What Can the Waves Teach Us?
Looking back on our week at the Outer Banks, I think about the waves. Every day I heard the steady rhythm of the Atlantic waves – as I relaxed on the beach, when I was at the pool, in the evening as we sat and visited on the deck of our house. We could even climb the last flight of steps, up to the highest deck, and watch the waves breaking on shore.
Waves can teach us a number of things. Rough seas can teach us how to really appreciate calm waters. Waves, coupled with wind, can give us an appreciation for living inland! Waves can remind us that there is a steady rhythm to life. Waves teach us that it can be fun to play in the water, and at the same time teach us to respect the power of Mother Nature.
Waves – I wonder what they can teach you?
Ben Keckler
07.31.08
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, July 30
Building a Sand Castle
“Grandpa, I can’t wait to build a sand castle with you and Gran!” said our oldest grandchild prior to our Outer Banks vacation. We dug in the sand; we built sand castles; and sooner or later, the tide came in and washed the sand castle away.
Each of us is building our sand castles, aren’t we! We have a plan on how our lives will unfold. Some of us are fortunate to even have a nice moat around our sand castle so the waters have to work extra hard to destroy our sand castles.
All of us are aware about the devastation of flooding that happened here in central Indiana. We know how damaging waters have completely changed not only the surrounding area, but almost the entire state of Iowa, as well as many small communities along the Mississippi River. People along the Gulf Coast are still recovering from Katrina’s enormous damage in 2005. Life can change dramatically and our sand castles can be washed away so quickly.
While our sand castles at the Outer Banks did wash away, we still took enough time to build a new one each day we went to the beach. So for today, take the time to build your sand castle and may you be granted enough of whatever you need to do so.
Ben Keckler
07.30.08
“Grandpa, I can’t wait to build a sand castle with you and Gran!” said our oldest grandchild prior to our Outer Banks vacation. We dug in the sand; we built sand castles; and sooner or later, the tide came in and washed the sand castle away.
Each of us is building our sand castles, aren’t we! We have a plan on how our lives will unfold. Some of us are fortunate to even have a nice moat around our sand castle so the waters have to work extra hard to destroy our sand castles.
All of us are aware about the devastation of flooding that happened here in central Indiana. We know how damaging waters have completely changed not only the surrounding area, but almost the entire state of Iowa, as well as many small communities along the Mississippi River. People along the Gulf Coast are still recovering from Katrina’s enormous damage in 2005. Life can change dramatically and our sand castles can be washed away so quickly.
While our sand castles at the Outer Banks did wash away, we still took enough time to build a new one each day we went to the beach. So for today, take the time to build your sand castle and may you be granted enough of whatever you need to do so.
Ben Keckler
07.30.08
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, July 29
Let’s Fly a Kite
When we take a family trip to the ocean, we pack the kites. We first flew kites several years ago when we vacationed on Cape Cod. It was so much fun flying a kite by the water, kite flying has become part of our “ocean” vacations. We have a variety of kites. This year we added some special kites – ones with our granddaughters’ favorite characters like Elmo, Dora and Nemo.
Watching a kite be carried into the sky by the unseen wind is quite an experience. It is my prayer that you can soar into your tomorrows, trusting in the unseen wind of God. That too is quite an experience! So friends, enjoy flying YOUR kite.
A prayer: God, I’m ready to soar trusting in your unseen wind. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.29.08
When we take a family trip to the ocean, we pack the kites. We first flew kites several years ago when we vacationed on Cape Cod. It was so much fun flying a kite by the water, kite flying has become part of our “ocean” vacations. We have a variety of kites. This year we added some special kites – ones with our granddaughters’ favorite characters like Elmo, Dora and Nemo.
Watching a kite be carried into the sky by the unseen wind is quite an experience. It is my prayer that you can soar into your tomorrows, trusting in the unseen wind of God. That too is quite an experience! So friends, enjoy flying YOUR kite.
