RSS

Tag Archives: Faith

“Common” Quote by Satchel Paige

06 Aug

“Ain’t no man can avoid being born average, but there ain’t no man got to be common.”

Satchel Paige

Dear God, you gave us this weird thing of free will. There was a man I used to know who would say that “everyone is born with a half-full cup. It’s what you do with the cup that matters.” My personal thought is that some people are born with more hurdles than others. The old thing of an advantaged person being “born on third base, but they think they hit a triple,” vs. the child born into poverty with a drug-addicted mother who is in and out of jail, father is gone, and grandmother is struggling to support him and his older sister. They are starting from different places. But the person born on third base can try to steal home and get thrown or tagged out, and the person starting at the plate can work the pitches until they either get the one they want or walk. The choice is up to each of us.

Mr. Paige knew that well. He was apparently a phenomenal baseball pitcher, but he was limited to the Negro League because black players weren’t allowed into the Major League. It wasn’t until he was 42, well past his prime, that he was allowed to play in MLB. So how did you use that pain and struggle in his life? How did you use it to form him? How did you use the awful, reprehensible things of racism and hate to make him the inspiration he later became?

While I was praying, a friend just told me about his wife who was laid off yesterday. I know there is hurt, fear, and pain. I pray that this hurt, fear, and pain won’t be wasted. I pray that you will provide for them, love them, and use it to bond them together. Make them one in every way: spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Let this be a weird answer to the prayers they’ve been praying. That we’ve all prayed.

Father, I have choices today. I can be common or uncommon. Help me to glorify you in an uncommon way. To you be the glory for the great things you have done. So loved you the world that you gave us your son who yielded his life as atonement for sin and opened the life gate that all may go in. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear your voice! Praise the Lord, praise the lord, let the people rejoice! Oh, come to the Father through Jesus your son, and give you the glory for great things you have done.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 6, 2026 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 15:21-28

05 Aug

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”

23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”

24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”

25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”

26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”

28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Matthew 15:21-28

Dear God, I was talking a day or two ago about how not everyone in the Bible, including Jesus, was always presenting the absolute truth. For example, Jesus deceiving his brothers about going to the Festival of Tabernacles, or Jesus hiding his identity from the two disciples on their way home to Emmaus after the resurrection. This story feels like another example. He knew he wasn’t just there for the children of Israel. He’d said as much. Was he just testing her? Was he trying to make sure she was there for the Jewish Messiah and not just a miracle worker? I don’t know why, exactly, he picked this path, but it makes for a great story that Matthew recorded for us here.

And then there is the woman. She was a mom with a sick daughter. But you used this pain in her life and made it count. She’d have never gone to Jesus or believed in Jesus otherwise. Her daughter’s illness was probably one of the low points of her life, but you didn’t let it be wasted. You used it to drive her into Jesus’s presence. And maybe you used it to show Jesus in a little bit deeper of a way how Gentiles were part of this too (although I think he already knew that).

Father, there is pain in my life. There is pain in the lives of friends and relatives right now. Some of it has been addressed. Some of it is being addressed. And some of it is being shoved away and ignored in hopes that it will go away on its own. For the relative in rehab, I pray that this pain will be counting for their sake and the sake of their relationship with you. For the friends who are pregnant, I pray that they will find themselves worshipping you in a new way. I pray for the relatives who are estranged from other relatives, I pray that you will shed your light on their situations and you will bring healing through your grace. I pray that this pain will be the catalyst to bring them closer to you. For every struggle today, Father, don’t let them be wasted.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 5, 2026 in Matthew

 

Tags: , , , ,

1 Samuel 16:1-7

03 Aug

16 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.” 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” 5 He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:1-7

Dear God, I was listening to a Christian podcast yesterday talk about The Odyssey. They were talking about Odysseus and how he was a trickster. Apprently, in the original poem, this was very much celebrated in him. He was clever and cunning, and this was a good thing.

