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23 Responses
Good Morning JD!
What a joy to hear you and your dad sing one of my very favorites❣️
I sang “In The Garden” at my father’s funeral service in 2003. Oh how wonderful for you to have the recording of this beautiful memory with your dad.
Thank you for sharing your joy as we tarry with Him as the dew settled on this brand new day.
Blessings,
Leisa Jackson
A note to let you know that Bette Kitt introduced me to your Wake Up Call when she first discovered Seedbed. What a blessing to gather seed for the road together.
That was a beautiful start of the day. Thank you for letting us sing with you!
Beholding Before Becoming: A Child of God’s Love
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” – 1 John 3:1
Today’s Wake-Up Call from J.D. Walt broke me open in the best way. This isn’t just another devotional to tuck away. It’s a call to behold—to shift from religious activity to reverent attention.
And today, I saw it.
The difference between doing and becoming has never been clearer: We become like the One we behold.
This morning, instead of jumping into tasks for Jesus, I stopped to gaze upon Him. I recited the Sower’s Creed aloud. I spoke Ephesians 3:14–19 slowly, personally. Not to perform. Just to be present. And something happened in the stillness. Not flashy. Not emotional. But holy.
I realized I’ve been living like activity equals impact. But as J.D. reminds us, impact flows from intimacy. From beholding.
Even as someone saved at 62—just two years ago—I’m still prone to hustle rather than sit. To blog for God before beholding Him. To post for others instead of pause with the Spirit.
But I don’t want to mistake movement for maturity.
J.D., when you and your dad sang “In the Garden” today, I felt it. The warmth of that hymn wrapped around my soul. That’s what it means to walk with Him and talk with Him. That’s what I want more of—not for a platform, but for a Person. My Savior. My Father. My Friend.
Journal Prompts, Answered:
Do I believe I can be filled with the fullness of God? I do. Not by trying harder, but by trusting deeper.
How can I behold more? I can slow down. Linger in Scripture. Whisper Jesus’ name before I rush.
What keeps me from it? Distractions, pride, deadlines. But today, I lay those down.
Sower Nation, here’s our invitation today: Have you stopped long enough lately to simply behold Him? Not to analyze. Not to teach. But to let yourself be held in the gaze of divine love?
Let’s start today. Maybe even In the Garden.
For His Kingdom and Milwaukee’s Revival,
Jeff in Christ ✝️❤️
Founder, Jesus24365 Ministry (since 2024)
Member, St. Marcus Lutheran Church (since 2023)
Every Moment, Every Day!
http://www.Jesus24365.org
Thanks, J. D. and David. A fine beginning to today. And a great tribute to your dad , J. D.
Your duet with your Dad touched my heart. Some 30 years ago, I sang that song with two guys in my church. Of course we did others but In The Garden has been a favorite of mine. Since I moved to my current place, I have not found any folks to sing in small groups with. Family members who sang with me are now singing in heaven.. I miss it. When you and your Dad started doing parts, I added mine. I felt so close, I just had to tell you.
The distinction embodied in the phrase, “you have to be before you do” is most distinctly illustrated in psalms 46:10 ” be still and know that I am God”.
The Activity that Flows from Attention That’s Attached to Jesus
True hope in Jesus causes people to continually focus their attention on Him, (Hebrews 12:2) to hunger and thirst for righteousness, (Matthew 5: 6) and to seek first His kingdom. (Matthew 6:33) As they do they purify themselves day after day as He is pure. (1 John 3;3) The more people allow themselves to be led by His Spirit (Romans 12:11) the more they are aware that Christ is literally living inside of them (Colossians 1:27) and the more they realize and are attentive and surrendered to the love that God has given them by making them His children. (1 John 3:1)
Unceasingly behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) The more you behold the risen Jesus and grasp the reality of God’s love, the more you will become filled with the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
A new Pope
Can bring hope
But Jesus
Christ in you
Is the hope
Of glory
Unending.
Always good to have your dad join you!!
What a treasure to hear you sing with your dad! Indeed, precious!
Today was so very special! I loved hearing you and your dad singing together. This hymn was one of my mom’s favorite songs. She almost always sang while she was doing her routine tasks. Her special place was working in her garden and flowerbeds. I realize now that she was BEHOLDING our Lord during those special times. It’s also what she would do when she had something heavy on her mind. Now I know she was seeking God’s will and surrendering her concerns to Him.
That was a wonderful start to my day. Reminded me of singing with my Grandparents. Must admit a few tears fell. David come back again.
Jesus is my hope, my redeemer King, my salvation, my friend! The “Pope is the POPE”! Mere mortal, not to be worshiped or adored!
What a blessing to have your dad sing with you! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the DEVO today. So awesome to get to sing with your Dad. A great memory for me as my Mom loved this hymn. ❤️ Blessings!
Thank you for this special gift of hearing you sing with your dad! It was such a pause and behold moment. I’m thankful that I can remember standing by my Dad as we sung this song in church many years ago. To behold in the mist of my packing, preparing and flight this evening is a precious thing.
You are so right about hurry. There are two quotes I try to remember. The first by Dallas Willard, “The secret to the Christian life, Ruthlessly eradicate hurry from your life. The other quote is Ann Vos Kamp, “Hurry always empties a soul.”
I learned to sing harmony singing with my dad when I was a little girl. Standing next to him as he drove (because that’s what we did back then), he would start singing. When I joined in, he would tell me, “Find to other notes to sing; those are my notes.” I remembered that today as I listened to you and your father. Thank you for that beautiful memory!
Thanks 😊 enjoyed having your Dad join us today! Enjoy Gods many Blessings!
Thanks JD.
“ This love of God our Father is an incomprehensible reality. It can’t even be revealed to us by flesh and blood. This kind of truth must be winged into the depths of our being by the Word of God and the Spirit of God.”
John David & David – today brought me to tears and confession. To behold such love – to be loved by such pure love – makes me want to empty myself of all that mars it.
“In the garden” was so special to me. It was one of my Dad’s favorites and I could almost see him in the choir singing. He did love to sing the hymns. As a teenager I can remember telling him he did not need to sing so loud.How I wish I could see him singing loudly again!
something to definitely ponder in today’s world. thanks for the reminder “that we are children of God” and “filled with the fullness of God”. putting that one on repeat.
and what a treat to have your Dad join you today;)
I loved listening to JD and his father, David sing the song! What a blessing, thank you JD!