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Lent,, Day 19 - March 15

The Readings for today: Psalms 93, 96, 34; Jere 6:9-15; 1 Cor 6:12-20; Mark 5:1-20

I am about to leave for worship services. The Psalmist's reminder of who God is makes worship more awe-some. I was struck by the words from Psalm 93:4 (NASB)
"More than the sounds of many waters, Than the mighty breakers of the sea, The Lord on high is mighty."
The Psalmist later adds: Psalm 96:11 (NASB)
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
I can't imagine anything on earth that is more powerful than the sea. The water of the sea is that which we play in, but as a force, it is powerful and mighty - even in ways that bring wonder and awe (remember the Tsunamis of a few years ago?)
It's no wonder that the Psalmist reminds us Psalm 34:8-9 (NASB)
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.

I've come to that place in life where living with a sense of God's greatness and goodness, as well his glory and grace, and even to love him because he loves and to fear him because he is holy all need to be held in tension within us.

As I go off to worship, Paul's reminder is worth reminding: 1 Corinthians 6:17-20 (NASB)
17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him...do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

As Jesus heals the man from the Garasenes so that he is whole, let us worship him with tender hearts, with a fear that is more awe, and with whole-heartedness that joins our spirit with His.

A Prayer:
"Father, as you have brought me to a new day, I give it back to you - with surrender, awe, and a desire to glorify you with all that is within me. Keep me safe in you, and reveal yourself to me in worship, in listening to your word, in the prayers and conversations before and after -- for the glory of your name. Amen."

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