Jan. 31....Your Father knows

Psalm 104: 13-14 “You water the mountains from your palace; the earth is replete with the fruit of your works. You raise the grass for the cattle, and vegetation for men’s use.” Luke 12:30-31 “Your Father knows that you need such things. Seek out instead his kingship over you, and the rest will follow in turn.” Heavenly Father,

The sun is shining this morning and it is easy to forget the tornado (written in 2005) if I don’t read the newspapers. In my own little world I can say with joy, “this is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” I know in all my heart that you have provided all I need and will continue to provide for me. Thank you! I read the second scripture to try to make some sense of the chaos. “Seek first the kingdom of God, and the rest will follow in turn.” I must trust that you will straighten out the chaos that surrounds our city right now and that those who trust in you will find their lives made right again. I know that many Christians are reaching out to try to help those who were hit with this great devastation. This is really You, LORD, reaching out with human hands and human hearts to help and take care of the need. I pray that I will find a way to help. This is your kingdom here on earth….knowing Jesus Christ and acting with his love to others. Giving, helping, sacrificing. Finding a way to reduce the chaos for those who are caught up in worldly problems. Bringing them the message of hope and salvation found in your kingdom of love. Faith may not seem like something logical or “practical” to some, but it should be, if we live it right. Help us share our blessings with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jan. 30....You fixed the earth...not to be moved

Psalm 104:5-6 “You fixed the earth upon its foundation, not to be moved forever; With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it.” 1 Cor. 8:6 “For us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we live; and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom everything was made and through whom we live.” (First written in 2005...reference to the tornado) Heavenly Father, I’m having trouble with this scripture. In the early morning hours a tornado (2005) came through this area and did tremendous damage, killing at least 22 people. I find myself staring at the TV just like I did when 9/11 happened. One was a man-made disaster, while this is a natural disaster. There have been many of those recently….mostly hurricanes. Tornados are the mid-western version of hurricanes. We were spared at our home. When things like this happen we automatically wonder “why?” There isn’t any answer to that. Your world is firmly on its foundation, but there is chaos abounding on it…..some caused by man, some caused by nature. Before the hurricanes this year, I would have liked the image of the “oceans covering the earth like a garment”…..but now the image seems damaged or distorted. The “unmoving”, unshakable world and the “garment” of water seem to be ruined and frightening. Have we brought these disasters on ourselves somehow? Or is it just the natural results of time on our world? Why? All I can hang onto is that You are there. You didn’t change. You haven’t left us. We may not see You right now or always understand, but we have to know and expect that You are still God and we are still your people…..no matter what else is going on in our crazy world. Reach out to us, O LORD! “Save us, O LORD, carry us back, Rouse your power and come! Rescue your people, show us your face,Bring us back! “ (song by the St. Louis Jesuits)

Jan. 29.....robed in light

(January 29) WEEK FIVE: LOVE FASHIONS AND SHARES

Psalm 104:1-2 “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak.” John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. No follower of mine shall ever walk in darkness; no, he shall possess the light of life.” Heavenly Father,

This psalm says you are “clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light.” What a fantastic image! A Being glowing and glittering and radiant! A majestic presence shining with brightness too intense for the eye to look at. You are often described in scripture as light or fire or other forms of great brightness. It is no wonder that primitive peoples have worshiped the sun or moon thinking these things were You! It is as close as man could imagine to fit your greatness and light. When Jesus came, he told us that, “I am the Light of the World.” This was “light” come down out of the heavens to walk the earth and shine into our hearts. Light that would dispel the darkness forever. Light that would illuminate, and warm our hearts, and drive out all fear and sin. Light incarnate. The Light of Heaven now shining within us. We too can be “robed in light.” We can clothe ourselves in the “Light of the World’s” likeness and become light for others who have yet to see the light. It reminds me of candlelight services where the light is passed from one person to another until all have the light. Thank you LORD of the Light! Help me to pass the Light on to those who still walk in darkness. May all look up and see your great Light! Turn the night into day, the dark of sin into the Light of Your glorious presence. In the name of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World, amen.

Jan. 28....stand in the house of the LORD

Psalm 134:1 “Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who stand in the house of the LORD, during the hours of night.” Luke 6:12 “He went out to the mountain to pray, spending the night in communion with God.” Heavenly Father,

This psalm is about the Levites who stood watch in your temple all night. We leave our churches unguarded and unwatched at night, except by silent alarm systems. I hope that we are more concerned with your presence in our body “temples” rather than ones of brick and stone. We know you are everywhere and not just in one spot. “He who keepeth Israel neither slumbers or sleeps.” You are always up, always awake. We groan when we face a sleepless night, but we can always be assured that we aren’t up alone…..You are up with us. It’s a good time for prayer. A good time to think of all the prayers we wish we’d said earlier or more often. I went through 2-3 years of poor sleeping and often got up at night and paced the floor praying. I probably did more “intense” praying during that time than at any other. Nighttime has fewer distractions. Sometimes I stood and looked at the moon and stars or the trees blowing gently in a breeze. I knew you were with me…..watching in the night. I think of Tres Dias weekends when every hour of the 3-days is covered in prayer by a “watching” prayer warrior. We can’t sustain that attitude at all hours of every day, but we know that You are always alert and watching. Thank you, LORD! The-God-who-never-sleeps! The Living Presence! God of night as well as day! We praise and thank you! We rest in your holy presence and feel safe and secure. Amen

