Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Tuesday, 29 July 2014 - Read Psalm 145:8-9

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Tuesday, 29 July 2014 - Read Psalm 145:8 God is all mercy and grace—
    not quick to anger, is rich in love.
9 God is good to one and all;
    everything he does is suffused with grace.
14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck,
    gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.
15 All eyes are on you, expectant;
    you give them their meals on time.
16 Generous to a fault,
    you lavish your favor on all creatures.
17 Everything God does is right—
    the trademark on all his works is love.
18 God’s there, listening for all who pray,
    for all who pray and mean it.
19 He does what’s best for those who fear him—
    hears them call out, and saves them.
20 God sticks by all who love him,
    but it’s all over for those who don’t.
21 My mouth is filled with God’s praise.
    Let everything living bless him,
    bless his holy name from now to eternity!(The Message)
One of the joys of visiting my wife's parents' home is the free entertainment to be found while drinking our morning coffee. Out the window, at a variety of bird feeders, feathered friends come to find their food. Cardinals, orioles, blue jays—all the baseball teams are represented! They come, eat their fill, and then fly away again. All, it seems, without a care in the world. Why, then, do we spend so much time focusing on our needs? Are we not of greater worth than these birds at their feeders? The psalmist reminds us that God will give food in good season. We hear in these words an invitation not to worry, as hard as that is for us. God has given us all needful things, from food and shelter, friends and family, life and salvation. We needn't worry about these anymore. Instead, thankful for our rich resources, let us seek to feed those around us.
Giving God, thank you for providing for all of our needs. Help us to turn our hearts and hands toward those around us, that we might be signs of your gracious provision for all people. Amen.
David R. Lyle
Pastor, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Pawleys Island, S.C. 
Master of Divinity , 2002
Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.(New Revised Standard Version)
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