Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:01 Welcome to Lent Meditation and Worship with Westside Church during this lentin season. Meet us here each day as we read scripture, worship, and rest in the presence of God together. Know that as you listen today, you are doing so with others, whether in the same places as you are not, and we pray that the Holy Spirit permeates the places we each find ourselves in right now. For more resources and to find each week's prayer and song, visit westside church.org/lent. Let us start today by clearing our minds and opening our hearts to what the Lord wants to speak to us through His word. Take a deep breath in and out and another in and out. This week we are gonna start by reading a psalm together. If you're in a place to do so, grab a Bible and open up to Psalm one 18. Read along and out loud if possible with this beautiful Psalm. I'll be reading from the message translation, but you can choose whatever translation you prefer. Before we begin, I want us to set our hearts right and our eyes on Jesus. Early Christians found this Psalm to be an encouraging one as it described the significance of Jesus. Psalm one 18. Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits. Tell the world is real. His love never quits. And you clan of Aaron tell the world his love never quits. And you who fear God join in his love. Never. Its
Speaker 1 00:02:03 Pushed to the wall. I called to God from the wide open spaces, he answered, God's now at my side, and I'm not afraid. Who would dare lay a hand on me? God's my strong companion. I flick off my enemies like flies. Far better to take refuge God than trust in people. Far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities. Hemmed in by barbarians and God's name. I rubbed their faces in the dirt, hemmed in and with no way out and God's name. I rubbed their faces in the dirt like swarming bees like wild prairie fire. They hemmed me in. In God's name. I rubbed their faces in the dirt. I was right on the cliff edge, ready to fall when God grabbed and held onto me.
Speaker 1 00:03:02 God's my strength. He's also my song, and now he's my salvation. Hear the shouts. Hear the triumph songs. In the camp of the saved, the hand of God has turned the tide, the hand of God is raised in victory. The hand of God has turned the tide. I didn't die. I lived. And now I'm telling the world what God did. God tested me. He pushed me hard, but he didn't hand me over to death. Swing wide, the city gates, the righteous gates. I'll walk right through and thank God this temple gate belongs to God so the victors can enter and praise. Thank you for responding to me. You've truly become my salvation. The stone, the Masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone. This is God's work. We rub our eyes. We can hardly believe it. This is the very day God acted. Let's celebrate and be festive. Salvation now God. Salvation now. Oh yes, God, a free and full life. Blessed are you who enter in God's name from God's house. We bless you. God is God. He has bathed us in his light. Adorn the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar. You are my God and I thank you. Oh my God, I lift your high, your praise. Thank God He's so good. His love never quits. Let's pray.
Speaker 1 00:04:54 Caught between joy and despair. We yearn for the fulfillment of God's desire beyond the brokenness and neediness of this life. We offer thanksgiving for God's presence with us and petitions for the transformation of the church and the world life giver, pain taker, love maker. Day by day you sustain the weary with your word and gently encourage us to place our trust in you. Awaken us to the suffering of those around us. Save us from hiding in the denials or tuns that deepen the hurt. Give us grace to share one another's burdens in humble service. Amen.
Speaker 0 00:06:18 For this day, he makes his light shine on our thanks to the Lord. My God. Hi. I said hi, and he makes his shine on our face. Re Lord his mercy to the Lord.
