Lord's Day Devotion - Praying & Singing

 "Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing praise" (James 5:!13 ESV).

Two very direct cause and effect actions can be observed from this verse.  If there's suffering, then pray.  If there's cheerfulness, then sing praise.

These are good reminders.  But I think, as followers of Jesus Christ, when we suffer sicknesses, or a sudden death of a beloved one or shocks of other impact, we do pray.  With a major happening occuring, our reflex is to pray.  At least I hope so.

Then there's the shower singers.  It's almost automatic.  Taking a shower seems to make many happy and cheerful and so they sing in the shower, as if the good cheer pours out of the shower head along with the cleansing water, and so one cannot avoid singing.  Ha, ha.

Apart from this, do any of you belong to a whatsApp chat group that prays and sings?  I do.  I'm very happy with this group.  I dare to say there are no spam messages.

When one of the group is hurting in some way, we pray.  When there is cause for joy, - well we may not sing together, but there is good cheer all around.  Some of the chat group members do share songs we can listen to on our own timing.  This is a very encouraging group that also knows how to build each other up in our Lord and faith.

As this article is meant for a Lord's Day devotion, we can bring our thoughts to Jesus' suffering.  He suffered, bled and died for us.  He bought our pardon and offered the gift of salvation to all who believe.

Jesus suffered but the disciples didn't seem to pray.  They were so bewildered, perplexed and scattered.  Some of the disciples went back to fishing.   Others walked dejectedly to Emmaus.  Some of the women were thinking a bit straighter and in their deep sorrow, went to Jesus' tomb.

But what could have shocked and befuddled them further then to see the stone rolled away and Jesus' body missing.  Then hope and joy arose despite the further wonderment, Jesus is alive,  He spoke and gave directions.

Alas, the women were not well believed, although hope was springing up.  Graciously, Jesus appears on the seashore for the fishermen, aong the road to the two Emmaus walkers and then to the gathering in the upper room.

Belief and unbelief commingle yet hope and joy spring up more.  We don't read that they began to sing but we can imagine the joy.

And when they watch Jesus ascend back into heaven, they don't crash again.  They worship.  This is a type of singing praise and praying.

When suffering comes there could be joy in the morning.  Prayers and praise singing can intertwine and lighten our hearts and strengthen our bonds with the Lord and each other.

As we partake of the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine in remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection and of His securing our salvation; let's cheerfully sing praise and even if we are also praying through our tears and suffering.

Let's remember to pray and sing and give our thanks to Jesus.

Lord Jesus, we remember Your agonies that You suffered upon the cross on our behalf.  You gave Yourself, totally, for us, because You loved us.  You suffered and You prayed to Your Father in Heaven.  You did this for us.  Now we can sing praise, cheerfully, despite our feeling of sadness at what You had to endure for us.  Your suffering and pain brought us freedom from eternal suffering in Hell - the punishment that should have been ours.  You took it.  You bore it all, for us.  "Thank You" doesn't seem near adequate but it does come from our inner heart sanctums.  And now we sing praise in Your Name Lord Jesus.  Amen.

                                                 ~  ERC  March 2026  ~

Based on James 5:13 ESV. 

Sing, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, along with Lydia Walker and Be Thou My Vision, along with Josh Groban.

Ascribe Greatness

 "Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  He is the Rock, His work is perfect.  For all His ways are judgment.  A God of truth and without iniquity ... Just and right is He" (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 KJV).

All God's ways are judgment, or "justice" as the ESV puts it.  God and His ways are noted here for their perfection, for His faithfulness and for being without iniquity.  He is perfect, therefore there is no iniquity.  So it follows that He is also "The Rock".

He is the Rock on which we can stand.  In all our life's storms when the breakers roar and smash upon us, our God is our Rock, Who helps us endure the buffeting.  We can trust Him because He is forever faithful.

This gives me the feeling of peacefulness as I can 'rest' and trust in Him.  That's so much reassurance.  We can repeat the verses to ourselves and even sing them as they have been set to a tune.

Abba Father, You are so good to us.  So good, kind, and faithful in all Your ways.  Your justice also envelops us and in You we can trust.  Thank You for Your immovable 'rock -ness' and Your immeasurable perfection.  You are great.  In Jesus' name we give You our praise.  Amen.

                                               ~  ERC  march 2026 ~

Based on Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (KJV).

