Image

Without You, I Cannot Live

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Monday, the sixteenth day of March, 2026, in the fourth week of Lent.

May you experience the peace of the Lord in your soul, today!

It is the 75th day of 2026, and 290 days are left in the year.

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow.

Day 24,840 of my life

Today is National Panda Day. It’s also Everything You Do is Right Day. I don’t know about that. Even on my best days, not everything I do is right. And I don’t know that I see the value in pretending that it is.

Daily writing prompt
Who is the most confident person you know?
View all responses

This is actually a very hard question for me to answer. Most of the people that I know are pretty humble. That doesn’t mean that they don’t have confidence in their abilities, but they don’t flaunt confidence. The people that I know that flaunt confidence are not people that I have a lot of respect for. Does that even make sense? I do know some people that have an air of confidence about them, but I don’t trust them. Their confidence is misplaced.

All of that being said, I will say this. My pastor has confidence in Christ. And she has the most confidence in Christ of anyone that I know. So maybe that’s my answer.

Today is an off Monday for me. And I’m already enjoying the lack of things on my calendar for today. All I have to do is go pick up groceries, this afternoon at 1:00. I suppose I have to go get Sonic drinks, too, but that will happen on the way home from the grocery pickup.

There are several things that I need to get done during this week. I have a prayer time to lead this coming Saturday evening, so I need to write prayers and get a couple songs picked out for that. I’m singing a solo this coming Sunday morning, so I need to practice for that. And I’m working an extra two hours this week, on Thursday evening, to help with the “Spring Break Extravaganza.” Not a full shift, just from 5:30-7:30.

JESUS TIME

Lord, in this morning hour I come boldly to Your throne of grace in full assurance that there I shall obtain mercy and find grace and help in time of trouble. I need Your help and Your grace as I again return to the routine of my vocation and schedule. Grant me true faithfulness in the performance of my calling. Guard me against becoming selfish, careless, and lazy in carrying out my daily work, so that all I do has not only the appearance of being pleasing among men, but is also true service to my neighbor, that I may be a servant of Christ, doing the will of God.
Grant to all who are out of work useful employment. Feed us all with food necessary for our lives, and teach us to receive it with thanksgiving. Grant us the godliness and contentment without which there can be no true happiness, and let us so walk through the things temporal that we may not lose the things eternal; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 6, Monday Morning)

Lord Jesus Christ, today I begin another week of service to You and to my neighbor. Give me the motivation and energy I need to fulfill my vocations, occupations, and responsibilities. Watch over my coming in and my going out, that I may always remember that You are with me. Help, guide, and teach me to follow Your example, that I may take pleasure in the work of my hands. Help me resist temptations to sin. “Thus, Lord Jesus, ev’ry task be to You commended; may Your will be done, I ask, until life is ended. Jesus, in Your name begun be the day’s endeavor; grant that it may well be done to Your praise forever” (LSB 869:5).
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Monday Morning)

Father, Creator, You give the world new life by Your sacraments. May we, Your Church, grow in Your life and continue to receive Your help on earth. Grant this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Monday of the Week of Lent 4, Opening Prayer)

Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
(Colossians 3:11-13 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For this new week, with all the opportunities for love and service that it will bring; Lord, keep my eyes and heart open to see
  2. That Christ is everything to me; may I be faithful to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience
  3. For the desire in my heart to stay constantly connected to Christ
  4. That God keeps His promises (Joshua 21:45)
  5. For Word and Sacrament, with which the Lord feeds and sustains me, week by week
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 35:11-18

Malicious witnesses rise up;
   they ask me of things that I do not know.
They repay me evil for good;
   my soul is bereft.
But I, when they were sick—
   I wore sackcloth;
   I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
   I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
   I bowed down in mourning.

But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
   they gathered together against me;
wretches whom I did not know
   tore at me without ceasing;
like profane mockers at a feast,
   they gnash at me with their teeth.

How long, O Lord, will you look on?
   Rescue me from their destruction,
   my precious life from the lions!
I will thank you in the great congregation;
   in the mighty throng I will praise you.
(Psalms 35:11-18 ESV)

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird

   “The grievance, ‘After all I’ve done for you . . .!’ presupposes that, in a fair world, good would be reciprocated with good, kindness with kindness, love with love.” But we know that this is not always the case. And we also know that we, ourselves, are guilty of sometimes repaying good with evil, as well.
  

“Psalm 35:11-18, with its unwarranted antagonism of the adversaries against the psalmist, summarizes much of Christ’s ministry. ‘Malicious witnesses rise up’ (35:11). In return for his good works, they want to stone Jesus (John 10:31). When he doled out mercy and healing, they plotted against him, snarling and gnashing their teeth. His ministry could be subtitled, ‘They repay me evil for good’ (Ps. 35:12).”
  

And yet, we see Jesus not striking back. “He did not exchange insult for insult, curse for curse.” Not only did He not strike back, not only did He not cry out from the cross, “After all I’ve done for you, you crucify me!”, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). “Because of his self-giving, self-emptying sacrifice, we stand as the forgiven children of God.”

From For All the Saints, Monday of the Week of Lent 4

   “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
   So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
(1 Corinthians 10:23-33 ESV)

   And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
   Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

   “My soul desires to receive Your Body, my heart desires to be made one with You. Come to me, Lord, and it is sufficient, for without You there is no comfort. Without You, I cannot be; without Your visitation, I cannot live. Therefore, it behooves me often to go to You and for my health to receive You, lest, if I were deprived of this heavenly meat, I should perhaps fail in the way. So You Yourself said, most merciful Jesus, as You were preaching to the people and healing them of their sickness: I will not let them return to their houses fasting, lest they fail by the way. Do with me, therefore, in like manner, You who have left Yourself in this glorious Sacrament for the comfort of all faithful people.
   “You are, in truth, the true nourishment of the soul, and he who worthily receives You will be partaker and heir of eternal glory. It is necessary for me, who so often offends, who soon grows dull and slow, to renew myself by frequent prayers and confessions, and to purify myself and kindle myself to alertness and fervor of spirit, lets perhaps by long abstinence from the Blessed Sacrament I fall away from such a holy purpose. The mind of man and woman is, from youth, proud and prone to evil, and unless this heavenly medicine gives help, they may soon fall from worse to worse. Therefore, Holy Communion draws a man away from evil and strengthens him in goodness.”
(Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)

My Lord, I simply echo this prayer of Thomas à Kempis, this morning, desiring to receive You and be made one with You. Indeed, without You, there is no comfort; without You, I cannot be; without You, I cannot live. It’s that simple. Therefore, I need Your Communion weekly. Would that I could receive it daily! But I do receive Your Word daily, and that sustains me between the times that I may attend worship and receive Communion. Make my love for Your Word even greater, Lord! Increase Yourself within me and decrease me!

I thank You for Your great and precious promises. Your Word displays the truth; Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45 ESV) And that same is true for us today, Lord. Therefore, I trust Your promises that I find in Your precious and beautiful Word. Who is the most confident person I know? Jesus Christ, that’s who! Thank You, my Jesus, for Your Word, for Your Blood, for Your Body. Thank You for saving my life!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep from the Solid Rock!

Because Jesus!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Image

Creation Groans

Jeff1 Comment

Today is Sunday, the fifteenth day of March, 2026, in the fourth week of Lent. It is the fourth Sunday of Lent.

May the peace of Christ surround you, today, and drive away all of your anxieties and fears.

It is the 74th day of 2026, with 291 days left in the year.

Today is the Ides of March, the day on which Julius Caesar was assassinated.

There are two days until St. Patrick’s Day, which is more than about drinking green beer.

Day 24,839 of my life.

Daily writing prompt
What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?
View all responses

Depends on the day. When I’m weak, I give in to them and brood for a while. But that hasn’t happened very much, these days. Usually, I acknowledge the negative feelings and do one of three things (sometimes more than one of them); pray, read and meditate on Scripture, specifically ones that tell me about God’s care for me, and, if necessary, reach out to a friend, who will also pray for me and encourage me.

S and I will be going to church at 9:45, this morning, as that is the time I need to be there to practice for next week’s solo, which I’m singing in both services. S is assisting minister, this morning, and I am assisting with Communion, which is always a great blessing to me. We don’t have any activities tonight, as it is Spring Break, and the youth are on a mission trip to Memphis.

JESUS TIME

Lord God, You are the Almighty One who fills all eternity and whose name is holy. Yet You have assured us that You dwell with each baptized believer in Christ. On this first day of the week, I pray that all who hear Your holy Word would experience the fulfillment of that promise.
By Your holy Gospel enter my heart and make it Your own dwelling place. As Your holy Word is being preached and Your holy Sacraments given to me, let me receive Your grace with a believing heart, that being so strengthened I may be not only a hearer of Your Word, but also a doer of Your will to my neighbor.
Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and give me the strength to put into practice what I have heard and confessed. Keep me a humble learner for as many days as You give me on earth, and then receive me into the heavenly home You have prepared for me; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Redeemer. Amen.
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 4, Sunday Morning)

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with me today. Remind me that I am Yours and that You have saved me through the precious blood of Jesus. I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me. Help me hear You speaking to me through my pastor’s mouth today. Thank You for feeding me Your very body and blood through the bread and wine of Your Supper. Strengthen me through Your Word and Sacrament. Help me stay connected to You, the true vine, by connecting with Your Body, the church. May I never neglect meeting together with Your church, that we can encourage and love one another (Hebrews 10:25). Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Sunday Morning)

Father of peace, we are joyful in Your Word, Your Son Jesus Christ who reconciles us to You. Let us hasten toward Easter with the eagerness of faith and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Sunday of the Week of Lent 4, Opening Prayer)

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
(John 12:25-26 ESV)

Today I am grateful:

  1. For another opportunity to gather with the community of saints, my brothers and sisters, to worship the Lord and be fed by Word and Sacrament
  2. For the opportunity to serve in Communion today, what a blessing to hand out the Body and Blood of Christ!
  3. That Christ has chosen me to go and bear fruit for Him
  4. That I have “hated” my life in this world, and, therefore, will keep it for eternal life
  5. For animals in creation, and how they communicate God’s truths to us
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 35:1-10

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
   fight against those who fight against me!
Take hold of shield and buckler
   and rise for my help!
Draw the spear and javelin
   against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
   “I am your salvation!”

