Monday, April 7, 2008

Psalm 103

A friend of mine, Hettie, and I have been memorizing scripture together. Each week we add another 3 verses to what we have already stored away in our gray matter, and then type it in an email and send it to the other. If we remain on schedule tomorrow we will complete Psalm 103. Before that we had been working on Ephesians 1. I love Ephesians, but if you look at the first chapter it's a lot of phrases that sound the same all repeated over and over. We were both struggling so we set it aside for a short time. I had been studying Psalm 103 on my own and when I told Hettie to choose a passage that's the one she chose. Hmmmm....maybe God had that worked out already?

Tomorrow is a big day for several people I know. I have a relative going to the doctor to learn biopsy results. A dear friend who was adopted into a loving family over 30 years ago is having a conference call with her biological father who only recently found out that she even exists. Another friend is having a second interview with a missions agency, which may lead to an indefinite placement somewhere in Africa. Finally a friend's mom is going for a PET scan to see if/how far her cancer has spread. You know what I have to do tomorrow? Go to work. It's even only expected to be about a 1/2 day. This evening all of these people that I love have been on my mind a lot. I'm not worrying, just thinking. As I said in my last entry, sometimes you want the words to say and they just aren't there. As I've been thinking about it, though, there are promises in Psalm 103 to cover nearly every step in life's journey. He promises that His love is always with those who fear Him. He heals all of our diseses. As Heather wrote in her blog, sometimes that can be done in a variety of ways, but He does promise it. I don't need to come up with the words for any of these people, I've already been memorizing them!

I've come to the conclusion that it's not an accident that it looks like I'll have a short day at work tomorrow. We can pray as we go about our day, but it's also nice to be able to set aside dedicated time for it as well. One of the best places I've found to pray is the pool at the Y. As I swim from wall to wall looking at the tiles on the floor of the pool, all I have to do is pray or sing in my head or think. I think I'll go in the afternoon so I don't have to get up at 0500. When I go in the afternoon, it's usually an extended workout. Perfect! Good exercise and great prayer time. Won't you help me if you happen to think about each of my dear ones throughout the day?

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you Cheryl.

You are such an encouragement to me.

Love you cousin.

Nicole said...

God is good! I am in awe as I read your blog because I have been having the same feelings today, just a day where you want to cry for those around you who are hurting, or scared, or whatever the situation is but God keeps reminding me all day that he is faithful and I know he will bless every situation in his own way!! Thanks for sharing, I am on that prayer wagon tomorrow as well! I go to the Y as well and love it!

Mary said...

This was such a wonderful post. It's encouraging to see how God works through His children in so many different places to lift each other up.

Anonymous said...

Cheryl,
I noticed in your note to Heather that you are posting again so I just caught up reading all you've written. What an inspiration to read of your experiences! And what a heart breaking story for Fata. She will be in my prayers. Today is a day for praying-storming heaven with our petitions-for Heather. Wilma, Jim and others. Since Wilma's diagnosis and treatment, the illness and death of my employer and other situations, I've again learned how precious prayer is. My mantra has been, "Because Prayer Works". I trust Him for the unknowns-and know that heaven will be worth it for all those that are faithful. Thanks for Ps. 103-I esp. like verses 11 and 17. Blessings to you! Because Prayer Works-Let's all keep praying for each other! Rosetta

sherri said...

What a gift God has given us to be able to go to Him in prayer whenever we want. He hears all of our requests and answers in His way.

I like the praying at the Y idea.

Blessings to you.