dual personalities

Tag: prayer

July 13, 2026

Songs of thy salvation my heart with rapture thrill*

by chuckofish

Well, we all made it home to our particular homes after a wonderful holiday.

Daughter #1 and I arrived at 11:00 pm (12 hours after leaving Grand Haven), just as the electricity came back on after an outage at my house! Praise the Lord. On Saturday I did laundry and watched several episodes of The Mentalist (on Hulu) in between naps.

On Sunday I felt adequately refreshed to get up early and head to church for the early service. How wonderful to be back! I was rewarded with great music, an excellent sermon on Psalm 32 (on sin!–blessed are the forgiven)…

You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 

…and an inspiring adult ed class on prayer. Our teacher this week was a professor at Covenant Seminary and, I tell you, I wanted to shout “Woohoo!” at the end. I have learned so much in this series based on Tim Keller’s book. It is not often one feels that way these days.

As Anne always says, “Go to church!”

Don’t drift away. The devil is smart. “I want to keep going. I don’t want to waste the years. I don’t want to drift. I want to be constantly paddling upstream, against the pull of the flesh, the world, and the devil.”

“And Nothing is very strong: strong enough to steal away a man’s best years not in sweet sins but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it knows not what and knows not why, in the gratification of curiosities so feeble that the man is only half aware of them, in drumming of fingers and kicking of heels, in whistling tunes that he does not like, or in the long, dim labyrinth of reveries that have not even lust or ambition to give them a relish, but which, once chance association has started them, the creature is too weak and fuddled to shake off… Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

–C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Stay vigilant. Pray hard.

*Trinity Hymnal #551

2 Comments
June 8, 2026

We will sing with our hearts restored

by chuckofish

I made it to the prairie and the rain held off until I turned off the highway for the last 10 minutes into town. #grateful.

The speedwagon did me proud.

I left after church and Sunday School which was more on the subject of prayer–this week’s lesson led by a seminary student who was wonderful.

And here’s a little Billy Strings to start off your Monday right:

1 Comment
December 3, 2025

In the time of this mortal life

by chuckofish

I am heading up to the prairie today to be with daughter #2 while there is a break in the weather. Pray for cleared roads and no precipitation! Pray that the baby comes in a timely manner and in the right way. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

And here’s a song I like:

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP)

2 Comments
April 7, 2025

Fill our hearts with thankfulness

by chuckofish

Rain, rain, go away! 🌧️🌧️🌧️ Well, it did finally stop on Sunday but then it was freezing cold! Not exactly perfect weather for watching lacrosse, but I braved the overcast skies and windy 40-degree temps to do so. The other grandparents were visiting from Florida and had to stop at Kohl’s on the way to the game to buy winter coats! The bud was great in goal! He played half the game there…

…and half in midfield…

…and part of the time, hanging with his lacrosse bros…

This was all, of course, after going to Sunday School and sitting through church and a sermon on Hebrews 12:18-29! Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire! The twins do so well now in church, sitting quietly and with a minimum of wiggling and squirming. I guess they want that thumbs up/A+ from Mamu, right?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

–Charles Wesley

(One of these days I’ll make it to one of Lottie’s game, but she was rained out this weekend.)

Besides that excitement, I had a quiet weekend, mostly because of the weather. I went to our DAR meeting and I was the stand-in Chaplain so I had to open with a prayer before brunch. I gave them this:

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our
heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove
ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will.
Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and
pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion;
from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend
our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes
brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue
with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust
the authority of government, that there may be justice and
peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we
may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The old BCP (1979) is such a lifesaver. I always have to tell people, no, I didn’t come up with that myself–it’s from the BCP!

And now we have a new week! Have a good one.

As always, thanks to the boy for the cool pix!

5 Comments
March 20, 2025

For the means of grace, and the hope of glory

by chuckofish

I have to say, I was pretty excited by the safe return of those stranded astronauts by SpaceX. They made it look so easy. There was even a pod of dolphins there to greet them! High fives all around.

Meanwhile, we are racing through March, aren’t we? I had a busy day yesterday getting ready for a busy day today (and tomorrow). I made a to-do list. I crossed off items–very satisfying. I wrapped up presents for DN whose birthday is next week so that daughter #1, who is driving to Mahomet tomorrow to visit her sister et al, can take the presents plus some other stuff for their house. My sister is also driving to Maine to see her new grandson. So prayers for travel mercies all around.

Today we remember our beloved Thomas Cranmer, the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury, who was burned at the stake on March 21 in 1556 for violating heresy laws revised under the Roman Catholic queen Mary I, known appropriately as Bloody Mary. He put the English Bible in parish churches, drew up the Book of Common Prayer and composed a litany that remains in use today.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we thine unworthy servants
do give thee most humble and hearty thanks
for all thy goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all men.
We bless thee for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for thine inestimable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

I surprised my Presbyterian community group recently by reciting the General Thanksgiving from memory–after a reference by Saint Paul to unworthy servants in 1 Corinthians–and I said, well, I prayed it for 50+ years, I ought to remember it! Of course, this prayer comes from the Morning Prayer service (Rite I) which is hardly said anymore as Holy Eucharist is preferred every Sunday. But some things just stay in your head and I am thankful for Thomas Cranmer and his beautiful prayers (with much of the wording lifted from the scriptures).

So say a prayer of thanks for rescued astronauts, martyrs to the cause, travelers everywhere, and all of us unworthy servants.