Jan. 27....I lift up my eyes

Psalm 123: 1, 2b “To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven. So are our eyes on the LORD, our God, till he have pity on us.” 1 Peter 3:4 “Your adornment is rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the unfading beauty of a calm and gentle disposition. This is precious in God’s eyes.” Heavenly Father, A few days ago we “lifted our hands” in prayer and now we “lift our eyes”. Most of us pray with eyes shut to concentrate better and block out distractions. We don’t want to be like the Pharisee in the temple who was more concerned with other men hearing his prayer and seeing him than with how it sounded to God’s ears. Lifting our eyes, means looking upward to you, LORD with total concentration and trust. I think of a dancer doing a fast spin, who fixes her eyes on one spot so that with each turn she remains focused and balanced. As long as we keep our eyes on you, we won’t fall, we will keep our balance. It’s the “mind’s eye” that we need to focus. What comes from within us must originate from you. Our character must be tuned to reflect your character. Jesus came to model this for us….the Son of Man who was perfect and always did the Father’s will, so that they were one in heart, mind, soul, spirit. We can’t accomplish this on our own, but through the grace of Jesus who salvaged us and saved us, we now have your Holy Spirit to fix our eyes on You. We worship the King of Kings, enthroned on high! We lift our eyes straining to see You and to know You. Our eyes tell us that You are the place we want to be….that You are “home” and our Father.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of his glory and grace.”

Amen

Jan. 26....not the dead

Psalm 115:17-18 “It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor those who go down into silence; But we bless the LORD, both now and forever.” Heavenly Father,

Too often we live in our past or our future and lose the precious moments of “now”…….or waste them in triviality. It is hard to use our “now” effectively! The author stresses that any moment that our heart is filled with praise is not wasted, but well spent. If we can learn to praise you in all we do, or at least have our hearts and minds tuned to your presence we will spend our time more fruitfully. I find praise music a great help in this. This passage also addresses, “who" praise the LORD. Who is “we” in this verse? The dead are those who don’t believe and will not rise in eternity in your presence. “We” are those who find salvation through Jesus Christ and will live forever to praise you. We not only praise you “now,” but will praise you eternally in heaven. I often wrestle with the idea of heaven and what it must be like, but try to concentrate on the fact that it will mean eternity in your presence rather then on details of any other sort. That is all that matters….being with you always. Praising, singing, thanking, glorifying, honoring. My mind boggles at the image, but my heart understands the rightness of it and that heaven is the home we all long for, and that You are the family that welcomes and loves us. May my life “now” bless you and throughout all eternity will I sing your praises! Amen

Jan. 25....the fear of the LORD

Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. His praise endures forever. “ Mathew 5:45 “This will prove that you are sons of your heavenly Father, for his sun rises on the bad and the good, he rains on the just and the unjust.” Heavenly Father,

I’ve always liked the verse “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Wisdom and knowledge of facts are not quite the same. Wisdom has an added element of application or use of the facts. So to become wise we need a starting point…..You, O God. You are “all knowing” among other traits. So we seek to know You. Seeking is admitting a need for this wisdom. We must turn to God and seek him because he is the font of all knowledge and wisdom. He is the supreme authority. “Fear of the LORD” does not mean terror or fright. It means “reverence” or “awe”. We reverence what is worthy and true. We are in awe of One who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. Wisdom is found in knowing what is right or righteous. The author of this book mentions that Jesus teaches that “love is the beginning of wisdom’. Knowing God is knowing love. Jesus came to show us the love of the Father. Love is reverence and awe focused on its source…..God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit within us. When we recognize our need, we seek God’s love and find it in Jesus Christ. Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Finding him leads to wisdom and love and awe and reverence. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, than all these things shall be given to you.” To seek is to begin. All else we need will follow. God is the beginning, the now, and the end. Praise and thanks for your wisdom, O LORD! Amen

Jan. 24.....lifting hands in prayer

Psalm 63:4 “Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.” 1 Timothy 2:8 “It is my wish, then, that in every place the men shall offer prayers with blameless hands held aloft, and be free from anger and dissension.”

Heavenly Father,

Scripture often talks about lifting up hands in prayer. This is unnatural to most of us. Why should we do this? What does lifting our hands signify? The first image that came to mind was one of surrender…..the “bad guy” puts his hands in the air when caught or when “giving up” to authority. We are certainly the “bad guys”….the sinners…..and we are caught and need to “give ourselves up” to your authority! Surrender also occurs anytime we give up our own position to a stronger person. Surrender can mean defeat in battle, but it can mean relief to someone who is struggling in some way against overwhelming odds. The “battle belongs to the LORD!” is a cry of victory for us…..Jesus has beat sin and death and won our victory for us. “Lifting hands” is also the gesture of a child to its father. A child confidently holds up its hands knowing it will be picked up and held. This is a gesture of trust and confidence and faith and need. As your children we know when we raise our hands to you that you are there and will lovingly scoop us up from out of the mire around us. Safety. Sanctuary. Here we also look at “lifting our hands” for praise and thanks. A gesture of prayer….one that combines these other thoughts…..surrender, trust, confidence, need, giving up our authority and welcoming yours. It is a posture of awe and reverence and welcome and openness. We are “waiting in expectation” for your outpouring of love. Praise and thanks to your holy name! Amen

Jan. 23.....the voice of the LORD

Psalm 29:3-4 “The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over vast waters. The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic.” Mark 4:41 “Who can this be that the wind and the sea obey him?”

