Tag: devotion

Seashore

James HoganLeave a comment

Good morning, friends! A Monday dawns and light breaks upon us in waves and soon the heat shall follow and we shall be reminded that yes indeed, summer is in full bloom. I wish I could say I’m grateful for summer’s heat but I don’t know if my gratitude for creation’s glory can stretch quite that far. Ah I suppose I could talk myself into it somehow. Summer is a good and proper season and the heat does make one sigh with wistful longing in anticipation for autumn’s arrival, so there is that. Summer – it’s here. July is a month that we know is going to be hot and that is that and no use complaining about it, so I shan’t.

But instead what I shall I use these few minutes before work to talk about? I don’t know, really. I opened this page knowing I had a few minutes so why not write something? I suppose I could say I’m just grateful for the time I had this morning to read the Word and meditate on God’s goodness to me. Even with not quite enough sleep last night (watching the scintillating England/Mexico game – England pulled out an all-time classic win in Mexico City – on the Lions!), I still was able to roll out of bed prior to 5am and get a shower, make coffee and then sit myself down and give myself some nice uninterrupted time to read.

Psalm 46, Proverbs 6, a series of depressing but inspired chapters in Jeremiah – oh how convicting it is to read such and oh how it makes me feel I ought be praying more for mercy for myself and our community and nation – and then beautiful chapters in Luke on the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Got to read Luke 7 and the story of Jesus with the woman who was a sinner. One of my all-time favourite passages and one that never fails to bring me to a halt as I consider and ponder what my Lord has done for me. Oh how beautiful it is to think on the fact that Jesus has forgiven me all my sin. I have been forgiven much. I have been forgiven everything!! How great then ought be my love? Utterly convicting to feel how often my love is cold and dry and how often I fail to be constantly praising my Lord and God for what he has done for me. I need to spend more time meditating on the wonder that is my salvation and my forever communion with my God. What a glorious thing it is to consider that I am a child of God. I have life with God and I have it to the full. I abide in Christ and in him I find true rest. This yoke is indeed easy, this burden is indeed light. In Christ and in Christ alone do I have rest for my soul. It is good to sit at the feet of Jesus this day. Oh how I long for that someday far off trumpet call and that moment when the horizon blurs with light as I see the last dawning and behold the consummation of all things as creation is made new. Oh how I long for that day when the sky quivers and the clouds break and my Lord Jesus Christ stands before my resurrected frame. For now, I tremble in dust and ashes. Someday though, I shall see my Lord with my own eyes, even though now my flesh and my heart are oh so prone to failing. Thank you, Lord, for taking me by the hand each and every moment. Please Lord, lead me to glory.

Little Children

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How lovely it is to know and be known by God. This morning I rest in Him, knowing that I am safe and secure in His care, knowing that my future is bright beyond all imagining. And I do not count my future bright because I tabulate up the money or prestige that may one day be mine, nor because I consider all the love that comes my way from those whom I love deeply. Nay, I count my future bright because I look forward with sure hope that I shall one day be sitting in the presence of my God and for all eternity be living in perfect harmony with Him. This eternal life is my hope and my song all the day long. And I do not say it is my hope because of the length of life – if eternity can be defined in length – and the absence of death. That would not be enough. I could not count eternal life my supreme good if this life did not consist in communion with God. Of course, absence of fellowship with God could not in actuality be called life at all. It would be something far worse.

So I circle back and say that this eternal life to which I pin all my hopes and dreams – in realistic fashion since they are based on that real life which was pinned to that real tree oh so many years ago – is a life that fills my heart with song since I know this life will be me sitting at the feet of my Lord in bliss and endless joy. The Spirit within me sings this song and it knows this song since it was the song that it is has written. I know this song because I know the love that my Father has bestowed upon me calling me his very child! Oh such I am! And I know my Father because I know His Son who sweetly calls me every day into deeper fuller communion with Himself in the most perfect symphony of love and grace and sovereign compassion. I know this symphony that I now shakingly lift my voice to sing a minor part because I know Jesus Christ. He is my Shepherd that calls my name and bids me walk along this eternal path towards my home that has been prepared for me. Jesus is the bread that I take and eat in awestruck love knowing what it means that He died for me. Jesus Jesus is my song for now and for all eternity.

