Deliver Us from the Evil One

 

Psalm 91 is a prayer for protection.

In fact, it goes by another name, “The Soldier’s Psalm.”

(I encourage you to research that title)

In verse 14, the psalmist seeks God’s protection.

He also acknowledges the reason for that protection.

Psalm 91:14 (NIV) - “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

In John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples.

In verse 15, Jesus prays for their protection.

John 17:15 (NRSVue) – I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.

Notice that Jesus does not ask God to take them out of the world.

He does not ask God to protect them from evil,

Jesus asks God to protect them from the source of that evil.

In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray.

Some translations end verse 13 with “deliver us from evil.”

Other translations add one word.

Matthew 6:13 (NIV) - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

To be honest, the world is a frightening place.

Just reading the headlines is often enough to make one afraid.

But the solution is not to lock ourselves away from evil.

It is in acknowledging who is the source of all evil.

It is then trusting that God is with us and never leaves us.

Therein lies the beauty in loving God and trusting Him.

It also lies in the fact that God loves us.

The evil one will still try to attack us.

There is no getting around that as that is his nature.

Job is a perfect example of that fact.

But thanks to God’s love for us through Christ, we never face him alone.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, September 4, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, September 11, 2026

The Words and the Examples

Psalm 143 is a prayer for deliverance.

In it, the Psalmist prayed for guidance.

Psalm 143:8b (NRSVue) - Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

In John 6, Jesus speaks the words of eternal life.

Many who heard these words turned away, leaving only the twelve behind.

Jesus asked if they wished to turn away as well.

Peter’s response was profound yet simple.

John 6:68-69 (NRSVue) – Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.

Our response should echo Peter’s.

It should be just as simple.

It should be equally profound.

Scripture teaches us through its words.

Through those within, it also teaches us by example.

Thanks to Christ, we share with God our hopes and concerns.

We should also admit to Him those occasions when we fall short of the mark.

This is called confession and it is something we should do.

Personally, I have given this much thought.

When we confess our sins, we are not revealing something unknown to God.

God is omniscient, so He is aware of our sins.

In confession, we are verbally admitting these shortcomings to ourselves.

And with the same breath, we can also ask for His help.

God is aware of our successes.

He is also aware of our failures.

Frequent communication with God should be part of our daily walk.

It deepens our relationship with Him as children of God.

Through scripture, we have both words and examples to guide us.

And the best source we have for both is Jesus Christ!

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 21, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, August 28, 2026

... And Nothing but the Truth

 

Psalm 12 is a plea for help.

In it, the Psalmist testifies that the Lord’s promises are pure and therefore true.

Psalm 12:6 (NRSVue) - The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

In John 18, Jesus is brought before Pilate.

Here, Jesus explains truth.

John 18:37 (NRSVue) – Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

In our modern era, truth has been relativized.

Some even claim that what is true for one individual may not be true for another.

Frankly, this is one of the most dangerous lies we can espouse.

A statement or belief is either true, or it is not.

Even sincerity cannot alter truth.

Take, for example, a glass filled with an odorless, colorless, tasteless liquid.

A person might sincerely believe the liquid was water and drink it.

If it were poison, the consumer would die no matter how sincere his belief.

This is the nature of truth.

Some would prefer the comfort of a lie to the sometimes-harsh reality of truth.

In John 14, Jesus explains his role regarding truth to Thomas.

John 14:6 (NRSVue) - Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

The modern world has made our job of sharing the truth with others more difficult.

But that does not alter the responsibility we have.

Sharing the truth is essential both for the speaker and the listener.

But before we speak, we must love the listener.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 1, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, August 8, 2026

Faith is Not an Accident

 

Psalm 22 is a plea for deliverance.

Tucked within, the Psalmist acknowledges his birth and his lifelong faith.

Psalm 22:10b (NRSVue) - and since my mother bore me you have been my God.

When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, Paul expressed his gratitude.

Paul expressed encouragement.

Paul acknowledged Timothy’s faith.

Paul also acknowledged where he first witnessed a faith like Timothy’s.

2 Timothy 1:5 (NRSVue) – I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.

In recent offerings, I have discussed the faith of my mother.

I have also written about how her faith influenced my own.

Like Timothy, I was also blessed with Godly grandmothers.

