God Can Hear You Just Fine.

I thought I would share an excerpt from my journaling from December 2008 as panic and anxiety attacks consumed my life, churning up my once neat and tidy soil. God used this season to shake up and shape up my heart, mind and soul, ultimately pruning back much of me so that He could do a refining work, reestablishing my root system and growing in me something new.

As always, I pray as you read through these words you allow God to speak to you, that it would be His voice you hear and not mine. May you be encouraged and reminded in the truths, you are loved, you are not alone, you are stronger than you think, He is near. Satan wants nothing more than for you to doubt the love of God and begin loosing hope. 

The further we fall into the darkness of a pit, the harder it is to find our way back out. But the Good News is that God is Light and His Word is a lamp for our feet and a light on our path. He will lead you, and you must patiently follow, one step at a time, one breath at a time.

Never quit believing God is for you. Cling fast to what is Truth. Rest in His care.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

"Embarrassed and confused myself, I did not share what I was going through except with a select few family and friends. I am a pretty private person, and struggle with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. I was also serving in leadership within my church with a heart to do Women's Ministry and Retreats. If they knew, I knew it would kill that dream and I would become useless in Kingdom Work. Was there a way to describe it watered down? Would they judge me? Would I become even more less than and unnecessary than I already felt...

If I couldn’t even understand what was happening to me, then how could I expect someone else to!? I felt crazy, how could they not think the same?! “I’ve lost my mind!” is a phrase I could relate to. And it didn’t mean I had become forgetful. When you feel like you’ve lost your mind, it’s scary. Your normal thought patterns and reasonings are lost. Once methodical and organized, two steps ahead of every need, you now find yourself scrambling to catch up and grab hold of a sound thought. It’s chaotic and uneasy. For a perfectionist like me, it pushed me to the edge of myself, feeling even more inadequate than before. Now, I was sure of it.

Every day I had to fight against the lies that God wasn’t there for me, He couldn’t hear me, He no longer had anymore patience, mercy or grace for me. My faith didn’t waver but my focus, patience and endurance did. Each day was not better than the other. Day after day I grew in my exasperation. I wanted to be healed and restored. Each prayer felt like an echo, bouncing back at me off the ceiling, my words empty and my hands weak. When would this end? How much longer could I take this torture?

One day in particular, at my wits end, exhausted, fearful, angry, I cried out desperate to God, almost demanding in my tone, “Please be with me. Where are You God? Why can’t You hear me?” A few minutes later as I sat in the middle of the floor of my play room trying to gather myself to get on with my day, I heard in my spirit to go to the front door so I did. I don't recall noticing a knock at the door and the beagle wasn't barking.

Opening the door, no one was standing there and no one was around the yard or in the street, but then I noticed a door hanger on my door. Weird. Normally my beagle hollers at intruders in the yard. I had just spent the past hour cleaning up (and talking to God) in the front playroom and never heard or saw anyone out the windows. The door hanger was from a new church coming to the area. You won’t believe what it said…in all caps..

”GOD CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE.” 

What?!?! I stood taken back for a moment...in awe that He had not only sent me a divine message...but now I knew that He could really, really hear me. I knew that message was meant just for me. But that assurance was for a fleeting moment because my very next thought was, “Then if You CAN hear me why aren’t You helping me?!? Anger filled me, not joy. It was almost worse to know He actually could hear me but choose not to help me. 

I had been so desperate to hear Him, to feel Him, to get confirmation that He had not forgotten me or left me to this darkness consumed…and then He says He can hear me just fine. Ugh. My heart and stomach twisted inside me. My soul wept “Then why Lord….why?” Was He so done with me, this was the end? Had He had enough? Was I worth His time anymore? I figured I had nothing left to offer Him. I was at the end of me. I couldn’t fix me and if He wasn’t going to fix me, then I was useless, merely functioning as an empty shell, depleted, exhausted, scared, lonely and sad. I was frightened. I felt completely alone. And yet, there was life to manage inside my doors, inside my home, inside my church...inside my soul. 