Renewed

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So I’ve been reading through Deuteronomy of late, and while I’ve known for a while how wonderful of a book it is…I think I appreciate it even more as I have read through it this past time! There are many reasons why this latest read has encouraged me, but I think I just appreciate the fact that the laws God gives are a reflection of who God is. And at the end of the day, obeying God is – as according to the words of Deut 12:28 – doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord Almighty. Do we truly care about what God thinks? We should long to obey and please Him – not because it will benefit us(though it will!), but because to obey God, pleases God. And as a child of my Father God, oh do I wish to please my Lord. A small excerpt from my Psalm reading this morning that echos my heart…

My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
I have told of my ways,
and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.
My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your law.
I have chosen the faithful way;
I have placed Your ordinances before me.
I cling to Your testimonies;
O Lord, do not put me to shame!
I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will enlarge my heart.
-Psalm 119:25-32

Anxious Longing of the Creation

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What if God, although willing to demonstrate
His wrath and to make His power known,
endured with much patience vessels of wrath
prepared for destruction?
And He did so to make known the riches of
His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He
prepared beforehand for glory, even us,
whom He also called, not from among Jews only,
but also from among Gentiles.
As He says also in Hosea,
“I will call those who were not My people,
‘My people,’ and her who was not beloved,
‘Beloved.'”
“And it shall be that in the place where it
was said to them, “You were not My people,”
there they shall be called sons of the living God.”

What glorious words from Romans. As I sit here on my couch, enjoying some good reading as I listen to Tchaikovsky…I cannot help but be overwhelmed that I am forgiven. I am forgiven everything. I have really been enjoying reading Romans lately…I have been luxuriating in it, reading it almost absurdly slowly. So as I’ve been pondering Romans 8 for a few days(finally read Romans 9 today!), I want to write about what is in my heart, but I don’t think it will come out right. I guess I can comment on one of the verses(of many!) that struck me…

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…

How comforting is that? We have weaknesses, even now, do we not? And God knows this. And we don’t really always know how to pray, do we? And God knows this. And so His Spirit Himself prays for us and lifts up the cry of our heart to heaven. The prayers that we can’t properly lift up because of our own frailties and failings…matter not – because the Spirit of God prays for us. And why? Because we are indeed children of God, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. We are the people of God. We are the children of God. And indeed, one day – someday soon, I pray! – we will stand glorified in the presence of Christ, revealed to all the world below and to all the angelic host above. With in-drawn breath that comes before the beautiful storm, in awe remember the staggering love with which we have been known. With trembling hands, hold tight to the glorious truth with which we have been entrusted. With shining eyes lifted up, in most broken gratitude – bow down and worship.

The Sovereignty of the Lord

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Tuesday, friends!! This morning I enjoyed a nice drive to work as the sky slowly lightened. And as I drove, was being mightily blessed by listening to an old Dominic message from Isaiah 36-37. It’s too long to go into depth here(although if you want to listen as well, just let me know and I’m sure I can find the link somewhere). But in brief – too often do we grow anxious over some difficult situation in our life and we just fall to pieces. Why? Because our faith is small. Because we don’t understand the sovereignty of God. Here in Isaiah 36 – the kingdom of Judah, ruled by Hezekiah, is threatened by one of the largest and most brutal empires the world had ever seen. The Assyrian empire has turned its eyes on Jerusalem and threatened to bring down divine judgment upon her. We think we have big problems? I think Hezekiah has you beat. But what does Hezekiah do? Does he just fall apart and crumple under the weight of this severe threat? No. He does what all of us should do when our spirits are in distress. He repents in sackcloth and ashes and enters the house of the Lord. He recognizes that this threat from Assyria isn’t so terrible because it threatens him. The real sin of the Assyrian king Sennacherib was that he blasphemed God. And so Hezekiah pleads for the help of the living God, for the salvation of the remnant and for the glory of His own Name. Might we all remember to pray as such! Pray for yourself, yes. Pray for mercy, pray for salvation from evil. But never forget to pray that the name of the Lord be glorified, for it is He who is truly the target of all the attacks of the forces of evil in this world. Our Lord is sovereign, seated above the heavens. Our God is oh so loving and compassionate to us His children. Our God is glorious and worthy of all praise and honour from all the heavens and all the earth. May the mountains clap their hands and may the seas sing the praises of our God. Someday indeed all flesh shall join the chorus of worship to the Lord God Almighty.

