In The Beginning

John 1

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.

I like the way the NLT puts this: “In the beginning the Word already existed.” Jesus has always existed. He is without beginning and without end. He is the Light of the world. He is the source of life. Jesus is the Creative force of the universe. Jesus is LORD, and He is worthy of my praise today and every day of my life!

Hearts Afire

Luke 24

32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem.

It’s the first day of the week, three days after Jesus was crucified and buried. Two men traveling to Emmaus are met by another man who doesn’t seem to know what has happened. When they try telling this guy the scoop, He starts quoting Scripture to them. Soon, the arrive in Emmaus and the stranger stops to break bread with them...lo and behold it is JESUS! This is one of my favorite Gospel passages, and I have a tie dyed t-shirt reminding me of having hearts afire for the Gospel. May my heart burn within me each day as I spend time in the Word of God, and may I seek opportunities to share the Good News, just as these two men did. May I do so this very hour!

Investigate the Gospel

Luke 24

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Jesus has risen from the grave, the women have just encountered two angels telling them as much, and they run off to tell the closest followers of Jesus the Gospel. Check out verse 11. It sounded like NONSENSE to them. Yes, the Gospel does sound like nonsense at first, but when investigated (like Peter did in verse 12), the Gospel stands. It withstands every test, every doubt, every fear. It is the Gospel that has the power to save people from their sin, for Jesus has indeed paid the price for that sin, and has risen from the dead!

Proper Perspective of Praise

Psalm 98

1 Sing a new song to the Lord,

for he has done wonderful deeds.

His right hand has won a mighty victory;

his holy arm has shown his saving power!

2 The Lord has announced his victory

and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.

The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth;


break out in praise and sing for joy!


5 Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,


with the harp and melodious song,


6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.


Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!


Let the earth and all living things join in.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!


Let the hills sing out their songs of joy


9 before the Lord.


For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.


He will judge the world with justice,


and the nations with fairness.

Yesterday was a stressful day. Surgery for Dad postponed, stress test scheduled, and a general sense of “this is major, major stuff” coming from the doc. The ongoing situation with Ian and his search for employment is still there as well. then, this morning, I get up to find that the dishwasher is broken. I can repair it, but I spent this morning washing a full dishwasher’s worth of dirty dishes by hand. And wallowing in self-pity. Peggy, my dearest Bride loving reminded me to keep things in perspective because we know folks who are a LOT worse off than us at the moment, including a woman Peggy worked with in Kentucky who’s daughter was killed in a car accident this week. Is it any wonder that among my devotional readings these days are Psalms that exhort me to sing a new song to the Lord, for the wonderful deeds He has done? Lord, if my life is to reflect Your glory, then it must do so even on the mornings when the dishwasher breaks. Forgive me for my pity party this morning, and may the rest of this day bring You the honor You deserve! Thank You, Lord for bringing Peggy into my life. I couldn’t make it without her!!! Thank You, Father, for bring Dad and Ian into my life. I love them more than they will ever know. Thank You most of all, Lord God for bringing Jesus into my life. He is my Rock and my Salvation, and my Hope for ever more.

This is the Day

Psalm 96

1 Sing a new song to the Lord!


Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!


2 Sing to the Lord; praise his name.


Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.


3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.


Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.


4a Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!

Let the words of my lips and my daily lifestyle sing out that the LORD is God, and that He is Great! May all who come into contact with me, know that Jesus is alive, and is most worthy of praise! May the glorious deeds of my Lord and savior be evident by the way I conduct myself, and may the whole earth hear the Good News of Jesus proclaimed because there are others who feel the same way as I do. This is the Day to praise the LORD!

A Plea to God

Psalm 94

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—


leaders whose decrees permit injustice?


21 They gang up against the righteous


and condemn the innocent to death.


22 But the Lord is my fortress;


my God is the mighty rock where I hide.


23 God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.


He will destroy them for their sins.


The Lord our God will destroy them.

More and more, the laws of this land are in direct opposition to God’s Word. More and more, the institutions of the nation promote a lifestyle and dare I even say it, an agenda that is anti-biblical. Is it any wonder that God would turn his back on the people of this land? yet, if His people will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, God will hear. God will deliver. Father, may those of us who truly want to follow Jesus help win the hearts and minds of others around us this day so that Your Name will be glorified in this nation once again.

Singing to God

Psalm 92

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to the Most High.

2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening,

3 accompanied by the ten-stringed harp

and the melody of the lyre.

This is from a Psalm that is supposed to be sung on the Sabbath Day. Since today is Saturday, the Sabbath Day, I am singing these praises to my God and King:

You alone, O God, are God

Creator of heaven and earth

Lover of my soul

You created me from the dust of the earth

You breathed in me the breath of life

You sacrificed Your One and Only Son for me

May I never turn from You again, O LORD

May my every breath be dedicated to bring You glory

You alone, O God, are God!