Thursday, January 6th, 2022!

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.  To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:  Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”  1 Peter 1:1-2

Dear Trinity, Peter doesn’t attempt to explain how you could be triune.  He simply reminds me of the great and wonderful blessings you give me.  Father, you chose me from eternity.  Spirit, you penetrate my heart and make me honest about my sins and need for redemption.  You also, make sure I understand the gospel.  Jesus, you paid for it all laid the foundation for daily lifelong grace.  I am chosen, befriended and loved.  I’m going to be okay.  I am blessed by your grace and peace, so, I do not care how you could be three persons in one Godhead.  I just never want to live without this salvation.  Amen.

When you know God’s love, you don’t care so much about God’s mystery. 

Wednesday, January 5th, 2022!!

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,…” 1 Peter 1:1

Dear Jesus, It’s interesting to find Bithynia in your list of churches to receive Peter’s letter.  That was the region that you forbade the apostle Paul to go preach to.  But because here I see that later there were Christians there, it reassures me that you had good plans for them to hear the gospel.  Your plans just didn’t include Paul.  Help me to live in that peace that although you often limit and reduce my impact on the world around me, you still have plans to reach those people.  You are the humongous God who has millions of ways past my finding out.  I will rest in the furrow you have appointed me and I will trust that you can reach those who are closed off to me now.  It gives me peace and hope.  Amen.

God doesn’t include you in his world planning meeting for a reason.  Enjoy your work for him and the peace of letting him work around you without your approval. 

Tuesday, January 4th, 2022!!

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.  Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied.  “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”  Mark 12:28-34

Dear Jesus, You cleared away all the piffle that so many earthly laws create for our souls.  You made it simple and clear.  When you were challenged to come up with the two most important laws, you put God the father first and all people second.  You told us to love God and people.  That’s profound, simple and clear.  But then you ended the conversation with an invitation to believe in you.  It was intriguing and subtle.  You said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  Once the law is clarified and reduced to its two key components, it’s still law.  No one can keep it.  We all need you to save us.  You were and are the embodiment of the two great commands.  You never once failed them.  You did that for me.  My life is covered by yours.  Thank you for keeping the greatest commandments in my place.  Now empower me to keep them from the heart.  Make me a lover of God and people because I want to not because I feel I ought to.  Use your race to make me a pure-hearted servant.  Amen.

Learn to love people and at the same time you’ll learn to love the God who made them. 

Monday, January 3rd, 2022!!

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’  ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”  Revelations 14:13

Dear Jesus, There are so many encouraging words in this fantastic book you revealed to John in visions.  When I read this loud cry from heaven, I’m encouraged that although I have so many loved ones whose short lives are over, that they live on in a restful heaven with you and their good deeds are bearing fruit in your venerable hand on earth.  I trust you with their lives and mine.  If you can take one word from the thief on the cross (whose name you know) and comfort millions of people for over 2000 years, then you can take my small life and harvest ten thousand times ten thousands more fruit from them.  I will robustly sow good deeds now in the sure hope that you will reap a harvest from them that I could have never imagined.  Save me a place in heaven where I can sit and listen to how you did wonderful things after me with what you did through me while I was here.  Amen.

Your good deeds are seeds in the hand of the Creator.  Sow them vigorously and from heaven one day you will hear how they keep bearing fruit down through the ages. 

Saturday, January 1st, 2022!!

Dear Heavenly Father, At the dawn of this New Year, precious Savior and divine Lord, I want to begin this day in your name.  So I ask you to take full possession of my life, hold me by the hand and lead me from day to day, protecting me from all dangers of body and soul.  Shield me from the temptations of sin and remove every doubtful thought from my mind.  Don’t let the worries and fears of the future rob me of that peace of mind which is mine through your sacrifice on Calvary.  Keep my footsteps in the paths of uprightness, and keep me in Thy grace.  Keep your children wherever they are, and help them through their trials and troubles.  Forgive us our many sins of the past through your cleansing and precious blood.  Grant me and all that love you the strength to live victoriously every day.  Give to your church continued growth, and prosper the work of our hands as we seek to win souls for you.  Bring this saving Gospel too many more.  Preserve peace among the nations that your message of reconciliation not be hindered in its progress as missionaries go from place to place.  Let me live in peace with my fellow men, avoiding discord, strife, and hatred.  Give me an unwavering faith in you as my Savior and King.  Make this year another year of grace to me and to many, for your name’s sake.  Amen.

