Read this first: https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+62&version=NIV

The theme for worship today was hope. I talked with by far the realest kid I’ve talked to in a while. Emma was fantastic. You should watch the children’s message to get the gist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRaKDPjumuk

So when this came up in the reading I stood at attention.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^[c];
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

It doesn’t seem like there’s much hope for our nation right now and Emma felt that way. Schools have officially gone down to two days a week in the fall at best here. There’s no end at sight for getting back into our church building. Yet I have friends who think we shouldnt’ be taking any preventative measures and this is all a joke. It’s been 4 months of waiting. And it’s old. Even though it’s nothing compared to being drafted into endless wars that my father and grandpas dealt with. All we have to do is sit and eat. Not a terrible thing and with Zoom a cheap computer and my phone- worship can happen I can connect with most of my congregation in my undies. It’s sort of fantastic!

Nothing will be certain until after the election it seems like and even then no matter how that goes there will still not be much hope. I guess I feel like the country is very shaken and I feel like we left God a while ago at least in the sense of Christianity having much notable influence on politics. Now I do believe there are many Christians in name and many who believe in God in this country but I don’t see Him being called much of an influencer on people. I feel people want to influence God more than people want to be influenced by Him. Now that’s me being cynical. Let’s get to the point.

Our hope was never America. Our hope was never this world. Our hope was always Jesus. He’s the one who doesn’t change. For much of my life America seemed stable- yes things changed and grew but for the most part I was comfortable and in a sense I still am- but I doubt America will be the same after this. And maybe that’s good. I feel I’ve realized perhaps I’ve put my hope in my comfort, in my stability, in my country doing the things it’s always done. When I should put my hope in Jesus for comfort, His stability, His kingdom, not an earthly one. That’s the rock that doesn’t change on which God built up His church. Not America not my comfort, Jesus. Jesus went through very unstable times homeless, kicked out of towns, almost stoned to death, rejected by men and He says take up your cross and follow me. How is that hope? It’s hope in that it’s real. It’s hope in knowing that the storm doesn’t stop God is there holding your hand walking you through it. That’s hope.

Perhaps that’s still cynical. But I believe that God’s hand is there for us all whether we acknowledge it or not. So there is hope here too. I hope that you know that.

Welcome back to my covid devotional page where I vent about things and then try to tie that venting to scripture! Hope you’ve enjoyed it. I’ve been convicted a bit of how selfish this blogging thing is lately. With time I think it’s begun a more honest look at my devotional life which is often me driven. By putting these things out there I can see that much more clearly and make it more about others. Speaking of which pray for Laura and her daughters today. Laura goes in for radiation and chemo therapy. If you have a prayer request you’d like I and the many others who read this to pray for as well I’d love to hear it.

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+61&version=NIV

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. What do we do need? To be reminded that we’re small. Mountains help us to do that. We get caught up too often in our own stuff. Thinking life is a story about me. Read the last few days of my blog- it’s all about me. When you live alone and the grind we’re in it’s easy to think that. But the world is so much bigger. Our God is so much bigger than our grind.

The psalmist then talks about living in God’s tent- perhaps we could even say on God’s holy mountain. That is true in heaven but it’s true now. We are living under his tent already.

Get outside and sit a spell. Watch a sunrise or a sunset, look at the stars. Know that we’re small yet God cares for us all from the biggest person to the sparrow small God loves it all. He loves us best and is literally dieing to be with you. This life though quarantined is still beautiful. God has provided the best in the last few months. Freedom from division and bickering. Calm in Strife. Our God is there and He’s showing His care.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+61&version=NIV

I just realized I skipped a whole bunch of the psalms! I jumped from 59 to 96. I don’t know why I did that. I was so stoked to be at 100! But time if covid has taught us anything it’s that time is relative!

The beauty of this is that fortunately I’m fairly convinced no one reads this so it may be years until someone realizes my error

So read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+60&version=NIV

This definitely seems like where we are now:

You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry—now restore us!
² You have shaken the land and torn it open;
    mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
³ You have shown your people desperate times;
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
⁴ But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
    to be unfurled against the bow.

I’m saddened with my country right now. Saddened by division. Saddened that we’ve politicized a disease. Fortunately God has made this disease not as bad as we would have thought. Yet this has only made us more angry. I don’t see anyone coming together to lead us in a direction right now. What I wouldn’t give for a leader in this situation of covid and unrest. Just say here’s a plan and how we’ll get out of this. I’m not good with in between states. I want God to lead us. Or at least someone to act like an authority and say “Hey- here’s what we’re going to do” It would be amazing! Yet half the country would throw stones.

A disease isn’t political. A disease is simply bad. Address it as such and don’t say that if someone has a different opinion on it that they’re a nazi or a coward. Misinformed- fair enough- but I just don’t see how we’ve gotten to this point as a country.