Their love shaped the faith of my parents.

The faith of my parents then shaped my own faith.

The love of God also shapes our faith.

Thanks to Christ, we are children of God!

As such, our faith is genuine.

It was shaped throughout our lifelong walk with God.

God’s love continues to mold and shape our faith to this day.

Our faith is not accidental.

Job 23:10 (NRSVue) - But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 17, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, July 24, 2026

Praising God More

 

Psalm 73 is a prayer for protection.

The psalmist also acknowledges the need to praise God.

Psalm 71:23 (NRSVue) - My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have rescued.

Luke 1 talks about the birth of John the Baptist.

It also discusses John’s father, Zechariah.

Before John was born, an angel visited Zechariah while he was performing his priestly duties.

The angel told Zechariah that his wife would bare a son and that he was to be called John.

Zechariah found this hard to believe, so he asked for a sign.

The angel said that Zechariah would be unable to speak until these events occurred.

Zechariah was immediately muted.

Eight days after his wife had given birth, it was time to name the child.

Tradition held that the child was to be named after his father,

Elizabeth, the baby’s mother, said his name was to be John.

Those in attendance tried to dissuade her.

Zechariah, still mute, acted.

Luke 1:63-64 (NRSVue) - He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.

The moment Zechariah was able to speak; he began praising God.

We also should praise God regularly.

We often fail to live up to that obligation.

Yet God is loving and merciful.

Even in times of weakness, we can turn to God.

With His help, we can give God the praise He deserves.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 3, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, July 10, 2026

Productive Work

 

Work is a big part of our lives.

It should be.

God intends that we, who are made in His image, should engage in productive work.

Even before God created Eve, He gave Adam a job.

Genesis 2:15 (NRSVue) - The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.

Isaiah touched on the productive aspect of work in speaking of God’s calling.

Isaiah 49:4 (NRSVue) - But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord and my reward with my God.”

For our work to be productive, it must fall in line with the Lord’s will.

When Jesus called his first disciples, they were not scholars.

They were laborers.

Simon was a fisherman.

Jesus boarded his boat and asked Simon to take the boat away from shore.

Once adrift, Jesus told Simon to drop his nets.

Jesus knew Simon had not caught anything the night before.

Doing more work was probably the last thing Simon had on his mind that day.

But Simon obeyed the Lord’s instructions.

Luke 5:5 (NRSVue) - Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Simon’s obedience was rewarded.

His nets were full to the point of bursting.

The Lord still intends for us to engage in productive work.

And this work is not limited to our professions.

There is also the work we do for our families and our churches.

To keep these in balance, we need His help to keep Him in all parts of our lives.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NRSVue) – Whatever task you must do, work as if your soul depends on it, as for the Lord and not for humans, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, June 19, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, June 26, 2026

Liberating Peace

 

This will be a slight departure from my customary offering style.

This is a follow up to my post from the other site to which I contribute (listed at bottom).

Like the other, it is about peace.

Mainly, it is about how liberating peace with others is.

Faith and experience have taught me that having peace with others can happen in three ways.

First, there is being at peace with those who are at peace with us.

Second, there is being at peace with those who absolutely refuse to be at peace with us.

Finally, there is being at peace with those who will not even acknowledge their need for peace with us.

The first is easy.

The other two can be challenging.

The common denominator in all three cases is our having peace with all three.

Paul understood this.

Romans 12:18 (NRSVue) - If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

We should be at peace with all.

And our peace with others depends on our choice, not theirs.

Having mutual peace with another is easy.

Having peace with someone who refuses to have peace with us is difficult.

Having peace with someone who will not acknowledge their need for peace with us is also challenging.

Yet being at peace with all three truly liberates us.

I compare our lack of peace to an anchor.

Our lack of peace with another holds the ship of our lives in place and prevents us from moving forward.

Pulling up that anchor and carrying it with us is not enough.

It will only tie us down again in the future.

Having real peace with others means cutting the chain.

It leaves the anchor behind and, once abandoned, it will never hinder us again.

God does not merely want us to survive.

God wants us to thrive.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NRSVue) - By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

For us to truly thrive, God wants us to have peace with Him and with others; even with those who will not have peace with us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, June 4, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, June 12, 2026

Where to Turn

 

Sunday is Mother’s Day.