(I originally wrote this while at a B&B in Athens, TN) Heavenly Father,

This psalm is difficult for me to write about today! It speaks of your mighty voice thundering over the waters. But I’m sitting here looking at a beautiful calm lake shrouded in early morning fog and stillness is all around me. The world is beautiful and serene. The verse from Mark comes after Jesus calmed the storm at sea. They were in awe and terrified to see Jesus’ command of the wind and waves. This is more the sense that I have of your “voice”, LORD. The voice that commands! The voice that calms the small child and says “come to me”. The voice that says, “follow me”. The voice that reached down from the cross and said “forgive them, they know not what they do.” Seldom in our knowledge of Jesus do we learn anything about him raising his voice, or “thundering”. Only in your temple does he lash out in anger at the moneychangers for not treating your "house" with respect and reverence. He also berates the Pharisees repeatedly for their hypocrisy. Mostly he speaks in kindness and love and brings healing and peace wherever he is. Even when he “thunders” at the storm to rebuke it, he only says, “Quiet! Be still.” When Jesus forgives us and “calms our storms” he brings peace and quiet and stillness into our lives. No more fear. No more dread. The voice that created the world and “thunders over the waters” in might and majesty is also the voice that calms the terrors of this world’s sin and darkness….the voice that calmly reaches out and gently leads us into your holy presence. “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.” Amen

Jan. 22.....praise

WEEK FOUR: LET US PRAISE THE LORD Psalm 16:7,9 “I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence.” Rev. 7:12 “Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving and honor, power and might, to our God forever and ever. Amen!” Heavenly Father,

I praise you! I feel sometimes that I just give lip service to those words when I am saying them, but I truly do praise and thank you with all my heart. I like the progression in this verse: “Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too abides in confidence.” Heart, soul, body……all together glad, rejoicing and abiding. This is what it means to “love the LORD with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength”. My entire being focused only on you, “abiding in confidence”. Assured of your faithfulness. Trusting in your presence. Completely aware at all times of your “counsel”. When I let myself be lost in you, and appreciate your presence, and acknowledge your control of my life, things are always more “right”. Those who don’t believe don’t understand how giving up our control to your control is actually freedom, not slavery. But believers understand. That connection that forms and becomes the basis for our relationship with you affects everything we do. Your “counsel” gives us “insight, inspiration, transforms our hearts and influences our actions” just as the author says. This is abiding. This is being in “right relationship” with your will. This is home. It happens through the grace of your Son, Jesus Christ. Praise! Glory! Wisdom! Thanks! Honor! Power! Might!……..”be unto You who sits at the right hand of God!” Hallelujah! Amen.

Jan. 21....bring me...your unfailing love

Psalm 143: 8 “At the dawn let me hear of your kindness, for in you I trust. Show me the way in which I should walk, for to you I lift up my soul.” (NIV….”Let the dawning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way to go, for to you I lift up my soul”) Gal. 2:20 “The life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me.” Heavenly Father,

I like the NIV translation a little better: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.” Like anxiously awaiting an important message from a friend or relative or a general awaiting news of help arriving in battle, or listening for the phone to ring with good news of someone who is ill or in trouble. That sense of waiting with expectation for something necessary and too important to miss. The message we wait for is news of “your unfailing love” or “your kindness”. Kindness seems very weak to cover the gift of grace! Grace is everything we will ever need in one tidy, free-of-cost-to-us package. A great gift! An undeserved reprieve! A joyous pleasure! Unexpected though awaited, more than can be understood, an answer to the unsolvable, a paradox, an end to darkness and the beginning of Light! Unspeakable joy, lifting of a great burden, freedom, peace, and love……unfailing love…..eternal, forever, unending, unstoppable, complete! We accept your great gift and respond with, “for to you I lift up my soul”. It’s yours. Our gift is small in exchange, but we give you our all for your “pearl of great price”. Our smallness for your greatness. Wow! Thank you, Father! Thank you, Lord, Jesus Christ! Thank you, Holy spirit! Amen

Jan. 20....save us O LORD...hope

Psalm 119: 146-147 “I call upon you; save me, and I will keep your decrees. Before dawn I come and cry out; I hope in your words.” Rom. 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial, persevere in prayer.” (Songs: “Save Us O LORD” and “City of God” by the St. Louis Jesuits”) Heavenly Father,

This verse begins “I call upon you; save me.” This brings to mind a song that I’ve been listening to a lot lately called “Save us, O LORD” that is based on Psalm 80.

“Save us, O LORD, carry us back, rouse your power and come. Rescue your people, show us your face, bring us back!”

