Dear God, someone called yesterday and asked that I teach a Sunday school lesson for their class at the Methodist church. It’s an interesting thing to be just a layman, non-Catholic attending Catholic church with my wife and asked to teach a Sunday school class at a Methodist church. I’m honored to be asked. But I definitely need to spend some time in prayer about this. As I’ve thought about this over the last 24 hours, I kind of came to the idea that I might want to focus on Mary’s (mother of Jesus) Easter nearly 2,000 years ago. Her journey as we know it from the New Testament started with her visit from an angel and ended with her being with the apostles after Jesus’s ascension. There are other stories about Mary, but I’m going to just stick with what we know through the New Testament.
The thing that comes to mind when I think of Mary is what I think of when I think of any parent in the Bible–really any parent in general: We have no idea how things will work out for our child(ren) or how you will be involved in their lives. In fact, as I write this my wife is watching Everything, Everywhere, all at Once with a friend in our living room. That movie is about a woman not understanding why her own life turned out the way it did and struggling with her relationships in all directions–father, husband, and daughter.
It makes me think about my own life. I can remember so vividly holding my children when they were born. Not knowing how their lives would turn out. Not having any idea how or if they would have a relationship with you. Not understanding, really, how to be what they needed. Nearly 27 years later, and I still feel that way. I have no idea what you’re up to in their lives or in mine.
Father, be with me as I spend the next week with Mary. Help me to hear your voice. Prepare my words for this group of people who might need to hear something a little different in the Easter story. Something that will bring them peace. Bring me healing through this process as well.
I pray this in gratitude for everything you do for me,
Dear God, I was reading a marriage daily devotion this morning, and it had a line in it that caught my eye: “That’s what makes forgiveness an essential spiritual discipline.” (Gary Thomas, Simply Sacred, April 1) I appreciate the idea that forgiveness, especially in marriage, is important. I agree. And forgiveness can be really hard. It is especially hard when it has to be offered without being sought by the offender. I’m still trying to figure out how to work through that sometimes. What it means and what it doesn’t.
But what are other spiritual disciplines to which I should pay attention? Let me see what kind of a list I can come up with here (not in any specific order):
Contemplative Prayer
Scripture Study
Individual worship
Corporate worship
Community (one-on-one Christian relationships as well as group work)
Forgiveness
Outreach to neighbors (evangelism?)
Repentance
Striving for holiness
Loving neighbors
Giving (time and money)
Funny. This list reminds me of the checklist on the offertory envelopes in my Baptist church when I was a kid. It had things like:
Present
Bible brought
Bible daily read
Lesson studied
Giving
Worship attendance
I think this list was supposed to give me a framework for developing spiritual discipline. And the envelopes I had gave a number value for each item that was supposed to add up to 100. I don’t remember which ones were worth more points, but I know they weren’t equal. It was an interesting thing for me as an 8-year-old to see and think about.
Father, I have a Saturday before me. I have opportunities to do a lot of different things. I’m about to do a big bike ride. How will I use that time on the bike? I’ll have time later in the day to spend with my wife, contact friends, and then just some down time. How will I use that time as well? I can’t answer all of that now, but please help me to be mindful of some of these things as I think about disciplining myself to be transformed into the new creation you have for me to be.
Dear God, I read Fred Smith’s blog post this morning called “To Be Known.” It is the story of a wealthy man, David Gundlach, who never seemed to find an identity during his life that brought him peace and joy.
Playing off of my prayer from yesterday, Fred described Mr. Gundlach as wanting to be known, but I think I see it as wanting to have meaning. Who am I? Why am I here? The answer can take any number of forms, but the “pursuit of happiness” baked into our U.S. Constitution might actually be part of the problem. It’s in our American DNA to think that “happiness” is something to be pursued, but I can’t think of any Bible stories that affirm that perspective. Jesus doesn’t call us to pursue happiness. Peter didn’t. Paul didn’t. John didn’t. The prophets in the Old Testament didn’t. You get my point. No, my life is all about loving you with everything I’ve got and then loving my neighbor as myself. When I do those two things then the the fruits of your Spirit start to grow in and out of me: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, self control, etc. If Mr. Gundlach had followed those two great commandments instead of pursuing happiness, then his life would have been completely different. Maybe he wouldn’t have made all of that money after all, but he might have found the joy he was seeking.
