Counting my blessings.

The human mind and heart are a mystery; but God will loose an arrow at them, and suddenly they will be wounded. Psalm 64:7

My heart shall meditate on understanding. Psalm 49:2

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

So this is post #1000.

And I looked at Post #1 from four and a half long years ago. And not much has changed. Just sifting through my journal from that March, man, it is the same old questions. Which is a good thing. Last night we read about old Jacob and his wrestling with God. And even though the morning was breaking, Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 

And that is pretty much how I feel. Every morning while it is still dark out. I come to Him with my cracked and even perhaps smashed and crunched a bit clay vessel, and wait.

New every morning.

Great is Thy faithfulness.

Selah.

March 2, 2011

Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.  Psalm 90: 14

I can only think that this verse is saying, “In order to be happy, ya gotta have a morning quiet time.”  Is that true? 

In the morning we bring our achy thirsty little hearts to God, and set them down.  Maybe it helps a little big to peer into the void a little, shake it a little to settle things down. It’s a good thing to notice that we really are thirsty.  Sometimes we forget.  Well, don’t forget.  But sometimes, most of the time, we might lose hope, and swallow a few brave swallows, tighten our belt and rush out the door with empty jars.

Sometimes He might have to patch the holes a bit.  Deal with issues that leak.  Jagged cracks that require His Spirit to soften the clay so that His smooth strong hands can reshape and fortify the walls. 

And then wait.  And allow the LORD God to fill us up, to quench the loneliness, the weary dustyness, the cracked and unproductive hardness to overflowing.  His love and kindness are ours for the taking.  Every morning.

Rejoice because our God is a living and active God who is taking part in the daily fray.  He has not abandoned His world.  His people.  And He shall triumph.  And He does- each and every day decisive battles take place and He and we are victorious.  Let us rejoice. 

And be glad.  The gladness of purpose and goodness.  And calling.  The richness of Truth that refreshes and brings forth fruit. 

And may we have springs of living water flowing out of our lives, as we make our pilgrimage through a dry and thirsty land. 

Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust.  Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.  Deliver me, O God.  Teach me to do Thy will.  Quicken me O LORD, I lift up my soul unto Thee.

So be it.  

And a day to celebrate beloved Andrea and the joy she brings to our world. Thank you dear Father for this very precious gift.  May Your loving-kindness be ever-so-real to her today.  And all the days of her life.  To overflowing. 

And I have the picture in my mind of Jacob wrestling with the Lord, all night long.

Call to Worship For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! Psalm 107:15

Confession God of love, it is Your will that we should love You with heart, soul, mind, strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, but we are not sufficient for these things. We confess that our affections continually turn away from you: from purity to lust, from freedom to slavery, from compassion to indifference, from fullness to emptiness. Have mercy on us. Order our lives by your holy Word, and make your commandments the joy of our hearts. Conform us to the image of your loving Son, Jesus, that we may shine before the world to Your glory. Amen.

Contemplation The deepest longing of our soul is the all-satisfying hesed of God—not in the abstract, but first-hand knowledge and experience, a tasting of God’s hesed. Have you been delivered by the hand of God, tasted His mercy, seen His power, heard His word, felt His presence?

He, who knew no sin, became sin, and in that moment, he took up the lament of King David: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When he said this he not only took our sin upon himself, but also voiced all our laments. For underlying all our laments are two questions: “God, where are you?” and, “God, if you love me, then why?”

Lament is the path that takes us to the place where we discover that there is no complete answer to pain and suffering, only Presence.

One of the reflection questions for today is “How would the presence of God be more satisfying to you than answers from God?” 


Certainly this is the Big Question. Am I enough? Am I your longing? Does your soul pant for Me as a deer pants for flowing streams?

The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. I am satisfied.

He is my green pastures.  He is my cool waters. He restores me.

You, and You alone will make me glad.

Our Friday night group grappled with what is idolatry last night. And idolatry is anything but Him. Period. No ifs, ands or but.

You alone are my heart’s desire.

Prayer Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.