For today’s suggested journal promptings I am supposed to paraphrase a Psalm and to talk about “witnessing for the truth.” So here we go. My paraphrase is more of a prayer, I guess.
Psalm 15 (NIV)
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalm 15 (My paraphrase)
All powerful God, how can anyone approach your glory?
Who are we to even presume to enter into your churches?
You desire for me to follow your path so closely that I am a man after your own heart.
Help me to do what is right, especially as it is difficult.
Help me to speak truth and do not let my words wound another.
Help me to love my neighbor as you love me.
Help me to not despair in the face of evil, but to continue to hate evil and to turn to your power.
Help me to know how to honor and respect those whose walks are close with yours.
Help me to always be honest, especially about my faults.
Help me to be a good steward who is abundantly generous and does not take money from anyone.
Who can stand beside you? Only those who have the Holy Spirit to help them be who you want them to be can. Only those who walk in step with you will be unmovable.
As for “witnessing for the truth,” one thing our reading this week talked about how we are called to speak against evil. This is a very hard thing for me to do. When I speak to youth or preach, I have very little problem speaking about what the Bible teaches or what is right in God’s eyes. However, I really am at a loss when it comes to addressing systemic evil. I think specifically about alcohol, drug, and sexual abuse in the Native Alaskan villages. I want to be a witness for truth, but I just don’t know of any other way than to keep doing what I’m doing. I pray that God will help teach me and use me in the village of Unalakleet to help break the cycles of abuse.
Psalm 15 (NIV)
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalm 15 (My paraphrase)
All powerful God, how can anyone approach your glory?
Who are we to even presume to enter into your churches?
You desire for me to follow your path so closely that I am a man after your own heart.
Help me to do what is right, especially as it is difficult.
Help me to speak truth and do not let my words wound another.
Help me to love my neighbor as you love me.
Help me to not despair in the face of evil, but to continue to hate evil and to turn to your power.
Help me to know how to honor and respect those whose walks are close with yours.
Help me to always be honest, especially about my faults.
Help me to be a good steward who is abundantly generous and does not take money from anyone.
Who can stand beside you? Only those who have the Holy Spirit to help them be who you want them to be can. Only those who walk in step with you will be unmovable.
As for “witnessing for the truth,” one thing our reading this week talked about how we are called to speak against evil. This is a very hard thing for me to do. When I speak to youth or preach, I have very little problem speaking about what the Bible teaches or what is right in God’s eyes. However, I really am at a loss when it comes to addressing systemic evil. I think specifically about alcohol, drug, and sexual abuse in the Native Alaskan villages. I want to be a witness for truth, but I just don’t know of any other way than to keep doing what I’m doing. I pray that God will help teach me and use me in the village of Unalakleet to help break the cycles of abuse.
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