Let them be put to shame and dishonor
   who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed
   who devise evil against me!
Let them be like chaff before the wind,
   with the angel of the LORD driving them away!
Let their way be dark and slippery,
   with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

For without cause they hid their net for me;
   without cause they dug a pit for my life.
Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
   let him fall into it—to his destruction!

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD,
   exulting in his salvation.
All my bones shall say,
   “O LORD, who is like you,
delivering the poor
   from him who is too strong for him,
   the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
(Psalms 35:1-10 ESV)

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird

“Psalms is the prayerbook of the soldier of Christ.” This echoes the sentiment of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who said that Psalms is the prayerbook of the Bible. Over and over, we get depictions of prayer in conflict, in battle. “Any prospect of a truce with evil is exposed as futile. Psalm after psalm hammers home the fact that, in this life, the ‘fight is fierce, the warfare long.'” (William W. How, “For All the Saints Who From Their Labors Rest,” Stanza 5)

“What has the enemy done? He has hidden nets and dug pits for us (35:7).” We have only one place to turn, “to the One who says to our ‘soul, I am your salvation’ (35:3). Not just that ‘he saves us’ (which itself is wonderful news!) but that he is our salvation.”

“‘O LORD, who is like you. .?’ David asks (35:10). None, of course. God has no peers. He is unequaled both in his promise and in his ability to rescue us, to fight for us, and to give us the victory we have over every evil in his Son, our embodied salvation.” And in Him, “we are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37).

Lord, be my attorney   blow back my attackers
The winds make your argument   time is your courtroom
Defend me from pit men   their dank roadside ditches
Hide traps laid for passers-by   even the innocent
Grease their tracks, spin them   through slithery oil slicks
Into the sumps they’ve dug   hold their heads under
Then hear my bones shout   “Public Defender
No tongue for hire, he   parries the spoilers”
Bring on your witnesses   perjurers, peepers, claiming
They know me, those   strange to themselves

Though I feel sadly at others’   bad tidings, the owls
Hoot, jeer, mock when   told of my trouble
Enter my plea, now   my head’s in a lion’s mouth
Stripped, in a stadium   jury men pointing, shout
“There he is, look at him”   God, stick their words
Down their throats   make them swallow hard
Wolves and accusers   convinced of my innocence
Then bring in the verdict   their shame and confusion
Sunlight on the courthouse steps   your law book my love song
Of praiseworthy practice   that’s worthy to try
(Laurance Wieder, Words to God’s Music, Psalm 35: LITIGATE)

From For All the Saints – Sunday of the Week of Lent 4

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
(Romans 8:11-25 ESV)

“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
(John 6:27-40 ESV)

Today’s reading is from “Being a Christian When the Chips Are Down,” by Helmut Thielicke. It’s a rather lengthy excerpt, so I won’t quote the whole thing. It centers on one phrase from the Romans passage for today, in verse 22, where Paul says something about creation “groaning together.” This seems to indicate that creation is also crying out for redemption. The author, when he was a young man, asked an “elderly servant of God how he made sense of” that obscure phrase, to which he answered, “Look a dog in the eye, then you will know.”

I will quote the rest of the excerpt here.

“Now, I don’t believe for a minute that he gave me an adequate explanation of that phrase, but since that time I have never ceased to ponder what he said. When I look at a dog, and he looks at me, those words come back again and again. And although one must guard against sentimentality and reading too much into the situation. I nevertheless cannot shake the feeling that a real dialogue with the creation takes place. And this is the way it sounds: ‘My little canine friend, you are just one particular part of creation. The two of us – in contrast to innumerable fellow creatures of yours – have been brought together in a remarkable way and live with one another. If something bad would happen to you, I would be very upset. And I know that if something would happen to me, that your canine heart would be affected. You notice at once if something is bothering me. Sometimes the riddle of creation gazes at me from your eyes so powerfully, so terribly, that it penetrates me through and through. I imagine that you suffer under the burden of not being able to express yourself and to tell me what you know. Of course you can be very expressive with your many bodily motions, with your tail wagging and even with your little paws. But speaking is just out of the question. Sometimes you let me know that I don’t understand you. There is a very deep gulf between us that neither of us can cross. And precisely because you are such a unique part of creation, because you have bound your canine destiny to me, a human being, this limitation becomes particularly painful. Our lives are more fully linked than I can say or you can bark. You are a dumb creature, and maybe you are thinking, “My master is a noiseless creature.”‘ . . .

“The bodies of horses strewn over the battlefields of mankind constitute an indictment that innocent creatures have been dragged into human strife. And it is significant that the shame and sorrow it arouses is not totally stifled, even when there is no way to spare the creation its misery between the fall and the last judgment. It means that at least somewhere within us a spark remains of the knowledge that humanity, although ruler of the world, does not have the right to treat the creation so, but that treatment of that sort is our basic fault, and that it is the source of the disorder which threatens the whole universe. . . .

“Animals remind us of an unfallen world where Adam gave names to his brothers and sisters in creation, and conversed with them. They remind us of a world once again called into being when Francis of Assisi preached to the birds as his beloved fellow creatures.”

And as I am typing these words, my little tuxedo cat is looking up at me with her huge green eyes, and reaching up to tap me on the arm with her paw. I am sure that there is a similar connection between my cats and myself, as described by this excerpt.

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him,
(Mark 10:32 ESV)

“There is an aspect of Jesus that chills the heart of a disciple to the core and makes the whole spiritual life gasp for breath.” At some point, as we walk on this journey, “He is ahead of me and He never turns around; I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become  strangely far off.” Chambers calls this the “discipline of dismay,” and advises that “when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come that following of Jesus which is an unspeakable joy.”

I know that in my walk with Him, He has certainly left me gasping for breath, at times, and frequently, I have no idea where I am going. But He always lovingly reaches back and takes my hand to guide me, and I trust Him implicitly. I don’t have to know where we are going, I just know that I am following my Jesus.

We beseech Thee, o Lord, to hear our supplication on behalf of the dumb creation, who, after their kind, bless, praise, and magnify Thee forever. Grant that all cruelty may cease out of our land; and deepen our thankfulness to Thee for the faithful companionship of those whom we delight to call our friends. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Sunday of the Week of Lent 4, Closing Prayer, Centenary Prayer of the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Lord, surely You speak to us through our friends, the animals, in our lives. Your grace and mercy is seen through the behavior of pets who simply don’t hold grudges. I can accidentally step on my cat’s tail, and minutes later, she acts as if nothing happened at all. Yet we humans can hold onto a grudge for years or something far less painful. Help us to learn from them, Lord. Help us to see the groaning of creation that yearns for Your final redemption of all things.

We pray for Christ to come soon, Lord, and make all things right, all things new. We heard in our pastor’s sermon, this morning, “The world is a mess.” And then we heard the words that none of us want to hear. The cause of that mess is one word: sin. Even worse, we, the members of Christ’s Body, contribute to that mess through our own sin, because, even though we are redeemed, we are still sinners. We are, as I have heard it said, simultaneously saint and sinner. And, we heard in Sunday School that there is a probably with the title of the book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, because there are no “good people.”

Creation was “good” when you created it, but mankind, as we still seem to not be able to keep from doing, messed everything up. And I’m not using that word that I really want to use, there.

Help us to walk in the grace and mercy of Christ, Lord. We cannot “do better.” We cannot “try harder.” Again, in the words of Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try.” And the only way we can “do” is in Christ Jesus, because we, as baptized believers in Christ, are crucified with Him and the life that we live, we live by faith in Him, our Savior, who loves us and gave Himself for us. It is Christ who lives through us. That is the only way we can “do.” And we are called to “do.” We are called to be “leaven” in this world. So help us to take our selfish eyes off of ourselves and look around us. Help us to see You in creation, to see Your love and mercy and grace through it all.

Thank You for leaving me gasping for breath, sometimes. Thank You that You go ahead of me and guide me, and thank You for the faith that You have given me to follow, even when (which is usually) I have no clue where we are going. I just know that I am going with You.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace and peace my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

Because Jesus!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Image

Sing to Sweeten the Toil

Jeff1 Comment

Today is Saturday, the fourteenth day of March, 2026, in the third week of Lent.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

It is the 73rd day of 2026, and there are 292 days remaining in the year.

Tomorrow is the Ides of March. Three days until St. Patrick’s Day.

Day 24,838 of my life.

It’s National Pi Day, today. It’s also Bake A Pie in Solidarity Day. I won’t be baking a pie, but a co-worker and I are going to make a Chili Pie (Frito Pie?) at work today, in celebration of Pi Day. Does that count?

