Sunday’s Blessing – 2/22/2026 – First Sunday of Lent

Sunday’s Blessing – 2/22/2026 – First Sunday of Lent

Lent is not very familiar to most protestants who are not part of a liturgical church. Most only know the word “lint” which has nothing to do with the religious observance. Most people know about Mardi Gras, but don’t understand the relationship it has to the liturgical calendar.

Mardi Gras ends with a day know as Fat Tuesday. It is basically a festival of decadence where the participants explore most every vice. The reason it ends with Fat Tuesday is because Ash Wednesday follows, which is the eve of the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance, preparing your heart for Lent, so Mardi Gras allows folks to get it all out of their system before beginning a forty day fast.

Mardi Gras nor Fat Tuesday are part of the religious observance of Lent. It is amusing to me, however, that some folks who observe Lent also participate in Mardi Gras. The two are diametrically opposed.

The period of fasting before Easter is called Lent because the term is derived from the Old English word “lencten”, meaning "spring" or "lengthening" of days, as the season occurs during springtime. It is a 40-day, solemn Christian observance of reflection, prayer, and fasting, echoing the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before his public ministry.

The word lent is also the past participle of lend. Even though it is not the same meaning as Lent, it is interesting to me how the meanings are related. Our lives have been lent to us by God. The Lentin season is to remember that life is but a vapor and to dedicate ourselves to remember the sacrifice of our Savior on Calvary. The 40 day fast preceding Easter allow us to identify with the suffering He endured, not only on the cross, but in living a life fully yielded to the purpose God had for His existence.

So, whether it’s Lent of lent, it is helpful as Christians to take time to remember. In remembering, it will make living much more meaningful as you pursue the purpose God has for you.

Now for today’s blessing:

O teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:16 (ESV)

Since his days are determined,

and the number of his months is with you,

and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,

look away from him and leave him alone,

that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day. Job 14:5-6 (ESV)

Sunday’s Blessing – 2/14/2026 – Take Another Look

Sunday’s Blessing – 2/14/2026 – Take Another Look

One of the most frequently viewed articles on my blog is True vs. Truth About God. It contains an image which illustrates how perspective can play a huge role in how we see things. In the image you see an object (cylinder) whose shadow is being projected on a surface with light from two different directions. In one image (blue) the object appears to be square. The other image (yellow) the object appears to be round. Both are “true” based on perspective, but neither view fully describes the object in question.

 

The reason for this thought was a conversation I had with a friend this week regarding critics of scripture. Some say the Bible is wrought with “errors” because of the various accounts of certain events recorded by different authors. The gospels contain descriptions of events from the writer’s perspective. However, since they are not identical, they are written off as wrong.

Ask two people to describe “red”. You will get two very different descriptions. We need to realize when we hear someone speak about any topic that there could be information being omitted; not maliciously, but simply not something they observed.

Let me try to clarify with an example of something which happened to me. I was driving north on I-65 between Cullman and Lacon when I saw a truck pulled over on the shoulder. What I didn’t see was the object in the road which caused the truck to pull over. It was a gear used to tighten straps to secure the load. When I finally spotted the object, it was too late to swerve around the object. As I straddled it, thinking I avoided contact, my rear axle hit the object, making a very loud noise. I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed both hubcaps from my rear wheels were rolling down the interstate, eventually rolling into the trees on the east side of the road. I didn’t stop at that time since I was on my way to a meeting but made note of the location so I could come back for the hubcaps.

I returned to the spot later that week and began searching for the lost items. I stood on the top of the embankment looking among the trees and underbrush for the hubcaps. There was no sign of them. I then decided to change my perspective. I walked down among the trees and looked again. Amazingly, both hubcaps were located and were not damaged at all.

When it comes to understanding God, and the scripture, we need to take a second look before forming an opinion on the meaning of what we see. It could make a huge difference in how our lives will be impacted. This very thing is what prompted my study of the Names of God so many years ago. I wanted to understand more about this One we called God. I wanted to know His character, His nature, His motivations, His ways.

What does all of this have to do with Valentine’s Day weekend? Nothing really, except for the fact that some believe love is blind. I can never agree with that. Love, in my opinion, is when you fully realize who someone is, and then love them anyway. God loves us without reserve. The only way we can fully give ourselves to Him, or anyone else, is to gain trust that they will receive us unconditionally. That is true love.

Now for today’s blessing:

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3b (ESV)

And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Exodus 33:17-19 (ESV)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)

Sunday’s Blessing – 02/08/2026 – Flue

Sunday’s Blessing – 02/08/2026 – Flue

If you’ve read much of my writing you know I am enamored with words. The English language is such a terrible means of communicating, yet having been born in The United States, I have very few other choices. So I continue to try, as futile as it may be. I have a running theme of FaceBook posts which I call “English is Hard,” where I list a string of words, usually homonyms (words which are pronounce the same but have different meanings), followed by some random thought on communication.