(from "Save us, O LORD")

I guess that theme runs through the Psalms a lot. When the people cried out to you in Psalms they were looking for your help and your salvation. They spent their whole lives waiting for you to “save” them. It seems very sad to me that when their salvation finally came…..Jesus Christ…..that most turned away and refused Him. He wasn’t what they thought they were looking for so they rejected him and preferred to continue looking and waiting. Do they still really expect to find you, Lord? Do they still wait for you to “save them”? I freely admit that I don’t understand the roll that the Jews now play in your plan. To those who have found your salvation they seem blind and lost. Why can’t they see? Today’s verse also says “I hope in your words”. I guess all that anyone who is seeking you can rely on is hope. Hope based on your words. Hope based on your promises. Hope based on your character. I don’t know your plan for the Jews. I do know your plan for me.

“Awake from your slumber, Arise from your sleep, A new day is dawning, for all those who weep. The people in darkness have seen a great Light, The Lord of our longing has conquered the night.”

(from "City of God")

The words of this song say it all. We cry out for salvation, you sent a Savior in answer to our cry. Out hope has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ! Save us, O LORD! Thank you for Jesus, our Salvation. Amen

Jan. 19....proclaim your kindness at dawn

Psalm 92: 1-2 “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High. To proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.” Col. 3:17 “Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him.” Heavenly Father,

I do give thanks to you for all you’ve done. This is the second verse I’ve read stressing your “kindness at dawn”, which has come to mean to me Christ’s grace given on the cross…..a new day is dawning! I could never put into words how much that “kindness” means to me! I am eternally grateful! This verse also mentions “your faithfulness throughout the night.” Even before I walked into the new dawning of your love and grace, you were there with me in the dark of night and sin…..waiting. You were always there….only I was absent. Your faithfulness is forever. This gives me great hope for my children and others who have yet to walk into the dawn. Please hold them securely in your love and protection and call them into the light. This prayer is on my mind constantly. “O that today you would hear his voice.” Open their ears to hear you, LORD! One word that I ignored here is the word “proclaim” used in conjunction with the 2 praises. I am to “proclaim” your kindness and faithfulness to them. Give me the courage, the strength, the right words, the timing, and whatever else it takes. I know I can’t do this in my own strength….only through your Holy Spirit’s power. Fill me and guide me. Amen

Jan. 18.....daybreak

Psalm 90: 14-15 “Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us, for the years when we saw evil.” 2 Peter 3:8 “In the Lord’s eyes, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day.” Heavenly Father, “Fill us at daybreak with your kindness”. Each day when I awake I know I owe thanks because you have cared for me through the night. Each daybreak brings the awareness of another day to draw into your presence. I seldom see the true daybreak or sunrise, but watching the sun slowly appear to light up the day is awesome and inspiring. What was dark becomes light. What was in shadows takes on clarity and definition. Where we couldn’t see now we can. Life begins to stir all around us. This is why “daybreak” or dawn also brings thoughts of our life in Christ. The new dawn, the new life brings us out of darkness and into eternal life and the Light of your presence. Truly at our “daybreak” you fill us with kindness…..and love, and grace, and forgiveness and so much more!……”that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.” This verse also mentions afflictions and we don’t like to hear about those. But afflictions often strengthen us and lead us deeper into relationship with you. You are always there with us as we bear them. Each new day reminds us of your past favors and your on-going love and presence. Greet the dawn with joy! Come into his presence with singing! Amen.

Jan. 17....I wait upon you

Psalm 88:13 “But I O LORD, cry out to you; with my morning prayer I wait upon you.” Mt. 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.” Heavenly Father,

Forgive me that my morning prayer is usually rushed and sometimes even incoherent when I try to pray while only half awake. I can’t do justice to my thoughts or my prayer requests while struggling to keep my eyes open and my brain in gear. I know it is a childlike trust that assures me that you know and hear my prayers even when they are only half thought out or constructed in conscious thought by me! That isn’t really “waiting” for you or spending time with you. It is a selfish effort on my part to do my “duty” by tossing off all my prayer requests as early and quickly as possible so I can “get on” with the rest of my day. I’m an organizer, a scheduler, and I have to “check things off my list” to feel I have accomplished something worthwhile. You know that. You know all my secrets and my bad habits. You know my whole being better than I know myself. You know my heart and my motives. I hope somewhere in that jumble there is something that is right and good in your sight. Help me grow. Help me change. “Create in me a clean heart, O LORD, and renew a right Spirit within me.” Make it your Holy Spirit, LORD, and teach me to slow down and waste time with you on a daily basis without my schedules and lists to stand between us. In the name of Jesus Christ, who intercedes when I can’t pray, amen.