Father, whether it’s “meaning” or “happiness,” it’s always important for me to remember that neither can be found without you. In fact, I’m reminded of what Gary Thomas said at the Sacred Marriage seminar I attended in January (paraphrasing): “People pursue happiness through any number of efforts to make themselves feel good in the moment, but the only way to real happiness is to pursue holiness.” My your holiness be my goal today.
Excerpt from Simply Sacred, a collection of devotions by Gary Thomas
This was an interesting story from Gary Thomas about being impacted by an injustice but not 1.) knowing how to respond and 2.) not hearing a leading from you on how he himself should respond. There are times I feel the same way, such as the war in Ukraine. What am I personally supposed to do about that? If I’ve ever felt your nudge to move, I’ve tried to respond, but I really have nothing to offer except asking you to move.
Then there are the things that are potentially in the realm of me being able to address it, but I cannot do it all. You aren’t calling me to do it all. You didn’t call everyone to head up rebuilding Jerusalem–just Nehemiah. You’ve put me in a position of being able to do some things behind the scenes, and I’ve been able to even just jump right in and be part of getting something done. When I’ve done all of these things, I’ve tried to do them under your call and leadership, but sometimes I fail. Sometimes I act impetuously when you haven’t called me to act. And sometimes I miss the opportunity when you’ve prompted me to do something.
Father, help me to be intentional about everything I do and I don’t do. Help me to bring more and more to you in prayer. Help me to have serenity when there is something going on that bothers me that I cannot change. Don’t let me make that thing my idol. Help me to keep my eyes on you and trust you. When it’s time to act, give me courage to do it as unto you and not as unto man. And please give me wisdom and discernment as I listen for your voice.
I pray all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Lord, the light of your love is shining In the midst of the darkness, shining Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us Set us free by the truth you now bring us Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine Fill this land with the Father’s glory Blaze, Spirit, blaze Set our hearts on fire Flow, river, flow Flood the nations with grace and mercy Send forth your word Lord, and let there be light
Lord, I come to your awesome presence From the shadows into your radiance By the blood I may enter your brightness Search me, try me, consume all my darkness Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine Fill this land with the Father’s glory Blaze, Spirit, blaze Set our hearts on fire Flow, river, flow Flood the nations with grace and mercy Send forth your word Lord, and let there be light
As we gaze on your kingly brightness So our faces display your likeness Ever changing from glory to glory Mirrored here may our lives tell your story Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine Fill this land with the Father’s glory Blaze, Spirit, blaze Set our hearts on fire Flow, river, flow Flood the nations with grace and mercy Send forth your word Lord, and let there be
Send forth your Send forth your word Lord, and let there Send forth your word Send forth your word Lord, and let there be light
Dear God, ever since seeing the Jesus Revolution movie yesterday, I’ve been thinking a lot about it. As I said last night in my prayer, I’ve had a lot of disparate thoughts.
What’s been on my heart a lot today is not only the youth in our community, but also the difference in the way some Christians see to help them. There is a very passionate group that wants to focus on every single thing the school is doing that might influence children. From curriculum, to counseling, to policies, etc. They (and I say “they” because I am not one of them) think this will protect our children. But I’ve thought a lot about this today. I cannot think of a single revival in our country that started with a movement of the government or other authorities. Never has it been legislated from the top down. Even thinking back into the Bible stories, it’s always suffering that brings us into repentance. It’s always suffering that brings us to you. The only example I can think of off of the top of my head that might be an exception is the preaching Jonah did in Nineveh. I don’t know what exactly the Ninevites were experiencing to make their hearts so ripe for your message through Jonah, but they were radical in their response.
Now, I look at our children and I keep thinking back to the movie yesterday when they talked about the hippies looking for you, but they were looking in all of the wrong places. From drugs, to promiscuity, to any other type of experimentation, they were looking for something to fill their “God hole.” The same is true for today. I think of what revival would look like if it were to work its way through our school, and it would put any agenda for controlling the library books, the counseling program, etc. to shame. Even students are smart enough to know when to reject something after they have found the truth. In fact, they are probably better at that than adults are.