A prayer: God, I’m ready to soar trusting in your unseen wind. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.29.08
Monday, July 28, 2008
Daily Devotions - Monday, July 28
Renewal
The practice of self-care is one of the most important aspects of living. Without time for personal renewal, life can be most overwhelming. We need those times of rest and renewal to strengthen us for the tasks that we must face.
My wife and I are back from a week of personal renewal. I had thought to blog, but would that really have been total renewal, something different from the usual routine? We rested, played, laughed, and cried at our family gathering on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. How restful to sit and hear the ocean waves meeting the shoreline. How much fun the water games we played in the pool. How invigorating to hear the granddaughters’ laughter and even their cries.
For the week we were wrapped in the love of family. We had months of eager anticipation and planning, a week at the shore that just flew by (we came from Colorado, Indiana and Washington, DC), and now a lifetime of memories about a special week together.
Take time to plan, anticipate, live and remember a self-care renewal time just for yourself.
A prayer: God, my spirit is restored, my soul is renewed. Thank you. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.28.08
The practice of self-care is one of the most important aspects of living. Without time for personal renewal, life can be most overwhelming. We need those times of rest and renewal to strengthen us for the tasks that we must face.
My wife and I are back from a week of personal renewal. I had thought to blog, but would that really have been total renewal, something different from the usual routine? We rested, played, laughed, and cried at our family gathering on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. How restful to sit and hear the ocean waves meeting the shoreline. How much fun the water games we played in the pool. How invigorating to hear the granddaughters’ laughter and even their cries.
For the week we were wrapped in the love of family. We had months of eager anticipation and planning, a week at the shore that just flew by (we came from Colorado, Indiana and Washington, DC), and now a lifetime of memories about a special week together.
Take time to plan, anticipate, live and remember a self-care renewal time just for yourself.
A prayer: God, my spirit is restored, my soul is renewed. Thank you. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.28.08
Friday, July 18, 2008
Daily Devotions - Friday, July 18
Slowing Down
“He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul….”
--An ancient song
Psalm 23: 2,3
Another week of caregiving and today is a day for many of us to anticipate the renewal of the weekend. The week has been demanding for each of us—every week is. Soon, very soon, we can move from the labors of the week to the fulfillment that comes in resting, relaxing, playing, partying and doing tasks around the house. The “honey-do” list may even be longer than we want it to be!
Renewal is critical. We have to rest in order to be healthy. We need to have some time to “let loose” of the stuff that has piled up within. Max Lucado writes, “The bow cannot always be bent without fear of breaking. For the field to bear fruit, it must occasionally lie fallow. SLOW DOWN and God will heal you. He will bring rest to your mind, to your body, and most of all, to your soul. God will lead you to green pastures” (even if it is a lawn to be mowed!).
Slowing down… important stuff. May your weekend give you enough time to mow your green pasture and then sit in a lawn chair and sip on a beverage and enjoy the beauty of your world.
A prayer: God, I’m looking forward to a weekend that allows you to restore my soul. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.18.08
“He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul….”
--An ancient song
Psalm 23: 2,3
Another week of caregiving and today is a day for many of us to anticipate the renewal of the weekend. The week has been demanding for each of us—every week is. Soon, very soon, we can move from the labors of the week to the fulfillment that comes in resting, relaxing, playing, partying and doing tasks around the house. The “honey-do” list may even be longer than we want it to be!
Renewal is critical. We have to rest in order to be healthy. We need to have some time to “let loose” of the stuff that has piled up within. Max Lucado writes, “The bow cannot always be bent without fear of breaking. For the field to bear fruit, it must occasionally lie fallow. SLOW DOWN and God will heal you. He will bring rest to your mind, to your body, and most of all, to your soul. God will lead you to green pastures” (even if it is a lawn to be mowed!).
Slowing down… important stuff. May your weekend give you enough time to mow your green pasture and then sit in a lawn chair and sip on a beverage and enjoy the beauty of your world.
