She looked up at me through her tears. They had been fighting for so long, and there were no answers. They had fought the cancer and the heart troubles and the emphysema. They had fought through the financial crisis' and the disability and the disappointing children and the pregnant teenage grandchildren. And yet, here she was, in a battle that she couldn't win. She was ready for the death, but somehow it didn't come, just more pain. She was trying to let go and God and her body were still holding on.. "Where is God," she asked? "How long will hear my cries and turn his ears.
We pulled out Psalm 13 and I read it again and again and again. "How long will you forget my Lord? Forever? How long will you hide your face?"
"Look at me! Answer me, Lord, my God! Restore sight to my eyes!"
"But I have trusted in your faithful love! My heart will rejoice in your salvation. Yes! I will sing to the Lord, because he has been good to me."
"Why do you love this one so much?" I asked her again and again.
When she had enough strength to answer, she finally said, "Because its how I feel. I feel forgotten, but know that God has been good to me. I need both."
She lay her head down and asked me to read them again. More slowly. And we sang. How Great Thou Art. Pass Me Not. Amazing Grace. As the Deer. I stayed for an hour, squeezed her hand and left. I wish I could tell you she died quickly or peacefully. But she died gasping for air days later. I'm just thankful that when her time on this Earth and the lessons she taught me. Especially about Psalm 13. About feeling forgotten and loved at once. I feel that way sometimes too. Forgotten and loved and forgiven and rejoicing and lamenting. God is good, even when this world isn't!
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Face of God
Oh, I needed these Psalms today! Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning I was afflicted with such an awful stomach flu, I called my MOM! I can't remember the last time I called my Mom almost in tears. It was that bad. Although the "flu" was gone in 24 hours, my strength still isn't what it was on Tuesday Afternoon! I needed these reminders.
I loved 11:7b "Those whose heart is right will see God's face". When was the last time you saw God's face? I saw it this week in VBS. In the Powerade my mom brought me and the Aleve that finally broke my fever. I saw God's face in the peace that came after praying with someone before a surgery and in the kids running to hug me. I saw his face in snacks and in tweets and in Psalms and in youth dancing. It was a powerful week. But I'm not sure until I read that verse that I stopped to ask myself the question. I think I might have missed God's face in the heap of sickness and sadness and lethargy.
I also saw God's face here. In the sunbeams streaming through the clouds.
Then Psalm 12 began with a bang. "Help Lord, because the godly are all gone, the faithful have completely disappeared from the human race." Now, after VBS, I wasn't really feeling a lament, but then I got to verse 5. "But the Lord says, 'Because the poor are oppressed, because of the groans of the needy, I'm now standing up, I will provide the help they are gasping for."
OH! How beautiful. That's what our call is! To rise up and provide the help! That's what we did this week! What a lovely reminder!
What a wonderful week! For more VBS pictures go to www.facebook.com/kennesawumc There are lots posted! What a great week!
Blessings to you!
Pastor Emily
Dearest Lord--Thank you for the reminders that you are here. That you are love. That your face is beautiful. Thank you for the blessings that only you give. Please let me be your blessing in this world!
In Jesus Name we pray! Amen
I loved 11:7b "Those whose heart is right will see God's face". When was the last time you saw God's face? I saw it this week in VBS. In the Powerade my mom brought me and the Aleve that finally broke my fever. I saw God's face in the peace that came after praying with someone before a surgery and in the kids running to hug me. I saw his face in snacks and in tweets and in Psalms and in youth dancing. It was a powerful week. But I'm not sure until I read that verse that I stopped to ask myself the question. I think I might have missed God's face in the heap of sickness and sadness and lethargy.
I also saw God's face here. In the sunbeams streaming through the clouds.
Then Psalm 12 began with a bang. "Help Lord, because the godly are all gone, the faithful have completely disappeared from the human race." Now, after VBS, I wasn't really feeling a lament, but then I got to verse 5. "But the Lord says, 'Because the poor are oppressed, because of the groans of the needy, I'm now standing up, I will provide the help they are gasping for."
OH! How beautiful. That's what our call is! To rise up and provide the help! That's what we did this week! What a lovely reminder!
What a wonderful week! For more VBS pictures go to www.facebook.com/kennesawumc There are lots posted! What a great week!
Blessings to you!
Pastor Emily
Dearest Lord--Thank you for the reminders that you are here. That you are love. That your face is beautiful. Thank you for the blessings that only you give. Please let me be your blessing in this world!
In Jesus Name we pray! Amen
Friday, June 8, 2012
Acrostic
Psalms 9 and 10 are an acrostic poem. An acrostic goes through each letter of the alphabet to start each stanza. It also seems as if they are one hymn instead of two.
