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Category Archives: Jeremiah

Joy to the World by John Piper – Advent Day 17

17 Dec

28 In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the Lord, have spoken!

29 “The people will no longer quote this proverb:

‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,
    but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste.’

30 All people will die for their own sins—those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker.

31 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.

33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Jeremiah 31:28-34

Dear God, Piper’s Advent reading for today focused on verse 31, but I wanted to bring in the verses around it for a little more context. Frankly, I love the lead-in for verse 31. I love the description of each person reaping what they sow as opposed to children being punished for their father’s sins (see Noah, Ham, and Canaan). I like this because I would hate to think the mistakes I make would be visited upon my own children. I want them to reap from their own fields, not mine. Not that my mistakes do not affect them at all. Sometimes they do. Of course they do. But knowing they can be free from my mistakes through Jesus… Knowing that I can be free of my parents’ mistakes–my grandparents’ mistakes–through Jesus… Well, that just gives me hope. It gives me a release that I can be at peace before you. Through repentance, I can be clean before you.

No one preparing for the Messiah had a clue what you were setting up for us, the freedom you were setting up for us, through Jesus. They thought they knew what they wanted. They wanted power again. They wanted self-determination. they wanted to rule the land. They wanted to throw off their oppressors. They wanted to see powerful struck down and the rich sent empty away. But you knew that’s not what they (we) needed. We needed freedom from our sin and relationship with you. We needed to all be able to relate to you and love you, Jew or Gentile. Slave or free. Woman or man. These descriptors were no longer material in the New Covenant.

I want to quote Piper’s last paragraph from today: “God is now free, in his justice, to lavish us with the new covenant. He gives us Christ, the greatest reality in the universe, for our enjoyment. And he writes his own will–his own heart–on our heart so that we can love and trust and follow Christ from the inside out, with freedom and joy.”

Father, thank you for not giving me what I want, but what I need. Thank you for letting me reset my life through repentance and relationship with you. I pray for this same freedom for those I love who have not yet found it. I pray for it for everyone. I am going to have an opportunity to speak to a large group of people at a Christmas service in a couple of nights. Keep me from wasting this opportunity. Use me to draw at least one person in that room closer to yourself. Make them hungry for you as I conclude my talk. Be glorified through me. Help me to decrease so that you might increase. To quote the Casting Crowns song, “I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody all about somebody who saved my soul.”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 17, 2024 in Advent 2024, Jeremiah

 

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Jeremiah 17:7-8

02 Jul

7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
    with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
    or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
    and they never stop producing fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Dear God, I am so grateful to have learned more about the context of Jeremiah and his prophecy after having gone through the Bible in a Year Podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. It really helped me to enjoy and appreciate these passages more. Instead of complaining about how people misuse Jeremiah 29, I can actually spend some time with these passages and consider them.

In this case, I was thinking this morning that I am feeling a little spiritually dry right now. Even doing these prayers to you is more out of self-discipline than it is waking up and longing to spend time with you. But then the thought occurred to me that I cannot always be in that mode, and that there is a value in showing up and plugging into you on a daily basis regardless of my emotions or desires. Planting myself here does make a difference. Worshipping you and spending this contemplative time with you does quench my dryness.

Whenever I read this passage, I always think of the H.E.B. Family Foundation Ranch where I have spent a lot of time. Thirty years ago, they were doing a lot of renovations and they drained a river so they could do some work. The cypress trees along the river started to dry up. They had always lived with a constant supply of all the water they wanted, and now it was gone. The dryness didn’t last long. They damned up the water again and the trees were fine, but they certainly suffered for a while.

Father, please let your river continue to run through my life, and help me to always seek you. Help me to always love you. Help me to remember my need for you. And then let your river flow through me and to those around me and within my sphere of influence.

I offer this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 2, 2024 in Jeremiah

 

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Lent Day 44

28 Mar

Dear God, Maundy Thursday. The Last Supper. The bread/body, wine/blood. The washing of the feet. The betrayal. The blood from sweat. The prayer to take the cup. The anguish. The healing. The prayer for our unity. So much happens. Thank you.

