Sabbath Psalms: God's Love

Psalm 66:20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (NIV)

              Each morning as I drive to church, I talk to God in prayer. I find it helps me focus on what tasks I need to complete that day, as well as saying personal prayers for my family, friends, and parishioners.

I usually start by giving thanks to God for another day, for the sleep I have known, and for the opportunities to serve the Lord which I don’t deserve. I know that I am unworthy of being blessed by God because of my selfish and sinful ways, so this makes me grateful, just like the psalmist before me, that despite who I am or what I’ve done, God does not reject my prayer or withhold his love from me. 

By the time I get to the church building, I have completed my daily prayers which includes asking God to protect and bless my loved ones all over the world. My prayers include folks and relatives who live in the US, Scotland, England, Ireland, Norway, Austria, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the US again, and finally, Canada. It’s a global list of people that I know and love, so each day I’m thankful to God for watching over them. 

I think the psalmist from long ago experienced something similar. The practice of prayer is very empowering and there have been many times in my life when prayers have been positively answered by God to help loved ones and friends overcome issues and crises, illnesses and problems. In some circumstances, they were unable to pray for themselves, so I have been glad to do their praying for them. 

I hope that you may also be given the opportunity to experience the power of prayer, as well as God’s love and compassion. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, no matter what situation you or loved ones are experiencing, please know this: God is mindful of what’s going on and will not reject your prayers or withhold his love from you. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the gift of prayer which enables us to reach out to You for guidance and support, encouragement and love. Be near to all of our loved ones and bless them with healing and strength, confidence and faith. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Celtic Poems: A'Chaingis

 

A' Chaingis

 

Like wild geese reflocking

From their winter wilderness,

Following a sacred solar cycle

Determined by additional daylight,

Flying freely above verdant pastures

Then landing longingly

To feast and nestle

In the expanding greenery

While cackling jokingly with a jubilant joy

On finding fresh fields

Filled with food and seeds

To replenish their migrating bodies,

So, the Spirit comes among us

Sent by Heaven’s High Command

To fulfill the Anointed One’s promise

Bringing comfort and counsel,

Fire and water,

With bread and wine,

To the faithful community

Who are hoping for holiness

And expectantly awaiting:

A’Chaingis.

 

John Stuart 2026

 

 

 

 

 

Midweek Message: From a Distance

Psalm 10:1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (NIV)

              I love the absolute honesty in the Book of Psalms. Whoever wrote those ancient poems certainly wore his heart on his sleeve. Psalm 10 is a good example of someone who finds it difficult to deal with the greed and injustice in his society. His complaint to God is that the rich get richer, the wicked become more powerful, and the proud are brazen about their vanity. If ever a psalm was written for our times, this one is very fitting, meaningful, and relevant.

              The psalmist’s complaint, however, is directed at God for what appears to be God’s absence in the midst of so much injustice. The ancient poet finds it difficult to see what is happening around him and that the God of his heart is doing nothing to change things. God appears to be impotent, unmoved, and distant. Evil triumphs when God is silent; good is cast aside when God does not respond. The author states that he has personally put a lot of time, commitment, and devotion into his religious belief. He is perplexed when God is inactive; he is deeply disappointed when God does not challenge or remove the evildoers.

              Sometimes I deal with the same frustration. I want things to be fair and just for everyone. I want the world to be a place that is free from fear or cruelty. I want the oppressed to be delivered and the marginalized to be accepted. I want all sorts of real godliness to be apparent in our leaders. But when these things don’t happen, I want God to come bursting into our world to set things right, to make things smooth, to restore hope, peace, and love for everyone.

              And then I remember that God has already done these things on the Cross at Calvary. Every mistake has been pinned to that tree of shame. Every sin has been nailed to Christ’s broken body. Every injustice has been impaled on Jesus. Instead of being at a distance, God has come beside us; instead of being far off, God through Christ has penetrated our unjust society and is present in our painful times.

Point to ponder

What things would I like God to change in my community, society, and the world? What am I personally doing to accomplish those changes?

Prayer: Lord God, it’s very easy for us to complain and shift the responsibility for our broken and divided world onto someone else. We forget our sinful part and ignore our unjust ways. None of us are perfect; not one of us is innocent. Challenge us to be changemakers; teach us to lovingly transform our community; encourage us to get involved. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.