Day 20 — Half Time!

Scripture: Ps 78; Jeremiah 7:21-34; Romans 4:13-25; John 7:37-52


Scripture standout: Ps 78 "²⁷ He rained meat down on them like dust, birds like sand on the seashore. ⁸ He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents. ⁹ They ate till they were gorged— he had given them what they craved.  ³⁰ But before they turned from what they craved, even while the food was still in their mouths, ³¹ God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel."


Morning thoughts: The Psalm is what my worst New York City fears are made of! That I'll be stuffing my face for the fifth time one day — among shopping bags and after a show — and God will strike me down with a mouth full of steak (before I can even have "one more...thin mint wafer"...for all you Monty Python fans out there). New York City is the be-all, end-all test — but I am ready. Because I'm going to drink up— with this, my other favorite standout scripture: John 7: 37: "Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink."


One more morning reflection — this from a gal I always enjoy seeing around the neighborhood. She is accomplished professionally, and is friendly and interested — always looks great even when schlepping two little people around the store. And I have always admired how she has a spiritual side that isn't too "churchy," which I appreciate. She wrote today's Lenten Devotional from St. Mark's Episcopal Church. This caught my attention because the Psalms she referenced is one of my life mottos. It hangs just above my desk:

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25: 4-5

These verses spoke to me during my reflection over the past few days. When reading these verses, I learned three things about David: he wanted to be like God; he knew the only way to be like God is through prayer and supplication to the Lord; and he spent a good part of his day dwelling on the Lord. How inspiring!

In truth, I have never thought to ask the Lord to teach me to be more like him. Sure, I pray often that he helps me make the right decision, for patience, or that I do his will over my own, but being more Godly is not something I have consciously aspired to. Why haven't I been praying for this all along? Doesn't asking the Lord to be more like him really cover just about everything?

I so often fail to call upon the Lord in my most human moments. How many times have I given over to anger, said things that I shouldn't have in an emotionally charged moment? How many times have I failed to be as kind, generous, loving and forgiving, as I should? I think part of my failure is that I forget the power of the Lord, and I don't hope in him all day long as David did. In fact, there are days when I forget to address the Lord at all.

As David said, "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways." (Psalm 25:8) The Lord has promised to instruct me in his ways and from now on, I am going to ask him to do so on a regular basis. Then, I am going to spend more of my day in hopeful expectation.

Thank you Lord for your many promises and for men like David, through whom you have taught us how to pray"

Halftime report later tonight...