My mother passed away about two decades ago.

So, it is only natural that I think about her.

When I think of her, I also remember a passage of scripture she loved.

Matthew 11:28 (NRSVue) - “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

She loved this verse because her life was difficult.

She knew that she could not carry her burdens alone.

So, she brought her burdens to the Lord.

The psalmist understood this.

Psalm 68:19a (NRSVue) - Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up

Throughout her life, my mother counted on the Lord to bear her up,

He did just that.

And now, in His presence, He grants her rest.

The Lord lifts us up when we are weary.

Through His love, He makes our burdens lighter.

My mother trusted in His grace, His mercy, and His love.

That is what gave her hope.

She knew she could not rely on her own strength,

She also knew that she could rely on the Lord.

Another passage she treasured bears this out.

Psalm 121:1-2 (NRSVue) - I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

My mother has gone to be with the Lord.

But the example she set lives on in me.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, May 15, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, May 22, 2026

For Our Benefit

 

Genesis 24 relates the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah.

Abraham was old.

He made a servant take an oath to find Isaac a wife,

The servant found one in Rebekah.

But when it was time to leave, Rebekah’s family wanted her to stay for several days.

The servant sent by Abraham refused.

Genesis 24:56 (NRSVue) - But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has made my journey successful; let me go that I may go to my master.”

Rebekah’s family did not want her to leave.

But it was to their advantage that she did.

In John 16, Jesus discusses the role of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus reminds his followers that He must leave.

He explains that it is to their advantage that He depart.

Only in this way could they receive the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7 (NRSVue) - Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.

The Holy Spirit remains the most mysterious aspect of the Triune God.

God, The Father, creates.

Jesus, The Son, redeems.

The Holy Spirit works to make us holy.

It is hard for us to fully understand and appreciate the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

But Jesus promised the presence of the Holy Spirit is necessary for us.

May we set aside the noise and distractions in our lives.

In doing so, we are enabled to tune into the Spirit’s guidance,

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, May 1, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, May 8, 2026

What Tomorrow Brings

 

Psalm 84 is about the joy of worship in the Temple.

The psalmist opens by remarking on its beauty.

Psalm 84:1 (NRSVue) - How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

In John 14, Jesus tells His followers that He is the way to the Father.

Jesus reminds them of the Father’s house.

It is a house that has room for many.

Christ reminded His followers that He would prepare a place for them.

John 14:2 (NRSVue) - In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

That means He has prepared a place for us as well.

Days ago, we celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord.

In His Resurrection we have hope!

We know that death has been conquered!

2 Timothy 1:10 (NRSVue) - but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

We need not live in fear.

We know what tomorrow brings.

We know a dwelling place awaits us.

And we know it will be beautiful.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, April 3, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, April 10, 2026

Rise!

 

Psalm 9 is about God’s justice and power.

In verse 19, the psalmist calls upon the Lord to prevail against mortal men,

Psalm 9:19a (NRSVue) - Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;

In Mark 9, Jesus foretells His death and resurrection.

Mark 9:31 (NRSVue) - for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”

The day would come for His crucifixion,

Upon His death, undoubtedly there were some mortals who thought they prevailed.

They certainly thought death prevailed.

But the resurrection of Jesus proved them wrong on both counts.

The miracle of the resurrection proved that neither mortals nor even death itself can prevail.

For our part, we should be forever grateful for His sacrifice.

It was a sacrifice not made in vain.

For on the third day, the Lord did rise!

And our response of gratitude should be rooted in faith, hope, and love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSVue) - And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, April 3, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, April 10, 2026

Oh, Brother!

 

Luke 15 contains three parables.

One is about the lost sheep.

The second is about the lost coin.

The third is about the lost son.

The three parables teach about the lost.

They also teach about repentance and the joy in recovering the lost.

But there is one part of the parable of the lost son that always makes me pause and think.

It concerns the son that did not leave and his reaction to his brother’s return.

Luke 15:28-30 (NRSVue) - Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!

This brother was angry.

He felt it necessary to remind his father of his service.

He accused his brother of wasting his inheritance on prostitutes.

Scripture states his spending was reckless but says nothing about prostitutes.

This was an assumption.

He also accuses his father of favoritism.

He basically asks, “What have you done for me lately.”

In this parable. Jesus is comparing the son that stayed home to the Pharisees.

Yet how many of us can identify with the son who stayed home?

How many of us can relate to “What have you done for me lately?”

This part of the parable reminds me to be grateful and not vindictive.

In short, I should not expect to be rewarded now for doing what I am supposed to do.

Matthew 6:2-4 (NRSVue) - “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, March 20, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, March 27, 2026

New Creations

 

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NRSVue) - Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43 is about restoration.

The prophet states that we should not focus on the things of old.

Rather, we are to consider the new.

Paul wrote about restoration in his second letter to Corinth.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSVue) - So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!

As we continue our journey through Lent, let us remember that we have been reconciled with God.

Moreover, it is Christ that made us right with God.

And as a result, we are new creations.

We are different from what we were before.

Christ leads us forward.

He guides us.

He rekindles our passion to worship and serve.

We are new creations in the body of believers known as The Church.

As new creations within The Church, we can introduce others to Christ.

After all, they long to leave the past behind and start anew.

As new creations, we owe them the opportunity to experience the same.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, March 6, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, March 13, 2026

Love

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSVue) - And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

Paul wrote these words centuries ago.

Faith is wonderful.

And who among us does not wish to have hope.

Nevertheless, love is the greatest of the three.

While there are distinct kinds of love, the English language offers us one single word.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, people are searching for the right way to express their affection.

Paul expressed that love is greater than faith and hope.

Yet Jesus spoke about the greatest love of all.

John 15:13 (NRSVue) - No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

As we enter the season of Lent, we are reminded that Christ had the greatest love of all.

And we, His friends, are beneficiaries of that love.

It is difficult to find that perfect gift for that perfect someone for Valentine’s Day.

No matter how perfect our choice is, it will pale in comparison to that greatest love of all.

Despite this, scripture makes one thing abundantly clear,

1 John 4:19 (NRSVue) - We love because he first loved us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, February 20, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, February 27, 2026

In Sadness and in Consolation

 

Jeremiah 31 speaks about the return of the exiles.

Scripture specifies that it will be a joyous return.

Jeremiah 31:13b (NRSVue) - I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow.

Paul opens his second letter to Corinth with a greeting.

Immediately afterward, Paul writes about affliction and God’s role.

God is with us in our tribulation.

Equally, God is there in our consolation.

2 Corinthians 1:7 (NRSVue) - Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

God is compassionate.

He turns our sorrow and mourning into joy.

Yes, God accompanies us in our sadness.

We should also recognize that God will be with us in what lies beyond.

God will be there in our consolation.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 23, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, February 6, 2026

Whatever the Storm

 

Psalm 89:9 (NRSVue) - You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

I do not live near the sea.

But this verse reminded me of a painting I saw as a child.

It was a seascape that depicted a storm.

The dark and ominous clouds made a perfect contrast to the lightning.

Huge waves formed by the turbulent wends were depicted in the background.

As they made their way to shore, they grew.

In the foreground, they crashed mightily upon the rocky shore.

This painting frightened me as a child.

Just thinking about it still makes me feel uneasy.

Just one gallon of water weighs more than 8 pounds (almost 4 kg).

As such, a large wave wields considerable power,

In Matthew 8, Jesus and His disciples travel by boat.

Jesus falls asleep.

A storm arises and the waves send water into the boat.

The disciples grow afraid.

In desperation, they wake Jesus!

Matthew 8:26 (NRSVue) - And [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm.

These are excellent reminders for us.

Life often becomes turbulent.

Adverse circumstances in life arise and multiply.

We might even feel like they are going to overwhelm us.

We can almost hear Christ say to us: “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”

Christ has the power to conquer any storm, even those unrelated to the weather.

Christ was in the boat with His disciples when the storm came upon them.

He is also with us when adverse circumstances assail us.

He has the power to calm these storms as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, January 16, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, January 23, 2026

A Christmas Package

 

Isaiah 53:5 (NRSVue) - But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

Christmas is upon us.

So why would I be opening with this verse from Isaiah?

After all, Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time.

It is supposed to be a celebration.

It is supposed to be about the birth of a child.

It is supposed to be about shepherds and angels.

It is supposed to be about glad tidings and peace on earth.

So why exactly would I open with that verse?

Perhaps I should explain.

