6:14 a.m.

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.  - Genesis 1:5 (RSV)

Sitting in the cockpit of a sailboat anchored in a quiet cove.  To my left, the sky gradually warmed toward sunrise.  To my right, the moon slid down, setting simultaneously with the sunrise.

Sunrise, 

                                                                             Moon set.

 Lord, thank you for both Day and Night, the sun and the moon which you have ordained.  Amen.

Lifetime Guarantee

God gives us a lifetime guarantee that things will go wrong.  We're promised trouble in this life.  

"In this world you WILL have trouble."                  - John 16:33

I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.
- Psalm 142:2

"Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them in their distress.         - Psalm 107:28

Lord, you promise to hear our cries and to reach down to save us.  Please show Your hand amidst the destruction.

Photo from Christ in the City: Heart Speaks to Heart  used with permission by ImagoArts.  www.facebook.com/imagocorarts

Apropos Acorn

The point is this ... he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  

– 2 Corinthians 9:6 (RSV)

I recently visited the graveside of loved ones who were giants in the Christian faith.  Rising atop their grave is a towering oak, a standing image of this couple who lived as oaks of righteousness.

I noticed a single acorn atop their grave marker and then observed dozens more scattered about on the grass.  These good people, in their lifetime, spread abundant seeds that continue to bear fruit and are towering oaks in the making. 

Lord, thank You for people who lived as "oaks of righteousness, the standing of the Lord that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3) Grow us to be towering trees that spread much good seed.  

Come, My Light

  Come, my Light,

     and illumine my darkness.

  Come, my Life,
     and revive me from death.

  

  Come, my Physician,
     and heal my wounds.

  Come, Flame of divine love,
     and burn up the thorns
     of my sins,

 
  Kindling my heart 

      with the flame
      of Your Love.

  Come, my King,
      sit upon the throne
      of my heart
      and reign there.

  For You alone
       are my King and my Lord.

              (Dmitri of Rostov, d. 1709)                                                                                                            

               

Refiner's Fire

       It must be burnt with fire. 

         -- Leviticus 13:57 

Behold, I make all things new.  -- Revelation 21:5

Lord, burn away that which is diseased, and build a new, strong housing through which we can pump Your living water to others.

Pipe Up!

The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.  -- Ezekiel 28:13 (NKJV)

This shows just one view of the inner workings of a huge pipe organ.  Each pipe, flute and reed has its own unique sound and the organ is not complete without it.  You have a special voice given only to you.  Use it for the glory of God.  

Lord, give me the courage to proclaim Your beauty, truth and goodness to the world.  Amen.

He's a Creep!

And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind...creeping things...And it was so.

Genesis 1:24

"Eeeeewwwww, a spider," you might say.  Yet how many annoying flies, gnats and mosquitos has it lured to its web today?

Lord, thank you even for the creepy crawlers lurking in the shadows.  Help me to remember that You work ALL things for good in my life.

Known by His Stripes

                                     And by His stripes we are healed.  - Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

Thank you, Jesus, for the healing beauty of the evening sky.

Wheat, on the Lord

 

He makes peace in your borders;
  he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

-- Psalm 147:4

Come Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Great Expectations

Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.  Romans 5:4

Lord, forgive me for assuming that a great life means an easy life.  Please bring me along to a place of great hope.

Artwork is from The Scriptorium at All Saints Convent, Box 3127, Catonsville, MD 21228

Listen and Bloom

Lydia...a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.   - Acts 16:14

  

Lydia already was a worshiper of God, like a bud waiting to bloom.

When Lydia listened to the truth, the Lord opened her heart and that brought forth stunning beauty.

Lord, help me to listen.  Open my heart to pay attention to Your words.  

Motherly Miracle

They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."  And he said, "Bring them here to me." 

 -- Matthew 14:17,18

Five small barley loaves which had been baked beforehand.  Someone ground the grain, added the yeast, water and salt before kneading the dough and allowing it to rise. Someone cleaned up the bowl where the dough was mixed and the counter where the dough was kneaded.  Someone baked the loaves.

Two fish which had been cleaned, seasoned and cooked beforehand by someone.  Someone packed the boy’s lunch.  Someone washed first the utensils which cooked the fish and then her industrious hands and dried them, perhaps, on the apron tied about her waist.