Here are today’s verses from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer. Ironically, I have not hardly read the commentary from the book. Maybe 10% of it. I’ve almost exclusively just used the passages each day. Maybe I’ll go back and read it when I’m done.

  • AM Psalm: 102
  • PM Psalms: 142, 143
  • Jeremiah 20:7-11
  • John 17
  • 1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:27-32

Psalm 102 – When I started reading this psalm, which contains the introduction, “A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD,” I thought of Jesus praying this psalm. The pain and the anguish. May I never forget the fully human nature of Jesus as he faced this. He didn’t get a divine intervention from this pain. He was fully you, but he was also fully Mary. Oh, Jesus, thank you.

Psalms 142 and 143 – Again, I imagine these words layered over Jesus’s experience nearly 2,000 years ago. The lament. The dread. The fear. The love. The submission. The devotion. The determination. The strength. The self control. The kindness. The goodness. The faithfulness. The patience. The gentleness. All of the fruits of the Spirit on full display that night. Amazing.

Jeremiah 20:7-11 – Jeremiah had moments of feel very rejected. Each day I fill out a 6-question survey on how I’m doing emotionally and physically and share it with a friend. It’s on a scale of 1-5, and the idea is to be able to see how your friend is doing at any given time. It has proved to really bond this friend and me together over the last 18 months. I have a tendency to use “4” as a baseline, bump it to 5 if things are fully engaged at that level in that particularly category, and let it drop to 3 or even 2 if it was a bad day. Most days are 4s and 5s, but sometimes I give a 3, and a few times I’ve given a 2 on some of the questions. I can imagine that Jeremiah had a lot of days that were filled with 2s. The path you had for him was certainly contentious and full of rejection by man. His pain was real. But your presence and comfort to him were real as well. Just as it was to Jesus as we began his final journey to crucifixion.

John 17 – Ah, the prayer at the Last Supper. I knew this chapter even before I opened it. Jesus prays for himself, Jesus prays for the disciples, and then he prays for all of us, including me. He will do more praying later in the garden–anguished prayer–but for now he is covering us in prayer. Father, answer those prayers, even today. Use things in our world that are happening in your Church that concern me, and redeem them for your ultimate glory. Bring us all to repentance for our idols. Help us to look only to you for our path forward.

1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:27-32 – I need to be sure to find some time tonight to take your bread and drink your wine. I need to remember the body and the blood you gave for me. And the idols Paul mentions in 10:14. There is all kinds of idolatry. Anything that we look to for our fruits of the Spirit–especially peace (in my opinion)–instead of you. Our government? Our economy? Our spouse/significant other? Our children? Our job? Our reputation? I’ve been guilty of all of these and more. Please help me to be free from idols, look only to you for my peace, and help my friends and your Church to have our eyes opened to its idols, repent, and return to you.

Finally, I want to pray for a couple of friends experiencing the deaths of their mothers and one who lost their spouse, all this week. For the woman who tragically lost her spouse two days ago from an accident, please strongly support her in every way. Support her through this terrible time. Provide every need so that, ultimately, she might find rest in you. And for her children as well. For the two friends who lost their mothers this week, please comfort them. There is no one like Mom. Please help them and comfort them as, even at their older ages, they are motherless for the first time. Help them to find their rest and peace in you.

I pray all of this in Jesus and everything that the next 72 hours represents, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 28, 2024 in 1 Corinthians, Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms

 

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Lent Day 43

27 Mar

Dear God, I want to start praying for my friend who lost her husband suddenly from an accident yesterday. Oh, please support her, her children and grandchildren, and the employees they had who I know loved him. He was a genuinely good and kind man. The kind of man I would aspire to be. Please raise up people around them who will be your hands and feet to them. Love them well. Comfort them. And use this pain somehow. Don’t let them pain of this tragedy be wasted.

There are four more full days until Easter. But there are only two days from right now at 5:21 in the morning until Jesus is in the middle of his detention, beatings, and, ultimately, crucifixion. What must it have been like for him? Well, there is no way I can imagine. Absolutely no way.

