The Canadian federal government should do for the Heritage Foundation what they did for the Proud Boys: designate them as a terrorist organization.
Tags:
Earlier in the week, a flock of robins and a flock of starlings descended on the small ornamental cherry (?) (I'm not so good with ornamental trees) and devoured all the remaining fruit.
For the last two days, I've heard the geese overhead and today I saw a pair scrambling at speed for the pond in the woods behind my house. I love living here so much.
I put a suet block out for the winter - the birds in Texas usually devoured it, but it looks almost completely untouched. Maybe all the birds leave? I'm still adjusting to life in the northern forest, and I don't remember enough about how it worked when I was growing up in the mountains. Surely cardinals stay all winter?
I'm planning to clean out the seed feeder and get it out tomorrow. Maybe that will be more tempting.
For the last two days, I've heard the geese overhead and today I saw a pair scrambling at speed for the pond in the woods behind my house. I love living here so much.
I put a suet block out for the winter - the birds in Texas usually devoured it, but it looks almost completely untouched. Maybe all the birds leave? I'm still adjusting to life in the northern forest, and I don't remember enough about how it worked when I was growing up in the mountains. Surely cardinals stay all winter?
I'm planning to clean out the seed feeder and get it out tomorrow. Maybe that will be more tempting.
Tags:
Heeey it's been a week and I've been busy. I know, surprising right?
Hope everyone enjoyed the VD, be it with someone, yourself, or that cheap, cheap candy.
I say this as someone that spent that day in a pancake house where everything was covered in strawberries or cotton candy: meh. Save your money. Pancakes from there are always good though, just not impressed at paying the extra for a seasonal.
Wow, typing that made me feel like a boomer.
So I will say that outside of work, which has been my one obsession, the trips have been remarkably light. Weather's still been too cold. We did try to visit Sandy Hook and it was nice in that everything was covered in snow and ice and the water was nothing but a blank desert as far as the eye could see, but wildlife was at a low. At least the wind wasn't trying to kill us this time though.
Also visited the Bronx Zoo and some of the animals were more active. The tigers did their thing around all the white snow, while the snow leopards were practically housecats, pacing around the entrance to their shelters that is only opened around closing and making pathetic mewling to go back inside while scratching the door. It was hilarious to imagine a wild beast behaving like anyone's longhair tabby but here we are.
Also writing this post reminded me to start uploading my card and charge a battery which were both neglected.
Dryness is still a constant annoyance. My skin is flaking off all over the place and itches like crazy.
My computer froze while writing this and I'm debating whether it was because of Chrome or some other annoyance. It's been running warmer than usual and given how prices are, I would like to avoid this completely. Fun!
Oh, and I'm sick. Again. A new infection? Maybe covid swiss cheesed my immunity. I shouldn't be too surprised though.
Tomorrow promises to be a lot of snow, so going to see what we can see. Sandy Hook again? Seal time looks promising again. I'll power through the sickness, just going to do it with a mask on.
Hope everyone enjoyed the VD, be it with someone, yourself, or that cheap, cheap candy.
I say this as someone that spent that day in a pancake house where everything was covered in strawberries or cotton candy: meh. Save your money. Pancakes from there are always good though, just not impressed at paying the extra for a seasonal.
Wow, typing that made me feel like a boomer.
So I will say that outside of work, which has been my one obsession, the trips have been remarkably light. Weather's still been too cold. We did try to visit Sandy Hook and it was nice in that everything was covered in snow and ice and the water was nothing but a blank desert as far as the eye could see, but wildlife was at a low. At least the wind wasn't trying to kill us this time though.
Also visited the Bronx Zoo and some of the animals were more active. The tigers did their thing around all the white snow, while the snow leopards were practically housecats, pacing around the entrance to their shelters that is only opened around closing and making pathetic mewling to go back inside while scratching the door. It was hilarious to imagine a wild beast behaving like anyone's longhair tabby but here we are.
Also writing this post reminded me to start uploading my card and charge a battery which were both neglected.
