The Good News

 

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way”—

“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

    make straight paths for him.’”

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:1-8 NIV

Words from Jeremiah

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you. Jeremiah 1:5a The Message 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

  

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. Psalm 7:17 

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34–35

Our Shelter and Refuge

“My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust,” Psalm 91:1-2

In the book Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons, Ruth shares how her busy home (she is mom to six boys!) makes it a struggle to keep things tidy. She continues with something that was eye-opening to me (someone who loves to stay home and considers her home a peaceful sanctuary): our perfect home can be “an idol of the heart that can neither sustain nor deliver”.

In essence, she’s saying that we should find comfort in God, not our surroundings. I don’t think that means we can’t enjoy a peaceful home environment, but when we place our trust in that for our happiness, we’ll be disappointed. When things are chaotic, we will find ourselves unbalanced instead of harmonious, struggling instead of tranquil.

Of course, a restful home isn't the only thing that can take God's place as our shelter. As an exercise, she suggests filling in the blanks to find the “false shelters” in our lives. Like this:

_______________________ is not my shelter. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to place my trust and faith in you as my refuge from the storms of life. I know that there will be times that I’ll want a shelter free from adversity and hardship. I know to put my trust in you, and to find peace within you and your word, not within those idols of our world. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Care a Lot and Pray a Lot

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  Hebrews 10: 22 – 25

A friend of mine told me, “My worst sin is that I’m a procrastinator.  It gets in my way and it keeps me from doing all that God created me to do.”  I would have to say that I’m the opposite.  My worst sin may be that I’m an “urgent-inator”.  I want everything to happen right away, as in “Never put off til tomorrow what you can do today” – even if it means losing sleep and missing other good things in order to get it done. I like to write things on my to-do list and check them off at the same time.  If an email is in my in-box, I feel I need to respond to it. 

In my advancing age, though, I have learned that some things are better off if they’re left to sit for awhile – chili soup, angry words, home decorating, and God’s work.  Scripture tells us that it is through challenges that we grow in our faith and our dependence on God. Paul writes this in nearly every letter – Hebrews, Corinthians, Philippians, 1 Timothy. It was true for them then and it’s true for us now. 

Right now, there are a lot of things that make us afraid. And fixers, like me, would like to fix things up right away.  A nice easy solution would be very nice!  But God sees things with eternal eyes. The Apostle Paul talks to all the early churches about the need  for struggles and perseverance in order to grow faith.  As the writer Anne Lamont says, “It’s good to be afraid, when it mobilizes us to fight tooth and nail for what is right, when it pricks the balloon of our complacency, when it gets us back on our feet.  A lot of us are both afraid and devoutly faithful at the same time… courage is fear that has said its prayers.” 

We can respond to the things that make us afraid with fear.  Or we can care a lot and pray a lot.  We can stick together and share and listen and draw nearer to God knowing that we are loved and chosen and safe.  We know the ending of the story, and it is this.  In the end, God wins.  Jesus came to tell us that.

Today I will pray to the God that loves us, and be at peace.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, It seems like there are so many things to be afraid of, but I know that you tell us over and over again in Scripture to, “Be not afraid”, and to trust You.  Protect me from my urgent-inator ways.  I pray for peace in my soul as You slow me down and help me to remember to pray and to trust You while You work out Your way in the world.  Amen

Lori Snyder-Sloan (reprinted from the Eastridge Advent Devotional, 2016)

Keep Doing

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

About a year ago, one of our neighbors told us his philosophy on aging and his belief that whatever you can keep doing…. You can keep doing. If this sounds complicated or like word play say it out loud a few times. He was referencing activity. If you mow your lawn every week, you can probably keep mowing it year after year (even with a break for winter) because you are training and conditioning your body. If you took 2-3 years off from mowing and outsourced it to a child or grandchild, or neighbor kid, or even a mowing service it might be hard for you to get back to doing that chore. Our neighbor makes sure that when the weather is nice he rides his bike once every week, so that he can keep riding his bike. Before he retired he walked to and from work 3 or more days a week. 