With that said, here are the passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalm: 55
  • PM Psalm: 74
  • Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-17
  • John 12:27-36
  • Philippians 4:1-13

Psalm 55 – I am always struck by David’s readiness for vengeance. It’s an interesting character trait–flaw? In the past, I’ve wondered what David’s life would have been like had he been made “judge” over Israel instead of “king.” If the Israelites hadn’t asked for a king, but had kept Samuel as their judge, and then Samuel had passed that torch to David, what would Judge David have been like? Would he have had less violence in his heart? Did somehow the act of being a king drive him into this place? Or was he like this all along? And how did you feel about this part of him? How did you feel about these psalms and what he said in them? They make me incredibly uncomfortable. At the same time, I am so impressed that he shared his fears, pains and insecurities so openly. So openly, in fact, that I can see them these thousands of years later.

Psalm 74 – This one makes me think that we absolutely don’t understand your ways. The human ignorance of your ways is kind of summed up in verse 19: Do not hand over the life of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever. You did, in fact, hand over your ultimate dove (Jesus) to the wild beasts (the Pharisees–your spiritual leaders during Roman occupation) because you did not forget the lives of your people (all of us). It’s a good reminder to me that I simply do not understand what you are doing, and I never will understand until I am on the other side of this life. Thank you for allowing for my own ignorance and loving me so much anyway.

Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-17 – Like a tree planted by the water. That’s how verse 7 describes the person who trusts in you. Plenty of water. Plenty of nutrition. Plenty of fruit. Oh, Father, when the day is hot and the heat wants to burn my leaves, please be my source of strength to fight against it. And give me good fruit so that others might be blessed by you through my life submitted to you.

John 12:27-36 – The end of the passages says, “When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.” Also, going back to the idea that this was Passion week, it’s interesting in verse 30 when Jesus says, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” I’m part of that “your.” John recorded this so that I could read it one day. Oh, he might not have known this would be part of scripture read 2,000 years later, but you gave it to John to give to me and to the rest of us. Thank you.

Philippians 4:1-13 – I love these exhortations for the Philippians. And Paul has something extra here. A little lesson. Do you want to be content in any and every situation, whether living with a lot of nothing? Remember that God is with you and is your strength. Well, help me to remember that lesson today. Help me to lean into you when I am stressed. Help me to embrace you when I am frustrated. Help me to worship and love you when I am angry and afraid. And when things are great and people are wanting to applaud me, help me to give you all of the glory because it is only through you that anything good has happened through my life.

I offer all of this prayer to you in Jesus Christ and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 27, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Philippians, Psalms

 

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Lent Day 42

26 Mar

Dear God, I was thinking about the confining nature of how I’ve been doing my prayer journals over the last 42 days by focusing on just the passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer. And I have no regrets in doing this. It’s been good. But I’ve also found it’s been a little stifling as I come across other things such as podcasts, books, or songs that I would have normally prayed about. Then it occurred to me that I could always do more than one prayer journal a day. I don’t only have to do these in the morning. Hmm. Once again, I am my own greatest limiter when it comes to the experiences I bring into my life that might draw me closer to you.

With that said, here are today’s passages:

  • AM Psalm: 6
  • PM Psalm: 94
  • Jeremiah 15:10-21
  • John 12:20-26
  • Philippians 3:15-21

Psalm 6 – Because of other factors in my life, it seems like I have been a bit more sorrowful during the Lenten season. I’ve normally really felt some of these lament psalms when I read them. But this morning, it’s not where my heart is. I feel energized. I feel hopeful. I feel like I’m more on top of things and the water is more around my knees or waist than it is up to my neck. For that, I’m grateful. I know sorrow will return at some point. Maybe even tomorrow. But right now, I am feeling a lot of joy as I sit here and commune with you.

Psalm 94 – I honestly don’t like most of this psalm, but I do like verses 18 and 19. They feel like what I was just talking about with Psalm 6: When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Thank you.

