Lord's Day Devotion - "I'm A Sinner" (Luke 7:29 & 30 ESV)

 I find these verses such sad commentary ...

"When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him"            (Luke 7:29 & 30 ESV).

The first part is great.  It's the second part about the Pharisees and lawyers that is sad.  The very ones who should be setting examples due to their religious leadership roles and the knowledge of God's Laws, steadfastly refused John's baptism.  I suppose they thought they had impeccable portfolios of behavior according to "God's Law" and therefore exempt.  They surely don't need to repent of any sins nor receive baptism!

This attitude continued and even became more ingrained when relating to Jesus.  The holier-than-thou stance blinded them to who Jesus truly was.

How blessed though the people were who had repented and were baptised.  I like the phrase like even, 

"the tax collectors too!"

These were a despised group who were notorious for dubious dealings whilst collecting taxes for the Romans.  These tax collectors being their own kinsfolk and thus looked upon with even greater despicableness and contempt due to their extorting money out of their own poeple.

But even the tax collectors acknowledged their own wrong.  This is such stark contrast to the religious leaders bearing.  

This puts one in mind of Jesus' parable of the two men who went to pray.  The first extolled himself proudly with a litany of all his accomplishements and self-righteousness.  The second pray-er could barely lift his head and admitted, "I'm a sinner," but just the same asking God for mercy (see Luke 18:9-14).

May we not be characterized by pride but be truly humble before the Lord, seeking His grace and mercy every day.  This is greater wisdom.

We see Jesus who humbled Himself and even "fulfilled all righteousness" by being baptized by John the Baptizer Himself.  He is the only one who never had had to do this.  In Him was NO sin (see 1 John 3:5).  Therefore there was nothing for Him to repent of (see Philippians 2:4-11).

He could then be our spotless Lamb of God who sacrificed Himself for us (see 1 Peter 1:19).  Let us followers of Jesus Christ ponder on these things as we partake of the broken bread and drink from the cup of wine in remembrance of His death and resurrection, this Lord's Day.

In Him we have redemption and the chance to repent and be saved receiving His forgiveness and salvation.  This in turn leading to our baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Thank You Jesus for blessing us with Your salvation and making us Your disciples.  May we be humble followers all our days.  Amen.

                                                    ~ ERC  August 2025 ~

Based on Luke 7:29 & 30 ESV.

Sing, Lamb of God, along with The Maranatha Singers.

The Holy Spirit Descended (Luke 4 ESV)

 The Spirit of the Lord was seen ... 

" ... descending on Him like a dove ... as Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters of the Jordan River ..." (see Mark 1:10 & 11 ESV).

We see Jesus heading to the wilderness next.  Luke records that Jesus was ... 

" ... full of the Holy Spirit ...and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness" (Luke 4:1 ESV).

We knew that that's when He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness and was then tested by Satan with temptations that could have brought many others down.

We know that our blessed Jesus did not succumb to these wiles of the devil.  Praise be to Jesus!

In no way diminished, Jesus ... 

" ... returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee ... and He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all" (Luke 4:14 & 15 ESV).

Then Jesus finds and reads from the scroll,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" (vs 18).

His comment when He'd finished reading was ...

 "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in Your hearing" (Luke 4:21 ESV).

After that we read of Him healing and teaching.  The Holy Spirit had filled Him leading Him into the wilderness temptation but He overcame and in the power of the Holy Spirit He taught and publically read the Scriptures.

He notates for His hearers that the portions read have already been "fulfilled," thus, indirectly referring to Himself.

He taught and healed in the power of the HolySpirit.  This is what the Holy Spirit led Jesus to do.  I believe that those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior have this same Holy Spirit indwelling them.  Jesus sent Him to the disciples after He ascended back to Heaven.  From that time on the Holy Spirit has been active within believers.

It is up to us to listen for the Holy Spirit's leading and then go about our days filled with the Holy Spirit who then empowers us to do works for Jesus as they arise in our daily life.

Thank You Jesus for the gift of salvation and of Your Holy Spirit who indwells us.  Your good and perfect gifts are wonderful! Amen.

