ya?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Safe One-a-Day Friday  1/5/24

Posted on by January 5, 2024
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A life worthy

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5).

Trouble’s coming.

I don’t know when

or where

or how

but I know it’s coming.

Because, you know…life.

I also know this–

You are safe.

He–the Lord of the Universe, Maker of Time and Space and Stuff–he’s got you.

David tells us that God will keep us safe in his dwelling, his tabernacle. Basically his house. And that image makes sense. If I want to protect something or someone, I can bring them into my home where there are doors to lock and alarms to set.  In the New Testament, Paul goes one better. Paul tells the Colossians that our lives are hidden in God himself.

Not in his home.

In Him.

Frankly, I don’t understand how any of this really works.

But I’ll take it.

Beloved, I hope that today is not your day of trouble. I wish you a day of sunshine and puppies and chocolate.

But if trouble comes…

You are safe.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

To Be With Him One-a-Day Thursday  1/4/24

Posted on by January 4, 2024
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A life worthy

One thing I ask of the Lord; this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4).

Just to be with God.  Do you ever want that?  Do you ever have those moments when you get past wanting from God and just want God?

I have to admit; for me, those moments are too few and too far between.

But then, the New Year is about fresh starts and making changes, isn’t it?

How many things are you asking God for in 2023, Beloved?

How about just one?

This one.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

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

Posted on by January 3, 2024
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A life worthy

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

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