Wow, despite the unrelenting heat, the summer has seemingly flown by! Spending the last several weeks in the Psalms has been balm for my weary and dry soul. As a professional church musician, the Psalms are easily my “go to” for Scripture. 

I mentioned a few weeks ago in our group sermon that one of my seminary professors challenged us that when we read Scripture, each passage should call to mind five other passages. I know for this Psalm series, I had at least 5 songs come to mind for each one that was chosen. I feel like we have only scratched the surface on the richness found in these 150 gifts.

I hope you have taken some extra time to explore the Study Guide. What kind of church would we be if we committed our favorite Psalm to memory? I remember a time where I was called to the home of grieving family. A young dad had died of cancer about two months before and the grieving wife and mother went on a girls’ weekend with some church friends. Upon arrival, the mom was tragically killed in an auto accident. The grandmother was watching their young children and now had to inform the kids and other family members. Amdist the pain, heartache and tragedy, she grabbed my hand and asked me to lead the 23rd Psalm.  As I struggled with memory, her strong voice picked up where I hesitated. Where she paused in grief, I filled in the gaps. It was the most holiest of moments.

Psalms give us voice when ours is silent. Psalms remind us to give thanks in all situations. Psalms let us express the whole range of emotions found on Pastor Stella’s “Emotion Wheel.”  Thanks be to God. May we continue to make a joyful noise!

See you soon at our “cup runneth over” place -
Pastor Don