David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

  • Today’s Psalms for December 28, 2025

    Please pray these Psalms with me on this Lord’s Day 

    Psalm 28

    O Lord,

    To you, O Lord, I call;
        my rock, be not deaf to me,
    lest, if you be silent to me,
        I become like those who go down to the pit.
    2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
        when I cry to you for help,
    when I lift up my hands
        toward your most holy sanctuary.

    3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
        with the workers of evil,
    who speak peace with their neighbors
        while evil is in their hearts.
    4 Give to them according to their work
        and according to the evil of their deeds;
    give to them according to the work of their hands;
        render them their due reward.
    5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
        or the work of his hands,
    he will tear them down and build them up no more.

    6 Blessed be the Lord!
        For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
    7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
        in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
    my heart exults,
        and with my song I give thanks to him.

    8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
        he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
    9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
        Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

    Psalm 58

    Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
        Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
    2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
        your hands deal out violence on earth.

    3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
        they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
    4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
        like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
    5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
        or of the cunning enchanter.

    6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
        tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
    7 Let them vanish like water that runs away;
        when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
    8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
        like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
    9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
        whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!

    10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
        he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
    11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
        surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

    Psalm 88

    O Lord, God of my salvation,
        I cry out day and night before you.
    2 Let my prayer come before you;
        incline your ear to my cry!

    3 For my soul is full of troubles,
        and my life draws near to Sheol.
    4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
        I am a man who has no strength,
    5 like one set loose among the dead,
        like the slain that lie in the grave,
    like those whom you remember no more,
        for they are cut off from your hand.
    6 You have put me in the depths of the pit,
        in the regions dark and deep.
    7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
        and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah

    8 You have caused my companions to shun me;
        you have made me a horror to them.
    I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
    9     my eye grows dim through sorrow.
    Every day I call upon you, O Lord;
        I spread out my hands to you.
    10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
        Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
    11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
        or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
    12 Are your wonders known in the darkness,
        or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

    13 But I, O Lord, cry to you;
        in the morning my prayer comes before you.
    14 O Lord, why do you cast my soul away?
        Why do you hide your face from me?
    15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
        I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
    16 Your wrath has swept over me;
        your dreadful assaults destroy me.
    17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
        they close in on me together.
    18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
        my companions have become darkness.

    Psalm 118

    Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
        for his steadfast love endures forever!

    2 Let Israel say,
        “His steadfast love endures forever.”
    3 Let the house of Aaron say,
        “His steadfast love endures forever.”
    4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
        “His steadfast love endures forever.”

    5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
        the Lord answered me and set me free.
    6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
        What can man do to me?
    7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
        I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

    8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
        than to trust in man.
    9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
        than to trust in princes.

    10 All nations surrounded me;
        in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
    11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
        in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
    12 They surrounded me like bees;
        they went out like a fire among thorns;
        in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
    13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
        but the Lord helped me.

    14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
        he has become my salvation.
    15 Glad songs of salvation
        are in the tents of the righteous:
    “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
    16     the right hand of the Lord exalts,
        the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

    17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
        and recount the deeds of the Lord.
    18 The Lord has disciplined me severely,
        but he has not given me over to death.

    19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
        that I may enter through them
        and give thanks to the Lord.
    20 This is the gate of the Lord;
        the righteous shall enter through it.
    21 I thank you that you have answered me
        and have become my salvation.
    22 The stone that the builders rejected
        has become the cornerstone.
    23 This is the Lord‘s doing;
        it is marvelous in our eyes.
    24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
        let us rejoice and be glad in it.

    25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
        O Lord, we pray, give us success!

    26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
        We bless you from the house of the Lord.
    27 The Lord is God,
        and he has made his light to shine upon us.
    Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
        up to the horns of the altar!

    28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
        you are my God; I will extol you.
    29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
        for his steadfast love endures forever!

    Psalm 148

    Praise the Lord!
    Praise the Lord from the heavens;
        praise him in the heights!
    2 Praise him, all his angels;
        praise him, all his hosts!

    3 Praise him, sun and moon,
        praise him, all you shining stars!
    4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
        and you waters above the heavens!

    5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!
        For he commanded and they were created.
    6 And he established them forever and ever;
        he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

    7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
        you great sea creatures and all deeps,
    8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
        stormy wind fulfilling his word!

