Lord's Day Devotion - Jesus, The Branch

 

We know and believe that God is faithful in keeping His promises.  He promised He'd send a Messiah and He did.  We see it fulfilled in Jesus - Immanuel - God with us.  Praise the Lord for this!

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel" (which means, God with us)" (Matthew 1:23 ESV).

Immanuel, our Savior, the Messiah, "the anointed one," is the one who specifically and purposely came to fix a major problem, and save a group from a crisis.

And didn't Jesus do just that ~  He came to save His people from their sins and this spilled over for the Gentiles benefit too.  He came to seek and to save the lost.  That is whom this Messiah came to save.  And He did (see Matthew 1:21 and Luke 19:10 ESV).

He died a cruel death upon the cross at Calvary.  He rose again for our justification and He's alive and I'm redeemed, along with all my other brothers and sisters-in-Christ the world over.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Furthermore, Jesus is the Branch mentioned in Isaiah 11:1-9.  This is why I say God has kept His promise not only to Israel but to the "whosoever will" who should accept His offer of salvation (see John 3:16).

Jesus is the shoot and branch that came out of the stump of Jesse, His ancestor of something like 28 or 29 generations past.  Jesus is the royal descendant of King David.  He came up out of a seemingly dead stump or line which was raised up again and brought new life.

He brought righteousness and peace.  God kept His promise even to so many generations down the lineage.  It's rather mind-blowing but it startles one into the realization of just how much God cares about us and also how much we can trust Him because He keeps and has kept His promise.

And now we can delight in Him and all He has done for us through Jesus Messiah.  Indeed He is righteous and faithful!

This Lord's Day, let's remember our faithful God and Savior who is our priest and king.  Jesus the branch being of the same trunk as God, sharing the same divine life and 'material' as our Creator God.  He is the Branch who came as the Messiah to save us from our crisis of the penalty of our sins.

Take of the broken bread, drink of the cup of wine in sacred solemn reverence, but also in joyful, glad thanksgiving for His salvation of our souls!

Thank You, Jesus!

                                                  ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on Isaiah 11:1-9; Matthew 1:21; Jeremiah 23:5-6 and 33:14-22 and Luke 19:10 ESV.

Sing, Hallelujah chorus of Handels Messiah, along with the Royal Choral Society.

Book Review - Korean Black - By JP Blome - Publication Date: 25 September 2026

 Tragedy is tough to overcome especially when you've seen somthing horrendous.  The effects often roar silently, rumbling in waves and aftershocks of silent grief even years later.  The 'victims' become strong in their overcoming.  Such was the case for Yi Seo and her Dad, along with Wendy and Liam who became a very supportive and close-knit, caring family.  I really like this aspect of the Korean Black story.  The mysteries and masks and secrets of Korean Black added lure, as did the reasoning and development behind them, which Yi Seo and Liam created and breathed, setting the rythmn and beat tempo.

The worlds of designers and music were an interesting mix in my opinion.  About 10% of the way into reading the book, the word that came to mind was 'intricate'.  As I read further into the novel, I found it an intoxicating balance between the two lines or lives, that Yi Seo lived:  fashion and song, coupled with healing.

Another thing I appreciated was the multicultural thread of interest that ran through this living, 'breathing' story.  The romance angles were icing on the cake in this hard-to-put down account.  For me, two other words, tender and compassionate, help in describing this good book.  I believe other potential readers will find it just as riveting a read.  

A 5 Star rating from me.

                                           ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                         August 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by Netgalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

And more than ....

More Punctuality Needed

 Ugh, late again and they made all the others wait.  So they cheerfully sang a song they'd heard at camp ...

"What we want is more punctuality,

More punctuality,

More punctuality;

What we want is more punctuality,

We were here on time.

We were here on time x2

what we want is more punctuality,

We were here on time."

And then they all clapped enthusiastically.

The late ones, sheepishly, at least, sat down as soon as possible, attempting to blend in ...

The singers were not sure if the latecomers were truly sorry or not since they made a habit of being late, no matter the time of any event.   They seemed rather incorrigible.

Sigh ...

It was like they felt themselves to be more important than everyone else.  This obviously was not an attitude of humility nor was it looking out for the other peoples' intersts.  Rather, they

 "counted themselves more significant" (Philippians 2:3 & 4 ESV).

But where there's life, there is hope.  Where the Holy Spirit indwells, the one indwelt can and ought to change this lack of punctuality into being on time.  

