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“What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD” – Psalm 116:12-13
Hebrew with transliteration:
מָה־אָשִׁיב לַיהוָה כָּל־תַּגְמוּלוֹהִי עָלָי
כּוֹס־יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא וּבְשֵׁם יְהוָה אֶקְרָא
mah ashiv ladonai kol-tagmuloti alai?
kos-yeshu’ot essa uv’shem Adonai ekra
Hebrew Audio:
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The walk of faith is one of “holy suspense,” trusting that God is on the other side of the next moment, “preparing a place for you” (John 14:3). In the present, then, we live in unknowing dependence, walking by faith, not by sight. For “hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he sees?” (Rom. 8:24). This is the existential posture of faith – walking in darkness while completely trusting in God’s daily care. Our task at any given moment is always the same – to look to God and to accept His will. This is where time and eternity meet within us, where God’s kingdom is revealed in our hearts.
Note: I took this picture at the MN Landscape Arboretum, a day after a light snow in mid January.
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“Be still and know that I AM…” (Psalm 46:10). Prayer is a type of listening (shema), a turning back to heed the message of God’s love and hope. Indeed, the word “teshuvah” (תְּשׁוּבָה), often translated as “repentance,” also means an answer or response to a question. God’s love is the question, and the heart’s response is the answer. Some of us may find it difficult to trust, to open our heart to receive grace and kindness. For those of us wounded by abandonment, it can be a great struggle to hear the voice of God calling you “beloved,” “worthy,” “valued,” and “accepted.” When you find faith to receive God’s word of love, however, your heart comes alive and you begin to heal. May you hear the Spirit speaking to you this hour…
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“He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the stamina of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” – Psalm 147:8-11
הַמְכַסֶּה שָׁמַיִם בְּעָבִים
הַמֵּכִין לָאָרֶץ מָטָר
הַמַּצְמִיחַ הָרִים חָצִיר׃
נוֹתֵן לִבְהֵמָה לַחְמָהּ
לִבְנֵי ערֵב אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאוּ׃
לא בִגְבוּרַת הַסּוּס יֶחְפָּץ
לא־בְשׁוֹקֵי הָאִישׁ יִרְצֶה׃
רוֹצֶה יְהוָה אֶת־יְרֵאָיו
אֶת־הַמְיַחֲלִים לְחַסְדּוֹ׃
This morning the air temperature was high, so the snow melted and made a misty fog… I took this picture about an hour after sunrise.
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זָרַח בַּחשֶׁךְ אוֹר לַיְשָׁרִים
חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם וְצַדִּיק
