Psalm 46:10a

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I AM.

Be still and know

Be still.

Be.


Pax

150 Days with the Psalms

Today's Psalm: 134

Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD

Who stand in the house of the LORD through the long hours of night.

Lift up your hands toward the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

May the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion.

This one is for my brother Mike, who for the last year has -- along with many other men and women been bravely stationed in Iraq (and Afghanistan ). For those who stand, in the long hours of the night doing what we cannot do for ourselves, we ask the blessings of a loving God.

Interestingly, my brother is Jewish, and since the Old Testament Psalms are a part of the bible that we share I hope he will accept my prayer for him in the spirit in which I extend it.

Pax

150 Days With the Psalms: Today is for Deacon John

So some of you may know that I am spending 150 days immersed in a study of the book of Psalms in the bible. Just last night my dear friend Deacon John Simmons posted a note on his blog about some disheartening news he just got from his Insurance Company denying the treatment option that his Dr.'s have decided upon for his best chance at treatment.
You can read about it here:

http://meandpoindexter.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-found-one.html

Then, when I got up this morning, the Psalm was # 28:

To You Lord I call,
My Rock, do not be deaf to me.
Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with those who do wrong,
Who speak peace to their neighbors
though evil is in their hearts.
Repay them for their deeds,
for the evil that they do.
For the work of their hands repay them;
give them what they deserve.
They pay no heed to the LORD'S works,
to the deeds of God's hands.

God will tear them down, never to be rebuilt.
Blessed be the LORD, who has heard the sound of my pleading.
The LORD is my strength and my shield,
in whom my heart trusted and found help.
So my heart rejoices; with my song I praise my God
LORD, you are the strength of your people,
the saving refuge of your anointed king.
Save your people, bless your inheritance;
feed and sustain them forever!


One of my reflection books talked specifically about those who are dealing with Cancer in reference to this psalm. and Of course when I read it, my thoughts immediately went to John and his troubling news from the Insurance Company, who only see the cost of the treatment in dollar signs and not in the loss of his quality or length of life.

The reflection book also had this to add:

Cancer is so limited--
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot silence outrage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot conquer the Spirit.
"What Cancer Cannot Do" The Senior Times



My dear friend John, We must not forget that ultimately this corporation is not the one who is control of your life, but our loving heavenly Father is in control. God will make a way where there is no way.


As the psalmist says: My heart rejoices, with my song I praise my God. Lord you are the strength of your people!


Let God be our strength as we wait for God to make the way we cannot yet see .

Pax

Does This Mean . . .

So, here I am at my gradual school and I have this promise with God that if I wake up in time for morning prayer I will go (the monks pray vigil and lauds at 5:30 in the morning.)

I thought for sure I wouldn't hear the bells since they are very hard to hear in the guesthouse where I am staying this weekend, but that didn't matter because I woke up and looked at the clock and it was 5:10 a.m. Since I have this promise with God I had to get up and go to prayer even though the bells didn't wake me up.

So I went to prayer and was rewarded by getting to hear one of my professors who happens to be a monk be cantor (he has a very nice singing voice, among other of his attributes - we call him Br. Mcdreamy)

I also got this message from today's psalmody:

They performed his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham. (psalm 105:27)

I am hoping that this is a portent of things to come and since this is a feast day we will be getting bacon with breakfast this morning.

Hey, stop laughing, it could happen!

Pax