Christmas is not about us reaching up to God.

Christmas is about the moment when God reached down to us.

And God reached down in a most remarkable way.

But the birth of Christ is merely the beginning of the account.

Scripture also tells us about the life Jesus led.

It tells us how he reached out to those whom society ignored.

It also tells us what would ultimately befall the child whose birth we celebrate.

It tells of those who plotted against Him.

It tells of the one who betrayed Him.

It tells of the one who denied Him.

And it tells us of the price He paid.

Importantly, it tells us why.

Romans 8:32 (NRSVue) - He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else?

Yes, we should celebrate the birth of Christ.

But that is just the beginning of the story.

Fortunately for us, His death is not the end of the story.

For if we look beyond the cross, we will see an empty tomb.

So, celebrate the birth of Christ!

Just make certain you celebrate his entire life and resurrection.

Celebrate the fact that God reached down to us in such a remarkable way!

 

Christmas Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, January 2, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, January 9, 2026

Love Should Not Be Fleeting

 

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NRSVue) - Let all that you do be done in love.

I received a Christmas card this week that contained this verse.

I recalled a theme that I return to often during this time of year.

As I write this, city squares, homes, and businesses have been decorated for Christmas.

Although these decorations are beautiful reminders of the season, they will be taken down in a few short weeks.

They will be carefully packed away in boxes.

They will then be relegated to attics and storerooms.

There, they will be ignored.

In no time, they will be forgotten for much of the year.

This is unfortunate.

In a sense, hearts are the same way.

During this time of year, we tend to be more loving.

We tend to be more generous.

Perhaps we will be even more forgiving.

But once Christmas is over, we will put these things aside.

Like the decorations, they will be stowed away for another year.

This is most unfortunate.

To expound on Paul’s words, we should do everything in love… always!

The Christ whom we celebrate taught us this in His word and His actions.

Christmas is not about us reaching up to God.

It is about how God reached down to us through Jesus,

1 John 4:19 (NRSVue) - We love because he first loved us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 19, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, December 26, 2025

Personal Humility and Gratitude

 

In Isaiah, the prophet offers praise for deliverance.

He begins by acknowledging the wonderful things God has done.

Isaiah 25:1 (NRSVue) - Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul calls upon his readers to persevere.

Hebrews 10:23 (NRSVue) - Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

These are excellent reminders for me as I write this on Thanksgiving Day,

Overall, it has been a successful year for me.

But with success, it is all too easy to take all the credit.

It is easy to overlook the role God has played.

But I must never forget two important things.

All good things come from God, including success.

I also must remember that God planned this all along.

God is ever faithful.

Also, when things were not going so well, God was still there for me.

He never stopped loving me.

He always encouraged me.

He used the trying times to draw me closer to Him.

So, I have much to be thankful for.

But gratitude in and of itself is insufficient.

In reflection, I realize that something will be required of me.

Where I am on my journey is simply part of His bigger plan.

Admittedly, I do not fully comprehend that plan yet.

But I know He will reveal it to me according to His timing, not mine.

For the moment, I will acknowledge that my success this year comes directly from God.

I will also acknowledge that this is part of His plan rather than my effort.

I will also recognize His continual fidelity and His love.

Therefore, I approach God in humility and gratitude.

James 1:17 (NRSVue) - Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 5, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, December 12, 2025

Darkness into Light

 

Within Isaiah 42 is a hymn of praise.

The hymn refers to the blind and how God will turn their darkness into light.

Isaiah 42:16 (NRSVue) I will lead the blind by a road they do not know; by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.

In John 8, Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world.

John 8:12 (NRSVue) - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

As I read these verses, they reminded me of my prayers.

While my prayers are not repetitive, there are two things that are common to most.

I ask God to light my path.

I ask God to guide my steps.

Even at my age, I know how easy it would be for me to stumble spiritually.

And I know that God’s presence can keep me upright if I rely on Him.

In my part of the world, it is Autumn.

As the days grow shorter, the slight chill in the air is a reminder that Winter is not far away.

That is why we find the light and warmth of the sun comforting.

Similarly, in our daily walk, we welcome God’s presence as He guides our steps.

We welcome the light of Jesus on the path upon which we travel.

We also reflect that light to those still living in darkness.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, November 14, 2025