I bring this up because there are so many times in the Bible when the “good guys” in the story choose deception as part of their plan. In this story, you instruct Samuel to use deception to accomplish your mission. There’s Jesus in John 7 telling his brothers he’s not going to the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, but then he secretly goes anyway. There’s Jesus when he talks to the two people on the road to Emmaus, but he conceals his identity from them until the end. There’s David when he lies to Ahimelec about having men with him when he asks for bread and a sword from the temple. Interestingly, Jesus uses this story later but indicates that David told Ahimelec the truth, but I don’t think he did.

My point is, are there times when it is appropriate for me to deceive? My inclination is to say no, but then I think about times when something is confidential and I’m not at liberty to talk about something, or the talking about it could actually hurt another person. But it can sometimes be hard to know when those times are.

Father, I just want to live a simple life that is beyond reproach. I know there are times when I have to keep information confidential or obfuscate a little. Help me to know when and how to do this. Help me to live my life in a loving way that will bless those around me. Be glorified in all of my actions.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 3, 2026 in 1 Samuel

 

Tags: , , , ,

Romans 8:35-39

02 Aug

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

Dear God, the New Living Translation (NLT), which I enjoy reading, adds a few words here that the other translations don’t have. They don’t change the meaning, but I do think they add some clarity. The middle of verse 35 says, “Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity…?” The other translations just jump right in aftr the first question and say, “Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution…?” But I think the NLT makes explicit what is implied by the other texts. It’s an important question for all of us to answer, but it’s easy to miss if it’s not made explicit: “Does it mean you no longer love me if I have trouble…?”

I’m not sure I’ve ever felt unloved by you, but I’ve certainly felt let down before. I felt “disappointed,” as a pastor friend put it one time. Even disillusioned. The word “disillusioned” can get a bad rap, but I think it’s probably actually a good thing. If I am “illlusioned” then it is good for me to be “disillusioned.” You have taught me what your love does and doesn’t mean over the years. I still have much to learn. I’m not saying I understand everything. But over the last 15 years, I’ve certainly learned more than I knew before. I’ve learned to accept what your love doesn’t mean, just as Job did after your speech to him in chapters 38-41:

42 Then Job answered the Lord and said,

2 “I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
6 Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Father, I accept the life you have for me. Now, that’s easy for me to say because, overall and outside of a couple of deep sorrows, I have a pretty good life. And even with that good life, there are times I want to complain. Times when I’m not grateful for simply your love. You are a good God. Nothing can separate me from your love, for which I’m grateful. I have a relative who is checking into a rehab facility today. I pray for that precious person. I pray that they will find your love. I pray that you will guide me in knowing how to pray for them. Your love is waiting there for them. Pull away the clouds that hang like curtains from their eyes (Keith Green reference) and help them to see you’ve been there all along. And support their family. Their parents. Their child. Guide all of them into your love. Use this difficult time to help all of them, and to help me as well. Make this pain count for your glory and their joy and peace.

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

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 2, 2026 in Romans

 

Tags: , , , ,

Matthew 14:1-12

01 Aug

14 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”

3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). 4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. 8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” 9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

Matthe 14:1-12

Dear God, I like how you can see Matthew correcting his narrative a little. He started to tell us about Herod’s interest in Jesus, but the he had to double back and tell us about John the Baptist’s death.

Herod’s interest in Jesus was seemingly two-fold. And we’ll see it later at the Passion when he and Pilate bond over what happened to Jesus. My feeling is that they bonded over being forced into a position that even they, a couple a pretty immoral people, found reprehensible and to be avoided: the murder of a good man (although, again, they had murdered plenty of good people in their day). I think Herod was also interested because of his making a connection between Jesus and John the Baptist and wondering if Jesus was channeling John from beyond the grave. Little did he know that it was John who was channeling Elijah. I wonder why this is the only mention of this Herod that Matthew gives us. I’d have thought he was setting us up for something more in the future. Maybe he was intentionally telling us about what happened to John the Baptist.

I’ve written about Herod before and his failure when it came to John the Baptist and how his immorally-gained wife manipulated him by using their daughter. Parents continue to use children to manipulate their spouses or the child’s other parent to this day. Nothing is new under the Sun.

