Since I started carrying a permanent image of a dreaming Jacob, he’s been showing up more often.
Isaiah 41:13-14 KJV — For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
This Scripture appeared in my devotional reading and it struck me that I have read very little of the book of Isaiah. My Student Bible contains a plan to read it in 63 days. I’m looking forward to my first independent study of one of the books of the Old Testament.
Joshua 1:8 KJV — This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
I’ve spotted a problem in a couple other translations.
The New Living Translation omits the prescription against speaking the Law.
The New International Version and the Bible in Basic English give the opposite direction.
I’m open about my faith and constantly sharing it. I’m more careful about the prescriptions. I use Jesus as my guiding light because He came to fulfill the Law and directed His followers thusly:
Mark 12:29-31 KJV — And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
The weight of these commandments is why we must spend more time meditating than speaking. Love is easy to feel, it is harder to enact.
That’s why I try to start each day here.
I breathe deeply, exhale, and hold as I gaze at the rising sun. I thank God for all the things in my life and ask for guidance. I do so with a loving heart and pray for the wisdom to love my neighbor as I love myself.
This is what an Immaculate Flying Armbar looks like.
Last night I floundered. I let fatigue get to me. I let my insecurities run wild. I let my temper out on my children and caused a lot of wreckage. I busted my grandmother’s rosary…again. I froze. I asked Jesus for help, but I didn’t mean it. Or, at least, I wasn’t listening for the answer.
This devotional and these verses were waiting for me this morning.
Proverbs 19:21 KJV — There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Colossians 4:2 KJV — Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Philippians 3:7-8 KJV — But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
I’m looking for the opportunity here. I’m looking for deeper healing. Maybe if I had been keeping up with my devotional readings I would have read this before blowing up.
Renee and Stephen have been friends through a full ass decade of changes in our lives.
Now Westen is beginning his journey as an instructor and Isaac is approaching his entrance into the adult program. We are blessed to have met this wonderful couple and watching my sons grow under their tutelage has been a constant source of comfort.
Each day presents challenges and I’m grateful to have read Psalm 118:24 this morning: This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
In this season of new beginnings and the inevitable grief of the way things were, we stay grateful for this, the Lord’s day.
I’m always chasing God. Whether on a soccer field, in conversation, running a business, or in prayer, I feel deeply that God gave me an excess of energy for pursuit.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV — Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 12:2 KJV — Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Psalm 23:4 KJV — Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Although I trust in Him, I do not easily rest in that trust.
Romans 8:1-2 KJV — There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Isaiah 30:21 KJV — And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
John 10:27 KJV — My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Psalm 23:1-3 KJV — A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
I wasn’t so sure about this devotional because it doesn’t print the referenced scriptures. I get suspicious when guidance isn’t right next to the Word.
Today’s entry directed me to find scripture that hit directly on my problem.
I’ve been super distracted and today was really bad, I totally forgot my son’s guitar lesson and I am mentally all over the place. I’m letting social media and worldy concerns take my attention.
Freedom from distraction is found in a focus on The Most High. When I focus on Christ and the Love that I have received from God, my path becomes clear and unlittered.
I’m not there yet. I’m here typing on my phone, thinking about jiu-jitsu and soccer tonight and dinner and what’s tomorrow and and and…
Yet in the tumult, I can see the calm waters beyond. They are always there, waiting for me. There is comfort and reset in those waters.
I’m diving into a couple books that have called out to me.
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And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
John 5:5 KJV
I had thirty and eight years when I found Jesus in my heart. Many of those years had been spent in discussions, debates, books, lectures, and entertainment designed to uncover the mysteries and meanings of life.
It wasn’t any of that study that ultimately brought me to believing in Jesus Christ as the son of God on Earth. It was reading the words Jesus spoke in his short ministry.
I began my healing in that year. Before I had thirty and nine years, I would lose my wife. If Jesus had not shown up when he did, I don’t know how I would have survived the pain and brokeness of widowhood.
I still lean into the discussions and lectures (debates, not so much). I have an active, curious mind and I want to feed it nourishing food. However, I’m happiest and most comforted when faith is easy and heartfelt.
We have a skin infection running through the house. One son likely got it in a jiu-jitsu tournament and now my other son and I are suffering from it. I was feeling low and ugly this morning. Physical affection is my love language and I felt untouchable. To protect those I love I would have to be lonely. I thought a simple thing, “Only Jesus would hold me like this.”
The woe-is-me became a solace. No matter how much the world might reject me, I have absolute faith that Jesus will love me. I’m spiritually vulnerable and convinced that is how this infection was able to take hold.
I am healing. God is the source of healing and we are called to meet Him in that healing place.
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians 3:10-13 KJV
Becoming Christ is impossible. Becoming more Christ-like is a daily effort.
I fall short of this effort on most days. I seek Christ’s strength and wisdom, as well as his compassion and forgiveness. It’s the challenge and balance of parenthood. It’s exhausting to stay strong in conviction, yet love those who mistreat you. This is painfully complicated when those betrayers are your children.
I know God meant me to raise these willful boys. It’s a thousand blessings measured against a handful of curses. And that’s just before lunch.