This has now spilled over into this series of blog posts called “Sunday’s Blessing.” This week during all the cold weather I built a fire in the fireplace. When I first lit the paper and kindling, the smoke started billowing into the house instead of up the chimney. I immediately thought the flue must be closed. Upon inspection, however, I discovered it was already open. “Flue” then became my latest series of words to think on. “Flew, flu, flue: English is Hard.” Three different words. Three very different meanings.

How this became a part of “Sunday’s Blessing” was the thoughts I had regarding “flue.” It’s part of the chimney designed to control airflow. When open it allows the hot smokey air to exit out the chimney instead of backing up into the house. When closed it keeps the outside air from coming into the house via the chimney.

When I lit the fire this week and found the flue already open, it occurred to me that all this time the heat from the HVAC unit had been flying out the chimney, causing the unit run more than needed, costing additional electricity and gas. This reminded me of the Christian life. In an attempt to please our Father by being a “good” Christian, we constantly take inventory of our life to see if there is anything there which would hinder our relationship with Him. Thinking we have everything under control, we come to the realization our “flue” is open, allowing the enemy access to our life to do what he does best – steal, kill, and destroy.

The Holy Spirit was given to the Believer to guide them into all truth. He leads us by directing our steps and also by helping us avoid hidden snares. He reveals “open flues” to prevent leaks in our spiritual lives. Keep the flame burning hot in your life. Allow the Spirit to help remove the leaky places and allow your cup to stay full.

Now for today’s blessing:

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” Song of Solomon 2:15 (ESV)

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV)

for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV)

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37b-38 (ESV)

Sunday’s Blessing – 02/01/2026 – Homeostasis

Sunday’s Blessing – 02/01/2026 – Homeostasis

One of my favorite college classes was Biology 101. It was fascinating to learn all the details about life; how it formed, how it was sustained, etc. One of the words that stuck with me through the years was homeostasis. Science tells us this process evolved. I choose to believe it was by design of the Maker. Take a look and decide for yourself.

Homeostasis is the physiological process by which a living organism maintains a stable, constant internal environment despite changing external conditions. It acts as a dynamic equilibrium, constantly regulating variables like temperature, pH, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels to keep them within a narrow, survival-friendly range.

I can’t imagine any of this kind of “adjustments” to a living thing happening accidentally, or even out of necessity (the argument used for evolution). However, I have no problem believing that someone with the ability could design such things. That “someone” is who I call God. Not just a god, but THE God; Jehovah, Adonia, Yahweh, Creator, Father, The Great I AM. With that premise, I can easily see how He formed a brain in humans, and the rest of the animals, which can control everything inside the body down to the tiniest cell, allowing us to live.

I can hear the questions now. “So, why do we get sick?” “Why do people die?” We live in an imperfect world. We were told this in the Garden and reminded of it by Jesus when He said, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” Sin causes death. Jesus restores life.

The Holy Spirit within the believer is our “homeostasis”. He is constantly working to bring us to a place of peace, joy, and love. He helps keep us clean, refreshed, and guiding us toward the best outcome. When we learn to hear Him, and quickly follow His leading, we will experience God’s best in our life.

Today’s blessing:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 1 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 (ESV)

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/25/2026 – Snow

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/25/2026 – Snow

Snow and ice have been on everyone’s mind this week. Psalm 147 has some things to say about snow and ice. The description given to this psalm by the translators is “He Heals the Brokenhearted”. I love the sight of new fallen snow. It covers all the unsightly things and makes them look so beautiful. Even the comeliest of views is made perfect by a blanket of snow.

For us in the modern world it does create havoc on our lifestyle. It keeps us from seeing the beauty because of our anger and frustration over not being able to do what we had planned. Maybe if we simply embraced the beauty of the new-fallen snow or the glistening of ice on the plants and trees it would allow the healing of God to touch in places we didn’t even know were broken. Sometimes, until you experience peace, you didn’t even know you were living in chaos. Or, perhaps you have grown so accustomed to pain, you are surprised when you experience comfort instead of hurt.

Let’s take the opportunity, even if we are inconvenienced by the weather, as a time to reflect on the goodness of God and allow ourselves to be OK for a minute. You might be surprised by the outcome.

Today’s blessing:

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children within you.

He makes peace in your borders;

he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

He sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

He gives snow like wool;

he scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;

who can stand before his cold?

He sends out his word, and melts them;

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

He declares his word to Jacob,

his statutes and rule to Israel.