A husband and 4 children who were counting on me to care for them, help them, cheer for them, provide for them. Little ones who couldn’t wait for Mommy to tuck them in and tickle their tummies and kiss them on their sweet cheeks as they let go of their day and submitted to sleep. Big kids needing help with homework, someone to talk to about their day and help them figure life-stuff out and of course to find their missing socks. And a husband who always needs my help! And how I wanted to be an Encourager in the Kingdom. I couldn't give up.  This is a battle I wouldn't win on my own. 

I prayed so deep and often, "God, strengthen me and engage me deep at my core....revive me and restore to me the joy of my salvation. Still my soul and steady my mind. There is nothing I want more than You."

Truth was, it was hard to stay joy-filled and energetic when I felt completely empty inside, but as I look back on this season, it was by the grace of God I was able to. At the time, it was me just gutting it through one hour at a time, longing for each morning’s mercies….and healing. In reality, it was He Who carried me and sustained every breath, every hug, every Mom moment, every day's laundry and to-dos as life went on day after day and I remained the same weeping soul. Grace helped and sustained me.

God was faithful even though it didn’t feel like it. He was near even though it didn’t seem He was.  Maybe this was my Moses moment, my Job moment. Was He testing my faith and trust in Him?

His Word tells us through and through, He is faithful, He loves us and is working for our good, to prosper and us and not harm us. Trials and tribulations are meant to burn off the old and make room for new growth. Pits and valleys are torturous but The Cross took on the pain and penalties for us. He took on all our suffering...for our good. 

        Next time you find your prayers hitting the ceiling, remain faithful and strong. Gather a few trustworthy people and ask them to intercede with you for this season. It'll help keep you strong as God reaches out to hug you through their prayers and presence. We always think it's an imposition to ask for help, and for a perfectionist, it's humbling but the fact is it is a blessing to be able to stand in the gap for another. This was part of the pruning I had to let go of too. 

Trials have so many layers and we will never know all the many things God is working in us and through us, despite us.

Friend, you are not alone. You are loved. You are heard. You are enough. You are seen. You are worth much. You have a purpose. Don't give up! Be still your soul and rest in Him.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 

1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV

The Summit of our Walls

 

Ever feel like you have hit a wall? You think you've walked around it, or made it over only to find your face staring right into more brick? I think we all have those kinds of walls that pop up in our lives. Some of those walls we may have thought we had been able to climb over or get around only to see that there is simply another layer thick awaiting you. We say things like, " I cannot believe I am still dealing with this," "When will this ever end," "I thought I got over this already," "How many more times do I have to deal with this issue," and on and on. It may be years of coming face to face with that wall or maybe it has recently been built on your path. Truthfully, life in general is it's own kind of wall we must get over. Some of our walls are easy to get over than others while many others could very well take us to the summit Gates of Heaven before we find ourselves "over it." 
One of the nice things about rock climbing walls and scaling mountain ranges is that you can actually, literally see the top of it and know you have arrived at the summit. Unfortunately, our unseen yet very real "walls" do not reveal to us their summit. It could be one more "step" or "skyscrapers" more to climb.
Whatever wall you have found yourself face to face with, may I offer you this encouragement...while you may not be able to see on the other side of your mountainness wall, Someone does and His name is  El Roi, the God who sees. Your Heavenly Father can not only see the entirety of your wall, He knows how long it will take you to get over it. He has the ability to give you strength and endurance to persevere as well as demolish that wall standing before you. The Lord our God is a God who takes down Goliaths with one stone, creates the heavens and the earth by the very Word of His breath, who divides oceans at His command, destroys barriers. He is Lord over e v e r y t h i n g. There is nothing impossible for Him. Eventhough you cannot see how or when you will get over that cold brick wall standing before you, remember that The Lord your God does. He knows the depth, width and length of it. Trust Him. He is not hiding on the other side of it, He stands above it. He is near. He sees your despair, exhaustion and questions. Hold on Friend and keep climbing! Don't stop! If you give up, you will certainly not get over it. You must get up and look up and move it! Face that wall with assurance that He who is able, can do immeasurably more than you can think or imagine! You must have faith, hope and patience. CLIMB!!! The summit will be amazing to behold!!!


"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

"By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days."  Hebrews 11:29-30

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:11-17

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah  Come, behold the works of the LORD, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire.  "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" Psalm 46

My Mountain- Wheezing to Whistling

I bet when I say "mountain" this is what you imagine. Those of you who know me already know I LOVE taking pictures and am especially awed by God's magnificent, diverse creation. I have TONS of pictures of mountains, snow-capped and richly green alike. There is something so grand about mountains and oceans as they display the might and control of God. I could sit and stare at them all day, every day! 

I have hiked mountains and I have taken the lift up. Truly, both trigger my adrenaline. Hiking is a serious work-out going up, down is much easier. Not to mention the fact you very well may encounter a bear, snake, boar, lion, and a moose (which we have!) Lifting up the side however, while safe from being a meal for Mr Bear, is unnerving for someone afraid of falling/heights. Either way, anxiety hits a high. So why do it? Because the glory is worth the sacrifice it takes to get through it. The views are breath-taking.


You may have noticed that the first few pics I posted are "real" mountain shots from a recent snowy vacation with the family. (I'm resisting the urge to dig out more of these awe-some mountains...so massive and beautiful.) So then, what are the other pics?!? They are my other "real" mountains. The "mountains" and valleys we walk through in life. Our obstacles. Our challenges. Our conquering moments.


We all have "mountains" to climb. These pictures represent for me, some of my mountains. To you, they may look like a fun, lovely moment, and that is nothing more than the Grace of God shining through that moment, but in my world, they are mountains that were climbed! 

I am blessed to get to help with the children's choir in my church and the song I am teaching is "Go Tell it on the
Mountain." Last night as we were singing and teaching the sign for mountain, I said "Stretch your arms all the way up. Show me how high your mountain is!" The kids reached their arms up and one said, "Your mountain is higher than mine." Those words cut to my core....how true. 

My mountains are not the same as your mountains. The way we climb it, the time it takes to get up and over it are different. I know, I have work-out buddies and they can out-run and out-last me any day of the week and even whistle a tune! Good Grief...I'm just trying to breath while not tripping over my own feet! lol


Think about it for a minute...If you took a picture of your mountain what would it look like? Maybe you are climbing one right now. I won't explain all my pictures but I will summarize in this: many of my mountains are fear- heights, falling, judgments, trusting God, trusting others, letting go; forgiveness, courage, parenting, leadership, surrender, endurance, illnesses, faith...

Because we are all in different seasons of life, our terrains will look very different. We will face different obstacles, slopes, views. This is why we cannot compare or judge one another. If you were to stand at the foot of my mountain, you may laugh, for to you, it's merely a bump in the road. We must be very careful that we do not judge the climb another is taking. Rather, that we speak truth in love and encourage our friend to get up and over their mountain! 


As I have consistently "worked-out" with my buddies, over time, I have begun to gain strength and endurance. I get over my "mountains" faster. I am stronger. I too shall be able to whistle a tune as I conquer a travelled path! Endurance and strength are both physical and spiritual attributes. I find that as I grow my spiritual muscles, my physical muscles increase too. I am less fatigued and weary. A Holy fire fuels my day. When I am not working out, physically or spiritually, I become lazy, weak, distracted and defeated. As I come to the foot of my mountain, I must have endurance and strength to climb it!! Otherwise, the journey will take longer than needed (thinking of the Israelites and Jonah!!). 

The glory waiting on the other side of your mountain...the views that are sure to take your breath away, are well worth the sacrifice it will take for you to climb! Begin today to "work out" those muscles of faith, hope, trust and you will find your wheezing transforming into a  joyful whistle soon enough! Unsure? Need motivation? Accountability? Ask God to send you a "work-out" buddy or two and head to the mountains!


What a time of celebration when we gather together to share the photo albums of our Mountain Journeys! From all around the world, millions of hiked trails, majestic views seen through the eyes of each one, how inspiring and incredible it will be as we see all God has done!!! Here are just a few of mine from 2012....

"He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." 