My grandmother would have turned 100 this year. I have been thinking about this idea, of doing what you can do. My grandmother lived with us most of my life.  She had a stroke when I was 2 and returned home, with a walker. Our house had a LOT of stairs, and her bedroom was on the second floor, and the laundry was in the basement, and we had a huge clawfoot tub but no shower. This seems like a physical therapy return to home nightmare. But my grandmother survived the Great Depression, and World War II serving as a WAVE, and the turbulence of the 1960s, and the uncertain economic structure of the 1980s, and the early instances of domestic terrorism and she was certainly going to come home, and do everything that she did before her stroke. She was able to keep doing, what she was able to keep doing.

In 2020, we have struggled mightily against a virus that we cannot see. Through a political campaign that has divided friends and families and neighbors. Through changes to virtually every normal experience in our lives. As we approach the holidays, it is hard to endure the loneliness, to remain separated, to let go of our anger about differences in polity, to plan for a celebration with only those who we regularly interact with, and to keep our numbers small and exclusive. To wear a mask indoors when visiting others and to hold our hugs and kisses for the future. It is hard to not feel angry for these losses and limitations. But if we want to continue to celebrate with those we love in the future, we must push past this challenge and throw off everything that hinders us. We must be creative.  We must protect those we love by assuring that we are distant from them. We might have to explain that we know this will result in hurt feelings, but saved lives. We have to keep doing what we can keep doing.

Prayer: God who knows all about the race course ahead, please be with us during this time of sadness and uncertainty. Help us to manage our feelings of loss and anger.  Help us to remember that our sacrifices today, will be of benefit for all humanity in the future. Shower us with your love and compassion and give us strength to endure.  Amen. 

Christi Moock

Holy Spirit

And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2

The strong winds of the south came blowing into our area. It was gusting up to 40 MPH and it was 73 degrees outside. I took the dogs outside and standing on my porch I felt the strong winds pressing against me. For some reason, I don’t really know why, it reminded me of every time I have heard of the Holy Spirit with the breath of God embracing the body. I stood there and felt the need to pray for the Holy Spirit to encompass me. The last 8 months have been such as over pouring of negativity, anger, sorrow, fear and hate in the world.  Every time I have felt overwhelmed I take the time to talk to God and pray for strength and refresh my soul. At this moment it was a feeling of a warm wind with the sun that began to feel like arms wrapping around me. I closed my eyes to fully enjoy the moment of God’s nature sending the message that all is good. I opened my eyes and began to again see the beauty of nature before and count my blessings.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, I pray that the mighty power of the Holy Spirit will cover the world and heal your creation. I pray that all find the strength to work together and comfort each other in their hour of need. I pray that we learn to count our blessings, even the small ones that we so take for granted. I pray that all those in turmoil will find it in themselves to kneel down, pray and ask for your forgiveness and guidance. In Jesus name, Amen. 

And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22

Lori Hood

Hope

 

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  1 Peter 5:10 

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Be Glad

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. John 3:16

2020 is probably not a year that anyone will remember with complete joy. I awake each morning with the question, will I be sad or mad today? Jigsaw puzzles have lost their luster, crosswords are sometimes too easy and jumble requires too much brainpower. I can't even clean house because it will use my shoulder too much.  Raking leaves would require bending over. Another no-no. So I turn to reading and even that does not bring happiness to my day. Then I remembered a poem that my mother used to recite to me when I was in a complete funk. This poem was written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, an American poet in the 1800s. It was published in the form of Poems of Passion and Solitude.

This is the way I remember it from my mother.

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone for the sad old earth has to borrow its mirth but has trouble enough of its own. There is probably more to the poem but that was the part I often heard. We need to laugh these days. We need to feel joy. We need to be glad about something. Oh how wonderful. Instead of mad or sad, I can add glad. After all, it is a rhyming word!

Can we all add glad to at least one day a week? Can we laugh and see who laughs with us? Can we remember that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son?  There must be something to be pleased with if He even loved our world.

Prayer: Let us be grateful Lord, for what we have, not wanting more or needing a lot more. In your son's name, we pray. Amen

Carolyn Olsen

Psalm 85

 

God, you smiled on your good earth!

    You brought good times back to Jacob!

You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people,

    you put their sins far out of sight.

You took back your sin-provoked threats,

    you cooled your hot, righteous anger.

