Saturday Meditation
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The Temptations of Christ
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Looking back over his shoulder, he walks from surety into the mouth of Hell. Alone, he trembles. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Craving discernment, longing for clarity–he has Continue reading
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O God, be Thou my Light
O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Closer than my breath to my lungs and closer than my blood to my heart; though I walk in shadow, O God be thou my light. May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; may they who seek my Continue reading
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Setting Fire to the Sky
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. The voice of creation rings out an anthem to her creator; in her own way, she sings “Prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight!” Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. The Continue reading
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Weariness and Rest: Looking Toward the Fall
I have been so incredibly weary of late. Amanda and I have, perhaps more than we should have, pushed ourselves to travel and see people every spare moment this summer. And now, as the summer comes to a close, I begin my new job exhausted. * * * Life changed radically when Ellie was born. Continue reading
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Sunset over the City: a Meditation
Some days the sun sort of putters out, like she runs out of gas. She doesn’t fade; she just kind of . . . stops. And some days the sun lingers, scraping her bloody finger nails across the tilting sky. She has to be dragged away. Other days, I couldn’t tell you what the sun Continue reading
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Candle Light Devo: a reflection
As many of you are aware, the Fall 2013 is just beginning. This past week, ACU hosted Welcome Week for all of the incoming students. Those of us in faculty/staff roles have been here all summer and are glad to welcome the new students. The rest of the student body will return over the weekend Continue reading
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The Compassion of God: a recording
This is a recording I have made of a section of Thomas Oden’s Classic Christianity. The third chapter is called “The Character of God.” This is the final section of that chapter, called “The Compassion of God.” I have set the recording to an original piano piece called “Journey” by Drew Dixon. This is what Continue reading
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Beanie Babies: A Meditation
As a child of the 90s, I collected Beanie Babies (oddly named, now that I think about it, given that they were animals. . .). Specifically, I was interested in the bears. As my collection grew, the uses to which I put them also expanded, especially in the summer months when the length of each Continue reading
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New Dogs: A Meditation
Startled, I jolted up and glanced at the clock. The blinking green light said 12:30. And then I heard it again. It sounded like sandpaper on a chalkboard. That’s when I realized that the noise was Mr. Mom (our new chihuahua mix) snorting his brains out. When we adopted him two days ago, they gave Continue reading
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Can not that be the life we live?
Yesterday I read this article. For all of its clear insufficiencies (chief among them being its view of gender roles), something about it resonated with me. It’s like something just clicked. This transformation I’ve been undergoing finally makes some sense. I’m tired of the hodgepodge. I’m tired of the cafeteria faith. I’m tired of narcissistic Continue reading
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Writing Stories: a meditation
So I wrote a story yesterday. It’s the first real fiction I’ve ever written, and it was part of my attempt to explore a new creative outlet—something I promised to do as part of Lent. And the writing process was good. It was new, unwieldy, and different. I didn’t know what would happen much before Continue reading
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Bribing the Poor to Leave me Alone: a meditation
She showed up again last night. Tears of shame overflowing their banks. Asking for money just one more time, I promise! And I told her that there was no shame. That we loved her. That we would help her. Like always. You see, she had divorced him years ago. Because he made her feel this Continue reading
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Keep Awake: a meditation
There are shadows and hints of shadows. But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be, then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The gnawed and twisted remnants of their certainty litter the floor. They once believed him. For in those days there will be suffering, such Continue reading
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My Witness Will be Life and Breath: a meditation
Against the darkness that now rises in the East there can be no victory. –Denethor, Steward of Gondor Ok. I suppose that quote is a bit dramatic, but it’s a sentiment I sometimes feel. I sometimes feel like there is a vast darkness that cannot be overcome even as it is my responsibility to overcome Continue reading
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Now and at the Hour of our Death
This is where my heart is today. Lord have mercy. Holy mother of God, pray for us, pray for us Holy mother of God, pray for us, pray for us Now and at the hour of our death, Amen, Amen Now and at the hour of our death, Amen Oh merciful God, forgive us, forgive Continue reading
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Believest Thou This?: a meditation
His sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. These were his brother-sister-soul of his soul-friends.The kind of friends who’ve held his beating heart while he poured out tears of frustration and anger. If a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. And Continue reading
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Confessions of a Labeler: a meditation
I’m taking a break from reading Simone Weil’s The Need for Roots in order to write this. Which, incidentally, I am in love with. It’s not like her book made me think of this. In fact, before I ever started reading her, I had jotted down this blogging idea in Evernote. But her book helps Continue reading
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God Died Last Night: A Meditation
I’ve always hated the book of Job. It makes God out to be totally amoral. I mean, the premise is that God wants to win a bet against Satan, so that’s why there is suffering. And, just in case you complain about being unjustly oppressed, know that God can beat you up, so you better Continue reading
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The Violin: A Meditation
The first bits of this meditation appeared in my journal last year when I attended, against my better judgement, a hyper-charismatic prayer/healing type service at a church in Abilene (the sort of thing I react to like this). The violin was used during worship. This is my meditation on its use during that service. * * Continue reading
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The Blessing of God: a meditation
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matt 5:3; 6) I’m sure he meant well. St. Matthew with his revisionism—a commentary on the more straightforward statements made by St. Luke. Blessed are you who are Continue reading
About Me
Gregory C. Jeffers
Anglican Christian | Husband | Father | Teacher | Scholar | Poet
G. C. Jeffers 