I Timothy 4: 7-10 

 

"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." 39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye." Luke 6: 37-42

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." I Timothy 4: 7-10 



"...so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us tothe kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1: 10b-14

                                          

DO NOT JUDGE! ENCOURAGE!

DO NOT FEAR! TRUST!

DO NOT QUIT! ENDURE!

DO NOT DESPAIR! BELIEVE!

YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS!!! Phil 4:13

Uphill vs Downhill

Imagine you are out riding your bike and then you notice in the distance a slight change in the elevation and it's taking you UPHILL? For the moment it seems thrilling as you continue pedaling along and begin the climb UPHILL...only to be at a near stop half way up!! You don't have momentum to get up top the topside. So, you stop to catch your breath and then as you push off to go, you find yourself actually sliding backwards. I wish I hadn't of stopped!!!! Now, I am not only back where I started but I'm exhausted and still need to find the energy to get UP that HILL!! The Good News is I now know what I need to do to get over that hill to the other side!! Here I go...digging deep...pushing off...digging deeper...pushing through the pain...seeing the top!!!! At the top!!!! Yay!! Now, to coast downhill and catch my breath. What a feeling of freedom to now be flying DOWNHILL!! (The only time I think the phase "headed downhill" is a good one~LOL!) (I also can't help but thinking about my 15 year old as he learns how to drive his manuel-drive Jeep uphill!!! We certainly avoid whatever hills we can!! LOL!!!)

What was the key to getting UPHILL? Awareness. Awareness that there was a hill coming. Awareness that momentum was necessary to get up there. Awareness that it will take extra effort but the other side will be one of freedom. Do not stop...it's much harder to keep going if you stop. You may just have to dig deep and start over, taking with you the Good News of The Way to get to the other side.

We don't know what our future holds. "Hills" for us can be right around the corner while sometimes they can be seen in the distance. What we need is the awareness that "hills" will come and since we don't always know when they will be upon us, we must keep our momentum. If we are idling along, odds are we won't make it up that hill. We need to dig deep, daily, consistently, always ready to get up and over those "hills." Some may be higher than others, and some may be enough to jump over, but one thing is for sure, you must be ready!

Are you gaining momentum today for your next "hill?" What are you doing today to be ready? How are you "digging deep?" 

Or are you stopped on your "hill," sliding backwards? How can you "dig deep" and gain that momentum to get UPHILL?

No matter who you are, how long you have been a Believer in Jesus Christ, we ALL need our Daily Bread. We ALL need to find our momentum,  that "digging deep," into The Lord as we find strength and endurance up and over our "hills." Taking with us The Good News that God has gone before us and knowing we can get over that 'hill" infront of us if we trust Him and don't stop!!!

Here are some ways I personally am digging deep in this season in my life...hope it encourages you to find how God would prompt you to dig deep to get up your "hills."

 * Start before my feet hit floor and End my day in prayer...adoration, confession, intercession for self/others, protection. When you "pray without ceasing", it is constant communication throughout the day, so here and there, I'm asking for awareness. But there are also times where it is necessary to stop and pray as the Holy Spirit leads...especially in warfare.

  * Being in The Word DAILY is crucial!! "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" Hebrews 4:12...on my own, I am weak!

  * Accountability. I LOVE women's bible studies. Not only is there teaching from those who have been gifted with teaching the wisdom of the Word, but you also find accountability within the group. Love that!! You won't likely find yourself idling by...as "iron sharpens iron" you find that momenteum.

  * I cannot stop! It is obvious if I miss a study day or if I go with how I am feeling, cuz there are plenty of days I feel like being idle. Digging deep is not easy. It takes strength and endurance which on my own, I don't have. I will slide back. Thankful that when I do slide back, I can repent and start again, knowing The Good News!!

  * Remembering that I am not alone on the "hills." Everyone has hills. Also, I cannot compare or whine about who's hill is greater or lesser. I need to dig deep, gain my own momentum and quit worrying about everyone else. I am encouraged when I see others around me digging deep to get up their "hill" and that pushes me to dig deeper too!

