Deus Misereatur

  Of the many Bible verses I have memorized over the years, and review regularly, these words in Isaiah have always been near and dear to my heart: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4). That description of God in the last line is translated in various ways, The Rock eternal, everlasting strength, etc. But in the KJV and NKJV footnotes, the translators show that the Hebrew phrase can be “the Rock of Ages.” That’s the biblical background to the hymn by that title. And it’s the final verse of that hymn that gets close to what is being said in this passage: While I draw this fleeting breath, When mine eyelids close in death, When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. But how does God keep his people in perfect peace when they are facing chronic pain? Or terrible troubles in their...

  [Evening Prayer guided by Titus 2:2-12] Thank you that your grace, which brings salvation to all, teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and that your grace teaches us to live sober-mindedly, uprightly and godly in this present age. Therefore, we pray for ourselves and others across the chronological, economic, and sexual spans. May the older men (…) be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled. May they live and love and learn and lead in ways that are sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. O Lord, hear our prayer.  Aid the older women (…) likewise to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. May they teach the younger women what is good, and so coaching them in sobriety of thought, action and reaction. O Lord, hear our prayer. In their relationships with the older women, we pray for the young women (…) that they would learn to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their...

  Truly, LORD God, you made us not because you needed us. You made us not because you were lonely and lacked love. You made us not because you needed us to scratch some itch you had. You made us because you are love and goodness, and so desired to give and lavish that love and goodness on us! Therefore, with the 24 elders and creatures that surround your throne, we adore and worship you: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11). Hear us now, O Lord, as we pray: For the peace and security of all the nations of this world, including Ecuador, Peru, Ethiopia, and Tanzania we pray to you Lord. O God, hear our prayer; give ear to the words of our mouth (Psalm 54:2). For the safety and godly direction of the President of these United States, our Legislators, and judiciary, we pray to you Lord. O God, hear our prayer; give ear to the words of our mouth. For ...