March 16, 2022 (Lent Week 2)

 


Psalm 119: 73-77, 80, 92-94
 
Thy hands moulded me and made me what I am; show me how I may learn thy commandments. Let all who fear thee be glad when they see me, because I hope for the fulfillment of thy word. I know, O Lord, that thy decrees are just and even in punishing thou keepest faith with me. Let thy never failing love console me, as thou hast promised me, thy servant. Extend thy compassion to me, that I may live; for thy law is my continual delight. ...Let me give my whole heart to thy statutes, so that I am not put to shame. ...If thy law had not been my continual delight, I should have perished in all my troubles; never will I forget thy precepts, for through them thou hast given me life. I am thine;

I hope that you, like me, in your darkest days have found comfort in words that feel like they must have been written by God just for you for that very moment. This has happened to me several times in my life and I am continually astounded by the love and the answers when life is not what it was 'supposed to be' or when a most fervent prayer goes unanswered. 
 
How wonderful it was when the readings sent to me included these verses from Psalm 119 as this Lent I am focusing on remembering what it is to be a beloved child of God, one for whom Jesus gave his life. I don't think we remember enough, that before we were even born Jesus loved each one of us and knew our inward parts as no one else can, and believed us worthy of His sacrifice. Jesus died so that YOU might be saved. The you that is exactly what you are, full of fault and too easily prone to sin and continually seeking forgiveness and striving to be better, He loves you because, as Reverend Gillian said on Sunday, you are a citizen of heaven and beloved. 
 

I pray that you might find whatever it is that your heart needs this Lent, and that you find peace in the Grace that is God's never failing love.

 

- Allison Kittleson

 


 

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