    9 Mountains and all hills,
        fruit trees and all cedars!
    10 Beasts and all livestock,
        creeping things and flying birds!

    11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
        princes and all rulers of the earth!
    12 Young men and maidens together,
        old men and children!

    13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
        for his name alone is exalted;
        his majesty is above earth and heaven.
    14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
        praise for all his saints,
        for the people of Israel who are near to him.
    Praise the Lord!

    The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
    ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by
    Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

  • Christmas Day +1 2025: Treasuring & Pondering

    Christmas Day +1 2025: Treasuring & Pondering

    Today’s 49 week challenge readings are Acts 23; Exodus 22; Psalm 54; 70.

    Note: Today’s devotion is not based on these readings, but I encourage you to read them nonetheless.

    Luke 2:16-19

    And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

    “Mary treasured up all these things in her heart.

    I’m imagining the shepherds were very excited when they visited the manger. How they found it, how long it took, and how many people they encountered along the way, I don’t know. What they did with the sheep, the Bible doesn’t tell us. But we know they saw a multitude of the heavenly host. They heard the angel chorus praising God. They determined to go see the Christ Child. And they went.

    Over against their excitement Mary treasures these things and ponders them in her heart. She considered the events to be precious. They were valuable to her. And she thought about them. Maybe she thought back to the announcement of Gabriel that she would conceive and bear a son whose name would be Jesus. She may have remembered how Joseph changed his mind and took her as his wife – though the child was not his – and determined that his name should be Jesus. She no doubt took to heart that he would save his people from their sins.

    I treasure the music, hymns, and songs of Christmas. I have little use for almost any secular so-called Christmas music. But those which extole Christ, ponder his mercy, and express the mystery of the Word made flesh: those I delight in. Christmas Day worship is my favorite. Family around the dinner table is my happy place. Friends and fellow worshipers of the King who became a baby lift my spirits.

    I treasure these things and I’ll ponder them in my heart today. What are yours?

  • Christmas Day 2025: “The Word became flesh” – Thanks be to God!

    Christmas Day 2025: “The Word became flesh” – Thanks be to God!

    Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

    Today’s readings are Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20; John 1:1-14; Galatians 4:4; TItus 2:11; 3:4-5 .

    Note: I will be preaching at St. John on Christmas Day – my favorite service of the year. Join us at 9:30.

    John 1:14

    And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Blue Christmas | Cypress, Texas | December 2023

    “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth.” This verse from John’s gospel has more meaning to me than any other Christmas verse. That is a dangerous thing to say, and perhaps a bit of an overstatement. But it forms me like no other part of the Christmas story. Others may be drawn to Mary treasuring in her heart all the things surrounding Jesus birth. Still others may lay hold of Jesus’ name and it’s meaning, “the Lord saves.” This was told to Joseph in his dream. Some may love the thought of the heavenly host praising God and saying (singing?), “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men.” I love them all. But I consistently come back to the truth that Word became flesh full of grace and truth.

    Flesh: real, tangible, accessible, vulnerable, without pretence. When I think of that I find peace in my heart. Serving God is not some hyped-up show. Worship itself is not a performance. Being a reflection of Jesus is all about being real, not pretentious. I don’t have to be other-worldly, or completely aloof when I preach or lead worship. I just want to be real – warts and all. For God loves the real me. He became real for me and you, and all people.

    But Jesus is more than just a baby. He is God incarnate – full of grace and truth. Grace is that rich kindness, mercy, goodness, love and undeserved compassion that flows from the heart of God. Jesus is filled with grace. He is also truth incarnate. Truth is that reality of our condition, the brutal facts of our sinful brokenness, fallenness, waywardness, and error. We have completely missed the mark. We are not true. But Jesus is truth incarnate, not to condemn us, but to be for us what we could not be for ourselves.

    “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

    But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. – Galatians 4:4-5

    That’s the gracious truth of the birth of our Savior, for which we may say, “Thanks be to God!”

  • 49 Week Bible Challenge Day 234 (Christmas Eve) – Yay God! – Corrected Podcast Link

    49 Week Bible Challenge Day 234 (Christmas Eve) – Yay God! – Corrected Podcast Link

    Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

    Today’s readings are Romans 16; Psalm 12; Isaiah 48. I hope you will join me in reading these passages.

