Take Up Your Cross DAILY

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  [Luke 9:23]

Last Friday, I made a list of the mundane things to accomplish before a house guest arrived.  When leaving for the store, I snapped a picture of the list.

Only today did I see the image overlaid on my list.  Do you see what I see?  A cross!  Yes, we are called to carry the daily grind with patience and fortitude. 

 Today marks the first day of school for many.  It means getting back into the "daily grind."  Elisabeth Elliot once said that the hardest thing about life is that it is so "daily."  Yet, we are called to take up our cross, DAILY, and follow Christ.

Hapus Dewi Sant!

March 1st marks St. David's Day in honor of the patron saint of Wales. 

Who was St David?

St David (or Dewi Sant in Welsh) was born on the south west coast of Wales, near the present day city of St Davids.

His family was aristocratic. He was educated at a monastery and became a missionary, travelling through Wales and to south west England and Brittany to spread Christianity. He is also supposed to have visited Rome and Jerusalem.

David founded a monastery where St Davids stands today. He died in AD589 and was buried in the grounds of his own monastery. He has been the patron saint of Wales since the 12th century. (From the BBC News Magazine)


We read Psalm 51 tonight, the beautiful Psalm of repentance written by King David. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

                                                                                     (Psalm 51:10-12)

 

You'll Get Through This

God gives us footholds in the seemingly impassive wall of suffering.  Today while listening to Christian radio on the 5-minute drive from the gym to home, I happened to hear the world premier of a new song.

Here is the link to listen:

http://1075alive.fm/mark-smebys-song-youll-get-through-this-free-download-share-with-others-2/

Okay for Dads to Pray this Prayer

Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.  Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.  [Nehemiah 4:4-5]

Nehemiah was the governor who oversaw the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.  He prayed this prayer against specific enemies who were trying to thwart the building efforts.

We encounter enemies who are opposed to the building of our families.  The New Testament says to love your enemies and do good to them that persecute you.  However, I think the above prayer is appropriate for a father to prayer for protection of his family.  The father has the responsibility to ward off evil for his family.  He cannot take any chances.

The Example of Others

I have a sweet friend who is suffering from a serious health situation.  Do you know what she said to me?

It went something like this:

"In the Garden, Jesus asked for the cup to be taken from Him.  The answer was 'no.'  If the answer was 'no' for Jesus, what makes us think that it will be different for us?"

Lord, please bless my friend.  She truly is like the Virgin Mary, who said, "Be it unto me according to thy Word," and like Jesus, who said, "Not my will, but thine be done."

Bless you, Angela.