From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, May 24, 2023 at 4:11 AM

Subject: 5-24-23 THOUGHTS

5-24-23   THOUGHTS

There is tension in psalm 77.  David feels like God has given up on him and he needs help now.  Yet David knows the goodness of God for all the history he is aware of.  David refuses to give up faith.  He decides to continually refresh his memory about the good things from God (verses 11-12).  God’s loving kindness for all generations, is evidence that demands a verdict!  Read the eighth psalm.

Ps 77:1-20  My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. 2  In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. 3  When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. 4  You have held my eyelids open;I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5  I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. 6  I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders: 7  Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? 8  Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? 9  Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah. 10  Then I said, "It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed." 11 ¶  I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12  I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds.  13  Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?  14  You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. 15  You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.  16  The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The deeps also trembled.  17  The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. 18  The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. 19  Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints may not be known. 20  You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

My Prayer:
O Father God, may the strength of our faith in You stabilize the swings in our lives that come from circumstances and mind swings.  Give us the peaceful calmness of a total trust in You.  May Your loving kindnesses that we know from Your word, and Your promises and assurances, lead us to a patient waiting for the return of Jesus.  Help us to live lovingly and joyfully, bearing fruit in the Kingdom. Keep us always in Your presence.   

In the name of our Savior,     Amen.