Anyway this is me whining 4 months into this crazy thing. I’m lamenting how good we had it and probably over dramatizing that life will never be normal again. I miss concerts. I miss meeting with people and friends for fun and not work. It’s such an odd world. A good time for prayer which though I’ve been blogging through prayers I likely haven’t done enough. If you’re reading this now. I know you’re going through this crud too. Know you’re 100% not alone. We all feel it. We have a God who knows it too. He mourns in a similar way. He’s our leader and we haven’t been following him since the Garden of Eden. But He assures us that this will pass. He coming soon to right wrongs and make things right.

Pray to Him today. He’s the one with hope. Not politicians. Not our plans, not anything else of this earth.

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2099&version=NIV

The Lord reigns,
    let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
    let the earth shake.

So in the days of the Exodus and the Kings, the ark of the covenant was still in play. On top of the ark were 2 cherubim and in the middle was the divine seat where the presence of God was. The center of the nation was God. People try to say the same thing about America. That’s not true. I think it’s good to read yourself into the Bible. But the Bible also isn’t a story about you. It’s primarily a story about God and when we turn America into a synonym for Israel I think we miss some of the point. God never made a covenant with America. There’s reason to believe nations will be judged but I think it’s hard to say that America is a Christian nation when it’s based on people who were fleeing religious persecution and wanted a place where people were free to practice any religion. Not free to practice just one religion.

Anyway, that’s me being political. But how different would we feel if God instead of a president or congress were head of the country? If nations rose to oppose us- would we be more angry because how dare they or would we be more relaxed because God will defend us? I don’t know. I think I would feel somehow more judged both by God and by the world. What I do as a citizen is a reflection of God. I suppose I still feel that way as a church worker. I should know that what I do represents my church, my beliefs, and my God, but I got to say it’s easy to forget. Just this last week I drank more than I have in a long time and I shouldn’t have and I did it publically. It was a moment where I know I didn’t stand up for God nor my beliefs. It’s easy to forget who you represent.

I can see why Israel would forget their God too. That’s why Israel needed prophets, judges, and priests to call them back to God. We need that too. But here’s the amazing thing- here’s what they said even in the Old Testament:

Lord our God,
    you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
    though you punished their misdeeds.

⁹ Exalt the Lord our God
    and worship at his holy mountain,
    for the Lord our God is holy.

You are a forgiving God. Praise Jesus! Yes we stumble, yes we walk away, as a nation right now I don’t see God at the center. I see division. I see unrest and uncertainty. I don’t see positivity. I see a country that’s going to be stuck for a long time. Yet God is at the center of everything including America. And God can be my center regardless of what my country looks like. I don’t have the knowledge or the insight to judge someone else, so perhaps I shouldn’t judge my country or my neighbor either. But God has given me the ability to know some of my own heart and He’s working on it. And He’s working on yours too. Be moved by Him. Dig into His word and know Him. Know His forgiveness and know He’s helping you grow!

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+98&version=NIV

It’s amazing to me that this has happened:

The Lord has made his salvation known
    and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
³ He has remembered his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.

Yet the world doesn’t care. The world knows salvation is there, yet turns it’s eye from God and does what it wants and desires with no moral code or religious background to guide it. Our society has decided some morals are ok but is still trying to figure out what those are and they change on a whim and change not only the present but how we view the past as well.

The world knows the joy of Jesus yet doesn’t get it. There are Christians who know the love of Christ and don’t get it. We’ve been in quarantine for how many months and if you go out wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands is too much for many to comprehend. This doesn’t seem like an over the top thing to ask people to do to stop another half million folks from dieing. Yet people are losing their minds! Yet the same thing is true of the Israelites as they wandered the desert, the disciples as they follow Christ- you don’t get to tell me what to do- I’m going to go my own way.

It’s nuts! Yet we need to look at our own hearts. Do I always act in love when I know the love of Christ? No.

Yet- God remembers you. He knows your name. He knows you. Even when we don’t follow. Even when we don’t want to do as He says. Just love one another and your neighbor- even Gary! Even black lives, even blue lives, even racists, even politicians, even fake politicians like Kanye. Love them all. It seems simple but it’s so freaking hard. I’m glad God remembers us even when we fail him time and time again and was moved to do something about it. He comes to us through the cross and His word daily. Be moved by him and come to him from a state of repentance and need because this side of glory that will never change.

Read this first:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+97&version=NIV

All who worship images are put to shame,
    those who boast in idols—
    worship him, all you gods!

Sure we don’t worship wooden idols anymore, yet… how often do we worship TV? Do we worship eye candy instead of something deeper? I am at fault for this. I like shiny things and get easily distracted. Even as I’m writing this I have my tv on because I need to know who wins this round of chopped. A great show but not helpful to writing a devotion.

Why is that when it comes to our most important relationship our spouse, looks is even a consideration? I don’t know. I was once asked by a friend would you want your spouse to think you’re ugly? And of course my answer is not but still I know that’s hurt the way I view companionship.

There are many people who eventually become images/shadows of their former selves. They’re just putting out something thats good for what they think is their brand.

