Wait for Mercy

Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. — Jude 1:21

Yesterday I had my second shingles shot.

After the first one, I woke up the next day with a fever.

Sure enough, it happened again.

I woke up with a fever this morning plus a slight headache.

I took some Acetaminophen and felt a bit better, with the fever down from 101 to 99.

And I took a nap this afternoon while Kirk made a delicious lemon meringue pie.

We wait for the mercy of Jesus, who brings us eternal life.

Building Yourselves Up

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit. — Jude 1:20

Building ourselves up in the faith is our goal.

And praying continually in the Holy Spirit.

Glorifying and praising God throughout the day.

Giving Him the glory for everything in our lives.

Yesterday I had a chance to pray with a coworker who was going through a hard time.

She is not a Christian and has had some experiences with those who she feels have been very judgmental. 

Even so, she has been very glad that each of her previous jobs has paired her with a Christian friend who has prayed for her.

And she immediately felt a sense of God's calming presence after our prayer together.

Then today she told me that she really felt things had turned around for her, and she thanked me for praying for her.

She later sent me a text of thanks.

Help me, Lord, to continue to pray with and for my friends and family who need to know about You.

Servant of All

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” — Mark 9:35

Jesus tells us that whoever would be first among us must be the servant of everyone.

It is hard to be a servant in today's world.

But I appreciate those around me who are.

Today I got my second shingles shot.

My arm is sore.

Tomorrow I'll find out if I have any side effects.

Last time (after the first shot) it was a fever.

Many of my older friends have gotten their covid vaccines.

When they lower the age a bit, Kirk and I will be able to get one, too.

Praise God for all of the healthcare workers who make these vaccines possible for us.

The Gift in You

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you  Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. — 1 Timothy 4:14-15

God has given us the gift of His Holy Spirit.

He asks us to use our talents for Him.

Then He commands us to think on these things.

And to devote our lives to them.

Our lives should showcase the glory of God.

Everyone should be able to see our progress.

Praise be to the Lord.

Hope in God

To this end we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, that is, of those who believe. — 1 Timothy 4:10

We work hard and focus on what God wants in our lives.

The living God is our Savior.

He is the Savior or all who believe.

We have set our hope on Him.

I had a CT scan that showed that the small lump on my lung has not changed over the past year.

What a relief.

Prpaise God.

To Him be the honor and glory. 

Everything God Created Is Good

For everything God created is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. — 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Everything God created is good.

Tonight at about 5:00 p.m. the weather dropped to about 50 degrees.

Abby and I met for a swim.

It started raining on our way home.

Then it stopped for awhile.

About 8:30 it actually started hailing!

Our front courtyard was covered in white.

Hopefully our plants will survive.

Everything God created is good.

Be An Example

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity.— 1 Timothy 4:12

Sometimes a child expresses God's Word best.

They keep it simple and get right to the point.

And they point us back to God's expectation for us to come to Him with a childlike openness. 

Help to be open and honest with you today, Lord.

Give me a child-like spirit ready to trust You.

 

Watch Yourselves

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. — Galatians 6:1

That's a tough thing to hear.

God asks me to watch myself so I don't get caught up in temptation.

Sometimes when I point a finger at others, I completely miss what God's calling me to change.

Other times I get so caught up in myself that I completely miss what God's direction is for my life.

Ouch!

By Your Spirit, please restore me gently, Lord.

The Salvation We Share

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. — Jude 3

We share salvation in Jesus.

Jude felt compelled to write to the Messianic Jews to remind them of God's love and mercy for them.

He urged them to contend for the faith.

Jude urges us to contend for the faith.

The faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people.

Mercy, Peace and Love

 

To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. — Jude 1-2

Jude wrote to Christians.

He reminds us that we are loved by God the Father.

I tells us that we are kept for Jesus Christ.

And he wishes us Christ's mercy.

He also wishes us peace.

And he sends us his love in abundance.

Tomorrow our online Bible study group will begin a study of Jude.

