Psalm 59:16-17 There is power in His name!

 2 Samuel 22:3

The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation,

My stronghold and my refuge;

My Savior, You save me from violence.

Joy in the Lord is our strength and His love is unfailing. Trust God to protect you and strengthen  you in His power because all glory and all honor is His. Our enemies are not flesh and blood but are those who have allowed the principalities of darkness to  work through them. In Jesus and with Him as our protector and in the unity of Holy Spirit we are safe from the evil that seeks to destroy us. The shield of our faith protects us from the fiery darts the enemy throws.  Carla

Psalm 59:16-17

16 But I will sing of Your power;

Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;

For You have been my defense

And refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;

For God is my defense,

My God of mercy. (NKJV)

The words of these verses capture the positive thrust of this psalm. David sings with joyful abandon of his relationship with God, despite the presence of wicked persons. There are two verbs translated I will sing; together they capture the idea that singing in the name of the Lord is a wonderful act of faith (Exodus 15:2). The NKJV Study Bible

The chesed love that the psalmist hoped for is now the object of his praise. Earlier, the psalmist stated his intent to watch for God (Psalm 59:9). Now he sings praise to God, confident that He will punish his enemies. Faithlife Study Bible

The definition of chesed love is “steadfast love”; “faithfulness”; “loyalty”; “mercy”; “kindness”

Psalm 59:9–10

I will wait for You, O You his Strength;

For God is my defense.

My God of mercy shall come to meet me;

God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

Psalm 5:3

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.

Psalm 88:13

But to You I have cried out, O LORD,

And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Psalm.101:1

I will sing of mercy and justice; 

To You, O LORD, I will sing praises

Congressman John Lewis is one of my heroes.

And today (July 17) marks the sixth anniversary of his transition from this earthly life to the communion of saints. Each year, we say “thank you” to John Lewis.

I like Andrew Young’s take. John Lewis “didn't convince you by his arguments. He convinced you by his life… He believed what we talk about, and he lived it every day of his life. And he didn't have a violent streak in his body. And he was always forgiving, always loving, always understanding. And he never made you feel guilty. But he made you feel responsible.”

I’m always curious about how people (how we) choose the paradigm to write, tell stories, preach and live. What’s the invitation today?

From my life journey, here’s what I know; if the story makes me feel small (shame) or fearful or angry (where there are always others to blame and dismiss), then we’re not telling (or hearing, or embracing) a redemptive and liberating story.

Today is a good day to pause. And tell stories that let us remember the gift of epiphanies.
And to let the light of mercy and compassion be rekindled.
They remind me that… Grace wins. Hope wins. Compassion wins.
In a world where cruelty is real and taking a toll, I know it's something I could use.

“In so many ways, John’s life was exceptional. But he never believed that what he did was more than any citizen of this country might do. He believed that in all of us, there exists the capacity for great courage, a longing to do what’s right, a willingness to love all people, and to extend to them their God-given rights to dignity and respect. And it’s because he saw the best in all of us that he will continue, even in his passing, to serve as a beacon in that long journey towards a more perfect union.” Barack Obama 

Sabbath Moments