It’s not about image. It’s about the image maker. Worship Him! Not yourselves not looks. Worship the one who made all the looks and gives the power to look at anything. Be deeper. Be better. And look to God so you might find the others who are also looking for Him!

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+96&version=NIV

This Psalm is super familiar it seems like I’ve sung it before and I thought maybe it was the trees of the field clapping their hands but apparently that’s Isaiah. I also feel like a field has trees it ceases to be a field but that’s a discussion for later. Let me know what hymn I know Psalm 96 from.

It makes sense to think about hymns with this psalm because it says “sing to the Lord a new song” We’ve been living groundhog day for months now. Every day is the same and I want something new. In church it’s often difficult to add new hymns. Yet in the pop music world- there is always a new song and we get tired when a song is overplayed. New is novel and though new rarely means better when it comes to emotions it’s good to have new ones. And new songs of praise are better than the alternatives: the emotions we could feel from a new twitter or facebook posts of rage.

No the dance party changes covid from dreary to cheery. A new song to the Lord touches us and changes us. There’s still reasons to rejoice when we look at the same 4 walls again and make a new dish in the oven. Be happy for four walls, for internet, for grace, for God’s word that sustains, for 4 limbs that let us move.

He is the one who makes all things new! Be a new creation this week in His name!

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2059&version=NIV

¹⁶ But I will sing of your strength,
    in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
    my refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁷ You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.

What’s your refuge? For now I’m at the coast celebrating the 4th of July with my family at a beach house my folks have rented on and off now for 4 years. Family is refuge. Not only that- the house is in a gated community just south of depoe bay. It’s the only privately owned community in Oregon that has coast line- it’s not technically beach- it’s a rocky coast with a cliff that goes into the sea. Last night being the 4th we walked the path along the cliff at night with the full moon over head. The waves were loud and huge and glistening in the moonlight. But standing up on the cliffs you feel safe and even with the swirling sea- calm. The cliffs help you rise above. If I was in the sea I clearly wouldn’t feel the same.

A fortress discussed here sounds like refuge and home- after months of the same-it’s good to get away to some place safe and be with the people I love.

That’s what God is for us. He’s our refuge who takes our burdens takes away the arrows of the devil when the waves reach out to grab us He helps us rise above. And He’s bringing people to us as well. He’s a light to our path. It’s good to get away, find protection, so we can get back at it. I’m writing this on Sunday which I don’t normally do as normally I just rest in God rather than share what He’s doing. Worship on Sundays is also a fortress that gives me the energy to give love the rest of the week. Martin Luther spent time in the fortress to write the Old and New Testament in language of the people before going back out to fight for what He’d learned. Worship is that recharging station before going back to do the work of sharing what God has done for us. Both are needed!

Find your refuge and fortress in the rock of Christ!

What’s your fortress, your refuge that gives you the strength to get back at it?

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+58&version=NIV

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
    Do you judge people with equity?
² No, in your heart you devise injustice,
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

Man I think this is all our thoughts right now. No matter what political spectrum you’re on your not happy. We want justice in our society on earth to stop the madness. Justice with a side of mercy please.

Then comes the next question which hit personal-do you judge people with equity? Not the rulers but you? I don’t. I’d like to think I do. But nah- you don’t want me in charge. I’ve screwed up too many things in my life.

It closes with this too strongly worded hopeful note:

The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.
¹¹ Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

I don’t really want to dip my feet in the blood of the wicked- though in a sense the blood of Christ took on the sin of the world- my own and washes us clean from our head to our toes, but still quite a gnarly image. The important thing is it is God who will judge and He knows best. So don’t rush to judgement on earth. Look to Him for guidance and know that it is God’s to avenge not our own and there is justice and hope even in this crazy time.

PS Shout out to whatever kid makes this as their confirmation verse:

May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,    Like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+57&version=NIV

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
³ He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^[c]
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

⁴ I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—

I don’t see myself as being pursued by enemies from outside of me. Maybe this is living in an excessively individualistic society. Maybe it’s living alone for 4 months. I have enemies sort of, enemies that I make up in my head for the most part. Sure there’s people in my life I disagree with, but I would say the enemy most of the time is me. You don’t get bullied that much as an adult. The closest you get is probably losing a job. But I guess I’m privileged or blessed enough that that has rarely happened to me.

Now on the other hand- every week I sit down to write a children’s message or devotion and a voice inside of me says- you’ve got nothing this week. Last week was good but this week will be nothing like that. Give up. Give up!

Yet we have a God who vindicates, He frees us from blame, and declares us innocent and righteous in His sight. He not just sends from heaven, but leaves heaven to quiet or fears and worries. He rebukes my worries and concerns and yours and comes to us with love and faithfulness.

He defeats our enemies and often the enemy is our sinful flesh. Defeat the enemies within us Lord and replace the doubt, the self loathing, the existential dread, with your love and faithfulness! Come quickly Lord! Amen!