Deus Misereatur

  Joy is a word that shows up repeatedly in Advent and Christmas. Some think it’s simply happiness. Others assume it means pleasure. A few might even consider it to imply amusement. But real joy seems to come from a deeper place than peppy surface emotions. As one of the Psalm writers describes it, “ to God my exceeding joy ” (Psalm 43:4). And that writer didn’t scribble those words flippantly. He was in a very dark place, a distant land, a far-off spot longing for “ God my exceeding joy .” [1]   Augustine gets at the same point in his Confessions . I have pondered these words during dismal and dreary times, as well as happier seasons. I have quoted them in numerous sermons at Heritage over the last 13 years, and will likely do so until the end of my days. And as we move through Advent to Christmas, it just seems fitting to hear from Augustine about joy, once more: “There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love you for your own sake, whose joy y...

  “ I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation ” (Psalm 18:1-3, 46). Holy God, we pray for all nations and countries, these United States of America, Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Syria, Libya, Luxembourg, Laos and Lithuania, and for the leaders of the world. O God be gracious to us and bless us and make your face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you (Psalm 67:1-5)! We give you thanks for ...

  (The following is from my letter to my congregation today, 25 November 2025) Thursday is our national day of thanksgiving. The Westminster Confession of Faith reminds us that legitimate worship of God includes things such as, “ thanksgivings upon special occassions, which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner ” (21.5). Therefore, as our nation has opened itself up to establishing a countrywide holiday (old English for holy day ) to give thanks, we should heartily jump in and help others engage the day “ in an holy and religious manner .”   So, at the least, we all ought to be praying for our country over this four-day weekend. Pray that God would use this season to rouse the hearts of the citizens and inhabitants of this country to actually realize that we owe thanks to our Creator, who has bestowed on us certain unalienable Rights, among which are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness ( The Declaration of Independence...

“ The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down .” Thank you that on you we can rely; on you we can lean; and to you we can give ourselves away! We join together with those around us who have fallen or been pressed down under desperation, darkness, dreariness, or disquiet, and pray (…). Hold their heads up, turn their faces to look up into yours and radiate your care and compassion through and through, that their hearts may rise in cheer, and their bodies stand straight and sturdy. “ The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. ” Thank you for supplying us with wealth and welfare, for being there and bringing unlooked for help when we were in want and woe. There are many, some who live just down the block from us, or a street over from us, who work in the office next to ours, who have stood in line wi...

  O God, who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, who gives to all mankind life and breath and everything; and made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of our dwelling place, that we should seek you, and perhaps feel their way toward you and find you, though you are actually not far from any one of us (Acts 17:24-27): we pray for all nations, including Bolivia and Brazil; Sudan and Ethiopia; Myanmar and Malaisia. Superintend their national politics, economics, education, and security so that all may have the care they need, prosper and flourish, and come to “ feel their way toward ” you until the knowledge of the Lord may cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator, Sustainer and Sovereign over all, to whom each and every one of us must give an account of our actions in this life: please bless ...

  O Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, your mercies and loving-kindnesses are new every morning. In your incarnation you united our humanity to divinity; you became the Son of Man that we might become sons of God; you brought us life and immortality to consume our death and mortality; and as our great High Priest you regard the humble prayers of all who call upon you, who call upon you in truth. Incline your ear and hear. Thank you for the many men and women who took oaths to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic; thank you for their willingness to stand in the gap if called upon, and for weathering many essential (and sometimes idiotic) storms, exercises, conflicts, inspections, deployments and separations. Yes, thank you for our veterans. Remember your Holy Universal Church, which you have liberated and laundered with your precious blood, including this congregation and Knob Hill Baptist Church, Lone Star, Michigan Ave. and New...