A Prayer For The Day by Thomas Merton

My Lord God

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following

your will does not mean

that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that my desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope that I have that desire

in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything

apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this

you will lead me by the right road

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always

though I may seem to be lost

and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear,

for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me

to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

My Wife's Mouth...

My wonderful wife Rebecca had to have periodontal surgery yesterday (no kissing for me for a while). They had to cut gums from the top of her mouth and paste them to her bottom gums, as pretty as that sounds. She feels pretty good, but she can’t talk well and it does hurt her to talk. I miss talking to her; she is my best friend and the greatest source of encouragement in my life. So, with her not being able to verbally encourage me (I am a big words of affirmation love language guy), I sat and allowed God to encourage me instead of her. I felt in a way kind of narcissistic, but I sat quietly and tried to listen to God’s love and approval of me. I just thought of all the stories of scripture that show how much God loves for me. Then to just to think about the love shown on the cross and God’s Sprit living inside me, it was great. Now, I was not making requests known to God just listening to God affirm my life and who I am. I struggled in a way of allowing God to do, because I struggle with feeling even worthy of God’s love. But, allowing that love to fill me this morning was powerful, something that I have not felt in a very long time. Just to know that I am loved and accepted by God means that the thoughts and the feelings of the rest of the world fade in distance. Now, this was a unique experience. I still had my time for confession of sin and repentance, but God loves me, sins failures and all. That is good news! Try to listen to God’s love of you every now and then, I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Praying My Wife Fells Better, Phillip

Made Fresh Daily!

I used to frequent a Jewish Daily & Bagel shop named Greenfield's when I was in college (I used to have a cool tie-dyed T-shirt from there, I think my wife disposed of that). Now, I worked next door a clothing store (Oops "Name brand overruns and seconds at discount prices!) so I got to know the folks who worked there very well. So, when they made their fresh bagels every morning, I would get a great big bag of their old ones for a dollar. Now, I was poor and hungry and those Carbs helped me as I tried to fold clothes for 8 hours! They tasted fine, I could tell no difference. But, they made their Bagels fresh everyday. I respect that. Day old was not good enough, so they strove to make them fresh every single day. It might of been easier or cheaper to let them sit for a few days, but no made fresh daily.

Is your walk with God "made fresh daily?" I suspect many people have a day old walk. It is OK, but it consists of Church and maybe a devotion here in there. In the depressing little book of Lamentations, Jeremiah writes that "The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." You get that God's love, mercies, forgiveness, compassions, and care for us is made fresh daily! So, since this is the case why are we content to live with day old faith?

This devotion was made fresh this morning especially for you at 5:52 am! Have a great day! Pastor Phillip

Secret Things Of God

The hidden things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:92

I am sitting here in my office with a sack of 10 commentaries on the Book of Genesis. I am not a very bright guy, so I must consult the help of far more intelligent men of God to help me. But, I am trying to probe the mind of God through the depths of Scripture. But, as I sit here my mind came back to what I read in Philip Yancey's book "Reaching For The Invisible God" last night after I got finished baby sitting my son Cason and his friend Copeland (they boys were great!). In it he makes the point that God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent. Now, you can look all these "omni" words up, but God is God and God speaks to us. God speaks to us. He further adds that this means that any method of communication God chooses, God is having to dumb down and limit Himself to our finite ability to hear, see, understand, and perceive God.

Could God tell us more than he does? Sure. Has God told us all that we need? Yes. Do we obey and understand all that God has given us now? No. So, as I read through these commentaries today and seek to be enlightened by God, I am going to focus on living out that which God has clearly revealed. I think it is good advice for all of us to do the same.

Getting back to work, Pastor Phillip

What A Day!

I had a great day so far (it is only 2). I had three people in the church all who had to have surgeries at two different hospitals this morning. So, I got to visit and pray will all of them. I got to visit my friend, Joel, who is in the hospital as well (He has got to come home because we have a UFC pay-per-view this weekend!). I also got to visit a famous set of little twins named Emme and Abby. There mom has has had two sets of twins, the first set (boys) were born on Nov,2, 2004, election day and the second set born on Nov,4,2008, election (also my birthday). They are doing great, still in the NICU, but both doing well. I also got home and got my new Reformation Study Bible, ESV in burgundy genuine leather. They were free with a donation to Ligonier Ministries. I respect the wonderful work of reformed Bible scholars. I have benefited from it much, and disagree with many parts of it, but I appreacite their work. So, I got a new Bible, like I needed another one.

But, the highlight was thatI had the privilege of sharing Jesus with a lady who made Jesus Dolls. I asked her if she went to church and she said "No, but I make Jesus dolls." You can check out here many variously colored Jesus dolls here. My favorite is the seven foot tall remote control Jesus. I looked but could not find any "8 pound 6 ounce tiny Baby Jesus, so little but still omnipotent" So, with Christmas coming up maybe the person who has it all in your life, may just need a new and pretty locally made Jesus doll!

Got to get back to work! Pastor Phillip