I was very proud of the way our ministers handled the worship services this morning considering today is the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 events that changed our country. I remember where I was and who I was with that day. Most folks do. I hope it is the only event like that in my lifetime!
The point of the today's devotional is simple: yes, God does allow suffering, however, he offers much more in comfort than we could ever imagine suffering! God can use any circumstance in our lives to offer us peace and comfort and love if we are only open to it. I know I am not always open to God's love and healing in my life. It feels too raw and tender to let anyone in at times. I think we all know how that feels. The best part is that God understands more than anyone else. He can also give more than advice -- he offers healing and wholeness as well!
Lord, I want to always remember history so I am not doomed to repeat it!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 22 is the psalm for this week. I told a friend recently that my personality is much more like David's than like some of the New Testament writers like Luke. I feel the highs and lows that David writes about in his music, though I try to be as upbeat and steady as I can in my daily life. I cry out to God because I feel like he doesn't listen to me at times. He always listens. He always answers. He will for you as well!
Psalm 22
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the LORD,” they say,
“let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
19 But you, LORD, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Other Stuff
I am still recovering from my Vegas trip and from the stuff I have been doing since I got home! I slept about 11.5 hours last night. Will take a short nap today before getting ready for dinner group tonight.
I have a busy week planned. Very cool.
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
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