Dryness is still a constant annoyance. My skin is flaking off all over the place and itches like crazy.
My computer froze while writing this and I'm debating whether it was because of Chrome or some other annoyance. It's been running warmer than usual and given how prices are, I would like to avoid this completely. Fun!
Oh, and I'm sick. Again. A new infection? Maybe covid swiss cheesed my immunity. I shouldn't be too surprised though.
Tomorrow promises to be a lot of snow, so going to see what we can see. Sandy Hook again? Seal time looks promising again. I'll power through the sickness, just going to do it with a mask on.
(![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sparowe Feb. 21st, 2026 08:09 am)
sparowe Feb. 21st, 2026 08:09 am)JESUS UNDERSTANDS
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, [Jesus] … sat down and taught the people from [Simon Peter’s] boat. And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. … But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” … And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. (Luke 5:1a, 3b-6, 8, 10b-11)
I wonder how Peter felt, kneeling in front of Jesus on that boat. He must have been waist deep in flopping fish! Just a little earlier he had been treating Jesus like someone who didn’t know what He was talking about. And now he realizes … what? Well, that Jesus understands fish?
More important, Jesus understands people. He knows that Peter is weak and sinful. And yet, He still calls him to help bring others to the kingdom of God. Jesus calls us too, in spite of our sins and weakness. He will use us to tell others about the One who loves us all so much He died and rose to save us and to make us His own.
WE PRAY: Lord, You know I am weak. Please use me anyway. Amen.
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake
Blurb:
This is the February read for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bookclub_dw so I'm going to reserve most of my review for the discussion post over there. But I will say that this is one of the more wild and entertaining journeys I've been on in a long time! Well worth the read!!!
Blurb:
When we think of fungi, we likely think of mushrooms. But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree. Most fungi live out of sight, yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that supports and sustains nearly all living systems. Fungi provide a key to understanding the planet on which we live, and the ways we think, feel, and behave.
In Entangled Life, the brilliant young biologist Merlin Sheldrake shows us the world from a fungal point of view, providing an exhilarating change of perspective. Sheldrake's vivid exploration takes us from yeast to psychedelics, to the fungi that range for miles underground and are the largest organisms on the planet, to those that link plants together in complex networks known as the "Wood Wide Web," to those that infiltrate and manipulate insect bodies with devastating precision.
Fungi throw our concepts of individuality and even intelligence into question. They are metabolic masters, earth makers, and key players in most of life's processes. They can change our minds, heal our bodies, and even help us remediate environmental disaster. By examining fungi on their own terms, Sheldrake reveals how these extraordinary organisms--and our relationships with them--are changing our understanding of how life works.
This is the February read for
bookclub_dw so I'm going to reserve most of my review for the discussion post over there. But I will say that this is one of the more wild and entertaining journeys I've been on in a long time! Well worth the read!!!
(sparowe Feb. 20th, 2026 03:39 am)
sparowe Feb. 20th, 2026 03:39 am)STRANGE COMPANY
The Spirit immediately drove [Jesus] out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. And He was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to Him. (Mark 1:12-13)
Let’s follow Jesus out into the wilderness. What do you see, as you look around?
Well, the Holy Spirit Himself has sent Jesus out there. So there’s God. Satan’s there, too, trying to tempt Jesus. There are good angels as well, although it’s not super clear what exactly they’re doing. And then there are the wild animals. This is who Jesus has for company.
That’s a pretty good list of living beings, from God all the way down to the animals. But one thing’s missing. Where are the human beings?
Jesus is the human being here. He is our representative, doing on our behalf what we could never manage. He spends 40 days being tested—“Do miracles to meet Your own needs! Force God to prove His power and faithfulness to You, instead of trusting Him! Turn away from God and grab for earthly power!” And unlike us, Jesus stays faithful!
The lovely thing here is that Jesus, the Son of God, is also the Son of Man. He has become one of us, subject to the same needs and trouble—hungry, alone, tempted. And why? Because He loves us, and wants to rescue us from evil and bring us home to God. Because He loves the Father, who sent Him to save us by dying on a cross and rising from the dead, sharing that life with us.