I love so many of the verses (9:13-14, 18, 10:1, 4, 12, etc), but I thought today I would write my own acrostic Psalm. God is mighty. I am thankful!
All-powerful God, we cry out in our time of need.
Be for us the power and salvation and love that is missing.
'Cause our world is so broken.
Damage and strife and pain are all that we know.
Everything seems to be broken.
For we are evil, even though you made us good.
Goodness and mercy seem far off.
How is it that you still love us?
I bow at your feet in repentance and honor.
Jesus, be our redeemer, our friend, our brother.
King of Kings, mighty God, Prince of Peace
Let us never forget your promises
May we live into your grace
Never may we forget the truths of your righteousness.
O Holy one, let us love like you do.
Protect us from evil, save us from ourselves, let us love.
Question us, search us, and find us good.
Revive us so we can be your mighty people, called by your name
Send us out into your broken world to be your healers
To leave your creation better than we found it.
Use us to love the lonely, heal the hurting, calm the storm
Very great are the tasks you set before us.
When we are tired, give us strength.
'Xamine us and make us holy
Your ways are the best, let us live into them.
Zoom back to our hearts and our lives.
Really? Why does the alphabet have to end with z. HA!
Hope you liked my silly "Psalm".
Blessings--
Emily
I love so many of the verses (9:13-14, 18, 10:1, 4, 12, etc), but I thought today I would write my own acrostic Psalm. God is mighty. I am thankful!
All-powerful God, we cry out in our time of need.
Be for us the power and salvation and love that is missing.
'Cause our world is so broken.
Damage and strife and pain are all that we know.
Everything seems to be broken.
For we are evil, even though you made us good.
Goodness and mercy seem far off.
How is it that you still love us?
I bow at your feet in repentance and honor.
Jesus, be our redeemer, our friend, our brother.
King of Kings, mighty God, Prince of Peace
Let us never forget your promises
May we live into your grace
Never may we forget the truths of your righteousness.
O Holy one, let us love like you do.
Protect us from evil, save us from ourselves, let us love.
Question us, search us, and find us good.
Revive us so we can be your mighty people, called by your name
Send us out into your broken world to be your healers
To leave your creation better than we found it.
Use us to love the lonely, heal the hurting, calm the storm
Very great are the tasks you set before us.
When we are tired, give us strength.
'Xamine us and make us holy
Your ways are the best, let us live into them.
Zoom back to our hearts and our lives.
Really? Why does the alphabet have to end with z. HA!
Hope you liked my silly "Psalm".
Blessings--
Emily
Thursday, June 7, 2012
How Majestic is Your Name!
I loved today's Psalms!!!
Psalm 7--
I love these lament Psalms. When people feel hopeless or desperate, I often direct them here! But verse 11 really stuck out to me today, "God is a righteous judge, a God who is angry at evil, every single day."
I wonder if I am angry at evil every day? When I lie or cheat. When others hurt or bully those in need. Do I choose with my dollars to support businesses who help or those who take advantage of the weak? How do I work for justice and righteousness in the world?
Psalm 8--
Verses 4 and 5 are questions I ask all the time. How amazing is it that God actually cares about us? That God loves us. We aren't mighty or beautiful or even good. We are lowly. Yet God loves us anyway!
I'm going to leave today knowing I am loved, even when I don't deserve it. I am going to go away knowing that God has always been mighty and powerful and loving. I am going to take those lessons with me.
What will you take with you?
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
Dear God--Thank you for loving me. Help me to love those you love and hate the evil. Help me to see your promises and live into them. Forgive me my sins. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Psalm 7--
I love these lament Psalms. When people feel hopeless or desperate, I often direct them here! But verse 11 really stuck out to me today, "God is a righteous judge, a God who is angry at evil, every single day."
I wonder if I am angry at evil every day? When I lie or cheat. When others hurt or bully those in need. Do I choose with my dollars to support businesses who help or those who take advantage of the weak? How do I work for justice and righteousness in the world?
Psalm 8--
Verses 4 and 5 are questions I ask all the time. How amazing is it that God actually cares about us? That God loves us. We aren't mighty or beautiful or even good. We are lowly. Yet God loves us anyway!
I'm going to leave today knowing I am loved, even when I don't deserve it. I am going to go away knowing that God has always been mighty and powerful and loving. I am going to take those lessons with me.
What will you take with you?
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
Dear God--Thank you for loving me. Help me to love those you love and hate the evil. Help me to see your promises and live into them. Forgive me my sins. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Complaining!
