Ordinary Time

January 11, 2023

Scripture Reading: Psalm 40:1-11
I waited patiently for the Lord;
   he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
   out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
   making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
   and put their trust in the Lord.

Happy are those who make
   the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
   to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
   your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;
   none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
   they would be more than can be counted.

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
   but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt-offering and sin-offering
   you have not required.
Then I said, ‘Here I am;
   in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
   your law is within my heart.’

I have told the glad news of deliverance
   in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
   as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
   I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   from the great congregation.

Do not, O Lord, withhold
  your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   keep me safe forever.

I love music, always have. When I was a child, I went to sleep most nights with my dad, singing and playing the guitar.  I listened to music on an aging boombox that had a CD player, played tapes, and a radio. The tape player died first, but I was not using it much then the CD part quit. I have not made the adaptation to playing music on my computers. So, I essentially removed listening to music from my life. My church started live streaming our services during COVID and never stopped because it was a blessing for our homebound or spending time at the lake. Listening to our Christmas Eve service made me miss just listening to music. I ordered a new boombox. It is much smaller and can be connected to the internet. God returned songs to my heart that now carry me through the troubled times we are all facing every day. Add a little music to your life today.

Prayer: With a song in my heart, Here I am, send me. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.