Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Sometimes we come to those moments in life, whereby we need pause to reflect and come to new understandings of our relationships with God and one another, and the manner in which we ought to proceed in our daily life. Psalm 119 has helped serve this purpose for century upon century. It is the longest of the Psalms, each section beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is one I go to to guide me in the faith, centering on God' identity, God's gifts and demands, and our human responses in faith and love.

In Psalm 119:33-37 we read: "Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my WHOLE HEART. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn MY HEART to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn MY EYES from looking at vanities; and give me life in your ways."

I know that I need to watch out for the ways that I may attempt in vanity to follow my desires and wants apart from God's way. I firmly believe that the current state of the world depicts a preference for thoughts and actions that are centered on worldly desire and preference apart from following God's instruction of love for God and one another. We certainly live in a time short of empathy, compassion and love for one another and mostly for reasons that leaves God's head shaking. (Are we not all created in God's image? How are we to understand our relationship to each other vis-a-vis God's relationship with those persons?)

Again from Psalm 119:71-77 we read: "It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me. Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live."

We find ourselves in a time to be humbled before God and one another that we may stay attached to God's steadfast love and mercy, listening to God's ubiquitous and universal instruction given word in and through Christ Jesus. To God in Christ be the honor and glory!

From Psalm 119:169: "Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word." 

May the courage of faith keep us strong and safe.   Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Sometimes we come to those moments in life, whereby we need pause to reflect and come to new understandings of our relationships with God and one another, and the manner in which we ought to proceed in our daily life. Psalm 119 has helped serve this purpose for century upon century. It is the longest of the Psalms, each section beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is one I go to to guide me in the faith, centering on God' identity, God's gifts and demands, and our human responses in faith and love.

In Psalm 119:33-37 we read: "Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my WHOLE HEART. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn MY HEART to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn MY EYES from looking at vanities; and give me life in your ways."

I know that I need to watch out for the ways that I may attempt in vanity to follow my desires and wants apart from God's way. I firmly believe that the current state of the world depicts a preference for thoughts and actions that are centered on worldly desire and preference apart from following God's instruction of love for God and one another. We certainly live in a time short of empathy, compassion and love for one another and mostly for reasons that leaves God's head shaking. (Are we not all created in God's image? How are we to understand our relationship to each other vis-a-vis God's relationship with those persons?)

Again from Psalm 119:71-77 we read: "It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me. Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live."

We find ourselves in a time to be humbled before God and one another that we may stay attached to God's steadfast love and mercy, listening to God's ubiquitous and universal instruction given word in and through Christ Jesus. To God in Christ be the honor and glory!

From Psalm 119:169: "Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word." 

May the courage of faith keep us strong and safe.   Pastor John