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11th Sunday after Pentecost |
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August 4, 2013 |
| Psalm 107:1-9, 43 |
| “…(God) satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” |
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(Psalm 107:9, NIV) |
While most of us have not wandered, lost, in the desert or wilderness of this planet earth, we or those we care about have wandered in deserts or wildernesses—of serious illness, grief, mental illness, divorce, unemployment, spiritual darkness, systemic dysfunction, or injustice.
With the psalmist we cry out to God with our prayers for guidance, strength, and redemption, trusting that the One who brought the Israelites from bondage to the promised land, the One who provided manna and water from the rock in the wilderness, will also guide us along “a straight way,” even when it may seem as though we are still wandering.
As leaders of worship arts ministries, we journey on the path of discipleship along with those in our ministry setting. We do so as partners with God—serving as instruments of redemption, as the hands and feet, the listening ears, the eyes of the heart, as well as the voice of God in the world.
We have seen the thirsty satisfied and the hungry filled with good things. We have experienced redemption and the steadfast love of Jesus our Christ. Out of this abundant grace our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and praise, for God’s future is indeed hope-filled.
Satisfier of hungry hearts, we open our hearts to you…walk with us in our wilderness wanderings. Amen.
Rev. Kay C. Barckley
Minister of Worship and Formation
University Temple UMC
Seattle, WA