Friday, December 31st

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”   Colossians 1:1-2

Dear Lord Jesus, As I begin this year help me to hear your voice as you speak to me in your Word.  You come to me through inspired words of the Scriptures to teach me, to correct and rebuke me, to encourage me and build me.  You want to show me the length and width and depth and breadth of your love for me, of your power at work in me, and of your rule over all things.  Help me to hear Paul as if you were speaking.  Help me to listen as if you were the One who sits with me today and speaks.  If you were with me across the table, I would sit with rapt and careful attention.  I would take to heart the things that you say; I would take careful note, maybe even writing down the important things that you say to me.  I would take those things with me.  Through Paul and through your called servants you do speak to me like this.  Help me to hear you through your Word and through your called servants and take to heart the things that you say.  Your words are full of the Spirit and they are my life.  Amen.

God’s Word is indeed worthy of our attention and our hearing.  “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 

Thursday, December 30th

“Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? … Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  Daniel 3:13-18

Dear Heavenly Father, Long before we were born you resolutely decided that you were going to sacrifice your own Son to save my soul.  I love how you led these three men to resolutely decide to follow you, honor and worship you above all other men and gods.  I want that pre-life resolution.  Before my day even starts, I resolve to follow and worship you alone.  I know this will be tested.  Make me strong in my appreciation of grace so I follow you in every circumstance without regard for the opinions of consequences that other people produce.  Help me shine for you before all people so they seek you and find you because of my spiritual holy stubbornness.  Amen.

The decision to live only for God is best made before the other offers come. 

Wednesday, December 29th

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Dear Jesus, I remember how you prayed the night before you died that your Father would not take us out of the world but that he would protect us from the evil one.  I know you have good and holy reasons for leaving me here on earth to serve and be served, to give and to be given to, to suffer and to suffer with others.  Your words and promises speak a lot of comfort to my heart.  I know you are with me as I walk some of the same trails that you did.  I know you will greet me face to face at the end of my race.  I know you speak to the Father on my behalf and I know you are growing me through my trials.  When I suffer, help me to speak from that stage words that reflect your Holy Spirit’s message for all who would see me suffer.  Use my suffering and the comfort I receive to bless others in their hour of need.  Give purpose and power to my suffering!  Amen.

When you suffer with a purpose, everything about it looks and feels different. 

Tuesday, December 28th

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20

Dear Jesus, There are hardly more comforting words for me today and every day.  You walked this earth and endured everything we do right through the jaws of death.  You conquered it all too.  You are the one who is now with me wherever I go.  It’s easy to visualize you in a place or time that I must go to in order to find you.  But you are right here with me.  You will be with me when I rise up and go out of my house to live in a crazy world too.  It makes me bold to take chances, to seize opportunities, to say the important and true things to others and not try to control the outcome by being silent.  You are with me when the unforeseen problems visit my life and you are with me when I am put in vulnerable situations.  Stay with me Lord Jesus and be my strength, wisdom and shield today.  Amen.

There’s always a big brother with every Christian every day.  Live boldly knowing he’s got your back. 

Monday, December 27th

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’  And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’”  Matthew 2:13-15           

Dear Heavenly Father, I get mildly depressed the days after Christmas because of the letdown.  But it pales in comparison to what you allowed your Son and his parents to go through the days after the wise men brought their gifts.  They had to run for their lives.  You caused your most favored children to serve you and the planet in severe ways.  Why would I doubt your love just because you ask me to quickly return to service right after Christmas?  I’m here as your servant.  Help me to keep a servant’s heart and not fall into the temptation that life is about being served and coddled by others.  I want to reflect your Son’s love for everyone in the hopes that others see him through me.  Make me a happy and willing servant who gives freely instead of pouts as one slighted by the needs of others.  Amen.

It’s hard to be taken advantage of when you see helping others as a privilege. 

Saturday, December 25th, Christmas Day!

Dear Heavenly Father, When a child is born, we love to point out how the baby has “her mother’s eyes” or “his father’s nose.”  It gives us joy.  We don’t know what Jesus looked like.  Much more important than his physical appearance was the fact that Jesus inwardly “looked like” his heavenly Father.  Jesus told his disciples, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).  As we hear the gospel lessons about Jesus in the coming weeks in church, God will show us more of himself in Jesus, his Son.  We will see his power and compassion in his miracles.  We will see his wisdom, his holiness, and, most of all, his love.  Especially on the cross, we see his love.  This is our God who died there-he himself suffering the divine wrath because of the sins we committed against him.  It may seem strange to talk about the cross at Christmas, but we have to remember that this is why Jesus came.  We can’t worship him at the humble manger without praising him for the reason why he came.  Today we see the love of the Father presenting his Son to the world.  With all the love and pride that a father has in his son, God the Father presents Jesus to you.  By his Word, he exalts his Son in our eyes.  “See how my Son took on your humanity to be your Savior,” he says.  “See the divine love and compassion in him.”  Marvel that the Father gave up the Son he loves so that the Son might return from the cross and grave and bring you with him to heaven.  Jesus brought us sinners back into his Father’s love.  Rejoice in the joy that the Father now has in you, his dear child.  “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).

