Life Happens.

A bit of commenting paraphrase on one of my favorite Psalms this evening.  You could call it clarity therapy, perhaps.  When the enemy attacks, keep your ears tuned to the voice of the Mighty Warrior, Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom of Heaven.  He speaks through His Word, through His Spirit, and through His saints.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

         Some days the cry sticks in the throat.                                                                   
                 Other days the cry springs out of a throat full of emotion. 

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
 
Yes, it is nice to have the young near your altar, Lord.  Keep my children near your altar, please. 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.   
 
Sometimes praise is all one has left to do. 
 
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.    
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
                  they make it a place of springs;
                           the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
     They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
 
It would be kind of nice to ride on perpetual strength, but I guess if we are to “go from strength to strength,” I’m thankful for the big strength times that see me through the little strength times.  
 
Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[e] O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
 
In the end, what better place to be than in the presence of our God?
 
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
 
And we are back to the starting point. 
                Life happens. 
                                Through it all, I will trust in You, Lord.