Psalm Meditation 1346 ¶Easter ¶April 5, 2026 ¶Psalm 65 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2065&version=NRSVUE ¶Praising God is an act that benefits us as much, if not more, than God. God is not one who needs to know that we are grateful for all the wonderful things God does for us. God acts out of love for us rather than to receive our gratitude. We give thanks to serve as a reminder to us that God is at work in our lives, providing health and wholeness in a variety of ways. Some of those ways are beyond our willingness and ability to comprehend. God’s loving action does not increase or decrease because of our thankfulness or lack of it. ¶When good things do seem to increase because we are thankful, it may well be because we are open to experience the work of God in our lives. When we are open to good things we see the awesome deeds of deliverance and salvation that are a constant in each of our lives. When we are open to goodness, we find that goodness if accompanied by hope, even when life in and around us is not conducive to hopefulness. If nothing else, knowing that God loves us no matter what, is a great reason to hope. ¶As hopeful people we begin to see the goodness of God in ordinary things. Wind and rain, the cycles of seasons, the beauty of planned and unplanned areas of the world around us remind us that God’s rich, creative variety is there for us to enjoy or bemoan. Variety gives us the opportunity see that a wide array of tastes is a reason we are able to lift our voices in praise for the providence of God. ¶March 30, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1345 ¶Palm/Passion Sunday ¶March 29, 2026 ¶Psalm 67 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2067&version=NRSVUE ¶It is pretty easy to see all the bad and troubling things in the world, since that is what people point out to us on a regular basis. We see wars, treachery, cowardice masked by bravado, cancer, poverty, and all manner of evil surrounding us. What we tend to miss is sunrises, sunsets, the smiles of children, resilience, trees sprouting new leaves, flowers producing new blossoms and roots, and the number of things that go well for us in a normal day. We see what we expect to see and what people tell us we should see. ¶The psalmist asks God to be gracious to us and bless us. I believe we can see that God is already and continually gracious to us and blessing us, or we can see this request as a plea, as if God has forgotten to do these things in the recent past. Either way, the psalmist knows that when God’s grace and blessings come to us in a way that we can experience them for ourselves we are led to let our joy burst out in songs and other forms of praise. Any time folks become aware of God’s gracious blessings they are filled to bursting with joyful songs of praise. ¶Life is hard, and there is much to worry and fret about. We can eat ourselves up with anxiety about all that is wrong with the world around us. And we can look for evidence of God at work in the world. Looking for evidence of God at work among us does not ignore all these troubling circumstances. However, seeing God at work is a great source of hope for the present and the future.” May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere [God]” ¶March 23, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1344 ¶Fifth Sunday in Lent ¶March 22, 2026 ¶Psalm 70 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2070&version=NRSVUE ¶Some enemies are easy to identify, because they say up front that they are out to get you. They tell you that so that you will not be surprised when they manage to turn several people against you as they conspire to do you harm. They might even tell you that it is not personal, it is business. For those out to get someone it may not be personal; to those of us who are the targets of their ire, it is deeply personal. They are not simply planning to play tricks and pull pranks; they are out for the total destruction of the person or group whose lives they have decided to ruin ¶Any of us who have been in a similar situation would take some delight in the ‘bad guys’ be put to shame and confusion, and brought to dishonor. It would be nice to know that those who joined in their destructive escapade suffered greatly when they realized that it was a personal vendetta in which they participated rather than a glorious victory over an evil person/group. In return those folks turn against the vindictive leader and confess to the wrongs they have done. ¶However, God does not see the world through our eyes, knows the hearts of all involved and offers forgiveness to each person on every side of the conflict. The important part of every relationship with God is that realization that God is our help and deliverer. Through God we are able to move ever closer to forgiveness and understanding toward everyone we meet. And we find ourselves meeting the God in them through the God in us, as we join together saying, “God is great!” ¶March 16, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1343 ¶Fourth Sunday in Lent ¶March 15, 2026 ¶Psalm 53 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2070&version=NRSVUE ¶In Hebrew, the word ‘fool’ is much deeper than the standard English usage. It is not simply one who is stupid or silly, it is someone who is morally and ethically bankrupt, whether intentionally or not. Those who do not acknowledge the presence of God are not simply slow they are, in this case, actively evil. They may find and make ways to justify their actions to their own satisfaction, however God and the psalmist know that these fools are evil and perverse. ¶The way I read this psalm is that God is looking at humanity and asking if any of the fools have any wisdom that will lead them back to the presence and influence of God. It seems that every one of the fools has walked away from God, rather than taking a step in the wrong direction that they will willingly fix once they realize the error of their current way. While