Friday, December 24th

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”).”  Matthew 1:23

Dear Jesus, Your virgin birth underscores your humanity and divinity but more important to me is that it tells me you are with me.  You became a human and went through everything I am going through right now.  You had fallible parents, a country under duress, the stress of finding daily sustenance, the challenge of siblings, the failure of friends, the fear of death.  You had it all.  But you saved me from it all.  You are still human but you are the Savior human.  You redeemed me from the dead end I was seeing.  As my “human-God” you deeply understand my concerns and at the same time have the answer that I need.  I know you are with me.  Now, I want to spend my day with you.”  Amen.

God is with us and we are with him.  No room for loneliness.

Thursday, December 23rd

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Luke 2:19

Dear Savior, There is so much going on in my life and in the world right now.  There is so much going on in my mind right now.  It is hard for me to quiet my mind to carefully think about and ponder the things that you’ve done.  As soon as I sit to read your Christmas story, as soon as I close my eyes to meditate on what you have done, another to-do comes to mind.  In my life I am rushing from one good activity to the next.  These are busy days.  These are distracted days.  I pray, dear Jesus, send me your Holy Spirit and quiet my mind.  Shut off in my heart and my mind the list of to-dos so that I can hear your Words like the shepherds did, as if I were hearing it for the first time.  This message that they heard in the fields immediately transformed them.  They weren’t the same after that; how could they be!?!  Grant me the still heart of Mary who observed the shepherds coming and going, who watched her son, Jesus, grow, and took it all in.  Help me to take in the sights and sounds of Christmas from your Word and help me take it with me and to ponder its truths.  Transform me by these truths just as you transformed the shepherds.  Amen.

Christmas is a busy time for our lives and in our minds.  But don’t miss it.  Come and see the baby Savior with the shepherds.  Still your minds and ponder the miracle of Jesus’ birth with Mary.  Come and worship him with the Magi.  Take it all in! 

Wednesday, December 22nd

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is his name.’”  Luke 1:46-49

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to be like Mary.  She had just found out that she was pregnant outside of marriage by the Holy Spirit.  She was young, unmarried and poor.  But she was loved by you, by her fiancé and her family.  More than that, she looked beyond the discomforts of serving God and people to the blessings of having the opportunity to give big back to God.  She knew she was saved and she knew she had a significant impact to give the world.  Those two blessings, security and significance, are the two greatest needs of the human soul.  You met them both for Mary.  She knew it and so she praised.  I know you have made me secure and significant too.  But the ways you have called me to serve you and others have cost me comfort just as it did Mary.  Help me to ignore the cost and to count it as all joy to love you “big” as I love “big” the people you have given me to serve.  Make me positive, praising, and working to be the kind of person like you and your mother, Mary, were.  Amen.

Serving God and others isn’t near as burdensome as we make it.  At attitude of praise and thanks will cut the load in half. 

Tuesday, December 21st

“But the angel said to here, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”  Luke 1:30-33

Dear Jesus, Your mom didn’t need a baby name book.  God had already decided your name that would describe your life, “The Lord Saves.”  Your greatness can’t be denied.  Two billion of us believe you saved us.  Your name is all over the planet and you have to be the most quoted and misquoted man that ever lived.  And to think you never once wrote down your own words.  I know you are reigning in believer’s hearts.  But I don’t see you visibly reigning anywhere else.  I trust that you are, however.  I trust that you are working everything out for the good of your people no matter what country they are in.  It gives me peace when I think of our bi-partisan congress or the Korean threat or a hundred other haunting reports.  You have saved us from our sins and you will save us from our troubles.  Help me to live in the peace that comes from your firm grip on my life.  Amen.

Jesus gave up so much to save us, he’s not going to let us slip away from him because of some bani-rooster government snafu. 

Monday, December 20th

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  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.”  Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Dear Heavenly Father, You give incredible joy to our lives when we have babies you created for us.  We can’t even begin to describe it.  I’ve always marveled at how it brightens the lives of parents and grand-parents.  But I have to confess, I have never felt exactly that way about the birth of your Son until now.  But there it is in your word, “Unto us a child is born!”  Your Son was born to me!  He’s the child, given to my family to make everything better.  He gives me hope and rescue.  He changes my identity, my destiny, my daily peace.  I can do all things through this Son you gave me, who gives me strength.  That’s why Christmas means so much to me, it’s the boy born to my family for all eternity.  Amen.

