N or V?
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
for I trust in your word.”
--Psalm 119: 41, 42
Today is set aside as a day to remember a faith-filled leader who became a voice of the people during the Civil Rights turmoil several decades ago. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not dream of a day set aside as a holiday in his name. He did dream of a nation, this country we love, living the principles of liberty and justice for all. We’ve made some strides, but we have a long way to go!
King’s boldness was strengthened by his unwavering faith. He was aware that God would not turn against him. He went about his work with this inner confidence. Max Lucado writes:
“Your family may turn against you, but God won’t.
Your friends may betray you, but God won’t.
You may feel alone in the wilderness, but you’re not.
God is with you. And because God is with you,
everything is different.
You are different. God changes your n into a v.
So go from lonely to lovely.”
Have a good day and a good week. Bask in the sunshine of an eternal, steadfast love embracing you.
Prayer for today:
Grant wisdom and courage for the facing of each hour, O God. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
01.17.11
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2011
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Daily Devotion - Monday, November 30
A Nice Ending to Our Month
Several years ago, a fellow employee asked me to pass these thoughts along to the staff. I think it is very appropriate for today and so I share it with you as we begin another week and end another month.
● May there be peace within today.
● May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
● May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
● May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
● May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
● Let Holy presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you!
Thanks, Gert! I haven't forgotten your powerful thoughts!
--Ben Keckler
11.30.09
Several years ago, a fellow employee asked me to pass these thoughts along to the staff. I think it is very appropriate for today and so I share it with you as we begin another week and end another month.
● May there be peace within today.
● May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
● May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
● May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
● May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
● Let Holy presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you!
Thanks, Gert! I haven't forgotten your powerful thoughts!
--Ben Keckler
11.30.09
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, November 18
Responses from Our Souls
People of God from all the major religions believe that God is with them. How should we practice our faith these days? A response from the soul seems most appropriate.
● Soul language is felt and seldom exposed in rhetoric.
● Soul language is noteworthy, maybe not newsworthy.
● Soul language is simple stillness before God, it needs no words to communicate.
● Soul language is about transformation of our hearts, not the heart of another.
● Soul language is all about taking refuge, allowing the spirit of God to work.
● Soul language is taking time to lament the selfishness, greed and power around us.
● Soul language is taking time to be thankful to God who is still in love with the world.
Many things around us can seem chaotic today. Rather than listening to the chaos, let’s take the time to practice quietness in our souls today.
--Ben Keckler
11.18.09
People of God from all the major religions believe that God is with them. How should we practice our faith these days? A response from the soul seems most appropriate.
● Soul language is felt and seldom exposed in rhetoric.
● Soul language is noteworthy, maybe not newsworthy.
● Soul language is simple stillness before God, it needs no words to communicate.
● Soul language is about transformation of our hearts, not the heart of another.
● Soul language is all about taking refuge, allowing the spirit of God to work.
● Soul language is taking time to lament the selfishness, greed and power around us.
● Soul language is taking time to be thankful to God who is still in love with the world.
Many things around us can seem chaotic today. Rather than listening to the chaos, let’s take the time to practice quietness in our souls today.
--Ben Keckler
11.18.09
Monday, March 9, 2009
Daily Devotion - Monday, March 9
A New Week
Where can I go from God’s spirit?
Where can I flee from God’s presence?
--Questions raised by a songwriter (Psalm 139: 7)
A new week begins.
Filled with new challenges and opportunities, a new week begins.
Filled with chaos and surprise, a new week begins.
Faith is an option for all our experiences; a new week begins.
Ben Keckler
03.09.09
Where can I go from God’s spirit?
Where can I flee from God’s presence?
--Questions raised by a songwriter (Psalm 139: 7)
A new week begins.
Filled with new challenges and opportunities, a new week begins.
Filled with chaos and surprise, a new week begins.
Faith is an option for all our experiences; a new week begins.
Ben Keckler
03.09.09
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Daily Devotions - Thursday 12.20.07
‘Tis The Season: God with us
“The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.”
