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<v SPEAKER_00>Hello, and welcome to the Spray UMC Podcast.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I'm Hoyt, and I'm glad you're here.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today I'd like to talk with you about the book of Psalms and the permission it gives us to be honest with God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Psalm 121 begins with these familiar words.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Psalms 121, verses 1-2.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There have been mornings when those words have carried me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Illness, grief, and burdens we cannot control remind us that we need help beyond ourselves.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The psalmist looks beyond the hills to the one who made them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My help comes from the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Psalms have often been called the hymn book of Israel, but they are also an invitation to honest prayer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They contain joy, gratitude, fear, guilt, confusion, loneliness, and grief.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The writers do not pretend that faith makes life easy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They bring their whole hearts before God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>David does this in Psalms thirteen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Forever?

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<v SPEAKER_00>How long will thou hide thy face from me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Perhaps you've asked, Lord, how much longer?

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<v SPEAKER_00>How much longer will this illness continue?

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<v SPEAKER_00>How much longer will this struggle last?

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<v SPEAKER_00>David was not afraid to ask, and God was not offended.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yet the psalm ends with trust.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But I have trusted in thy mercy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

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<v SPEAKER_00>David's circumstances had not changed, but his focus had.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He admitted that he almost lost his footing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then he said, Until I went into the sanctuary of God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That word, until matters.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God did not explain everything, but worship changed Asaph's perspective.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes we enter church carrying questions and leave with the same circumstances, but a steadier heart because we have remembered that God is still on his throne.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then there is Psalms eighty-eight, perhaps the darkest Psalm in Scripture.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It speaks of suffering, loneliness, and feeling abandoned.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it ends without a happy resolution.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yet God included it in His Word.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That tells us that even when we cannot see the light, He still hears us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes faith does not sound like a shout of victory.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes it's a whisper, Lord, I'm still here.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That too is an honest prayer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Even Jesus reached for the Psalms on the cross.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Our Savior understands sorrow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The psalm points us to Christ and reminds us that every season of life has a prayer, joy, repentance, confusion, grief, fear, and praise.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we return to where we began.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Our help comes from the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We do not have to hide our hearts from him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you are joyful, praise him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you have sinned, seek his forgiveness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you are confused, trust him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you are grieving, rest in his presence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Whatever you are carrying today, bring it to the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He knows your heart, understands every tear, and hears every whispered prayer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The one who watches over his children never sleeps, never grows weary.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Will you pray with me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Psalms and for reminding us that we do not have to pretend before you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You invite us to come honestly, trusting your mercy and unfailing love.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For everyone carrying a heavy burden today, lift their eyes above their circumstances and help them see you, the maker of heaven and earth, from whom our help comes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Give us faith to trust you, humility to repent, and hearts that praise you in every season.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for Jesus Christ, who understands our sorrow and brings us to your throne of grace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We pray in his holy name.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you don't have a home church, we would love for you to come and worship with us at Spray United Methodist Church, located at 803 Morgan Road in Eden, North Carolina.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We are a loving community of faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We love God and we love people, all people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No matter where you've been or what you experienced, you'll find a warm welcome here.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Keep your eyes on the Lord, trust in his promises, and remember, your help comes from the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>May the Lord bless you and keep you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you for spending these few minutes with me today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Until next time, God bless you.