PKRAUSE

this shows me that any person can come before
GOD and present their case

dgrimm60

Absolutely dgrimm

pk

Psalm 32 (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Turning to God in Prayer
Introduction

Psalm 32: Today's reading is a psalm of confession and forgiveness. The psalmist celebrates the happiness of those who are forgiven. He compares the exhaustion of holding onto one's sins with the peace and protection that comes with confessing one's sins.
Today’s Scripture: Psalm 32:7

You are my hiding place; you will save me from trouble. I sing aloud of your salvation, because you protect me.
Today’s Reading

1Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. 2Happy is the one whom the LORD does not accuse of doing wrong and who is free from all deceit. 3When I did not confess my sins, I was worn out from crying all day long. 4Day and night you punished me, LORD; my strength was completely drained, as moisture is dried up by the summer heat. 5Then I confessed my sins to you; I did not conceal my wrongdoings. I decided to confess them to you, and you forgave all my sins. 6So all your loyal people should pray to you in times of need; when a great flood of trouble comes rushing in, it will not reach them. 7You are my hiding place; you will save me from trouble. I sing aloud of your salvation, because you protect me. 8The LORD says, “I will teach you the way you should go; I will instruct you and advise you. 9Don't be stupid like a horse or a mule, which must be controlled with a bit and bridle to make it submit.” 10The wicked will have to suffer, but those who trust in the LORD are protected by his constant love. 11You that are righteous, be glad and rejoice because of what the LORD has done. You that obey him, shout for joy!
Reflect

How does the psalmist describe what it feels like to hold onto sin? How does he go about confessing them? What does it mean for God to be a hiding place? What does that image mean to you?
Pray

O God, you are my hiding place! You will save me from trouble. I sing aloud of your salvation because you protect me. Forgive me for my sins, and show me the way I should go. I praise you and thank you. Amen.
Prayer Concern

Those who have injured others

pk

PKRAUSE

when a person is holding on to sin it is like
an exiqution....but confussing the sin brings peace
and protection

dgrimm60

Psalm 33 (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Turning to God in Prayer
Introduction

Psalm 33: Today's reading is a psalm of praise. The psalmist invites people to praise God with shouting, instruments and song. He affirms God's truth and justice and celebrates the whole of creation. God is described as omnipotent and omnipresent, protecting those who trust him.
Today’s Scripture: Psalm 33:2

Give thanks to the LORD with harps, sing to him with stringed instruments.
Today’s Reading

1All you that are righteous, shout for joy for what the LORD has done; praise him, all you that obey him. 2Give thanks to the LORD with harps, sing to him with stringed instruments. 3Sing a new song to him, play the harp with skill, and shout for joy! 4The words of the LORD are true, and all his works are dependable. 5The LORD loves what is righteous and just; his constant love fills the earth. 6The LORD created the heavens by his command, the sun, moon, and stars by his spoken word. 7He gathered all the seas into one place; he shut up the ocean depths in storerooms. 8Worship the LORD, all the earth! Honor him, all peoples of the world! 9When he spoke, the world was created; at his command everything appeared. 10The LORD frustrates the purposes of the nations; he keeps them from carrying out their plans. 11But his plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally. 12Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD; happy are the people he has chosen for his own! 13The LORD looks down from heaven and sees all of us humans. 14From where he rules, he looks down on all who live on earth. 15He forms all their thoughts and knows everything they do. 16A king does not win because of his powerful army; a soldier does not triumph because of his strength. 17War horses are useless for victory; their great strength cannot save. 18The LORD watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love. 19He saves them from death; he keeps them alive in times of famine. 20We put our hope in the LORD; he is our protector and our help. 21We are glad because of him; we trust in his holy name. 22May your constant love be with us, LORD, as we put our hope in you.
Reflect

The psalmist encourages worshipers to use a musical instrument in singing praises to the LORD. Many psalms were sung as music was played. How is music incorporated into your worship? Why do you think music is an important means of worshiping God?
Pray

Lord, I sing to you in praise! Thank you for all the good things you have done: for your love and justice; for the glory of your creation; for your plans for peace and for your constant protection. Praise the Lord! Amen.
Prayer Concern

Musicians

pk

PKRAUSE

MUSIC can lift a person up
but we must chose the best music
for this

dgrimm60

Yes dgrimm I agree, rap is so uplifting isn't it? :):):):):)
hahahaha You know I'm just kidding. I think there might be 0.01% of rap that I like, otherwise, NOT!!!!

pk

Psalm 34 (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Turning to God in Prayer
Introduction

Psalm 34: Today's psalm praises God's goodness. The psalmist affirms that God will save all who seek him. The psalmist goes on to say that all should respect God and live righteously, trusting that God will listen to and answer prayer.

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.

Today’s Reading
1I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him. 2I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! 3Proclaim with me the LORD's greatness; let us praise his name together! 4I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. 5The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. 6The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. 7His angel guards those who honor the LORD and rescues them from danger. 8Find out for yourself how good the LORD is. Happy are those who find safety with him. 9Honor the LORD, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. 10Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the LORD lack nothing good. 11Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to honor the LORD. 12Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? 13Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. 14Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. 15The LORD watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; 16but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. 17The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. 19Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all; 20the LORD preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken. 21Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punished. 22The LORD will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared.

Reflect
Having been saved by God, the psalmist presents his experience as an example for others. Sayings like the one at 34:9 must be heard alongside the one at 34:19. God's promises do not mean the end of suffering, but rather joy and protection even while suffering exists. What does this message mean to you?

Pray
Holy God, thank you for saving me from my fears and my oppression. Thank you for being with all who are discouraged and have lost hope. You are a loving and gracious God, and I praise your name. Amen.

Prayer Concern
Those who feel hopeless

pk

PKRAUSE

WELL must look to the final solution and not
just short solutions

dgrimm60

Numbers 14:1-25 (Good News Translation)
Embodying Hope and Turning to God in Prayer
Introduction

Numbers 14:1-25: Today's passage comes from the book of Numbers. The Israelites are camped out in the wilderness and getting frustrated. Ten of the twelve leaders sent into Canaan return with reports that frighten the people. They rebel against Moses and question God's intentions. Then Moses prays for the people.
Today’s Scripture: Numbers 14:19

And now, LORD, according to the greatness of your unchanging love, forgive, I pray, the sin of these people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.
Today’s Reading

1All night long the people cried out in distress. 2They complained against Moses and Aaron, and said, “It would have been better to die in Egypt or even here in the wilderness! 3Why is the LORD taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt? ” 4So they said to one another, “Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt!” 5Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people. 6And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow 7and said to the people, “The land we explored is an excellent land. 8If the LORD is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land. 9Do not rebel against the LORD and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The LORD is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid. ” 10The whole community was threatening to stone them to death, but suddenly the people saw the dazzling light of the LORD's presence appear over the Tent. 11The LORD said to Moses, “How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed so many miracles among them? 12I will send an epidemic and destroy them, but I will make you the father of a nation that is larger and more powerful than they are! ” 13But Moses said to the LORD, “You brought these people out of Egypt by your power. When the Egyptians hear what you have done to your people, 14they will tell it to the people who live in this land. These people have already heard that you, LORD, are with us, that you appear in plain sight when your cloud stops over us, and that you go before us in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15Now if you kill all your people, the nations who have heard of your fame will say 16that you killed your people in the wilderness because you were not able to bring them into the land you promised to give them. 17So now, LORD, I pray, show us your power and do what you promised when you said, 18‘I, the LORD, am not easily angered, and I show great love and faithfulness and forgive sin and rebellion. Yet I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents. ’ 19And now, LORD, according to the greatness of your unchanging love, forgive, I pray, the sin of these people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt. ” 20The LORD answered, “I will forgive them, as you have asked. 21But I promise that as surely as I live and as surely as my presence fills the earth, 22none of these people will live to enter that land. They have seen the dazzling light of my presence and the miracles that I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, but they have tried my patience over and over again and have refused to obey me. 23They will never enter the land which I promised to their ancestors. None of those who have rejected me will ever enter it. 24But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has remained loyal to me, I will bring him into the land which he explored, and his descendants will possess the land 25in whose valleys the Amalekites and the Canaanites now live. Turn back tomorrow and go into the wilderness in the direction of the Gulf of Aqaba. ”
Reflect

Moses calls upon God to continue his saving work and not allow them to die in the desert. But some from the older generation of Israelites who escaped from Egypt will not survive. What parts of Moses' prayer most resonate with you? What do you think of God's response?
Pray

Lord, sometimes we need you to protect and save us, even when we are not worthy of your grace. Forgive me for the ways in which I have failed to live according to your will, and fill me with your righteousness. Amen.
Prayer Concern

Refugees

pk