Psalms 5 and 6 are what we call Individual Complaint Psalms. Psalm 3 from yesterday was another example. I have to admit, I struggled through these complaints. I am all about hearing complaints. I know that God loves to hear our complaints much the way he loves to hear anything we have to say, but I'll be honest, I didn't want to hear them. I didn't want to hear the author asking for God to smite his enemies. I didn't want to hear all the violence that was the Psalmist was attributing to God. It made my stomach churn. I read them a few weeks ago while I was sitting with Dad in the hospital room. I'm sure my displeasure had to do with that, but it was hard for me.
It seemed odd to me that God "didn't enjoy wickedness" (5:4) but then God was asked to "condemn them" and to "Let them fail by their own plans. THrow them out for their many sins" (5:10). It was hard to read "Have mercy on me, Lord, because I'm frail. Heal me, Lord, because my bones are shaking in terror" (6:2) in the same breath as "get away from me all you evildoers because the Lord has heard me crying!" (6:8-10)
What do you think? Is it ok that this was a song used in worship? What picture does this paint of God? How would you relate to this God?
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
Dear God--Hear our cries, no matter how selfish they may be. But, turn our hearts to you, so that all we sing are songs of your praise. So that all we want is the joy of your love. So that all we do is find ways to love your creation and people more--even our enemies. In Your name we pray--Amen!
It seemed odd to me that God "didn't enjoy wickedness" (5:4) but then God was asked to "condemn them" and to "Let them fail by their own plans. THrow them out for their many sins" (5:10). It was hard to read "Have mercy on me, Lord, because I'm frail. Heal me, Lord, because my bones are shaking in terror" (6:2) in the same breath as "get away from me all you evildoers because the Lord has heard me crying!" (6:8-10)
What do you think? Is it ok that this was a song used in worship? What picture does this paint of God? How would you relate to this God?
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
Dear God--Hear our cries, no matter how selfish they may be. But, turn our hearts to you, so that all we sing are songs of your praise. So that all we want is the joy of your love. So that all we do is find ways to love your creation and people more--even our enemies. In Your name we pray--Amen!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Finding Joy
So, for us to continue, lets look a bit at the book of Psalms in general. In its most basic form, it is a hymnal. A collection of the songs sung in Ancient Jewish worship. Yes, traditionally King David was believed to have written them all. However, scholarship can see how the Psalms were written through a much larger time frame than David's life. They seem to have come together much like our own hymnal, a collection of music and song over time. This doesn't mean that David did not have a huge influence on the writing of the hymns. In fact, you will see many of the Psalms were written out of his story!
The name "Psalms" comes from the Greek name of the book Psalmoi from the verb psallo which means to sing with the accompaniment of a lyre or harp. The Hebrew name for the book actually means "Praises" and is similar to the root word for hallelujah, a word only found in Psalms in the OT. Look for the Hallelujahs to signal the beginning or end of a hymn or the beginning or ending of a "book".
There are 5 books in the Psalms, much like there are 5 primary law books in the Hebrew Book of the Old Testament. The books go like this:
1-41
42-72
73-89
90-106
107-50
Our own modern hymn/song writers have extensively quoted the Psalms in songs we sing all the time. While we go on this journey lets play a game. If you see verses that corrolate to songs, point them out! I won't point them out in my posts--I'll only point them out in comments to give everyone a fair shot at finding them! Lets see how many we can find together!
Psalm 3--
Do you remember the story of David's son Absalom? You can read about it in 2 Samuel 13-18 or a shorter version here. The basic story is that Absalom got very angry after his half-brother badly hurt his sister and plotted revenge. He even overthrew his father from the throne for a bit. It was a terrible mess! In the end, Absalom gets himself caught in a tree by his long hair and is killed by David's soliders.
Keep that in mind as you read this Psalm! David was sad and mad and scared and hurting! We all know these feelings! When he says in verse six, "I won't be afraid of thousands of people surrounding me on all sides"--he really was surrounded by thousands of warriors on all sides. Yet he still can praise God. Can you praise God in the midst of such trials?
Psalm 4--
This theme of praising God in trials continued for me into Psalm 4. Did you see verses 6 and 7? Here is my translation:
Many people say, "We can't find goodness anywhere. The light of your face has left us Lord!" But you have filled my heart with more joy athan when their wheat and wine are everywhere"
That makes sense to me. Sometimes I find more joy when I have less. Because when things are good, I expect good. I don't look for the little happiness or joy. I don't spend time trying to seek out the happy. I get complacent. What about you? When do you find the most joy?
What stuck out for you this time? What messages were these Psalms "singing" to you?
