Psalm 90 ~ we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

Rainy rice fields. Taken from the Church of the Holy Spirit website - Vientiane, Laos: an international group of believers and seekers from many different backgrounds, sharing together the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Communion services customarily follow a liturgy drawn from the Anglican Church for an international congregation from a range of backgrounds and traditions.

Our Church, HopePointe, was a pioneer Church - without a permanent building - and called Church of the Holy Spirit, also Anglican. The photo actually took me to this website.

Psalm 90

¹ Lord, you have been our dwelling place^{[our refuge]}
in all generations.
² Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³ You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
⁴ For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
⁶ in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

⁷ For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

⁹ For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
¹⁰ The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span^{[ pride]} is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
¹¹ Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

¹² So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
¹³ Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
¹⁶ Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
¹⁷ Let the favor^[beauty] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!

A cousin-in-law of mine has passed away in the Lord. She was in her 7os and experienced cancer, passing away quickly. We did not know each other well, Susan lived in Washington Parish, Louisiana and was the town's librarian. We shared two decades ago, what it was like to struggle with a mortally ill infant. It was the type of loss that brings understanding to a conversation.

One very rainy and beautiful weekend, we all celebrated the 50th Wedding Anniversary of my Uncle Frank and Aunt Nora together. The photo reminded me of that Louisiana weekend. It was so very amazingly green, and so lovely. Everyone was smiling. No rice fields, but the green spring time was stunning.

I know my great-aunt Hazel prayed for her only child, William, to come home safely from World War I. And William was killed. I know God heard her prayers and Hazel experienced God's peace. Hazel talked about William a lot She really enjoyed remembering him. My mother told me Aunt Hazel talked of William more than my mom thought she should. Aunt Hazel had William's portrait painted. And it went to another cousin, after Aunt Hazel passed on, who became ill and William's painting was thrown to be given away or thrown away. An uncle was asked if he wanted to travel 6 hours to look over everything being put out. There was William's portrait.

My uncle took it and asked our family in Franklinton, LA (where William lived) if there would be a good place for William's painting. And it was given to our cousin Susan, who was the town librarian. William's painting will hang in the Franklinton, LA Library because William died defending his country.

One generation remembering another. It fits together. And makes life a gentler place. God is not God of the dead. But God of the living.


Isaiah 40:1-11

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

6 A voice says, "Cry!"
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,

"Behold your God!"
10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.



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