Aug. 31....above the flood

Psalm 29:10-11 “The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”

Luke 1:79 “To shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in to the way of peace.”

Heavenly Father,

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans people wanted desperately to be “above the flood”. They climbed into attics, on to roofs, whatever it took to escape the waters that were rolling in. Water, which is necessary for life, can be frightening to those who are caught in the path of large quantities of it…..too much water drowns and kills just as it can also give life in the right amount. This verse says that you are enthroned “above the flood”. Your home, your presence is “forever” above any water that might overwhelm or drown us. We have a peace within, that tells us as long as we are with you, we are safe. We won’t drown in the waters of death and sin. We won’t die in the flood of this world’s evil. Just like Jesus took Peter’s hand and pulled him out of the water he also takes our hand and lifts us above the floods. We only have to reach out. Jesus is the one that can pull us into the throne room of heaven where it is dry and safe and secure. He will “guide our feet into the path of peace”. We all need a guide in life to get anywhere. Why do we waste so much time floundering around lost when Jesus can lead us to safety? Just like during Katrina many waited too long to leave, or didn’t want to leave their homes and their possessions and their familiar worldly life. We all hold onto these anchors that won’t allow us to get “above the flood”. When the storm comes, it's the only place to be! Many people are rebuilding in the path of the same waters. They will never live securely. I don’t want to stay in the flood plain! I want to rise above the floods with You! Lord, set my feet on the path of peace that I might enter your throne room and sit at your feet. Amen.

Aug. 30....peace to your borders

Psalm 147: 14-15 “He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.”

Heavenly Father,

Were are my borders? If you grant peace within my borders, what does that mean? The borders of my country? The borders of my church? The borders of my faith? The verse seems to be about providing for the people of Jerusalem…your chosen people. I know that I am one of your chosen people……part of your kingdom of faith….and that you provide for me. Peace is an absence of war, but in a scriptural sense, peace is usually more that that….an inner peace or assurance based on our trust in You. You give us peace in knowing that you will provide our physical needs…our daily bread. You also give us lasting peace based on our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior….he died for us, he took our sin and our death, he gave us forgiveness through grace, he lives for us and continues to make us righteous through his righteousness. He brought us safely home to You. We are within the safe secure borders of your kingdom. As long as I believe I am safe within your borders and have peace. As long as I trust you in all things, my peace is secure. Sometimes I test my borders. I allow the world and the Evil One to batter at the walls and make cracks of doubt and worry. You are there to shore up any cracks and mend any holes if I confess them to you and run closer to the center of the kingdom and your presence. If I stand on the edge of the walls looking at the world, I’m more apt to be wounded or lost. Safety lies within….deep in the center of your kingdom where the throne room lies and your presence is assured and reassuring. Help me draw deep within the borders of our kingdom and cling to the throne of faith….where there is always peace. Amen.

Aug. 29....peace within your walls

Psalm 122:7-8 “May peace be within your walls, security within your citadels. For the sake of my brothers and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.”

Romans 14:17-19 “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of righteousness, peace and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God and wins the esteem of men. Let us, then, make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another.”

Heavenly Father,

You promise us peace within. I know the peace that comes from the knowledge of Jesus Christ and what he has done for me. Thank you for the peace of grace, the peace of salvation. I seek to enlarge that peace, to make it grow within me. I seek your kingdom where “peace, righteousness, and the joy of the Holy Spirit” reign. I still let the world invade my peace and rob me of these things. These verses are prefaced by saying: “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”. The peace being sought is peace within the walls of the temple, the holy city. I think I’ve been seeking and praying for that a lot lately. Peace within the church. Peace found in the sanctuary with the people of God. Peace that would tell me if we’re in the right place. Peace that would tell me whether to go or to stay at our present church. Peace that would assure me if we are doing the right thing. Peace of knowing I’m acting within your will, O LORD. Help me find the answers. I don’t feel “peace” at our present church (note: I've changed churches since I wrote this). Is that a sign that “the kingdom of God” is no longer there? If there is no peace, no joy in the Holy Spirit, no righteousness….does that mean we have ceased to live and work in your purpose? My inner peace with Jesus doesn’t waver, but my outer peace comes and goes. I must be sure that the peace I have is within your walls and not a false peace of my own making. Guide me to your peace, Lord. Give me the joy of your Holy Spirit, and the peace and righteousness found in your kingdom. “ Create in me a clean heart and renew a right sprit within me.” Amen.

Aug. 28....Great peace

Psalm 119:165-166 “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands.” John 16:33 “I tell you all this that in me you may find peace.”

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your reassuring words, that “nothing can make them stumble”. I feel great peace knowing that no matter how much everything else changes, you never change. I “wait for your salvation”, Jesus Christ, knowing that he will come…has come…and I will be with him forever. That will be the greatest peace of all! Transition to your eternal presence from this world. When I wrote this my personal world…our church….was going through great transition, and we were confused and a little afraid, not knowing what would happen next. We were getting ready to leave a church we had attended for many years and seek a new church. Most of us don’t like change. We don’t want to be uprooted and have to start over. We don’t want to go through the early stages of making new friends and finding where we fit in. Wherever we go will mean new work for you and new ministries. I think we need a time to refresh and renew and to come away to your holy mountain to pray, to get in touch with you. Help us to choose wisely and to go where you want us to go and where we can serve you best. Give us the peace that comes from doing your will. Count us among those who “love your law” and wish to serve you. Please give me your holy energy and enthusiasm that I might show others the joy of knowing you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and speak to me through him. Lord, help me choose life, choose you, choose the great peace found in Jesus Christ at all times and in all things. Thank you, Loving Father! Thank you, Holy Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank you, Holy Spirit! Amen.

Aug. 27.....Listen, hear

Psalm 85:8 “I will listen to what God, the LORD will say, he promises peace to his people….”

Romans 5:1 “Now that we have been justified by faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Heavenly Father,

Your word in Psalms today says: “I will listen to what God, the LORD says”….in another translation: “I will hear what God says.” I don’t usually think of those 2 words as meaning the same thing….listen, hear. I often listen, but don’t hear. Perhaps the difference here is that if I truly “listen” to what God says, he will insure that I also “hear” and understand. The Holy Spirit is to be my ears. If I let your words filter through the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and power, I can find understanding of your will and purpose. Too often I don’t “listen”, but instead anticipate and run ahead using my own meager knowledge and ideas. It is hard to “listen” just as it is hard for me to “hear”. The sounds are there, but I don’t understand. When I attempt to listen to you, LORD, sometimes the words are there in scripture, but the understanding doesn’t get through because I forget to ask the Holy Spirit to translate. Open my ears and that probably also means opening my heart and mind. Free me from the things that obstruct my hearing of your word. Keep me tuned to your Holy Spirit and thirsty for knowledge of you. You promise “peace” for your people. Not peace as the world knows it, but deep inner peace based on my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Savior. Your grace becomes my peace! Peace of heart, peace of mind, peace of spirit, peace that is eternal. In all things I can find your peace through Jesus Christ. All things….even when I struggle to hear and listen and feel confused and lost. Peace in the knowledge of my home with you. Peace as one of your people. Thank you! amen.

Aug. 26....God has ascended

Psalm 47:5-6 “God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.” Col. 3:1-2 “Since you have been raised up in company with Christ, set your heart on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God’s right hand. Be intent on things above rather than on things of earth.” Heavenly Father,

“God has ascended amid shouts of joy!” Jesus Christ has arisen and taken our sin and our death that we might arise with him. He is seated at your right hand, and we sing our praises and shout for joy! “Set your heart”….I like this phrase. I need to “set my heart”….”intent on things above”. I spend too much time anchored firmly in this world and tied to the things of this world. I long to soar like the birds, on wings of spiritual freedom! I want my heart focused on you and your kingdom! I want to shout with joy and mean it. I want to sing and lift my heart along with my voice. Sometimes I find it and feel so free and at peace, but too often I let the world hold me down. I assign myself joyless tasks and try to be a good Christian, busy with things to do for you. I should have been named Martha. The Mary in me that wants to sit at your feet, spends all my time feeling guilty. I’m not doing enough. I’m not following your commands to “heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, take care of the widows and orphans”. I get depressed. I lose my joy in just being with you. I don’t know the answer. I’m not even sure of my questions. I feel lost. Find me LORD! Help me understand how to balance my life. When to sit, when to work, when to worship. Set my heart, LORD, like a watch…set me to your time and keep me well adjusted. Keep me focused on your kingdom and my eyes fixed to see you on your throne on high. Lift my eyes that I might lift my voice and sing with joyous abandon and praise you with all that I am. You have created, you have arisen, you rule forever. Amen.

Aug. 25....God's kingdom

Psalm 145:12-13 “..so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and your dominion endures through all generations.” James 2:5 “Did not God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom he promised to those who love him?”

Heavenly Father,

Eternity….everlasting. Your rule, your kingdom is everlasting. It stands always, exists always, endures always. A kingdom of no beginning and no end. Jesus spoke a lot about the kingdom of heaven. He preached the beatitudes and many parables trying to show us the Kingdom and invite us in. We are to be “poor in spirit” to find the kingdom. You chose “the poor in the eyes of the world” to inherit the kingdom. To be part of a kingdom we must honor and obey the king. Jesus is the King of Kings. By accepting the grace he offers, we enter the kingdom and receive all the riches of heaven! Grace is the key that unlocks the door. The kingdom is there waiting for all of us. No one is excluded. Everyone is invited. Your kingdom has always existed, but Jesus came to make it possible for us to find our way there….a very simple way…through him. Man is too sinful to ever make it there on his own. We must repent and choose to let Jesus usher us in. He has a free pass for each one of us, but we have to want it and be willing to take it. The kingdom waits. All the riches of your presence, hour holiness, your love, your peace, your righteousness await within. We were told, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Seek the kingdom first. Choose Jesus first. Allow him to give you your gift of grace…take it, open it, thank him! Enter the kingdom! Jesus is our ticket. We, the poor of the world, are now rich as heirs of the kingdom of heaven! Thank you, Lord Jesus, my King and my Savior. Amen.

Aug. 24....the Kingdom of Heaven

Psalm 99:1,3 “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake……Let them praise your great and awesome name…he is holy.” John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world….my kingdom is not here.”

Heavenly Father,

“The LORD reigns!” He is holy!” There is no question of your position as God and King over all. We bow to your holy name…”great and awesome” is your name! Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world”. He was always aware of his rightful place at your side and his home in heaven with you. His connection to you…Father, Son…was the guiding influence of his words and actions. His son-ship defined his kingship. Jesus brought us a taste of the kingdom. He told parables defining and explaining the Kingdom of Heaven. We don’t always understand this. It is difficult to live “a kingdom life in a fallen world”. We try to find your kingdom here and to live as servants of our King, Jesus Christ. Too often we confuse just where our kingdom really lies. We begin to cling to the familiar life here and to try to find the perfection here that will only come later in heaven. We forget that we have a future life in heaven that is much more important than our life here and now. We cease to long for our heavenly kingdom and instead “settle” for our life here and try to make it our end instead of our beginning. Unlike Jesus we can’t imagine our heavenly life, so we cling to what we know. We accept the ordinary rather than long for the holy. Jesus never had that problem. Life on earth must have been a burden for him in ways we don’t really understand. He already knew life with you! He already knew what life without earthly flesh and troubles felt like. He knew perfect love, perfect peace, perfect freedom, perfect righteousness, your perfect will and purpose. Free us from our earthly home and lead us toward thoughts of our true home. Help me say with Jesus “my kingdom is not of this world”, because my king rules in heaven! amen.