the psalmist believes that God will destroy these evil folks, I am convinced that God simply allows them to continue in the path that will lead them to destruction, even as God is willing to help any and all of them to return to the way of God. ¶God offers each of us abundant life without forcing it on us. Abundance does not always mean fame and fortune, sometimes it means realizing the wealth of friends and family that buoy us up in times of trial. It is the willingness and ability to see the hand of God in every situation, accentuating the positives without ignoring the negatives. A life of abundance allows us to see where we have enough to spare and share it with others whose needs match our places of abundance. ¶March 9, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1342 ¶Third Sunday in Lent ¶March 8, 2026 ¶Psalm 47 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2047&version=NRSVUE ¶I grew up knowing that I lived in the greatest country on earth. We were the undisputed biggest, strongest, and fairest of all the nations in the world. Imagine how offended I was to discover that the United States of America was not the largest country, that we had rivals for all of the number one spots I thought we occupied firmly. And then I discovered that not everyone in the world liked us, at least as a nation. By the time I learned that most people in the world believe that they live in the best place on earth, I was ready to believe it. ¶The people of Israel believed that God was on their side, was willing and able to squelch all the peoples who dared rise up against them and their king, the iconic symbol of the nation. I was once again caught off guard to discover that Israel was never really a powerhouse of a nation. They were constantly being overrun by other nations, given and received in trade between other world powers of the day, and were a great nation only in their own minds. The one thing they had in their favor was the faithful assurance that YHWH was with them, watching over them, and keeping the king and the whole nation as a special object of steadfast love. ¶The nation did not win a lot of military battles, however they won a much more important victory. The people of Israel, and all the children of Abraham, won the hearts of many people from many nations. Even when that faith was appropriated and corrupted for the sake of political expediency, there was a faithful remnant that believed that the way of God was one of quiet faithfulness, mercy, grace, and a steadfast love for all people. ¶March 3, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1341 ¶Second Sunday in Lent ¶March 1, 2026 ¶Psalm 61 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2061&version=NRSVUE ¶Sometimes all we need to do is close our eyes, open our hearts and minds to be in the presence of someone who is not physically present, yet so much a part of us that we experience them as if they were with us in the flesh. It could be a parent, a friend, a mentor past or present, or, as for the psalmist, God. The physical environment has not changed, however, we can feel the change around us, as we call to mind the one who can lead us to a place of refuge and security against any onslaught. ¶The psalmist leans on the abiding presence of God in this time of crisis, reminding us that we can do the same. Knowing that God is with us we are able to face the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,’ and stand firm in the presence of all adversities as we are sheltered in the wings of God. As we receive refuge in the presence of God, we also know that we are surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses who choose to abide in the tent of God. ¶As we weather the storms of life in the presence of God, we feel our hearts lift and lighten. With lightened hearts we can more readily sing the praises of God for every gift that comes from God’s hand. ¶February 23, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1340 ¶First Sunday in Lent ¶February 22, 2026 ¶Psalm 62 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2062&version=NRSVUE ¶An activity enjoyed by some members of my family is to go into a woods and knock down dead trees. It can be seen as a public service as it keeps those trees, or even parts of those trees from falling on unsuspecting passers-by. Some people take this kind of activity a step farther, doing things like cow tipping or pushing down dilapidated walls or buildings. There is a sense of accomplishment in taking down something bigger than ourselves. Some people take a further step and work for the downfall of a person who has few reasons to be a target for that kind of animosity than their position of authority. ¶The psalmist is either one of those people or a close associate of someone being attacked due to their position or type of influence. Media celebrities are often scolded by those who disagree with them for expressing an opinion on a controversial subject. The barb flung their way is often along the lines of, ‘what makes them think their opinion is more important than mine, or that of some other celebrity with whom I happen to agree.’ The truth is they have just as much right as anyone to express their opinion. If their celebrity status gives them a broader ‘bully pulpit,’ so much better for the spreading of their opinion. ¶The psalmist reminds us that no matter whether we are powerful or celebrated, God stands with us when we are attacked for no other reason than the glee experienced by those who do the attacking. God is a rock and fortress for those who come under false and malicious attack, no matter who is doing the attacking. In geological time, or more accurately, in God’s good time, we are each a small and seemingly insignificant part of the whole scope of time. However, small as we might be, God cares for us and about us. We are each significant and steadfastly loved in the mind, heart, and hands of God. ¶February 18, 2026 ¶LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/