Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts

Saturday, December 8, 2012

The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear?

Good evening friends,
First, a huge thank you to all the folks who made a successful dinner and talent show possible. Especially, I want to thank Karen Kingsbury, Bob Hicks, Donna Gipner, Karen Simpson, Lea Smith, Gabby, Scott Fralick, Amy Nowack and Michelle Hicks. It was a really fun evening with opportunities to watch many different talents and share great fellowship with the community.

Today's reading is a look at trusting God from a different angle. We need to trust God most when things are not going well, and we can trust God. Even if all our friends abandon us, God will not leave us alone. Both the opening and closing lines of this Psalm are favorites of mine, words I turn to when I am confused or afraid: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?...Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.

May we learn to trust and wait in this season and always,
Sam


Psalm 27:1-14
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall. 3Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

4One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. 5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

6Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. 9Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.

11Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence. 13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

be still

Good evening friends,
Sorry this is getting out so late today. Since Advent is about waiting and preparing for Jesus, and especially since Sunday's sermon is about making time to wait when the world seems like it's moving too fast, I thought some Psalm's about waiting would be appropriate. Today's Psalm is about trusting God to take care of us. The closing stanza is a word of hope for many people in tough or confusing times. God says to us, "Be still and know that I am God."

It's hard to be still when everything is in motion. It's hard to know that God is God when everything seems uncertain. But when we just trust God to be God, it takes an enormous weight off our shoulders. When we trust God, we realize that a lot of our worry comes from trying to take God's place in different areas of our lives. God is God, and we are in God's hands. Don't you feel more relaxed just remembering that?

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 46:1-11
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.

6The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

8Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

10“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” 11The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.