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Author Archives: John D. Willome

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About John D. Willome

I post a blog of daily devotions that are my prayer journals based on scripture.

Fathers of the Bible — Joseph, Jesus’s Earthly Father (Part 7)

11 Apr

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who intended to kill the child are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother, and entered the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:19-23

Dear God, I remember when my children were in grade school and I was unemployed. As. I prayed about job opportunities and what you had for us, one of the things that always stuck with me was where you wanted them. Where did. you want them to grow up, be in school, go to church, and make friends. They were as much a part of the decision as my wife and I were. And I’ll confess that, over the years, after we moved to this small town when they were in the fourth and first grades, I’ve wondered at times whether or not we made the right move. Was coming here what was best for them?

I finally got to a place where I just simply put my faith in you and decided that you would have closed the door or guided me in a different direction if this isn’t where you wanted all four of us. The path hasn’t been straight and there are a lot of circumstances in their being raised here that concern me. But did they need those experiences to develop something in them that I cannot see? Even if something looks wrong, is it exactly right? That’s where I putting my money through my faith in you. I’m betting that things have worked the way you ordained because 1.) I prayed to you that your will would be done in all of our lives over and over again and 2.) you will guide us all into your plan.

I say all of that because I see Joseph having to make a lot of decisions. In this passage he gets his third and fourth angel visits (1. Take Mary. 2.) Go to Egypt. 3.) Go back to Israel. 4.) Go to Galilee.) so at least he had some affirmation he was doing the right thing (although I still have to wonder how much doubt he still might have had with these visits coming in the form of dreams. But all of this–all of this—was for Jesus. This wasn’t about Mary. It wasn’t about himself. He did it all to keep Jesus safe. I wonder how much of this Jesus knew and how old he was when he knew it. I wonder how you used these years in Egypt to form Jesus’ s love for Gentiles and for the poor. A love for foreigners and those who feel out of place. A love for the lonely and the friendless because he had to make new friends at least a couple of times.

Father, thank you for the joy of learning to make decisions for the good of someone else (our children) even though it will cost us something. In this case, it cost Joseph convenience, reputation, momentum in starting/stopping/starting/stopping/starting his business, etc. But he did it for you. He did it for this boy. He did it for my Messiah. I hope I am man enough to make similar decisions.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 11, 2020 in Fathers of the Bible, Matthew

 

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Fathers of the Bible — Joseph, Jesus’s Earthly Father (Part 6)

10 Apr

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. ” Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route. After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.
Matthew 2:1-15

Dear God, here’s a question that I think isn’t asked enough, but has a simple answer. Why did you pick someone like Joseph? Why not a Person of prominence to be Jesus’s dad? Why not a religious leader? Why not a king? Why was the Messiah born to a carpenter and his fiancé?

I think there are actually several answers. The obvious ones are that those fathers would have been a bad influence on him. We’ve seen how the sons of kings turn out (well, maybe except for Jonathan). We’ve seen how the sons of religious leaders like Eli and Samuel turn out. We’ve seen how Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s sons turned out. No, there is certainly no guarantee that someone will turn out well based on who their parents are. All of us are fallible.

In this case, I think you 1.) picked the parents based on their character, regardless of what their status was. But 2,) I think it actually did matter because a person of position would have had much more to lose than Joseph did I think it was probably easier to obey you to take Mary and then do all of this moving around because he didn’t have a lot of encumbrances from his position in life. He had less to lose by going ahead and taking her as his wife. He had less to lose by waking up and deciding to obey and take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.

To relate this to myself, I’ve often wondered how much I’ve allowed myself to not obey something you’ve called me to do because of the things I’ve achieved and/or acquired. I have a lovely wife. Do I want to drag her just anywhere? I have a nice home in a safe town. Am I ready to trade that security in for physical insecurity? I have a job that pays me a nice middle class wage. Am I ready to jeopardize that for uncertainty and a life of truly living on my daily bread? No, I would never have made a good father for Jesus for a lot of reasons, but the biggest one is that I wouldn’t have been prepared to pay the price that Joseph had to pay. I wonder what it would look like if I were ready to pay that kind of price now, and what would you possibly call me to do if I were willing to completely open myself up to any possibilities?