Daily writing prompt
What activities do you lose yourself in?
View all responses

Reading, for one. When I read, especially if the book is really good, I engage fully. Video games is another. If I’m playing a favorite (Fallout 4, The Witcher, Assassin’s Creed) I pretty much become the character I’m playing. And music, both playing/singing and listening.

Today is a work Saturday for me, so I will be in the circulation department at the library from 9:30-6:15. Since today is Pi Day, the Manager on Duty (MOD) for today posted a signup sheet to bring food for a potluck. As previously mentioned, I will be helping a co-worker (one of my best friends, there) with the Frito/Chili Pie, and I am also taking a Key Lime Pie from the HEB store.

Yesterday was amazing. It was simply a beautiful day. Our lunch was wonderful. We have never had a less than stellar experience at any Cristina’s, and a new one is opening soon, a little closer to us. We are very excited about that. The pedicures went great, although the place was more crowded than we’ve ever seen it. Fortunately, we had appointments. And the young lady who did mine had done one for me before, and does a wonderful job. After that, C and I stopped by Best Buy where I got a new desktop PC (why do they call them “deskTOP” when they typically sit under the desk?), because my previous one had started struggling. And Mama paid for it! So I got a new Acer with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor a 5070 graphics card and 32g of memory. It has 1T of hard drive space, but I have a 4T external hard drive (SSD) for games and stuff, so the hard drive isn’t even a real consideration. So I’m typing on it, this morning, and it’s working great. And so quiet!

I got some other wonderful gifts, as well, which I will share when I have more time. Maybe later today.

JESUS TIME

Our Father who art in heaven, deliver us from evil. O dear Lord, God and Father, Your Son defeated sin, death, and the devil so that I may enjoy the fruits of His labor. You are faithful to me as You keep me in Your grace. Grant me faithfulness in this life, especially when I experience the attacks of the devil through misery and misfortune, uncertainty and evil. Should I grow weary of life and long for death, give me strength and confidence in my dear Savior’s victory over sin, death, and the devil. And, when my last hour comes, mercifully grant me a blessed departure from this valley of sorrow. Grant that in the face of death I do not lose heart or fear it, but, with certain trust and hope in You, remain confident that You will take my soul into Your hands; for the sake of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 58, Saturday Morning) 

“All praise to Thee, who safe hast kept and hast refreshed me while I slept; grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake” (LSB 868:3). Loving heavenly Father, gracious Lord God, my strength and my solace, I begin my day with prayer, asking You to guide and direct me, cheer my spirit, and deepen my love for You, who loves me as a father loves his child. I love You because You sent Jesus to redeem me. For this I give You my heartfelt thanks, praise, and adoration. I rely on You; I depend on You; I trust You. Having You at my side, I am confident and content. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Saturday Morning) 

Lord, make this Lenten observance of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ bring us to the fully joy of Easter. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Saturday of the Week of Lent 3, Opening Prayer) 

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
(2 Peter 1:5-8 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For a wonderful day of celebration, yesterday; I am richly blessed  
  2. For the qualities listed above; may I be faithful to seek to have all of them in my life 
  3. That Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25); may I be faithful to live and walk in this truth 
  4. That Jesus took on the afflictions of the cross, that we would not be condemned, who put our hope in Him 
  5. That we may sweeten our toil by singing on the road of this journey toward eternity; we sing in anticipation of our heavenly rest (Augustine of Hippo) 
  6. That God will not allow us to be tempted beyond that which we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13) 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 34:19-22 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,  
   but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  
He keeps all his bones;  
   not one of them is broken.  
Affliction will slay the wicked,  
   and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.  
The LORD redeems the life of his servants;  
   none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.  
(Psalms 34:19-22 ESV) 

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird 

We see in this passage, a depiction of the crucifixion of Christ. John, in chapter 19, tells us that, when the soldiers went to break the legs of the crucified, in order to hasten their deaths, when they got to Jesus, He had already died, so they didn’t have to break His legs. Instead, “one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (19:34) John then references this psalm, saying that a prophecy was fulfilled, “Not one of his bones will be broken.” Then John references Zechariah 12:10, which says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”  

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous,” says the psalmist. That “righteous” was Jesus Christ, afflicted on the cross, sacrificed for us. Now, “none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22), “for he is our justification. We are safe in ‘the LORD [who] redeems the life of his servants’ (34:22) by the blood of Jesus.” 

From For All the Saints – Saturday of the Week of Lent 3 

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  
 
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  
(1 Corinthians 10:1-13 ESV) 

“Here, . . . amid the dangers and the trials we and others must sing Alleluia, ‘for God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength,’ as Paul says. So then we must also sing here Alleluia. Man is still a sinner, but God is faithful. Scripture does not say, ‘He will not let you be tempted.’ but, ‘He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.’ . . . How happy will be our shout of Alleluia there, how carefree, how secure from any adversary, where there is no enemy, where no friend perishes. There praise is offered to God, and here, too, but here it is by men who are anxious, there by men who are free from care, here by men who must die, there by men who will live for ever. Here praise is offered in hope, there by men who enjoy the reality, here by men who are pilgrims on the way, there by men who have reached their own country. 
 
“So, brethren, now let us sing Alleluia, not in the enjoyment of heavenly rest, but to sweeten our toil. Sing as travellers sing along the road: but keep on walking. Solace your toil by singing – do not yield to idleness. Sing but keep on walking. What do I mean by ‘walking’? I mean, press on from good to better. The apostle says there are some who go from bad to worse. But if you press on, you keep on walking. Go forward then in virtue, in true faith and right conduct. Sing up – and keep on walking.” 
(Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Sermon 256) 

I’m a big fan of brother Augustine, and really love this reading. I’m a singer, so I love anything about singing. I sing at least a little bit every day. And I totally agree with the sentiment that singing “sweetens our toil” as we travel along this road toward eternity. And he throws in the bit about not being tempted beyond what we can endure, which is also great. Now . . . what that verse does NOT mean? I’ve heard way too many times, people say, “God never gives us more than we can handle.” That, my brothers and sisters, is a lie. That is not what this verse means. If’ God never allowed us to get more than we could handle, we wouldn’t need Him, would we? But when we are tempted, we may rest assured that there is a way to escape said temptation. And that, brothers and sisters, is something worth singing about!

Let not the problems of this day overwhelm me, Lord. Give me to know Thy grace that is equal to all I may face now and reliable for eternity. Grant me perspective in perplexity, patience in trial and strength in adversity. Through The Prince of Peace. Amen.” 
(For All the Saints, Saturday of the Week of Lent 3, Closing Prayer, E. Lee Phillips) 

Father in heaven, I sing for joy at the salvation that is mine in Christ. I just read something that reminded me of Galatians 2:20. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself FOR ME! I spent years of my life trying to live a “holy” life, Lord. Trying and failing, again and again and again. But I know, now that only in Christ can I live. And maybe there is something to what Yoda said . . . “Do or do not; there is no try.” And the only way to “do” is in Christ. And that is why those words “FOR ME” are so important. I still remember when my pastor quoted the words of Martin Luther, who advised us to write those words in big letters on the page of our Bible where Galatians 2:20 is, and I did that.

Thank You, Lord, that there is always an escape route when I am tempted. And I thank You that, as I walk in the easy yoke of my Savior, I can always lean on Him when I face trials. I walk in Your presence, Lord, and in Your presence, there is fullness of joy. There is peace that passes all understanding, and we can know that which is unknowable, which is the height, the depth, the length, and the breadth of Your love for us in Christ Jesus.

This is why I sing, Lord; this is why I sing as I travel down this road toward my eternal home and treasure, and yes, brother Augustine, it most definitely sweetens the toil.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Image

Out of Self, Into Christ

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Friday, the thirteenth day of March, 2026, in the third week of Lent.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

It is the 72nd day of 2026, with 293 days remaining in the year.

Two days until the Ides of March.

Day 24,837 of my life. Also my birthday. So, finally, I am no longer SIX SEVEN years old. You think I can get people to say SIX EIGHT, instead? LOL!!

Today is National Good Samaritan Day. “Go and do likewise.”

Daily writing prompt
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
View all responses

I have not watched any TV series more than five times. There are a couple that I have watched, maybe, three times, but not five. Movies, though. Amadeus, Ghost Busters (the original), Jurassic Park (the original and all-time favorite movie), The Princess Bride, White Christmas. There are a lot more if I include children’s movies that we watched over and over when our daughters were little. Charlotte’s Web (the cartoon), Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Rescuers, and so on . . . The Great Mouse Detective, this list could go on and on.

Today is not a normal Friday. I am off work for my birthday, and so is C. We have one task, though, that we must accomplish before the birthday celebrations begin. We have an appointment with the Tarrant County MHMR office to help us get S’s Medicaid reinstated (she lost it again, this year, because our state government just does that), at 10:00 AM. Once that is done, we are home free. We are going to have lunch somewhere (probably Cristina’s Fine Mexican Restaurant, but maybe Hoffbrau Steakhouse), and then we are going to get pedicures at 3:00 PM. Because that’s what we do on birthdays! We love our pedicures!