Jan. 16.....awaken

Psalm 57:8-9 “Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn. I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD. I will chant your praise among the nations.” 1 Thes. 5:16-17 “Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” Heavenly Father,

I’m trying to tie together these two verses. The one says “Awake!” and the other tells us to do 3 things constantly or “always”……rejoice, pray, give thanks. First we must awaken into our new life in Christ. Once we are born anew and greet the new world and new life we find in Christ, than we must go forward from this “awakening” and live a new sort of life. We awaken to life in Christ and feel…..joy, thanks, and prayer bubbling over in our lives. These 3 things should be evident in our new lifestyle. Knowing we are forgiven and freed, and that our debt is paid and our salvation is secure, should lead to constant thanks, rejoicing, and prayer. These are things that set us apart from the world and identify us as Christians. No matter what happens in our life or this world, it doesn’t dampen our rejoicing, or keep us from praying, or take away our reason for saying thanks. In all things and all circumstance we can still see God and know his presence and his blessing. In all things, grace and our salvation are still secure. Isn’t that worth awakening in the first place? “Awake! I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD, I will chant your praise among the nations!” amen

Jan. 15.....at dawn...waiting in expectation

WEEK THREE: MEETING THE LORD AT DAWN Psalm 5:3 “To you I pray, O LORD; at dawn you hear my voice; at dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. “ (NIV---I wait in expectation) Mark 1:35 “Rising early next morning, he went off to a lonely place in the desert; there he was absorbed in prayer.” Heavenly Father,This is a favorite verse of mine that I first discovered in a song. Thank you for all the song and psalm writers that have touched the lives of those who hear their music and remember and reflect on it. Songs bring scripture to life. Music makes it possible to easily remember scripture. Psalms and songs are filled with emotion and bring us close to You in a very personal way. This psalm speaks of “crying out” in the morning, and asking you to “listen to my plea” and of “waiting in expectation”. Morning is a good time to reach out to you and start the day with some sort of prayerful connection and expectation of having your ear tuned to our hearts the rest of the day. Often my morning prayers are half shadowed in sleepiness and not quite focused, but I know that you hear them. Thinking of you first thing in the morning is important to me. I want my first thoughts of the morning and my last thoughts at night to be centered on you. You are my focus, my anchor for my day. If I begin with you, I can handle anything. The prayer of expectation is important…..that “looking up” as the King James puts it and waiting for an answer. That sense of knowing that my relationship with you is a living one and that it is on-going and life-strengthening. It is like a morning cup of coffee or tea….You are the “caffeine” that starts our day off and jolts us into wakefulness the rest of our day. Thank you! Amen.

Jan. 14.....sentinels waiting

Psalm 130:6 “My soul waits for the LORD more than sentinels wait for the dawn.” Acts: 17:28 “In him we live and move and have our being….for we too are his offspring” Heavenly Father,

I’ve never thought much about sentinels…..those who stand on guard duty for long hours at a time. Sentinels wait for the dawn because during the hours of darkness they have to be more alert. Danger lurks and hides more easily in darkness. Dawn means the coming of light and the end of their watch duty. Dawn for a Christian comes when we welcome the “Light of the World”, Jesus Christ, into our hearts. Darkness and death and fear were conquered by Jesus on the cross. Now we live in the Light. We can relax in his presence and know we are safe. But the world is still in darkness. The Christian must continue to stand alert and ready to hold back the threat of spiritual warfare from the Evil One. He cannot have us if we remain in the Light, but he will try to lure us back to the darkness. So we wait in your presence. We wait in the hope and assurance that the Light is here to stay. We wait now eagerly for the new dawn, the day when you come again and bring an end to the darkness that remains of this world. The new world, the new dawn will be full of Light and is our true home. Our spirits seek it and long for it even as our earthly bodies continue to stand alert in this world. Soon, we pray, our sentinel duty will be over for good and we will go home to the Light that welcomes us and fills us. In the name of Christ, the giver of Light, I wait for the new dawn, amen.

Jan. 13.....stooping in love

Psalm 40:1-2 “I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; He set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps.” Luke 5:32 “I have not come to invite the self-righteous to a change of heart, but sinners” Heavenly Father,

I was immediately drawn to the phrase, “….and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.” This is a word picture every mother can understand. We stoop toward our crying babies, reaching down to lift them up, hold them, and comfort them. Our love reaches down and picks them up and enfolds them. Whether they reach up toward us or just lie there and cry, our hearts are moved and we act. This reaction to the cry of the helpless is not just for mothers and fathers to relate to. We “stoop down” to the cry of a wounded animal, to a small kitten a puppy that whimpers in fear or need. We “stoop down” to bend closer to a young child who can’t make themselves heard in the adult world around them. We “stoop toward” an elderly person who can’t speak up loudly but who needs our attention and help. Those who are tall and strong must always stoop toward those who are small and lost and helpless. We stoop to the sick and needy, the hungry and thirsty, the lost and frightened. You in your infinite love and mercy first stooped down to reach us when we cried for help. You don’t expect us to have the strength to cry loudly for you……a whimper is enough, because you are already stooping toward us in love. Thank you for Jesus Christ who not only stooped toward us, but who picked us up and held us in holy heavenly love. Amen

Jan. 12......hope

Psalm 39: 7-8 “And now, for what do I wait, O LORD? In you is my hope. From all my sins deliver me; a fool’s taunt let me not suffer.” Rom. 15:13 “So may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that through the power of the Holy Spirit you may have hope in abundance.” Heavenly Father,

