He needed the knowledge

After 2 Samuel 24 

Knowing better, having

experiences untold, 

he needed to measure

his power, he needed

an accounting of what

he controlled, forgetting

what that implied,

what happens when

you rely upon yourself,

your resources, your power

to account for your

security. He knew better;

it had happened before,

many times. He’s seen it 

with Saul, with Goliath

and the Philistines, with

Absalom, over and over

again, and still he did

what he set his heart

upon doing. And once

again, predictably,

he learned how actions

lead to destruction.

And in an instant.

 

Photograph by Cheryl Laithang via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Dante and the Companioned Journey –Malcolm Guite.

 

The strange death of Christian Scotland – John MacLeod at The Critic Magazine.

 

The State of the Church in Iran – byFaith.

 

The Chalice of Canterbury: A Call to Faithful Anglicans – Bishop Ceiron Dewar at The Crux of It.

 

Hard Stop – poem by James Matthew Wilson at First Things Magazine.

David looks back

After 2 Samuel 23:1-7 

He looks back and sees

the sheep on the hillside,

the prophet with his oil,

the giant taunting the army,

the five stones in his hand,

the days of serving the king

who hated him, the king’s son

who loved him, the hiding

in the wilderness, the death

of the king, his own crowning,

the battles continuing,

the woman on the rooftop

whose husband he had killed,

the growing of the kingdom,

the son who rebelled,

the victories, the defeats,

the songs he wrote,

the prayers he prayed,

the God he served.

It always comes back

to the God he served.

 

Photograph by Liliia via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Be an Iceberg Christian – David Mathis at Desiring God.

 

Anne Bradstreet: Stirring Poems of a Puritan Wife – Tiffany Brannan at The Epoch Times.

 

What is the Biblical Way of Progress? – Glen Scrivener at The Gospel Coalition.

 

Should Christians Feel Guilty for Being Patriotic? – Sean DeMar at 9Marks.

 

Laugh It Off: Bearing ridicule well points to the wisdom of the cross – Elizabeth Stice at Comment.

A father's grief

After 2 Samuel 18 

Even after his kingdom

is almost lost, his family

torn apart, his country

sundered in two, his

throne threatened, 

the man grieves 

the loss of the one

who set near-destruction

into motion, the son,

the favored son,

the golden child loved

and followed and

praised by so many,

he grieves what might

have been, he grieves

the tearing of,

the cost to

his own soul.

 

Photograph by Noor Hossain via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Sunday, Feb. 1

 

When Peter Walked the Stormy Sea – poem by Esther Roth.

 

5 Reasons You Need Sabbath Rest – Megan Hill at The Gospel Coalition.

 

Beauty Will Win – Trevin Wax at Story Warren.

 

I Stepped Outside – Melissa Edgington at You Mom Has a Blog.

 

“Day by Day,” song by Stephan Schwartz from Godspell – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

The forest consumes

After 2 Samuel 18 

The slaughter of battle

is great that day,

thousands falling

to sword and lance

and knife. The dead

lie in heaps, wasted

piles of life destroyed.

And yet, in spite of

sword and lance and 

knife, it is the forest

that consumes more

than the battle, 

the forest with

its trees and logs and

pits and ditches and 

streams and rivers,

the forest capturing

warriors and showing

no mercy.

 

Photograph by Sebastian Unrau via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Who Is Rich and Who Is Poor? – Eric McLaughlin at Mere Orthodoxy.

 

Chilling Time – Kelly Keller at Story Warren.

 

It Doesn’t Matter What You Remember – Tim Challies.

 

Where is God’s Love When Life Goes Wrong? – Seth Porch at Desiring God.

 

The Burial of the Faithful – poem by Benjamin Myers at First Things.

The rebuke

After 2 Samuel 12:1-25 

He leaps from story

to outrage without

missing a bear, the sin

so obvious, the wrong

done so clear.

 

The teller then says

it is a story about you;

you are the one who

lusted, and stole, and

murdered.

 

You saw the lamb

you didn’t own;

you were already

where you weren’t

supposed to be.

 

You stole it, used it,

and then lied, trying

to cover it up, even

to kill the innocent

in your sin and madness.

 

Photograph by Artyom Kabajev via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

The Courage in Encouragement – Trevis Wax at The Gospel Coalition.

 

Exposing Adultery to the Light – Kyle Borg at Gentle Reformation.

 

Long Live Within Our Hearts – Cody Ilardo at Power & Glory.