Sing, Ascribe Greatness To Our God the Rock, along with Divine Hymns.

Called In To Question

 

Just because Peter was in a leadership role and especially one of the apostles, it didn't give him "diplomatic immunity".  He was still accountable to the leadership and congregation of believers.

The curve ball God had thrown at him of going to Cornelious the Gentile, explaining the message of Jesus to them was seen as a serious situation.  Yet good leadership allowed Peter to speak, explain and defend himself.  He spoke truth, as it had happened and how God had directed the appointment and rather had taken it out of his hands when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the new believers automatically, despite their ethnic backgrounds.

It was astonishing times for these Jewish brethren.  In the end, the 'tribunal'

 "fell silent".  

They also 

"glorified God." 

 They said,

"Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life"                     (Acts 11:18 ESV).

As one hymn puts it,

" ... to God be the glory, great things He has done ..."!

The humility exhibited by both Peter and the other apostles at this time can be noted.  The submission, not just to each other, but more importantly to what God had showed them through Peter's encounter with Cornelius.

So when "curve balls" come at us, let's not duck, rather deduce direction from God.  If it is legit, as directed by His Word and the Holy spirit, we need to pay attention and get into action.

When it is an individual in leadership being called into question, it's good to hear both sides of the story and not be too proud to speak nor to listen.

"Pride lurks behind all discord" (Alistair Begg).

Peter and the other apostles averted dissession and discord because they humbly listened to each other.  And it wasn't only because it was Peter speaking.  Rather, it had been God's hand of direction.  It's important to discern the difference.

May there be peace, harmony, humility and unity among God's people ... until He comes.

                                                  ~ERC  February 2026  ~

Based on Acts 11:1-18 ESV.

Sing, To God Be the Glory, along with Reawaken Hymns.

Book Review - The Bitter Chalice - By Sean J. Fitzgerald - Publication Date: 18 March 2026

 War is always bitter.  This book of the 1100's anals of the life and times in Ireland, Wales and with hints of England, have been well described.  Disputing over territory,  factions and loyalites easily made and easily broken seem to be the norm. Power plays and more, garner the pages often with coercion propelling heinious, graphic actions are enough to curdle the innerds of any potential reader who loves bloodletting and gore. At least, this is my opinion.

I was not expecting this and it left me cold.  I also found it somewhat difficult to follow the threads of who's who.  Part of this may be the point with all the switching and shifting allegieances.  I gave up keeping tract of it all.  I did feel sympathy for Aoife though.

All in all, this book 2 in the Hiboerno-Norman Chronicles has been well named - The Bitter Chalice.  It surely lives up to its name, I believe.

                                            ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                    March 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. 

Book Review - The Shopkeeper's Heartbreak - By Evelyn Hood - Publication Date: 16 March 2026

 Another hard-to-put-down work of historical fiction by Evelyn Hood; it's great.  Her story is very down-to-earth, a very plausible small town living scenario.  Her characters resonated with me:  their emotions and actions and reactions.  In my opinion, Hood keeps her characters true to form throughout, creating a cohesive whole.

The time frame is prior to, and the early days of, WWI.  There is the rich vs poor scene of sugar factory and wool factories owners and employees.  There are surging suffragettes, conscientious objectors; scoundrels; physical abuse; unfaithful husbands and more.  There are those who care and help too, Lessie being a typical example.

The Shopkeeper's Heartbreak breaks your heart when the story ends.  You will want more, I believe; at least, I did.  This is actually Book 1 in a series, so potetntial readers can take heart, I'd say.

                                           ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                             March 2026

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

Read reveiw on Goodreads.

The Full Injunction

 No matter how old we get, life still throws curve balls at us.  It happened to Peter.

He was praying and fell into a trance.  In the vision he saw food considered unclean to Jews, being offered to him, with the command from a voice from Heaven to

 "rise, kill and eat."

  You can feel Peter's mortification.  He'd never once in his many years ever touched such food!

But the voice told him,

"What God has cleansed, that call not thou common" (Acts 10:15 KJV).

Enter Cornelius' men.  They stood knocking at Simon the Tanner's door looking for one Simon Peter.  These were Gentile men and considered anathema to the Jews.  In fact, the Jews and Gentiles hated each other.

Nevertheless, God had graciously prepared Peter for this divine appointment and Peter goes with the messengers to Cornelius'.  We know the story that Cornelius' and all who had been in his house that day, came to Christ through Peter's explanations.  They immediately received the Holy Spirit and then were baptized.