Help us to hear understand and obey your word, dear Lord.

Jesus Prayed

The news about Jesus spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. — Luke 5:16-16

Jesus often set aside time to pray to His Father.

He went apart to a lonely place where He could be alone with God.

Crowds came to hear Him and to be healed.

Jesus healed them of their sadness and their sickness.

He cared for them and prayed for them.

Today our 46th president was inaugurated.

Fireworks flew over the Washington mall to celebrate.

May God watch over and protect him and heal our country.

They Followed Him

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. — Luke 5:20

Jesus called the disciples to follow Him.

They obeyed and left everything.

They followed Him wherever He went.

They left family, friends, homes, and all they had.

I find it hard just to leave the busy-ness of my life.

Help me, Lord, to leave wverything for You.

You Will Fish for People

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” — Luke 5:10

Jesus taught Simon to share the Gospel story with others.

Simon obeyed and followed Jesus.

He spread the word about Jesus' teachings.

And he tried to obey His words.

Even when it was scary.

Jesus told him not to be afraid.

Help me to obey you, too, Lord.

Jesus Taught the People

Jesus got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. — Luke 5:3

Today is Martin Luther King Junior Day, when we celebrate his life and legacy.

In the book of Luke, Jesus got into a boat to teach the people.

Martin Luther King also shared the Gospel with people.

He taught them about God's love and the saving grace of Jesus.

And he taught them to care about others, similar to the way the Good Samaritan took care of the stranger who was left at the side of the road.

Help us, Lord, to do the same.

Listening to the Word of God

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.   — Luke 5:1

La Jolla Shores Beach

People crowded around Jesus to hear God's word.

He spoke to them by the lake.

I enjoy listening to God's Word.

And reading it.

Each time I read a passage, it seems to have application for my life in different ways.

It is living and active.

Thanks be to God!

Good News of the Kingdom of God

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.  But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” — Luke 4:42-43

Jesus went to a solitary place early in the morning.

God calls us to spend time in solitude with Him.

Jesus told the crowd that He must proclaim the good news.

God asks us to tell the good news of the kingdom of God, too.

Help me, Lord, to obey.

Jesus Healed Them

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. — Luke 4:40

Ladle Street Choir at our church

Jesus healed people who had various kinds of sickness.

He heals us today, too.

The demons were shouting that Jesus is the Son of God!

They knew that He was the Messiah.

We know that, too.

He is the Great Physician.

We are thankful and blessed.

The People Were Amazed

All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. — Luke 4:36-37

Jesus spoke with authority.

And he spoke with power.

He ordered impure spirits to come out of people.

The news about him spread throughout the area.

People were amazed with the words he spoke.

He is the Son of God.

His Words Had Authority

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. — Luke 4:31-32

Jesus taught with authority.

After all, He was and is the Son of God.

He is the Word and the Light of the World.

The people were amazed at his teaching.

Because the words Jesus said had authority.

Help me to read your word, Lord, and to hear them and put them into practice.

Proclaim Good News

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” — Luke 4: 17-19

Isaiah wrote long ago that the Spirit of the Lord would be on Jesus.

God's Son was sent to proclaim good news to the poor and the poor in heart.

To proclaim freedom of the prisoners and for those of us living in darkness.

To give sight to the blind.

To proclaim the year of the Lord God's favor.

We know that God will guide us through the new year.

Live a New Life

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. — Romans 6:4

Sunday we celebrated with a renewing of our baptism at Waterfront Park down by the Harbor.

Our worship service included additional congregations that have worshipped in our campus over the years.

We sang and praised God together outside.

And we shared communion.

God was glorified.

Heaven Was Opened

 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” — Luke 3:21-22

When Jesus was baptized, He prayed.

While He prayed, heaven was opened.

The Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove.

A voice came from God in heaven

Saying, You are my Son.

I love you and am well pleased.

We have opportunities each day to show our love for Jesus.

Proclaim Good News

And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. — Luke 3:18

La Jolla Shores Beach

John was a powerful speaker.