    Romans 16:25-27

    Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

    Limpkin | Uruguay, South America | December 2025

    We’re inching ever closer to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. And at that birth a host of angels said (sang?), “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). God was doing an extraordinary thing by entering his creation as a baby. The Savior of the world was born, and I like to think that the angels could just not restrain themselves. God’s champion was born. This was truly a Yay God moment!

    I first heard that term. – yay God – from a prominent, but now disgraced church leader. I loved the thought. When something good happens, we don’t want to take the credit. We realize every good gift comes from God, and so we praise him: Yay God! It’s much like the first time I heard a pastor say, “I thank God for you,” rather than “thank you.” God gets the glory.

    We may be a source of blessing to others as we love and serve our family, friends, and neighbors. And it’s nice to know that our acts of service are appreciated. But God is the author of every good thing. He is at work in and through us for his good pleasure and our neighbor’s good. He deserves the praise.

    As Paul ends his letter to the Romans with this doxology – one of two major expressions of praise to God in this letter. There are, in addition, two other acknowledgements of God’s glory in the letter as well.

    The major expressions of praise to God.

    1. Romans 11:33–36 – “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God… to Him be glory forever. Amen.”
    2. Romans 16:25–27 – The closing doxology of the letter.

    Paul also includes these brief praise formulas:

    • Romans 1:25 – “…the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
    • Romans 9:5 – “…Christ… who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

    As we listen to the Christmas account and hear the angels praise God at Jesus’ birth, let’s be sure we join in with our “Yay God!” for he is the only wise God and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

  • 49 Week Bible Challenge Day 234 (Christmas Eve) – Yay God!

    49 Week Bible Challenge Day 234 (Christmas Eve) – Yay God!

    Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

    Today’s readings are Romans 16; Psalm 12; Isaiah 48. I hope you will join me in reading these passages.

    Romans 16:25-27

    Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

    Limpkin | Uruguay, South America | December 2025

    We’re inching ever closer to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. And at that birth a host of angels said (sang?), “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). God was doing an extraordinary thing by entering his creation as a baby. The Savior of the world was born, and I like to think that the angels could just not restrain themselves. God’s champion was born. This was truly a Yay God moment!

    I first heard that term. – yay God – from a prominent, but now disgraced church leader. I loved the thought. When something good happens, we don’t want to take the credit. We realize every good gift comes from God, and so we praise him: Yay God! It’s much like the first time I heard a pastor say, “I thank God for you,” rather than “thank you.” God gets the glory.

    We may be a source of blessing to others as we love and serve our family, friends, and neighbors. And it’s nice to know that our acts of service are appreciated. But God is the author of every good thing. He is at work in and through us for his good pleasure and our neighbor’s good. He deserves the praise.

    As Paul ends his letter to the Romans with this doxology – one of two major expressions of praise to God in this letter. There are, in addition, two other acknowledgements of God’s glory in the letter as well.

    The major expressions of praise to God.

    1. Romans 11:33–36 – “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God… to Him be glory forever. Amen.”
    2. Romans 16:25–27 – The closing doxology of the letter.

    Paul also includes these brief praise formulas:

    • Romans 1:25 – “…the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
    • Romans 9:5 – “…Christ… who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

    As we listen to the Christmas account and hear the angels praise God at Jesus’ birth, let’s be sure we join in with our “Yay God!” for he is the only wise God and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

  • 49 Week Bible Challenge Day 233 – Hope!

    49 Week Bible Challenge Day 233 – Hope!

    Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

    Today’s readings are Romans 15; 2 Samuel 22; Psalm 18; 117; Isaiah 11. I hope you will join me in reading these passages.

    Romans 15:12-13

    Isaiah says,

    “The root of Jesse will come,
        even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
    in him will the Gentiles hope.”

    13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

    Great Kiskadee | Uruguay, South America | December 2025

    Morgan Freeman’s character (Red) in the movie Shawshank Redemption says, “Hope is a dangerous thing.” He’s challenging fellow inmate Andy, who says, “You gotta have hope.” Red has no hope. He’s killed his heart to any possibility of getting out of prison and making a life for himself. Andy has plans to get out and spends his time wisely waiting for the right opportunity. Beyond holding onto hope, Andy is not a good role model for us. But he does hold onto hope.

    A better role model for hope is Admiral James Stockdale, famed Vietnam POW, for whom the Stockdale Paradox is named. Stockdale endured incredible hardship while a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Many in his prison camp did not survive. But he urged the people there to face the brutal facts of their dreadful situation, yet hold onto hope for deliverance. That’s the paradox: Face the brutal facts while holding onto hope.