Father, I don’t know what I really have here this morning except it’s always good to be reminded of these stories. It’s good for me to remember to only love and raise my children and not use them. It’s good to be reminded to assuage my guilt through true repentance, and not through acting out or even carrying around the guilt and shame. It’s good to sit here and know who you are and that I love you and you love me. I give you glory for everything.

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

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 1, 2026 in Matthew

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Jeremiah 26

31 Jul

26 This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. 2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard in front of the Temple of the Lord, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins.

4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you, 5 and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets—for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them— 6 then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located. And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.’”

7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened to Jeremiah as he spoke in front of the Lord’s Temple. 8 But when Jeremiah had finished his message, saying everything the Lord had told him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people at the Temple mobbed him. “Kill him!” they shouted. 9 “What right do you have to prophesy in the Lord’s name that this Temple will be destroyed like Shiloh? What do you mean, saying that Jerusalem will be destroyed and left with no inhabitants?” And all the people threatened him as he stood in front of the Temple.

10 When the officials of Judah heard what was happening, they rushed over from the palace and sat down at the New Gate of the Temple to hold court. 11 The priests and prophets presented their accusations to the officials and the people. “This man should die!” they said. “You have heard with your own ears what a traitor he is, for he has prophesied against this city.”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to the officials and the people in his own defense. “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this Temple and this city,” he said. “The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken. 13 But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands—do with me as you think best. 15 But if you kill me, rest assured that you will be killing an innocent man! The responsibility for such a deed will lie on you, on this city, and on every person living in it. For it is absolutely true that the Lord sent me to speak every word you have heard.”

16 Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to all the people assembled there. 18 They said, “Remember when Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of Judah,

‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field;
    Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins!
A thicket will grow on the heights
    where the Temple now stands.’

19 But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped the Lord. They begged him for mercy. Then the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm.”

20 At this time Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim was also prophesying for the Lord. And he predicted the same terrible disaster against the city and nation as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and the army officers and officials heard what he was saying, the king sent someone to kill him. But Uriah heard about the plan and escaped in fear to Egypt. 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Acbor to Egypt along with several other men to capture Uriah. 23 They took him prisoner and brought him back to King Jehoiakim. The king then killed Uriah with a sword and had him buried in an unmarked grave.

24 Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan stood up for Jeremiah and persuaded the court not to turn him over to the mob to be killed.

Jeremiah 26

Dear God, this is a fascinating part of the story. I am pretty sure that, on the timeline, it happens after Jonah’s preaching to the Ninevites/Assyrians. Yeah, that’s what I thought. I just looked it up. On a timeline of Old Testament prophets, Jeremiah is one of the last ones. It looks like Jonah was even before Micah, who the elders mention in verse 18. But I can’t help but notice that it was easier for the Ninevites, and even their king, to repent than it was for these prideful people in Jeremiah’s time.

I suppose the first stage of grief is denial. And when we here something that makes us sad and we want to initially deny it, then the next thing we need to do is get rid of the messenger. He’s a “liar” after all, and he should be put to death for speaking false prophecy in your name. Ah, but was Jeremiah a false prophet? Was he a liar? We know now that he wasn’t, but they didn’t know what to make of him then. They just knew they were hearing news they didn’t want to hear. they were comfortable with their habits. They didn’t want to repent.

How would I handle a prophetic word of rebuke? Would my first inclination be to lable the person as a fake who didn’t know me or what she or he was talking about? Would I turn my back to them and not hear them? Or would I take a moment to consider what they are saying to me? Would I entertain it long enough to discern the truth of it through prayer and possibly repentance? Am I humble enough to hear your rebuke and accept it at any given time?

