Week of June 22, Psalm 69: 7-10, 16-18

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 69, verses 7 to 10, and 16 to 18 – a psalm of David who is worn out from troubles and calls on God. He is honest in his feelings and pours out his heart to God:
7 For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.
8 I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons;
9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
10 When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;
16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
18 Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes.

Dear Lord, You are a great God who loves us so much. I am in deep trouble, Lord. I am a stranger to my friends, like an alien to my relatives.

But it is for You, Lord, that I live. Zeal for You and Your presence is what consumes me. It seems that You are hiding Your face from me. So answer me, please, Lord. Answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me.

Your word, Lord, reminds me that You are quick to respond, quick with Your power and strength, quick with Your Spirit in my life. Help me, Jesus, to listen, to take stock, to remember that it is Your timing and not mine. Help me to rest in Your presence and know and trust that answers will come.

Thanks for Your love and grace and mercy, Your comfort and peace. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His strength and His great peace. In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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May God be with you now and always.

Week of June 15, 2008, Psalm 100

One of the Scriptures for Sunday Psalm 100, a great psalm of praise and worship:
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Dear Lord, with all of creation, all of the earth, we worship You, Lord. We shout for joy to You with gladness, and we come to You with joyful songs, with songs of praise and thanksgiving.

We know, Heavenly Father, that You are God. You made us. We are Yours. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. As we take time to ponder and reflect how great You are, O God, You remind us that You care for us and watch over us as a shepherd cares for and protects and watches over his sheep.

So Lord, help us always to enter Your courts with praise and thanks as we lift Your name on high, to the highest heavens, for great is Your name and greatly You are to be praised.

For You are good, Lord, and Your love endures forever. You are faithful throughout all the generations. Your word stands. Your word will never perish. We come to You, trusting in Your promises.

Thanks, Jesus, for Your enduring and abiding love, Your gracious mercy, Your presence with us always. And thanks for Your peace in the midst of our day to day lives. Amen.

May the Lord bless you as you go on your way. May He go before you to show you the way. May He go behind you to encourage you. May He go beside you to guide and befriend you. May He always be above you to watch over you. And may He be within you to give you peace.

In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, our great Shepherd, be with you now and always.

Week of June 8, 2008, Psalm 50:7-15

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Psalm 50, verses 7 to 15 – God speaking to the people of Israel:
7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

Dear God, You are the God of creation, and I call on You. You are God, my God. You desire a right spirit and a thankful heart.

God, I call to You not only when I am in trouble, but I call to You now, each day. You are my Rock and my Fortress, a very present help in the day of trouble. And I stand on Your promises of hope and salvation, for You do deliver me in my times of trouble, and as I bless Your name and honor You, You are always there to help and restore and strengthen and build up.

Thanks, Lord Jesus, for Your promises, for Your presence, for Your love and Your peace. Amen.

May the Lord bless you as you go on your way. May He go before you to show you the way. May He go behind you to encourage you. May He go beside you to guide and befriend you. May He always be above you to watch over you. And may He be within you to give you peace.

In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or a prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May God, our God, be with us now and always.