Aug. 23.....every day and forever

Psalm 145:1-2 “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.” Romans 9:5 “Blessed forever be God who is over all! “ Heavenly Father, My God and King! Praise to your holy name! “Every day and forever”….these phrases tell of my intention to make you part of my life each day. It begins with “every day”. I must intentionally choose each day to turn my face toward you. I must choose to “exalt and praise” you by listening to you and obeying you. I just read a Max Lucado message in which he chooses that day to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit….love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. His message leads us to consider that this is something we can and should do every day. When we live in your Holy Spirit and allow him to guide us we strive to produce this sort of fruit….holy spiritual fruit…that reflects your love and shows you to the world. Every day. Each day a new day to choose. Each day a new beginning. We must continually focus on “my God and my King” and live in worship and praise to you. “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances”…for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This is your command to us and we need to remember each day to be guided by his. Every good thing in the scriptures seems to be connected to the words “always” and “forever” and each day” and “continually”. Your goodness, your holy commands, your love, your righteousness are all “every day” things. We can count on them. We praise you daily in response. We thank you for our blessings! We pray for your guidance and your daily provision. We exalt and praise you….”every day and forever and ever.” Amen.

Aug. 22....righteousness and judgment

Psalm 97:1-2 “The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice (judgement) are the foundation of his throne.

Heavenly Father,

Help me understand your words. A foundation is what we build on. Your foundation is “righteousness and judgment”. You are totally righteous…..it is one of your attributes. Any other righteousness is based on your scale of righteousness. We strive for your righteousness, to be in harmony with your will and your word. Judgment is harder for me to understand. That is why I’m reading “The Parables of Judgment” in hopes of understanding more clearly. I always have trouble seeing you as a judgmental God, because I see your great act of love to save the world through Jesus Christ. Why would a God who loved us enough to do that…to become human, to die….also judge people and send them to hell? I don’t understand hell at all. I’m not sure I can write much about this until I understand more. I know you are a God of love. Jesus proves that! Jesus came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)…from the Father…You. Grace saves me. Grace frees me from hell. Grace is the opposite of judgment in some ways. It is a judgment to allow me to go free, to be pardoned, to be redeemed. Jesus made me righteous, where I was sinful. Jesus made me clean, where I was dirty. Jesus made me new, where I was dead. Jesus found me, where I was lost. Jesus elevates me to your kingdom where I was least and last. Jesus is Truth. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is what you want me to understand. Jesus changes me. Jesus shields me. Jesus shepherds me. Jesus graces me and saves me. Positive judgment? Judged but forgiven? Judged and redeemed? Led to your throne….of righteousness…..and into your presence. Thank you! Fill me with your truth, your grace, your love. Amen.

Aug. 21.....Shout for joy

Psalm 98:4,6 “Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;….with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn…shout for joy before the LORD, the King.” Matthew 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”

Heavenly Father, We shout for joy! We praise you! We praise Lord Jesus, and burst into jubilant songs! Spontaneity! Enthusiasm! Worship! Praise! When we know Jesus as our Savior we not only sing praise to him, but we also sing praise before him. We lead the way telling others and preparing their hearts for the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. He is our King….now we want others to declare him their King, too. The Good News is too good to hide. We “shout with joy!” The verse from Matthew reminds us that “freely we have received”….Christ forgave us our sin, grace has set us free. Now we are to “freely give”….tell others who still are in despair and the darkness of sin that Christ has forgiven them, too. Grace is for all! Freedom is free! Salvation is at hand! Reach out…take it! When we spread the news with enthusiasm, we allow others to share our joy, Christ’s joy, the joy of grace. Sing to the King! Hallelujah! Sing before the King…Jesus saves! Thank you, amen.

Freely you have given me, Now Freely, I must give. “Jesus Christ has saved us all!” Hear the news, and live! Shout for joy! Shout for joy! Shout for joy! I’ll go before the Savior To spread the news to all “Jesus Christ has pardoned us!” Hear the joyous call!Shout for joy! Shout for joy! Shout for joy!

Aug. 20....the King of glory

Psalm 24:9-10 “Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty….he is the King of glory.”

Heavenly Father,

You are King of all creation! Today we begin to reflect on Jesus Christ as King and Savior of the earth. Your kingship is never in question. You made the world and you rule it. But man has trouble understanding a king, a God, who rules from so far away and through such invisible ways. We want to know you, but don’t know how to begin. How does one “know” the LORD God Almighty, the El Shaddai, Jahweh, Jehovah, I AM? The names alone are scary and teach us the meaning of the phrase “the fear of the Lord”. We are in awe. We reverence the Almighty! But how do we know him? How do we understand You as Father? A Father, by name, has children and interacts with them. A father should show great love for his children. You showed your love by becoming one of us. You came down as a child…the God Child…the Firstborn…the Son, Jesus Christ. This is mind boggling in itself, but suddenly there is a Man, a child of God, who looks like us, talks like us, lives like us. But a Man, so perfect we can see what a relationship with you, the Father should be like. A Man who lives so close to You, obeys you, teaches us about you. A Man who loves like you….loves enough to take our sin, our death. Now we know a Father’s love! Now we know a Holy Brother. Now we know a Savior! A High Priest! A Redeemer! A Good Shepherd! One who spoke in words we can try to understand. One who came close. One who healed. One who didn’t judge. One who forgave. One who hid his glory and wore our flesh. Father God, Brother Jesus, Holy Spirit of Truth and Wisdom. I love you! I praise you! I thank you! I choose You! King of Glory! King of my heart. King of Kings forever! Amen.