    God is the God of fact and hope. There is no whitewashing even the heroes of faith in the Old or New Testaments. Yet God holds out hope to the people before Jesus’ day that a Savior would be born. He holds out hope to us that the resurrection of Jesus will be ours and we will live in glory, bliss, and joy in the life of the world to come.

    I’m with Dufresne: you gotta have hope. Hope anchors our souls (Hebrews 6:19). It is the living gift of God’s Holy Spirit who has regenerated us into the hope of the resurrection. and Proverbs 13:12 tell us that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

    You don’t just “gotta have hope,” it is God’s gift that gives us also peace and joy, and by his grace by which we abound in hope of God’s good plans for us and our neighbor, fully in realized in Jesus our Savior.

  • 49 Week Bible Challenge Day 232 – Light! Let there be light!

    49 Week Bible Challenge Day 232 – Light! Let there be light!

    Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

    Today’s readings are Romans 14; Isaiah 45; Obadiah 1. I hope you will join me in reading these passages.

    Isaiah 45:5-7

    I am the Lord, and there is no other,
        besides me there is no God;
        I equip you, though you do not know me,
    6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
        and from the west, that there is none besides me;
        I am the Lord, and there is no other.
    7 I form light and create darkness;
        I make well-being and create calamity;
        I am the Lord, who does all these things.

    Black Cat | Uruguay, South America | December 2025

    Isaiah reminds us that God is the One who created light. God’s first recorded act of creation was light. He said, “let there be light.” And there was light, and God saw that the light was good.

    I’ve been thinking recently about Jesus as the light of the world that darkness cannot overcome. And I pray that he does these four things in us – he who is the Light of the World.

    1. Light Gives Life

    Physically, nothing grows without light. Spiritually, God’s light awakens faith, hope, and renewal. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1)

    2. Light Reveals

    Light makes things visible. It uncovers what is hidden, clarifies what is unclear, and shows reality as it truly is. “Walk as children of light… and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Eph. 5)

    3. Light Guides

    Light shows the way forward. It provides direction, helps us avoid danger, and leads us toward safety and purpose. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Ps. 119)

    4. Light Dispels Darkness

    Where light appears, darkness retreats. Darkness cannot overpower it. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1)

    I’m thankful for light. And especially the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

  • Today’s Psalms for December 21, 2025

    Please pray these Psalms with me on this Lord’s Day 

    Psalm 21:1-7,13

    O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
        and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
    2 You have given him his heart’s desire
        and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

    3 For you meet him with rich blessings;
        you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
    4 He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
        length of days forever and ever.
    5 His glory is great through your salvation;
        splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
    6 For you make him most blessed forever;
        you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
    7 For the king trusts in the Lord,
        and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

    13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
        We will sing and praise your power.

    Psalm 51

    Have mercy on me, O God,
        according to your steadfast love;
    according to your abundant mercy
        blot out my transgressions.
    2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
        and cleanse me from my sin!

    3 For I know my transgressions,
        and my sin is ever before me.
    4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
        and done what is evil in your sight,
    so that you may be justified in your words
        and blameless in your judgment.
    5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
        and in sin did my mother conceive me.
    6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
        and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

    7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
        wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
    8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
        let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
    9 Hide your face from my sins,
        and blot out all my iniquities.
    10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
        and renew a right spirit within me.
    11 Cast me not away from your presence,
        and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
    12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
        and uphold me with a willing spirit.

    13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
        and sinners will return to you.
    14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
        O God of my salvation,
        and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
    15 O Lord, open my lips,
        and my mouth will declare your praise.
    16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
        you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
    17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
        a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

    18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
        build up the walls of Jerusalem;
    19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,
        in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
        then bulls will be offered on your altar.

    Psalm 81

    Sing aloud to God our strength;
        shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
    2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
        the sweet lyre with the harp.
    3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
        at the full moon, on our feast day.