Ida: “Oh, hi Mom, I’m just sitting with Katie.”

3 Comments
January 22, 2025

Some poetry (and a prayer)

by chuckofish

Today we toast George Gordon, Lord Byron, who was born on this day in 1788. As you know, he is one of the major figures of the Romantic Movement in English literature. He wrote lengthy narratives as well as shorter lyrics, and died at the age of 36. So for those of you who are feeling world-weary and disillusioned (a quintessential theme of Byron’s poetry) here’s “So, we’ll go no more a-roving”:

So, we’ll go no more a roving

   So late into the night,

Though the heart be still as loving,

   And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears its sheath,

   And the soul wears out the breast,

And the heart must pause to breathe,

   And love itself have rest.

Though the night was made for loving,

   And the day returns too soon,

Yet we’ll go no more a roving

   By the light of the moon.

And here’s the poem read by John Gielgud.

I will also say that I thought Rev. Franklin Graham did a masterful job praying at the Inauguration on Monday. And I have to admit, I also liked Archbishop Dolan remembering Gen. George Patton’s instructions to his soldiers as they began the Battle of the Bulge eight decades ago:

“Pray! Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night. Pray by day.”

Pray.

2 Comments
November 27, 2024

A prayer of gratitude and more

by chuckofish

O My God,
You fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
My heart admires, adores, loves You,
For my little vessel is as full as it can be,
And I would pour out all that fullness before You in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with You
Ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
Ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
Ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
Crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless You for the soul You have created,
For adorning it, for sanctifying it,
Though it is fixed in barren soil;
For the body You have given me,
For preserving its strength and vigor,
For providing senses to enjoy delights,
For the ease and freedom of limbs,
For hands, eyes, ears that do Your bidding;
For Your royal bounty providing my daily support,
For a full table and overflowing cup,
For appetite, taste, sweetness,
For social joys of relatives and friends,
For ability to serve others,
For a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
For a mind to care for my fellow-men,
For opportunities of spreading happiness around,
For loved ones in the joys of heaven,
For my own expectation of seeing You clearly.
I love You above the powers of language to express,
For what You are to Your creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

–The Valley of Vision

This is The Pilgrim by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848 – 1907) which was installed in Philadelphia in 1905.

FYI The Puritan, the first version of The Pilgrim, was commissioned by Chester W. Chapin as a monument to one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts—Deacon Samuel Chapin (1595–1675). The New England Society of Pennsylvanians asked Saint-Gaudens to make a replica of The Puritan for the city of Philadelphia.

Also, besides being Thanksgiving, it is the boy’s birthday! We wish him a wonderful day! We are truly thankful for him!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Happy Birthday to the boy!

(The painting at the top is by N.C. Wyeth.)

1 Comment
November 21, 2024

That due sense of all thy mercies

by chuckofish

So I am picking up a new car tomorrow–a Mini Countryman in British racing green. My Mini Cooper is 10 years old (!) and I love it and it is perfect, but I need a bigger car for those highway trips to Mahomet. (The OM does not like switching cars. I get it.) Anyway, I am passing old Giles to DN who will use it to drive to work, thus freeing their Subaru to be used by daughter #2. Katie says, You mean we can go anywhere we want anytime we want?! 🤯 Yes, dear, exactly.

The learning curve on this 2025 model will be challenging. My old Mini has few bells and whistles–no rear few camera, etc. So pray for me.

In other news, the boy and daughter #3 bought a house! They will be able to move in before Christmas. We are very excited for them!

And a week from today is Thanksgiving. Daughter #2 and DN and the prairie girls will drive down on Wednesday. DN is cooking! And it is the boy’s birthday!

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

–BCP, 1928

5 Comments
September 30, 2024

“Here and yonder, high and low, Goldenrod and sunflowers glow”*

by chuckofish

I did the flowers for church on Sunday–sunflowers make such a statement, don’t you think? I have a soft spot in my heart for them because years ago at my highfalutin’ Episcopal Church, the wife of the new rector put sunflowers on the altar and the frozen chosen ladies of the church were outraged. So when they are in season and available at Trader Joe’s, I always use them.

The OM and I went to the early service (and stayed for Sunday School) so we could finish early and get packed before going to the bud’s soccer game later in the afternoon.

This was accomplished and we brought daughter #1 home with us so that we could all get up at 3:00 am to Uber to the airport. Yikes.

While we are gone on our western adventure, daughter #2 will be filling in with literary thoughts and tales of the prairie girls…

…and updates of our travels. So be sure to stop by the blog this week.

And please don’t forget to keep us in your prayers.

And here’s a reminder from Tim Challies (and Hank Williams) not to let the dust gather on your Bible.

*Robert Kelley Weeks (1840–76)

8 Comments
January 3, 2024

The years roll by

by chuckofish

And so we embark on a new year: 2024! I think it is a good habit to pray along with Jonathan Edwards at this time:

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbour,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me They grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.
May Thy fear be my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.

It is also worth re-reading Kevin DeYoung on the subject of not trying to be “with it” in the new year. “Give up trying to keep up. Let the pop culture whirlwind pass you by. Be wonderfully ignorant of the world of what’s happening now. Don’t worry, the important news will still get to you. But hopefully most of the other “news” won’t.”

Good grief, I couldn’t agree more.

And remember, If you’re still alive and breathing, Praise the Lord.

3 Comments