So I’m going to close by just quoting the words of the prayer of Hezekiah. I urge that you pray as such today…

Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it,
and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.
Hezekiah prayed to the Lord saying,
“O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim,
You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have
made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes,
O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to
reproach the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated
all the countries and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for
they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have
destroyed them. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the
kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”

Blonde and Blue

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Monday, friends!! I don’t have long to write now…but quickly before I start work…as I sip on my peppermint mocha here(mm, so delicious!), thought I’d share just a few thoughts from my morning reading. Reading John 21 today, finally finishing the book of John. I really tried to take my time reading John, and oh how much I have enjoyed it and been supremely blessed. And so today I read the final chapter…containing one of my favourite parts – Jesus having breakfast with his disciples! – and as I read through to the end, I was convicted yet again by Jesus’ conversation with Peter. This talk that Jesus and Peter have…so encouraging to me. Peter had sinned greatly against the Lord in his betrayal and denial of Christ. Peter was weak and frail. And yet Jesus strengthened Peter and called him to do the work that he was called to do. “Feed my sheep.” Jesus knew that Peter was just a man. Jesus knew that Peter was imperfect. Yet Jesus also knew that Peter was one of God’s own children and had a purpose on this earth. And as he reminded Peter that even in his life, not all would go the way Peter might like – life would not be easy or pain free, oh no! – Jesus left Peter with some final words. “Follow me!” Of course Peter being Peter(oh how I love him!), he blusters a bit and pushes back on Jesus’ statement – “What about him!!?” pointing at John. I can imagine Peter thinking, “If I’m going to suffer and have a horrible death, I sure hope I’m not the only one!” Jesus gently rebukes him and then leaves Peter with the final words we have recorded as Jesus saying to Peter. Again – “Follow me!” And those may be strange words to us – surely, Peter had heard those words oh so long ago when he was standing by his father’s boats when Jesus first called Peter to discipleship. Peter had already chosen to follow Christ. Why was Jesus saying this again? Because Peter needed to hear it. This is such a good reminder to us – have you bowed the knee to God and repented of your sins and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and life everlasting? If so, hallelujah! (And if not…read the book of John and get back to me). But even so – we need this reminder each and every day. Jesus is saying to you, “Follow me!” Each and every day, remind yourself that every step you take needs to be in passionate obedience to Christ, eagerly delighting and rejoicing in the good will of God. Follow Jesus this day. Will it always be easy? Of course not. But it will be glorious. Many years after that walk on the beach with Jesus, Peter took his final steps on this earth and was crucified for his love for his Lord. He glorified Christ with his death. Let us glorify Christ with our life.

Three Steps to Summer Redux

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Happy Wednesday friends!! During my drive over to work, I listened to a quality old CD I burned oh…five years ago? As I prepared for summer in Scotland? Wow, was it really five years ago? Anyway – great music, even though apparently my mix CDs were even more random back in the day! Andrew Belle, Lost Prophets, Needtobreathe, T-Swift…and of course – Hope Bible Church! Anyways, one of the songs there brought some good verses back to mind and thought I would share…

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord,
is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to
them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has
fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of
the earth.”

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were
looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they
were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men
in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee,
why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken
up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have
watched Him go into heaven.”
-Acts 1:6-11

Two points. Firstly, do we oft consider that we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us? We are the witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have received the Holy Spirit. We are imbued with the very power of God. Secondly, Jesus is indeed coming again – in a physical and most real sense. Let us long for that. But – let us not be melancholy and tarry our days away in mournful anticipation. Let us be filled with joy and do the deeds of the Lord as we walk upon this earth! We are the witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is who we are, now.

And one day, we will witness the return of the Lord to this earth and we shall see Him face to face. And then we will be with Him, forever.

At that, our hearts can only be full of joy, continually. At that thought, I bow my head in worship.

Have a most lovely day, dear friends.

