Longing to be Normal Dust

Daily Worship

Albert Bogle

April 17, 2017

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Psalm 88: 1-12

1 Lord, you are the God who saves me;
    day and night I cry out to you.
2 May my prayer come before you;
    turn your ear to my cry.

3 I am overwhelmed with troubles
    and my life draws near to death.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
    I am like one without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead,
    like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
    who are cut off from your care.

6 You have put me in the lowest pit,
    in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me;
    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.[d]
8 You have taken from me my closest friends
    and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;
9     my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, Lord, every day;
    I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead?
    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
11 Is your love declared in the grave,
    your faithfulness in Destruction[e]?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

Today most people in Scotland are in holiday mode. Perhaps you’re planning to meet up with friends and go for a walk? You might on the other hand be making plans to visit your local DIY store, or you could be planning to cut the grass for the first time this year? In other words life for you is pretty normal. Take a moment to think about people all over the world who long for normal, to be boring, instead of normal being bombing.

Almighty eternal Father

We bring to You all who are confused and alone

Those who have lost friends and family

Children living through the horrors of war

Women and men struggling in the dust of violence to find justice and hope

May your voice, proclaiming liberty and justice,

Be heard in the streets of Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and Israel

Give wisdom to decision-makers in Washington and Pyongyang

Enlarge our understanding to acknowledge that all peoples are our neighbours

May all hear the shout from your eternal voice:

“My children you are much more than dust.”

Lord Jesus you are the eternal Son of the Father

We are the dust shaped by your hand

And brought to life by your Spirit

We pray for the forgiveness of our sins

Create with in us a right Spirit

Turn us as individuals away from self pity

And petty quarrels

Help us to forgive others who have wronged us

For we are your children and we are more than dust.

Holy Spirit of grace and gentleness

You have dusted us down for glory

And given us a desire to serve the lonely

We pray for the healing of the sick and rest for the dying

May your presence surround the bereaved

And give new energy to the weary

Revive your church Oh God

And begin with me.