                                               ~ ERC  August 2025 ~

Based on Luke 4 ESV.

Sing, Hymn of the Holy Spirit, along with Pat Barret.

Prayer - Bring Out the Best (Luke 6:31 & 32 ESV)

 There's people we have to see, often on a daily basis.  People who aren't necessarily family but with whom we still interact with for good or bad, whether we want to or not.  There are those who bring out the worst in us no matter how hard we try not to let them disturb our peace of mind.

But then, for a follower of Jesus Christ, we can turn it into opportunities to test, in a fierce crucible even, our Christ-like grace, character and attitudes.  We can let Jesus help us turn it into bringing out our best Christ-likeness instead.

Oh Lord, give us the fortitude to navigate with "thorns-in-the-flesh" people.

I suppose You'd say, "I love them as much as I love You."

Okay, Lord, but I definitely NEED YOUR help!  May Your Holy Spirit work mightily in me to overcome and bring out Your -ness ness.

Then we can give You our praise and thanks from grateful hearts and Your glory can be exalted, O God, over all the environment and situations in which we respectively live.

Only by Your grace can we do this.  Help us to keep this in mind in those crucial moments when we'd much rather let our old nature take over.  May Your Holy Spirit fill us to let You be in charge of those moments.

In Jesus' name I pray from the depth of my heart to ask.  Amen.

                                          ~ ERC  August 2025  ~

Based on Luke 6:31 & 32 ESV.

Sing, Holy Spirit Living Breath of God, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Book Review - Mastering Chronic Pain: How Peak Resilience Unlocks Your Potential - By Dr. Sahar Swidan and Dr. Matthew Bennett - Publication Date: 4 September 2025

 

In my opinion, this book is a message of hope and comunication feeding directly into the hearts and minds of those who suffer from chronic pain.  The word 'resilience' is a key word thoughout as the complete book title indicates.  If I'm understanding the authors correctly, the book offers a progressive chain of action that is important to note when talking about mastering chronic pain.

As a potential reader would read through this book, they can expect some significant technical jargon given the topic.  However, I believe even laymen will be able to understand what is described regarding managing and mastering chronic pain.  What's more, I feel that those who suffer such pain will definitely be able to relate, learning a wealth of beneficial information, not just to cope but to cultivate resilience, helping themselves to 'come back to life' and enabling a better quality of life.

Furthermore, there is good information on the nature of pain and how it works on the body systems, intertwining and entangling, captivating them in vicious cycles of pain unless there is intervention, not with medication, per se, but with other actions as prescribed in this book.  For example, explanations about how pain works on the nerves, gut, the brain, the pschological elements and more, setting them afire.  Then helpful suggestions on how to help oneself in these areas.

Once again, I'll say that I feel the authors are thankfully bringing hope to those who suffer chronic pain, teaching them how to apply certain breathing exercises, giving questions for reflection, journaling and other things to try to reframe their pain story.

The authors really seem to cover a broad spectrum of all that is inter-connected to the management and mastering of chronic pain.  I reckon most readers, whether they are the actual sufferers, or the family and friends and support group, will all have satisfaction when gaining this knowledge and understanding and be able to reach for that desired peak resilience to master the chronic pain, together, one little bit at a time - slow and steady though it may be.

                                          ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                       September 2025

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

Read review on Goodreads.

Prayer - For the Peoples of Goma

 

"We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near ..." (                 Psalm 75:1 ESV).

Your steadfast love continues through out the ages from genereation to generation.  But You are also a just God and a Savior.

Your are a 

"God who executes judgement, putting down one and lifting up another"                           (Psalm 75:7 ESV).

Nowadays, we see what wicked men, namely M23 terrorists in this case, are doing in Goma, Congo.  They've killed hundreds on a regular basis.  They have been brutally whipping school children* who walked to school.  These children do not have the money for bus fare yet are unreasonably commanded to ride the bus.  If they walk they get their backs whipped.  They are terrorizing the children and devastating their parents, if indeed the parents haven't already been killed.  These are just a couple examples of the atrocities.