 

Against the Algorithm: In Praise of the Parish – Michael Jensen at Lost Arts.

Why is it?

After 2 Samuel 12:1-25 

Why is it

that I can see

the sin in others

but not in me?

 

Why is it

that others’ sin

seems so clear

but not the sin in me?

 

Why is it that 

even kings see wrong 

in others but their own 

they cannot see?

 

We see the sin

of others as black and white;

our own, of course, are

gray, or small, or light. 

 

Photograph by Keem Ibarra via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“A Hymn for the Epiphany,” poem by Richard Crashaw – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

No Life in God’s Service Is Wasted – Matt Rhodes at Desiring God.

 

Christmas Isn’t Over – Seth Lewis.

No matter the success

After 2 Samuel 11:1-27 

No matter the success,

no matter how great 

the achievement;

no matter the gain,

the accolades, the praises,

the success is not yours

or mine; the success

belongs to the Lord.

When you succeed,

give thanks; 

when you prosper,

give thanks;

when you accomplish,

give thanks. 

Do not think you did

it all, for you yourself

did nothing. The Lord

did it all for you.

It’s one of the lessons

we learn from the story

of Bathsheba. 

Photograph by Debby Hudson via Unsplash. Used with permission. 

Some Sunday Readings

 

Happy New Year. Choose Your Kingdom – Ray Majoran at Glimpse of Infinity.

 

New Year Snow – poem by Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street. 

The Monk Bringing Orthodox Christianity to an Island at the Edge of the World – Huw Paige at The Free Press.

Not a broken hallelujah

After 2 Samuel 11:1-27 

He was not where

he should have been;

he stayed home instead

of leading his army. 

He observed what 

he should not have seen,

the wife of another,

the wife of a soldier

at war. He desired

what he should not have

wanted, another man’s

wife, her husband away

in battle. He took what

was not his, no matter

how dazzled he was.

He dishonored another

man’s wife, he dishonored

the man, he dishonored

himself, he dishonored

his God. It was all

broken, but it was never

a hallelujah.

 

Photograph by Mahdi Bafande via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

The Resurrection of Our Deeds – Randy Alcorn at Eternal Perspective Ministries.

 

When Our Hearts Turn Cold in the Winter of Suffering – Lara d’Entremont at A Mother Held.

 

Fearlessly Walking with God – Brian Sudlow at The Imaginative Conservative.

 

What if Everything We Thought about the “Nones” Was Wrong? – Tripp Fuller at Process This.

 

The Long Walk Home – Kirsten Black at Faithful Paradox.

I am Mephibosheth

After 2 Samuel 9:1-13 

I am Mephibosheth,

citizen of a fallen house,

a hose condemned,

a house consumed

by its own anger

and wrath, destroyed

by its own hand.

 

I am Mephibosheth,

crippled since birth,

son of the man who

loved his friend, who

sacrificed his own

position and rank and

his father’s favor.

 

I am Mephibosheth,

expecting to be killed,

desiring to die, instead

finding myself elevated,

and blessed.

 

Photograph by Intricate Explorer via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

The Welcome – poem by Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street.

 

“The House of Christmas,” poem by G. K. Chesterton – Joseph Bottum at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

An Advent Reflection: The Ox – Elizabeth Sudlow at The Imaginative Conservative.

What King Would Come Like This? The Surprising Advent of Jesus – David Mathis at Desiring God.

The Great Disconnect: When the Pulpit and the Pew Aren’t Speaking the Same Language – Tripp Fuller and Ryan Burge at Process This.

Called to the presence

After 2 Samuel 9:1-13 

Called to the presence 

of the king, expecting

to be killed as was

the custom, anticipating

his end to a life marked

by crippling lameness,

the fear in his heart

palpable, he’s instead

presented something

else, a promise

remembered, a friendship

honored, the son of his

friend lifted up, blessed,

not only in words but

with restoration of family

wealth, a picture of love,

divine love.

 

Photograph by William Krause via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

An Advent Reflection: Fuel – Elizabeth Sudlow at The Imaginative Conservative.

 

Christmas in the Garden – Eric Geiger.

 

A Song for the Other Side of Christmas – Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street.

 

Midwinter Light at Christ Church – Spitalfields Life.

 

It Isn’t Night for the Moon – Seth Lewis.

 

“The Burning Babe,” poem by Robert Southwell – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

Protected

After 2 Samuel 9:1-13 

Protected by his friend,

saved to avert his murder

at the hands of the king,

he shares a covenant,

house to house, a love

again demonstrated 

by the acknowledgement

of what had to happen.