Jeremiah 15:10-21 – This passage just makes me think of the unfortunate life Jeremiah lived in service to you. Now, I don’t know what his life would have been like had he denied you and lived for only himself, but the road you had for him to walk was a difficult one. I feel unbelievably fortunate my road, while certainly sometimes very painful, is so much easier than his. My calling a bit sweeter to the taste and softer to the touch. I guess my prayer here would be that you not allow me to get lulled to sleep in my comfort.

John 12:20-26 – While all of the people in Jerusalem that day were seeing celebrity that they wanted to be close to, Jesus was experiencing everything on a whole different level. He understood what they didn’t–what they couldn’t. He knew he was about to suffer terribly. I’m sure the celebrity he had annoyed him as the disciples brought a request for some Greek people who wanted to see him.

Philippians 3:15-21 – Verses 15 and 16: All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. This makes me think of some of the real differences American Christians have with each other. Help your truth to come to light. Help us to see the world with your eyes. Help us to be very clear. Let everyone who calls on your name be united in you so that we might exhibit the fruits of your Holy Spirit to the world and that the world might come to know and worship you.

I pray all of this in Jesus Christ and everything he did during his life, this Passion week, and his resurrection, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 26, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Philippians, Psalms

 

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Lent Day 41

25 Mar

Dear God, I have a lot racing around my head this morning with the different things on my plate today. But it is most important that I start this way. Sitting here. With you. Reading scripture. Stilling my heart and listening to your Holy Spirit. For this moment, let the whole world fade while I consider the Passion of Jesus and what this week means as we head into Easter.

Here are today’s passages for Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalm: 51
  • PM Psalm: 69:1-23
  • Jeremiah 12:1-16
  • John 12:9-19
  • Philippians 3:1-14

Psalm 51 – It seems like I’ve done this one already as part of this Lent. I wonder if there are repeats. But of course, it’s always good to be reminded of repenting. Of course, Jesus wrote this before Jesus. If he were sitting as a Christian after Jesus’s death and resurrection (ignoring the fact that Jesus came from his lineage so that would be impossible), how would he have responded given the exact same circumstances? How does the New Covenant change David’s response under the Old Covenant? I honestly don’t know the answer to that. How could I? But I know that sometimes I probably don’t really feel the pain of my sin as much because I take what Jesus did for me for granted. That’s probably not a good thing. As I think about the Passion this week, perhaps I should also be thinking about my sin more as well. Feeling it more.

Psalm 69:1-23 – Another one that feels like I’ve read during this Lenten season. I wonder if parts of this psalm were a comfort to Jesus during the Passion. Excepting for the parts where David wrote about his folly, and may be the parts about retribution for enemies, maybe some of these words fit his situation: “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.”

Jeremiah 12:1-16 – You love us all. Jewish. Gentile. You love us all. Thank you for what Jesus did this week and what it meant for grafting my branch into your vine: “And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’–even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal–then they will be established among my people.” (Verse 16)

John 12:9-19 – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. No one that day (the day of the Triumphal Entry) knew what was happening except Jesus. The crowd thought they had a new earthly king to conquer and kill. The Pharisees thought they had a heretic and a threat to their power and the status quo. The disciples didn’t even know. John says in verse 16, “At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” I’m so ignorant. I have no idea what is going on. What I have to do but stay in the moment and lean on you.

Philippians 3:1-14 – Believe me, Father, I do not feel like I have attained anything. I have no confidence in my own righteousness. I have no pride in how things have turned out for me. I am humbled before you and before my family and friends.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I have several things happening today. Walk with me through them. I fear no one. I fear not situation or circumstance? Why? Because of me? No, I don’t fear them because what can anyone do to me? You are my God. I am your servant. I just want to represent you well in this world. Help me to represent you well.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 25, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Philippians, Psalms

 

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Lent Day 39

23 Mar

Dear God, I heard some news this morning that distressed me. Are you calling me to some sort of action? Have you put me in a unique position to act? Oh, please guide me.