    4 For it is a statute for Israel,
        a rule of the God of Jacob.
    5 He made it a decree in Joseph
        when he went out over the land of Egypt.
    I hear a language I had not known:
    6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
        your hands were freed from the basket.
    7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
        I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
        I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
    8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
        O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
    9 There shall be no strange god among you;
        you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
    10 I am the Lord your God,
        who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
        Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

    11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
        Israel would not submit to me.
    12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
        to follow their own counsels.
    13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
        that Israel would walk in my ways!
    14 I would soon subdue their enemies
        and turn my hand against their foes.
    15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
        and their fate would last forever.
    16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
        and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

    Psalm 111

    Praise the Lord!
    I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
        in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
    2 Great are the works of the Lord,
        studied by all who delight in them.
    3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
        and his righteousness endures forever.
    4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
        the Lord is gracious and merciful.
    5 He provides food for those who fear him;
        he remembers his covenant forever.
    6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
        in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
    7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
        all his precepts are trustworthy;
    8 they are established forever and ever,
        to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
    9 He sent redemption to his people;
        he has commanded his covenant forever.
        Holy and awesome is his name!
    10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
        all those who practice it have a good understanding.
        His praise endures forever!

    Psalm 141

    O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
        Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
    2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
        and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

    3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
        keep watch over the door of my lips!
    4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
        to busy myself with wicked deeds
    in company with men who work iniquity,
        and let me not eat of their delicacies!

    5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
        let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
        let my head not refuse it.
    Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
    6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
        then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
    7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
        so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

    8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
        in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
    9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
        and from the snares of evildoers!
    10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
        while I pass by safely.

    The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
    ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by
    Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

  • 49 Week Bible Challenge Day 229 – When Christ Shapes Our Love

    49 Week Bible Challenge Day 229 – When Christ Shapes Our Love

    Today’s readings are Romans 13; 2 Samuel 21; Daniel 2;4; Proverbs 24. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

    Romans 13:8-12

    Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

    11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

    One Bird X 3 | Uruguay, South America | December 2025

    A church member years ago said that this verse – among others – effectively forbade Christians from going into any kind of debt whatsoever. He and his (large) family took that literally and did not even have a mortgage. They rented. Without debating the validity of the wisdom of not being in debt, there can be no doubt about the continuing debt we have to love one another.

    Some will define love in terms of the so-called 5 love languages: Meaningful and Appropriate Touch, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, and Acts of Service. Those are beautiful ways to express love, and each of us has a different love language.

    But Paul shows that love is not simply a matter of meeting emotional needs; it is about living in the light of Christ’s coming. The motivating force behind Christian love is not personal style but the dawning of a new day – the nearness of salvation. This love is a reflection of Christ’s love for us. It shaped by urgency, hope, and holiness.

    Furthermore, Romans 13 invites us to see every act of love – even the small, everyday expressions – as part of a much larger transformation. Loving our neighbor is part of putting on Christ Himself, a way of life shaped not merely by preference but by His redeeming presence at work in us.

  • 49 Week Bible Challenge Day 228 – Overcoming Evil with Good

    49 Week Bible Challenge Day 228 – Overcoming Evil with Good

    Today’s readings are Romans 12:17-21; Deuteronomy 32; Proverbs 25; 1 Samuel 26. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

    Romans 12:17-21

    Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

    Parakeet | Uruguay, South America | December 2025

    Evil intent is cloaked in many different disguises. A smile can hide a vengeful heart. A soft voice can mascarade a prideful spirit. A kiss can distract from spiteful plans. So when Paul says do not overcome evil with evil, overcome evil with good, we must look beyond outward actions to the intent of our hearts.

    We can never have perfectly pure motives. There will always be some sort of ulterior motives in our best actions. Whether it’s hoping God will notice our good deeds and reward us, or that our acts of kindness will endear us to our neighbor, or extra miles will gain us recognition by the boss: we will struggle with all of these as long as we are on earth. I’m remembering a classic Lutheran book, The Quest for Holiness: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Investigation in which the author Adolf Köberle emphasized that true Christian holiness flows from God’s grace in Christ, not human striving. Our striving will always sully any effort at living godly lives.

    Yet here we have a calling that requires a quest: overcome evil with good. It’s right up there with Paul’s message earlier in this chapter that we live at peace with all people insofar as it is possible with you. We will never do it perfectly this side of heaven. But we are to reflect the love, grace, and truth of Christ.

    Overcoming evil may mean that we struggle within ourselves against the temptation to take matters into our own hands. That’s when the grace of Christ becomes even more precious and powerful. Jesus overcame the fiercest evil by his goodness and grace, faithfulness and obedience to God – entrusting himself to God against all odds. By doing so he not only overcame evil, but won salvation for all who believe in him.