Psalm 138

I read Psalm 138 yesterday and found it to be powerful. I like to ask myself questions as I read.

Do I praise the Lord with all my heart? Do I thank the Lord for his love and faithfulness? Has being saved made me bold? In the midst of trouble do I trust the Lord? Do I trust that the Lord will use me for his purpose?

Psalm 138 (NIV)
Of David.
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

The Water Conference

I attended the PureWater PureLife training seminar over the weekend. I must say it was incredible. We learned of the pressing need for clean water around the world. We assembled water purifiers. We studied culture and hygiene.

One interesting fact: Two thirds of world cultures are based on survival and justice. And the remaining one third are based on comfort and convenience. Can you guess which group the U.S. falls into?

I met a man from Sierra Leone and a woman from Uganda who have dedicated themselves to winning their war-torn nations for Christ. I met missionaries and humanitarian organizations that work all over the world. I was able to spend time with Angelo and Brisenault who I will be working with in Haiti.

I hope the Lord will show me ways I can use what I learned to further His work in Haiti.

PureWater PureLife

This Friday and Saturday I’ll be attending a PureWater PureLife training seminar. According to the website I’ll learn:

Water ministry as a process
How to do a Community Assessment
How to do simple water quality tests
Community health development & health education tools
Introduction to water purification
Cultural awareness
More community health education tools & practice
Water tanks & pumps
Assembly & operation of mini-water treatment plant

The seminar is put on by a group called Edge Outreach. Honestly, I don’t know much about the organization. But I know several people who have worked with them installing water purifiers in Haiti.

Haiti is in constant need of safe drinking water, so I thought the training might open up some other avenues of service while I’m there. I’ll post more after the seminar.

Rock of Ages

I was reading Psalm 100 this morning and I had to stop at verse two.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Ps 100:2 NIV

I realized I was not very glad and I wasn’t thinking of “joyful songs.” Yet, I was trying to come before the Lord and I wanted to worship him. I knew something had to change. And something was me.

I decided to look up some song lyrics so I went to www.hymnlyrics.org. I just started reading through some of the hymns randomly. I focused on the words. I asked myself if I believed them. A number of very old and very popular hymns held my attention. I'd never thought about the meaning of these songs with such a conscious effort before. One held me longer than the rest and the Lord used it to make me glad.

Read it. Sing it. Search it for meaning. And may the Lord make you glad.

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break 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.

Words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1776