A prayer: God, I’m looking forward to a weekend that allows you to restore my soul. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.18.08
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Daily Devotions - Thursday, July 17
“God Be in My Head”
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for God will speak peace to his people…”
--An ancient song
Psalm 85: 8
Some years ago the Reverend Jim Cotter wrote a brief prayer entitled, “God be in my head.” Over the years the prayer has been expanded. We offer these excerpts as a prayer for today:
“God be in my head and in my understanding
God be in my eyes and in my looking
God be in my mouth and in my speaking
God be in my tongue and in my tasting
God be in my lips and in my greeting
God be in my arms and in my reaching
God be in my hands and in my working
God be in my legs and in my walking
God be in my joints and in my relating
God be in my guts and in my feeling
God be in my bowels and in my forgiving
God be in my lungs and in my breathing
God be in my heart and in my loving
God be in my blood and in my living
God be in my bones and in my dying
God be at my end and at my reviving. Amen.”
Ben Keckler
07.17.08
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for God will speak peace to his people…”
--An ancient song
Psalm 85: 8
Some years ago the Reverend Jim Cotter wrote a brief prayer entitled, “God be in my head.” Over the years the prayer has been expanded. We offer these excerpts as a prayer for today:
“God be in my head and in my understanding
God be in my eyes and in my looking
God be in my mouth and in my speaking
God be in my tongue and in my tasting
God be in my lips and in my greeting
God be in my arms and in my reaching
God be in my hands and in my working
God be in my legs and in my walking
God be in my joints and in my relating
God be in my guts and in my feeling
God be in my bowels and in my forgiving
God be in my lungs and in my breathing
God be in my heart and in my loving
God be in my blood and in my living
God be in my bones and in my dying
God be at my end and at my reviving. Amen.”
Ben Keckler
07.17.08
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, July 16
Live Your Feelings
“Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of rage;
his anger mounted against Israel because
they did not trust in God’s saving power.”
--From one of songs
Psalm 78: 21
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. One of the more challenging parts of self-care is taking time to “live your feelings.” Take anger, for example. Healthy self-care when you are angry means that you will allow yourself to feel the anger. Having felt it, you can then decide what you want to do: maybe you will just feel it, maybe you will express it, and maybe you will take some action. Today’s verse from the sacred writings demonstrates what “living your feelings” is all about.
Take the feeling of hurt. If you keep it inside, the hurt will grow, but when you talk to the person who hurt you, you move toward resolution. If you feel tears, cry your tears. Living your feelings is the healthy thing to do.
We cannot be anything for anyone else unless we learn to take care of ourselves. By demonstrating the importance of self-care we can and will become the caregivers that we have the potential to be. Have a good day living your feelings, another part of being good to you.
A prayer: God who was full of rage, help me to live my feelings. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.16.08
“Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of rage;
his anger mounted against Israel because
they did not trust in God’s saving power.”
--From one of songs
Psalm 78: 21
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. One of the more challenging parts of self-care is taking time to “live your feelings.” Take anger, for example. Healthy self-care when you are angry means that you will allow yourself to feel the anger. Having felt it, you can then decide what you want to do: maybe you will just feel it, maybe you will express it, and maybe you will take some action. Today’s verse from the sacred writings demonstrates what “living your feelings” is all about.
Take the feeling of hurt. If you keep it inside, the hurt will grow, but when you talk to the person who hurt you, you move toward resolution. If you feel tears, cry your tears. Living your feelings is the healthy thing to do.
We cannot be anything for anyone else unless we learn to take care of ourselves. By demonstrating the importance of self-care we can and will become the caregivers that we have the potential to be. Have a good day living your feelings, another part of being good to you.
A prayer: God who was full of rage, help me to live my feelings. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.16.08
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, July 15
Staying in the Present
“So do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
--From one of Jesus’ sermons
Matthew 6: 34
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. People who are attracted to the caregiving field, including the support services needed for the delivery of quality care, need to be reminded about this important attribute for daily living. There are times when we jump into the future rather than living in the present.
