And they'll know we are Christians...by our love

Our Daily Bread
I liked the devotional today because it reminded me of two things: my church and the song in the title of this blog entry.

"We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love,
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love."

I like that song.  I also like the way the church I attend tries its best to demonstrate this philosophy.  I admit that every person who enters our doors feels that love, but we try our best to love each person and make each on feel welcome.  I have seen the results from this approach to church life.  It is amazing to me considering how many churches I have been around in my lifetime.

Lord, I want to be your witness by showing your love.  I know I need to get much better at it!

Psalm Sunday
It has been a while since I posted a Psalm.  I will think of more creative things to say about each psalm.  I like the psalms, but I don't like the violence part of 'strike down my enemies" sections of almost every chapter.  I can understand the "kill or be killed" mind set of that era.  It just doesn't sound like it applies today after Jesus taught us to love our enemies.  Hmmm.  Here is Psalm 10.


Psalm 10

 1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
   Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
 2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
   who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
   he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
   in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
   your laws are rejected by him;
   he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
   He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”

 7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;
   trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
   from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
 9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
   he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
   they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;
   he covers his face and never sees.”

 12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
   Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
   Why does he say to himself,
   “He won’t call me to account”?
14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
   you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
   you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man;
   call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
   that would not otherwise be found out.

 16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
   the nations will perish from his land.
17 You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted;
   you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
   so that mere earthly mortals
   will never again strike terror.

Other Stuff
I had a nice time with the group from work last night.  We had ten folks show up for dinner.  Most of them stayed for the movie afterwards.  I saw Pirates of the Caribbean. That was my first choice.  ;-)  I will review it tomorrow.

I went to church today, then met a friend for a movie.  I ran a few errands after that.  I am tried now.  ;-)

Hang in there, my friends!  I will be upbeat and steady.  That is what I do...