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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.

Zephaniah 3:17

16 May

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zephaniah 3:17

Dear God, I don’t know that much about Zephaniah so I tried to do a little research before praying so I could maybe get some context for this verse. Frankly, it sounds pretty straightforward. The book is about Zephaniah calling the Israelites to repentance. So this verse is letting all of know what you can be if we will do our part in relationship with you.

I think the word savior does not mean necessarily what people think it means. Back then, I think they thought it meant you would save them from trouble. But you being my savior, I think, is more of a long-term statement. Yes, you are interested in my short-term good, but there are times when my short-term struggle is for my long-teen good. So I cannot evaluate your goodness based upon my current situation at any given time.

I love the parts of this where it says you take delight in me with gladness, your love will calm my fears, and you will rejoice over me. I like that a lot. What would it look like for an entire community or nation to live under that?

Father, help me to influence the things I can influence. Of course, it starts with me. Help me to live under you and your authority. Help me to look to you in my times of trouble and then point to you in my times of deliverance. I don’t want to waste any moments or opportunities to give you glory and bring others into your presence. I know I will miss them, but I don’t want to.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 16, 2018 in Zephaniah

 

Ecclesiastes 11:5

15 May

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Dear God, I admit to you that I don’t understand what you’re doing at any given time. And I don’t know as much about even myself as you know. But to my credit, I think I’m getting more comfortable with that. You’re slowly teaching me to lean into my ignorance and accept your unseen path.

I’m thinking this morning about a funeral for a young woman who died suddenly last week. I saw her parents last Sunday, four days after it happened. Oh, it was heartbreaking. I cannot imagine their pain. I don’t know how they could update possibly make sense of anything in their lives right now. They heard me preach on Sunday and as I spoke I measured every word against how they must be hearing it, but I can’t imagine they will even remember that much from Sunday except that they were with their fellow church members.

Father, we’ve actually lost several young people lately. One from a health issue, one from suicide, and two others from a car accident. There’s no way to explain or justify any of it. And then there are the things in my own path that I just don’t understand. Help me to find my way to you and then guide me in each moment so that I might find the correct things to do that will maximize my effectiveness for you and experience your presence.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 15, 2018 in Ecclesiastes

 

Psalm 139:13-14

14 May

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Psalm 139:13-14

Dear God, there is nothing like being completely known and loved anyway. All my sin. All my weaknesses. All of my mistakes. You know all of this and you love me anyway.

The trick is to allow myself to be completely known to others. My wife. My children. My friends. Shame is a terrible thing. I think it’s one of Satan’s most powerful weapons against us. He can use it to tear us down, make us ineffective, separate us from family and friends, isolate us, and, in the end, bring us to ruin. All because we are too ashamed to let someone else know the truth about us. We have our secrets that must be protected at all costs.

Father, help me to seek out accountability. I want to be accountable to you, but I also need accountability to others. My wife. My board. My children. My friends. I pledge that I will endeavor to humble myself and try to make myself known. And then you can not only keep me free from the bondage, but you can also be a blessing to those who know my truth.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 14, 2018 in Psalms

 

Pain on Mother’s/Father’s Day

13 May

No verse.

Dear God, it seems that one of the side effects of my painful times is that it brings me into tune with the pain of my fellow humans. For example, I never thought much about miscarriages until we experienced one. Now, I am incredibly touched whenever I hear about one and I try to appropriately reach out to the parents involved.

Ten years ago, I used to really enjoy Father’s Day and Mother’s Day and I didn’t really understand the pain that some others experience on this day. Maybe they lost a child. Maybe they lost a parent or a spouse. Maybe they have children or a parent with whom they have not relationship. Several years ago, my wife’s and my worlds kind of crumbled in a way that made Mother’s Day and Father’s Day very painful. Neither of us wanted the other to acknowledge our respective day. We would avoid social media so we didn’t have to see all of the posts. It hurt too much. But now I am, at least to some extent, in touch with some of the pain that people feel on days like this.

Father, as I prepare to preach to a congregation this morning, help me to offer your comfort and your hope. Help me to offer community for the injured pilgrims. And help me to bridge the gap between those who have suffered and those who haven’t. Most of all, help me to lead all of them to the foot of your cross so that they might be healed–so that I might be healed too.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 13, 2018 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

“Charm is Deceitful” by Kim Hill

12 May

“Charm is Deceitful” by Kim Hill (Proverbs 31)

Charm is deceitful
Beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears the Lord
In a world where we see with our eyes
I pray for eyes that see the heart
‘Cause flesh is unfaithful
And is of no gain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears the Lord
And I know that when He sees me
It won’t be beauty that He longs to hold
It’ll be the love that He finds inside my heart
‘Cause charm is deceitful
Beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears
Yes a woman who fears
A woman who fears the Lord

Dear God, Proverbs 31 was the verse of the day on Bible Gateway, so I thought I would bring out another Kim Hill song today. I think this one was on her first album as well (along with Psalm 1 that I did earlier this week). This one doesn’t follow the proverb as closely as the other one follows the psalm, but it’s certainly conveys the same message.

I assume Bible Gateway did this because Mother’s Day is tomorrow. I have to tell you, I couldn’t have more respect for my wife and the woman she is than I do right now. She loves others very well. She sacrifices for her family and friends when she needs to. She takes care of her soul, mind, heart, and body. She fears you. She spends so much time praying for others. I told her last night that I absolutely cannot imagine being more compatible with anyone else.

So, Father, I thank you for my wife. I thank you for making me a better man because of her. I thank you for the friendship and instruction that you give me through her. I thank you for the love and acceptance. Please give her a great portion of your blessing, peace, joy, and strength. Help her to tangibly feel you around her. I really do love her.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 12, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Proverbs

 

John 17:6-19

11 May

“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

John 17:6-19

Dear God, I love how specific this prayer is. Jesus has zeroed in on his close followers and talked about his desires for them. He will move on to future believers in a bit, but for now, in this moment, he was focusing on the needs of the people to whom he is the closest. What did Jesus request for them?

  1. That their unity would be protected
  2. To not take them out of the world, but to protect them from Satan
  3. Make them Holy
  4. Teach them with your word

Father, I would like to embrace this prayer and ask it for myself and for those I know and live. Make me one with your community and my fellow believers. I don’t want to be removed from the world, but I want to be your presence in the world. I need your protection. Please forgive me of my sins and wash me in Jesus’ blood. And please continue to teach me so that I will be as close to knowing you as possible by the time my life on earth is done.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 11, 2018 in John

 

Psalm 1

10 May

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1

Dear God, as I was reading this psalm this morning I remembered that there is a son by Kim Hill from close to 30 years ago called “Psalm 1.” I had forgotten she did that. I looked it up and it was a nice refresher for that being a nice song. I think it might have been the first track on her first album.

As I thought about this psalm’s message this morning the other thing that occurred to me is that this is the psalm that the ancient organizers thousands of years ago chose to be first. A lot like “Holy, Holy, Holy” is almost always the first song in the Baptist Hymnal, this is the first psalm in the Jewish Book of Psalms. The organizers wanted to emphasize being righteous and pursuing righteousness. They wanted to condemn those who judge, mock, and do evil things. This was the first message they wanted to emphasize.

Father, help me to remember this lesson. Help me to plant myself by your living water so that my life might grow to be of most service to you. Be glorified in me so that others will be drawn to you and experience your living water for themselves.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 10, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Psalms

 

Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

09 May

No verse.

Dear God, thank you for last night. We had a fundraising dinner for the nonprofit where I work and you showed up. I prayed that you would show up. I prayed that the night would not be as much about money as it would be about you speaking to people’s hearts, and you really did that.

It’s an amazing thing when people get up and share the challenges from their lives. Their mistakes. Their hard times. Even their sins. When done in a spirit of giving you glory it always touches others. The keynote speaker last night told me afterward that she really struggled as to whether not not to share some of the more vulnerable parts of her life, but afterward she was glad she did. Yes! Those were the parts of her story that spoke to the crowd the most.

Father, help me to keep that focus today. Help me to decrease as you increase. Let your Holy Spirit flow through our building and our work. Help me to lead and help all of us to let go of our pain, fear, bitterness and even our rights and embrace the opportunity to love others in an unreasonable way. And do it all for your glory.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 9, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 

Acts 1:15-26

08 May

During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.” (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”) Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’ “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Acts 1:15-26

Dear God, were you in Peter’s decision that they needed to replace Judas in that moment? Were you in the casting of lots? Was Matthias the answer, or did you intend for Paul to replace Judas all along? Did Peter in his impatience get out ahead of you, or did this happen just the way you thought it should?

I am preaching again on Sunday for the Presbyterian church and this is one of the scripture readings. This is where my lack of Christian education comes in because I’ve always thought that Peter did the wrong thing here for the right reasons, but the scripture never says he was wrong so my Baptist heritage tells me that the Bible is inerrant so Peter was right to do what he did. But the fact remains that you had another man lined up to be an apostle, and that man would write much of what would become the New Testament that we use to know you today.

Father, I need your help in figuring out what I should preach about this week. Since it’s Mother’s Day, I’m thinking about doing something that is totally unrelated to the week’s scripture readings. But then I read something like this and I wonder if there isn’t a sermon in the idea of getting out ahead of you and not waiting on your timing. I don’t know. So be with me today. Help me to do the right thing for this church on Sunday, but let that start with letting you change me today.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 8, 2018 in Acts

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

07 May

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dear God, I feel like I’m better about praying more often and be thankful in all circumstances, but I’m not foolish enough to think I’ve arrived. I know I have a long way to go. But what would a life look like that had arrived (or be really close to arriving) in this area?

I think one of the problems we face as a modern church is that we don’t pray enough. So many people go through the Christian motions of doing the Sunday thing. And they might offer up the occasional mealtime prayer. But how many actually follow through when they say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” or, “I’ll be praying for you.” We just don’t pray to you enough. We don’t get enough scripture. And I’m in that group too. But at least I can see my life on a continuum and feel that I’m better than I used to be.

Father, there’s been a rash of deaths lately. And I’ve also got some friends with relatives in perilous situations. I pray for each of them individually in my heart right now. I pray that the pain of the loss will yield your fruit in their lives. Don’t let it be wasted. Heal relationships. Glorify yourself. In their lives. In the case of the woman who is in critical condition, be with her body. If she is suffering at all, please relieve it. Help her family to feel your presence. And if my prayers can make a difference in her healing then I offer up to you that I would like to see you glorified through her complete healing and the restoration of her mind and body.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 7, 2018 in 1 Thessalonians

 
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