Aug. 19.....Jesus, our King

Psalm 45:1 “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”

Heavenly Father,

This psalm seems to be a tribute to Jesus, the anointed one, the Savior, the King. I like this first verse….”My heart is stirred by a noble theme, and I recite my verses for the king.” I guess that is how I feel when I write these prayers and poems. “My heart is stirred” by thoughts of you, and I write my heart’s response in words of praise, thanks, and attempts at discernment. I feel you speak to me, that I might speak back. Each verse I read centers my thoughts on your words, your deeds, your creation, your majesty. For a few moments each morning I feel I’m where I should be and doing what I should do. The time is too short. I feel constantly the world’s pull to return to all the things I “have to do”. Do I really have to do them? Most are things that I’ve chosen to do or desire to do. There is a difference. Allowing the world to pull me away to trivial tasks is not a good use of my time. I long to just sit here admiring your creation and thinking “deep” thoughts…..but always feel I should be “doing” something, accomplishing something, racking up some sort of “brownie points” for tasks completed and time accounted for. I keep a scorecard of good works in my head and beat myself up when I fail to “do something!” I worry about not rating on some scale for “do-gooders” and that I somehow fail you and fail in my Christian duty and I guess most of all disappoint you. Help me sort this out! Help me know your word on this busyness problem and to feel that I live in your will. Thank you for your created world. Thank you for my salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for time spent each day in your presence. My heart is stirred whenever I seek you. Amen.

Aug. 18....all creation praises You

Psalm 45:1 “Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the Lord, for he comes for he comes to rule the earth.”

Rev. 19:6-7 “The Lord is king, our God, the Almighty! Let us rejoice and be glad, and give him glory!”

Heavenly Father,

Anyone raised in my generation has seen enough cartoons and animation to imagine this vision….rivers with hands clapping, mountains with voices singing! A joyous happy sound ringing throughout creation, in praise of our King who comes to rule the earth. There is another verse in Psalms that says the “trees clap their hands”. The voices and sounds of nature in harmonious accord, praise you every day…birds sing, trees sway and whisper, oceans roar, brooks trill, fish splash, flowers bloom in their best colors, bees hum, animals go about their God-ordained business. Only man tends to be “too busy” to take time to praise you or to join nature in its songs. We complacently consider our own lives as our “kingdom” and consider ourselves to be ruling the day. How sad that we hide away in dark rooms and toil away at keyboards instead of spending time with you. I’m one of the worst at times. Not taking time to acknowledge your kingdom and your Lordship. Not taking time to see your glorious creation and rejoice. Not taking time to seek your presence and enjoy spending time with you. Not taking time to thank and praise you. Did you ever envision how complicated we would make the world and how complex we would let our lives become? Of course….you know all! How can we push back the world? How can we get off the merry-go-round of activity? How can we simplify and focus on you and your world? Not enough time! Would you, the God of Forever, not give us enough time? It is our miss-use of time that is the problem. Help me simplify. Help me carve out moments of time that are all yours. Give me time to clap with the rivers and sing with the mountains. Our God reigns! Amen.

Aug. 17....the world is firmly established

Psalm 93:1 “The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established , it cannot be moved.”

Mark 14:62 “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Heavenly Father,

It gives me great peace to know that you reign at all times. To know that your strength is there when I have none. To know that an all-knowing God exists and has a plan. Even when I don’t understand it, I know that your plan will prevail and continue on. I know that “the world is established and it cannot be moved”! Your creation is firm and your kingdom is forever. I seldom seem to understand what is going on in my own life, but I know it is held in your hands. I flounder and struggle with what your will for me might be. I waste a lot of time doing nothing and going no-where and feeling guilty. I need your strength and your guidance in my life each day. I wish that I heard your voice more clearly telling me what to do. I know that is an excuse at times. I do too much whining and complaining. I worry about things I don’t need to worry about. I fail to do the things you want me to do. I enjoy the bounty you give me and give little back that has meaning. I seem to be in a “funk”….spiritually and mentally and physically. However, knowing that even when I’m at my lowest, you are always at your highest and totally in charge, keeps me going. You reign! You are majestic and strong! Your world and your kingdom are forever! And seated at your right hand is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Son of Man. Once he too was clothed in the heaviness of human flesh and lived like I do. He got tired, he got discouraged, he suffered. But he acted always in your will and obeyed His Father’s word. He led the way that I might follow. Holy Spirit heal me and lead me onward. Use me. Teach me. Complete me. Amen.

Aug. 16....even the sparrow finds a home

Psalm 84:3 “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young, near your altar, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God.”

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?”

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the birds! You know how much I enjoy watching them each morning. You have sent me so many beautiful ones over the years. I’ve already seen the red cardinal and the yellow goldfinch this morning. Their beautiful feathers fill my senses and I smile. Even the less colorful birds like the titmice and the chickadees are so cute and perky in their duller colors. Then there are the sparrows. We don’t always appreciate the sparrows and disparage them for their aggressive behavior at the feeder and around our houses and buildings. But “even the sparrow has found a home”….they are quite good at finding homes in any nook and cranny they can squeeze a bit of space! Just like people, some are less lovely, some less “desirable” due to their personalities and habits. There are people who are the scroungers of the world, just like the sparrows…..always struggling for what they can grab, never quite in tune with the rest of society, barely making a living but tenacious and aggressive and persistent. They have a right to survive, too. In your kingdom, sparrows, grackles and starlings are just as welcome as goldfinches, cardinals and blue jays. They all have a “home” near your altar. Grace has been provided for each one in equal measure. No one who wants a home with you is turned away. You are an inclusive God not an exclusive one. We should learn from that! We must love and welcome all to come to your kingdom. That is what Jesus did! He is our example. He is our Savior! He bought all of us and invited us into your mansion of many rooms. You are King of sparrows. You are King of the poor, the lame, the blind, the imprisoned! All! My King, my God! Amen.

