Saturday Review: The Hardest Discipline to Maintain

6:37 a.m., Saturday, January 4th, 2025 A.D. @ Home-base by Gods grace

Context:

I am getting ready for a  “flash freeze” according to the National Weather Service and i have so much to do! I am almost out of firewood; I have chores and water to haul, dishes to do, and animals to prepare for this “polar vertex.” In the meantime I also want to work on ConniesArtsandCrafts.com, research and write on NFTs, engage with the community on Social media, and help Landis Fisher live stream his service tonight which has been re-scheduled, also because of weather. My wife is out of town visiting family and helping with grandchildren which means I have a few extra chores. I really miss her when she is gone because she does so much for our homestead. 

Along with this is the immediate priority to seek the Lord and to pray for my family and friends and then to check on them after. This is the most difficult thing I have to do (stop and pray) each and every day but especially on days like this when I am excited and eager to get into the day.

I enjoy doing the work that I do and even get excited about the possibilities of a real winter snow day. I do not want to stop at 6:30 am to seek the Lord and to pray, honestly, I just want to get on with my day. But I am reminded that I cannot do this without Him. Furthermore, and most important is that I love Him and want to spend time with Him and because this is the only time of day to get to do that and to pray with Him and have breakfast with Him – my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the shepherd and lover of my soul – I need to stop and wait on Him and find my delight in Him before I start my day.

So I’m going to do that now and thank Him and praise Him & spend time alone in His word before this storm hits. I invite you to join me in doing the same. Here are my verses for today,

Scripture:

1 Peter 4:7-11, “⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 

Read also all of Romans 12.

Observation:

This is our homestead mission statement & main focus for the year, 2025 AD.

It was impressed upon me first by Josiah Grauman’s sermon on spiritual gifts, and again in my history  lessons on the monks and the cloister, and finally  for a third time at the beginning of this year by my wife. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

Application:

Love deeply & speak graciously;
Serve diligently & never stop encouraging one another.

Prayer:

My Father in Heaven, my constant friend and companion. I thank You and praise You today for being here for me; for keeping my feet from stumbling, my body and flesh from sin, and my heart from wanting even the things of this world more than I want You. like a child, Father, I think I can do it all by myself. Forgive me for thinking I can do it on my own and for wanting your benefits and gifts more than I want you at times. I love You, Father, and I am grateful for your love and Your discipline, loyalty and faithfulness.

You have been loyal and faithful to Your Word, to me, and to my family. I pray for them today, Lord, and I ask for Your grace and protection to be poured out into their lives. Please love on my wife while she is away from me and help her with her family and with our grandchildren. Bless them, Father, and make Your face to shine upon them and to brighten their day with an experience with You, walking by faith and with Your Holy Spirit by their side to comfort them. Bless my children, LORD, all of my daughters who are very precious to me, and all of my sons who bring me great joy! Do this for them, Father, and bless Your Holy NAME! Amen!