Di Seba Archives - Treasure Valley Prays

Singing as Worship

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:May 15, 2023
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Humpback whale song on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UOkcvGPHsgk"All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name. Selah" (Psalm 66:4, NRSV). "Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps" (Psalm 8:8, The Message Bible). "Music [is] the greatest art and science to attract the attention of mankind since the advent of the human family into the world. God himself, in the beginning, set all things to music, even before man was made, and it has continued from…

My Sister Had a Cat

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:April 3, 2023
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While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying,…

Guilt

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:January 23, 2023
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Psalm 27, Triumphant Song of Confidence of David The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes—they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. One thing I asked of the Lord; to live in the…

Jesus Has Come

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:December 26, 2022
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Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) Christmas is my favorite time of year, with all its rituals, music, decorations, celebrations, and even all the secular songs and emphasis on buy, buy, buy. The magnitude of our Christian belief that God has come to us as the lowliest of humans does not deter us from Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman. The thing that brings me so much joy, even celebrating the secular holiday, is how it…

Working on Self-Acceptance

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:November 14, 2022
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"What are humans that you are mindful of them,mortals that you care for them?Yet you have made them a little lower than Godand crowned them with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:4-5).Can we talk about . . . body image? One of my goals this year was to become more accepting of people who are different from me, including people who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, which stands for "people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or gender expansive, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit."…

What Do You Believe?

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:October 31, 2022
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Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”(Mark 9:24)Today is Halloween. What does that mean to you? Halloween began as Samhain, first observed by Celtic Pagans. It marked their New Year, the end of summer, and the end of the harvest season. It also signaled the beginning of winter, which they associated with death. The Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was especially thin on Samhain, which allowed spirits of the dead to visit…

We Are Works in Progress

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:September 19, 2022
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Hildegard of Bingen was born into a noble family in Bermersheim in 1098. She experienced visions from a young age but did not tell anyone about them. At the age of eight her family gave her to the care of a religious noblewoman, Jutta of Spanheim, who took Hildegard with her to be enclosed as a recluse at the Disibodenberg monastery. The monastery became a convent sometime between 1112 and 1115, and Hildegard took religious vows. After Jutta died in 1136, Hildegard was…

Part of the Sanctuary Complex at Butrint

A Living Stone and a Holy People

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:April 18, 2022
Post category:DEVOTION Di Seba
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Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:“Behold, I am laying…

In the Desert

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:March 4, 2022
Post category:DEVOTION Di Seba
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"I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the Israelites, ‘I am the Lord, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the…

Meditation on Psalm 139

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:February 4, 2022
Post category:DEVOTION Di Seba
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Help me, O Lord. I am covered by the darkness. The day around me is like night. I feel far from your presence and far from everything I used to care about. Sometimes I think you don't know what I am going through or how much grief hurts. But I believe your word. You created the light to shine and drive out the darkness. The darkness is not dark to you—night is as bright as day. Darkness and light are alike to you.Sometimes…

Ezra Reads the Law

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:January 21, 2022
Post category:DEVOTION Di Seba
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Are you tired of wearing a mask and reminders to get vaccinated? Do you wish things were the way they used to be? I know I do. We are chafing under the restrictions laid upon us. Imagine if these restrictions lasted 70 years! That is what happened to the Israelites when they were carried off into captivity in Babylonia. Remember the Psalm where they cry, "By the rivers of Babylon—there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. . .…

Finding Room for Jesus

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:December 13, 2021
Post category:DEVOTION Di Seba
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Then [Jesus] told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But…

Living in the Liminal Spaces

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:November 5, 2021
Post category:DEVOTION Di Seba
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A Time for Every Thing

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:May 27, 2021
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For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up;a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance;a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to…

Come to the Mountains!

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:April 11, 2021
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O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land,…

Jesus in the Garden

Expectation Versus Reality: the Passion Story

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:March 26, 2021
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Sunday will be Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion. Growing up, Palm Sunday was one of my favorite Sundays of the year. I loved waving palms, I loved how the children in the story played such an important part, and I loved the celebration. Who can resist a parade? Especially one with all the bright promise of deliverance, peace and prosperity! Then, with the turn of the page, suddenly we are following Jesus through the dark passion of the Last Supper, his betrayal, crucifixion…

In Community with All the Saints

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:March 5, 2021
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In the book of Hebrews, chapter 11 contains a catalog of people from the Old Testament who obeyed God because of their faith, the people we call saints. The list concludes,"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set…

Farewell to the Alleluia

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:February 13, 2021
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Hallelujah!Praise God in His sanctuary.Praise Him in His mighty heavens.Praise Him for His powerful acts;praise Him for His abundant greatness.Praise Him with trumpet blast;praise Him with harp and lyre.Praise Him with tambourine and dance;praise Him with flute and strings.Praise Him with resounding cymbals;praise Him with clashing cymbals.Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.Hallelujah!(Psalm 150)This Sunday marks a turning point in the church year. It is Transfiguration Sunday, and Wednesday will be Ash Wednesday. Typically services perform some kind of ceremony to "bury the…

Getting to Grateful

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:January 24, 2021
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Depression. It has certainly tested my resolve in the last twelve months. I would like to share humbly what I have learned about dealing with depression. This is not meant to help if you are suicidal or wish to harm yourself. In that case, I urge you to call someone and get help. If you have no one to call, call the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline at 211.These are some of the effects depression has had on me. Sometimes it feels like you…

We Are All One

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:January 4, 2021
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"Now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:25-29). Do you like to read mystery novels? I do. I was thinking…

The Gift of New Life: Worship

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:December 20, 2020
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"In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Luke 1:39-42). What is it about a baby? When my first niece was born, I was astonished.…

Christ the King

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:November 21, 2020
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"I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to…

I Wait for the Lord

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:November 10, 2020
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"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,and in his word I hope;my soul waits for the LORDmore than those who watch for the morning,more than those who watch for the morning.O Israel, hope in the LORD!For with the LORD there is steadfast love,and with him is great power to redeem.It is he who will redeem Israelfrom all its iniquities" (Psalm 130:5-8).Nehemiah stepped from the last stair up onto the watchtower. Daniel was there, waiting to be relieved. Some evenings Daniel would loiter…

The Day of the Dead

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:November 1, 2020
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"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness" (Psalm 145:3-6). hile Lutherans around the world are celebrating All Souls Day on November 1, in Mexico the celebrations are more colorful and festive. Some may confuse Día de…

What Is Christian Freedom?

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:October 11, 2020
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"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36)."But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18)."Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another"…

Trusting God

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:September 23, 2020
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O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; who made…

A Meditation on Joy

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:September 5, 2020
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"Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:4-5). I heard this story about a college student practicing the piano. They were trying to learn the song "Joy Cometh in the Morning." There was a complicated chord change right after "Weeping may endure for the night, but.…

Take Up Your Cross

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:August 20, 2020
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He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for…

Jesus, what are you telling us to do?

Post author:Di Seba
Post published:July 26, 2020
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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)“I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)Sometimes I am confounded by the Bible. But I find it comforting that the disciples found Jesus' teachings hard to understand as well. In what is called Jesus Farewell Discourse in the book of John, we can see the confusion of the disciples. In John 14:1 Jesus says, "Let not your heart be troubled." Thomas asks, "Lord, we…