That leads me to this song. It was the closing song in the church I attended this morning. The lead into the chorus that Graham Kendrick wrote starts with “Shine on me.” It starts with us as individuals. Then, to borrow Kurt Kaiser’s words from “Pass it On,” “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” So, Father, this is my prayer today: “Shine, Jesus, Shine. Fill this land with the Father’s glory. Blaze, Spirit, Blaze. Set our hearts on fire. Flow, river, flow. Flood the nations with grace and mercy. Send forth your Word, Lord, and let there be light.” Let it start in my home. Let it be in my community. Let it be in my state. Let it be in my country. Let it be in my world. Let is start with what you’re doing in Asbury. Let this movie be your fuel. And let this be the start of something amazing. Let this pain of the pandemic over the last three years, the toxicity of social media, and the idolatry the church has adopted for government and power count. Let it bring us, bring me, to repentance. And then teach us discipleship so that your church might bring your will into the world from the bottom up.
I pray all of this through the name of Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith,
Dear God, I got to thinking yesterday about the challenges a lot of my coworkers are facing right now. There is a lot going on. Some are dealing with very difficult and scary things with their children. Others are dealing with personal health issues that are daunting. One, in particular, is dealing with both plus the recent death of a sibling.
I was already thinking about how I need to really pray over our organization and office when I came across this daily reading from Gary Thomas’s compilation of various clips from his different books called Simply Sacred. It was the last paragraph that struck me after reading the moving story (above): “In fact, every child uniquely stretches us, pushes us, challenges us, and–by God’s design–thereby teaches us how to love. Thank God for difficult children!”
While it can be hard to thank you for the difficult parts of our children–mainly because it can be those difficult parts that concern us the most for our children and we want the best for them–it is easy for me to come to you and ask you to simultaneously 1.) remove the thorns from our children’s sides and 2.) use the presence of the thorns and hopefully the removal process for their good.
I’ve been thinking that I really need to spend some time in deep prayer today in a sacred place for the people in my office. I feel like the frog who has been slowly boiled without realizing it was happening. Now I look around and without my realizing it has started the whole pot is boiling and I didn’t appreciate what was going on. So I’m going to find some time today to go to a chapel and really beseech you on behalf of my coworkers. I’m also going to call on some of the board members where I work to pray. Is this a time of spiritual attack from Satan? Probably. Can it be used for your glory and to advance your kingdom coming and will being done on earth as it is in heaven? Definitely. I just need to bring it to you.
Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please be with the staff and volunteers of our clinic. Be with all of us. Break us, mold us, fill us, use us. We are broken. We are vessels that need your molding and your formation. Don’t let any of this pain we are experiencing as individuals or collectively to be wasted.
A Eulogy for John G. Willome, Jr. by his son (my father), John H. Willome
Mom used to say that her main desire in life was that her three sons grow up to be fine Christian gentlemen—like their dad. We heard that a lot, didn’t we, Tom and Mike? She seemed to say this when I had accomplished something that I was really impressed with. I often bristled when I heard her make this remark because I thought that whatever I had accomplished, in terms of my definition of success—position, power, money or prestige—was being discounted. Mom just held a longer view.
Both of my parents are gone now, and we are here celebrating Dad’s life. As I think about him, these are some attributes of my dad’s character that readily come to mind.
He was a devoted husband and loved our mother dearly. He knew how to treat a lady. He opened Mom’s door and always treated her with respect. Raising three sons wasn’t always easy, and he backed her up in dealing with us, always making sure that they had a unified front. He wouldn’t put up with our talking back to her for a minute. He shared in household chores with Mom—washing dishes, taking out the trash—and expected us to do the same.
He had a high respect for others and was always considerate. He didn’t gossip or talk about people behind their backs.
He smiled easily and had a hilarious laugh.
He was a humble man and totally unpretentious. With Dad, I never had to wonder about an ulterior motive. He was always up front.
He could keep a confidence. His clients trusted him with knowledge of their financial affairs: a trust he earned and treasured.
He had a deep and abiding faith in his Lord, Jesus Christ, and did everything he could to nurture the faith of his family.
He was absolutely dependable. You could take him at his word. I never knew him to tell even a white lie or not fulfill a commitment he made.
He taught us by his example that it was our responsibility to give back—to our church and our community—of our time and money.
He considered raising his sons and instilling character and values in us as one of his greatest responsibilities. He encouraged our involvement in church activities, scouting, music, sports, and the arts. He came alongside us to help us develop and take advantage of opportunities, even when he didn’t understand a particular interest we had. He sacrificed to make sure that all three of us had a college education—a benefit that he didn’t have—to prepare us for professional careers. He blessed us, affirmed us, and let us know how proud he was as we each pursued our individual uniqueness. He loved our wives and cherished the time he spent with his grandchildren.
