Been A While

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It has been a while since I have posted on this blog. Why? Good questions! Best response? OK, how about the most honest response? I got lazy! I was putting a lot of energy into writing decent devotions. I don't do some of the special stuff, cute graphics, wonderful pictures, and all that sort of stuff. I don't have the technical know-how to do such things. And to be frank, I don't want to take the time to learn.

OK, having said all that, I thought I would write something new - if for no other reason than to say, "Hello! Who's out there?"

Now that we're here though, maybe a few thoughts might be in order, they may be devotional, they many not.

The other day I packed up a couple rods and headed out to the river. While I was driving, I was listening to Jeremiah. As I have done for a few years now, I challenge people to join me in reading through either the New Testament, or the entire Bible in a specific time frame - from Ash Wednesday through Pentecost. It can be a bit daunting if easily distracted, but this year I decided I was going to listen to it via and audible Bible app. What I have found truly interesting is how many time I have had to back up and listen to something again and say, "Hmmm, how come I missed that before?" 

To be fair, I am listening to is in a translation I have not used before to read through the entire Scripture, so maybe that is the difference. But I am no fully convinced that is that case. It might be that I have just gotten to the point of decrepitude in the natural cycle of aging that I have forgotten things. Or maybe, as we experience more of life and the things going on around us, something strikes us in a new way. 

I am not going to sit here and write to you about the new insights I have gleaned, but I will use this as a moment to encourage you.

  • Open your Bible and get into it. 
  • Maybe find a new translation (make sure it is faithful to the original texts and not a version that is simply trying to appeal to the masses by being cutting edge). 
  • Maybe listen to it instead of reading it. 
  • Whatever you choose to do, remember to approach it in prayer, asking God to grant His Holy Spirit upon your time in His Word that you may be led to grow in faith and the knowledge of the truth.

Peace of the Lord be with you!  




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday after Trinity X - Devotion in semi-Exile

   Lection for Tuesday Trinity X 2  Samuel 7:18- 29      1 Corinthians 10:2 3-11:16   In later editions of Luther’s Small Catechism there appears a set of twenty questions “for those who intend to go to the Sacrament.” These questions reflect the teaching of 1 Corinthians which suggests that a man “should examine himself” before he eats or drinks at the Lord’s Supper. (1 Cor. 11:23-32 specifically vs. 28). I like to use these questions and answers myself, usually on Sunday mornings before the first service, but sometimes even on Saturday evening before going to bed.   I pray that you find them useful in your regular devotional life.   Christian Questions with Their Answers   Prepared by Dr. Martin Luther for those who intend to go to the Sacrament [The “Christian Questions with Their Answers,” designating Luther as the author, first appeared in an edition of the Small Catechism in 1551, five years after Luther's death.]   After con...
Read more

Wednesday after Epiphany I - A devotion

Lectionary for January 13 Ezekiel 36:13-28        Romans 4:1-25 Let us take a moment to look at the last few verses of our Old Testament reading. 22  “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  23  I will vind icate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  24  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  25  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  26  Moreover, I wi...
Read more

Misericordias Domini Friday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Misericordias Domini - Friday  Exodus 39:32-40:16       Luke 8:22-39 With tomorrow being Opening Day of fishing Wisconsin, my memory wandered a bit to a past trip with a friend in his boat fishing. We were out in the middle of the lake, leaned back with feet up on the gunwale relaxing, soaking up the sun. Fishing was slow, you’re a bit relaxed. I finally got a bite, put my feet down and they splash as water comes up over my shoe-tops and fills them. The fish on the end of my pole took a secondary priority as the 6 inches of water in the bottom of the boat was a bit of a shock and quickly got my attention. It did not scare me, but I was a bit concerned, we were in the middle of the lake after all. I shouted at Steve, in the same leaned back position, “Hey, where’d all the water come from?” He looked down and immediately scrambled to the back of the boat.   I grabbed the empty coffee can and proceeded to bail water as Steve began the frant...
Read more