Deus Misereatur

(The picture is "Daniel in the Lions Den," 1872 (oil on canvas) by Briton Riviere (1840-1920)) In my morning devotional reading I have been working through Daniel. A few thoughts struck me that I am sharing with you. To begin, Daniel was written at a time when God’s people, being disciplined for corporate infidelity, were taken captive into exile. That means Daniel not only tells us the stories of 4 Jewish young men and Daniel’s visions, but it was written for guidance for those now captured by non-Jewish forces. Chapters 1-6 are examples of how to live and serve under pagan authorities – who only rule at God’s whim. And chapters 7-12, declare that these national and political powers will not always be in place, because God is working out big things. But now I zero in on chapters 1, 3, and 6. In the first chapter, God gives. He gives Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (v.2). He gives captive Daniel favor with his superior (v.9), and he gives the four lads learning, skill ...

  [Guided by Psalm 70 and Nahum 1:7]   “ Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! O, our salvation and rescue; our refuge and strength, to you we pray. It is comforting to know that we can run to you, seek you, draw near to you. “ The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him ” (Nahum 1:7). O Lord, hear our prayer.   Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” We do implore you to bare your mighty arm and bring aid to those being trodden on, trounced, and terrified by oppressors, whether it’s totalitarian governments, spiritual leaders, spouses, parents, or social media (…). “ The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him .” O Lord, hear our prayer.   May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! Ma...

(This can be used in personal devotions, or public settings. The ellipses (...) are where you or your fellow petitioners can add names verbally or silently. And the bolded statements are verbal, corporate responses) With the Psalmist, for others, and with one another, we pray: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay” (Psalm 70)! O Lord, hear our prayer. Give relief to those tackled by chronic pain (…). O Lord, hear our prayer. Grant a sense of hope to those knocked over with grief, or depression, or regret (…). O Lord, hear our prayer. Bestow liberty on those s...

  Give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved (Psalm 80.18b-19)! Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this your Church in all nations, for Heritage, Trinity Presbyterian, Westlake Presbyterian, Westminster Presbyterian, and Our Lord’s Community Church. Turn to us and be gracious to us; give your strength to your servants and save the sons and daughters of your maidservant. Show us a sign of your favor that those who hate us may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped us and comforted us. Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! Consider, O God, those who do not know you or have broken faith with you (…). Change their hearts that they may confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their hearts you raised him from the dead; Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! O God, please refre...

  Luke 1-13: The Year of the Lord’s Favior Dale Ralph Davis Christian Focus Publications Christianfocus.com ISBN: 9781527106383; January 2021; $19.99   I tell you no one is safe when Dale Ralph Davis – pastor, writer, and seminary professor – has gotten loose! And his newest erudite adventure, the 264-page paperback, “Luke 1-13: The Year of the Lord’s Favor” is proof positive! Davis expounds on the first thirteen chapters of Luke in this volume and draws out loads of friends to help him make his point. His sons, wife, Civil War generals, theologians, crows eating roadkill, presidents, father, mother, his own brothers, and many more, are all gathered around, given their place and handed their mission. He even recounts a story I told some twenty years ago and threw me into the fray! No one is safe, I tell you! And it’s all deliciously fun, attention-grabbing, and illustrative of what our Lord did and does, and of what he said and what he signified. Davis is a masterf...

  I was a Church of Christ minister for several years. I would do my duties and accomplish my responsibilities with the Air Force full time, and then when off-duty I would lead my little congregation. It's called "bi-vocational ministry". But while I was a Church of Christ minister, I began to realize aspects about baptism that went against what we taught and held to, everything from it's purpose, to the amount of water, to who is actually to receive the Christian rite. So I was delighted when Sean McGowan, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida, put out his new, little 62-page softback, "Infant Baptism: An Introductory Sprinkling for Parishioners". Easy to read, simple to grasp, and empty of pretense or pugnaciousness. McGowan stays on task. In other words, he doesn't wade out into the flowing waters to cover every topic related to baptism, but swims around in one of the major streams that feeds the subject: Family in God'...

  Though this particular book is targeted to parents who are going through, or have gone through, a divorce/separation with a High Conflict Person (HCP), it has oodles and oodles of application to any relationship with a HCP. Bill Eddy, a lawyer, therapist, mediator, and the co-founder and training director of the High Conflict Institute; Annette Burns, an attorney and a certified Family Law Specialist; and Kevin Chafin,  a mediator and Licensed Professional Counselor, have given parents a wonderful aid in this 223-page paperback, "BIFF for Co-Parent Communication: Your Guide to Difficult Texts, Emails, and Social Media Posts". It includes how to navigate the electronic side of things, but really the book maps out many ways to be Brief, Informative, Friendly and Firm (BIFF) so as not to get swallowed up in angry and reactionary communications with a HCP. The first section develops the traits of a HCP, especially their practice of "blamespeak": (1) their preoccupatio...