Message Received
My friend Kati is a texter. And not just any texter - she has a list of at least 50 people that she texts scripture to every morning around 5 am. It started as a way to encourage a smallish group of people who had just experienced great tragedy, and as time passed and people heard about her text messages, more and more people got added to the list. From what I understand, there is even a producer at a major cable network on the list.
So anyway, I started getting the texts, too. Knowing she is sending to so many people, there is no possible way she knows what she is typing is going to apply directly to me. But I guess when you're trusting God, and speaking truth from the Bible, it's going to hit home more often then not.
Last night, Herb and I had a discouraging conversation that piggy backed my feelings of discontent. For me, the bottom line is we are both working our butts off, and have little to show for it. Something has got to give. And then this morning, this message was waiting on my phone and fifty others,
"You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant...give me a sign of your goodness..." from Psalm 86
Tears stung my eyes as I read about mercy and strength. I cracked open my Bible, which has sat dusty on my shelf for more days than I'd like to admit, and read the rest of the Psalm.
"Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy..." Yup, needy indeed.
"Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long..." Am I really? Maybe that's where I should have started instead of whining to my husband about all the things that are "wrong" with our life right now.
"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth..." And reading my Bible more consistently would be a good start.
Okay, where am I going with this? I'm not sure yet, but I know where to start. If you're "poor and needy," financially, emotionally, mentally, spirituality, like me, maybe you want to read Psalm 86, too.
Thanks Kati, for letting God use you and your phone to send me a message.
So anyway, I started getting the texts, too. Knowing she is sending to so many people, there is no possible way she knows what she is typing is going to apply directly to me. But I guess when you're trusting God, and speaking truth from the Bible, it's going to hit home more often then not.
Last night, Herb and I had a discouraging conversation that piggy backed my feelings of discontent. For me, the bottom line is we are both working our butts off, and have little to show for it. Something has got to give. And then this morning, this message was waiting on my phone and fifty others,
"You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant...give me a sign of your goodness..." from Psalm 86
Tears stung my eyes as I read about mercy and strength. I cracked open my Bible, which has sat dusty on my shelf for more days than I'd like to admit, and read the rest of the Psalm.
"Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy..." Yup, needy indeed.
"Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long..." Am I really? Maybe that's where I should have started instead of whining to my husband about all the things that are "wrong" with our life right now.
"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth..." And reading my Bible more consistently would be a good start.
Okay, where am I going with this? I'm not sure yet, but I know where to start. If you're "poor and needy," financially, emotionally, mentally, spirituality, like me, maybe you want to read Psalm 86, too.
Thanks Kati, for letting God use you and your phone to send me a message.
Michelle, I had no idea that you have a blog, but I noticed Delma's mention of it on FB. How I wish I could give you a hug, because you are having the courage to express things that I often feel but am too proud to admit.
ReplyDeletePsalm 86 is very precious to me. In the spring of 2010 when we were living in our son's basement, and I wasn't sure if we would ever have our own house again, I memorized the first 10 verses, and they were my prayer day after day after day.