And I had an odd interaction yesterday that almost felt demonic. It left me frazzled, anxious, and frantic. Maybe it was your Holy Spirit whispering to me to reveal it to me, but I finally wondered if it wasn’t a demonic spirit who was messing with me after the person and I parted ways. Oh, Father, protect me from the powers and principalities of the enemy–Satan. Please protect me. Holy Spirit, flow through me. Please, Jesus, bring me your healing.

Here are todays passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalms: 137, 144
  • PM Psalms: 42, 43
  • Jeremiah 31:27-37
  • John 11:28-44
  • Romans 11:25-36

Psalms 137, 144 – I almost want to stop here and spend all of my time in Psalm 137. It is so powerful. I’m going to assume this was written during the exile prophesied in Jeremiah. And I don’t know how trained the psalmist is in the prophesies of Jeremiah. I don’t know if he is specifically familiar with the instructions of yesterday’s passage from Jeremiah 29 (the one we take out of context and foolishly proclaim over our lives) about you knowing the plans you have for the Israelites during and after their exile/captivity. Did he know of the instructions to building houses and have children? There is so much lament here. And it’s deep. And it’s appropriate. I get it. I’m not saying that every one of them shouldn’t feel lament. Perhaps this was written after he had seen Jewish children dashed against the rocks. But there is also living to do. You are to be worshipped by your creation. Generations are to be continued. Life is to be lived regardless of the awful circumstances. I’ve never thought about combining this psalm with Jeremiah 29 before, but it’s actually quite beautiful to think about. And then we go to Psalm 144, which David wrote. praising you and submitting himself to a life lived for you. Beautiful.

Psalms 42, 43 – I like how these two psalms are both worshipful and despondent at the same time. I like the question, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” that is within each one. I feel that sometimes. I am with you. I am worshipping you. I love you. Why is my soul sometimes downcast. Then I remember my sorrows and I remember that it is okay to mourn. I would be a heartless beast to not mourn over some of the circumstances in my life. And I bring that mourning to you and you comfort me. And I live a pretty joyful life in the midst of it. But I confess there is always a constant sorrow. But that sorrow keeps me strongly tethered to you. If for no other reason, I am grateful for that. I am grateful to be humbled before others because of this sorrow. I am grateful that I can be a source of comfort to others because of my sorrow. And I am grateful for all of the joy in my life in the midst of my sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:27-37 – This is a great set up for the new covenant. It literally says in verse 31, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Thank you, Jesus! Oh, thank you!

John 11:28-44 – “Jesus wept.” Why did he weep? I don’t think it was over Lazarus (personal opinion). I think it was over the pain he saw everyone in. About 10 days ago, I was in a hospital room with a family shortly after they wife/mother had passed. While I knew the woman and was sad at her loss, my tears were fueled by the pain of her family and compassion for them. It’s amazing to think, God, that you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit truly love us as much as you do. Amazing.

Romans 11:25-36 – I just feel compelled to retype Paul’s doxology from verses 33-36: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has know the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who as ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him area ll things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Paul referencing Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11).

Father, I offer all of my heart to you this morning. My prayers. For my wife. For my children. For my community. For my friends. For my extended family. For my country and for the world. Oh, Lord, God Almighty!

I pray all of this in Jesus, your son, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 23, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 38

22 Mar

Dear God, this is a special day because it is a day that you have given to me. Don’t let me waste it. I want to use this day to glorify you. Frankly, I don’t have anything particularly special scheduled. I just have a lot of work to do. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what happened 25 years ago today. At this hour 25 years ago, my wife and I were getting ready to head to the hospital for her to be induced to have one of our children. Oh, how I love that child. Tears are in my eyes as I type this. So much love. Thank you for that child and that day. Things got complicated with the delivery and we had a complication, but you kept my wife safe and the child safe. Thank you for that too.

