God's Praise Always in My Mouth--April 15, 2014

I stretched out my hands--

no one was there to comfort me;

yet I will bless my God at all times;
your praise shall be always in my mouth.

I was so utterly, unbearably crushed

that I despaired of life itself;

but at all times I will

bless you, God.

If I am asked,

by what authority

do I praise you when it

seems you have deserted me,

then I must reply, did Jesus come

from God, or was he of human origin?

O Jesus, let me ever trust in your authority!

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 34; 146; 25; 91

Lam. 1:17-22

2 Cor. 1:8-22

Mark 11:27-33

Selected Verses

Ps. 34:1

I will bless the LORD at all times;
          his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Lam. 1:17a

Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her…

2 Cor. 1:8

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.

Mark 11:29-30

Jesus said to [the chief priests, scribes, and elders], "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?  Answer me."