He provides

After Leviticus 26:1-11 

He blesses you

in faithfulness,

he blesses you

with the fruit

of the land

he gave to you.

You respond by

giving back to him.

You give him 

an offering of

your work,

the first fruits

of your work,

to be used

for your house,

for your priests,

for the sojourners

among you.

 

Photograph by Guillaume de Germain via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“The Raising of Lazarus,” poem by Franz Wright – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

A Legacy Better Than the Hall of Fame – Ryan Currie at Gospel-Centered Discipleship.

 

Breakfast with Brother Dave: The Blessing of Intergenerational Friendship – Jacob Adkins at Front Porch Republic.

 

“As You Came from the Holy Land,” poem attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

Provision 2

After 1 Samuel 21:1-22:5 

He finds himself

without a weapon,

without a sword

to defend himself,

his only option

the sword of Goliath,

kept as a relic,

a testament 

of the Lord’s protection

and provision, providing

the boy with the slingshot

to topple the giant. Now

that boy needs provision

of defense, and the Lord

once again provides. It’s

a certain justice that

the Lord provides 

the sword won by the boy

to the man who requires it,

as if the day and the need

were foreseen.

 

Photograph by Arthur Kerkhoff via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Vespers – Brian Miller at Notes from an East Tennessee Farmer.

 

Pray for the persecuted Christian church – Rachel Paulose at The Spectator.

 

The Hospitality of Remembering Someone – Kim Barnes at CDM Women’s Ministry.

 

Provision

After 1 Samuel 21:1-22:5 

It is aid the Lord provides,

but what of the times

when there is no bread

but the holy bread, set

aside solely for the Lord?

Hunger gnaws, provision

is needed, but to take

the holy bread, meant

only for the Lord?

The priest was willing;

he offered the bread

and was accepted,

the gift set aside

solely for the Lord, 

now provision

from the Lord.

 

Photograph by Kate Remmer via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Rainbows Keep Showing Up – Katie Andraski at Katie’s Ground.

 

“The Sky-Lark,” poem by Felicia Hemans – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

The Need to Knead – Ryan Tinetti at Mere Orthodoxy.

 

Ministry Doesn’t Have to be a Spectacle – Josh Oh at Sola Network.

 

Seeing Goodness More Clearly – Joel Miller at Miller’s Book Review talks with Shemaiah Gonzalez.