  * Do not fear!!! Be aware of idling and idoling!! Be ready to battle! Be in the Word. Be aware of "elevation" changes. Don't fear or grow weary about the climb up. If you have already gained momentum, you will get up it quicker and with less pain. Get up. Get over. Enjoy the freedom headed down on the other side.

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, 

encourage the fainthearted, 

help the weak, 

be patient with them all." I Thess 5:14

Friend, your first hill needs to be the Hill of Calvary. God loved you so much, He knows the hills you need to get over, and He made a way for you through the Gift of His Son. Get yourself up on that Hill and get the gift of Life. See the Blood that He dug so deep. Then, find yourself on the other side of that Hill where Freedom is. He is alive and risen so that you may have life abundantly! There is Hope. There is Peace. There is Strength. There is Endurance.

Good News is found Uphill and Freedom is found Downhill!

Please Wait...Warming Up!

Sunday I was needing to make some copies for the kiddos and I had just enough time to make them. Afterall, I only needed 8 small copies. I could do that in 15 minutes, for sure.

Trying to save time, I headed to the downstairs copier which I hardly ever use. I clicked the button and it displayed "Warming up" on the panel. Hurry, Hurry...only have a second to warm up, I've got to go!!  As it warmed up, I got my papers ready to go....but I could not find the by-pass tray for my card stock. Well, maybe it handles both types of paper through it's feeder. Nope!! Paper jam! I soooo didn't have time for THAT!

I quickly took care of the paper jam and ran upstairs to the use the copier I was familiar with and could almost work on with my eyes closed! Cardstock in the by pass tray, 8 copies please..."Please wait. Warming up..." What?!?! I HAVE been waiting and you should already be warmed up Mr Big Copy Machine!!! I was surely out of minutes now!! It was just 8 copies I needed!!!

Anger at the machine filled me, as if it was the machine's fault that it was doing what was necessary to get me what I needed. By this time, I was sure that my group had gathered and I was missing out on the prayer time, more anger but this time at myself for not just coming up here to begin with when I knew it would get the job done. I put my hands on the Big Copier and took a deep breath, angry yet knowing I was doing all I could. In that pause, I began to  feel the calmness and correction of the Holy Spirit in that moment. 

Peace be still. 

Do not sin in your anger. 

Wait on Me. 

Be patient. 

All things work together for good.

The copier had to have that warming up time to work properly. After what seemed like 300 minutes, the display changed to "Ready." At the push of the button, copies were made and my task was done, making it downstairs to the bowing of the heads for our prayer time. Gracious God.

How much more efficient would we be if we too had a "warming up" period. Each time we approached a decision or situation a display read, "Please wait. Warming up...." Wouldn't we benefit in our efficiency if we took the time to wait and warm up, waiting on God to say "Ready." 

I was reminded today of a few things:

* While trying new things can be good, there are some truths that we must stick to so we don't end up in a "jam."

* Be careful who you hold responsible for your thoughts. They are yours afterall.

* Take time to "warm up." There is a reason athletes warm up and stretch before they compete, so they don't get hurt. Take that time to pause, take a deep breath inhaling the wisdom of God into our mind and soul.

* Wait till HE says you're "Ready." We should neither rush ahead of God or drag behind.

Father God,

There is no one as long suffering as You. Your patience and endurance are infinite. To You, time has an eternal view but for us, it's ticking away. The older we get, the faster it seems to go. Until we find ourselves in Glory where there is no timeline, help us manage the time here on Earth efficiently, in our bodies that are wasting away. Help us to wait and not rush the tasks You have before us. In our "warming up" periods, we ask the Holy Spirit to give us self-control in the moments that seem to take longer than we want them to. Help us trust You and Your perfect timing for everything we face. Your ways are good. Your ways are right.
Thank You Gracious God for having the Way and the plan for everything we face today and forever. Help us learn the discipline of "warming up" in You. In Your Son's Eternally Faithful Name, we pray, amen.

Psalm 25

"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in You I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long. 

6 Remember Your mercy, O LORD, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD! 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. 

11 For Your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and 

He makes known to them His covenant.

15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. 18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 19Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. 20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. 21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles."