Psalm 18:1-6
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Reflection:
The psalmist paints the most “solid” experience we have is with God. How has prayer strengthened and solidified your relationship with God?

One of the defining moments of my life was the birth, life, and death of our first daughter Abbey. I remember during the short 14 days of her life that I had to make a choice to be angry and turn away from God or to allow Him to walk with me through that most difficult journey. It was a conscious choice. I remember the moment I made the choice to embrace God’s love and grace and that anger had no place within me. God’s grace was my fortification and reassurance that I will be with her again.

Like the song says, “The church is the people.” Coming together as a church community for worship has made a profound difference in my life.

Prayer:
Dear God, as your community we ask that you continue to be the eye of the hurricane that is our trials, troubles, tribulations we encounter in this world, knowing that you, through Jesus, were the one who calms water when we are in peril on the sea. Amen.

– Richard Ralston