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
Dear God--Let us find ways this day to find happiness and joy in the small things. Let us praise you in the midst of trials. Let us grow closer to you in love. In Jesus' name we pray! Amen
The name "Psalms" comes from the Greek name of the book Psalmoi from the verb psallo which means to sing with the accompaniment of a lyre or harp. The Hebrew name for the book actually means "Praises" and is similar to the root word for hallelujah, a word only found in Psalms in the OT. Look for the Hallelujahs to signal the beginning or end of a hymn or the beginning or ending of a "book".
There are 5 books in the Psalms, much like there are 5 primary law books in the Hebrew Book of the Old Testament. The books go like this:
1-41
42-72
73-89
90-106
107-50
Our own modern hymn/song writers have extensively quoted the Psalms in songs we sing all the time. While we go on this journey lets play a game. If you see verses that corrolate to songs, point them out! I won't point them out in my posts--I'll only point them out in comments to give everyone a fair shot at finding them! Lets see how many we can find together!
Psalm 3--
Do you remember the story of David's son Absalom? You can read about it in 2 Samuel 13-18 or a shorter version here. The basic story is that Absalom got very angry after his half-brother badly hurt his sister and plotted revenge. He even overthrew his father from the throne for a bit. It was a terrible mess! In the end, Absalom gets himself caught in a tree by his long hair and is killed by David's soliders.
Keep that in mind as you read this Psalm! David was sad and mad and scared and hurting! We all know these feelings! When he says in verse six, "I won't be afraid of thousands of people surrounding me on all sides"--he really was surrounded by thousands of warriors on all sides. Yet he still can praise God. Can you praise God in the midst of such trials?
Psalm 4--
This theme of praising God in trials continued for me into Psalm 4. Did you see verses 6 and 7? Here is my translation:
Many people say, "We can't find goodness anywhere. The light of your face has left us Lord!" But you have filled my heart with more joy athan when their wheat and wine are everywhere"
That makes sense to me. Sometimes I find more joy when I have less. Because when things are good, I expect good. I don't look for the little happiness or joy. I don't spend time trying to seek out the happy. I get complacent. What about you? When do you find the most joy?
What stuck out for you this time? What messages were these Psalms "singing" to you?
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
Dear God--Let us find ways this day to find happiness and joy in the small things. Let us praise you in the midst of trials. Let us grow closer to you in love. In Jesus' name we pray! Amen
Monday, June 4, 2012
Here we Gooooooo!!!
Day 1--
Psalms 1 and 2
Thanks to everyone for this new journey. Here is the plan. Every day, read two Psalms. Then check in on the blog! I will react to the reading, and then it will be your turn. Maybe something I say will spark a thought. Maybe you found a different verse that meant something to you. Don't worry about staying on topic, just comment with your thoughts!
Psalm 1--
I love the image of the tree in verse 3. That those who are planted in the Lord are stable, firm, rooted. That they are evergreen. I look around me and I see that to be true. The people I know with the strongest faith aren't easily swayed by circumstance or temptations. They stay strong even when the wicked around them try to hurt them. When the winds of change blow. I want to be that tree, but I fear sometimes my roots aren't deep enough. That's why I love these summers in the Word with you all. I love having each of you strengthen my roots.
Psalm 2--
How do you approach God? Do you tell God your plans, or approach with "fear, trembling, kissing his feet" (verse 11). I also love verse 4, "He who sits in heaven laughs". Heaven laughs at our plans. But, does that mean we shouldn't plan? Does that mean our plans are wrong?
What do you think?
Closing Prayer--
Dear God--Strengthen our roots. Show us your plans. Let us fall in line, but never let us fall. Amen.
Psalms 1 and 2
Thanks to everyone for this new journey. Here is the plan. Every day, read two Psalms. Then check in on the blog! I will react to the reading, and then it will be your turn. Maybe something I say will spark a thought. Maybe you found a different verse that meant something to you. Don't worry about staying on topic, just comment with your thoughts!
Psalm 1--
I love the image of the tree in verse 3. That those who are planted in the Lord are stable, firm, rooted. That they are evergreen. I look around me and I see that to be true. The people I know with the strongest faith aren't easily swayed by circumstance or temptations. They stay strong even when the wicked around them try to hurt them. When the winds of change blow. I want to be that tree, but I fear sometimes my roots aren't deep enough. That's why I love these summers in the Word with you all. I love having each of you strengthen my roots.
Psalm 2--
How do you approach God? Do you tell God your plans, or approach with "fear, trembling, kissing his feet" (verse 11). I also love verse 4, "He who sits in heaven laughs". Heaven laughs at our plans. But, does that mean we shouldn't plan? Does that mean our plans are wrong?
What do you think?
Closing Prayer--
Dear God--Strengthen our roots. Show us your plans. Let us fall in line, but never let us fall. Amen.
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