Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! Psalm 130 V 1-2

Do you feel that you are in the depths right now?  How about those around you?

The world is certainly in the depths – rampant wildfires, blistering heat in areas known to be cooler, earthquakes, flooding and hurricanes.  And, we are still battling a pandemic.

The Psalmist certainly knows about the depths.  David often wrote Psalms during his darkest days.  He would write out the words of his heart and you can almost see his tears.  David and the other Psalmists wrote these honest thoughts as a prayer and a healing balm.  Even in his deepest pits, David retained hope in the Lord.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning (v 5-6).

Perhaps we should turn to the Psalms – read them, pray through them, lift them up as prayers to the Lord.  Perhaps we can turn to the Psalms as our prayers for this world and each other.

Peace,

Pastor Bill There will be no Monday Morning Meditation until I return from vacation in September. 

Give ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. Psalm 5:1-3

Did you ever have one of “those” days?  Did you ever have a period in your life when you just felt down?  It happens to most of us.  Yes, I know, we are all supposed to be filled with joy yet things happen that can temporarily rob us of that joy.

Whether it was King David or another Psalmist, we know that people often felt this pain.  The Psalms are filled with joy and pain, with good and bad.  The Psalms remind us that we do sometimes feel the pain of life – and it is okay to bring it to God.

If you are in one of those times, take a trip through the Psalms and know someone else has also gone through the same – and that God is still with you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:22-23

Where is your “mountain”?  Throughout the gospels, Jesus withdraws from the crowds and the disciples to pray, and He often goes up a mountain.

Have you ever prayed up a mountain?  There is something truly majestic, as you physically and mentally remove yourself from the trappings of the world.  They you gaze around and see so much of the beauty of the earth.

Perhaps your space is by water – the ocean or a lake – and the rhythm of the water flow becomes the rhythm of your breath.

For some it is in the woods, hearing each footstep on the fallen leaves and branches as you find a quiet spot.

We cannot always retreat up a mountain or any other place, but it is important to find ways to get away from the noise of life so we can spend the time with God. 

As you travel through this week, find a “mountain”, even if it is just a quiet corner in your home.  Spend some extra time with God, away from the news, away from the noise, away from all that distracts you.  You might just find yourself able to face whatever this week brings – and you face it with God.

Peace,

Pastor Bill