Here are today’s passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalm: 22
  • PM Psalms: 141, 143
  • Jeremiah 29:1, 4-13
  • John 11:1-27
  • Romans 11:13-24

Psalm 22 – This is one of those great songs of lament. Of course, the opening words are familiar to the Passion and Easter stories: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” I have a friend with whom I check in each day through the WeTree app. Frankly, his check-ins are usually more upbeat than mine. Not that mine are doom and gloom, but sometimes I start to worry that I don’t see enough positive and focus on it. Then I read a lot of these psalms and remember there is always a place for lament. For me, through these prayers and different forms of self-reflection, I think I have a healthy amount of access to and working through those feelings. They don’t dominate me, but they are certainly part of the cocktail that makes up who I am as a person. So this psalm is a good reminder that it’s okay to lament. It’s okay to have sorrow. It’s the sorrow that sometimes motivates me into 1.) prayer, 2.) action, and 3.) empathy for others.

Psalm 141, 143 – Playing off of what I just said about Psalm 22, here is David exploring his heart through writing poetry and then laying it before you. And it’s not all pretty. Some of his psalms are very worshipful, but some of his psalms express agony, fear, sorrow, or any list of other negative (and I hate to say negative because that doesn’t mean they are bad to have) emotions. It makes me think of the movie Inside Out. The emotion of Sadness had its part to play in the little girl too.

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-13 – Oh, how this passage (especially verse 11) is taken out of context, but in its correct context it is still such a beautiful thing, if not also being a tough pill to swallow for those receiving it. For me, it is counterintuitive what we read about yesterday that you were with those who were being sent into exile, but not the remnant left behind. It will be 70 years before this prophecy is fulfilled. Every adult hearing it will be dead when the time comes for Israel’s return. But they are given instructions to follow that will make it possible for their children, their children’s children, and so forth to live the fulfillment of the prophecy. They are to do everything they can to live for you–even live for the land they are in–so that you might bring their descendants to a new place. Father, right now, I don’t know that anything I am doing will benefit me personally, but I pray that the words of my mouth, the actions of my hands, and the thoughts of my heart will glorify you and set up your plan to be lived out through the world around me.

John 11:1-27 – As we move closer to the Passion and ultimately the resurrection, this story is an interesting precursor to it: Lazarus. But the sisters don’t even know what to ask you for. Jesus, you tell Martha that he will rise again, but she can’t think that big. She doesn’t know your real plan. I can’t think that big either. Help me to think that big.

Romans 11:13-24 – This seems like a lot of words to say that I, as a Gentile, am part of your plan, but I also have the opportunity to reject you and remove myself from that plan. Oh, Father, I want my branch connected to your vine. Thank you for grafting me into your Kingdom.

I offer all of this to you in Jesus, my Savior, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 22, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 37

21 Mar

Dear God, I am ready to be here with you this morning. I asked my wife last night how Lent was going for her and she said that it had hit a bit of a dry spot. I replied that I kind of felt like I was in the dog days of it as well, but maybe that’s also part of the point. This was a haul for Jesus. The first 30 years, the final three years, and then the final couple of weeks leading up to it. It was hard, but it was also just a day after day kind of slog. Well, my life and this slog isn’t nearly what Jesus’s was, and I don’t have crucifixion waiting for me eight days from now, but this is a reminder that Jesus really gave himself to this whole experience so that I could learn from him and be redeemed into relationship with you.

So here are today’s passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalms: 131, 132, 133
  • PM Psalms: 140, 142
  • Jeremiah 26:1-16
  • John 10:19-42
  • Romans 11:1-12

Psalms 131, 132, 133 – I think I want to focus on 131 and 133, and not just because they are the shortest two of the three. Psalm 131 is probably one I should read every day (Gasp! Maybe even memorize?): 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. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore. Yes, I should probably read that every day. And then Psalm 133 makes me think of the ministerial association meeting I am attending later today: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. That is my prayer for our local ministerial association.

Psalms 140, 142 – While I don’t like all of the sentiments of Psalm 140, I do use this to pray for a friend I visited with yesterday. This friend has some people out there who are conspiring against them, speaking against them, and, just all in all, judging them for something they don’t really understand. So “rescue [them], O LORD, from evil men; protect [them] from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.” But I also pray for those who are judging. Raise up people who will speak your truth to them. Give them love. Give them peace. I know they think they are doing to right thing. And maybe there is some rightness in what they believe, and maybe there is some wrongness in what I believe and my friend is doing, but I know that the current path is not of you.

