CCBlogs thinking critically, living faithfully

I. Readings
Psalms 122, 149, 100, 63
Judges 5:19-31
Acts 2:22-36
Matthew 28:11-20

II. Selections
Psalm 63:1
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Judges 5:28
Out of the window she peered,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp the mother of Sisera gazed through the lattice:
“Why is his chariot so long in coming?
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?”

Acts 2:36
Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.

Matthew 28:17
When [his eleven disciples] saw [the risen Jesus], they worshiped him; but some doubted.

III. Meditation

The mother of Sisera was in for a shock.
Her son was not merely late coming home,
not just tarrying; he would never return again.

As she waited for her son, so we wait for you.
Our soul thirsts for you, our flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

But you will come; we shall find you, worship you.
Sweep away our doubt, so all may know with certainty,
you have made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Messiah.

I. Readings
Psalms 88, 148, 6, 20
Judges 5:1-18
Acts 2:1-21
Matthew 28:1-10

II. Selections
Psalm 88:3
For my soul is full of troubles,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and my life draws near to Sheol.

Judges 5:2
“When locks are long in Israel,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp when the people offer themselves willingly—
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp bless the LORD! … ” [The Song of Deborah and Barak]

Acts 2:17
“…‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and your old men shall dream dreams. …’ ”
[Peter, quoting Joel]

Matthew 28:5-6
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. … ”

III. Meditation

When our soul is full of troubles
and our life draws near to Sheol,
recall to us your promises
and your saving acts;

then take away our fear,
that willingly we may
offer ourselves to you
and bless your name.

Pour out your Spirit upon us;
remind us we are not too old
to dream dreams, any more than
we are too young to see visions.

Forbid that we should look
for the living among the dead;
and teach us to worship you,
O Christ, our risen Lord.

I. Readings
Psalms 143, 147:12-20, 81, 116
Judges 4:4-23
Acts 1:15-26
Matthew 27:55-66

II. Selections
Psalm 81:13
“…O that my people would listen to me,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp that Israel would walk in my ways! … ” [A Voice the psalmist had not known]

Judges 4:8
Barak said to [Deborah], “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

Acts 1:21-22
“…So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” [Peter]

Matt. 27:59-60a
So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock.

III. Meditation

Peter sought another witness to your mighty acts,
but no matter how many witnesses we hear, your
people do not listen to you or walk in your ways.

Like Barak before Deborah, we want more assurances
before we commit ourselves. Make us more like Joseph
of Arimathea, who boldly approached Pilate for the body
of the one just executed—executed for making bold claims.

I. Readings
Psalms 65, 147:1-11, 125, 91
Judges 3:12-30
Acts 1:1-14
Matthew 27:45-54

II. Selections
Psalm 65:5
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp O God of our salvation;
You are the hope of all the ends of the earth
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and of the highest seas.

Judges 3:30
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.

Acts 1:4
While staying with [the apostles], [the risen Jesus] ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.

Matthew 27:45
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

III. Meditation

Come to us with your saving power; establish hope,
O God of our salvation, the hope of earth and sea,

When darkness comes over the whole land for us,
O deliver us with your awesome deeds, we pray.

Teach us to wait for what you have promised;
subdue your enemies, that the land may rest.

I. Readings
Psalms 54, 146, 28, 99
Judges 2:1-5, 11-23
Romans 16:17-27
Matthew 27:32-44

II. Selections
Psalm 54:7
For he has delivered me from every trouble,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Judges 2:17b
[The Israelites] soon turned aside from the way in which their ancestors had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD; they did not follow their example.

Romans 16:19
For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.

Matthew 27:33-34
And when [the soldiers leading Jesus] came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

III. Meditation

You have delivered me from many troubles,
but I cannot say my eye has looked in triumph
on all my enemies—not on my selfishness or pride.

I am not wise in what is good, or guileless in what is evil.
I have not followed the way in which my ancestors walked—
who obeyed your commandments—or followed their examples.

Make me more like the one who did look in triumph on his enemies,
even though he is the very one they led captive to a place called Golgotha.

I. Readings
Psalms 57, 145, 85, 47
Joshua 24:16-33
Romans 16:1-16
Matthew 27:24-31

II. Selections
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp to all who call on him in truth.

Joshua 24:22
Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”

Romans 16:1-2
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.

