Art

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“This is uncanny, Lord:

a rutted sandy road

running through grass

to a railroad crossing,

a semaphore

against a blue sky

and a white cloud,

a little water color

on a piece of rough paper.

I’ve seen this all a thousand times,

but here it is,

trapped and alive and held:

the golden hue of every glorious summer day,

the everlasting simple grass and sand and sky,

a bit of the first morning,

when the morning stars sang together

and the sons of God shouted for joy.

Adam could walk across this railroad track

and eve, still nude and unashamed.

Uncanny is hardly the word for it;

call it a miracle.

I thank you Lord

for the miracle

of this artist’s eye of innocence,

this deep adoration of Your handiwork

that lets me look upon Your world again

as once Your Son could look

on lilies of the field

growing in Galilee.”

Prayer by Martin H. Franzmann, Pray for Joy

 

 

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“Lord, I Believe”

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Jesus, earlier in the day, had healed a man who had been born blind.  It created quite a stir.  The religious authorities denounced Christ for healing on the Sabbath–what “good” Jewish man would “work” on the Sabbath–and go against the Law of Moses?

They did not believe.

The blind man did.

“Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”

And he said, “Lord, I believe.”  And he worshipped Him.

And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”  John 9:35-41

Lord God, there are many who have yet to see You as Lord and Savior.  I pray that through the preaching of your Word, the Holy Spirit might open the eyes of the blind and create faith.  Thank you for opening my eyes and taking me out of the darkness of my own sin through the water and Word of Baptism and for continuing to give me spiritual eyes to see Your Truth.  I give you all glory and praise–Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  Amen.

 

 

June 5 Something Much Better

Matt Dalrymple praise

2 Samuel 23:24-24:25;  Acts 3:1-26;  Psalm 123:1-4;  Proverbs 16:21-23

“Now Peter and John were going to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple…Seeing Peter and  John about to go  into the temple, he asked to receive alms.  And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”  And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.  But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and his ankles were made strong.”  Acts 3:1-7

“And his name–by faith in his name–has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”  Acts 3:16

A padded purse

or

a peaceful heart?

A stomach full of food

or

full forgiveness of sins?

Material success

or

Spiritual wealth?

Silver and gold

or

physical health?

May the Lord grant

what you need most

in the name

of Jesus Christ

of

Nazareth.

“So our eyes look to the Lord, our God, till he has mercy on us.”  Psalm 123:2

Lord God, you healed the lame man out of your pure grace and mercy. Above all you gave him faith in your Son Jesus Christ.  You gave him a new life both inside and out.  Lord, you know what is best for us as well.  We may think we need this or that, but you truly know what we need.  And just as the lame man who was fully restored leapt for joy and gave you thanks and praise, may we respond to your gift of Salvation with thanks and praise–and let our enthusiasm spill over to those around us.  For Jesus’ sake we pray, Amen.