When we start to worry or feel anxious, it is good to remind ourselves that we have moved away from the present moment. Today’s verse from Scripture is significant. We are reminded to stay focused, focused on whatever is happening at that moment. By dedicating all our energy to the present, we will demonstrate the importance of self-care that might also be known as “Be good to yourself therapy.”
A prayer: God of all time and space, keep me in the present and nudge me when I have moved too far into tomorrow. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.15.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
“So do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
--From one of Jesus’ sermons
Matthew 6: 34
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. People who are attracted to the caregiving field, including the support services needed for the delivery of quality care, need to be reminded about this important attribute for daily living. There are times when we jump into the future rather than living in the present.
When we start to worry or feel anxious, it is good to remind ourselves that we have moved away from the present moment. Today’s verse from Scripture is significant. We are reminded to stay focused, focused on whatever is happening at that moment. By dedicating all our energy to the present, we will demonstrate the importance of self-care that might also be known as “Be good to yourself therapy.”
A prayer: God of all time and space, keep me in the present and nudge me when I have moved too far into tomorrow. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.15.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as a hospital Director of Chaplaincy in the greater Indianapolis area.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Daily Devotions - Monday, July 14
Inner Beauty
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!”
--From the final hymn in the Psalter
Psalm 150: 6
The rhythm of another week begins. Freedom’s songs have been sung and played. They will continue to be heard as long as we continue to give attention to the tasks of liberty that our ancestors envisioned. Just ten days weeks ago we gazed at fireworks exploding before our eyes and beheld their awesome grandeur. Today provides an opportunity to look inward and allow the fireworks of spirit renewal to create an inner beauty that rivals the magnificence of that which we saw recently. To help us in achieving this, I share with you this prayer by Caitlin Matthews, found in one of the new books on my shelf, Prayers for Healing.
From the depths of holy silence,
I give thanks for the joy and energy of life.
May all beings enjoy the vitality of their existence.
I remember all that suffer great pain and long-term illness,
especially (add names).
May the Healer of Hurts breathe balm and restoration into all wounded lives.
May all negative, angry and harmful attitudes,
especially my (add what you need to)
that I harbor within me be transformed into new available life.
The dance of a summer day calls my steps:
May I respond to the rhythm and melody of its music.
--Ben Keckler
07.14.08
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!”
--From the final hymn in the Psalter
Psalm 150: 6
The rhythm of another week begins. Freedom’s songs have been sung and played. They will continue to be heard as long as we continue to give attention to the tasks of liberty that our ancestors envisioned. Just ten days weeks ago we gazed at fireworks exploding before our eyes and beheld their awesome grandeur. Today provides an opportunity to look inward and allow the fireworks of spirit renewal to create an inner beauty that rivals the magnificence of that which we saw recently. To help us in achieving this, I share with you this prayer by Caitlin Matthews, found in one of the new books on my shelf, Prayers for Healing.
From the depths of holy silence,
I give thanks for the joy and energy of life.
May all beings enjoy the vitality of their existence.
I remember all that suffer great pain and long-term illness,
especially (add names).
May the Healer of Hurts breathe balm and restoration into all wounded lives.
May all negative, angry and harmful attitudes,
especially my (add what you need to)
that I harbor within me be transformed into new available life.
The dance of a summer day calls my steps:
May I respond to the rhythm and melody of its music.
--Ben Keckler
07.14.08
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Daily Devotions - Friday, July 11
The Last Old, Old Song
A reading for today: Psalm 139
Today’s we conclude our week of devotions that have centered on great hymns that have sustained people of faith. Here in Hendricks County, Indiana, we are privileged to have a significant number of Quakers. John Greenleaf Whittier, America’s beloved Quaker poet, wrote the hymn “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.” Over 75 of his poems have been made into hymns.