Well, I don’t have much time, here, so I’d better get moving with the

JESUS TIME

Our Father who art in heaven, lead us not into temptation. O dear Lord, Father and God, keep us prepared and alert, eager and diligent in Your Word and service, so that we do not become complacent and careless as though we had already achieved everything. We implore You by Your mercy not to let the devil sneak in and take away from us Your precious Word or stir up strife and factions among us, or otherwise lead us into spiritual and physical sin and disgrace. Grant us wisdom and strength through Your Spirit that we may bravely resist the devil and gain the victory. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 56, Friday Morning) 

Dear Lord, “Direct, control, suggest this day all I design or do or say that all my pow’rs with all their might in Thy sole glory may unite” (LSB 868:5). You have awakened me for another day of service and witnessing to Your greatness. Grant me opportunities to do so with a cheerful spirit. Give me patience and perseverance where needed. May my service encourage other Christians to witness and serve You. Keep far from me Satan and his temptation to sin. Watch over those whom I love. Guard them with Your holy angels and strengthen their faith and trust in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Friday Morning) 

Merciful Father, fill our hearts with your love and keep us faithful to the gospel of Christ. Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Friday of the Week of Lent 3, Opening Prayer) 

Everlasting God, “My times are in Your hand” (Psalm 31:15). Thank You for allowing me another birthday. Each new day is a gift from You. Today, I reflect on the manifold blessings You have given me. Great is Your goodness. Enable me to use my time wisely this year so that I may be a witness to Your great love in my words and actions. Send Your holy angels to watch over me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, A Birthday Prayer) 

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”  
(John 10:7 ESV) 
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 
(John 10:11 ESV) 
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”  
(John 10:27-30 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the beginning of another year of life; may God use me in any way He deems necessary 💜💜 
  2. For my Good Shepherd, and that I am one of His sheep who has heard His voice 
  3. That my salvation is secure; no one can snatch me out of His hand 
  4. That Christ is making all things new, all the time 
  5. That the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18) 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 34:15-18

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
   and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
   to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
   and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
   and saves the crushed in spirit.
(Psalms 34:15-18 ESV)

And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
(Mark 6:47-52 ESV)

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

“Salvation is not merely deliverance from sin, nor the experience of personal holiness; the salvation of God is deliverance out of self entirely into union with Himself. . . . salvation means that the Spirit of God has brought me into touch with God’s personality, and I am thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself, I am caught up into the abandonment of God.

“Abandonment never produces the consciousness of its own effort, because the whole life is taken up with the One to Whom we abandon. . . . In our abandonment we give ourselves over to God just as God gave Himself over for us.”

It’s late. 10:30 at night. I’ve had a wonderful day, though. I’ll write more about that tomorrow morning. I had already written about half of this one before we needed to leave the house, this morning. I decided not to re-write it. So it looks like a morning blog. Are the prayers any less valid?

This reading from MUFHH is really good, I think. It spoke to me greatly. I am getting more caught up in this idea of abandonment to God. I am, indeed, thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself, and I am trying not to be conscious of any effort on my own part. In other words, I’m trying to let the Spirit do the work. I am trying to simply give myself over to God, praying for Him to deliver me entirely out of myself.

O eternal Truth,
what is your teaching
and what is the way
by which you want us to go to the Father,
the way by which we must go?
I know of no other road
but the one you paved
with the true and solid virtues
of your charity’s fire.
You, eternal Word,
cemented it with your blood,
so this must be the road. Amen.
(For All the Saints, Friday of the Week of Lent 3, Closing Prayer, Catherine of Sienna)

I will ponder all your work,
   and meditate on your mighty deeds.
(Psalms 77:12 ESV)

I will meditate on your precepts
   and fix my eyes on your ways.
(Psalms 119:15 ESV)

I thank You, Jesus for 68 good years on this earth. I pray for some more. Things are going pretty well, right now. Sure there are things that could be better, and we pray for them to get better. Keep using us, Lord. And keep drawing our hearts closer to You. May Your love keep pouring into our hearts until we overflow.

Blessed Savior, You spilled Your blood to redeem me from death. Having been lifted up on the cross, You draw all men to Yourself. You have drawn me to Yourself by Your grace through Baptism. How could I refrain from loving You who so loved me that You did die for me! Gracious Savior, continue to draw me to You. Draw me out of every night of sin into the daylight of Your truth and love. Draw me out of the power of the evil one, out of evil passions and desires, and out of the many cares of this world and life in it. Draw me to the Holy Feast, where You give to me Your body and blood for the forgiveness of my sin; draw me daily into the grace of my Baptism. Yes, Lord, draw me unto You. Amen.
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 57, Friday Evening)

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
(LSB 878:4)

Gracious heavenly Father, “Abide with me, fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide” (LSB 878:1). As a father loves, comforts, and protects his child, so do also with me. Let me fall asleep in peace, knowing that my sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake and that You have a watchful eye on my loved ones and me. I lay my worries, fears, and concerns before You, knowing that You will help me work through them. For this and all other blessings, accept my thanks and praise. “O Lord, in You have I trusted; let me never be confounded” (LSB, p. 225). In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Friday Evening)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Image

“My God, My God!”

Jeff2 Comments

Tonight’s devotionals included another reading from What Depth of Love: Devotions on the Cross & Resurrection, by C.H. Spurgeon. This one was titled, “Day 20: The Saddest Cry from the Cross.”

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  
(Matthew 27:46 ESV) 

“I think I can understand the words, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ as they are written by David in the twenty-second Psalm; but the same words, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ when uttered by Jesus on the cross, I cannot comprehend, so I shall not pretend to be able to explain them. . . . For this cry, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ is a tremendous deep; no man will ever be able to fathom it.” 

Spurgeon then notes that Christ always addressed God as “Father.” Yet here, Christ does not address Him as “Father,” but “My God, my God.” Spurgeon opines that, in this instance, Jesus was speaking as man. He cannot fathom that “God the Son could say to God the Father, ‘My God, my God.'”  

“But what was this forsaking? . . . Christ made no mistake about this matter, for God had forsaken him. It was really so. When he said, ‘Why have you forsaken me?’ he spoke infallible truth, and his mind was under no cloud whatsoever. He knew what he was saying, and he was right in what he said, for his Father had forsaken him for the time.” 

Did this mean that God did not love His Son? “O beloved, let us, with the utmost detestation, fling away any suspicion of the kind that we may have harbored! God did forsake his Son, but he loved him as much when he forsook him as at any other period. I even venture to say that, if it had been possible for God’s love towards his Son to be increased, he would have delighted in him more when he was standing as the suffering representative of his chosen people than ever he had delighted in him before. . . . He rightly felt that his Father had withdrawn the comfortable light of his countenance, that he had, for the time being, lost the sense of his Father’s favor – not the favor itself, but the consciousness of that divine aid and succor which he had formerly enjoyed – so he felt himself like a man left all alone; and he was not only left all alone by his friends, but also by his God. 
 
“After all, beloved, the only solution of the mystery is this, Jesus Christ was forsaken of God because we deserved to be forsaken of God. He was there, on the cross, in our room, and place, and stead; and as the sinner, by reason of his sin deserves not to enjoy the favor of God, so Jesus Christ, standing in the place of the sinner, and enduring that which would vindicate the justice of God, had to come under the cloud, as the sinner must have come, if Christ had not taken his place. But, then, since he has come under it, let us recollect that he was thus left of God that you and I, who believe in him, might never be left of God. Since he, for a little while was separated from his Father, we may boldly cry, ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’ (Romans 8:35) and, with the apostle Paul, we may confidently affirm that nothing in the whole universe shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).” 

A couple of notes of my own, here. Could this be what Christ was fearing so much when He prayed in Gethsemane? Could it be that He knew that this forsaking was coming, and that frightened Him even more than the torture that He knew was also coming? Just a thought. The other thing isn’t mine, but came from my pastor’s sermon, this past Sunday.  

What if God had removed that cup? When the sky went dark and Jesus cried out those words, He was experiencing the full cup of the Father’s wrath. What if He had not?  

We would all be eternally lost.  

Here is that sermon, if you care to listen to it. It’s a great sermon from a difficult parable.

Immediately after I read the above devotional, I read the following Scriptures:

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  
(Colossians 1:12-14 ESV) 

He sent out his word and healed them,  
   and delivered them from their destruction.  
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,  
   for his wondrous works to the children of man!  
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,  
   and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!  
(Psalms 107:20-22 ESV) 

I was brought to tears of amazement and gratitude for my Savior! He was forsaken because I deserved to be. He took the cup of God’s wrath in my place. I stand amazed.

Heavenly Father, the heavens declare Your glory, and the creation shows Your handiwork; day after day they speak of You, night after night they display Your wonders. There is nowhere we can go where they are not heard. Your Word is sweeter than these. Your words speak forgiveness; they promise eternal life and salvation. Though in weakness I sin again and again, You are ever faithful to Your Word and forgive my sin. Grant that I may find comfort again this night in Your faithfulness. Draw near to all penitent sinners and speak comfortingly to them this night. Be also with all my dear ones here and everywhere, and bless them. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 55, Thursday Evening) 
 
When in the night I sleepless lie, 
My soul with heav’nly thoughts supply; 
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest, 
No pow’rs of darkness me molest. 
(Lutheran Service Book 883:5) 

Heavenly Father, at the close of this day, I seek Your presence anew. As I reflect upon the demands and responsibilities of this day, I am reminded that at no time were You not with me. You promise to remain with me, and You are faithful. Thank You for Your continual care. At the close of this day, I am drawn to the cross, where my sin has been buried in the depths of Your unending love for me, and to Easter’s empty tomb, where my Lord’s power over death is affirmed. May this eternal truth cover me when I am asleep and awake. Grant me peaceful rest. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Thursday Evening) 

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep from the deep, deep love!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Image

Abandonment

Jeff14 Comments

Today is Thursday, the twelfth day of March, 2026, in the third week of Lent.

May the peace of Christ dwell within you today!

