Going the distance...

Our Daily Bread
There have been many times in my life that God allowed me to be isolated from my closest friends so I would finally listen to him without all the noise of people around me.  That may seem a little harsh, but I have a tendency to learn through epiphanies instead of little by little, especially when I am faced with a life crisis (or what feels like a life crisis).  God uses those moments to show me I need to rely on him more and accept his grace and strength I need to go the distance.

The "distance" has two meanings to me.  First, like the devotional, there is the physical distance of miles or kilometers.  The minister in Nepal walked sixty miles with his parishioners to share the Gospel.  The author admitted, like many of us, that he complained about driving across town to visit a shut in or someone in the hospital!  Second, distance also means my spiritual journey in a metaphysical sense.  There is obviously not a road map that tells me exactly where I am going although I often want to ask "Are we there yet?"  ha!  Going the distance in either case takes reliance on God for leadership and strength.


Lord, please help us go the distance for you wherever you call us to go!

Psalm Sunday
Psalm 51 is the psalm for today. Wow!  So many of my favorite verses in this psalm.  From the notes, this was written after Nathan confronted David about Bathsheba.  David humbled himself before God and begged for forgiveness.  Have you ever had this experience?  Check out these verses:
1 - 4
10 - 13
17

My tongue stumbled a lot when reading this out loud.  Take it slow.  ;-)


Psalm 51

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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