WE PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank You for becoming like me. Help me to call on You when I’m in trouble and need You so much. Amen.
(sparowe Feb. 19th, 2026 10:04 am)
sparowe Feb. 19th, 2026 10:04 am)UNEXPECTED
The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward Him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” … And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29, 32-34)
There’s something strange going on in John 1:25-37. It looks like Jesus is hanging around in the crowds where John is baptizing. He’s not making Himself known, He’s just there, standing or walking, several days in a row—and nobody seems to notice Him.
Except for John himself! John eagerly points Him out, more than once, and tells what he saw on the day of Jesus’ Baptism. As a result of his testimony, John loses two of his own disciples to Jesus. And John is glad.
Why? I think because John has fulfilled the mission God gave him. Now the work passes to Jesus, God’s own chosen sacrifice—the Lamb who will lay down His life to save God’s people. Jesus’ work will take Him into death itself, as He takes away all our sin and guilt through His death on the cross. And then He will rise from the dead, giving life to all of us who trust Him to save and forgive us. He will baptize us with God’s Spirit, and we will be children of God forever.
WE PRAY: Lord, help me to recognize You when I’m not expecting You! Amen.
There is another big bundle at Itch.io. This time proceeds go to support the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. The center has been at the front lines in combating the current administration's attack on Minnesotans, providing logistical and informational support to those targeted by ICE. As usual there are a handful of new games in this bundle in addition to megabundle staples.
Even if game bundles are not your thing, if you want to support the victims of ICE in Minnesota right now the ILC is a good option for that. The news has moved away from the state now that the thuggery has gotten more understated, but a lot of people have suffered long term damage, both physically, to their livelihoods, and psychologically, and they continue to need support.
Even if game bundles are not your thing, if you want to support the victims of ICE in Minnesota right now the ILC is a good option for that. The news has moved away from the state now that the thuggery has gotten more understated, but a lot of people have suffered long term damage, both physically, to their livelihoods, and psychologically, and they continue to need support.
Name:Morgan :) 
Age: 23 I mostly post about: The media I consume and my opinions on it, daily life occurences and complaints, thoughts about the internet and modern life My hobbies are: Playing videogames, watching movies and tv shows, drawing digitally, roleplaying in discord, coding My fandoms are: Game of thrones books, whatever actor I might be obssesed with ATM (currently daniel ings and david dastmalchian), dcu, doctor who, death stranding, fallout new vegas, cyberpunk 2077, kingdom come deliverance I'm looking to meet people who: are interested in interacting in eachothers posts even in small ways, like liking. creating and building an active community. people who read entire journal entries and anyone with interests similar to mine, also lgbt and neurodivergent people.My posting schedule tends to be:It's sporadic, although I try to hit a daily paceWhen I add people, my dealbreakers are: I have no deal breakers... for now? I just have fun with itBefore adding me, you should know: I'm a huuuuge leftist. I don't want right wing people interacting with me, ever. Also I complain alot, I swear like a sailor... if you're sensitive to swearing don't add me. Yay 
Name: Em
Age: Mid-20s
I mostly post about: Lately, I've mostly used Dreamwidth for life updates related to my quest to get a teaching certification in my area. I also use it for fandom exchanges and general writing community.
My hobbies are: Writing is the big one. I write poetry and original short fiction. In fandom spaces, I tend to write a lot of short form erotica.
My fandoms are: Many and varied. Some of the favorites at the moment are BBC Merlin, October Daye, the Young Justice cartoon, and Wooden Overcoats.
I'm looking to meet people who: I like sharing this space with a wide variety of people. Some of my favorite members of my circle post recipes, media reviews, or meaty fandom meta, but other favorites are just sharing links to interesting news articles or talking about life.
My posting schedule tends to be: It's been sporadic in the past, but I've been trying to get in the habit of posting a few times a week. It's been grounding.