Because ...

What we need is more humble punctuality, but not to get proud of that either ... Here's hoping ...

Bye for now ...

                                             ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on James 3:17 & 18.

Song, Be In Time, along with Hymns of Praise.

Incidently, it is exceedingly important to be on time to receive Jesus as Savior in the here and now.  Once Jesus comes to call all believers up to heaven, it will be forever too late.

Imitating NOT Comparing

 God of wonders, beyond our comprehension, You are the best!  You are the "most-est" of all.  We cannot compare ourselves to You even one iota.  Yet we still desire to emulate Your son Jesus Christ.  We desire to be more like Him; to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered.  We wish to avoid comparing ourselves with others.  Help us Father.

Like Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he exhorted ...

"Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves.  But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding"                             (2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV).

Cain got jealous and angry at Abel, comparing himself with his brother.  It led to murder.

Hearts full of 'self' are a huge hindrance towards humility and becoming Christlike.  I tell you, just so you know.

Nothing we can do or be, can compare to our Jesus Christ but we can allow the Holy Spirit to move and nudge us towards being more like Him.  In this can be found more humble hearts.

Let's pray for that.

Bye for now...

                                            ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV.

Sing, God of Wonders, along with Chris Tomlin.

HAIKU & A PRAYER of Blessing and Hope - The Little Bundle

 "I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds" (Psalm 9:1 ESV).

We can observe the psalmist's thanksgiving for all the Lord has done and how it swelled his heart and lips with praise. He seems to be declaring and recounting His wonderful deeds.  And they are indeed, good deeds.

It is very good and one of the most wonderful recent things our LORD has given to us to tell about, it is a baby boy grandson.  Our first of many, I hope ... haha.

Praise You Father and Lord of my heart for the safe arrival of little boy S____.  May he grow up before You as a tender plant that is well nurtured in every way.  May he grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with both You and all mankind.

Give the Grandparents the wisdom and understanding to have good influence in his life and to pass on the love of Jesus, so His will and ways will be instilled.

May he live under Your Lordship in every relationship and let him be willingly taught by You, walking with a meek and humble heart, yet with Your courage and peace guiding him.

I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

That is the prayer of blessing and hope.  Now here's the Haiku...

HAIKU - The Little Bundle

The Grandparents did

not know they were old enough

for that title.  Joy.

 

The Little Bundle

of joy slept soundly.  Snuggled

in swaddling blankets

Then, in their arms, he

slept on, unaware of the

moments of rapture.

Sleep well, Little One,

Jesus loves you, and wraps you

in His tender care.

        ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on Psalm 9:1 ESV.

Sing, Because He Lives, along with the Gaither Vocal Band Music.

NOTE:

This song was chosen because of the line, "How sweet to hold a newborn baby."

Soon, But Not Specifically Soon

 Jesus is coming soon, He's coming to get us.  "Us" as in His followers, made children of God through Him.  But, "soon"?  Well, no specific date is stated.  But the hope of us hearing that trumpet of God is out there, ready or not.

What kind of a trumpet?  I don't know.  A shofar?  I don't know but it matters not.  I believe I'll know it when I hear it, just like knowing my Good Shepherd, Jesus' voice.  A sheep who follows the Good Shepherd, will KNOW it instinctively, I believe.  And up we'll go to meet Him in the air and be with Him forever and ever.

Isn't this encouraging?!

Thank You, Jesus.

Jesus come!

Bye for now ...

                                               ~  ERC  August  2026  ~

Based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV.

Sing, Soon and Very Soon, along with Andrae Crouch and Emmanuel Church Eastleigh.

Lord's Day Devotion - Boast in Jesus

 

Lord, You are just and righteous, Your love is steadfast and unmoveable.  You've done so much for us, Your followers, through Your death and resurrection.  In You may we only boast.  To boast of Your goodness and love and especially of the salvation You earned for us.

Help me to have the humility needed so that no matter my achievements, my boasts will always, ever, be in You.

I ask in Your name Lord Jesus even this Lord's Day that through all this blest assurance we will know and understand Your love and wish to be surrounded by Your presence in our lives.  We take of the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine, symbols of what you went through for us.  In this may we always boast.  Amen.

                                                    ~  ERC  September 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 3:8 and Proverbs 27:2 ESV.

Sing, All My Boast is in Jesus, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.