Thought for May 31, 2024

  •  1669: Last day in Samuel Pepys diary
  • 1790: US copyright law enacted
  • 1837: Astor Hotel opens in NYC--Waldorf-Astoria
  • 1879: Madison Square Garden opens
  • 1884: John Harvey Kellogg patents "flaked cereal"
  • 1889: Johnstown Pennsylvania flood kills 2200
  • 1911: Titanic launched
  • 1921: 150-200 African Americans killed in race riot in Tulsa
  • 1930: Bobby Jones wins British Amateur, 1st of the Grand Slam events
  • 1968: Jimmy Stewart retires from the Air Force after serving 27 years
  • 1977: Trans-Alaska pipeline completed
  • 2007: Billy Graham Library dedicated-George HW Bush and Bill Clinton attend
  • 2008: Usain Bolt sets 100 meter record--9.72 seconds
  • 2015: Harriet Thompson completes a marathon at age 92
  • 2019: Disgruntled employee kills 12 in Virginia Beach
  • Born: Walt Whitman, Emily Bissell [founded Easter Seals], Norman Vincent Peale, Don Ameche, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Paycheck, Joe Namath, Laura Baugh, Jim Craig [goalie-Miracle on Ice], Brooke Shields, Colin Farrell
  • Died: Joseph Grimaldi [greatest clown], Elizabeth Blackwell [first women to receive medical degree in US], Jack Dempsey, Timothy Leary, Chris Haney [Trivial Pursuit], Jean Stapleton, 
Thought:
Reading Psalm 71 this morning. I might should have saved this passage for June 5 when I turn 78. The heading in my Bible calls this psalm--"Prayer of an Old Man for Deliverance." During May, our pastor has been preaching a series on "Generations" and the need to pass God's story from generation to generation. Read the 24 verses of this psalm and think about what the writer is saying--here are some thoughts from this old man.
  • God has been with me since birth. What a blessed thought. 
    • God is my confidence [71:5]. He is the person who gives me confidence, hope and assurance. Confidence means with fidelity. I know from my youth that I can count on God to do exactly what He promises so that gives me confidence to face tomorrow.
    • God is my sustainer [71:6]. Looking back I can see all the ways He has guided, led, sustained and provided. I know in your life you can do the same. Because He sustained me for all these years, I trust Him to sustain and provide for me through eternity.
    • God has taught me [71:17]. Every wise thing I have ever said or done is from Him. Sometimes He taught by speaking, sometimes, through His word, sometimes through others, sometimes through discipline, sometimes by having me look back at my sin and errors and using them to mature and grow me. He is the Great Teacher because He has all wisdom and all knowledge and He loves us and wants only good for us.
    • God has forgiven me--over and over again. [71:20] God has revived, refreshed and restored me through troubles and distress. And I am confident that He will raise me up from the depths of the earth. 
  • In response to God's blessings, I will
    • Praise Him [7:7]
    • Hope in Him alone. [71:14]
    • Tell of His righteousness and salvation to others. [71:15]
    • Declare the Lord's greatness to this generation. [71:18]
    • Sing and shout in joyous praise [71:22-23]
The writer pleads with the Lord not to forsake him in his old age--but does so with full assurance of God's abiding love. Sometimes we get down because of physical issues, illness, bodily weakness and pain. We wonder why we are still here and do we have something more to do. The psalmist answers that clearly--we tell of God's past faithfulness and sing of His love, mercy and grace to this generation and all those to come. 

Blessings
Larry

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