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: Don't be a Trump supporter, anti-LGBTQ, or a climate change denier.
Before adding me, you should know: I'm polyamorous and live in a tight-knit community that includes many platonic and romantic life partners. Sometimes I post about US politics, but that's going to be fairly rare. I am quite left-wing, because my government's right-wing social policies negatively impact my community and my family. If you show up on my reading page and ask a question in your post, I'll probably answer it in the comments.
Age: Mid-20s
I mostly post about: Lately, I've mostly used Dreamwidth for life updates related to my quest to get a teaching certification in my area. I also use it for fandom exchanges and general writing community.
My hobbies are: Writing is the big one. I write poetry and original short fiction. In fandom spaces, I tend to write a lot of short form erotica.
My fandoms are: Many and varied. Some of the favorites at the moment are BBC Merlin, October Daye, the Young Justice cartoon, and Wooden Overcoats.
I'm looking to meet people who: I like sharing this space with a wide variety of people. Some of my favorite members of my circle post recipes, media reviews, or meaty fandom meta, but other favorites are just sharing links to interesting news articles or talking about life.
My posting schedule tends to be: It's been sporadic in the past, but I've been trying to get in the habit of posting a few times a week. It's been grounding.
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: Don't be a Trump supporter, anti-LGBTQ, or a climate change denier.
Before adding me, you should know: I'm polyamorous and live in a tight-knit community that includes many platonic and romantic life partners. Sometimes I post about US politics, but that's going to be fairly rare. I am quite left-wing, because my government's right-wing social policies negatively impact my community and my family. If you show up on my reading page and ask a question in your post, I'll probably answer it in the comments.
(witchpoetdreamer posting in addme Feb. 18th, 2026 03:23 pm)
witchpoetdreamer posting in addme Feb. 18th, 2026 03:23 pm)Name: You can call me Lina!
Age:35
I mostly post about: Journal entries about writing, social medias/the internet and anything creative, witchcraft, what I'm reading/what I've read, etc. Anything that I'm wanting to write about really.
My hobbies are: Reading, writing, making arts and crafts, drawing, anything that tickles my creative brain. And also watching junk TV because I contain multitude.
My fandoms are Mo Dao Zu Shi and Scum Villain (anything MXTX but I haven't finished Heaven Officials Blessings yet). I've also dipped my toes in Stardew Valley and Bridgerton as a fandom, although I haven't written anything for those yet. I'm Deadfandomswriter on AO3 if you wanna take a look.
I'm looking to meet people who: Are open minded and care about building a sense of community through active participation in their spaces. Are creative and love to see magic in their every day lives (I consider birdwatching to be its own kind of magic for the sense of wonder it brings, for example).
My posting schedule tends to be: So far a couple times a week, but I don't really schedule those.
When I add people, my dealbreakers are:Bigots, small minded people
Before adding me, you should know: Other than everything else above, I'm queer, and that probably will colour what I write about more than once in a while. I also do not speak to my family anymore (although my family-in-law have welcomed me warmly), and that also can come up, so if it's something that is uncomfortable for you, you might want to avoid my blog. Oh! And my first language is French!
(sparowe Feb. 18th, 2026 03:40 am)
sparowe Feb. 18th, 2026 03:40 am)IF YOU COULD SEE GOD
Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. … No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known. (John 1:1, 4-5, 11-12, 14, 18)
There are some human wishes that almost everyone has. If only I could see God, and know what He is like. If only I could tell how He feels about me. If only I could know Him, really know Him, as I know my family, my friends …
The Bible tells us we can know God this way—because God has come to earth as a human being, our Savior Jesus. The story is in the four Gospels. And so now we can know the once-invisible God, just as we know other people—this God who loves us so much He laid down His life to rescue us. Since Jesus has risen from the dead and promises to share that life with everyone who trusts in Him, we have all eternity to know and love Him ever more deeply.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, teach me to see You in Scripture and in my own life—and especially how much You love me. Amen.