He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his rules.

Praise the LORD! Psalm 147:12-20 (ESV)

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/18/2026 – Holidays

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/18/2026 – Holidays

Monday is a national holiday in the United States. It is a day set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The word holiday is derived from the term “holy day,” and has its roots, at least for Christians, in the writings of Moses, where God directed Israel to “remember this day and keep it holy.” We have pretty much lost that concept in the West, but nonetheless we still call ourselves keeping holidays.

Israel was commanded to keep the seventh day holy unto God, who called it the Sabbath. I wrote several articles a few months ago on the Sabbath. Perhaps you can look them up here on the blog. There were other days where God Himself directed Israel to celebrate. They are represented by the various feasts implemented under the Law of Moses; things like Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, etc. Others have been added through the years by Jewish leaders to include things like Chanukah, Yom Kippur, etc.

Western Christian cannibalized the Sabbath and called it Sunday yet apply the commandment to it to guilt their members to attend regularly. Sunday has never been the Sabbath. For most Western Christians, Sunday is anything but a day of rest. Some denominations (cults as others consider them) still meet on Saturday (Seventh Day Adventists) while others do not regard any day above another in terms of spiritual significance (Jehovah’s Witnesses).

Personally, I do not think God cares much about what we call this day or that day, or what we do or do not do on any given day. His whole focus is for His people (all of them, Jew and Gentile alike) to recognize their rest is found in the True Sabbath, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God. He alone is our sabbath and He is worthy to be honored and remembered every day!

Today’s Blessing:

May you find sabbath rest wherever you are

So you can declare like Paul who said, “Regardless of my state, I am content.”

And you can maintain your rest (or peace as I like to call it) at all times

Bringing the rest of God with you into every life you touch

May all the days between holidays be joyful and fulfilling

Since Christ came to redeem you every day of your life

Including the ones which have already past

Washing you with forgiveness past, present, and future

May you realize that every day is a “holy” day because of THAT day

When Jesus was “begotten” of the Father and became His True

May you hear the same words the Father spoke over Jesus

This is my beloved child (you) in whom I am well pleased

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/11/2025 – Epiphany

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/11/2025 – Epiphany

This past week the Day of Epiphany was celebrated on the liturgical calendar. It marks the event when the magi (kings from the east) came to see the Messiah born in Bethlehem. It was a very significant moment in the plan of God to redeem all of mankind, not just the people of Israel. All the debate about whether there were only three kings has caused us to miss the real importance of this part of Advent.

The kings which followed the star to Bethlehem were not Jews, yet God included them in the telling of the story of the birth of the Only Begotten of the Father. You see, this Grace and Truth was sent for all people, including the Gentiles (anyone born outside of the Twelve Tribes of Israel). The promise God made to Adam in the Garden of Eden was spoken to a human, not a Jew. Even though God later designated Israel as his Chosen People, He never excluded the rest of humanity. The Messiah would come from Israel, but He would be sent as the Savior for everyone! That is very good news.

Epiphany simply means, “a moment of sudden revelation or insight.” As we saw with the angel appearing to the shepherds, then Simeon outside the temple, and Anna inside the temple walls, God has now revealed His plan to the magi. These kings (regardless of the number) represented all people outside the Nation of Israel. God led them by supernatural wonders, drawing them to see the Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love embodied in the tiny Babe of Bethlehem. They, more than most, understood the importance of lineage and heritage. The throne was handed to the heir of the king if there was one. They realized this Child represented God Himself, and this “epiphany” led them to come and worship Him. Not only did they bring themselves, but they also brought treasures to bless the Messiah.

Today, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ. If you have not already experienced the “sudden revelation” that God loves you and wants to care for you – all of you – to bring His hope, joy, peace, and love into your life – every part of your life – then perhaps today will be that day. It is the whole meaning of the celebration of Advent. Without the coming of Messiah, Easter would be pointless. Without Easter, then Advent is pointless. This is why both are celebrated in the life of Christians. Join in the celebration and see all that God can do.

Today’s blessing:

May you have an encounter with the Babe of Bethlehem/Sacrifice of Calvary

So your life can be transformed into the fullness of all God brings

So you may realize your purpose in the earth

Which will lead others to a place of Epiphany

May you find the grace, like the magi, to present yourself to the Savior

Withholding nothing, including your treasure

So in return, God can give you His entire Kingdom

Which will bless so many more than you could ever imagine

May the impact of “finding the King in Bethlehem” change you forever

Leading you into a life of seeking the True Treasures found in God

By learning the character and nature of the Creator

And “the chief end of man is to worship God and enjoy Him forever” (the Shorter Catechism)