Heartsong

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends!! I have – for once! – a relatively free and quiet Saturday morning. And it is glorious. It’s coming near on noon now and I’ve already enjoyed a good breakfast and much reading time and now I thought I could catch up on some chronicling. Except I’ve discovered I don’t really feel like writing too much. Hm. Well – one thing I have neglected – I haven’t shared my last few mix CDs I’ve so much enjoyed creating! I actually just finished a new one this past week…but first, let me share a mix I made right before Christmas(and hence – shared with Laura and Maryanne). It may be my all-time favorite…truly a joy to listen to. At least that is my own not-quite-humble opinion. I present…

Seaspray
1. Bohemian Dances – The Dø
2. Sweet Ophelia – Zella Day
3. The Suburbs – Mr Little Jeans
4. Nature Will Remain – The Dø
5. Thanatos – Soap&Skin
6. Shadow – Birdy
7. Perfection – Oh Land
8. The Way We Get By – Spoon
9. Heart Attack – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
10. Dug My Heart – BØRNS
11. Cloak & Dagger – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
12. They Never Got You – Spoon
13. Aha – The Dø
14. Let It Happen – Tame Impala
15. Crystalised – The XX
16. Nothing Better – The Postal Service
17. Slip Away – Josh Garrels
18. Wishing Well – The Oh Hellos
19. Searching Gold – The Dø

And in my usual fashion, this mix does have a theme to it, although it may be slightly more dark and depressing than is my usual. In Laura’s words – it “sounds like an emo girl and her battle to save the world”…or something like that? Anyway – in my own confused, slightly odd mind – this mix came into fruition and as I listened to it, my mind conjured up the image of a girl standing on a seashore, looking off into the distance. Bundled up against the cold and her scarf blowing in the breeze, she ponders her life and all that she has done to stay strong and keep on keeping on. But yet. Never enough. And yet. And so the mix takes this girl through that progression of being strong in herself, to being depressed in what she has not…to trying to make everything better through such artifices as dance, love, drugs and mental fortitude. And then…comes the realisation that there must be something more. A higher truth, a greater power, a more perfect love. And a most perfect Lover. And in that, comes life and life eternal. And then as the album ends, the last song is a stark reminder though of this world’s tantalising pleasures and dangerous temptations. As I joked with Laura yesterday – I call this my “1st John” CD…because it ends with the simple warning “Little children, keep yourself from idols.” Anyway – far too much of an explanation for such a silly thing as a track-list. Yet, I enjoy it.

Be well, my dear friends. Remember, as children of God – we are loved. We are known. Peace and love.

Ostrakinos

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And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach
The gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release
To the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the favorable year of
the LORD.”
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Wow. That must have simply amazing to be one of those there and hear those words from Jesus’ mouth, stating that prophecy had been fulfilled that very day and declaring Himself to be the prophesied Messiah, the Saviour of His people!! I read this passage recently and it just struck me quite strongly, how amazing a thing it was for the God of the universe to come down to this earth, to fallen ones like us. And one day, He shall come again! And this next time, He will come in all his power and might and it will be glorious!! And I feel quite humbled knowing that we have such a Saviour and such a Father and such a Mediator and such a God. And now that I have talked quite a bit, I feel like quoting some other passages that I’ve much enjoyed recently, but it would be a bit awkward to quote the whole book of Hebrews. Aw, you all don’t mind, right. Right?? Well, I will quote one of my favorite bits then:

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
“This is the covenant that I will
Make with them after those days,
says the LORD:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”
He then says,
“And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will remember no more.”

Amazing. And…

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And….

I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried,
And the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps
Around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.

O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

O look to Jesus! Look to Him and be saved!!

And…I may have been carried away a tad with all the quoting(Luke 4:14-21, Hebrews 10:11-17, Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalm 34:5-8). My bad.

But I couldn’t really help it.

Sometimes I feel like I should write more of my earthy feelings and sensual emotions…but I can’t keep from writing what is on my heart and in my soul!! In the balances of eternity…all else is but rubbish. Just let me leave you with one of my all-time favs…

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the
GLORY OF THE LORD,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from
the LORD, the Spirit.

Stars in the sky

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Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW,
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed
—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—
continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.
Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
as you hold firmly to the word of life.
And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ
that I did not run or labor in vain.
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering
on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith,
I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
-Philippians 2:1-18

So yeah, couldn’t really cut that short. Beauty? Glory? Inexpressible joy? Yes, yes and a thousand times yes. And I really don’t think I can write any further thoughts on this…so let me just ask y’all to read that again and let yourself be washed in the glory of the Word. Bask in its beauty. Live in its joy. And let’s abide in Jesus. Forever and always. Because despite all that we do to tear away from Jesus, He holds us tight…nothing(not even ourselves!!) can take us from His almighty hand. And that, my dear friends, is joy indeed. Joy inexpressible and full of glory. And we sing!! Oh do we sing!