05/21/2010

Good Morning!

Psalm 118 (English Standard Version)
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13I was pushed hard,[a] so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.

14The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"

17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[b]
23This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25Save us, we pray, O LORD!O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.

27The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!

28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!Footnotes:
a. Psalm 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
b. Psalm 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner

Many of my coworkers hear me say “This is the day the Lord has made…I think I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (They also hear me say that I am all right for an old man… but that’s another story.)

I love this Psalm because it constantly reminds us that God’s steadfast love endures forever.

My golf buddy Harold called me last night to give me an update on Jeanie. She is recovering nicely. Harold shared that the operation that was supposed to last three hours stretched into five and a half. At the three hour mark, the doctor sent word that they had encountered some difficulty but not to worry - things would be okay and they would send word later. Harold's brother in law and Harold's daughter were with him and suggested they go get something to eat. Harold, of course, chose to stay put. While they were gone and Harold was alone, he sat with his head in his hands praying that God would not let Jeanie be disappointed. He noticed a lady sitting off to the side - far enough away so that she couldn't have possibly have heard the doctor's report. In a few minutes of his prayer, he and she made eye contact and she smiled. She then said "she's going to be all right." This without knowing anything. The lady then went back to doing what she had been doing before. Harold told me that he is positive that God sent this woman to bless him in his hour of need. It wasn't much longer that the good report came from the operating room that the issue had been resolved and Jeanie was going to be fine.

Too often when trouble arises, we think God has abandoned us. Usually it is the other way around – we have abandoned (or turned away) from God. But God is always nearby – waiting for us to turn to Him. He is right next to you right now – so if you are facing some issue that seems insurmountable or you just want to thank Him for today, go right ahead. He is waiting. I will guarantee it will make your day better…

Agape’

Mr. Jim
Fatdad5@comcast.net
"Preach the Gospel everyday - and if you have to, use words" ... St. Francis of Assisi