(This week Cheryl and I are working Disaster Response in the Little Rock area after a tornado. I am sharing devotions that I shared previously. This one was first shared April 16, 2021)

Tonight I will be having dinner with my mom and all my siblings. There will be other family members there as well, but with one sister living out of state, it is not very often that all four siblings and mom are in one place. I’m looking forward to it.

As I was thinking about them and growing up together, I remembered both good and bad times. It wasn’t a perfect home. But something that was constant in our home was Jesus and His love. I am so grateful that was true. I tried to make sure that was a constant in my home as we raised our daughters, and I still strive to keep Jesus first in our home today.

And old hymn came to mind as I pondered all of this. I know newer versions of they lyrics are available, but the one bouncing around in my head was from the 1941 Lutheran Hymnal (#625).

Oh, blest the house, whatever befall,
Where Jesus Christ is all in all!
Yea, if he were not dwelling there,
How dark and poor and void it were!

Oh, blest that house where faith is found
And all within have set their mind
To trust their God and serve him still
And do in all his holy will!

Oh,  blest the parents who give heed
Unto their children’s foremost need
And weary not of care or cost!
May none to them and heaven be lost!

Blest such a house; it prospers will!
In peace and joy the parents dwell,
And in their children’s lot is shown
How richly God can bless his own.

Then here will I and mine today
A solemn covenant make and say:
Though all the world for sake Thy Word,
My house and I will serve the Lord.

The world around us is getting crazier by the minute. People have forsaken Jesus and His Word. It is my fervent prayer that the faithful today will make Jesus the priority in their homes and make that solemn vow stated in the last stanza.

(Note: Lord willing, I will have all my siblings, their families, and my mom with me for a BBQ at my house next Friday!)