Aug. 15.....yours is the day and yours the night

Psalm 74:12 “Yet, O God, my king from of old, you doer of saving deeds on earth….Yours is the day, and yours the night; you fashioned the moon and the sun. You fixed all the limits of the land; summer and winter you made.”

Heavenly Father,

As I sit here watching the birds…so beautiful and varied….and see the trees sway in the breeze and await the suns warmth as it rises, it is easy to praise You, as creator of all. Even my dumb cat waiting to catch a bird is a work of beauty and precision. My heart is full of thanks for all the bounty of nature that spreads out before me. The hummingbird is back today! This tiny masterpiece has been wintering in the tropics and now it has traveled thousands of miles back to Indiana. Why? How? Only, You, God the Creator can answer that. We can only watch and praise and thank you and say, “Wow!” Why do people argue over creationism vs. evolution? Why does it matter how or when you created? All that matters is that you are “my God from of old”…pre-existent before all time….and You created all in an orderly fashion. The sun and moon to light the sky. The mountains and lakes and rivers, the trees and flowers, the animals, and finally man. You did it all in the right time and the right way and left us with great beauty and the perfect workings of nature to sustain this creation. You are awesome! You are great! You are infinitely artistic and scientific and totally in charge! Your vision and creation make it possible for me to sit and look at the flowers on the bushes and the birds flitting about seeking their breakfast. Was it all for me?…for us? Man seems to ruin creation at times, but a loving Father begets children. You have given us everything we could need or want….and even took away our sin and death and save us. Thank you, Father God! Amen.

Aug. 14....The Lord is king

Psalm 47:7-8 “For the king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne.” Rev. 19:6 “Alleluia! The Lord is king, our God, the Almighty! Let us rejoice and be glad, and give him glory!”

Heavenly Father,

You are king! You reign! You sit upon your holy throne! I can’t imagine what it must be like to be a king. Everything in me wants to turn and run at the thought of the stress and decision making involved in being a king. A king must be wise. A king must be decisive. A king must know how to wield power. A king must feel comfortable deciding things that affect the lives of his subjects. A king must be firm, but also have a soft side. A king must be kind but also judge and condemn when necessary. A king must know it all and be willing to use that knowledge for the best for his kingdom and his subjects. A king takes charge, he reigns, he rules, he controls. A good king is benevolent and cares about his subjects. You are a king who loved your subjects enough to die for them. You came as Jesus and lived among your people. You experienced what they experience. You lived just as they live….not in a palace, not on a throne….as a humble preacher. You made friends with all kinds of people. You took all the burdens that we carry, and all the sins that we’ve committed and you put them on our own shoulders. You died our death. You bought us and freed us. You lifted us out of our misery. You wrapped us in a cloak of grace and made us part of your family rather than mere subjects. We choose to follow our King! We choose to love the One who first loved us and who saved us! We praise the King of Kings! We acknowledge the King who reigns and sits on the throne of our hearts. Our God reigns! We shout it! Our God is an awesome God! King of Kings! Lord of Lords! Forever more! Amen.

Aug. 13....the great king over all the earth

Psalm 47:1-2 “All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.” Rev. 11:17 “We praise you, the Lord God Almighty, who is and who was. You have assumed your great power, you have begun your reign.”

Heavenly Father,

Holy is your name! Thy kingdom come on earth as in heaven! You, O Lord, are our King! As Americans the idea of a king is weird. We fought a war to be free from having a king as our ruler. We are a nation of independence and freedom. We bow before no man or woman. I usually think of our independent nature as a spiritual hazard because we are accustomed to being in charge and doing it all ourselves. We are our own kings. However, the fact that we don’t bow to or obey an earthly sovereign should make it easier to give our allegiance to only one king…the King of Kings, the Lord Most High, the One who is and who was and who will always be. We choose a King to obey and worship. This is different than being forced to follow an earthly king. You are a King of love. You created us and have a right to rule us. You do nothing to harm us but only try to prepare us for your eternal kingdom. Jesus came to bring that kingdom to earth. To free us from slavery to sin and the fear of death. To restore us to the royal family where we belong…your family. You are our Father, Jesus is our brother. We take on the family name and likeness when we come to you. We willingly choose this relationship formed in love on the basis of Jesus’ redeeming act of grace. He bought us, who were once slaves, and set us free. He adopted us as family and shares your riches and love with us. You are awesome, heavenly Father! You are King of our hearts, minds, souls, spirits, bodies. You are different from any other king. You are “the One who is and who was”….eternal, pre-existent, always on the throne of heaven. Thank you, Father God, King Eternal…reign forever! Amen.

Aug. 12....both the small and great

Psalm 115:12a-13 “The Lord remembers us and will bless us….He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.”

