In Psalm 51 – have mercy, the author asks God for mercy because of God’s steadfast, unfailing love. Some translations say God’s merciful love. What is the nature of this mercy? How do we receive it? Psalm 51 This psalm, attributed to David, begins with a heartfelt cry: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your […]
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A friend and mentor of mine had a framed poster on her wall entitled, The Seasons of a Woman’s Life, which featured a circle depicting the lifespan of a woman. I spent many hours contemplating this poster as I sat with her and reflected on God’s working in my life. I’ve been thinking about these […]
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Psalm 38 – do not punish me in your anger. So begins Psalm 38. What does this psalm have to teach us about prayer? And what does it teach us about God? Psalm 38 – For Remembrance Psalm 38 is a penitential psalm, attributed to David. The superscription for Psalm 38 is for remembrance, or […]
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When you are in trouble, who do you call? In Psalm 28 – I call on the rock, the psalmist says. Who is this rock and what is the nature of this call? Psalm 28 Psalm 28 is a lament. The writer calls on God, asks God to hear his prayer, to not remain silent […]
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Our psalm for this week is a prayer made for someone else. We hear in the first line of Psalm 20 – the Lord answer you. Who are they praying for and what do they want for this person? Psalm 20 Psalm 20 is a prayer for the king. The psalmist is praying for victory […]
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Today I join with the psalmist in praying Psalm 9 – I will give thanks! Thank you, God, for blessings bestowed, for your love and mercy, for you. What is the writer of Psalm thanking God for? Psalm 9 The writer of Psalm 9 begins with words of praise and thanksgiving: “I will give thanks […]
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It’s a beginner’s lesson, learning that not every voice you hear in prayer comes from God. And yet, with over sixty years of a life committed to seeking God’s will, I can still fall into that common error. So I’m forced to remind myself again and again, not every voice you hear in prayer comes […]
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Growing up, I can remember the phrase, idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Don’t know who said it or how many times, I just know I heard it. Maybe from the sisters at St. Mary’s Grade School. Recently I read that when our minds aren’t busy working on something, they turn to anxiety and worry. […]
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Like many others during the past year and a half, I’ve found myself obsessively searching out and reading bad news—doom-scrolling. It’s like watching a train-wreck, unable to turn away. Lately I’ve been asking myself—Is there a way to go from doom-scrolling to God-scrolling? What Is Doom-scrolling? Doom-scrolling or doom-surfing, is the tendency to continue to […]
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When I was a young mother, over thirty years ago, there was little to no information available to help moms grow in spirituality based on her everyday reality. To grow spiritually we were told we needed to go on a retreat away from everything, something very difficult for someone with small children. In response to […]
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