Whittier was a good example of quiet godliness in word and in deed. One writer said, “He left upon our literature the stamp of genius and upon our religion the touch of sanity.” Allow today’s hymn to slow down your rushing spirit, to bathe you with a calm assurance and to set the tone for a calm and enjoyable weekend:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind; in purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise!
Drop Thy still dews of quietness till all our strings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess the beauty of Thy peace.
Breathe thru the heats of our desire Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak thru the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm.
A prayer for today: Lord God, grant me a quiet mind that trusts you and your kindness.
Ben Keckler
07.11.08
A reading for today: Psalm 139
Today’s we conclude our week of devotions that have centered on great hymns that have sustained people of faith. Here in Hendricks County, Indiana, we are privileged to have a significant number of Quakers. John Greenleaf Whittier, America’s beloved Quaker poet, wrote the hymn “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.” Over 75 of his poems have been made into hymns.
Whittier was a good example of quiet godliness in word and in deed. One writer said, “He left upon our literature the stamp of genius and upon our religion the touch of sanity.” Allow today’s hymn to slow down your rushing spirit, to bathe you with a calm assurance and to set the tone for a calm and enjoyable weekend:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind; in purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise!
Drop Thy still dews of quietness till all our strings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess the beauty of Thy peace.
Breathe thru the heats of our desire Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak thru the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm.
A prayer for today: Lord God, grant me a quiet mind that trusts you and your kindness.
Ben Keckler
07.11.08
Daily Devotions - Thursday, July 10
Thursday's Old, Old Song
A reading for today: Psalm 46
This week we’ve been looking at various hymns that have sustained people of faith. Yesterday we looked at a hymn inspired by the 46th Psalm and today we look at another one. Today’s hymn is particularly special, at least in the opinion of this chaplain. Today’s hymn is entitled “Be Still, My Soul.” This hymn is special because gifted women of faith did the text and its translation. Often the work of faith-filled women from the 18th and 19th centuries was overlooked.
Katharina von Schlegel wrote the original text in the early 1700’s. She was a Lutheran from Germany, taught at an evangelical women’s seminary and was influenced by the Pietistic Revival in her country. About 100 years later, Jane Borthwick translated the text into English. Borthwick was a part of a similar spiritual revival that took place in England through the Puritan and Wesleyan traditions. Here is the text:
Be still, my soul—the Lord is on thy side!
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide—in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul—thy best, thy heavenly Friend,
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul—thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past;
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake—all now mysterious shall be bright at last!
Be still, my soul—the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
A prayer for today: Still my soul, O God. Help me to listen, to follow and to rest in the mysteries of your leading. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.10.08
A reading for today: Psalm 46
This week we’ve been looking at various hymns that have sustained people of faith. Yesterday we looked at a hymn inspired by the 46th Psalm and today we look at another one. Today’s hymn is particularly special, at least in the opinion of this chaplain. Today’s hymn is entitled “Be Still, My Soul.” This hymn is special because gifted women of faith did the text and its translation. Often the work of faith-filled women from the 18th and 19th centuries was overlooked.
Katharina von Schlegel wrote the original text in the early 1700’s. She was a Lutheran from Germany, taught at an evangelical women’s seminary and was influenced by the Pietistic Revival in her country. About 100 years later, Jane Borthwick translated the text into English. Borthwick was a part of a similar spiritual revival that took place in England through the Puritan and Wesleyan traditions. Here is the text:
Be still, my soul—the Lord is on thy side!
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide—in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul—thy best, thy heavenly Friend,
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul—thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past;
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake—all now mysterious shall be bright at last!
Be still, my soul—the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
A prayer for today: Still my soul, O God. Help me to listen, to follow and to rest in the mysteries of your leading. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.10.08
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, July 9
An Old, Old Song
A reading for today: Psalm 46
This week’s devotions are stories about various hymns that have sustained people of faith. One characteristic that the writers of Sacred Scripture displayed was a sincere confidence in the stability of God’s care. While there is little known about the exact authorship of the hymn “How Firm a Foundation,” there is a certainty in the language that everyone deserves to read:
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can God say than to you He has said—
To you, who for refuge to Him have now fled.
