Refuge from Destroying Storms--Oct. 21, 2013

 Dear God, I do not know if you send "destroying storms"

to punish us for doing abominable things you hate, or

if  you send them not to punish, but to induce us

to repent, coming to sober and right minds.

I much prefer to think that neither is

your intention; that the storms of life are

neither to punish nor to reform; and that when

they bring suffering, you weep with the sufferers.

In any case sin brings pain, distress, and sorrow;

and in the shadow of your wings there is

refuge available for all who seek it.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47

Jer. 44:1-14

1 Cor. 15:30-41

Matt. 11:16-24

Selected Verses

Ps. 57:1b

…in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
          until the destroying storms pass by.

Jer. 44:4

Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, "I beg you not to do this abominable thing that I hate!"  [The LORD speaking through Jeremiah to Judeans in Egypt]

1 Cor. 15:34a

Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God.

Matt. 11:20

Then [Jesus] began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent.