[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Wednesday January 24, 2007

[bludwig at zlc-aa.org]

Daily Devotion Wednesday  January 24, 2007

 

After a two week hiatus, the devotions this week are prepared by Pastor
Ludwig. He looks at favorite hymn phrases.

 

With the Lord Begin Your Task  Stanza 1

With Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it.

For his aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.

Ev'ry morn with Jesus rise, And when day is ended,

In his name then close your eyes; Be to him commended

 

This was Henry's favorite hymn. He always expected me to sing it with him
when I visited and brought him Holy Communion.  I will never forget the
first time I came to his home. I was a seminary intern and all of parish
ministry was new and at times wonderfully bewildering.  "Hank's wife took me
back to the bedroom where he spent his days and nights in bed because of a
stroke that had held his body hostage for several years.

 

Standing over Henry and introducing myself, I decided that I should level
the playing field and sit in the chair next to the bed. "No not that one,"
he said and I quickly popped up. With a voice that carried calm and an
expression of complete peace he said, "That's where Jesus sits. Pull up
another chair along side'a'him."  Henry did not sing the hymn, he lived it.
He told me that he talked with his Lord throughout the day and was comforted
by the chair which was a constant reminder that he was never alone, never
apart from his Lord. Such confidence was humbling for me and gave Henry the
grace to face whatever life threw at him.

 

Today, at home, at work, wherever.pull up a chair.

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