LAMENT AND HOPE

Psalm 43:3-6

Send out your light and your truth;
      let them guide me.
   Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
      to the place where you live.
  There I will go to the altar of God,
      to God—the source of all my joy.
   I will praise you with my harp,
      O God, my God!

  Why am I discouraged?
      Why is my heart so sad?
   I will put my hope in God!
      I will praise him again—
      my Savior and my God!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Lament".  It's not a word many of us are familiar with.  Often, "lament" is confused with "complaint" or "resignation" [as in, "I resign myself to the fact that things are bad and there's nothing I can do about it"].  But biblical "lament" is different.  While biblical "lament" is a form of complaint, it also expresses confident hope - hope that God hears us; hope that God can change the circumstances; hope that God will act to reverse the present situation.  The season of Advent is a time when "lament" is appropriate.  We have lost our way; where is God?  The Good News of Advent is that God has come, is still coming, and will come again to the world with light and truth in Jesus.  Thanks be to God.


TODAY'S ADVENTure
 Today when you hear music, be thankful to God - our source of hope!