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all of your blessings. I feel very blessed and loved every day of my life. “The Lord remembers us…he will bless…both the small and great.” Thank you, Lord, for always remembering me. I’m suppose to pray for several very precious children at our church every day and I just realized that I have forgotten to pray for them for several days. What would I do if You forgot me, Lord? My heart stops just thinking about it. I am thankful that you always remember and always love….”both the small and the great”. My existence and protection and daily provisions don’t depend on a Savior who forgets to pray for me. I have a Lord and Savior who is always there and always has the eye of a “Good Shepherd” turned toward me and my needs. I know your loving eye is also on these children and when I forget to pray for them, your love and protection are still there for them. They have true “guardian angels” in heaven who are much better than I am. These children at our church are so precious to us, and I pray that they will never come to harm. I pray that you will use us to love them and teach them. How can we teach them how real and how loving you are? How do we lead them to a permanent relationship with you? Holy Spirit fill us with your power to teach them. Holy Spirit guide me to help guide them. Precious Savior seek and find them and keep them safe. I rest in your words…”he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great”. May they know the fear of the Lord, forever! May it grow within them. Thank you! amen.

Aug. 11....an aroma of Christ

Psalm 109:30-31 “I will greatly(earnestly) extol the LORD! He stands at the right hand of the needy to save his life.” 2 Cor. 2:14-15 “Thanks be to God, who unfailingly employs us to diffuse the fragrance of his knowledge everywhere! We are an aroma of Christ for God’s sake.”

Heavenly Father,

“I will earnestly (greatly) extol the LORD!” This is my job, as well as my heartfelt reaction. My mouth is necessary to spread the Good News. When I “earnestly extol” the Lord, I praise and thank and tell the story to others. “He stands at the right hand of the needy to save his life”….this is the Good News! You, O Lord, love us and came to save all who are in need….all of us! All we have to do is say, “Yes, I’m sorry and I need you!” and “thank you!” As we accept Christ as our Savior we become part of his “triumphal train” spreading the “fragrance” of his message to others. We must be so saturated with Christ’s love and his message that we trail an aroma of Christ everywhere we go. This is a pleasing aroma….one that makes you lift your head and try harder to find the source. Something so good, you want it! If our Christian walk and talk turns people off, rather than attracting them, we are doing something wrong. Christ has the power to attract the needy to him. When he lived on earth the needy followed his “aroma” everywhere he went. This is what we must convey…Christ’s compelling message of salvation for the needy. If our aroma is too faint and timid, we fail also. Perfume in a bottle doesn’t have an aroma. We have to let the fragrance of Christ out and let it surround us. This is the “earnestly extol” part of this message. We must present such a desirable picture of Christ that all will want to know him. He is the answer! We must make others hungry and thirsty to find what we already have. Teach me how! Thank you, O Lord, precious Savior, Holy Spirit of Truth. Amen.

Aug. 10....resplendent you came

Psalm 76:5 “Resplendent you came, O powerful One, from the everlasting mountains.” (NAB)

“You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

“Resplendent you came!” or “resplendent with light”…..I like both translations. What a terrific word ‘resplendent’ is! I picture a majestic king, arrayed in beautiful robes, trailing jewels and crowns and other embellishments. But that is a picture of an earthly king. One arrayed in the finest “things” and looking proud and majestic and seemingly powerful. Your majesty is spiritual! Your array is “Light!” Your embellishments are your created works shown in this world and beyond! Your power is real and all-powerful. The next phrase differs a lot in these two translations, but both are fitting. “O powerful One, from everlasting mountains!”…..calls to you the omnipotent One, who is eternal and high and mighty! The other….”more majestic than mountains”….gives an image of you as being more mighty, more majestic, more wonderful, more large, more high, than any mountain we know! Now to reframe my earlier vision of this verse…..I see a great Being of Light, too bright for the eyes. A King so powerful and majestic he outshines the mountains all around. Your regal train is full of the created beauty of this world….birds, flowers, trees, animals, oceans, mountains….trailing in your wake showing their perfection. Your crown is the source of Light…your Lordship and Kingship forever! Your home is the highest point…the everlasting mountains, the place where you dwell. Resplendent! Radiant! Your crowning glory is your Son, Jesus Christ….the Light of the World! You shared your Light with us that we might not live in darkness! “Resplendent you came! Hallelujah! I praise you! I thank you! I love you! amen.

Aug. 9.....praise on the tip of my tongue

Psalm 66:16-17 “Come and listen all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on the tip of my tongue.”

Ephesians 1:17 “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom and insight to know him clearly.”

Heavenly Father,

When I cry out to you, praise should also be “on my tongue”. We use the phrase…”on the tip of my tongue”. If something is on the tip of my tongue, it ought to be the first thing out of my mouth. It should block the other words until it first comes out. We begin our prayer with praise. That was the example in the Lord’s Prayer…”Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Holy be thy name…one phrase, but it declares your holiness and also your place in heaven is mentioned. Then we ask, “they kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Reign supreme! Rule here and in our hearts and everywhere. What you will….be done. Then the petitions follow the praise. We cry out all of our needs and desires. We ask and beg and try to bargain at times. We come because we need you. We come because you are our God and care about us. The prayer in Ephesians prays for others to “know you better” through wisdom and the revelation of the Holy Spirit. This is a great prayer to pray for others and for ourselves. Deepen our understanding. Increase our wisdom. Show us your face. Reveal your truths in ways we understand. This sort of request is praise as well as petition. It recognizes the source of the wisdom and revelation we seek. Who are you? Why do you love us? What is your will? What is my purpose? How should I pray? Teach me to pray better with deeper understanding. I pray that I will come to know your holy will in all things, that my ears will be open to hear, my heart ready to listen, my spirit ready to serve and obey you, O Holy God! Thank you, Almighty God, merciful Savior, Spirit of Truth. Amen.

Aug. 8....open my lips

Psalm 51:15 “O LORD, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.”

Matthew 5:16 “Your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father.”

