Deus Misereatur

  Sometimes something just hits you. Or maybe it’s more like the surprise of the sunrise that suddenly bursts over the horizon. At other times, that something comes along like a well-flavored chili that has sat in the refrigerator for three days, slowly permeating the sauce and meat with seasoning. Well, as I was reading my Bible this morning, a story I’ve read many times gave me courage to pray for some very difficult situations with a bit of refreshed hope.   First, I need to quickly explain the story, and then I will move to the prayer.   In the Hebrew Scriptures there is a story told three times by three different authors (2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36-39), which alerts us to its deep significance. It’s the tale of Hezekiah, king of Judah. In the Isaiah account, comes the king of Assyria, plowing up nations, demolishing countries, and defeating enemies. He has effectively shut down God’s people, toppling many cities and towns in Judah and has laid siege to Jerusalem

  In my morning devotional reading today I was walking through Isaiah 32. Over the last two years or so I have been working on memorizing Isaiah 32:14-17, and that normally rouses me to pray in a way that is guided by those verses. Well, this morning it happened again, and I thought I would share what my prayer normally looks like as I think on this segment of Scripture. First, I will quote the verses, and after that I will lay out the prayer that arose from it today:                 [14] For the palace is forsaken,                               the populous city deserted;                the hill and the watchtower                               will become dens forever,                a joy of wild donkeys,                               a pasture of flocks;                [15] until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,                               and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,                               and the fruitful field is deemed a fores

  (The following is what I sent out today in my weekly letter to the congregation) There is a verse that has become increasingly more meaningful to me over the past ten years, and more so in the last three. It’s Proverbs 18:17 and it goes like this, “ The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him .” Honestly, there have been many times where I have fallen into the hole that this verse is warning us about. I can remember loads of incidents as a parent, as a Sergeant in the Air Force, and as a pastor, when I have only listened to one side and then jumped to erroneous conclusions that came back round to kick me from behind. But the point of this verse is quite healthy, and health-giving. It’s good to keep this verse at the forefront of your mind when your adult children, or your little kids, come and tell you their heartbreaking story. “ The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him .” This verse gives you th

  You are Father of the fatherless, protector of widows in your holy habitation, who settles the solitary in a home (Psalm 68:5-6a). And you promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that through their offspring all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 28:14). And so, through the death, resurrection, and exaltation of your Son the day is coming when all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you (Psalm 22:27). It is to you we pray, O Lord, hear our prayer. Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15), we implore you for help for us fathers. Whether we have little tikes, teens, or adult children, give us wisdom, insight, and discretion to be the kinds of fathers who reflect your fatherly care and direction. And as you are a father to many ornery children, a father to sons and daughters who grieve you at times, yet you are long suffering, patient, slow to ange

  O Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, your mercies and loving kindnesses are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). 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 (Psalm 145:18). Incline your ear and hear. Remember your Holy Universal Church, which you have liberated and laundered with your precious blood, including this church and St. John’s Catholic Parish, St. Mark UMC, St. Luke’s, and Soldier Creek Church of Christ. Strengthen, O Lord, and have mercy upon all the ministers, pastors, elders, and overseers of your Church: guide us to feed your flock with the true Gospel, the whole counsel of God, sound doctrine, and rightly administered sacraments. May we pay careful attention to ourselves and to all the flock, in which