Image: A kaiju loon looming over the skyline of Minneapolis. The words say "CthuLoon says, ICE get out!" by Jeremy Brandon. Not sure why this artist did not include LASER EYES, but hey, ChtuLOON is pretty hilarious in general.
Still sick, so not much to report today.
While I've been recovering I've been watching the Heartstopper series, which is based on webtoon of the same name. Apparently, there is a Heartstopper Forever finale movie, which I'll try to watch tonight. I stumbled across this a few days ago because I was looking for something that was kind of mindless and sweet. This very much fits that bill! The show came out in 22, but the finale movie is only a year old, so I don't feel like a complete looser only finding it now. It's basically a love story between two boys at an all-boys school in England, where one of the pair is the rugby captain who has a fairly profound coming out as bisexual. What I really like about it is the whole friend group. I'm particularly fond of Belle, the trans girl, and Issac, the ace/aro book nerd. But, I kind of love everyone in the show, which is rare for me!
Not sure I am recommending it to anyone, however, because it is just sort of sappy, sweet, and fairly low-stakes (though trigger warnings: eating disorder and some body disphoria in seasons 2-3). There aren't even any dragons. But it was sold to me by a reviewer who called it "a hug in TV series form." And I kind of just needed hugs while recovering from this head cold.
Otherwise, I'm thinking I will spend my afternoon finding maps and art and such for my various RPGs.
Tags:
Preview of the Cross
Genesis 3:1, 4b-6, 8a, 14-15, 20-21 – Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? … You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and … that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. … And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day … The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” … The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
This story is so embarrassing! God makes the first two human beings and puts them in a wonderful garden to live, and gives them only one command: “Don’t eat from the fruit of this one particular tree.” They can do anything else they want. They can eat any other fruit. They have God’s own company, and they have each other, and they have all the wonders of a world without evil. They even have the animals to enjoy!
And then the devil shows up and convinces them to break the only command God ever gave them. Why did they listen? The devil is a stranger, and he’s never done them any kindness at all. Why trust him instead of the God who has given them so many good things? At the very least, they could have waited a few hours and asked God about what the devil said!
It’s frustrating, and it’s heartbreaking, and I think it must have been that way for God, too, when He came looking for them—knowing full well that their hearts had already turned away from Him. Because God wasn’t going to give up on them, though they were already infected with evil. He still loved them. And He knew the price it would cost Him to bring the whole human race back to Him, healed of their evil. It would cost Him the cross. God Himself would become a human being, born to a woman, born to suffer and die and rise from the dead. Jesus did it because He loves us—so that He could bring us children of Adam and Eve home to Himself again, now as forgiven children of God.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, I’m sorry. Thank You for loving us so much, and bringing us home to You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
There is another comment bot scraping through due South fic, a different one than last month.
"Your story carries a sophisticated commanding presence that unfolds naturally and continues to create deep lasting resonance I believe this could bring a fresh twist to your story. Want to explore it? Let’s connect dis: f r e y o1 2 4 (Make sure to search without adding any spaces)"
So heads up all my due South friends. I've already reported it to the Abuse team, but this one doesn't have a user name. I hate to block anyone but registered users from commenting on my fic, but that may be where we are now.
"Your story carries a sophisticated commanding presence that unfolds naturally and continues to create deep lasting resonance I believe this could bring a fresh twist to your story. Want to explore it? Let’s connect dis: f r e y o1 2 4 (Make sure to search without adding any spaces)"
So heads up all my due South friends. I've already reported it to the Abuse team, but this one doesn't have a user name. I hate to block anyone but registered users from commenting on my fic, but that may be where we are now.
(lydamorehouse Feb. 16th, 2026 02:45 pm)
lydamorehouse Feb. 16th, 2026 02:45 pm)
Image: a gorgeous lino cut of a much larger than is accurate loon attempting to drown a bald eagle in what I must assume is a Minnesota lake. She is pushing the eagle down with one webbed foot. The art is entitled "el pueblo unido" (the people united)
jiawen pointed out that "jamas sera vencide" is actually the rest of the phrase "will never be defeated." I feel dumb. I have literally shouted this in the street, so I should have known. The artist did sign this at least, though I can not read their signature. But, if you repost this, just be sure to include the signature.I've been knocked out of the revolution by a head cold.
