JanBeek

Embrace Bible Study

Tonight I enjoyed sharing the Bible
with friends at our local nursing center.
It’s a privilege to get to know these folks
whose hearts are soft and tender.

The Bible lesson tonight from Psalms
was about how to handle despair.
We all face such emotions at times –
especially during holidays everywhere.

When our families are far away
and we have no way of traveling,
it feels to some they are “trapped”
and their lives are unraveling.

But while Psalm 42 begins in sorrow,
expressing ways life is unfair,
the tone quickly changes to joy
when touting the wonders of prayer.

Psalm 42: 1-8

1 As the deer^f pants for streams of water,^g

so my soul pants^h for you, my God.

2 My soul thirstsⁱ for God, for the living God.^j

When can I go^k and meet with God?

3 My tears^l have been my food

day and night,

while people say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”^m

4 These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:ⁿ

how I used to go to the house of God^o

under the protection of the Mighty One^d

with shouts of joy^p and praise^q

among the festive throng.^r

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?^s

Why so disturbed^t within me?

Put your hope in God,^u

for I will yet praise^v him,

my Savior^w and my God.^x

6 My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember^y you

from the land of the Jordan,^z

the heights of Hermon^a—from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep^b

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.^c

8 By day the Lord directs his love,^d

at night^e his song^f is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.^g

We talked about the way a waterfall
endlessly sends its spray below
and washes away all debris
in its consistent, cleansing flow.

God does that for each of us
when we turn to Him in prayer.
He washes away despair and
replaces it with love beyond compare.

At night God’s song reverberates
in our souls as we fall asleep.
“Joy to the World” we sang –
His peace is ours to keep.

May the peace of the Baby Jesus
be yours these precious holidays.
Live at peace with others –
and share Christ’s love always!

Tell others about the Good News
and let them know that God’s Word
is your ticket to peace and joy.
Let your actions be love that’s heard.

Lead or join a Bible Study
and let the message come alive
in the way you live each day.
Let’s all help the Good News to thrive.

Amen?

Merry Christmas season, my friends.
Be sure to take time for Bible Study each day…
It’ll brighten your path with the Lord’s Word as a lantern.

Do you have a favorite verse that speaks to you today?

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek