August 18, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 51, 65, 142
Judges 14:20-15:20
Acts 7:17-29
John 4:43-54

II. Selections
Psalm 142:1-2
With my voice I cry to the LORD;
with my voice I make supplication to the LORD.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

Judges 15:18
By then [ Samson] was very thirsty, and he called on the LORD, saying, "You have granted this great victory by the hand of your servant. Am I now to die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?"

Acts 7:29a
When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian.

John 4:47
When [ the royal official] heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

III. Meditation: Pouring out our complaints

Gracious God, you are always ready to hear us-
even about our troubles and complaints.
Samson was thirsty after his great battle victory;
Moses had to flee for his life to a foreign land;
the royal official's son was dying.

They brought their problems to you,
and you heard them.
Do we abuse the privilege,
complain too much,
complain when we should be giving thanks?

We do. Forgive us.
But surely you want us to bring to you
what is on our hearts,
even if our hearts are filled with troubles,
and our prayers are full of complaining.