Today’s scripture: Psalm 126 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Carla Peck):
Psalm 126 is a song of celebration and remembrance of God’s greatness. The last part of this song is filled with faith and hope that God will once again provide blessings in the future. Looking back at experiences in my life and recognizing God’s hand in these experiences helps my faith to grow and causes me to be more confident in the future. Some refer to these experiences as “God Moments.” I know of some who create a permanent record of God Moments by writing about them in a spiritual journal or in a scrapbook of spiritual experiences. We share these experiences in our discipleship classes.
My scrapbook consists of photo albums and a drawer of all kinds of things I intend to organize into a scrapbook during a blizzard sometime, and a few journals scattered about where I have written about God moments. By recording theses moments in some way, I intend to never forget them, or the people who were part of these moments.
My life partner, Melissa, and I were gone from our home on July 4, 2003 when a large tree fell on it. We were out of our house for seven months while it was being rebuilt and both of us were slaves to all kinds of tasks that had to be completed to finish reconstruction. Most of our personal items were either destroyed or in storage. We learned to live day to day with a lot less. I spent a lot of time feeling mad at God and miserable during this time of captivity. Why us, why this?
I had a God Moment one night while I stood in the house in the dark. There was no roof on most of the house and I could stand and look straight up and see stars and the moon — the largest skylight ever. I had no idea why I was there — I just wanted to see what it felt like to stand in a house without a roof in the darkness of night.
I imagined myself living outside, centuries ago. I yearned for the presence of God so I began to yell out to God in the dark for the things I was thankful for: for removing Melissa and me from the house before the tree fell, that we had each other to lean on during this difficult time, for the neighbors who let us to live with them for seven months, for the support of our friends and other neighbors, that no one else was hurt as a result of this calamity, and that we had good health and stamina to get through this. Yes, there were major things to be thankful for.
I felt like God was looking down through the house with no roof and telling me that I was still loved, I wasn’t being punished, that I may not understand why this happened, but that everything would be okay. I began to feel more hopeful. Thinking about the things that I was thankful for, instead of what I was missing or how I was suffering, jumpstarted a change in my outlook.
Thought for the day: Imagine those things and people that you are thankful for, meditate on them, let yourself feel joy and happiness, express thanks to God, and then examine how the gratitude and feelings of wonder and joy influence your day today.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.