O Father, put these terrorists down we implore You in Jesus' name.  Bring them to saving faith in Christ Jesus.  Bring joy, peace and revival to this city and its peoples.  May it start with M23!  That would be so miraculous!

Lift up those of Your righteous people to rule.  You have said in Your word that ...

"When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan" (Proverbs 29:2 ESV).

Long ago, Father, You heard the groanings of the children of Israel in Egypt when they were in slavery.  They endured hardship and cruelty day in and day out for many long years!  Similarly, the people of Goma suffer.  May it not be for such a long time!  You have some righteous people there too.  Increase their numbers, Father!

We say, "Ephaphatha!" to the murderous minds and hard hearts of the M23 leaders.  May they be opened and touched by Your love and care and salvation some way or another.  

Your ways are perfect and endure forever.  We trust You to orchestrate it.  We give You thanks for hearing our prayers.  Let Your glory be over Goma.  

We praise You and ask in Jesus' most precious name, amen.

                                              ~ ERC  August 2025 ~

Based on Psalm 75:1 & 7 ESV.

Sing, Be Exalted, O God (I Will Give Thanks), along with Manhattan Cornerstone Presbyterian.

*Note:  I cannot find a news account re: the whipping of school children but have seen private pictures thereof which I will not share.

Parents are fearful to send their children to school, however.

Jesus' Family Tree (Luke 3:23-38 ESV)

Family trees and genealogies interest me.  When I see Jesus' family tree, I feel intrigued.  He began His ministry about the age of 30.  He did so not only in His own right but also many of His ancestors listed were mighty in their faith in God and noted for it (see Old Testament accounts).

When I read this Luke list it hit me how one generation must have been instructing the next in the fear of the Lord and the power of His might.  They had been obedient to the Deuteronomy 6:6-7 command God gave Moses to give to the children of Israel so long ago.

Commands to impress God's Word, will and ways upon their children.  They were to talk about them at home and while walking along the road and more.  A thorough education about God and His love and care for the parents and the whole nation over the years must have been expressed.  They had instilled that God loved them and would care for their children too.

We too would be blessed by following suit with our children, grandchildren and so on.  Passing this baton on is a blessing to continually be bestowed in on-going succession.

I think of one of my friends and her family.  Six generation so far, have been serving the Lord.  Three before her, then her, her daughter and her grand-daughter have been engaging in mission work since decades past and continuing to this day.

Marvelous are the works of the Lord through the great-grand, grandfather, and father and on through my friend to her next generations.  We have this example in our day and age.

We can stop and think ... What does our respective lineage look like?  Who's next?

Yes, Some of Jesus' ancestors did wrong.  But they repented and paid the consequences, yet their faith did get passed on down the line.  The Scripture comes to mind,

"Whose faith follow" (see Hebrews 13:7).

Jesus, of course, being fully God and fully human, did no wrong.  As His children, we have been forgiven and can continue to be forgiven and then serve Him wholeheartedly as we do the work He has prepared for us to do (see 1 John 1:9).

I think of this line from a Haiku poem ...

"From generation

to generation, let us

rejoice and be glad."

     ~ ERC ~

By God's grace we can carry on and continue to fruitfully build His family tree.

                                                   ~ ERC  August 2025 ~

Based on Luke 3:23-39 (ESV).

Sing, Missionary Anthem (YWAM).

Book Review - A Christmas Wish for Little Dala Horse - By Sonja Anderson - Publication Date: 9 September 2025

 

If a child enjoys learning about other cultures and their traditions, this could be a fun choice for them.  I found the story to be a sweet and engaging one about Swedish Christmas traditions that include Saint Lucia, a little woodcarved horse, in this case named, Little Dala, as the book title suggests.  One cannot forget to mention the typical goodies, namely the pepparkator cookies.

This book plays out the actual Christmas procession through the streets to the church and how St. Lucia's story is re-enacted.  Little Dala Horse is added endearment.

I like that the author seems to emphasize gifts from the heart; that being a truer gift.

At story's end, a reader will find a write up about the actual Saint Lucia and how she came to be so connected and entwined into Swedish Christmas traditions. 

                                             ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                           July 2025

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

Read review on Goodreads.