Fear not, I am with you—O be not dismayed,
For I am your God, I will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.
When thru the deep waters thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee—
I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
Hospital work is demanding work—work that calls forth the very best of the gifts we possess. There is a firm foundation for us to stand on as we perform our tasks that are a part of providing an atmosphere for healing to take place.
A prayer for today: Strong, caring God, plant my feet firmly on your foundation.
Ben Keckler
07.09.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as Director of Chaplaincy in a hospital in the greater Indianapolis area.
A reading for today: Psalm 46
This week’s devotions are stories about various hymns that have sustained people of faith. One characteristic that the writers of Sacred Scripture displayed was a sincere confidence in the stability of God’s care. While there is little known about the exact authorship of the hymn “How Firm a Foundation,” there is a certainty in the language that everyone deserves to read:
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can God say than to you He has said—
To you, who for refuge to Him have now fled.
Fear not, I am with you—O be not dismayed,
For I am your God, I will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.
When thru the deep waters thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee—
I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
Hospital work is demanding work—work that calls forth the very best of the gifts we possess. There is a firm foundation for us to stand on as we perform our tasks that are a part of providing an atmosphere for healing to take place.
A prayer for today: Strong, caring God, plant my feet firmly on your foundation.
Ben Keckler
07.09.08
Editor’s note: Mr. Keckler serves as Director of Chaplaincy in a hospital in the greater Indianapolis area.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, July 8
Another Old, Old Song
A reading for today: Psalm 31
This week’s devotions are stories about various hymns that have sustained people of faith. On the other side of the Atlantic in the country of Wales (about 1740), there was a young preacher named Howell Harris. He inspired William Williams to change his career from medicine to ministry. Williams traveled by horseback across the countryside of Wales, logging over 100,000 miles in his 43 years of ministry.
The hymn “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” was inspired by William’s preaching, addresses the theme of God’s guidance in our daily living. The text draws on the imagery of the wilderness journey of the Hebrew people:
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, pilgrim thru this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty—hold me with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliverer, strong deliverer, be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thru the swelling current; land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.
Today is another day we need guidance from the One who is our rock and our fortress. May songs of praises flow from deep within you throughout the day!
A prayer: Great Jehovah, give me the insights I need and guide me throughout my day.
Ben Keckler
07.08.08
A reading for today: Psalm 31
This week’s devotions are stories about various hymns that have sustained people of faith. On the other side of the Atlantic in the country of Wales (about 1740), there was a young preacher named Howell Harris. He inspired William Williams to change his career from medicine to ministry. Williams traveled by horseback across the countryside of Wales, logging over 100,000 miles in his 43 years of ministry.
The hymn “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” was inspired by William’s preaching, addresses the theme of God’s guidance in our daily living. The text draws on the imagery of the wilderness journey of the Hebrew people:
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, pilgrim thru this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty—hold me with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliverer, strong deliverer, be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thru the swelling current; land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.
Today is another day we need guidance from the One who is our rock and our fortress. May songs of praises flow from deep within you throughout the day!
A prayer: Great Jehovah, give me the insights I need and guide me throughout my day.
Ben Keckler
07.08.08
Daily Devotions - Monday, July 7
An Old, Old Song
A reading for today: Psalm 90
Today I'd like to share the story about a hymn that has sustained people of faith. The Psalm for today is actually a hymn that has been sung in the Jewish tradition for several thousand years. It served to inspire Isaac Watts, the father of English hymnody, to write the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Watts, who lived from 1674 to 1748, penned words for more than 600 hymns. The following words are more than 250 years old; they still make sense for me:
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.
The mystery of how life fits in the continuum of time will always be with us. Just like the Psalm writer, Watts expressed certainty in a Creator who is present and active in life. Another millennium is well underway, clearly the vast majority of people still believe that God is actively involved in life.