It is the 71st day of 2026, and there are 294 days left in the year.

One more day until my birthday!

Today is Popcorn Lover’s Day. That is most definitely me. Popcorn is my favorite food. I will eat it with just about anything. I will eat it in a box, I will eat it with a fox.

Daily writing prompt
Are you superstitious?
View all responses

Not really. I don’t know that I have ever been. I love black cats. I like when we have Friday the 13th, for some reason. Actually, it’s mostly because I like to say I’m not friggatriskaidekaphobic. I don’t believe in “jinxes.” I don’t believe in luck, really, either, although I do say “good luck,” sometimes to people. That’s not so much superstition, as it is just wishing that whatever a person is about to undertake goes well for them. I don’t believe that what color socks you wear to an event makes any difference at all. And the “universe” can’t do anything for you. I’m sure that some would say that my faith is superstition. And that’s fair. They are entitled to their opinion.

And, by the way, tomorrow is Friday the 13th, for the second month in a row. And it will always be that way in non-leap-years. If we have a Friday the 13th in February, we will have one in March. Another fun bit of trivia, at least for me, is that whatever day my birthday is on, Christmas of this year will be on that day, as well, as will January 1 of the new year.

Today is a mostly normal Thursday, for now. C is still working from home, but may be returning to the office before too long. I’m off work, as usual. That will not be the case for the next two Thursdays. Next week, I will be working a couple extra hours to help with the library’s “Spring Break Extravaganza,” and then the week after that, the 26th, I will be working my four-hour shift instead of Tuesday, because one of my co-workers needed someone to switch with them. I’m pretty flexible that way, usually.

S has an appointment with her psychiatrist, this morning, and that’s pretty much the only thing on my “plate” today. I have a small grocery order being delivered, because we are having a “potluck” lunch at work Saturday. It’s Pi Day, Saturday.

JESUS TIME

Our Father who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. O dear Lord, God and Father, do not enter into judgment against us, for in Your sight no one who lives is justified before You. Do not count it against us as sin that we are so unthankful for all your indescribable spiritual and physical blessings. Do not judge us on account of our daily sin. We stumble and sin many more times than we even know or recognize. ‘For He who avenges blood is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted’ (Psalm 9:12). 
 
Look away from our accomplishments as well as our wickedness; in Your boundless compassion look instead upon Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Forgive also those who are our enemies or who have wronged us, just as we forgive them from our heart. By their actions against us, they around Your anger and hurt themselves, yet we are not helped by their ruin and would much rather that they be saved with us. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 54, Thursday Morning) 

Omnipotent, heavenly Father, as I awake to a new dawn, I entrust my life to Your care and favor. I thank You for another day to serve You. The apostle Paul exhorts, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5); may my thoughts be fixed on You. As my body is Your temple, enable me to remember that my physical life is not my own, but is Yours. As my soul can find satisfaction only with faith in Christ, help me to bring honor and glory to Him in both word and deed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Thursday Morning) 

Father, help us to be ready to celebrate the great paschal mystery. Make our love grow each day as we approach the feast of our salvation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Thursday of the Week of Lent 3, Opening Prayer) 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  
(Romans 5:1 ESV) 
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  
(2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. That I am justified by faith and have peace with God, through Jesus Christ 
  2. That His divine power has granted to me everything that I need for life and godliness; there is no need to fear or worry about anything 
  3. For coffee, tea, books, and cats 
  4. That Your steadfast love, O Lord, is better than life; thank You for life, my Lord, lived in You 
  5. For spiritual “directors,” friends, teachers, and others whom God has placed in my path at just the right time 💜💜 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 34:11-14 

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird 

There seems to be a mostly unquestioned assumption that “the desire for life is an almost universal longing.” But Chad Bird questions this “unquestioned assumption.” “Every person we encounter,” he says, “the colleague at work, the stranger in the grocery store, our uncle at the family reunion – has mapped out an existence geared either for life or for death.” This is not always a conscious set of decisions, but it’s just the way we do things. “Priorities. Goals. For some, it’s more intentional. But like a ship on the ocean, every individual is cruising toward a port, one of life or of death, whether we think about the journey or not.” 
 
If we desire this life, if we “love many days,” that we may see good, we will live life “in conformity to how God has created us.” We will “live in Christ, who is our life. . . . What person is there who desires life? Desire Christ our life, and you will have him, and with him everything our Father wills you to have and be.” 

I thought this word from For All the Saints was good, regarding a balance between solitude and being among people.

“All of us need our moments for solitude. But sometimes we have to learn to pray while we go, to create as we sweep by, and to meditate between the acts. A man who would live in this frenzied time without being himself in a frenzy must learn that life has room enough for solitude, and creation, but much of one’s solitude is caught in a crowd. We ought not overlook the creative potential of a busy life.” 
(Carlyle Marney, Beggars in Velvet) 

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers 

Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”  
(Mark 10:28 ESV) 

“Beware of an abandonment which has the commercial spirit in it – ‘I am going to give myself to God, because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy.’ . . . Abandonment is not for anything at all. We have got so commercialized that we only go to God for something from Him, and not for Himself.  . . . If we only give up something to God because we want more back, there is nothing of the Holy Spirit in our abandonment; it is miserable commercial self-interest. . . . real abandonment . . . is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.” 

Did I approach this Lenten season, at the beginning, with that desire to receive? I have to think about that. I do remember commenting that I was excited to see what Christ would do during the season. But that isn’t necessarily the same thing as wanting something from Him. Nevertheless, I must re-examine my motivation for my Lenten fast, this year. I am not giving something up in order to get something back, other than to draw closer to Him. All I want is Jesus. 

Interesting side note. When I was typing “abandonment,” I kept misspelling it and typing “abondonment.” I wonder if that was some kind of subconscious slip, realizing that the true way to abandonment in Christ is to be “bonded” fully and completely to Him. Maybe it should be a word. Abondonment.

From The Word in the Wilderness, by Malcolm Guite 

Guite continues to explore Dante, and wrote another poem in response. I am including only two stanzas.

“In mid-most of the word-wood is a path 
That leads back to the springs of truth in speech, 
You showed it to me, kneeling on your hearth, 
 
You showed me how my halting words might reach 
To the mind’s maker, to the source of Love, 
And so you taught me what it means to teach.” 
(Excerpt from Malcolm Guite, De Magistro)  

“Many of us can probably point to a figure like Virgil in our lives – if not an author, perhaps a living friend and teacher who meets us at the right moment, sets us on a good path and guides us on our journey. . . . 
 
” . . . at any moment when we suddenly ‘recognize’ a truth, and make a glad, inner assent to it, it is not the outward and visible teacher, the person in the room, who is the ultimate source of that truth and that assent, but rather an ‘inner’ teacher, deep within us, a source of light and truth to whom we have brought each proposition for confirmation. That teachers, says Augustine, is Christ himself, the Logos, the Word in each of us, who guides us through the wilderness. At such moments of joyful recognition both teacher and pupil discern the Word in and through one another, and in and through the words they share. . . . 
 
“Perhaps, in the midst of this Lenten journey, this is a good time to remember, give thanks and pray for those teachers, official and unofficial through whom Christ has ‘brought us safe thus far’.” 

Anyone who has read this for the last year knows that I have just such a person in my life! Someone who met me at the right moment, set me on this “good path,” and continues to guide me on this journey. But let it be known, just as Guite says later, I know that she is not the one who revealed these truths to me, who set me free from my afflictions of sin, who changed my heart. It is Jesus Christ who did that! All praise and glory to Him!

Grant me, O most loving Lord, to rest in Thee above all creatures, above all health and beauty, above all glory and honor, above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and subtlety, above all riches and art, above all hope and promise, above all gifts and favors that Thou canst give and impart to us, above all jubilee that the mind of man can receive and feel; finally, above all things visible and invisible, and above all that Thou art not, O my God. It is too small and unsatisfying, whatsoever Thou bestowest on me apart from Thee, or revealest to me, or promisest, whilst Thou art not seen, and not fully obtained. For surely my heart cannot truly rest, nor be entirely contented, unless it rest in Thee. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Thursday of the Week of Lent 3, Closing Prayer, Thomas aKempis) 

My Jesus, I praise You that You have set it in my heart to desire life and not death! I desire You and You alone, that I might live and live fully. I thank You for both moments of solitude, in which I may draw closer to You, and moments in which I must be out and about with other people, that I might shine the light of Your grace and mercy and love upon them. Help me to be faithful to do so, Lord. Use me in any way You deem necessary to change the lives of other people by showing them Your love.

I thank You for a spirit of abandonment that You have placed within me, my Lord. Know, my Lord, that I am not seeking You in order to get something from You. Yes, I do attend worship services in order that You might feed me with Word and Sacrament, but I also know that this is Your will for me. But the reason I abandon myself to You is for You and You only. Any benefit You choose to bestow upon me is mere “icing on the cake,” so to speak. Of course, I pray and ask You for things, but I do not point at any “accomplishments” of my own (ridiculous notion that I own any accomplishments) to attempt to sway You to answer my prayers. My prayers are simply cast upon Your mercy, Lord.

And finally, my Lord, I thank You so very much for people You have placed in my life at just the right times. I would not be where I am today without their willingness to be used by You. And I am fully willing to be used by You in the same way, my Lord. You are beautiful; Your Name is beautiful; Your Word is beautiful. Thank You, thank You, thank You!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Be abandoned!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Image

O Taste and See!

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Wednesday, the eleventh day of March, 2026, in the third week of Lent.