Jesus changes our whole family dynamic!

ADVENT, What Does This Mean? (week 4)

Maybe you remember the story of Balaam.  Balaam was a seer who was hired by Balak the king of Moab to curse the people of Israel.  The king of Moab was worried because Israel had come out of Egypt, and they were traveling north.  They were a force to be reckoned with and the king of Moab knew that he needed all the help he could get if he was going to defeat this threat coming up through the desert, so he hired Balaam to speak a curse over the people.  The king of Moab believed that Balaam’s words were more than just words.  He believed that Balaam’s words had power to hurt the people of Israel.  Perhaps you remember how it went though.  Each time Balaam began to speak a curse against the people of Israel God made him speak blessings.  The king of Moab was furious but this was Balaam’s response, (from Numbers 24:13), “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD-and I must say only what the LORD says”.  All the blessings that Balaam spoke over God’s people came true.  There is one that is particularly important to us during this Advent season.  Balaam said, (from Numbers 24:17), “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.  A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”  Though he didn’t know it, Balaam was talking about Jesus.  Jesus was the one who was coming and generations of God’s people from that time on continued to BEHOLD him by faith, seeing him over and over again in the word of God, till one day he came.  Now we behold him.  We behold him coming at Bethlehem in a lowly manger, to be our savior from sin and death.  Like Balaam we continue to see him but not now to behold him, but not near, for Jesus is coming again. 

Saturday, December 18th

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.  When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”  John 16:7-11

Dear Jesus, You spoke these words the night before your life on earth ended.  You promised your Holy Spirit would come and he has.  I sense his work every time I read your divine Word.  I feel his discerning presence when the thespians on the television or at the movies shove their agenda to normalize immorality.  I sense his conviction in the comments of my critics.  I feel his comfort in grace and mercy when I feel guilty.  I seem to have his law and gospel as my constant companion.  Help me to soften my heart to his promptings.  To change my course with just a nudge.  Make me sensitive to him so I season my demeanor with grace, love and understanding.  Use him to flush the rogue judgements out of my heart.  Use him to guide me in my part of every relationship.  Finally, don’t let me fall from the grace you hold out to me through him.  Amen.

The Holy Spirit is the teacher of your conscience, the guide for your interpersonal relationships and the antidepressant for your heart. 

Friday, December 17th

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”  Revelation 22:14

Dear Jesus, These are some of the most comforting words in the entire Bible.  As I read your description of heaven I go on a roller coaster.  First my soul soars to heights of excitement as I hear how beautiful, peaceful, and void of earth’s temptations and trials it is.  Then I read the couple of lists you have of those who won’t be there.  I can find my sins in those lists and I wonder, “Will I get to be in heaven forever or am I destined for eternal unspeakable torment in hell?”  Then I come to this passage where you speak to us with grace and assurance.  “Blessed are those who wash their robes.”  It takes me back to chapter seven where you tell us that “these in white robes are those that have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.”  I have washed my sinful life in your sacrifice and now I am white with righteousness.  I am worthy of heaven.  I won’t be excluded.  Now I read Revelation 21 and 22 with full assurance that this is my destiny.  It gives me a vacation from my troubles today.  Thank you for rescuing me from myself and promising me a blessed forever.  Amen.

If God clears your schedule for you, be ready.  He’s about to bless you more than you could have blessed yourself. 

Thursday, December 16th

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.  A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.  The eyes of those who see will not be dim, and the ears of those will listen.  Also the heart of the [b]rash will understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.”  Isaiah 32:1-4

 Dear Jesus, Isaiah foretold how when you came you would create shelters out of your followers.  Each one of us has enough spiritual blessings from you dripping from your gospel promises to be shelters for others, even our enemies, even those who take care of our earthly needs.  We can be a shelter of grace and forgiveness for those hurting in shame and guilt.  We can be a shelter of truth and guidance for those darkened by the world’s counsel.  We can be a shelter for security and love for those who have been shattered by abuse and neglect.  We love to be shelters just as you were.  We are your hands and feet.  Guide your church, dear Jesus, to engage the world and people on her edges into the wonderful gospel truths that have made her who she is.  Make me a shelter today for someone new also.  Amen.

Gospel greatness resides in the heart of every Christian.  Don’t put a cover over yours.