May your day be filled with a deepened confidence in the One who from everlasting to everlasting is God.
Ben Keckler
07.07.08
A reading for today: Psalm 90
Today I'd like to share the story about a hymn that has sustained people of faith. The Psalm for today is actually a hymn that has been sung in the Jewish tradition for several thousand years. It served to inspire Isaac Watts, the father of English hymnody, to write the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Watts, who lived from 1674 to 1748, penned words for more than 600 hymns. The following words are more than 250 years old; they still make sense for me:
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.
The mystery of how life fits in the continuum of time will always be with us. Just like the Psalm writer, Watts expressed certainty in a Creator who is present and active in life. Another millennium is well underway, clearly the vast majority of people still believe that God is actively involved in life.
May your day be filled with a deepened confidence in the One who from everlasting to everlasting is God.
Ben Keckler
07.07.08
Friday, July 4, 2008
Daily Devotions - Friday, July 4
In the Midst of Fireworks
A reading for today: Psalm 92
“This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California to the New York Island,
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,
This land was made for you and me."
From the time the Declaration of Independence set in motion the United States of America to this present day when we celebrate that declaration, the expansive boundaries of our land have invited people of the world to come and participate in this movement of freedom. Our history contains dark moments and moments when freedom’s torch burned with brilliance.
In our work and our leisure on this national holiday, give some time to thinking about the multitude of blessings that you experience in this land. Today is also a day to spend time asking yourself questions about how you can make this land of opportunity a better “melting pot” for all people. Today is also a day to give thanks for founding fathers, for dedicated women and men, for leaders who carry forth the drumbeat of freedom.
This is a day which God has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
A prayer for today: God whose blessings are more than I deserve, accept my thanks for this land and the freedom that I enjoy. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.04.08
A reading for today: Psalm 92
“This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California to the New York Island,
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,
This land was made for you and me."
From the time the Declaration of Independence set in motion the United States of America to this present day when we celebrate that declaration, the expansive boundaries of our land have invited people of the world to come and participate in this movement of freedom. Our history contains dark moments and moments when freedom’s torch burned with brilliance.
In our work and our leisure on this national holiday, give some time to thinking about the multitude of blessings that you experience in this land. Today is also a day to spend time asking yourself questions about how you can make this land of opportunity a better “melting pot” for all people. Today is also a day to give thanks for founding fathers, for dedicated women and men, for leaders who carry forth the drumbeat of freedom.
This is a day which God has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
A prayer for today: God whose blessings are more than I deserve, accept my thanks for this land and the freedom that I enjoy. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.04.08
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Daily Devotions - Thursday, July 3
A Mountain Top View
A reading for today: Psalm 104
Have you ever been to Pikes Peak? On a clear, clear day the Peak is visible on the western horizon for almost two hours before you get there. In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates was so inspired by the view from the peak that she wrote some beautiful lyrics and then kept revising them until 1911. Finally the hymn was ready for publication.
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain.
AMERICA! AMERICA! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for Pilgrim feet, whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness!
AMERICA! AMERICA! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
AMERICA! AMERICA! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness and every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!
AMERICA! AMERICA! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!
A prayer for today: God whose blessing we experience in more ways than we can imagine, continue to watch over us and shed your grace upon our land. Amen
Ben Keckler
07.03.08
A reading for today: Psalm 104
Have you ever been to Pikes Peak? On a clear, clear day the Peak is visible on the western horizon for almost two hours before you get there. In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates was so inspired by the view from the peak that she wrote some beautiful lyrics and then kept revising them until 1911. Finally the hymn was ready for publication.
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain.
AMERICA! AMERICA! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for Pilgrim feet, whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness!
AMERICA! AMERICA! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
AMERICA! AMERICA! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness and every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!
AMERICA! AMERICA! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!
