Word of the Day (9-9-11)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Friday September 9, 2011

The word of the day comes from Psalm 116 but comes a little different today. On Wednesday I got to call back home and speak with one of my closest friends in Brooklyn NY. He gave me some disturbing news. I told him that I had planned to go Labor Day weekend but at the last minute backed out because I didn’t want to deal with traffic going or coming back so I would just hang out with family here. He told me I really dodged a bullet by not coming. He said Brooklyn was a war zone last weekend, so bad that on Labor Day he didn’t even go outside for fear of safety and he ALWAYS goes where he wants. Over the holiday weekend, there were 48 shootings in 48 hrs throughout the borough of Brooklyn. It was sickening and heart wrenching to hear. It had me so sad for the lives lost or affected by the shootings. Thankfully not all 48 shootings resulted in fatalities but it had me thinking how I used to be out there. Labor Day weekend in NY was a staple for me and the last time that I can truly say I went there to hang out like that we ducked bullets for 30 minutes and I told the Lord that if he got me out of there safe the only time they would see me in the hood is to give somebody an opportunity to meet Jesus. And I haven’t looked back since. As I reflect on that Labor Day as vividly as I remember yesterday and think about all that God has kept me from, my heart is poured out with gratitude. Today I don’t want to interpret a word but allow Psalm 116 to interpret itself. I pray today that you are safe, that you are grateful that God has saved you and pulled you out of some places and that you are praying for the mindset of those who are still in places that could potentially cause harm to them and that the Lord would grant them grace enough to receive Christ. Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Psalm 116

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 116

 ¹ I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
   he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
   I will call on him as long as I live.

 ³ The cords of death entangled me,
   the anguish of the grave came over me;
   I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD:
   “LORD, save me!”
 ⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
   our God is full of compassion.
⁶ The LORD protects the unwary;
   when I was brought low, he saved me.
 ⁷ Return to your rest, my soul,
   for the LORD has been good to you.
 ⁸ For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling,
⁹ that I may walk before the LORD
   in the land of the living.
 ¹⁰ I trusted in the LORD when I said,
   “I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ in my alarm I said,
   “Everyone is a liar.”
 ¹² What shall I return to the LORD
   for all his goodness to me?
 ¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people.
 ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD
   is the death of his faithful servants.
¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, LORD;
   I serve you just as my mother did;
   you have freed me from my chains.
 ¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the LORD—
   in your midst, Jerusalem.
   Praise the LORD.

Have a wonderful, blessed, productive, stress free day!