Heavenly Father,

I need to pray this prayer every day: “open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.” In a way this is like the disciples asking, “teach us to pray”. We all can “open our lips” and spew out words…just look at these full notebooks I write! However, if you open my lips and “teach me to pray”, my words will mean more. I need to follow Jesus’ example of how and where and when to pray. I also need to look at the words that he prays, so that my words will also be prayed effectively. Just throwing out words isn’t enough. I need to learn to pray in your will with a single-hearted purpose….to please you and obey you. You never turn our prayers away. You always listen. But if I learn to allow the Holy Spirit to pray through me my prayers will be more effective and accomplish more of your will. “Open my lips” also fits with the other verse for today. I can’t let my “light shine before men” and show them my “good deeds so that they will praise you” unless I learn to “open my lips” and do my acts and deeds in your name and your will. I have to let others know that my words and deeds are from my love for you. I serve because I love you. I speak because I believe in you. “Open my lips”…”let my light shine”….this is my prayer for today. Show my how to pray in your will for myself and others. Give me words and deeds that will help bring your eternal life to others. Let me serve that others will be led to praise you. I praise you for all that you are and all that you do! I praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I praise your gift of Jesus Christ and the Light he brings! I praise you for grace and peace and love and forgiveness and eternal life. I praise you for your abiding love and your provision of all I ever need. Come Lord Jesus! Save me, O LORD. Amen.

Aug. 7.....light

Psalm 22:22-23 “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him!”

Acts 13:47 “I have made you a light to the nations, a means of salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Heavenly Father,

Why do I go to church? To sing and praise you “in the congregation”. Adding my voice to others sends loud praises heavenward and voices joined in unity resound throughout the land. On Sunday a “great cloud of witnesses” all sing your praise together in dozens of languages around the world. On Sundays we forget our denominational differences and agree on one thing,….. “Jesus Christ is Lord” and “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be praised!”. All hearts, all minds, all spirits throughout the Christian world turn to you and take time to praise and thank you. On Sunday morning we have the unity of purpose you desire for us….One God, one body, one Lord of all….despite the fact that we are sitting in thousands of different buildings for our worship. We are one in the Spirit! We all sing praise to the same God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We forget our differences and come “together” even though apart, for one purpose….to acknowledge and worship our God. “You are our God, and we are your people!” Jesus came as a Light to the Gentiles (all men) that he might bring salvation to all. We are to help carry that Light. When we hold Jesus in our hearts, his light will shine through us….a Light too bright to contain….and we take that Light to the world. The world dwells in darkness and needs the Light. It is our responsibility to share the Light. “In the congregation” we absorb the Light and take it with us. Two or more together make even brighter light! If each of us carries a bit of Christ’s light and we all shine together, the darkness will fade. “Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell!” (Psalm 43:3) amen.

Aug. 6......praise and thanks

Psalm 18:49 “I will praise you among the nations! I will sing praises to your name!”

Heavenly Father,

I’m sure if you counted my words in prayer, that I do more asking than I do thanking. Forgive me. It is because I know your greatness, your faithfulness, your compassion, your love, your mercy that requests tumble off my tongue in great numbers. I know where my help comes from. I know who can heal. I know who can explain and comfort. I know who can end war, bring peace, end suffering, save the lost sheep, protect the children, and every other thing I need! So I ask, I beg, I persist, I seek, I storm the throne! But that doesn’t mean I should forget to thank you. My joy shouldn’t cause me to forget its source. My being busy shouldn’t make me ungrateful. Praising you and focusing on my reasons for thanking you are most important. I would have no life without you! All my family and friends are gifts from you. My health and daily bread are from you. My shelter and safety are from you. The birds and flowers I love so much are from you. Even my talents….my ability to do the quilting and photography that I love…are from you! My eyes that allow me to read and quilt are from you. My fingers that allow me to write and type and stitch are from you. My ears that hear music and my voice that sings are from you! My cats I love are from you. Most important… salvation is from you! My spiritual healing is from you. My forgiveness is from you. Grace is from you! Eternal life is from you! Every day, every hour, every minute is a gift from you! Gifts of love from my Father! Thank you! I praise you! I love you! I honor you! I owe you for all of it! Amen.

Aug. 5....singing praise

Psalm 28:6-7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Heavenly Father, We cry out to you showing our trust, and you help us….we give thanks and sing your praises in song. Singing comes from a full heart. Some sing out of sadness, but most sing when they are happy. Singing releases great emotions. Singing bursts from me when I’m happy. Praise is emotion that is sent toward you. We sing words of thanks and affirmation. We take the beautiful words others have written….a common link of emotion…and the beautiful melodies and give voice to them as we empty our hearts of what we feel. It is a wonderful way for believers to share a common bond of faith, as we sing together to praise you. I don’t understand people who don’t sing. Singing has always been such a part of my life that I don’t know how someone cannot sing. How do they praise you when their hearts are full? How do they release the emotion that is there? I guess that listening to others sing can still release emotions in your heart and lift it upwards toward you. I hope that I might always be blessed with a voice to sing and that my heart will always seek words to thank you with in song. I want praise to fill me at all times! I want to love you more and always show it. My heart connects with you in song. My heart fills and spews forth all the emotion in me, when I sing. I hear this song now:

“I love you LORD, and I lift my voice To worship you, of my soul, rejoice, Take joy, my King, in what you hear May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.”

I trust you because you have heard and answered me. I praise you and sing because I love you. amen.

Aug. 4.....your strength, our weakness

Psalm 140:6-7a “I say to the LORD, you are my God; hearken, O LORD, to my voice in supplication. O God, my Lord, my strength, and my salvation.” 2 Cor. 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for in weakness my power is made perfect.”

