A stove

Our Daily Bread
The story in the devotional reminded me of a story from my life.  My dear grandmother didn't have a lot of money and made things last way beyond their useful life.  One example was her gas stove.  The handles broke off from age.  She sometimes used pliers to turn on the burners.  The automatic pilot stopped working on the burners, so she lit them with a match.  The oven didn't work very well, but she worked around it.  When my ex partner and I moved to new home that didn't have gas in the kitchen, we gave her our very, very nice GE gas stove.  I will never forget the look on her face after we removed the old stove and installed the new one.  She was soooooo happy!  I don't know that she ever figured out how to use it, but she loved it as much as any gift she ever got!

The story of the widow's mite is sort of like this as well.  God liked the gift she gave as much as any gift he ever received!  She gave all instead of from her abundance like most of us do.  We tend to think of this story only in the context of giving money.  God wants the same from our lives -- give him all!

Lord, thank you for the many blessings.  Please help us give our all in your service.  It is easier said than doe!

Psalm Sunday
This is what I call a typical "call upon the Lord" psalm where the psalmist recounts the past interactions with God and asks for love, forgiveness and favor in the future.  Restoration is the theme.


Psalm 85

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people
    and covered all their sins.
3 You set aside all your wrath
    and turned from your fierce anger.
4 Restore us again, God our Savior,
    and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,
    and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.


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We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site