The relationship was sealed

in promise and love, and

he showed that love and

he showed that faithfulness,

by protecting the son

of his friend, and more so,

by blessing the son

of his friend.

 

Photograph by Jed Owen via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Into the Unknown – Melissa Edgington at Your Mom Has a Blog.

 

Is Joy in Jess a Christian Obligation? – John Piper at Desiring God.

A kindness shown

After 2 Samuel 9:1-13 

A kindness shown,

a steadfast love displayed,

to the son of his friend

slain in battle,

the grandson of the man

who tried to kill him,

a kindness shown

because it was time 

to forgive.

 

And more than kindness,

an honor, a tribute

to the friend he loved,

one soul in two bodies,

severed. Some might

have eliminated all and

any potential rivals;

instead, he showed

kindness, she showed

mercy, he showed

blessing.

 

Photograph by Masjid Pogung Dalangan via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“A Message for the New Baby,” poem by Luci Shaw – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Four Advent Villanelles by Anna Friedrich – The Rabbit Room.

 

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” – Anthony Esolen at Word and Song.

 

The Empty Chair at Christmas – Daniel Darling at One Little Word.

 

“On Change of Weather,” poem by Francis Quarles – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

You have spoken

After 2 Samuel 7:18-29 

You have spoken, and

it will be as you say,

as it has been before

time. You spoke life

into creation; you

anointed me before

time was born. There

is none like you, no

god like you. You

promise to me,

a mere man, a house

that will live forever.

I bow to your grace,

to your provision,

to your protection,

to your love,

to your love for me.

 

Photograph by Mila Young via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Two Wedding Aisles to Walk Down – Stephen McAlpine.

 

“To Heaven,” poem by Ben Jonson – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

On the Lord’s Nativity – Cody Ilardo at Power & Glory. 

Not you, but me

After 2 Samuel 7:1-18 

The desire to build

a house for me is

a noble one, coming

from your heart, the heart 

after my own. But it is

not yet time to build

my house, and when it is,

you will not build it.

Instead, I will build

a house for you, a house

that you will live in

forever. Your desire

to build a house for me

will be fulfilled, but

by your son, your own son,

and I will establish

his kingdom forever.

For now, I will build,

not you but me.

 

Photograph by Syed Ali via Unsplash Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

The Tune of Things: Is consciousness God? – Christian Wiman at Harper’s Magazine.

 

“First Sunday,” poem by Sally Thomas – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

“The King Shall Come When the Morning Daws,” hymn by John Brownlie – Anthny Esolen at Word & Song.

 

“Annunciation,” poem by John Donne – Malcolm Guite.

 

Thanks in Advance – poem by Seth Lewis.

 

The Bible Is on Trial in Europe – Kara Kennedy at The Free Press.

A heart of stone

After 1 Samuel 25:1-44 

He hears from her lips

of his narrow escape

from destruction and

death, and the guilty

man quakes, realizing

how closely it came, how

closely his words nearly

brought his destruction. 

His heart dies within him,

paralyzed with fear. Gripped

by paralysis, unable to move,

he turns to stone, dead within

ten days, struck down not

by the man he insulted,

but by the God the man

served. Judgment belongs

to the Lord.

 

Photograph by Toni Reed via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Grief, Memory, and the Hope We Hold in Christ – Staci Eastin.

 

Duty and Delight: C.S. Lewis on Beauty in the Psalms – Michael De Sapio at The Imaginative Conservative.

Turning aside anger

After 1 Samuel 25:1-44 

An arrogant, unthinking word,

spoken without care or thought,

evokes a response of revenge

and destruction, swords belted

and unsheathed, their bearers

determined to cut a swath,

hew down, destroy in anger

and recrimination. And yet

a voice, a single voice,

meets the sword head on,

risking her own life, seeking

forgiveness for one who

didn’t deserve it. Anger

seeking vengeance for arrogance

and insult is set aside. The voice

is heeded, the petition for mercy

granted. And it is God who

answers the sin with judgment.

 

Photograph by Marcus Paulo Prado via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“Rock of Ages,” hymn by Augustus Toplady – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Why Euthanasia Feels Intuitive – Time Challies.

 

“God, that Madest Earth and Heaven,” hymn by Reginald Heber and Richard Whately – Anthony Esolen at Word and Song/

 

The Other Side of Human Rights – Seth Lewis.

 

Hilda and Caedmon – poem by Malcolm Guite.