Psalms in the world

Psalms in the world ... Psalm 30 It was hard to figure out just where to read this Psalm from. There are a lot of images and themes in this Psalm - mountains, sackcloth, healing, joy, despair. In the end, I chose a location that might invite our hearing of the Psalm and its depth/diversity. It is not one image but of a field, of mountains, of our lake, of cars driving by, of a road, of life. May your life be enriched this day by hearing this Psalm anew. ⛪□

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Psalms in the world ... Psalm 107 I went to a familiar place for this Psalm. We have held quite a few outdoor worship services from this location over the years. I do indeed give thanks to the Lord for this space. More than that though, the lines about God stilling the sea and bringing us into a safe harbor were powerful in this location. I hope they will be for you too. And further, I hope God will bring you into a safe harbor in your life today. Blessings!

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Psalms in the world ... Psalm 92 What signs of growth do you see in your life, in our life as a church? This week we were able to get our pumpkin patch planted and soon, hopefully, we'll have some plants and pumpkins growing. I don't know if these are as significant as "Cedar's of Lebanon" but they will be significant here. As children of all ages, come fall, will be able to harvest of pumpkin from our patch. So what is growing in your life? Where is our Rock bringing up something new?

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Psalms in the world ... Psalm 130 When I found myself in town yesterday for a hospital visit, I thought of this location for this weeks Psalm. I've been to Conrad Cemetery on too many occasions. They are usually times filled with tears and heartache, and well they should be. And yet, if we step back from those intense moments we can also see this as a place of saints. Saints who have passed from this life and now rest secure in God's embrace. As such, this is also a place where the "cry" of the faithful, the "supplications" of God's people are heard, understood and embraced. May you feel embraced this day as well.

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Psalms in the world. Psalm 29 I recorded this video yesterday during a break in the rain. I thought the sky so powerfully illustrated the "voice of the Lord" which is so present in the Psalm. There were no lightening flashes during the reading but the wind did blow and the power of God's voice was palpable. May you feel God's power this day wherever you are, through this Psalm but through all that is around you as well.

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Psalms in the world ... Psalm 104 On this blustery day here in the Flathead, what an appropriate Psalm we have for our life together this day, this week. This Psalm imagines a "Leviathan" slumbering in the depths of the sea, waiting to pounce on passing ships. I don't think there were any of those in the lake today but the waves are certainly getting stronger and it is not hard to feel the sense of foreboding about which the Psalmist speaks. This Psalm is, of course, our Psalm for Pentecost Sunday next Sunday. How does the Spirit, coming with wind and fire, provoke you to draw strength from, inspiration from, faithful movement in your life today? How are you drawn into acts of praise for what God has done and is doing in our world today?

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Psalms in the world ... Psalm 1 These trees aren't quite by a flowing stream of water but they will produce fruit, as anyone of the Flathead Valley knows. May you find the fruitfulness of God in your life this day and week as well. Blessings to you.

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Psalms in the world ... Psalm 22 Today I was searching for a place to read this psalm and remarked to Jan Vachal that a cemetery was the background that really spoke to me. She shared this location with me - Bethel Cemetery here in Somers. As I walked around the land with this psalm in my heart and mind I was moved. There were markers, quite a few, for children stillborn. There was one for a child drowned at age "3 ys., 8 ms., 5ds." And more. Some of them were quite old, the child that drowned did so in 1908. I was moved that all of these are a part of the cloud of witnesses of which the Psalm speaks. They are all those called by God who are now fulfilled in worship before our Savior. May we hear their witness and honor it. Declare our faithfulness and bow down as well.

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Monday, April 26, 2021

Psalms in the world - Psalm 23

Psalms in the world! Next Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday and so we will hear from the beautiful words of Psalm 23. Where is it that you have experienced the power of these words? What place or images come to mind that welcome you "home"? Every time I drive by this scene just south of Rollins, MT I see the embrace of our God welcoming us to dwell secure. May God invite you in to such an embrace (and place) today.

Posted by Eidsvold Lutheran Church on Monday, April 19, 2021