Father, I think the modern day message of this story is to accept your judgment and welcome it as for my good. The better I can be here, the more useful my small little life will be for you. I guess my ultimate goal is to simply try to love you and love others and then let your use of my life fall however you want it to fall. I heard something yesterday where this podcast was discussing this book called Girls: Generation Z and the Commodification of Everything. Apparently the thesis of the book is that young people, especially young women, are being taught that their only worth is in building their brand and then selling themselves to the world–whether as an influencer or whatever. Somehow, we are all learning that we have to have this life that is “important.” Well, like I’ve said many times, the widow who put her two coins in the offering that Jesus saw never knew her life would be talked about for thousands of years. She just knew she woke up poor that morning, she worshipped you through her officer, and then she went to bed that night as poor as she was when she woke up. And she probably died that poor too. So help me to live the life of that simple woman and be content in the fact that maybe all I have is the love of my God and the fact that he’s been doubly good to me by bringing me an amazing woman for my wife.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 31, 2026 in Jeremiah

 

Tags: , , , ,

Philippians 3:12-14

28 Jul

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:12-14

Dear God, so this is ironic. Yesterday’s verse of the day was Hebrews 12:1,

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

That was the theme for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 1986, the first year I went to the national conference in Estes Park. Today’s verse, Philippians 3:14, was the verse the next year in 1987. The real irony is that I am traveling today to see my best friend from high school who got involved in FCA with me our senior year. We both had shirts that had these verses on them.

What does this mean? Holy Spirit, are you trying to prepare me for something on this trip and visit with him? I don’t know, but the coincidences are remarkable.

But let me go back to this passage. I was having dinner with a couple of friends last night and we were talking about where to draw the line when deciding whether or not to confront someone else about sin in their lives. When it comes down to it, the Holy Spirit and I are working out my sin. Someone else is working out their sin with the Holy Spirit as long as they are working towards discipleship. I’m more interested in helping someone learn how to walk the narrow path of discipleship and then confront or work out their sin as you present it to them than I am just going around and telling people they are wrong.

I was thinking about the “press on” part of this verse this morning as I worked out. I did a virtual bicycle climb that took almost two and a half hours. There were times I thought about quitting. Then I thought of this verse and the metaphor for “pressing on.” I am on vacation this week, taking a break from my normal responsibilities. But when I get back next week, I need to press on.

Father, help me to forget what is behind and look forward to what lies ahead (verse 13). Help me to press on to finish the race you have called me to. It’s not necessarily an amazing race with amazing glory. It might just be a common life among the 7-ish billion people on earth. But if it could just be useful to you and your plan in some little unseen way that I might not even realize then I can live with that. “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 28, 2026 in Philippians

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Hebrews 11

27 Jul

11 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

Hebrews 11

Dear God, I don’t know that I’ve ever really spent a lot of time with this chapter, but it feels really important. “It was by faith…”

  • Abel’s offering
  • Enoch’s assumption
  • Noah’s ark
  • Abraham’s obedience
  • Sara’s conception
  • Abraham’s sacrifice
  • Isaac’s blessing
  • Jacob’s worship
  • Jochebed’s disobedience
  • Moses’s choice
  • Moses’s exodus
  • Moses’s Passover
  • Israel’s journey
  • Israel’s march
  • Rahab’s welcome
  • Gideon
  • Barak
  • Samson
  • Jephthah
  • David
  • Samuel
  • The prophets

Some received earthly rewards, but some suffered and died for their faith. Their faith was “better life after the resurrection.” Therefore, since I am surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let me strip off every weight that slows me down, especially the sin that so easily trips me up. And let me run with encdurance the race you have set before me. I will do this by keeping my eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects my faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside your throne. When I grow weary and want to give up, I will think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people. After all, I have not get given my life in my struggle against sin.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 27, 2026 in Hebrews

 

Tags: , , , ,

“I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman

25 Jul

“I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Tomorrow morning if you wake up,
And the sun does not appear
I, I will be here

If in the dark we lose sight of love,
Hold my hand, and have no fear
Cause I, I will be here

I will be here when you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind,
I will listen and
I will be here when the laughter turns to cryin’
Through the winning, losing and tryin’
We’ll be together ’cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up,
And the future is unclear
I, I will be here
As sure as seasons are made for change,
Our lifetime’s are made for years
So, I, I will be here

