I begin every Tuesday morning with the recitation of Psalm 103: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not his benefits, He who forgives your inequity, who heals your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” The Psalm continues with all the ways that God loves us.
It is easy to recite all 22 verses of this psalm. The psalm is very affirming as the author continually points to a loving God. The difficulty of the psalm is to re-write it by substituting the benefits God gives today for the benefits the psalmist lists throughout his hymn of praise. The re-writing of the psalm using today’s benefits forces me to see how much God is still part of our world.
Tuesday morning is the normal time that I write this blog. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to share with you. At other times, I struggle all Monday night trying to come up with a subject of interest for both of us. In one sense, what I am trying to do in each blog is re-write Psalm 103 by talking about the benefits God gives to Epiphany, to individual disciples at Epiphany, and to me as your pastor. Each blog as well as each devotional in the e-news letter, each sermon, and each class is a deadline to define what the Lord has to say to us and how each item is a benefit that the Lord gives to us.
On my list of benefits today is an e-mail I received yesterday from a senior citizen stating that the sermon series on the teachings of the church was a wonderful way to review what was learned and treasured many years ago in confirmation class. That sentiment was also expressed yesterday by a 22 year old. “Bless the Lord O my soul for those listen and digest your word, ...”
I quickly add to my list the preparation that I am doing for Vacation Bible School this year. I am going to be exploring the “Puzzles In Life.” Yesterday, I was thinking through all the ways that God views each of us as individuals. The thought process led to God seeing us as partners in creation and human history, as part of God and Jesus’ family, and as Jesus’ ambassadors on earth. The exercise reminded me that the relationship we have with God and Jesus is dynamic and exciting. “Bless the Lord O my soul for viewing me as your child, ...”
The list continues with the joy that I receive each day as I share lunch with the staff. We share some personal things that are happening in our lives, we get into conversations about what is happening at Epiphany, and occasionally we talk a little about church history. “Bless the Lord O my soul for lunches with those who love and serve you, ...”
As I said above, writing this weekly blog forces me to define how God has blessed me and Epiphany over the past few days and weeks. So let me ask, What is your blog (figuratively) that pushes you to bless the Lord for the benefits that God has given to you? Is your blog a discussion about Sunday’s worship and sermon as you drive home from church? Is your blog reading a biography about a biblical or church leader? Is your blog a walk by yourself with the purpose of looking for God’s hand in the flowers and trees that line your path? With these questions, I probably should add, “Bless the Lord O my soul for weekly blogs that reveal your presence in my life and in the life of the church I am privileged to serve, ...”
Pastor Pete
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