This verse focuses on “hope”. Hope is the answer to “for what do I wait?” Mankind is lost in misery and shackled to sin and death when left on its own. What do we need to escape this despair?…….Hope. Where is our hope found?…..in You, our God. Once again that little word “my” makes this personal. You are “my” hope. I can count on that. I can count on you….always. Well worth the waiting, well worth taking time to establish a relationship. The author of the devotional says this will bring us “genuine heart knowledge”. Just saying the words or knowing the words found in scripture means nothing unless it penetrates our heart. Until we open the door and let you into all parts of our life and rest in you with confidence we are still without true hope. The verse in Romans ties together hope and your triune nature. Hope originates with you, the Father. You are the source of hope. By believing in your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us and removed our shackles, we come into your presence where we may rest and wait in joy and peace. Than the power of your Holy Spirit can fill us and give us the “heart knowledge” of hope that we need and long for…..”in abundance”. All that you do for us in love is in great “abundance”! You are not a stingy God, but an open-handed, open-hearted, open arms God. Thank you! I praise you! I love you! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Jan. 11.....the Way

Ps. 37:34 “Wait for the LORD, and keep his way” Acts 1:4 “Wait, rather, for the fulfillment of my Father’s promise, of which you have heard me speak.” Heavenly Father,

I’ve always found it helpful when meditating on scripture to make simple substitutions of words or phrases when they appear to me. In this passage the phrase “keep his way” made me think of Jesus’ statement that ….”I am the Way…..”. So we are to “keep Jesus”. Jesus came to save us and also to show us the Father, the God we worship, in a manner that human’s could understand. Jesus is the perfect One who is acceptable in God’s sight. To be like Jesus is to be perfect. Not a goal we can attain on our own, if at all, but certainly an example to follow and strive for. With his Holy Spirit within us we can take on characteristics of Jesus, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” What we fail to attain is forgiven and borne by Jesus himself in our place. When we accept Jesus, the Way, God now sees Jesus in us rather than “Adam”, the fallen man. Wow! But we must not just see Jesus as a “disguise” to hide our sin. We need to “keep” him in our hearts and minds and souls and incorporate his being into ours. Jesus is “the vine”, we are the branches, the Holy Spirit flows like sap between us, giving us life as long as we “keep” our position attached to the Vine. Thank you Lord, for providing the Way to eternal life through Jesus Christ, amen.

Jan. 10.....courage

Ps 27:14 “Wait for the LORD with courage, be stouthearted and wait for the LORD.”

Mt. 9:20 “Courage daughter! Your faith has restored you to health.”

John 16:33 “I tell you all this that in me you may find peace. You will suffer in the world. But take courage! I have overcome the world.” Heavenly Father, Somehow I’ve never connected this idea of “waiting” for you and “courage”. I guess I connect waiting and patience, but never saw courage as a factor. The author of the book also used the story of the woman with the bleeding problem who touches Jesus’ cloak and is healed, to show the idea of courage. I’ve always seen myself in this story but have connected it with weakness! I saw the woman as not being courageous enough to approach Christ face to face, but as creeping up behind him to “steal” the healing that she didn’t have the nerve to ask for. Which is right? Did she have courage or did she act in weakness? Perhaps it doesn’t matter in some ways. The important thing is that she knew where to go for healing. She knew who could heal her. We are told by Paul that Christ says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” If we have the courage to seek Jesus and accept his healing grace, His strength will fill us. We don’t need to rely on our own strength and ability. Christ is all we need. He will empower us when we wait for Him. Give me the courage to seek you this day and every day and to rely on your strength and courage when I only feel weakness and despair. Heal me from within as I wait in your presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Jan. 9......integrity and uprightness

Ps. 25:21 “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for you, O Lord.” (or “because my hope is in you”) Luke 24:49 “Remain (abide) here in the city until you are clothed with power from on high”.

(I wrote this a couple years ago, but it still fits the verse) Heavenly Father,

“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for you, O LORD.” I guess because of our craft fair yesterday I find myself focusing on the word “preserve” with a little different meaning than intended. We sold “preserves” at the bake sale table. Preserves are characterized by being full of fruit. If we become “Integrity Preserves” than we will be full of the fruit of honesty and truthfulness and moral integrity. We can only produce that sort of “fruit” by remaining in Christ. The fruit is evidence of what vine we come from. Jesus is “The Vine”……..we are the branches that bear His fruit. The fruit will develop as we are empowered by his Holy Spirit. All of this takes time and patience……waiting in your presence and allowing our “integrity fruit” to develop and sweeten. It begins with connection to The Vine, and than requires openness and willingness to being filled. As we wait we take on the characteristics of our “Vine”, Jesus Christ. Preserves that are chock full of sweet honest fruit are the result. Thank you LORD, for providing the true Vine for us to graft onto, and for empowering and filling us with your Holy Spirit, that our fruit will give evidence of our time connected to the Vine. Make me into rich “Integrity Preserves” full of your fruit! Amen

