A bit of scripture, short meditations and stories, prayers, news and maybe a touch of humor.
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:1-4 Continue reading
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:33-35 Continue reading
29b “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”. Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:29b-37 Continue reading
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1
Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. Psalm 55:9
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. Proverbs 13:10
Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. Galatians 3:21 Continue reading
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 1 Samuel 17:8-9
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 1 Samuel 17:45-50 Continue reading
Your Word is a lamp to my feet
And a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105 Continue reading
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21 Continue reading
I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
Wait for It!
Maybe it was the time I spent in Korea during that conflict, that I’m a fan the old TV comedy show M*A*S*H, and it’s array of characters, each one adding to the fun and drama of the story. Granted, my time in Korea on the DMZ, during a time of war was not fun, was not a comedy act, but there was something about the camaraderie with my fellow soldiers that has persisted.
Ah, yes, I can remember those M*A*S*H characters clearly: Radar, Hawkeye, Trapper, Bruce and Stan, what a group! Wait a minute, Bruce and Stan? Oh, sorry, I mixed the comedy series with my actual experience. Bruce and I met in basic training and against our prayers and our hopes ended up in Korea serving together. Bruce would have been a vivid character on that show, based on the size of his personality, while Stan would be the quiet one. In real life, our friendship, forged during that time of war, has persisted, over the generations, through weddings, funerals, children, and sporadic visits.
“Wait for it,” the character Radar would say, as he would sense helicopters bringing the wounded to the M*A*S*H medical unit. We are often urged to wait! Many Psalms entreat us to wait on the Lord. Such waiting is expectant. Such waiting is hopeful. Such waiting is the movement of faith.
In a devotional, Henri J. M. Nouwen makes this statement: “Whenever you pray, you profess that you are not God nor do you want to be God, that you haven’t reached your goal yet, that you never will reach it in this life, that you must constantly stretch out your hands and wait for the gift of life“. Wait for it.
Our ultimate goal, toward which Christ has aimed us, is the heart of the Father. Christ has restored us to the Father. We will come to know his heart of love for us, more and more, as we live by faith. Ultimately, our waiting in faith will deliver us to the very presence of the Father, and so to his heart.
Now, as we wait, our waiting in faith takes place in how we live our lives as children of God. We do not sit idle. Wait as you pray, as you love, as you create, as you worship, as you live. Stretch out your hands and wait for the gift of life that is the prize of heaven. Wait for it.
Holy Spirit help and strengthen my prayer for waiting. Amen
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4
31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. […] 1 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 1:31-2:1-3
15 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. Exodus 31:15 Continue reading
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11
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 10:13 Continue reading
“…teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10 Continue reading