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways!

It is the 70th day of 2026, and there are 295 days remaining in the year.

Two days until my birthday.

Day 24,835 of my life

Today is National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day. I’m serious. I’m not making this up. And it makes sense, really, that there should be such a day. I mean, can you imagine a more depressing job? And people get into this line of work on purpose! I recently read a book where the main character was a mortician, in fact. What was it? Ah, yes. It was That Which Feed Us, a horror tale set in Hawaii, based on some native Hawaiian legends/myths, by Keala Kendall, a native Hawaiian, herself. It was quite enjoyable.

I will say, though, that I am not eager to give a funeral director or mortician any business, just yet.

Daily writing prompt
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
View all responses

Interesting question. What animal am I? I mean, besides, you know, human. I think I would like to compare myself to a red panda. That may have become my favorite animal, slightly out-maneuvering the fox. I’m a bit pudgy around the middle, and I used to have red hair. When I had hair. And I might have similar reactions to being surprised.

Isn’t that adorable?? I’m not saying I’m adorable, though. I just did one of those silly online quizzes, though. Turns out I’m a jaguar. How cool is that? It says, “You totally give off ‘big cat energy,’ just like a jaguar. Not to be mistaken with leopards or cheetahs, the jaguar is a cool, confident kitty that’s content to do its own thing—just like you! While you’re happy to hang out with your pals, you’re just as content to head off in your own direction and pursue your own hobbies and interests.” I mean, that sounds amazingly accurate. Except for maybe the “confident” part. It also says I am “independent, adaptable, active, and confident.” Again, not so sure about the confidence, and I’m certainly not all that active.

Maybe I’ll stick with the red panda, and walk around being surprised.

Whoa!!!

Today is a mostly normal Wednesday. C is working from home. I’m singing a solo at the Lenten service, this evening at church, so I have to be there early, by 6:00 PM for a sound check. So we’ll be having dinner super-early today. That’s pretty much all I have for today.

JESUS TIME

Our Father who art in heaven, give us this day our daily bread. Dear Lord, God and Father, grant us Your blessing in our temporal and physical life. Graciously grant us blessed peace. Protect us against war and disorder. Grant to our president success against our enemies. Grant him wisdom and understanding to administer his duties and office in peace and happiness. Grant to all elected and appointed leaders good counsel and the will and ability to preserve this land and this people in tranquility and justice. Especially aid and guide the governor of this state, under whose protection You have sheltered us, so being protected against all harm, the administration may be blessed and we can live free from evil and disloyal people. Grant to all the people to serve our leaders loyally and obediently. Grant to all of us diligence in our vocation and charity in our dealings with one another. Grant us favorable weather and good harvest. I commend to You my house and home, spouse and children. Help me to manage my household well and support and educate my children as a Christian should. Defend us from the destroyer and his wicked angels, who work against us, looking for every opportunity to harm us and cause mischief in this life. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 52, Wednesday Morning) 

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your devoted servants who spread the Good News of Your death and resurrection and preach the forgiveness of sins. Provide faithful pastors and bless congregations who honor the pastoral office and support their ministers, even when they stumble. Help missionaries understand the peoples they are sent to and present the Gospel in a culturally relevant way while staying true to sound doctrine. Give pastors and missionaries strength and courage in the face of persecution. Be with me and all members of Your family as we encourage those You have called to these positions. I pray this in Your name. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Wednesday Morning) 

Lord, during this Lenten season nourish us with Your Word of life and make us one in love and prayer. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Wednesday of the Week of Lent 3, Opening Prayer) 

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,  
(Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV) 
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  
(John 10:11 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For my Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for me 
  2. For His steadfast love over me, which never fails, and will never depart from me 
  3. For true freedom that comes from knowing the Truth 
  4. That if anyone loves God, they are known by God (1 Corinthians 8:3) 
  5. That Christ has sown me where I am, in life, during this time, and that there will (if not already) be fruit 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  
(John 8:12 ESV) 

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  
(John 8:31-32 ESV) 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious . . . ”  
(Matthew 6:25 ESV) 

“Why do you have so little faith? . . . your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” 
(Matthew 6:30, 32 NLT) 

“Worry is nothing more than an attempt to secure myself.” (A Miracle Every Day)

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 34:8-10 

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!  
   Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,  
   for those who fear him have no lack!  
The young lions suffer want and hunger;  
   but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.  
(Psalms 34:8-10 ESV) 

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird 

Today’s reading in this resource was so great that I’m quoting the whole reading.

“As newborns, we begin to nurse from our mother’s breasts or from a bottle. Solid foods enter our diet as we mature. Over time, our tastes change, our range of foods increases or decreases, but one fact remains constant: all nutrients taken into our bodies, for life and health and strength, enter our bodies only through our mouths. We don’t eat meat with our ears or drink milk with our eyes. We taste, chew, and swallow what we need to live through our mouths.  
 
“For that reason, what is necessary for true and abundant life—life in God himself—is often described in terms of food. We do not live ‘by bread alone…[but] by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD’ (Deut. 8:3). Ezekiel was given a scroll of God’s words to eat (Ezek. 3:1–3). Hebrews describes those who ‘have tasted the goodness of the word of God’ (6:5). Peter says to ‘long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good’ (1 Pet. 2:3). Both Hebrews and Peter are echoing Psalm 34:8, where David says, ‘Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!’ 
 
“So many things in life, like the pleasures we devour, the riches we gobble up, the power on which we gorge ourselves, will increase our hunger but never satisfy it. The more we dine at that table, the more emaciated our souls become. But those who fear the Lord “have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (34:10). The table of Jesus, from which he feeds us, is always brimming with the richest and healthiest of foods. Spoon up his grace. Drink down his mercy. Fill your plate with his forgiveness, peace, wisdom, and love. The more you taste, the more you want. And the more you eat, the more you are simultaneously satisfied and hungry for more. Go back for seconds and thirds, for Christ our Host never runs short of food.” 

“O taste and see” has been one of my favorite phrases from Scripture for many years, now. I don’t now how many blogs I have written with that title (I will after I publish this one, because there will be a number at the end of the title in the url), but I know it’s more than a couple. The truth of the many things we gobble up that don’t satisfy is sobering. I’ve been guilty of it, myself. I went through some dark times where I was feeding on the most sensual of “foods” and I can testify that I was never, NEVER satisfied! It’s like what you hear about being addicted to drugs. It takes more and more to attain the “high.” That dopamine rush becomes the end of all things, and it takes more and more to reach it.

But with Christ I am constantly satisfied. It is true that I want more of Him, but that is not to continue the satisfaction. It is because He is so beautiful and I just want to know Him more. In Him, I have no lack. It’s just like the song I’m going to sing at church on March 22 . . . “The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness fails me never; I nothing lack if I am His, and He is mine forever.” Yes!! Hallelujah! I know it’s Lent, and I’m not supposed to say that. Too bad.

Read these words from the last paragraph again: “The table of Jesus, from which he feeds us, is always brimming with the richest and healthiest of foods. Spoon up his grace. Drink down his mercy. Fill your plate with his forgiveness, peace, wisdom, and love. The more you taste, the more you want. And the more you eat, the more you are simultaneously satisfied and hungry for me.”

My heart overflows; my cup overflows! “Not only is Christ enough . . . Christ is everything!” (Kari Malinak, “Back to the Beginning,” a sermon)

Lord Jesus, 

Help me in this moment to set aside all that has preoccupied me today. 
Take away the many fears that rage around me. Take away the many feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem, and let me be shaped by you, the Lamb of God. 
Help me to enter more deeply into your silence, where I can listen to you and hear how you call me, and find the strength and courage to follow you. I ask you to be with me as I listen to your word and come to a deeper understanding of your mystery of calling me to follow you. 
Be with me now and always. 
Amen. 
(Henri Nouwen) 

Lord, grant that each one who has to do with me today may be the happier for it. 
Let it be given me each hour today what I shall say, and grant me the wisdom of a loving heart that I may say the right thing rightly. 
Help me to enter into the mind of everyone who talks with me, and keep me alive to the feeling of each one present. 
Give me a quick eye for little kindnesses, that I may be ready in doing them and gracious in receiving them. 
Give me quick perception of the feelings and needs of others, and make me eager-hearted in helping them. 
Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Wednesday of the Week of Lent 3, Closing Prayer, Lucy H.M. Soulsby) 

My dear Jesus, I thank You for Your table, filled to the brim with the richest of foods. I have tasted and seen, Lord, thanks to Your goodness and mercy in my life. I never want to taste any other “food,” Lord. I have had my fill of the world’s “food.” It is wretched and rotten, at its core. It is destructive, both to the self and to those around the self. I pray that You would help me to be a beacon of the satisfying nature of Your “food,” Lord. Your Body and Blood are enough. I have spooned up Your grace; I have drunk deeply, deeply, deeply from Your mercy, my Jesus! It is a never-ending well of satisfaction! Thank You, thank You, thank You!!! I love You so much!!

I thank You that You have sown me where I am, in my life, right now. I truly believe that I am where I am, both in church, and in vocation, because You have “flung” me there, as You cast Your holy seeds out into the world. Let me be one who brings forth fruit, Lord, whatever that looks like. Use me, Jesus. My life is forfeit to You. You are everything!

In Your holy, precious, and beautiful, beautiful name I pray! Amen!

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Spoon up His grace; drink down His mercy!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Image

Harrowing Hell

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Tuesday, the tenth day of March, 2026, in the third week of Lent.