Jan. 8.....for You I wait all the day

WEEK 2: WAIT ON THE LORD Ps. 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and for you I wait all the day.” Mk. 6:31 “Come by yourselves to an out-of-the-way place and rest a little.” Heavenly Father, This must be an important lesson you want me to learn because I have read and reflected on it twice in a weeks time! In order to be guided or taught, I have to be open to listen and learn and follow. I have to be open to trust the one, who’s guidance I seek. I have to be willing to rely on the ability and character of the “guide” or teacher. I have no doubts that the Holy Spirit should be that guide for me. I can trust and rely on your Holy Spirit in all confidence. The words “guide me” are followed by the words, ”in your truth” plus an affirmation statement that declares “You are God, my Savior”. No one else. You are my “all in all”…..Lord of Lords, King of Kings. When I want to learn from you I must come and listen to your teaching, study your words, pray. I must wait on you to usher me into your presence. It is explained here in a second sense in that I must “wait” on you in a role of a servant…….serving the one I love joyfully. My learning and seeking should lead to action. I wait on your instruction so that I may wait on you. It starts with listening and resting and praying…..taking time, making time to be with you. Help me to do this regularly, LORD. I wait in prayer, that I might wait in service. In the name of my Savior, my God, Jesus Christ. Amen

Jan. 7....like incense before you

Ps. 141:2 “Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.” (NAB)

(prayer as incense……how is the aroma of my prayer?)

Heavenly Father,

This verse certainly speaks to me! I imagine that sometimes my prayers don’t “smell” so good and that other times they are so heavy they have trouble getting off the ground. I know that my prayers tend to be mostly intercession…..praying for all the people I’ve promised to pray for and that I care about. That isn’t a bad thing, but I know you must long for me to take the time to just be with you and to thank you and praise you. We are back to that idea of “wasting time in your presence”. I have to look at that correctly……no time spent with you is “wasted” as we think of the term, but more a sense of unscheduled pleasure, leisure, time-out, vacation! I think I like that idea…..I need a daily vacation with you! I need to honor you with time spent just thinking about who you are and the wonderful things that you do. Thanks…..praise……joy……vision. Help me learn to find joy in your presence and to praise you with all of my being. I guess I come closest when I lose myself in praise music and sing for joy at the top of my lungs. I love you, LORD…I praise you, LORD…. I thank you with all that I am! In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…..amen.

Jan. 6....close the door

Ps. 38:14-15 “I am like a deaf man hearing not, like a dumb man that opens not his mouth. Because of you, O LORD, I wait; you O LORD my God will answer.” Mt.6:6 “Whenever you pray, go to your room, close the door, pray to your Father in private” Heavenly Father,

The author of the devotional suggests that we need to “rest quietly in your presence”. This is probably one of the hardest things for me to do……rest quietly in your presence. How can I turn off my mind and all the jumble of thoughts that race around in my head? How do I learn to listen? Listening in silence is not using at least one of my senses. How does someone who is “deaf, dumb and blind” worship you? How do they sense your presence or see your glory in creation, or express their praise and wonder, or understand your words, or “sense” your presence without the senses to guide them? My first thought was how fortunate I am to see and hear and speak, and how sad for those who can’t…..but if they know you, than perhaps they are the more fortunate, to not be distracted by all the things that pull my mind and being away from you. They can truly “rest quietly” in ways that I cannot. The biggest distraction, however, comes from mental images and sounds……I can “see” in my mind even when my eyes are closed, and I can “hear” the music even when all is silent! The best I can do is to “rest” in the sense of giving up time to be with you whether in silence or in mental activity. I can fill the senses that I do have with sights and sounds that bring me into your presence. I can read, study, listen to praise music, or whatever else makes a break in the busy world around me, to spend time with you. I can write you these prayers and letters as an expression of my love and my desire to be with you for at least a little while before the world intrudes again. Amen

Jan. 5....more understanding

Ps 119:99 “I have more understanding than all my teachers when your decrees are my meditation.” Lk. 2:19 “Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart.” Heavenly Father, This verse speaks to my heart of commitment and habit. I know from experience that this is truth: “I have more understanding…..when your decrees are my meditation.” I started this journal in part to find this silence, this time in your presence. I enjoy every minute I spend doing this deep sort of study and meditation, and yet I have to remind myself and prod myself and force myself to take the time to do it! It is so easy to let all the busyness of the world interfere with time in your presence and time spent with your word. The Evil One uses today’s busyness as his greatest weapon. He has led us to believe that everything this world has to offer us or demand of us is more important than regular time spent with you. Help me fight this, LORD. Help me hunger and thirst to leave the world and spend time with you instead. Help all of us to find a way to slow down the crazy world we live in and all its demands. All the important “understanding” ….not just knowledge….comes when we spend time alone with you. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” We all need this light, O LORD, to guide us, focus us, illuminate us, and send us out into the darkness. Teach me to love your word and to seek your presence and to find your understanding, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Jan. 4.....that today you would hear

Ps 95:7b-8a “O, that today you would hear his voice: Harden not your hearts.”

Mt. 17:5 “Listen to him.”