He proclaimed the good news of Jesus wherever he went.

And people followed, listened to him, and turned from their sins.

He baptized them and prepared them for the coming of God's Son.

God asks us to tell others about Jesus, too.

I'm not always ready to do that.

God asks us to be prepared to explain to anyone who asks.

I'm not always prepared.

God asks us to love our enemies.

I often forget to love my friends and family.

Forgive, me, Lord.

Help me to obey You.

He Will Baptize You with the Holy Spirit

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. — Luke 3:15-17

The people were wondering if John might be the Messiah, but he was not.

John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus.

He came to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Sunday we celebrate our baptism and renew our commitment to Jesus.

Our worship service will focus on God's faithfulness to us.

We will thank Him for the blessings He gives us.

And we will pray for our country

And for those of our friends and family who are recovering from covid.

We know God is holding them in His hands and healing them.

All People Will See God's Salvation

Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation. — Luke 3:5-6

We are hiring a social media specialist at work.

But in this time of COVID-19, not too many people are ready to move to a new job.

We have received fewer applicants than usual.

Even so, I know God will provide us with just the right person.

So I am asking for His wisdom as we search.

The mountains we encounter in life will be made low.

God will provide us with a straight path and will guide us along the smooth road.

Eventually everyone will see His salvation in Jesus.

Now and Forevermore

To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. — Jude 1:25

God is merciful to us.

To Him be glory and majesty.

Our friends drove by the old Wonderbread store downtown and took this photo for us.

They were in a line of traffic, waiting to get their COVID vaccine. It took 2.5 hours!

This is where Kirk's dad Gary used to work.

It's right around the corner from Petco Park.

Prepare the Way for the Lord

 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" — Luke 3:4-5

Isaiah's words of so long ago foretold of Jesus' birth.

John told his followers that Jesus would be coming.

John was sent to prepare the way.

He knew that Jesus was the Savior that He proclaimed.

We know that Jesus is our Savior, too.

 

 

Festival of the Passover

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. — Luke 2:41-42

Each year Jesus and His family celebrated Passover.

Their tradition was to go to Jerusalem annually for the celebration.

When Jesus was twelve, they went up to Jerusalem, just as they had done for years.

Our family has traditions, too.

We worship together weekly.

And on Christmas Eve, we have potato soup.

Usually we go to the Christmas eve worship service together and have soup afterward.

Kirk's mom, Rita, started the tradition.

His Dad, Gary, continued it after she died.

And we continued it again this year with a smaller group of people, due to covid.

After the soup, we watched the service together on LiveStream.

A fitting way to bring in the Christmas season.

The Child Grew

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. — Luke 2:39-40

Joseph and Mary did everything required by the law of God.

Then they returned home.

Jesus grew and became strong.

That's what we hope for our children, too.

That they will grow in the Lord and be filled with wisdom.

May the grace of God be on them in this new year.

Simeon Blessed Them

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. — Luke 2:34-35

After Simeon saw the baby Jesus, he blessed His parents.

And he praised God for sending Jesus.

He went on to tell about how God would use Jesus to save the world.

We are grateful that Jesus has filled our hearts with His love.

And that He has sent His Holy Spirit to guide our lives.

And that He has blessed us with wonderful family members who pray for us.

Your Salvation

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. — Luke 2:29-32

Simeon praised God with these words after he saw Jesus in the temple.

Praise be to God for sending His Son, Jesus!

On New Years Eve Abby and I walked along La Jolla Shores and marveled at God's goodness.

We were amazed by the beautiful sunset filling the sky above the water and the beach.

The dogs we saw were enjoying the evening, too.

And seagull just stood near the water taking it all in.

What a fun evening that displayed God's glory for all of us to see.

 

Righteous and Devout

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. — Luke 2:25-26

Simeon believed the Lord.

He watched and waited for years to see Jesus.

He was righteous and devout.

I wish I could say the same.

He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would get to see the Lord's Messiah before he died.