Connected

Our Daily Bread
I was chatting with a new friend the other day about church.  He said he didn't attend.  I gently suggested that he find an accepting church to attend and join.  It has been my experience that a relationship with God is best experienced in a community!

The devotional today talks about this as well.  The description of the early church in the the book of Acts seems very different than what we see today!  Many see that form of "church" as some political statement, which is sad to me.  At its core is loving and supporting each other during good times and bad.  Can we do that today?  Yes, we can!  Make it so!  ;-)

Lord, you gave us your vision of your church. Please help continue to live that vision today.

Psalm Sunday
We will look at Psalm 126 today.  This is another song of ascents.  You might recognize a term in the last verse -- "sheaves".  What is that?  From my research, sheaves are harvested grain stalks that are then carried to their storage facility.  It is talking about a successful harvest, which is considered a joyous time in an agrarian society like that period.

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

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We can thank the Lord that through His grace and power, our past is forgiven, our present is changed, and our future is bright with hope for all He has prepared for us - Our Daily Bread, 10/13/13