Heavenly Father, you proclaim to us that Jesus is the Lord of glory, yet we often view glory according to the flesh. We regard princes and princesses, seeking to be among those who are rich, beautiful, and popular, and despairing when we are not. This affects how we treat our neighbors, whom we are called to love without favoritism. Forgive […]
A Prayer to the Lord of Glory
Chess: Increasing Small Advantages
Given that in-person chess has effectively ceased this year due to COVID-19, my “fire” for chess has waned. Still, notice how the amazing chess artist Mikhail Tal turns a small advantage into a great attack. Observe this position. What do you notice about it? Notice that black has a tremendous space advantage. Look at white’s pieces–most of them on the […]
Confession at Thanksgiving
Heavenly Father, with grief and hatred of our sin we come before you now. We confess that we have sinned against you. We have broken your law and deserve your full wrath against our sin, except for our Savior, Jesus Christ. Specifically, we confess our forgetfulness of your many blessings. You have made us, sent Christ to die for our […]
More than Conquerors
Yesterday as I reflected on Isaiah’s amazing words, it struck me that God’s promise to be with us in the fire and waters changes the way we look at the fire and water – the trials of life. We don’t fear them. But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: […]
Brief Review: A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible: Second Edition
For years, I have longed to have the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament in one volume. Biblia Sacra is the common gold standard, but it is expensive. After looking at various options, I finally on A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible: Second Edition by A. Philip Brown II and Bryan W. Smith (Zondervan Academic; Hardcover, 2020). A […]
A Higher Power at Work
My children and I are enjoying listening to Where the Red Fern Grows together. After the boy gets his puppies, he reflects on God’s providence: Still mumbling names over and over, I glanced up. There, carved in the white bark of a sycamore tree, was a large heart. In the center of the heart were two names, “Dan” and “Ann.” […]
Another Prayer Based on Jonah 1
Gracious God and Father, we humble ourselves before you and plead for forgiveness today. Isaiah tells us that sin separates us from you, and we know it all too well. Sin also separates us from the neighbors we are called to love. You care for everything and everyone you created, but we are focused only on ourselves. When we run […]
A Prayer Based on Jonah 1
Father, we confess that the spirit of Jonah still lives in us, for we rebel against your commands. We think we know better than you. We lean on our own understanding. We don’t believe your ways “work.” Forgive us for our pride that leads us to say, “no” to you. Thank you that the Son of God said “yes” to […]
A Prayer from Micah 5
Holy God, there is none like you. We bow down before your infinite majesty, your perfect justice, and your inexplicable mercy. You have done what human ‘wisdom’ cannot explain—bestowed salvation on those weak and lowly, saved us through Christ crucified. We give thanks to you for saving us through faith in Christ. You have done this despite our craving of […]
Guilt, Grace, Gratitude
This is the pattern of the Christian life: Guilt, Grace, Gratitude. There is so much to this dynamic. For example, it shows us that: Truth transforms. Christian salvation is not just a “get out of hell free” card that leaves a person living however they want, but gratitude truly comes where God’s grace is known, and that gratitude means life […]