I will be here and you can cry on my shoulder,
When the mirror tells us we’re older,
I will hold you and
I will be here to watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me

I, I will be here

And just as sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetime’s are made for years
So, I I will be here we’ll be together

I will be here

Dear God, my wife’s aunt sang this song at our wedding 34 years ago (today). It’s amazing how we can bravely, naively, and ignorantly make these promises. My wife and I were 21 and 22, respectively, when we made ours. Pretty young. Pretty naive. Pretty ignorant. Life would have challenges for us. And we’ve made it this far. I’m grateful we are still happy together. I’m grateful we still love and enjoy each other. I know many don’t. In mathematical terms, our relationship has not been the solid positive slope we anticipated. It’s been a sine wave with a positive trend: an oscillating wave. There have been many times when we’ve take two steps back to only get one step foward. But there have been other times when we’ve take five steps forward and only lost one step backward. My point is, it’s been harder to keep the promises of this song than we thought it would be, but because we have kept the promises we still have each other.

I don’t think I’ve made this link between the parable of the sower I read yesterday and the life of a marriage, but I suspect it might be as true for relationships as it is for individual lives.

  • The seed that falls on the path is the encouter between two people that just doesn’t work from the start.
  • The seed that falls in the rocks is the encounter that leads to a short-term relationship, but roots never grow, and they end up flaming out when things get uncomfortable.
  • The seed that falls in the thorns is the encounter that leads to real relationship, but we allow our hearts to get distracted by the pursuit of money and the cares of this world.
  • The seed that falls on the good soil is the relationship that works to till its soil. It works to love selflessly. It works to serve. It ignores the idols of even the relationship itself and gets each person to selflessly given themselves to you and to the other.

I want to be careful to say I don’t think there is a magic potion that will give someone a completely happy marriage. There is no solid “if/then” statement. “IF I do this, THEN this will definitely happen.” No, things can still go very wrong. The loss of a child is one. Sickness. Mental illness. The wheels can completely come off, and we might not end up living the life we want to live.

So back to the promises of this song. Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife are still married, but I know they’ve encountered difficult times. He’s talked about them. The most outwardly known one is when one of their young children died through an accident at home. They hadn’t taken that into account when they made their promises. I have a long list of things I didn’t take into account when I made my promises to my wife. But here we are, living up to the promises.

Father, help me to be here for my wife regardless of what it costs me. She’s your daughter. I’m your son-in-law. You have given her to me in marriage. Regardless of what it costs me, I am responsible for loving her the way you want me to love her. “I will be true to the promise I have made to [her] and to [You] who gave [her] to me.”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 25, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Matthew 13:18-23

24 Jul

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Matthew 13:18-23

Dear God, it’s funny that this is the gospel reading today because I accidentally read it last night at the graduation ceremony. It was one of the more surreal moments I’ve ever had public speaking. I’m assuming it was of the Holy Spirit. I intended to read the parable of the wheat and the weeds, which happens to be right after these verses, but when I was copying and pasting the scripture into my outline from which I read I accidentally copied the parable of the sower instead. So I started reading the passage from my notes and, in real time, I realized I was reading the wrong passage. I could go with it and ask the Holy Spirit to just speak through me with this passage instead, or I could stop everything, tell them I was reading the wrong passage, and then gotten the right passage on my phone. I decided to go with the wrong passage and trust that those were the words the people in the crowd needed to hear. I think it went okay.

Father, I want to pray for the men and their families. This is day one their post-Christian Men’s Life Skills class experience. And they have decisions to make today. Their loved ones have decisions to make today. I pray that they will lean into their “floor,” do the work that is healthy for them to do, and find a way to draw closer to you today. I pray for forgiveness between them and their families. I guess I pray for repentance too. I pray for humility. I pray for a servant’s heart. I pray that they will find the narrow path and have the courage to walk it. I pray the same for myself. Help me to find the narrow path today. Help Megan to find it too. And help me to get exactly what you need me to have from this unconventional vacation I’m taking this next week.

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

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 24, 2026 in Matthew

 

Tags: , , , ,

← Older posts
Newer posts →