God Is Still Among Us!
Psalm 90 served to inspire Isaac Watts, the father of English hymnody, to write the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Watts, who lived from 1674 to 1748, penned words for more than 600 hymns. His 250 year-old text still makes sense today:
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.
The mystery of how our lives fit in the continuum of time will always be with us. Do you realize that we are almost 10% of the way through the 21st century? (Remember the Y2K doomsday folk?)
Recently, a poll was conducted over the Internet. The question was, “Should the words ‘under God’ be deleted from the pledge?” 88% of the respondents said, “NO!” This strong indication of belief affirms that God, who has been our help in the past, will be our hope for years to come, our guide in life and our eternal home. May your day (and your weekend) be filled with a deepened confidence in the One who from everlasting to everlasting is God. Happy Independence Weekend!
--Ben Keckler
07.02.10
Showing posts with label God with us. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God with us. Show all posts
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Daily Devotion - Thursday, July 23
God Be In My Head
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for God will speak peace to his people…”
--An ancient song
Psalm 85: 8
Some years ago the Reverend Jim Cotter wrote a brief prayer entitled, “God be in my head.” Over the years the prayer has been expanded. Receive these excerpts as a prayer for today:
“God be in my head and in my understanding
God be in my eyes and in my looking
God be in my mouth and in my speaking
God be in my tongue and in my tasting
God be in my lips and in my greeting
“God be in my arms and in my reaching
God be in my hands and in my working
God be in my legs and in my walking
God be in my joints and in my relating
“God be in my guts and in my feeling
God be in my bowels and in my forgiving
God be in my lungs and in my breathing
God be in my heart and in my loving
“God be in my blood and in my living
God be in my bones and in my dying
God be at my end and at my reviving. Amen.”
--Ben Keckler
07.23.09
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for God will speak peace to his people…”
--An ancient song
Psalm 85: 8
Some years ago the Reverend Jim Cotter wrote a brief prayer entitled, “God be in my head.” Over the years the prayer has been expanded. Receive these excerpts as a prayer for today:
“God be in my head and in my understanding
God be in my eyes and in my looking
God be in my mouth and in my speaking
God be in my tongue and in my tasting
God be in my lips and in my greeting
“God be in my arms and in my reaching
God be in my hands and in my working
God be in my legs and in my walking
God be in my joints and in my relating
“God be in my guts and in my feeling
God be in my bowels and in my forgiving
God be in my lungs and in my breathing
God be in my heart and in my loving
“God be in my blood and in my living
God be in my bones and in my dying
God be at my end and at my reviving. Amen.”
--Ben Keckler
07.23.09
Monday, June 22, 2009
Daily Devotion - Monday, June 22
Do Not Fear
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
--From the prophet Isaiah, 41:10
The word of the Lord to Isaiah, and all the people of God in general, bids us to have no fear. Fear visits us when we are caught in unexpected situations, in unfamiliar places and it can cause us to make inaccurate assessments. We can feel intimidated and overwhelmed. Fear can dominate our inner being.
Our active listening to the feelings of others is very important. Here in the hospital patients, family and friends can feel uncomfortable with their surroundings. Our listening and trying to put them at ease is part of our caregiving job. Here is an amusing story that illustrates the fears people may have and the way a caregiver lessened the fear:
A lady came to the hospital to visit a friend. She had not been in a hospital for several years. She felt uneasy and a bit overwhelmed by all the new technology. A technician followed her onto the elevator, wheeling a large, intimidating looking machine with tubes and wires and dials. “Boy, would I hate to be hooked up to that thing,” she said. “So would I,” said the technician. “It’s a floor-cleaning machine.”
Have a good week being aware of our own fears and the fears of those around us. Remember the words of scripture telling us that we are not alone, a higher power is always with us.
--Ben Keckler
06.22.09
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
--From the prophet Isaiah, 41:10
The word of the Lord to Isaiah, and all the people of God in general, bids us to have no fear. Fear visits us when we are caught in unexpected situations, in unfamiliar places and it can cause us to make inaccurate assessments. We can feel intimidated and overwhelmed. Fear can dominate our inner being.
Our active listening to the feelings of others is very important. Here in the hospital patients, family and friends can feel uncomfortable with their surroundings. Our listening and trying to put them at ease is part of our caregiving job. Here is an amusing story that illustrates the fears people may have and the way a caregiver lessened the fear:
A lady came to the hospital to visit a friend. She had not been in a hospital for several years. She felt uneasy and a bit overwhelmed by all the new technology. A technician followed her onto the elevator, wheeling a large, intimidating looking machine with tubes and wires and dials. “Boy, would I hate to be hooked up to that thing,” she said. “So would I,” said the technician. “It’s a floor-cleaning machine.”
Have a good week being aware of our own fears and the fears of those around us. Remember the words of scripture telling us that we are not alone, a higher power is always with us.
--Ben Keckler
06.22.09
Friday, November 14, 2008
Daily Devotions - Friday, November 14
Responses from Our Souls
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
--Psalm 46:11
People of faith who claim to follow the teachings of the world’s major religions embrace this as a true and trustworthy statement. This brief sentence speaks volumes about the God who has created this vast universe. This brief sentence challenges us to remember the big picture, “God is with us” in this wonderful world. This brief sentence suggests that we can find safety (refuge) in, with, and through this omnipresent God.
Conflict is rampant. From the internal conflict we experience in our own being to the conflicts of the international political arena, it begins to feel like there is no shelter. However, the Psalm writer concludes with this resounding statement of faith, claiming that there is a place to find safety, there is a place for refuge.
Many of us will conclude our week of hard work today; some will be working all weekend. As we move through the weekend, whether at home or at work, please remember that God is with you and take refuge in that reality. Have a good day.
A prayer: May I see you more clearly and trust you more dearly day by day.
Ben Keckler
11.14.08
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
--Psalm 46:11
People of faith who claim to follow the teachings of the world’s major religions embrace this as a true and trustworthy statement. This brief sentence speaks volumes about the God who has created this vast universe. This brief sentence challenges us to remember the big picture, “God is with us” in this wonderful world. This brief sentence suggests that we can find safety (refuge) in, with, and through this omnipresent God.
Conflict is rampant. From the internal conflict we experience in our own being to the conflicts of the international political arena, it begins to feel like there is no shelter. However, the Psalm writer concludes with this resounding statement of faith, claiming that there is a place to find safety, there is a place for refuge.
Many of us will conclude our week of hard work today; some will be working all weekend. As we move through the weekend, whether at home or at work, please remember that God is with you and take refuge in that reality. Have a good day.
A prayer: May I see you more clearly and trust you more dearly day by day.
Ben Keckler
11.14.08
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