A prayer for today: God whose blessing we experience in more ways than we can imagine, continue to watch over us and shed your grace upon our land. Amen
Ben Keckler
07.03.08
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, July 2
The President Speaks
A reading for today: Psalm 121
Two hundred twenty-six years ago, one Revolutionary Army officer wrote George Washington a letter suggesting that a country with Mr. Washington as king was more preferable than “a nation under a republican form of government.” George Washington wrote a letter that included these words:
“If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable--……… Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your country— Concern for yourself or posterity— Or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind…”
--George Washington
November, 1782
The temptation of powerful kingdoms is really great. The father of this nation realized that true strength would come as people patiently work to create a republic where sharing by all could mean scarcity for none. Most of us are quite affluent, especially when we look at the majority of the world. Thanks be to God that Mr. Washington took time to realize his “help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121: 2)
Long may this land be bright with freedom’s holy light!
A prayer for today: God of our leaders and our God, build within us a deepening respect for our brothers and sisters in this land. Empower us to work for greater and better tomorrows in your global village. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.02.08
A reading for today: Psalm 121
Two hundred twenty-six years ago, one Revolutionary Army officer wrote George Washington a letter suggesting that a country with Mr. Washington as king was more preferable than “a nation under a republican form of government.” George Washington wrote a letter that included these words:
“If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable--……… Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your country— Concern for yourself or posterity— Or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind…”
--George Washington
November, 1782
The temptation of powerful kingdoms is really great. The father of this nation realized that true strength would come as people patiently work to create a republic where sharing by all could mean scarcity for none. Most of us are quite affluent, especially when we look at the majority of the world. Thanks be to God that Mr. Washington took time to realize his “help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121: 2)
Long may this land be bright with freedom’s holy light!
A prayer for today: God of our leaders and our God, build within us a deepening respect for our brothers and sisters in this land. Empower us to work for greater and better tomorrows in your global village. Amen.
Ben Keckler
07.02.08
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, July 1
Truly Blessed
A reading for today: Psalm 127
Throughout this week the devotions will have a patriotic theme. We begin with some lyrics that you will recognize immediately; try to get the feeling that Samuel Smith might have had as he penned these words 170 years ago. The first public performance was July 4, 1832 in Boston.
My country ‘tis of thee
Sweet land of liberty: of thee I sing
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride
From every mountainside let freedom ring.
My native country—thee
Land of the noble free thy name I love:
I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills
My heart with rapture thrills like that above.
Let music swell the breeze
And ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song.
Let all that breathe partake, let mortal tongues awake
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
Our fathers’ God to thee
Author of liberty, to thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light
Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King.
The call of the Psalm coupled with the lyrics from “America”, reminds us that nationalism, which lacks a reverent fear of the Holy One, is very hollow. May our priority be finding and honoring the quiet center of our lives. If we struggle with that priority, America will truly be blessed.
A prayer: God of our mothers and fathers, create a sensitive and seeking spirit within me and within all my brothers and sisters who live in this nation of freedom. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.01.08
A reading for today: Psalm 127
Throughout this week the devotions will have a patriotic theme. We begin with some lyrics that you will recognize immediately; try to get the feeling that Samuel Smith might have had as he penned these words 170 years ago. The first public performance was July 4, 1832 in Boston.
My country ‘tis of thee
Sweet land of liberty: of thee I sing
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride
From every mountainside let freedom ring.
My native country—thee
Land of the noble free thy name I love:
I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills
My heart with rapture thrills like that above.
Let music swell the breeze
And ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song.
Let all that breathe partake, let mortal tongues awake
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
Our fathers’ God to thee
Author of liberty, to thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light
Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King.
The call of the Psalm coupled with the lyrics from “America”, reminds us that nationalism, which lacks a reverent fear of the Holy One, is very hollow. May our priority be finding and honoring the quiet center of our lives. If we struggle with that priority, America will truly be blessed.
A prayer: God of our mothers and fathers, create a sensitive and seeking spirit within me and within all my brothers and sisters who live in this nation of freedom. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.01.08
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