Hold Fast to Hope--Jan. 27, 2019

Gracious God, our refuge and strength,

you are a very present help in trouble.

And trouble comes, often unexpected.

We cannot charm away or ward off

 the disaster when it falls upon us.

Jesus, we want to be made welI;

help us hold fast to our hope in you,

to hold without wavering, as we remember

all you have promised, and that you are faithful.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 67; 150; 46; 93

Isa. 47:1-15

Heb. 10:19-31

John 5:2-18

Selected Verses

Ps. 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,
          a very present help in trouble. 

Isa. 47:11

But evil shall come upon you,
          which you cannot charm away;
disaster shall fall upon you,
          which you will not be able to ward off;
and ruin shall come on you suddenly,
          of which you know nothing.

Heb. 10:23

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

John 5:5-6

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and knewthat he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"