I tested, it is not COVID, but even so I don't want to infect the good people at the Food Communists so I have stayed home from the resistance. In fact, I have been face down since Friday. So much phlem; so disgusting. I can not wait to get over this. Sadly, too, this cold is the WORST Valentine's Day gift I have given my wife in our 40+ years together. Do. Not. Like.
Instead, I spent part of today catching up on some correspondence.
I am still struggling how to explain everything that's going to my Japanese pen pal because things here are sort of mundanely exceptional. Her last letter ended with the line, "I heard an ICE agent shot and killed a woman, I heard she was one of the members of the movement to get ICE out of town."
True, but we all are, Eiko. We all are. Like, in a way that is almost unimaginable.
I can't even answer the question "what did you do today, Lyda?" normally any more. What did I do? I spent a couple of minutes sewing some hearts onto my high-vis vest. I got the idea from the other mom/protector at my school bus stop patrol. The buses we are guarding are full of largely elementary age kids and, you know, their lives are scary enough right now. Also, the corner that I've been assigned is next to a business where workers regularly wear reflective vests, so it makes us stand apart. I had already sketched "Legal Observer" onto the back of mine, but I decided the hearts are actually a lovely addition. Makes it clearer why we are there.
I answered a Discord video call from the mutual aid folks who are doing laundry for people too afraid to use public laundry spaces or go to the laundromat. I signed up to be a driver and they have been going through the painstaking task of following up on the OVER SIX HUNDRED volunteers and vetting them all to make sure that they are real humans and are actually sincere in their desire to help. This is doublely important right now because ICE is weaponizing our kindness against us. After all, a bunch of plain-clothed shithead ICE agents pretended to have car trouble in order to lure a literal Good Samaritan out of their house in order to abducted them. These fucking fuckers. Also, their "worst of the worst" narrative kind of collapses when you are luring out helpers. Like, yeah, I'm sure there are some hardened criminals who would help you jump your car, but it's not a good look. It's right up there with kidnapping children to use for bait.
Then, fueled by my rage after having read about that, I spent some time trying to decide if I was well enough to go to the AFL/CIO MN protest at Stewart Park today. I decided not and then lay around coughing and miserable, regretting my choice in Signal code-name. Like this was my chance, y'all! Did I pick some deep Marvel cut? Or an obscure anime reference like the otaku I am? No. No, my code-name is really kind of dorky, even if I did choose it for a reason that makes sense for the people who met me in Real Life (tm). Ah well. We can't all be Mouse or Spider-Man.
And this all sounds so crazy without context.
It's going to be a weird letter, y'all.
Tags:
Confident
Psalm 32:4-5 – For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Holy Scripture refers to King David as “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1b). Today we use his inspired songs and prayers in our worship and personal devotions. We remember him as an ancestor of Jesus. Even many unbelievers know about David. They may have heard about the shepherd boy who hurled a stone from his sling and killed the giant Goliath. Sadly enough, we also remember Israel’s king for his sins, especially his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah.
Yet in his psalms, David—known for his sins as well as his songs—speaks often of his righteousness and integrity. In one psalm, David says, “So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight” (Psalm 18:24). In other psalms David wants to be judged according to his righteousness and the integrity within him. The psalmist speaks of his faithfulness. His psalms speak of the Lord’s righteousness and his own as well. We know the stories of David’s sins. Did he forget about those events in his own life? How can the psalmist speak with such confidence about his righteousness and integrity?