James 1:21-22 “Humbly welcome the word that has taken root in you, with its power to save you. Act on this word. If all you do is listen to it, you are deceiving yourselves” Heavenly Father,

“Today is the day that the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” The Psalm verses today plead “O, that today you would hear his voice!” We often spend too much time worrying about the past or dreaming about the future. Today……is the LORD’s day. Today is where we need to live and learn. Today is when we should open our hearts and listen for your voice. Each day is a new opportunity to spend time with you, to sit at your feet and learn from the Master. This verse is the verse that speaks to my heart and soul for all those who have not found You. Every day I pray will be “the day” that they find you and give their hearts to you! Soften their hearts, open their eyes and ears. Let them see your face! Draw them to you. Show them your mercy and love. I want to be able to pray the verse from James for them: “Humbly welcome the Word that has taken root in you, with its power to save you.” Please, LORD, let your Word take root in them that it might grow and they might find your love and salvation. I know I must seek to hear you better and follow you more fully. May I hear your voice this day and always and may I find ways to put your word into action. Speak, LORD, that all the world may hear! Jesus Christ was your spoken Word incarnate. Unstop the world’s ears that today all might hear and know Him. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Jan. 3.....only in God

Ps 62:12 “Only in God, is my soul at rest; from him comes my salvation; he only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all. (NAB) (or I will never be shaken….NIV)” Mt 14:23 “When he had sent them away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.”

Heavenly Father, The minute I began to read this passage, I also began to sing. This is one of my favorite songs from a St. Louis Jesuits CD. I love scripture based songs because the words run around in my head long after I stop listening. This is how scripture should be! That is why Psalms are so powerful and so often remembered. This passage is one I wish to remember and learn. If I can always remember these words about you, O LORD, I will truly know and trust you. “Only in God!”…..the 3 most important words here. No one else needed or necessary, no one else deserving deep praise and trust and hope and confidence. In you alone are “rest” and “salvation”…..peace, safety, sanctuary. Rock, Salvation, Stronghold……all of these are prefaced by the word “my”. I can claim these promises as my own. I can hold on to them and own them. You are not a distant God. You are my rock, my salvation, my stronghold. “I shall not be disturbed at all” or “I will never be shaken”. I like both of these translations. Not being disturbed makes me see quiet and peace and contentment. Nothing interfering with my “rest” and salvation. Not being shaken gives a different dimension to my thoughts……steadfast trust, One who can be totally relied on, firm conviction based on a living reality.“Only in God will my soul find rest”…….amen.

January 2....Desist!

Ps 46:10-11 “Desist! And confess that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted upon the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.” (NAB)

 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (NIV)

 Is 55:3 “Come to me heedfully, listen that you may have life.

” Heavenly Father,
The word “desist” certainly leaps out at me…..especially explained as being like a warning at a railroad crossing. STOP-LOOK-LISTEN. I guess this really sinks in to my mind because I watched a friend rush around in frenzied activity. It never seems to me that she knows how to “stop her busyness”.

Then I remember myself when Sunday School began that same day and how I rushed around trying to do last minute preparations for an unexpected child in my class. I was more concerned about her being there unexpectedly and my not having enough of a special craft that I had planned and worked on, instead of rejoicing that she was there in Sunday School to learn about You……if I would “desist” in my busyness long enough to teach her. I wasn’t putting you first. I was worshiping my plans and cleverness, rather than your greatness and your creation and your children.

Forgive me! Help me to spend more time seeking your plans, than worrying about my own. These are your children and the most important thing I can teach them is that you created them and you love them and your strength is always there for them. “Desist! And confess that I am God, exalted among the nations…..our stronghold is the God of Jacob.” My Sunday School lesson that day was on Mary’s gift of perfume and foot washing for Jesus…..she knew how to “desist” and worship her Lord. May I some day learn to live up to my name, Mary, and sit at your feet and listen.

Though I wrote this a couple years ago, it is still a lesson I struggle with....."Be still....listen....desist." The verse from Isaiah reminds me that when I take the time to come to you in silence to listen....heedfully, with the intention of obeying...I find life. My life is always in you and only in you. You, O LORD are with us, our fortress, our deliverer at all times. Thank you! Amen.

January 1.....leave it....wait on Him

MONTHLY THEME: Lord, teach us to pray.

WEEK ONE: PRAYER OF LISTENING

 Psalm 37:7 “Leave it to the Lord and wait for him.” Luke 1:38 “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.”

 Heavenly Father,

I seem to hear you best when I journal what is in my heart and mind at any given time as I read your scriptures. Writing seems tied to discipline and meditation and habit for me. Two statements struck me that the author makes at the beginning of the study: “We cannot love a person we do not know and we cannot know a person to whom we have not listened.” I am not a good listener and it isn’t just because I am hard of hearing. I never feel that I’m truly listening to you, LORD…..help me to learn how.

He also says that “listening is wasting time with the Lord.” I’m a good time-waster, so maybe I can manage this after all. Today’s verse is very brief: “Leave it to the LORD, and wait for him.” This is where I need to start….”leave it”……all of it….and become quiet and ready. Leave my worries, my distractions, my frustrations, my hobbies, my habits, my wants, my ideas, and all else. “And wait for him.” Two things to concentrate on today…..leave it and wait. This is the way that I desire to start each day.....listening and waiting for You to speak to me. I know these are 2 things I don’t do well. I “hang on to things” rather than “leave it” and I “hurry ahead” rather than “wait quietly for You”.

Teach me to empty myself in your presence and to be willing to “waste time with you” every day. Let me forget human concepts of time and move into your dimension where time is eternal and unfettering. In Jesus name, amen.