Our Father, bless us, Your children, as we bow before You now, at the close of the day. We have not lived as well as we meant to do, when we set out in the morning. We thought we would mount up on wings — but we have only dragged ourselves along on the earth. We thought we would not forget You for a moment — but somehow we have let You out of our thoughts very often. Our day that began so brightly, with good resolutions and honest purposes, has been only a marred, stained day. Father, forgive us — and then teach us lessons of wisdom from the mistakes and sins of today, so that we may make tomorrow a holier day. Help us to learn from our own errors, so that we may never repeat them.

We bring You our day's work. It does not seem much. We have tried to do our duty, each of us in our different places — in our business and work outside, in our household task-work, in school, in play. We have tried to be patient and kind, the one to the other, within our own home. We have tried to be good neighbors to those about us. Wherein we have failed in any of these duties — we ask You to forgive us, and give us grace to do better.

Bless us now at the end of this day. As we pass to our rest for the night, may You receive us into Your care. If death should come to any of us before the morning, receive us home to our Father's house. If we live until the dawn of a new day, prepare us for its duties.

We would not forget tonight, those who have not the shelter of home-love as we have. Remember the sick and those who are watching through the darkness beside the sick. Comfort all who are sitting in sorrow, and make them strong to accept God's will.

Grant us these mercies and favors, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

From "Family Prayers for Thirteen Weeks,"

By J.R. Miller

"Let this encourage those of you who belong to Christ: the storm may be tempestuous, but it is only temporary. The clouds that are temporarily rolling over your head will pass, and then you will have fair weather, an eternal sunshine of glory. Can you not watch with Christ for one hour?"

- William Gurnall

"Where grace is in the heart, the tongue will likewise be bridled by the law of LOVE. If we love our neighbor—can we lightly speak evil of him, magnify his failings, or use provoking or insulting language to him? Love thinks no evil—but bears, hopes and endures. Love acts by the golden rule, to "Do unto others—what you would like them to do unto you." Those who are under the influence of Christian love, will be gentle and compassionate, disposed to make the most favorable allowances, and of course their tongues will be restrained from the language of malevolence, harsh censure, and slander—which are as familiar to us as our mother tongue—until we are made partakers of the grace of God." - John Newton

If you are a Christian....your words and actions will do one of two things; draw people to Christ, or push them away. We're all, as Spurgeon said, either missionaries or impostors.

You think calling people names, telling them they have no worth, mocking them will bring anyone to the foot of the Cross and the arms of Christ? How many times did you want to do what a bully told you to do? How many times have you enjoyed being mocked or called names? How much do you love being despised and hated?

When a person, claiming to be a Christian, behaves in such a way...they're not doing the will of Christ, but of the enemy.

For there is no love in such actions and words. And isn't love what we are to be known for?

"Wait", you say, "stop", you cry out....."We're supposed to judge and discern good and evil." Yes, that's fine...but no one put you on the God's throne of Judgement, no one gave you the power to damn or redeem a soul. No one elevated *you* to Savior.

If you're a Christian, you're bought and saved by the blood and love of Christ alone; you have no right to feel superior to the worst person on this earth. You were drowning in your sins before Christ rescued you; it was by His love and His doing that you are on a firm foundation now. You have nothing to boast in except the love and grace of the Lord who saved you and who loves you.

And that same Lord loves the people you might not like. The people you might think aren't good enough, the people you might secretly like to watch God punish. God loves them too....and you are no better than they. For what were you but a wayward sheep before you were brought back into the fold? Should not the Shepherd seek after them as well? And if you love that Shepherd, that good Lord and Master, should you not want the same as He?

How can we presume to know how God will use a life, how He might redeem a soul, or to what lengths He will go to call the prodigal home? We can't even fathom the love and mercy of God, so we certainly shouldn't be trying to impede His work!

Don't be a Jonah. Don't desire to see others punished.

Don't be a mocker, like the 3rd guy on the cross, challenging God's plan.

Don't be a Pharisee, so eager to pick up and throw stones.

For we all deserved punishment, yet we so freely are given mercy.

Mocking others, and mocking the plan God may have for them, will only inhibit your path to the Kingdom. The third man died on the cross unsaved because mockery hardened his heart to the truth.

And none of us deserve to pick up a pebble to throw at anyone.....so put down the rocks, and offer a hand, a kind word, and a loving prayer instead.

Be known for your love, and let people see Christ through you.

--Beth Haynes Butler

Be different. But be different in a good way.

I was asked, in good faith, in a conversation why I don't talk more about pop culture, a lot of modern news events, or even politics that often.

Part of the answer, honestly...is I just don't care that much about those topics on the best of days.  And right now....my caring level is hovering around "zero."

I've gone over politics before....short recap: I don't want my politics to get in the way of anyone else seeing Christ in my life. Period.  Christ is more important, politics are angry and divisive (and I think, often inspired by evil)...so it is kind of a no-brainer for me personally.

Pop culture and most modern news events?  I don't care about pop culture by and large, and the news...I read enough to keep abreast of the pertinent issues and avoid the rest...because most of it is either fearful, angry, divisive or depressing...and life is full enough without bringing all that garbage into the house.

"But..." I was told, "We need to respond to pop-culture and the world with a strong Christian response, because they're not acting like Christians!"

Of course they're not acting like Christians....they're not Christians. (Most of them anyway.)

 As much as I respect my Buddhist friends, in many ways I don't act at all like a Buddhist...because I'm not one.  My basset hound doesn't act like my cat Jack because he's not my cat, he's the hound. We should...if we are being real...act like what we are.  Pop culture acts worldly...because it *is* worldly.

The "world" and its "culture" don't act Christian, because Christianity is supposed to be set apart from the world...there is supposed to be a difference, a noticeable one. If your tastes blend perfectly, or even greatly, with the world's idea of culture and society...then chances are, you're not conforming to Christ.  It's one or the other.  You've gotta pick a side.

I don't act shocked, upset, angry or judgmental about the world's culture and standards because they don't live by the same code I do.  They're not bound by the same covenant.  They're not on the same road.  The sins of the world are for God to judge; I am called to do two things...a) discern if a belief or behavior is right for me as a Christian to partake in, and b) love people and show them the light of God.

We cannot ask a broken world to act with the wholeness of Christ if it does not know Christ.

"Then we need to change the world, help the world...etc, etc, etc..."

Getting angry and nasty at society won't change it. People get angry every day.  Being judgmental won't change anything. Throwing stones certainly won't.

You want to make the world a better place?

You want to change society for the better?

Start loving God more. Start loving your neighbor more. Reach out in gentleness, respect and compassion.  Love people.  Listen to people. Help people. And live as closely to Christ as you can; being in the world but not of the world.....loving the people of the world, but not conforming to their standards.

Be different.  But be different in a good way.

-Beth Haynes Butler​

 Some friends do fail, such as Job's did, but I think sometimes that is because they don't know what to say or do; the situation can be too much for them to relate to, or comfort you in. It often isn't a lack of caring, it is simply a lack of knowing what to do or say....and that awkwardness can drive them away.

In my challenges and struggles, I am thankful for those who just stop in to say hi....even if, and especially even, if that is all they can do. I treasure those who will just sit and understand, or at least try to, and there is no price to high to put on the friends who lift me up in prayer. But I know not everyone can handle the same situations the same way, and I am grateful for however they try and be with me.

"We ought to live our lives — so that they will be perpetual blessings wherever we go. All that we need for such a ministry — is a heart full of love for Christ; for if we truly love Christ — we shall also love our fellow-men; and love will always find ways of helping. A heart filled with gentleness — cannot be miserly of its blessings."
- J.R. Miller