“May the peace of God wrap around you
As you’re held in His love
May He meet you with hope and healing and truth
As You’re held in His arms.”
(Held, Dana Miller and Megan Tibbits)

It is the 69th day of 2026, with 296 days remaining in the year.

Three days until my birthday! But today is the birthday of one of my library friends! And Thursday is the birthday of my pastor/sister/friend!

Today is International Day of Awesomeness! I think you know what to do!

Daily writing prompt
Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.
View all responses

I’m not sure how to respond to this. First, I don’t know (as does anyone) if I will live that long. Sometimes, I hope I don’t. But I’ll give it a shot.

Dear 100-year-old Jeff,
If you are reading this, you are still alive. If you aren’t, then you are much better off, because you are in the presence of Jesus. If we live to be 100, I can’t wait to see what kind of wonderful things Christ has done through us, during the next . . . um . . . (gets out calculator) 32 years. That sounds like a long time, but the last few decades seem to have happened in just a few moments.
I hope that our faith is even stronger now then it was in 2026. I hope that we have managed to memorize a lot of Scripture. Did we get the Gospel of John memorized in 2026? Do you even remember 2026? Do we still sing and play the piano? Do our fingers still work? Can we still play the guitar? Did we finally put the trombone away? So many questions!
I hope that Jesus is still “whooshing” us every few days. And I hope that love has grown stronger and stronger within our spirit and heart.

Yours truly,
68 year old Jeff
(I’m rounding up, since my birthday is in three days)

Today is as close to normal as Tuesdays are, these days. C is working from home (currently at her PT session), and I will be at the library from 4:15-8:15 tonight, in the computer center. With my awesome library friends! Celebrating one of their birthdays and International Day of Awesomeness!

JESUS TIME

Our Father who art in heaven, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. O dear Lord, You know that if the world cannot destroy Your name or Your kingdom, there are those who work day and night with tricks, fraud, and many strange conspiracies to try and do so. They encourage and support every evil intention raging against Your name, Your Word, Your kingdom, and Your children, threatening to destroy them. 
 
Therefore, dear Lord, God and Father, convert and restrain them. Convert those who have yet to acknowledge Your good will, that together with them we may obey Your will. Let us gladly and patiently bear every cross and adversity and thereby acknowledge, test, and experience Your good, gracious, and perfect will. Constrain those who seek to harm us, and turn against them their own tricks and devices, as we sing: 
 
He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High (Psalm 7:15-17) Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 50, Tuesday Morning) 

Gracious heavenly Father, I thank You for keeping me safe through the quiet hours of this past night. As a new day dawns, help me to see, through the eyes of faith, that the challenges that might be in front of me today are not greater than the power behind me. Help me to see that everyone I engage with today was created in Your image and thus worthy of respect. If someone has a need, help me to meet that need where I am able. Enable me to trust the promise that You have the power to work all things for my good. In the name of Jesus, Your dear Son, I pray. Amen. 
(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Tuesday Morning) 

Lord, You call us to Your service and continue Your saving work among us. May Your love never abandon us. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Tuesday of the Week of Lent 3, Opening Prayer) 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!  
   Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!  
(Psalms 143:10 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. That God’s love will never abandon me 
  2. That He speaks to me through His Word and Spirit, and sustains me with Word and Sacrament 
  3. That the Father’s Messenger (malak) “encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7)(That’s Jesus, by the way!) 
  4. That there is no one like our God; our eternal dwelling place, the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:26-27) 
  5. That the Word of Christ, spirit and life, has truly liberated me 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 34:4-7 

I sought the LORD, and he answered me  
   and delivered me from all my fears.  
Those who look to him are radiant,  
   and their faces shall never be ashamed.  
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him  
   and saved him out of all his troubles.  
The angel of the LORD encamps  
   around those who fear him, and delivers them.  
(Psalms 34:4-7 ESV) 

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird 

Christ often showed up in the Old Testament as a Messenger, malak in Hebrew. That word is sometimes mistranslated as “angel,” but just means “one who bears a message, whether that malak be human, angelic, or divine. 
 
“David says that ‘the malak of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them’ (ps. 34:7). In the Old Testament, the combination of the Hebrew words for ‘encamp’ and ‘around’ always entails a total surrounding. . . . This means that when the Messenger of Yahweh, the Son of the Father, ‘encamps around those who fear him,’ he is not simply to our right or left, but encloses us, wraps his presence around us in a circle of impenetrable defense.” 
 
So when the darkness threatens, we lift our eyes to Jesus, who encamps around is, because “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (v. 5). When troubles seem come at us, we call on the name of Jesus, because “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (v. 6). “Above us and below us, to our right and left, before and behind, surrounding us on all sides, is the presence of the one who bears crucifixion scars that attest to his unwavering commitment to our deliverance.” 

From My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers 

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  
(2 Timothy 4:2 ESV) 

“We are not saved to be ‘channels only,’ but to be sons and daughters of God. . . . the message must be part of ourselves. The Son of God was His own message, His words were spirit and life; and as His disciples our lives must be the sacrament of our message. The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message. . . . Before God’s message can liberate other souls, the liberation must be real in you.” 

I have confidence that my heart has been broken, over and over again, since last February. The message, which is Christ, Himself, is most certainly a part of me. The Words of Christ are, indeed spirit and life, as He, Himself proclaimed. I confess that I am not quite sure what Chambers means by the life becoming “the sacrament of its message.” I will have to ponder this for a bit. But I do know that His message has liberated me. That much is real.  

From The Word in the Wilderness, by Malcolm Guite 

“Begin the song exactly where you are, 
For where you are contains where you have been 
And holds the vision of your final sphere. 
 
And do not fear the memory of sin; 
There is a light that heals, and, where it falls, 
Transfigures and redeems the darkest stain 
 
Into translucent colour. Loose the veils 
And draw the curtains back, unbar the doors, 
Of that dread threshold where your spirit fails, 
 
The hopeless gate that holds in all the fears 
That haunt your shadowed city, flint it wide 
And open to the light that finds, and fares 
 
Through the dark pathways where you run and hide, 
Through all the alleys of your riddled heart, 
As pierced and open as his wounded side. 
 
Open the map to him and make a start, 
And down the dizzy spirals, through the dark, 
his light will go before you. Let him chart 
 
And name and heal. Expose the hidden ache 
To him, the stinging fires and smoke that blind 
Your judgment, carry you away, the mirk 
 
And muted gloom in which you cannot find 
The love that you once thought worthy dying for. 
Call him to all you cannot call to mind. 
 
He comes to harrow Hell and now to your 
Well-guarded fortress let his love descend. 
The icy ego at your frozen core 
 
Can hear his call at last. Will you respond?” 
(Malcolm Guite, Through the Gate)
 
This is Malcolm Guite’s poetic response to Dante’s journey in The Divine Comedy. As Dante and Virgil come to the gate of Hell, with that infamous inscription, “Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here,” the don’t, in fact, abandon hope, “and that is the whole point. It is hope that leads and draws them on; hope inspired by love. . . . Like Jesus, who went to the cross not for pain in itself but ‘for the joys that were set before him,’ so we are to make this journey through the memories of pain and darkness, not to stay with these things but to redeem them and move beyond them. . . . Throughout the journey into the Inferno we are shown signs that Christ has been this way ahead of us and broken down the strongholds.” As Guite writes in his poem, “He comes to harrow Hell.” And “We, who build so many hells on earth, need to know that there is no place so dark, no situation so seemingly hopeless, that cannot be opened to the light of Christ for rescue and redemption.” 
 
Guite makes note that he has been mindful “that the Inferno is really ‘in here and right now’ not ‘out there and back then’, and emphatically not, if we trust in Christ, some inevitable end awaiting us. IN that knowledge we must have the courage to expose our own personal hells to Christ and let him harrow them with us, and htat is precisely what Dante’s great poem allows us to do. . . .For all of us, somewhere within, there is a threshold or a gate beyond which we feel we dare not go, but it may be just past that threshold that our real healing and restoration needs to take place.” 

As Malcolm Guite introduces me to Dante, I find myself inspired to try to read The Divine Comedy for myself.  

O Thou who dwellest in the light that is unapproachable, while clouds and darkness are round about Thee, we thank Thee that the day is thine, the night also is thine. When deep calleth unto deep, and all thy waves and billows are around us, we recognize the voice of the Lord our God. We know that the sea is his, and that He made it; also that the storm may be changed into a calm, at his command and will. Help us, O God, to acquiesce in every turning of our lot, in the scene that moveth to and fro, in the change which proceedeth from Thyself, and is forever controlled by Thee; and, through all the storms of this world let our whole confidence be in Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Tuesday of the Week of Lent 3, Closing Prayer, Anonymous) 

Father, I lift up praise to You, for the work of Christ on the cross, through the resurrection, and in my life all these years later. I thank You that Christ has, indeed, come into my heart and “harrowed Hell” in me. It is true that we create much of our own hell on earth, and the beauty of Christ shakes those foundations and rebuilds something greater as we embrace the treasure that is His Word. I pray that Your Spirit will continue to lead me and enable me to open up those fearful gates within myself and make them utterly open to You, that I may be fully and completely liberated from anything that would hold me back from the work that You have planned for me to do, for those “good works” that You created in advance for me to walk in.

I thank You that I have been crucified with Christ, and that I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. I praise You that the life that I now live, I live by faith in Your Son, who loves me and gave Himself FOR ME!

I thank You that Christ is everything!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Image

The Vanities Are But Shadows

JeffLeave a comment

Today is Monday, the ninth day of March, 2026, in the third week of Lent.

