Our Refuge. God’s Glory.

***Please note: there was a technical difficulty that caused us to miss the first ~2 minutes of Don's introduction. We apologize for the error!

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION

“I have come to one conclusion: All that I am, all that I aspire to be, all that I was before, is by the grace of God.”

~Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and 2016 Dartmouth Commencement Speaker

“...we need to fall, and we need to be aware of it; for if we did not fall, we should not know how weak and wretched we are of ourselves, nor should we know our Maker’s marvelous love so fully...”

“...deeds are done which appear so evil to us and people suffer such terrible evils that it does not seem as though any good will ever come of them; and we consider this, sorrowing and grieving over it so that we cannot find peace in the blessed contemplation of God as we should do; and this is why: our reasoning powers are so blind now, so humble and so simple, that we cannot know the high, marvelous wisdom, the might and the goodness of the Holy Trinity. And this is what he means where he says, ‘You shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well’, as if he said, ‘Pay attention to this now, faithfully and confidently, and at the end of time you will truly see it in the fullness of joy.’”

~Julian of Norwich (c.1343-after 1416), English anchoress and writer

“Religion is, as it were, the calm bottom of the sea at its deepest point, which remains calm however high the waves on the surface may be.”

~Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), Austrian-born philosopher

“Meek. Humble. Gentle. Jesus is not trigger-happy. Not harsh, reactionary, easily exasperated. He is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms … You don’t need to unburden or collect yourself and then come to Jesus. Your very burden is what qualifies you to come.”

~Dane Ortlund in Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

“Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God."

~Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910), Scottish Baptist minister

SERMON PASSAGE

Psalm 57 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

  for in you my soul takes refuge;

  in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

  till the storms of destruction pass by.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

  to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

3 He will send from heaven and save me;

  he will put to shame him who tramples on me.   Selah

  God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;

  I lie down amid fiery beasts—

  the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,

  whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

  Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;

  my soul was bowed down.

  They dug a pit in my way,

  but they have fallen into it themselves.    Selah

7 My heart is steadfast, O God,

  my heart is steadfast!

  I will sing and make melody!

8 Awake, my glory!

  Awake, O harp and lyre!

  I will awake the dawn!

9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

  I will sing praises to you among the nations.

10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,

  your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

   Let your glory be over all the earth!