Tis the season...

Our Daily Bread
Tis the season for peace!  I am always encouraged by this season because it seems people are more willing to at least try peace!  There are cease fires in wars declared.  People put aside their personal differences to hep the less fortunate.  Lots of good things can happen!  It would be great if it could happen all year long!

Taking this idea to a personal level: what acts of peace do you need to work on this season?  For me, I need to finally forgive and forget the wrongs done to me by someone who was supposed to be a friend.  I tried to make our friendship a romantic relationship.  Neither the romantic relationship or the friendship ever really worked out even though we got to know each other pretty well.  I don't agree with some of his actions, however, I found myself judging him instead of praying for him and taking him where he is.  I commit to my readers and to God that I will work through this.  I don't want any old relationship baggage interfering with my new relationship!

What acts of peace do you need to do this season?

Lord, help me love and forgive during this season and all year long!

Psalm Sunday
I am looking at Psalm 31 today. It is beautiful.  It talks about so many human emotions that we feel when talking to and thinking about God.  My favorite verse is the last one.


Psalm 31

    For the director of music. A psalm of David.
 1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
   let me never be put to shame;
   deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
   come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
   a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
   for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
   for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
   deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.

 6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
   as for me, I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
   for you saw my affliction
   and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
   but have set my feet in a spacious place.

 9 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress;
   my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
   my soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
   and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,[b]
   and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies,
   I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
   those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
   I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
   “Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
   and plot to take my life.

 14 But I trust in you, LORD;
   I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
   deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
   from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
   save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, LORD,
   for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
   and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
   for with pride and contempt
   they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

 19 How abundant are the good things
   that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
   on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
   from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
   from accusing tongues.

 21 Praise be to the LORD,
   for he showed me the wonders of his love
   when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
   “I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
   when I called to you for help.

 23 Love the LORD, all his faithful people!
   The LORD preserves those who are true to him,
   but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
   all you who hope in the LORD.


Other Stuff
I had a good day yesterday.  I went to see the movie Happy Feet 2.  I will review that movie tomorrow.  ;-) A close friend from Cincy was in town, so he stopped by.  He went to a holiday open house with me and then met my hero for supper.  We had a nice dinner at a new restaurant near her house.  I got to talk to my new friend before hitting the sack.  Thinking of him always brings me sweet dreams.  ;-)

I need to rest after church today.  We have a four hour choir rehearsal tonight for the mens chorus.  Our concerts are next weekend!  Whew!  I figured out I have about ten concerts in the next two weeks with the three groups I sing with.  Cool!

Let go, my friends!  God will catch you and hold you in his loving arms!