A prophetic vision of God’s peaceful realm (Isaiah 11:6)
Thursday: Children are beautiful. They believe!
We continue to journey toward a holy day for Christians. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, not because December 25 is his birthday, but because it is important to celebrate God’s incarnational presence among us. I invite you to meditate on various realities of what it means to sense that God is with us.
I received this e-mail that tells a great story about the simple faith of a child.
“It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The pastor of the church was looking over the cradle when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures. Immediately he turned and went outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant, Jesus.
So he walked up to the boy and said, “Well, where did you get Him, my little friend?”
The little boy replied, “I got him from the church.”
“And why did you take him?” the pastor asked.
The boy said, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus and I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas I would give him a ride around the block in it!”
Have a blessed week of preparation for the holiday.
--Ben Keckler
12.20.07
“The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.”
A prophetic vision of God’s peaceful realm (Isaiah 11:6)
Thursday: Children are beautiful. They believe!
We continue to journey toward a holy day for Christians. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, not because December 25 is his birthday, but because it is important to celebrate God’s incarnational presence among us. I invite you to meditate on various realities of what it means to sense that God is with us.
I received this e-mail that tells a great story about the simple faith of a child.
“It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The pastor of the church was looking over the cradle when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures. Immediately he turned and went outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant, Jesus.
So he walked up to the boy and said, “Well, where did you get Him, my little friend?”
The little boy replied, “I got him from the church.”
“And why did you take him?” the pastor asked.
The boy said, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus and I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas I would give him a ride around the block in it!”
Have a blessed week of preparation for the holiday.
--Ben Keckler
12.20.07
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Daily Devotions - Wednesday 12.19.07
‘Tis The Season: God with us
“The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.”
A prophetic vision of God’s peaceful realm (Isaiah 11:6)
Wednesday: Letting a Child Lead Us
We continue to journey toward a holy day for Christians. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, not because December 25 is his birthday, but because it is important to celebrate God’s incarnational presence among us. I invite you to meditate on various realities of what it means to sense that God is with us.
A friend has a sister who is married to a former major league baseball player; they live in California. They have an adopted son named Seth whose birthday is December. Here is a conversation that mom and Seth had when he was 4 years old, as mom tried to help him understand the mysterious relationship of Santa, Jesus and Christmas.
Mom: Seth, so you know why we celebrate Christmas?
Seth: Yeah, cause Santa gets me a present and then I get to open the present that Santa brung me.
Mom: But why does Santa bring gifts?
Seth: So I can open them.
Mom: No, Santa brings gifts because we are celebrating someone’s birthday; whose birthday is it?
Seth: I don’t know.
Mom: It’s someone who came from heaven and we celebrate their birthday.
Seth: OHHHH that’s ME!
I can see that while the Holy One is definitely alive in this child, mom probably feels like there’s lots of teaching to do. How about you?
--Ben Keckler
12.19.07
“The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.”
A prophetic vision of God’s peaceful realm (Isaiah 11:6)
Wednesday: Letting a Child Lead Us
We continue to journey toward a holy day for Christians. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, not because December 25 is his birthday, but because it is important to celebrate God’s incarnational presence among us. I invite you to meditate on various realities of what it means to sense that God is with us.
A friend has a sister who is married to a former major league baseball player; they live in California. They have an adopted son named Seth whose birthday is December. Here is a conversation that mom and Seth had when he was 4 years old, as mom tried to help him understand the mysterious relationship of Santa, Jesus and Christmas.
Mom: Seth, so you know why we celebrate Christmas?
Seth: Yeah, cause Santa gets me a present and then I get to open the present that Santa brung me.
Mom: But why does Santa bring gifts?
Seth: So I can open them.
Mom: No, Santa brings gifts because we are celebrating someone’s birthday; whose birthday is it?
Seth: I don’t know.
Mom: It’s someone who came from heaven and we celebrate their birthday.
Seth: OHHHH that’s ME!
I can see that while the Holy One is definitely alive in this child, mom probably feels like there’s lots of teaching to do. How about you?
--Ben Keckler
12.19.07
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