Heavenly Father,

Every day I need to affirm this statement…”You are my God! My strength, my salvation!” I also need to remember your words to Paul in his affliction…”My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.” This statement seems to be an answer to the affirmation in the first. When we come to you and say “you are my God….help me….I have no strength, no salvation without you”…we are pleading and confessing. We are giving up our control to one who is higher and supreme. We are saying that there is no way in the world for us to win the battle on our own merit, our own strength. Without you, our God, we are weak and unsaved. You gave us a permanent response when you sent Jesus to die and save us. Grace is the answer. No other answer needed. Your grace is sufficient for any trial, any trouble, any battle that we have. When we rest in your grace, your salvation, we become strong through the strength of Jesus Christ. Nothing is stronger! No one is more powerful or capable. Our worst nightmare…sin and death, our worst enemy…Satan, have all been conquered by Christ and grace. We are saved through him. Our weakness made possible his greatness and his victory. When we allow you into our heart and lives, we become strong by your grace. Grace is like heavenly armor that protects us. Grace is a heavenly sword wielded by One whose strength never fails. Our battle…your grace. Our weakness….your perfect power. Our God…You! Thank you, O LORD, for your strength and power in my weakness. Thank you for the total sufficiency of grace in all things! Thank you for my salvation, my hope my peace, my joy in You, my God! Amen.

Aug. 3....out of the depths

Psalm 130:1-2 “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” Matthew 1:21 “..He will save his people from their sins.”

Heavenly Father,

(Originally written on my birthday) Thank you for today, my birthday! That doesn’t seem to fit the subject for today, but really it does. I was born into the world xx years ago. You gave me a loving family who nurtured me and brought me up in faith. You gave me early church training that set me on the path to where I am today. Most of all you gave me Jesus Christ and forgiveness and salvation. That was my second birth. Your promise, “He will save his people from their sins”….includes me. I am one of your people, and I know that through Jesus Christ my salvation is secure. My life has been a fairly uneventful one and a safe and secure one through your many blessings. The Psalm for today begins, “out of the depths, I cry to you, O LORD.” That seems like something I haven’t experienced…the depths…in a human sense, but in a spiritual one we all experience “the depths” of sin and death. I cry to you to save me, to redeem me, to rescue me from the sin and death that cling to my human existence. I “cry for mercy” as one who admits my sin and know I deserve nothing. I turn like the prodigal son an come home with my head bowed low ready to take whatever you will give me. Imagine my joy and surprise to learn that all you want to do is wrap your arms around me and welcome me back, and throw a huge party to celebrate my return! This is the rest of my life…the party that you throw for me that never ends. My best birthday present ever…grace…will always be there and I can unwrap it over and over and over again. Thank you! Its just what I needed most of all! Amen.

Aug. 2....save me!

Psalm 119:170 “May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.”

Matthew 14:30 “…Lord, save me!”

Heavenly Father,

Supplication is an earnest, desperate plea for help. We come before you with earnest pleas. We are desperate for answers. Those who pray regularly, usually understand this state very well. We come to our Father to save us, to help us, to make everything right whenever we can’t do it ourselves. You are our last hope for help. You should be our first hope for help, and that is what we strive to change in our lives when we become your followers. Our first and best hope, our first line of defense against this world, our loving Father who is a Shield around us and a Fortress and Defender. A Good Shepherd who knows our name and seeks us when we are lost. This is true hope based on promises that you will keep. When we cry, “Lord, save us!”…you are there to reach out your hand and pull us out of the water before we drown. Non-believers can’t understand our willingness to plead and beg. They say, “why doesn’t God give what you need without you having to beg for it, if he knows everything?” I think this is what one person called “the whole ego thing” in reference to God. Your desire for us to seek you, to acknowledge your supremacy, and to admit our need. To an unbeliever it is “ego”, but to me it is freedom! Faith, trust, reliance on One who is bigger than I. You don’t force yourself upon us….we have to come. However, when we do come, your loving arms are open to receive us and we find peace. Your love encompasses all we need….hope, peace, forgiveness, compassion, acceptance, a family membership, eternal life! Wow! Pretty good benefits! We walk out of sin and into eternity. We leave behind trouble and receive blessings. But we must seek, ask, knock….to receive this. Thank you! amen

Aug. 1.....he heard my voice

Psalm 116:1-2 “I love the LORD for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

John 16:24 “Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be complete.”

Heavenly Father,

You show us great love and compassion and incline your ear to us. We know this is true because you answer us. You have promised that if we ask in Jesus’ name, we will receive and our “joy will be complete.” Those who don’t feel joy, have not discerned your answers. Learning to listen and to wait are so hard. Understanding is even harder. You tell us that “the fear of the LORD, is the beginning of wisdom”. We must seek to know you if we wish to understand what we hear. Prayer is a beginning. Pouring out our hearts to the One who loves us, who made us, who established the relationship. In the beginning we may only sense silence, and wonder where our words go, or if they are heard. But as we learn to trust and keep praying, we begin to discern answers. When we read your scripture so we will know things about you and what you have said and done, our trust grows and so does our knowledge of you. We began to sense that we are cared for, and that you provide for us. When we learn about your visit…the life of Jesus Christ…we see a God willing to sacrifice to save us. What greater love? When we embrace the grace and forgiveness of the cross we feel our burdens lift and our spirit soar free! I am saved! I am loved! I am forgiven! The joy floods in. This verse gives our response: “I love the LORD because he heard my voice. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live!” Love begets love. You first loved us…now we know that and we love you in return. My “joy is complete”! Thank you, LORD of grace and love and infinite wisdom! In Jesus’ name I pray and know your ear is turned to me. Amen