Jeremiah 29:1-16 – This is quite a story as part of Jeremiah’s journey. What I really like about it was the part where Jeremiah just surrendered to the situation you put him in and said, basically, “Yeah, do what you will to me, but it won’t make me wrong and it will only make you more guilty than you already are.” Father, help me to surrender my life to you today. Give me the right ideas and words. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, but if there is something you need me to do please give me the courage to do it.

John 10:19-42 – As Jesus was walking this difficult path, he was having to confront those he knew he would not change. He knew going in that they didn’t believe in him. He knew they would try to kill him. And yet he went to tell them the truth. He might have also been setting up the anger towards him that ultimately led to his crucifixion, but he also just spoke the truth to him. And I don’t know where Nicodemus was during this interaction, but I know that he was at least one who believed. Maybe all of it was partly for him too.

Romans 11:1-12 – I think one thread through all of these stories from Jeremiah and John and what Paul is saying here is that there are so many of us who think we are so right, and yet we are so wrong. Please give me eyes to see where I am wrong. Give me a willingness to see where I am wrong. Help me, Father, to see your truth and see the world with your eyes, regardless of what it costs me.

I pray all of this in Jesus, your son, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 21, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 36

20 Mar

Dear God, the funeral yesterday was lovely. My wife commented it was the best funeral sermon she’s ever heard. The main thrust of the comforting part of the message was that a few days before she died the pastor, who was the woman’s brother-in-law, asked her if there was anything she had to say. She had to go to a lot of effort to say the words, “It’s not fair.” Then the pastor related that emotion even to Jesus on the cross and his feeling of abandonment. This is a weird existence we have. And yeah, sometimes it doesn’t seem fair. But as we were told over and over again as children, even though none of us want to believe it, life isn’t fair.

Speaking of Jesus on the cross, let’s see what the passages are today from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalm: 119:145-176
  • PM Psalms: 128, 129, 130
  • Jeremiah 25:30-38
  • John 10:1-18
  • Romans 10:14-21

Psalm 119:145-176 – This psalm reminds me of the error I sometimes make that I can bargain with you. “God, if I do this will you do that?” That is a pretty Pagan, idolatrous way of looking at you. Like I can own you and bargain with you. Like you are somehow subject to my demands. Can I pray to you for outcomes? Of course. But the idea that, well, going back to the funeral yesterday, life should be fair at all–that I deserve whatever I deem fairness to be–is simply making you in a small god, and the God.

Psalms 128, 128, 130 – Of these three, 130 is my favorite. It’s not expecting or asking anything of you but mercy and forgiveness. I think the psalms of lament full of repentance and then the ones that are just pure worship are my favorite. Most of the others bother me a little theologically.

Jeremiah 25:30-38 – This is pretty grim prophecy. It’s no wonder the people of the time embraced the false prophets instead. In the end, I suppose, the run of the mill Jewish person didn’t need to know this prophecy except to ultimately learn that you were using this pain to call people back to you. At this point, there was nothing they could do to stop it. They just had to live their lives each day. Make a decision to worship you regardless of their circumstances. Father, help me to always worship you, regardless of my circumstances.

John 10:1-18 – Jesus, thank you. I still don’t totally understand the lines between praying to the Father, you, or the Holy Spirit, but I know that I am grateful you are my shepherd. I am grateful you love me with the Father’s love because you and the Father are one. I am grateful you teach me through what is recorded of your words and actions. I am grateful for your reconciliation between the Father and me. Between you and me. Between the Holy Spirit and me. Thank you for being my good shepherd.

Romans 10:14-21 – Verse 21 from Paul to the Romans is powerful: “But concerning Israel he says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient people.'” Thank you for continuing to hold out your hands to me.

I offer all of these thoughts and prayers to you in Jesus Christ, and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 20, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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