Help us again, God of our help;

    don’t hold a grudge against us forever.

You aren’t going to keep this up, are you?

    scowling and angry, year after year?

Why not help us make a fresh start—a resurrection life?

    Then your people will laugh and sing!

Show us how much you love us, God!

    Give us the salvation we need!

I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say.

    God’s about to pronounce his people well,

The holy people he loves so much,

    so they’ll never again live like fools.

See how close his salvation is to those who fear him?

    Our country is home base for Glory!

Love and Truth meet in the street,

    Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!

Truth sprouts green from the ground,

    Right Living pours down from the skies!

Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty;

    our land responds with Bounty and Blessing.

Right Living strides out before him,

    and clears a path for his passage. Psalm 85 The Message

Wild Lament into Whirling Dance

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:11-12

I can so relate to these words, and to the message of these verses from my NIV Parallel Bible: “You did it: You changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I’m about to burst with song; I can’t keep quiet about you God, my God, I cannot thank you enough.”

On Nov. 7th, 2019 I suffered a cardiac arrest near my home. Steve and I were returning from a state volleyball game and dinner out. Steve, in a remarkably brilliant move, drove me to the fire station five blocks away where I was revived for the first time. I also needed to be revived on the way to the Heart Hospital in the ambulance. I was literally without a heartbeat for over 30 minutes all together. I was placed in a medically induced coma for four days and my family and friends prayed hard with Pastor Melodie that I would live and that my brain would not be damaged. Their prayers were answered! I am here a year later with my same brain capacity and feel that I was given several miracles.

We did discover months later that part of my colon died when it was deprived of oxygen. That was recently repaired and by the end of summer of 2020, I was completely well, adjusting to just a few very manageable new normals.

I am not aware of what personal hardship David was recovering from, but I can identify with his words of gratitude and thanksgiving to God for “changing his wild lament”. I recently wrote a letter to the firemen who saved my life and shared with them that I feel beyond blessed and that I intend to live my life with gratitude and joy. I want to help others whenever I can and continue to praise and thank God daily.

It has been a long journey to recovery. I was in active heart failure the seven months prior to my crash and burn so I have had cardiac rehab as an in-patient, in home rehab, and outpatient rehab, which I am still participating in. I have had phenomenal medical and rehab care. I have so much to thank God for. My family, friend, and church support was remarkable!

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for the miracles that I received, for your constant love; and for the Hope and Joy that I was always able to find in you during my  long illness. May we all praise and thank you daily for your unwavering love and mercy. We can’t thank you enough for all our many Blessings!

Connie Barry

A Word from the book of Daniel

Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Daniel 9:17-19

Give Thanks

I saw a posting the other day that has stuck with me: “When you get what you want, that’s God’s direction, when you don’t get what you want, that’s God’s protection.” 

So many times I tell myself I know what I want and many times convince myself it’s what I need which really is two different things. The temptation of having what we think we need is so strong sometimes we pursue the goal of getting it. Many times once we have what we thought we wanted or needed so badly becomes a burden, and doesn’t seem like such a necessity after we have possession of it.  We then have the burden of getting rid of it by either selling, donating or throwing it away which then we carry that thought of “why did I think I needed it?"

Remember the last new phone you had to have, the new curtains for the living room, new carpet, car, book, or even a relationship with someone you thought you needed in your life. Doesn’t really matter what the desire is, it’s the idea of have we forgotten everything we already have and are blessed with? Now I know there are those that are in need of basic necessities of food, water, and shelter. I am talking about those who already have the basics but take that for granted. It’s time to thank God for the roof over your head, the food in your belly, the warmth of the fire and the love of friends and family. It’s time to thank God for waking us up each day with the array of beauty in the sky and ground. 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thessalonians 5:16-18

Lori Hood

Veteran's Day

Seasons

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55: 8-11

After 30 years working in Infection Prevention and safety in one acute care hospital, I became restless and dissatisfied, but at the same time, I had deep roots and strong commitment and I’m not big on change.  I wrestled and prayed for a year.  “God, open my eyes, show me the way, open a door or close a door…”  Then a door opened and I walked through it and made the change into what I thought would be the last job of my career. It was as a Nurse Educator in long term care; a big change from the role I’d been in. I put my whole heart into the new job, but it wasn’t a good fit, and after nine months I was open to a call requesting I take a new position with my old employer. 

I agonized over the decision again. “I’m not a quitter.”  “Maybe I just need to try harder.”  “How could I disappoint those who had hired me?”  I felt God had led me to this position, so how could I let Him down. Jon weighed in, saying, “Sometimes we are called for a season, rather than a lifetime.  This new position seems like the work you were made for.  Maybe you were called to this position for just ten months.”   There have been many times during the past 9 months, as I work as the Division lead for Infection Prevention during a pandemic, that I have thought about this sequence of events and am amazed at God’s hand.  While I work with acute care facilities and teams, I frequently interface with the long-term care world.  My dad is in a long-term care setting.  I realize now, in hindsight, how important that short season is to me in this new season.

God’s hand is frequently visible only in the rear-view mirror.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I thank you for your guiding hand throughout my life, even when I didn’t understand it at the time.  I thank you for all the ways you In this current season, you are at work in so many ways that we may never understand.  I thank you that even when I’m not good at hearing and trusting, you don’t give up on me.  Amen

Lori Snyder-Sloan

The Power of Lectio Divina

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:15-16 KJV

The high school choir I was part of in San Francisco would attend a choral clinic of choirs from all over Northern California.  We assembled in Stockton, California for a full day of rehearsal and learning music from noted choir directors, as well as noted conductors of orchestra and band. 

The insight I gained from one of those clinics was based on an anthem from Psalm 145:15-16, King James version. I hear that anthem every time I read these verses. The memory of that anthem is a musical Lectio Divina.

(Lectio Divina means “Holy Reading” or “Holy Word” through which one hears a word or phrase from a scripture that makes an impression on them.  I use this spiritual practice with hymns and anthems as well. It is a memory of one of those anthems that inspires what I am sharing in this devotion.) 

The choir begins with the theme, “The eyes of all wait upon Thee…and Thou givest them their meat in due season.”  The harmony is rich and the melody begins to build with anticipation.  The music lends depth and highlights how we see God and how God provides for us in due season. 

But then comes the next verse.  The intensity of the harmony, dynamics, and passion increase – “Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing!”  I hear the choir echoing the phrase “of every living thing” at least 3 times with great intensity.  I am filled with goose bumps as the music hits a crescendo and emotional climax.  What a musical power of Spirit!

The choir returns to the opening phrase of the 15th verse. “The eyes of all wait upon Thee.”  The melody, harmony, and dynamics slow down to a thanksgiving as we conclude how all eyes are gazed at the wonder, majesty, provision, and grace of God. It ends with an almost imperceptible silence as the final chord magically fills the auditorium.

My take on this and encouragement is to imagine a melody with the words I have shared. It could be a more up-to-date translation, even. No, I do not have a recording of 50 plus years ago, but we can imagine a melody in our minds and hearts. We can seek a word from God in a Lectio Divina fashion and prayerfully imagine what dynamics and intensity might be in our rendition of hearing this psalm.

The power of the Lectio Divina is open to how God’s Word and Spirit are speaking to one’s heart. Let the melody of your heart and the sounds and imaginations of your mind bring a praise to our God. For the eyes of all wait upon God. 

Prayer: O God, let the Word be sung in our hearts as we wait upon You in Jesus’ name. Amen 

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling, Parish Associate, Honorably Retired

 

God is in Control

Hezekiah became deathly sick. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz paid him a visit and said, “Put your affairs in order, you’re about to die—you haven’t long to live.”

Hezekiah turned from Isaiah and faced GOD, praying:

Remember, O GOD, who I am, what I’ve done?

I’ve lived an honest life before you,

My heart’s been true and steady,

I’ve lived to please you, lived for your approval.

Then the tears flowed. Hezekiah wept. 2 Kings 20:1-3

God heard Hezekiah and told Isaiah to go back to him and tell him he observed his tears and God will heal him. Tell him, God said, that in three days you will walk on your own legs into The Temple of God and I have added fifteen years to your life. A fig plaster was prepared to apply to the boil.

Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “How do I know whether this is of God and not just the fig plaster? What confirming sign is there that God is healing me and that in three days I’ll walk? 2 Kings 20:8

It seems Hezekiah was being impertinent or arrogant, but Isaiah answered him.

“This will be your sign from GOD,” said Isaiah, “that GOD is doing what he said he’d do. Do you want the shadow to advance ten degrees on the sundial or go back ten degrees? You choose.” Hezekiah said, “It would be easy to make the sun’s shadow advance ten degrees. Make it go back ten degrees.” 2 Kings 20:9

God moved the shadow back ten degrees on Ahaz’s sundial. This certainly proved God can do anything. He is in control of our world, sun and universe completely. We should rest in peace and not fear all the world’s news. God is in control.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for Thomas’s scriptorium. I chose the 2 Kings chapter 20 last Saturday to write in long hand for the Corona Bible. Those verses reassured me of your almighty power. Science has shown there was this change in time. Science continues to agree with your scriptures. Thank you for your true word which gives me peace. Amen

Sandra Hilsabeck

Invest in Others

Recently I read a devotion in the Upper Room publication (Eastridge has some available in our Welcome Center) about investing in others.  The writer bases his devotion on this scripture: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16.

He speaks about connecting with others and becoming interested in what they are interested in so that they may, in turn, “consider anything I would say or do.”  He affirms: “the good news of Jesus spreads first by embracing the lives of others”.

I think that we can take this even further by being tolerant of others’ views. In our social-media driven world, our differences are amplified and discussed at length. We don’t have to agree with everyone to show respect and consideration.

When I write devotions, I usually ask my search engine to help me find specific scripture, like, in this case: “scripture on showing God’s love to others”. This time, I accidentally left out the word “scripture” and the first site that came up was someone’s blog listing “9 ways to show kindness to others” (Christina Tiplea). Thinking this was perhaps no coincidence, I’ve decided to include some here. Tolerance can become kindness which can become invested interest in those around us.

1. Smile and say “hello” or “good morning” to a stranger walking down the street

2. Leave a kind note for someone you love

3. Pass along a wonderful book you’ve finished reading

4. Bring a meal to new parents* 

5. Give praise to others whenever possible

6. Always stop at the lemonade stand*

7. Create a care package for someone feeling under the weather*

*Perhaps these suggestions will be useful in a non-pandemic time

To paraphrase the prayer shared by the devotion writer I referred to earlier: let’s reach into the lives of others to reflect to them the light of God’s love.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to love those in my midst (even my online midst) who have differing views than my own. Help me to understand and recognize that we are all more alike than different. Help me to show your light and love to those with whom I come into contact. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Let Me Hide Myself in Thee

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4

One of my Dad's favorite hymns is "Rock of Ages." I kept thinking back to when Brian had the choir sing that beautiful version of it and how my Dad would say when were scared as children "Don't be afraid of the storm, God is with you." He loved that image of God being that rock whom we could rely on in the storm, like the author who wrote the hymn and got shipwrecked and found refuge in a storm under a rock.

It also reminded me of a song I heard in college that recently someone rerecorded called "Praise you in this storm.". The other night our kids were saying they were scared of the storm and we hugged them and prayed with them and told them not to be afraid and that God was with them, just as our parents had told us.  I saw this music video in a commercial the other day and I kept playing it in my head with rock of ages after the kids got into bed.  I think I might do a piano version of those two songs as prelude next week. I was thinking of my kids crying during the thunderstorm and the line in the song "every tear I've cried, you've held in your hand."

click here 

Thanks to each of you and everyone in our congregation who keeps living out that hope we have in Christ even in the midst of so much struggle and difficulty surrounding us right now.

Brent Shaw

Election Day: Vote!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

All Saints' Day (November 1)

 

I will extol the Lord at all times;

    his praise will always be on my lips.

I will glory in the Lord;

    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the Lord with me;

    let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant;

    their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

    he saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

    and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

    for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me;

    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Whoever of you loves life

    and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

    and your lips from telling lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

    seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

    to blot out their name from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

    he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The righteous person may have many troubles,

    but the Lord delivers him from them all;

he protects all his bones,

    not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;

    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord will rescue his servants;

    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34