News...

News...

Watching the news has become more and more of a trial for me it seems ...I just want news, facts without all the commentary, without any bias...news of everyday life around me or the world...not focused on one political party or another...not focused on one person or another...not focused on one city or another...

 I appreciate the local newspaper with news from all over the area...and rarely watch the national news channels...maybe my world is narrowing...it just seems like I find myself thinking more of the wicked and not the good....

This apparently is not a new phenomenon...David and Asaph must have  faced the same dilemma...reading through Psalms 37 and 73...

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 37

.....When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 73

Both came to the same conclusion....trust, seek, delight in...find counsel with, find sanctuary in, find strength in ....God...

The writer of Hebrews wrote...

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:19-25 

We struggle from generation to generation with the same problems...the news is the same, new names and faces ...but the answer is always the same as well...the Word is our sanctuary...the Holy Spirit with His truth...the Son with his salvation...thank YOU...

PSALM OF DAVID

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret —it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. 

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. 

But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. 

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. 

But the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke. 

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. 

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 

They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. 

Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. 

For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. 

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. 

The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial. 

Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. 

But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 

The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Psalm 37:1-40 

PSALM OF ASAPH

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 

They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 

They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. 

Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. 

They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. 

Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 

Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?” This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. 

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. 

All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. 

If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 

Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. 

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 73:1-28