Father, even now, I want to pray and tell you that I am willing to go wherever you want me to go and do whatever you want me to do, but I’m scared. I’m scared what you might call me to do. But I’m going to say it anyway. Father, I am willing to go, I am willing to do whatever you are calling me to do. I’m just going to tell you that you are going to have to make it very obvious because my natural inclination will be to miss anything you call me to do that is out of my comfort zone. So make your plan for me John-proof. Help me to make each decision correctly in the moment and then have this decisions and choices add up to your will.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 10, 2020 in Fathers of the Bible, Matthew

 

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Fathers of the Bible — Joseph, Jesus’s Earthly Father (Part 5)

08 Apr

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!

15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

21 When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived. 22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) 24 and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).

25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

29 Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.
31 You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples—
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and glory to your people Israel.

33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed — 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke 2:8-35

Dear God, when last we left off with Joseph he was sitting in a stable with his fiance and their new child. He was in the middle of some very weird circumstances. How was he to believe any of this? Surely that dream must have been a mistake. Surely he shouldn’t have agreed to take Mary as his wife. There had to have been doubts.

Then you accomplished two things at once. Well, actually several things at once. You sent him and Mary some shepherds with an amazing story. What a great affirmation!! They didn’t only tell Joseph and Mary that God had told them about the baby. They told the new parents that the angel had told them where to find them. They weren’t alone! You knew exactly where they were. In the moments before the shepherds arrived, Mary and Joseph might have felt alone and scared, but what an amazing encouragement this must have been to them.

The reason I say this accomplished several things at once is because I am sure this forever changed those shepherds’ lives too. You were just showing up and encouraging all kinds of people on that holy night.

Then you sent them more encouragement. Simeon. I know this was a big deal because of verse 33: His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. I’m sure the emotional roller coaster of the last several months must have worn them out. Joseph alone when from feeling betrayed by Mary, to relieved after the angel visit, to overwhelmed in a manger, to encouraged by the shepherds, to left in wonder by Simeon. Anna, would come along in a bit and have something to say too.

As I go through my own little roller coaster now, I am reminded that you are the constant. As I type this, our world is in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. People are dying. People are scared. People have lost jobs. Domestic violence is increasing. At the same time, neighbors are reaching out to neighbors and loving on each other. People are looking for ways to get back together as the church. And on a personal level, you have brought me different encouragements along the way. Encouraging phone calls. Encouraging donations.

Father, help me to stay in the middle of your presence and not swing too wide in enthusiasm or despair. Help me to see all of this with your eyes. Of course, I will never be able to know what you know–nor should I be able to–but I can surely see in the moment at least a little of what you see. Give me the serenity, the courage and the wisdom I need to get through this day.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on April 8, 2020 in Fathers of the Bible, Luke

 

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Fathers of the Bible — Joseph, Jesus’s Earthly Father (Part 4)

07 Apr

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:1-7

Dear God, it seems that this just wasn’t going well at all. I mean, Joseph said yes to the angel in the dream. He did his duty and went to Bethlehem. And he took his pregnant fiance with him. They were probably camping outside of town when “the time came for the baby to be born.” What to do? Where to go? “No guest room [was] available for them.” So there they sat. I’m sure they had had some amazing conversations leading up to this moment. How they must have talked, wondered, and dreamed! Can you believe this is happening? The Messiah is coming! And now, here they are, sitting in a barn-like area, all alone with their new baby.

I’ve used it here before, but the words to the 4 Him Christmas song, “Strange Way to Save the World” come to mind: “Why me? I’m just a simple man of trade. Why him, with all the rulers in the world? Why here, inside this stable filled with hay? Why her, she’s just an ordinary girl? Now I’m not one to second guess what angels have to say, but this is such a strange way to save the world.”

Did he have doubts in this moment? Did he start to wonder about his dream? Did he start to doubt Mary? This was not the path of least resistance for him. What will happen next?

Father, I’ll get to what happens next tomorrow because what happens next deserves its own time. Right now, as I sit here in the midst of a pandemic that no one really knows how to respond to, I want to relate to Joseph a little. Mary too, but she’ll get her time in these journals. Right now, this is about a man with responsibilities trying to figure out the right thing to do. He’s trying to love his fiance, care for a new son that isn’t his, all while living up to his duty as a citizen. In that moment, he had to be talking to you and maybe even doubting. After all this was an awfully strange way to save the world.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on April 7, 2020 in Fathers of the Bible, Luke, Uncategorized

 

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Catching Up

06 Apr

No verse.

Dear God, I spend some time this weekend worshiping you and talking to you. I prayed for others. I worked on a project that I hope will bring you glory and bring others to you. But I didn’t spend time this weekend journaling to you. I don’t know what it is about this form of prayer that makes a huge difference to me, but it does. I can feel the loss of it.

So now I need my vine. I am just a branch and I am nothing without you. I’m grateful, I suppose, that I can feel the difference in my soul when I’m not as attached to you as I should be, and right now I need to be attached to you in every way possible: worship, prayer, and time in scripture. I need to be hearing sermons and communicating with other believers. I need to find ways to bring my individual coal to the fire so that it can burn hotter and longer than if it was out there alone. I need to help lead and comfort my wife and family. I need to be lead by you.

Father, help me to be completely in the moment with you at every moment. Help me to be connected to your vine as I allow the Holy Spirit to lead me.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 6, 2020 in Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

 

Fathers of the Bible — Joseph, Jesus’s Earthly Father (Part 3)

03 Apr

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:20-21,24-25

Dear God, I just love this guy. “As he considered this.” I checked. This is the New Living Translation, but I wanted to see what the other translations said here. The New American Standard says, “But when he had considered this…” The New International Version says, “But after he had considered this…” They all use the word “considered. I’m not sure why I’m so hung up on this word, but I feel like it helps paint a picture. This wasn’t an impetuous decision. He wasn’t allowing himself to just react out of emotion. He considered this. I’m sure he wrestled with it. As much as I’ve ever considered, contemplated, or wrestled with any decision, that’s what Joseph had done here. And his ultimate decision was to absorb the cost and still divorce her quietly. This was not a small, insecure, vindictive man. You gave Jesus as an earthly father a man who was able to love and still show mercy in the midst of hurt. I wish my kids had grown up with that.

So then the angel appears to him in a dream. I have to admit that I had a couple of dreams last night that were pretty vivid and clear. Maybe you were talking to me through them and maybe you weren’t. They were good and affirming dreams. But I don’t know that if they had gone the other way and told me I was doing the wrong thing that I would have woken up and changed the course of my life. No, I would say that Joseph probably really wanted to believe the angel and was ready to embrace the idea that this pain he had just “considered” wasn’t legitimate. He had no reason to feel this pain because Mary hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, quite they opposite. She had done everything so right that you wanted her to be the earthly mother of your son.

We will get into this in future journals about Joseph, but this was not to be an easy path for him. It’s probably a good thing he didn’t know. If he (or she) had known what the future held for them they would probably have passed. I know I would have. That’s why you keep me so ignorant about the future. It’s better if I just don’t know.

Father, help me to spend more time in “consider” mode. Help me to stop and prayerfully consider my situations more. Speak to me through whatever means you think will reach me. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and courage to either act or not act. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. And please bless the path I am on for your glory. Lead me straight down that path. Don’t let me falter from it.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 3, 2020 in Fathers of the Bible, Matthew, Uncategorized

 

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Fathers of the Bible — Joseph, Jesus’s Earthly Father (Part 2)

02 Apr

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25

Dear God, there is so much here. In fact, I could just stop at verses 18 and 19. In fact, I just might. I think it’s good to sit with Joseph in the moment of verse 19 for a while.

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

What are the range of emotions this man must have experienced?

  • Anger
  • Betrayal
  • Confusion
  • Hate
  • Love
  • Compassion
  • Mercy

What’s impressive to me is the last half of the list triumphed over the first half of the list. In fact, I would never have suspected him experiencing love, compassion, or mercy except that he lived out those three emotions through his actions.

As a dad, a husband, and in many other parts of my life, I have been betrayed, and I have not allowed love, compassion, and mercy triumph over anger, betrayal, confusion, and hate. I have avenged myself. I’ve struck back. I have betrayed in return. I’ve done it all. Sure, sometimes I’ve done it right, but in light of what Joseph did here all I can remember at the moment are my failures.

So what would deciding to divorce her quietly cost him? What would mercy, compassion, and love cost him? In the midst of his pain, he not only chose to show her mercy, but he actually put a lot at risk as well.

  • Reputation: If she were to have just been sent on her way, it could have been said of him that he had gotten her pregnant. Even if she moved to live with Elizabeth, rumors would have flown around town. How would that have impacted his future earnings as a carpenter? His future marriage or ability to marry? His standing in the temple?
  • Money: As I mentioned above, this could impact people’s willingness to do business with him. Would they see him as a barbarian who got Mary pregnant and then refused to do the right thing?
  • Marriage: It could have impacted his ability to court and marry another woman. Who would trust him now?
  • Temple: He would potentially never be respected and given any responsibilities as an upstanding member in the community.

And what would have happened if he hadn’t decided to divorce her quietly? What if he had allowed the instincts I would have followed to rule the day? What if he gave in to the anger, betrayal, confusion and hate? Well, the simple answer is that he could have gotten Mary and her unborn baby killed. You needed him to be the man he was for your plan to work. And you knew him. I’m curious that his angel visit came after he learned she was pregnant. Without that order in things, we would never have known this much about Joseph’s character.

Father, thank you that you create people like this in the world. Thank you that you created Joseph and prepared him for such a time as this. I’m sorry for him that his earthly life wasn’t easy. In fact, it was decidedly harder because of his obedience to you. It seems unfair, but none of this has to be fair. It’s not about us. It’s not about Joseph–he probably would have been the first one to say that given his response to Mary’s pregnancy. And it’s not about me either, although I’m not always the first one to say that. It’s all about you. Help me to live into that knowledge with my whole heart and not just my head.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2020 in Fathers of the Bible, Luke

 

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Fathers of the Bible — Joseph, Jesus’s Earthly Father (Part 1)

31 Mar

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
Matthew 1:1-17

Dear God, I wonder if Joseph grew up knowing that he was a descendant of King David. I’m sure he did. I’m sure that it was always passed down from generation to generation, and the exact order was laid out. I don’t know if Joseph was the oldest of his siblings or not, but I’m sure there was a part of the boy Joseph that walked around feeling at least a little cool that he was a direct descendant of David. It probably meant less and less and he grew and the reality hit him that his lineage wasn’t worth much more than a schoolyard brag–at least that’s what he thought.

He had no idea how his life would turn out. But the thing that fascinates me about Joseph is what a good man he was. We’ll get into that in future passages, but there is something unbelievably noble about him. More noble even that what I know of any of his forefathers between him and David. But I’m sure David would have been proud that his great, great, great,…grandson turned out to be exactly the man you needed to raise Jesus. I don’t know what caused him to be that way. Perhaps it was his upbringing. Maybe his mother and father were just great at teaching him. Maybe it was just something about him that was humble that you identified. Maybe you prepared him specially for the life you had for him. Anyway, you already know this, but I just thing the world of him.

Father, I pray that you will help me to live into the life that you have for me. I’ve made so many mistakes at this point and missed so many opportunities, but there isn’t much I can do about those now other than make amends to people I’ve hurt. What I can do is try to love on you and love on others around me as much as possible and then trust in you that you will do with me what you need to do. Whatever that is, Father, lead me straight into it as much as possible.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 31, 2020 in Fathers of the Bible, Matthew

 

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Mothers of the Bible — Lois and Eunice

30 Mar

[Paul to Timothy] I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
2 Timothy 1:5

Dear God, when I sat down to start praying to you about these two faithful women this morning (Timothy’s grandmother and mother, respectively), I thought of the song “Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman.

“Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman

I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
And you could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all the who’s-who’s and so-and-so’s
That used to be the best at such and such,
It wouldn’t matter much.
I won’t lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights,
We all need an ‘Atta boy’ or ‘Atta girl’
But in the end I’d like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world.

I want to leave a legacy,
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

I don’t have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It’s an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such
Will soon enough destroy.

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

Not well-traveled, not well-read
Not well-to-do, or well-bred.
Just want to hear instead,
Well done, good and faithful one

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriter: James Newton Howard

I like how this song begins and ends with the same line: “I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me.” I look at faithful women like Lois and Eunice, and I’m sure they liked a good compliment as much as the next person. I certainly like compliments. But what is it that we remember about them 2,000 years later? And even if we didn’t rememer them by name, what is the legacy they left? In fact, Eunice married a gentile. How did Lois feel about that at the time? Was this a rebellious phase for Eunice? But then her faith apparently became very important to her at some point because we can see it in how she raised Timothy.

Being a person of faith is about just showing up and being faithful over and over again. Loving you over and over again. Loving our spouses. Loving our children. Loving our neighbors. Then that legacy might not get attached to my name or my photograph, but it will ripple through time. Father, help me to be that person today.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on March 30, 2020 in 2 Timothy, Mothers of the Bible

 

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Mothers of the Bible – The Mother of James and John (Salome?)

29 Mar

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.
She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:20-28

Dear God, parents can be so foolish. I’ve seen the wisest people I know lose total perspective when it comes to their children and give bad advice because their judgment is clouded by being a parent. We want what’s best for our children. The problem is, we think we know what that best is when the truth is we have no clue. I suppose it starts from knowing what’s best for our children at the youngest ages. Eat now. Sleep now. Don’t touch that. Clean this. Our will is completely imposed upon them. But at some point in the process of letting go we fail to learn that we no longer have a clue as to what is best for them–what you might be doing in their lives that we cannot see.

In this woman’s case (her name might be Salome, but we aren’t 100% sure), she thought she could see where all of this was going. Jesus was going to have some power and it was time to make sure her boys were positioned to be at the top of the food chain. Maybe they were too meek for her taste. Maybe they had understood more of what Jesus was teaching than she had and knew better than to ask. But then they were too weak to tell her no. They might have secretly wanted this, but they might have also just been going along with her. Either way, she made her position very clear. This is what she wanted for her sons.

Ironically, her two boys would end up being at opposite ends of the life spans for the 11 remaining disciples after Judas killed himself. James would be the first to die as a martyr, and John would die of natural causes and be the last living of the original 12. Going back to what I learned from my study contrasting Peter and John, John was actually pretty immature and had a lot to learn from Jesus before the crucifixion. He was always ready to bring down fire from heaven to wipe out the Samaritans or whatever. Those rough edges were certainly worn down by the time he wrote his gospel and the three letters we have from him. No, you had a very different plan for these boys’ lives than his mother did. She loved you. She believed in you. But she was very foolish in this moment. But better to love you and be foolish, I suppose, than to just be selfish all of the time.

I guess I do kind of wonder about her concern for her boys. Their father was a man of some position in that he at least owned a boat and had others working for him. When they left to follow Jesus I’m sure his parents were concerned at first. How would they ever become respectable people capable of supporting a family? Maybe this request was part of her trying to answer that question for herself. Maybe she felt pressure to figure out how to calm her husband down from any disapproval he might have had about their decision to leave the boat and follow Jesus. I’m guessing on all of this, but my point is that there are all kinds of reasons we act foolishly. There are all kinds of reasons that I act foolishly.

Father, I think the “Serenity Prayer” from 12-Step programs is brilliant and it encompasses most of how I should be praying for myself and my children and then acting. So as I type this prayer out now, may it be in my perspective as a parent and for my wife and myself as well: “God, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” [emphasis mine]

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 29, 2020 in Matthew, Mothers of the Bible

 

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