The psalmist is certain about his own righteousness because of his absolute confidence in the faithfulness of God. After he sinned, the psalmist felt the weight of God’s Law and said, “Day and night Your hand was heavy upon me.” Moved by the Holy Spirit, the psalmist continues, “I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity.” David knew what he had done. He repented of his sins and he did so with unwavering confidence in the steadfast love and forgiveness of God. The sweet singer and repentant sinner stood before God in righteousness and integrity because he knew that the Lord had forgiven him: “I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Those words shape our own confident prayers. Soon it will be Ash Wednesday. Throughout the season of Lent we will follow our Lord as He takes up His path to the cross. It is a season of repentance, and we will remember how our Lord Jesus, the Son of David, took the burden of our sins onto Himself on the cross. Jesus suffered and died so that our sins are forgiven. Set free from sin and guilt, we stand before God in righteousness and integrity. Like the sweet psalmist of Israel, we can be confident in the steadfast love and forgiveness of the Lord.
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, have mercy on me and forgive my sins for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
I have just heard that spikedluv passed away. There is information and a link to her obituary in the comments to her last post.
She and I worked together to mod thesnowflake_challenge for many years.
She was such a positive light in fandom and I loved how she discovered Murder, She Wrote in the past year or so. She was also on of the few people who wrote my favorite ship in Teen Wolf - Chris Argent/Peter Hale.
I will miss seeing her newsy update posts and pictures of her little corner of the world.
Godspeed.
spikedluv passed away. There is information and a link to her obituary in the comments to her last post.She and I worked together to mod the
snowflake_challenge for many years. She was such a positive light in fandom and I loved how she discovered Murder, She Wrote in the past year or so. She was also on of the few people who wrote my favorite ship in Teen Wolf - Chris Argent/Peter Hale.
I will miss seeing her newsy update posts and pictures of her little corner of the world.
Godspeed.
Tags:
From Carole Cadwalladr, formerly of the Guardian and Observer network, now a co-founder of The Nerve:
https://broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-us-coup-one-year-on
https://broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-us-coup-one-year-on
‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here
“Fulfiller of the past And hope of things to be, We hail Thy body glorified And our redemption see.
“‘Tis good, Lord, to be here! Yet we may not remain; But since Thou bidst us leave the mount, Come with us to the plain.”
Past, present, future—these divisions of time may bring both blessings and regrets. We rejoice in some past events, but wish we had done other things differently. Many people have great hopes for the future while others feel hopeless. We live in the present, with its daily blessings and challenges. Jesus Christ is Lord over the past, the present, and the future. Before His death and resurrection, Jesus told His disciples that He would suffer, die, and rise from the dead. Everything foretold about Him in the law of Moses and in the writings of the prophets had to be fulfilled. When He was transfigured in glory, the Lord Jesus discussed His coming death with Moses the lawgiver and Elijah the prophet. Everything foretold of Him would soon happen. As our hymn declares, Jesus is the “fulfiller of the past.”
Jesus is also the “hope of things to be.” In Jesus’ transfigured, glorified body, we have a glimpse of our future. Jesus, by His death and resurrection, defeated death. When our risen Savior returns on the Last Day, our bodies, buried in weakness and frailty, will be raised to eternal life and clothed in glory. As the apostle John writes, when Jesus appears in glory on that final day, “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2b). Jesus is the fulfiller of the past and in His glorious transfiguration we see the hope of things to come.
As the disciples left the mountain top where Jesus was transfigured, they may not have fully understood the startling event they had just witnessed. Jesus told them not to reveal what they had seen on the mountain until He rose from the dead, but the disciples did not yet understand what rising from the dead meant. Before long they would face confusion and fear when Jesus was crucified, but the risen Lord came to them, bringing His peace. As we leave the joyful, mountaintop experience of worship, we go down to the plain, that is, to the ordinary work of our daily lives. Our risen Savior goes with us and leads us down the mountain just as He led His disciples that day. He is the fulfiller of the past, the hope of things to come, and our ever-present Lord. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), and He holds our past, present, and future in His hands.
WE PRAY: Lord, fulfiller of the past and hope of things to be, as I leave the mountain-top experience of worship, walk with me throughout the week. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “’Tis Good, Lord, to be Here,” which is number 414 in the Lutheran Service Book.
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