May the mumbling commence!
What’s that sound? Early this morning – February 3 – I heard of all things, thunder! I am not accustomed to hearing spring thunderstorms in early February. In fact, the past couple of years I have not been accustomed to hearing the sounds of gentle falling rain. A gentle falling rain is exactly what greeted me as I did my school bus route this morning and ran some errands.
I really want to burst into praise of God. We want an encore in the next few months of winter and spring. Our land is dry and barren. It would be good to see green and prospering winter wheat again. Still I sing and pray with thanksgiving in my heart. Read a few verses from Psalm 147:
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.
He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call. (Verses 7-9)
I praise God for gray rain or snow clouds because they help provide food for all God’s creatures. I praise God for the natural green world around me. Thank you, O God, for answering our call! Even so, we pray for more rain or snow. We need the moisture of the heavens to rain down on us so that life can be sustained – food might grow and streams might be renewed. Our hope is planted only in You!
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them –
the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. (Psalm 146:5-9)
Our God is a God of food banks and food stamps and unemployment lines. Our God reestablishes prisoners into community whole and well. God opens the eyes of the blind – both the physically and spiritually blind. The Lord lifts up the careworn and vulnerable people – to a place of rest and peace. God lifts up to us the “illegal” immigrants or aliens – to full citizenship. God lifts up to us the orphaned children – to foster care and adoption. God lifts up to us the widowed and the single parents – to become a vital part of the family of God.
Yes, we are known as sons and daughters of God when we seek to minister to and with careworn and vulnerable people. Open our eyes, O Lord. Open them not to make us mourn but to help us see clearly what You would have us do in this time and place. May all bonds of rightful relationship be restored!
The Levites – Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah – instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. (Nehemiah 8:7-12)
What a sacred day! The Word of the Lord was made clear. Eyes were opened. Full and rightful relationship were on the way to being restored. Tears should not be shed – unless they be tears of joy!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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