I note these because Peter didn't flinch much.  He obediently submitted to God's direction and leading.  It may well have cost him his pride and prejudice.  

I like to think that despite his character, he was humble.  He had grown in humility from his first days of following Jesus; thus, his obedience.

His actions brought the gospel to the Gentiles.  He spearheaded it even though Paul then took up the baton and became the main evangelist to the Gentiles.

Peter was't just reponsible to get Cornelius and household saved and baptized.  NO.  They invited him to

 "tarry certain days" (vs 48).

We aren't told how long that tarrying was, but Peter was still following Jesus' "great commission" to 

"make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ... and teaching them to obey/observe all that I have commanded you ..." (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV).

Peter didn't leave these new believers high and dry.  It's good to complete this injunction from Jesus.  It's very important to preach and to teach God's word in its fullness.  It's our responsibilty.

I know of one sister who was saved but then not taught in her church.  She got sidelined into a cult that is very systematic in it's indoctrination of their beliefs to its adherents.  Turns out, she was wanting solid teaching in the truth.  She wasn't taught the truth so now she has imbibed and been blinded by, false doctrine, taking it as gospel truth.

This is a crying shame to all of us believers who do not nurture new believers in the fear and admonition of the Lord (see Ephesians 6:4 KJV), nor build them up in their most holy faith" (see Jude 1:20-21 ESV).  Let's not have Bible Study session that are full of our own opinions and experiences.  Let's REALLY know the Lord through REALLY knowing His word and building a relationship with Him.  Then move forward in obedience to His word no matter your ethnic background.

May we each be convicted of our short-comings in this arena.  May we proactively rectify the situation as it comes to us, especially if there is potential prejucide or racism involved.  Ask the Lord to show you and help you.

                                                ~  ERC  February 2026  ~

Based on Acts 10 KJV/ESV.

Sing, In Christ Alone, alone with Hadleigh Church.

Turned to the Lord

 Ananias started it off.  He was cautious, but the Lord had told him to

 "Rise and go ..." 

So he went to the newly converted Saul of Tarsus, layed hands on him and Saul received his sight.

Saul received his sight both spiritually and physically, regaining sight and insight on both fronts.  He was baptized and promptly began preaching, proclaiming Jesus is the Son of God.

It is of importance here to see just how far-reaching our actions can be.  From Ananias' obedience, to Saul of Tarsus' humble conversion, we then get Barnabas' bravery in bringing Saul to the apostles.  This encouragement towards Saul and the vindication from the apostles, spearheaded Saul's (who became Paul) work among the Gentiles, even as the Lord had explained to Ananias.

"The church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria" now experienced, "peace and was being built up" (vs 31).

What's more, they were seen to be 

"walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit."

And we can't forget the last bit, the church

"multiplied."

Switching over to Peter, we see what he was up to while Paul was sent off to Caesarea and on to Tarsus.  He healed Aeneas.  The results were not to 'worship' Peter nor put him upon a pedestal.  NO.  We read instead,

"And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him [the healed man's] miracle ..."

Pay attention to what they did ...

" ... they turned to the Lord" (vs 35).

Are our actions turning people to the Lord?  I ask myself this too because I'm not so sure of myself. 

Tabitha Dorcas was a woman

 "full of good works and acts of charity."  

She did so much good the people appreciated and loved her.  When she died, they were heartbroken.  They called for Peter.

I find it interesting that Peter did similary to what Jesus had done at times when healing.  He put everyone out.  He did not need an audience.  He went to the core of what was needed.  Quiet.  No audience.  He knelt and prayed.  Then he spoke. 

 "Tabitha, arise." 

 He 

"presented her alive" 

to her people.

The best result should be noted from all this.  It was that,

"Many believed in the Lord" (vs 43)!

Again, we can ask ourselve, "Does what I do turn others to belief in the Lord?"

Let's pray that we live a life of such integrity and steadfast faith in the Lord that our actions and life reflect Jesus to others.  In so doing, pray that we do turn others to the Lord.  It can be a lifelong prayer that sees fruition.

So be it, Father God.  Amen.

                                             ~ERC  February 2026 ~

Based on Acts 9 ESV.

Sing, What You Are, along with Selah Praise Music, and Must I Go Empty Handed, along with Risen Lord.