Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Psalm 42
“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?” As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”
It truly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas where I live. Beautiful snow everywhere, lights and trees, presents and bows, shopping hours early and late, but most importantly the anticipation of the birth of Jesus. Truly, Jesus is the reason for the holiday and the celebrations. I encourage all of your celebrating! If I may, I ask this one request of everyone reading this, please pause and remember that Jesus came for all of us. A beautiful life lesson is to recognize to whom Jesus was born and where he breathed His first breath of air in human form. The King of Kings, left the riches and splendor of heaven to be born in a lowly, dark, damp and smelly shed that was home for the animals. His mother, a young virgin, promised in marriage with little worldly possessions and his father a man of God, a carpenter by trade who trusted the angels and God to marry Mary and raise Jesus as his son. There were no royal trumps or royal flags waving or cheering crowds to welcome this new King into the world. I do know that heaven rejoiced along with the angels and believers at Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem. Just as Jesus came to save the poor and marginalized, so too are we to continue that ministry and what better time than right now. Share and spread the love of Jesus everywhere you go, ignite Christmas where you are! Share the light of Jesus to those who need it most. This is not the season, nor is there ever a season for blinders, seek to see others as God sees them, with HOPE, PEACE and JOY!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to see as you see. Remind me of your presence with me, just as you promise to be with the forgotten and marginalized in my community. Let your light shine in me so that others will feel your love. ~Amen.
~Hope-Peace-Joy~
References:
My Soul Longs For You – Psalm 42:1
HOPE SEEKER 
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