Psalm 40

Year 4, day 1.  I woke up to a steady rain and cool breeze as the big storm skirts by Tampa.  Schools are closed here, so I will enjoy a day home with Will.  My prayers are with all of those who are in the path of Issac.  As I listen to the rain hitting the skylights over my head, I cannot help but reflect on the wondrous truth that God is so good.  He has rescued me.  He does hear my cries.  He does love me.  And I need Him so much.  With that in mind, I could think of no better way to begin a new year of blogging than to share these words of scripture.  Have a blessed day, my friends!

PSALM 40 (The Message)

I waited and waited and waited for God. 

At last he looked; finally he listened. 
He lifted me out of the ditch, 

      pulled me from deep mud. 

   He stood me up on a solid rock 

      to make sure I wouldn't slip. 

   He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, 

      a praise-song to our God. 

   More and more people are seeing this: 

      they enter the mystery, 

      abandoning themselves to God. 

  Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, 

      turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," 

      ignore what the world worships; 

   The world's a huge stockpile 

      of God-wonders and God-thoughts. 

   Nothing and no one 

      comes close to you! 

   I start talking about you, telling what I know, 

      and quickly run out of words. 

   Neither numbers nor words 

      account for you. 

  Doing something for you, bringing something to you— 

      that's not what you're after. 

   Being religious, acting pious— 

      that's not what you're asking for. 

   You've opened my ears 

      so I can listen. 

  So I answered, "I'm coming. 

      I read in your letter what you wrote about me, 

   And I'm coming to the party 

      you're throwing for me." 

   That's when God's Word entered my life, 

      became part of my very being. 

 I've preached you to the whole congregation, 

      I've kept back nothing, God—you know that. 

   I didn't keep the news of your ways 

      a secret, didn't keep it to myself. 

   I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. 

      I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth 

   For myself alone. I told it all, 

      let the congregation know the whole story. 

  Now God, don't hold out on me, 

      don't hold back your passion. 

   Your love and truth 

      are all that keeps me together. 

   When troubles ganged up on me, 

      a mob of sins past counting, 

   I was so swamped by guilt 

      I couldn't see my way clear. 

   More guilt in my heart than hair on my head, 

      so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out. 

  Soften up, God, and intervene; 

      hurry and get me some help, 

   So those who are trying to kidnap my soul 

      will be embarrassed and lose face, 

   So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable 

      will be heckled and disgraced, 

   So those who pray for my ruin 

      will be booed and jeered without mercy. 

  But all who are hunting for you— 

      oh, let them sing and be happy. 

   Let those who know what you're all about 

      tell the world you're great and not quitting. 

   And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing: 

      make something of me. 

   You can do it; you've got what it takes— 

      but God, don't put it off.

Because of Jesus,