Dear Someone, 

He, who sees you in the night watches and who gathers your tears in a bottle, also walks with you.  Draw your daily sustenance from His Love and know that your hard work is the first step towards a miracle of God.

Jesus, encourage us in our daily work and help us to believe that miracles can result from routine, seemingly trivial tasks. Amen.

Rock Music

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever."  -- Revelation 5:13

I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.  -- Luke 19:40

 Thank you, Lord, that You will one day be worshipped by all.  Find me numbered among those adorers both now and when the Truth is fully revealed.  Amen.

Divine Mercy Defined

The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. -- Exodus 25:20

 di·vine [dəˈvīn]

ADJECTIVE \

1. of, from or like God 

mer·c

y

  [ˈmərsē]

NOUN 

1. love's response to suffering  

Divine Mercy = God's love in response to suffering.

Jesus, we trust in You.  Thank You that under the wings of Your mercy we find refuge.

A Time to Rise

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die. -- Ecclesiastes 3:1,2

The wonder of new life and the seeming finality of death.  Yet the Old Testament writer of Ecclesiastes left out something, because he knew not the future.  There also is a time to RISE.  

Thank you, Jesus, for rising from the dead and giving us a hope and a future.  Amen.

Miserere mei, Deus.

Lord, have mercy, because I am in misery.  My eyes are weak from so much crying, and my whole being is tired from grief.

Psalm 31:9

Thank you, God, that sacrifice to You is a troubled spirit, a broken and contrite heart , that You will not despise.  Amen.  (Ps. 51:17)

"Palm" Sunday

I will not forget you. 
Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands.
-- Isaiah 49:16

On this Palm Sunday, I pray that you will rest in God's loving care for you. 

Lord, thank you for holding us so lovingly amidst this journey of life, especially when we feel bewildered and blindsided.  Amen.

A Dawning Hope

The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me; yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.

-- Psalm 138:8

 

Lord, every morning, there is a new beautiful dawn.  Let this enduring reality be a sign that You indeed are good.

A Tower with Power

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the just run to it and are safe.

-- Proverbs 18:10 (NAB)

The Tower Bridge.

An iconic landmark appears toylike from above.  Yet at ground level, it's a famous tourist destination and passageway over the Thames River.

God is a Tower, high above all earthly towers. His perspective is infinitely broader than that of us living and breathing at ground level.  

As we navigate day-to-day life and seek Him for wisdom, we can be assured that He knows the big picture. 

Lord, You are the Way, Truth and the Life.  Lead and guide those of us on the ground. 

Fun for a First Mate

 Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.
     -- Ecclesiastes 4:9 (GNT)

Supporting one's partner over the years can be as simple as holding the flashlight while the other looks under the hood of a car, or helping with dishes after a meal, or perhaps in later years pushing a wheelchair.  

For yours truly, supporting my guy's latest venture has amounted to a boatload of fun!  Read about it here in the March/April issue of Good Old Boat magazine:

Thank you, Lord, for bringing beautiful new experiences to well-seasoned couples.  

This Wasn't Supposed to Happen

Eleven - the number of disciples missing at the foot of the cross.  Where were they?  Hiding?  In bed with the covers pulled over their head?  It didn't turn out like they'd expected.  But the story wasn't over.

Life doesn't turn out the way we expect.  

But the story isn't over.  

"I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  ~ John 16:33

Badly Broken

 A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

--Psalm 51:17

Feeling broken beyond repair?  Have hope.  The Master Craftsman can do wonders.  

https://omny.fm/shows/glens-story-corner/a-broken-stradivarius

Lord, I'm broken.  Take me to the repair shop, please.  Restore me to complete fullness once again. Amen.

Weather or Not

Not afraid of snow...

-- Proverbs 31:21

     

From within ourselves we peer outside,
having varied perspectives.

Inside, we can feel cozy and warm
Or, cooped up and restless.

Outside can seem icy and cold,
Or, an opportunity for playful fun.

Lord, no matter what our inner view allows,
let us appreciate the joys of the moment.

Snow Peace

 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. -- I Thessalonians 3:16