I’ve learned that the real measure of a man is to watch how he suffers. Dad suffered with Alzheimer’s disease for over seven years. After Mom passed away, he gave up his freedom and moved to Texas. He did this to ease the burden on us. He never whimpered or complained about the pain and indignity that beset him as this insidious disease raged his mind and body. The one thing the disease count’ touch was his unshakeable character. At the end of his life, living in a place that sometimes seemed like a “coo-coo’s nest,” he never gave up his dignity. As I watched him suffer, I saw in him the incarnation of Jesus. My dad suffered like a gentleman.
As I reflect on my Dad’s life, I realize that Mom was right. Dad was a fine Christian gentleman, and saying that is the highest tribute that I could ever pay him.
He is my hero and I love him deeply.
Dear God, my dad ran across the text of his eulogy for his father recently and emailed it to me yesterday. I read it this morning, and it brought tears to my eyes. My grandfather wasn’t perfect. No one is. And he would have been the first to tell you he wasn’t perfect. He knew he needed Jesus’s blood and your forgiveness. But all of that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a fine Christian gentleman.
Of all of the people in history, if I could have a few hours over dinner with anyone it would be my grandfather. I’d talk to him about all sorts of things I want to know. I want to know more about him growing up and his mother dying when he was a late teen. I’d like to know about his dad remarrying and having another set of children about the age of his own children. About his dad’s alcoholism and his response to that. About his marriage. About raising his boys. About how he responded to them as adults. What it looked like from thousands of miles away when my own parents had marital problems. How he sees it all now from a heavenly perspective. How he sees my life: my successes and my failures. My struggles with my children and different familial relationships. I would love to get some counsel from him. He would have a different perspective on everyone I know than I do. From his wife (my grandmother) to my parents, to my aunts and uncles, to my siblings and cousins.
Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when I was 22 and just married. Frankly, even if it had happened three years later I probably still would have missed the window. It’s only been in the last several years that I’ve longed for a conversation with him. My dad described him well, but there is something he left out. He was a man of few words. He was quiet. But I think we secretly have a lot in common. He apparently liked sports like I do, but he had to be a little more quiet about it because my grandmother didn’t give him as much latitude in that area as my wife does. I still remember going to a Spurs basketball game with him after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and had moved to Texas. The other team was shooting free throws and he actually heckled the free throw shooter! I was shocked. “Boooooo!” he yelled. It was awesome. I don’t think I had ever been more impressed with him.
Father, I don’t know that I have anything deep and meaningful to say except that I am grateful for this kind of legacy. I’m grateful for what was passed down to my dad, and what has been passed down to me. I don’t know to what extent I have passed this to my children. I really don’t. But I know I didn’t hold anything back from them. They got my absolute best effort, starting with worshipping you as best I knew how at any given moment. Like my grandfather, I am certainly not perfect. I need Jesus my savior. I need your grace. I need your love. I need you.
Dear God, it’s the day we observe the birth and life of Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, it is January 16. The actual day was yesterday, in 1929. Ninety-four years ago. Conceivably, he could still be alive today but for what happened 55 years ago this year on April 4.
I run a nonprofit that serves low-income people. I’ve sometimes been asked why our nonprofit observes MLK and not President’s Day. It’s a good question. I haven’t had a good answer for it, but I actually took some time to think about it this morning, and I think this picture exemplifies why I put honoring him on a different level than honoring presidents. He was willing to purposefully put himself in danger and jeopardy for the sake of others. While the men who have been president have often sacrificed to get the office, they were doing it as much for themselves as they were for the country. But my perception is that MLK was willing to use his political capital and spend it on others. He risked things that I don’t believe more than a few presidents risked. He could have stayed at home, written books, and make great speeches. Instead, he went to Birmingham, got arrested for trying to stand up for others and then, when eight white pastors wrote public statement while he was in jail, rebuking him and his followers, he wrote one of the most eloquent pieces of literature I’ve ever read (Letter from a Birmingham Jail).
So here I am. I have political capital in my small community. How do I use it? Do I make myself uncomfortable for others? Do I use it for them, or do I use it for me? I was asked to spend some of my capital this weekend for something that I didn’t think was a wise use of it (and it didn’t fit into this sort of category so I have no regrets). That was an easy no. But are there other things that your Holy Spirit puts on my heart that I decline? Do I really care about others, or do I just care so long as it’s not too inconvenient for me?
Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please guide me. Speak to me. Give me ears to hear. Give me eyes to see. I know MLK wasn’t perfect. I know he had weakness and sin in his life. I do too. I also know that he seemed to really love you. He seemed to not only be able to hear your Holy Spirit directing him, but also willing to respond and obey. I hate to pray this because I am afraid of what it would mean for me, but give me that ability and willingness too.
Dear God, I was talking with a friend recently about a vision they had of a visitation by you. They actually saw you walk into a room. It was actually Jesus and his mother Mary. Jesus was watching my friend working on a project like a proud parent–just delighted in the performance regardless of how “good” it was–while Mary only had eyes for Jesus, her God and her son. It told the person to not miss the moment of your encouragement and affirmation for them. Too often we miss the moments when you show up to affirm what we are doing. I wanted to make sure my friend didn’t miss you, your love, and your affirmation.
Of course, I’ve talked about different times you found biblical characters and affirmed them. Hagar after she ran away and then Hagar after Abraham sent her away to die with Ishmael. Jacob and his angel visitation. Naomi, at least for a while, missed what you had given her in Ruth. Mary and the shepherds, Simeon and Anna after Jesus’s birth, not to mention the wise men and their affirmation. Peter and the Holy Spirit’s anointing at Pentecost.
You’ve given me affirmations too. Just little encouragements at just the right time. Little things to help me see that I am on the right track. I will always remember the email I received about 20 months ago that encouraged me and has sustained me through the last very difficult 19 months. I recently found myself right in the middle of your plan regarding something that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t reluctantly taken a step of obedience in what I was feeling nudged by you to do.
You have also raised up friends, both old and new, to encourage me. We had dinner with another couple last night, and knowing them has been such an encouragement. We’ve met two other couples this week experiencing the same kind of pain my wife and I are experiencing as a couple. While it doesn’t lessen the pain, it gives all of us extra shoulders upon which to carry it.
Father, we are about to start 2023. I don’t know what it will hold. I don’t know what or if I will be typing to you 365 days from now. But I don’t need to know. I just want to love you, worship you, and learn how to love you better so I will be the best possibly worshipper of you when I arrive in heaven one day. So let your kingdom come and your will be done in this world, and use my life however you need to in accomplishing that. Give me this day my daily bread. Forgive me of my many sins, and show me how I need to forgive others–for their sake and for mine. Lead me away from temptations. Deliver me from the plans Satan has laid out for me. And you know my prayers and hopes for those I love. My family. My friends. My fellow citizens of this world. Move, Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. I pray all of this submitted to your authority over my life and this world.
Dear God, as I’ve seen a few “reaction videos” on YouTube recently with people watching It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed for the first time. It’s been fun to see it through their eyes. Each life touches so many others, but did a life ever touch more than Jesus’s life. His birth, life, death, and resurrection have touched billions and billions.
So what would the world be like today if Jesus had never been born? What would it be like if Judaism was limited to your select and the rest of us were just left to wander without knowing you? Frankly, there is zero chance I could even come close to guessing the answer to this question, but I can say that any time my head starts to entertain the possibilities it gets overwhelming and tragic. Emptiness is the word that comes to mind. Just flat out emptiness. What would my life be about? Why would I be taking up air and natural resources? American life would only be about the pursuit of happiness, at any cost.
Not only did Jesus give us this relationship with you, but he taught us so much while he was here. What would we have done over the last 2,000 years without that teaching? Love our enemies. Turn the other cheek. Lust = Adultery. Hate = Murder. He who is without sin cast the first stone. For God so loved the world… These were all things found nowhere else before the Gospels.
To be sure, people have use Jesus as an excuse for hate and oppression as well. They’ve used him as an excuse for war and genocide. There’s the phrase “lies, [darn] lies and statistics.” The same is true for Jesus’s teachings. I can pretty much manipulate them to say anything I want and confirm my own biases and agendas. It takes humble introspection to really evaluate and apply what Jesus taught in an authentic way and sometimes I fail at that.
Father, it is truly a wonderful life because you came into this world as Jesus. You left us your Holy Spirit after he ascended. You are the God who is near. You are the God who sees. You are the God who cares. You are the God who knows. You are the God who loves. You are amazing God. I simply don’t know what to say but thank you. Thank you, God, for what you’ve done and exactly how you’ve done it. I trust you that you are doing everything the way it needs to be done for your best for us even if I don’t understand it in the moment.
I pray all of this in your name, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Emails to God 