May the peace of the Lord be with you always!

It is the 68th day of 2026, with 297 days remaining in the year.

Four days until my birthday

Day 24,833 of my life

Today is Panic Day. This one day, it’s okay. Just make sure you have a towel (IYKYK). But it’s also National Get Over It Day. Conflicting messages, much? Maybe I’ll just eat some meatballs, since it’s National Meatball Day.

Daily writing prompt
Where would you go on a shopping spree?
View all responses

If there are no restrictions on travel for said shopping spree, my answer is easy. Hay on Wye, in Wales.

Image

Hay on Wye has no less than two dozen bookshops. Need I say more?

Today is a working Monday for me. C will be working from home, and I will be in the circulation department of the Hurst Public Library for an eight-hour shift today. My library bestie won’t be there, but two of my other good friends will be. It will just be me and the manager in the circ department, with another person coming in from 11-4.

JESUS TIME

Our Father who art in heaven, Thy kingdom come. O dear Lord, God and Father, You see how the wisdom and reason of the world not only profane Your name but also take the power, might, and wealth You have given for ruling the world and serving You and use them in opposition to Your kingdom. They trouble and hinder the tiny flock of Your kingdom that is weak, despised, and few in number. They will not tolerate Your flock on earth. 
 
Dear Lord, God and Father, convert and restrain them. Convert those who are still to become children and member of Your kingdom, so that together we may serve You in Your kingdom in true faith and true love and that from our life here we may enter into Your eternal kingdom. Restrain those who will not turn away their might and power from the destruction of Your kingdom, so that when they are cast down from their seats of power and are being humbled, they will cease their efforts. Amen. 
(Lutheran Book of Prayer, Prayer 48, Monday Morning) 

Lord Jesus Christ, today I begin another week of service to You and to my neighbor. Give me the motivation and energy I need to fulfill my vocations, occupations, and responsibilities. Watch over my coming in and my going out, that I may always remember that You are with me. Help, guide, and teach me to follow Your example, that I may take pleasure in the work of my hands. Help me resist temptations to sin. “Thus, Lord Jesus, ev’ry task be to You commended; may Your will be done, I ask, until life is ended. Jesus, in Your name begun be the day’s endeavor; grant that it may well be done to Your praise forever” (LSB 869:5).(Portals of Prayer, Prayer for Monday Morning) 

God of mercy, free your Church from sin and protect it from evil. Guide us, for we cannot be saved without you. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
(For All the Saints, Monday of the Week of Lent 3) 

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  
(John 6:63 ESV) 

Today I am grateful:

  1. For the Words that Christ spoke, Words of life, speaking life, love, and forgiveness into me 
  2. That Christ is my only hope, in life and in death 
  3. That my soul makes its boast in the Lord; let us magnify the LORD together (Psalm 34:2-3) 
  4. For the Psalms, that provide for us stable and predictable prayers, God’s Word to us that become our words back to Him 
  5. That all of the vanities of this world are but shadows; Christ and His Word are the only treasure worth seeking; I will engage with the world’s vanities with detachment, using them, but not delighting in them (Desiderius Erasmus) 
Lord, in Your mercy, hear, now, the prayers lifted up to you for all who need strength, healing, comfort, and peace. 

If you are reading this, I encourage you to stop and pray for someone, at this time. Or, if there is something on your heart, please leave a comment. What can I pray for you?

Psalm of the Day – Psalm 34:1-3 

I will bless the LORD at all times;  
   his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  
My soul makes its boast in the LORD;  
   let the humble hear and be glad.  
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,  
   and let us exalt his name together!  
(Psalms 34:1-3 ESV) 

From Untamed Prayers, by Chad Bird 

Psalm 34 has a superscription that describes the time that David feigned insanity in front of Abimelek, who subsequently drove him away.  This Psalm is the prayer of thanksgiving that David wrote, in response to God’s deliverance. 
 
“During the chaotic seasons of life, we maintain a white-knuckled grip on anything that remains secure. A close friendship. A gym routine. Even the rote way we fold and stack towels. When life feels tornadic, we duck into the cellar of predictability to ride out the storm.” 
 
One might think that this psalm would be chaotic, “barely intelligible. Psalm 34 is the polar opposite. It is one of the acrostic psalms, the verses of which follow the order of the Hebrew alphabet, with the opening word of the opening verse beginning with the opening letter of the alphabet, the second verse with the second letter, and so forth . . . The more out of control our lives become, the more stable and even predictable our prayers can be. We need methodical prayers that lead us from A to Be to C all the way to Z and back again. And that’s what we have in the Psalms. God’s words to us that become our words to him, prayerfully echoed back, time and again. Through his words, Christ is securing us to himself in the midst of life’s most turbulent times, so that ‘at all times,’ we ‘bless the LORD’ (34:1), who provides for all our needs, from A to Z.” 

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  
 
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  
 
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”  
 
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.  
 
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”  
 
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.  
(John 6:22-71 ESV) 

This is a sermon, all by itself. Christ is the Bread of Life; His Words are the Words of Life! “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

From For All the Saints – Monday of the Week of Lent 3 

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.  
(1 Corinthians 7:25-31 ESV) 

“Whence comes such vanity in the lives of Christians who enjoy the truth of the Gospel? With what tumults everywhere our lives are filled! We do business, we sail the seas, we engage in wars, we make treaties and we break them, we beget children, enroll heirs, buy fields and sell, cement friendships, erect buildings and tear them down. We are tonsured, anointed, vestured in cowls. We are exercised in various arts, swear and become doctors of laws and theology. Some prefer the mitre and the crozier. With such cares we torture ourselves. In this we wax old. In this we let slip so many years and lose that precious treasure which alone is of worth. Then will come the last tribunal where only truth can stand. Too late we shall perceive that all these vanities were but shadows and we have squandered our lives in the delusion of a dream. Some one will say ‘Shall a Christian, then, have nothing to do with all of these vanities?’ No, not that, but we shall participate only with detachment, being ready to forsake all for the sake of the one thing needful, as Paul said, ‘Having a wife as if not having,’ weeping as if not weeping, rejoicing as if not rejoicing, selling as possessing nothing, using the world as if not using, for the fashion of this world passes away. Use then the world but delight not in it.” 
(Desiderius Erasmus, Erasmus of Christendom translated by Roland Bainton) 

I absolutely love this! And it is quite similar, at least in my opinion, to the sermon our pastor preached yesterday morning, which I will share as soon as the video is available. “These vanities were but shadows and we have squandered our lives . . .Use then the world but delight not in it.” Yes!!

Thank You, my Lord for these truths! I thank You that, in recent years, You have spoken Words of Life into my life! Oh, how I know, now that these Words are truly life. You spoke worlds into being with Your Word, and now You speak Your Word into my life, creating new life, daily in me! I praise You and thank You, Lord, for You are my life, and I have nothing that You did not give to me. Help me to keep looking at the world as vain shadows. “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity,” said the “preacher.” Help me, Lord, to use the world but not delight in it.

And I thank You for the Psalms, Lord. They have long been my favorite place to “camp” in Scripture, to the point that I read some portion of them every single day. You give great stability in Your Word, Lord, in this world of chaotic shadows and vanity. In Your Scriptures, especially the Psalms, I find reliability and comfort, a place I can return again and again to settle down my soul, that I can know and believe that You have provided all that I need, truly “from A to Z.”

All glory to You, Lord, through the Son, and by the Spirit. Amen.

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep from the well of His Word of Life!

CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!!

Image

The Last Enemy

JeffLeave a comment

My little devotional book, Ever Approaching Dawn, is published by Christianity Today, and is similar to the book that they published for Advent last year. However, this book, rather than have a reading for each day, has one for each Sunday in Lent, and then each day of Holy Week. Today I read the devotional for the third Sunday in Lent.

It is called “Brokenness Does Not Have the Final Say,” by Cory Wilson

The author lists a bunch of horrible things that happened over the course of a couple of weeks. We all have times and stories like these. “Despair constantly calls for us. Hopelessness is the easiest and most logical posture.” 
 
Wilson tells us that there are two common responses to this “reality of the human experience. We can either be crushed by the weight of sin and brokenness in the world or hope away despair by isolating and ignoring for fear of being crushed. Neither approach leads to flourishing.” 
 
God’s Word leads us toward a different path. “The path does not run from brokenness but calls it by name.” We know what happened in Genesis 1-2. We know what was lost in the Fall. “Our theology provides a depth to lament unavailable outside the Christian worldview. . . . We know what could have been. Our hearts long for it. To be a Christian is to name the devastating effects of the Fall. We do not call good what God calls evil. Death is evil” (emphasis mine).  

I’m reading another book right now that speaks of death in the same way, proclaiming that death is not, in fact, “natural,” as we often think of it, but that it is, in fact, our enemy, as Scripture declares it. 1 Corinthians 15:26. “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 
 
“We do not lament as those without hope.” Read that again. “We do not lament as those without hope.” We do lament, yes. But hope stands firm. “Christ was crushed so that we may not be . . . The Resurrection is the declaration that death did not hold Jesus because it could not hold Jesus. It is the reversal of the effects of the Fall – the promise of what could be and one day will be with God’s creation. . . . 
 
“The resurrection of Jesus is the assurance that whatever chapter of despair we may find ourselves in today, it is not the final word.” 

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.  
(1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV) 

Grace and peace, my brothers and sisters! Drink deep from His well of hope! His heart beats!

Because Jesus!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