The
whistling wind and blowing rain are comforting sounds, as I sit here in the
family room at 5:30 am with the fire burning and my coffee brewed. I look forward to
worship today, with a combined sense of anticipation and apprehension. This
combined sense is a normal feeling, and it is part of the burden I carry for
preaching. I begin the six-part Spring Training series today, subtitled “The
Basics of Grace.” I will read the
various scriptures in which God is described as “slow and anger and abounding
in mercy” for my devotions.
Psalm
103:1-14 Bless the Lord and do not forget all his benefits:
Forgives all your iniquity
Heals all your diseases
Redeems your life from the pit
Crowns you with steadfast love and
mercy
Satisfies you with good as long as
you live
Works vindication and justice for
all who are oppressed
Merciful and gracious, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse
He does not deal with us according
to our sins
Nor repay us according to our
iniquities
As the heavens are high above the
earth – so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him
As far as the east is from the west
he removes our transgressions from us
As a father has compassion on his
children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him
For he knows how we were made; he
remembers that we are dust.
Psalm
145:8
86:5
Exodus
34:6
Numb
14:18
Nehemiah
9:31
Joel
2:12-13
“Yet even now, says the Lord, return
to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend
your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is
gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and
relents from punishing.”
Thank
you Lord for your gracious nature. Thank you for forgiving me, and relenting
from punishing me as I deserve. Guide me today as I seek to teach about your
grace and lead people to accept in a personal way your forgiveness.
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