Since it’s Thursday, or as I like to call it, Friday Eve, here’s a joke for you.

As always, you’re welcome.

When was the last time you read from the book of Nahum? When was the last time you heard a sermon or some other kind of teaching from Nahum? If we’re honest, I’m not sure many of us could find it without cheating and looking in the table of contents in the front of the Bible.

But isn’t it interesting how many of God’s most endearing and enduring promises come out of those obscure little books of the Bible? Well, technically, they’re not obscure but we tend to focus on the New Testament and the Psalms more than the minor prophets. We do so at our own peril because we miss out on so much that God can teach us.

Some of it isn’t so easy to read. A lot of it is God pleading with His people to return to Him. Much of it is God forewarning those same people what will happen if they remain in their stubborn sinful ways. But nestled throughout are God’s precious promises for those who choose to follow Him and let Him lead.

It’s amazing how those promises seem to always come at the times when we need them most. God has a way of tailoring them to our need of the moment. I’ve known God to use a social media post or a sermon or a verse quoted in a book to speak to me where I was and help me through difficult times.

That’s what it means for God’s Word to be living and active. It never stops speaking to us in our need. God’s promises are always faithful and always true.

“‘I must keep praying’ ‘I feel like just giving up!’ How often has this thought passed through our minds (both yours and mine) in recent months? If I am honest, then I must admit it’s been quite often. I find myself so often in hopeless situations where I know full well that only God can deliver me but God doesn’t seem to have the same urgency as I do. Impatience and unbelief are at least a root of all my problems, and pride isn’t far behind, along with frustration (the fruit of my sin). Deep down I know that the Lord is working in my life and that I would be better off if I waited patiently for His time and His way of deliverance, but there seems to be a constant conflict between wanting to honor my God by doing His will and at the same time worrying myself sick over things which may never happen” (Apples of Gold).

I’ve noticed that at the heart of all my anxiety is the feeling that what I desire — what I desperately want down in my heart of hearts — must happen NOW or it will never happen. In my state of worry, I can’t see beyond the immediate tyranny of the urgent to fathom that God is bidding me to wait until either I am ready or the gift is ready. If I’m honest, my anxiety is me really confessing that I don’t believe that God is trustworthy or that He has my best interests in mind.

Every time I pray, it’s a kind of realignment of my priorities and my perspective into God’s way of seeing things. It’s me once again confessing my own inadequacy and my deep need for God to do what only God can. Plus, you can never go wrong praying the Lord’s prayer if you have nothing else.

I’m getting in as much of Radnor Lake State Park as I can these days. Who knows how much longer I’ll be able to hike after work before it starts getting dark too early to walk? Plus, I always like to take advantage of days when the temps are milder and it feels closer to fall.

I did my usual amount of hiking and sightseeing and sweating. I found that one of the landmark trees that I always look for had fallen over at some point and was lying on the ground. That made me a bit sad, but overall, it was a refreshing retreat from the concrete jungle into nature.

Sure, there are other parks in the Nashville area, but none of them feel as though you are escaping into another world as much as Radnor does. It almost feels at times like I’m slipping into Middle Earth or into the woods of Narnia. Also, there’s plenty of wildlife to keep me company as I hike and sweat.

There’s nothing better than exercise, vitamin D, and nature.

This is a fairly typical occurrence, especially in the later evenings. Peanut is all about a comfortable spot to nap in, and that spot more often than not is my lap. And I’m not complaining. She’s a very calming presence.

I don’t get how people don’t like cats. Maybe those people expect cats to act just like dogs and to be as overtly affectionate and friendly as dogs to everyone they meet all the time. Maybe they’ve run across a few cats that were aloof or just downright ornery. Or maybe they just haven’t met Peanut yet.

All I know is that my little Peanut is just as affectionate as any dog. She just happens to like having alone time periodically. That usually involves her “hiding” somewhere for a period of time. Most of the time, it’s easy to spot the lump under the bed covers or under the rug in the kitchen. I imagine that she thinks that if she can’t see me, I can’t see her.

Still, I cherish the times when she’s in my lap, or as I like to call them, quality therapy sessions. I can feel my blood pressure getting lower and me getting calmer and more relaxed. And she still loves her some belly rubs.

I always love going to hear good live music. These days, I tend toward smaller venues with artists that may or may not be on most people’s radar. This time it was Lori McKenna, songwriter extraordinaire, at the CMA Theater within the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was a fantastic night full of good songs and good memories.

The only downside for me was that I’m at the age where I probably am going to need a nap if I’m going to stay out this late. That’s just how it is these days. I was loving the experience, but toward the end, I was on the struggle bus a bit with the sleepiness.

Thankfully, tomorrow is looking like one of those rainy days that make for the best naps.

I’m glad that it’s October. Even if it was 86 degrees outside — or something that felt very much like summer and not fall. I don’t even care that the brief glimpse of fall weather has gone away.

October is the month where all the good holidays start. First, there’s Halloween, then Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas. In baseball terms, that’s the heart of the lineup. You’ve got what I feel are your best three holidays back-to-back-to-back.

So I try not to get bothered by unseasonably warm weather. I know this is Tennessee. It could all change tomorrow. Heck, it could snow tomorrow, for all I know. Or we could all spontaneously combust.

I learned that when it comes to weather not to have expectations, but to enjoy what I get. Spring weather in January? Sure. A cold spell in July? Why not? Another variant of summer? Bring it on. Lots and lots of rain? I got my umbrella.

I may not be wearing my flannel, but I will have my pumpkin spice. That is not negotiable. And I can watch all my scary Halloween movies in the middle of a heat wave. I’m good like that.

I’m just thankful for October.

“Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child” (Scott Krippayne)

In case you’ve had yourself a week and needed the reminder that Jesus can still speak peace to the winds and waves of a storm. He can also speak peace to His child in the midst of the fury of that same storm. The voice that calms the storm is often a whisper that we can’t hear if we’re too busy yelling or frantically thrashing about for a way out. We have to learn how to be still and silent in the storm to hear the whisper.

I got nothing. So far, this week has been the longest 14 days of my life. and it’s only Wednesday. But as Bon Jovi sang, we’re halfway there. Only tomorrow and Friday are left. We can do this.

At least there’s coffee. Even though it has felt like summer this week, I still have my pumpkin spice creamer. You do whatever it takes to get by.

This post will be short and pointless, but hopefully fun to read and just a bit of levity for you to get you through. Sometimes, all we need is to smile and not take ourselves so seriously.

There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to give you a little perspective and to make your problems not seem quite as bad as they do when you’re tired and grumpy. Or just tired.

I heard something tonight that fairly blew my mind. One of the worship leaders at Kairos tonight quoted from Lamentations about God’s mercies being new every morning. He also mentioned that the sun in our solar system is one of about 100 million suns in the universe, according to scientists. Then he said to multiply the daily mercy of God by 100 million and you get an idea of God’s infinite mercy.

Chalk that down to something else I’ll never wrap my head around, no matter how long I live. But the beauty of it is that God never calls us to comprehend His mercy and grace but only to receive it with open hands. Closed clenched fists can never receive because they’re already full of your own way of doing things that really doesn’t work and your own baggage that you carry with you everywhere.

I love new mercies. I love that every morning is new and a chance to start again, even if you’ve tried and failed a million times, because God’s mercies are more numerous that your failings. God’s grace does more than give you more chances; it changes you from the inside out and makes you not just an improved version of yourself but a brand new creation that reflects the indwelling image of God and enables you to live out the purpose for which He created you.

I love that in approximately 7 hours, I will once again experience those new mercies. God is good like that.