Today's Reading July 27

Sorry for the delay again, it really has not been a great day.
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Today, from the Old Testament, Psalms 50, 51, and 52. Psalm 51 is sometimes termed a Psalm of repentance. Perhaps that is why it's an old favorite of mine, I've had som many occasions to find it appropriate. David wrote it after being called out for his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. Who among us is without sin? Not I. Nor David, and from his heart came

Chapter 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Rom 3:4
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Sound familiar? Resonate in your life like it does in mine?

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From the New Testament, Acts chapter 27, verses 1 through 25. Paul is on his way to Rome, under arrest, heading for his eventual death. And by ship at that, something most Jews did not like to do - the Sea of Galilee was bad enough, the Mediterranean was much more forbidding. But he went, a two ship journey, rather like us when we have to take two or more planes to get to our destination. And the second ship promptly got into trouble, foundered, sank.
Yet even in this, in the midst of the storm, God shows up. And Paul, speaking to the terrified crew and passengers says,

21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

and so it was.