Matthew 27:24
So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s [Jesus’] blood; see to it yourselves.”

III. Meditation

You are near to all who call on you—
to all who call on you in truth.

Pilate tried to declare his own innocence,
but he did not convince even himself.

We claim that we have chosen to serve you,
but we do not always act as if we have.

Make us more like Phoebe, commended by Paul
as a benefactor of many, including himself.

For we call on you to help us, in truth we call;
be near to us; strengthen us to do your will.

I. Readings
Psalms 67, 150, 46, 93
Joshua 24:1-15
Acts 28:23-31
Mark 2:23-28

II. Selections
Psalm 67:1-2
May God be gracious to us and bless us,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and make his face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon earth,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp your saving power among all nations.

Joshua 24:13
I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built, and you live in them; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards that you did not plant.

Acts 28:24
Some were convinced by what he said, while others refused to believe.

Mark 2:24
The Pharisees said to [Jesus], “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”

III. Meditation

Loving and Gracious God,

You have given us land on which we have not labored;
we live in towns that we did not build; and we eat
the fruits of fields in which we have not worked.

In spite of your manifold mercies, too often we fail to accept
what you have done. Instead of being grateful, we bicker
over minute details that blind us to your goodness.

Convince us of the error of our ways. Be gracious to us and bless us,
and make your face shine upon us, that your way may be known
upon earth and your saving power among all nations.

I. Readings
Psalms 56, 149, 118, 111
Joshua 23:1-16
Romans 15:25-33
Matthew 27:11-23

II. Selections
Psalm 56:2c-3
O Most High, when I am afraid,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp I put my trust in you.

Joshua 23:14
“…And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed. … ” [Joshua to Israel]

Romans 15:29
…and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Matthew 27:12
But when [Jesus] was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.

III. Meditation: The Fullness of Your Blessing

Lord Jesus,

When you were accused, you did not answer—
already having spoken in the fullness of your life.

You trusted in God, and in God’s good promises;
we know in our hearts and souls, they do not fail.

As we share your story, make our trust like yours,
that we may speak in the fullness of your blessing.

I. Readings
Psalms 130, 148, 32, 139
Joshua 9:22-10:15
Romans 15:14-24
Matthew 27:1-10

II. Selections
Psalm 32:3
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp through my groaning all day long.

Joshua 9:10:13b
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in mid-heaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

Romans 15:14-15a
I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder…

Matthew 27:3
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

III. Meditation

Some sins may be regretted without repenting of them.
Then the body wastes away through groaning all day long.

Even when we repent, we usually cannot undo the harm.
Thirty pieces of silver were returned, but Christ was killed.

The clock does not turn back; the sun traverses the sky as before.
We may need reminders; nevertheless, the past must be left behind.

I. Readings
Psalms 36, 147:12-20, 80, 27
Joshua 9:3-21
Romans 15:1-13
Matthew 26:69-75

II. Selections
Psalm 36:2
For they flatter themselves in their own eyes
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

Joshua 9:16
But when three days had passed after [Joshua and the Israelites] had made a treaty with [the inhabitants of Gibeon], they heard that they were their neighbors and were living among them.

Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Matthew 26:75c
And [Peter] went out and wept bitterly.

III. Meditation

Sometimes we are deceived by the neighbors who
live among us; more often we deceive ourselves.

Why should we be reluctant to put up with the failings
of the weak, as if we have no weaknesses of our own?

When I flatter myself that my failings cannot be found out,
and my hypocrisy is uncovered, I feel like bitter weeping.

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I. Readings
Psalms 15, 147:1-11, 48, 4
Joshua 8:30-35
Romans 14:13-23
Matthew 26:57-68

II. Selections
Psalms 4:8
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.

Joshua 8:35
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them.

Romans 14:19
Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Matthew 26:63a
But Jesus was silent.

III. Meditation

O ever watchful God, Jesus was silent before his accusers.
Can I not then be silent about the small things that disturb me?

It is good to make others aware of your word, no doubt;
but not as reprimand or judgment over small infractions.

Help us pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding;
and at the end of the day let us lie down and sleep in peace,
secure in the safety that you provide, O watchful and caring God.

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I. Readings
Psalms 123, 146, 30, 86
Joshua 8:1-22
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 26:47-56

II. Selections
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp that I may walk in your truth;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

Joshua 8:17
There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel; they left the city open, and pursued Israel.

Romans 14:8
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Matthew 26:55-56
At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

III. Meditation: Undivided Attention, Undivided Hearts

Teach us your way, God, that we may walk in your truth;
give us an undivided heart, that we may revere your name.

The people of Ai were defeated because they were ambushed.
Their attention was directed to the wrong place—hearts divided.

At your arrest, the hearts of the disciples were divided; devoted
to you, but concerned for their own safety, they deserted and fled.

Focus our attention on you; make us single-minded, hearts undivided—
whether we live or whether we die, let it be to you, for we are yours.

I. Readings
Psalms 123, 146, 30, 86
Joshua 8:1-22
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 26:47-56

II. Selections
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp that I may walk in your truth;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

Joshua 8:17
There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel; they left the city open, and pursued Israel.

Romans 14:8
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Matthew 26:55-56
At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

III. Meditation: Undivided Attention, Undivided Hearts

Teach us your way, God, that we may walk in your truth;
give us an undivided heart, that we may revere your name.

The people of Ai were defeated because they were ambushed.
Their attention was directed to the wrong place—hearts divided.

At your arrest, the hearts of the disciples were divided; devoted
to you, but concerned for their own safety, they deserted and fled.

Focus our attention on you; make us single-minded, hearts undivided—
whether we live or whether we die, let it be to you, for we are yours.

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I. Readings
Psalms 135, 145, 97, 112
Joshua 7:1-13
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 26:36-46

II. Selections
Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD!
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Happy are those who fear the LORD,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp who greatly delight in his commandments.

Joshua 7:10
The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen upon your face? … ”

Romans 13:11-12a
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.

Matthew 26:45-46
Then [Jesus] came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

III. Meditation

Gracious God, happy are those who fear you,
who greatly delight in your commandments.

The night is far gone, the day is near, the hour is at hand.
Wake us from our sleep, that we may stand up before you,
for salvation is nearer than we think.

We pray in the name of Jesus, who did not sleep or take
his rest on the night he was betrayed.

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I. Readings
Psalms 19, 150, 81, 113
Joshua 6:15-27
Acts 22:30-23:11
Mark 2:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 19:1
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Joshua 6:24-25a
Then [the warriors of Israel] devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city [of Jericho], both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys. Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman out of it and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.”

Acts 23:9
Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, “We find nothing wrong with this man [Paul]. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

Mark 2:12
And [the paralytic] stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

III. Meditation

O God, we sympathize with the dissenting scribes;
at times it is hard to discern what you are telling us.

Your message written in the heavens and firmament
may be plain for some to see but is not so clear to us.

We can believe that Joshua was speaking your will
after the fall of Jericho when he instructed the spies
to keep their oath and save Rahab with her family;

but it seems impossible to accept that you told him
to kill all the other men and women, young and old,
together with all their oxen and sheep and donkeys.

But then even the people who witnessed the raising
of the paralytic were not all permanently persuaded
that they had heard your word. Teach us to discern.

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I. Readings
Psalms 104, 149, 138, 98
Joshua 6:1-14
Romans 13:1-7
Matthew 26:26-35

II. Selections
Psalm 104:21-22
The young lions roar for their prey,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they withdraw
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and lie down in their dens.

Joshua 6:14
On the second day they marched around [Jericho] once and then returned to camp. They did this for six days.

Romans 13:7
Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Matthew 26:34
Jesus said to [Peter], “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”

III. Meditation

Teach us to live by the order that you have ordained
for your creation. You have set the time for the lions
to come out of their dens, and the time for their return.

You have given us routines to follow in time of war
and in time of peace. You have established social order
and governing bodies and have told us to honor authority.

We tend to honor human authority, but, like Peter, often
deny honor to you, the authority most important of all.
Forgive us, for lions seem to obey you better than we do.

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I. Readings
Psalms 51, 148, 142, 65
Joshua 4:19-5:1, 10-15
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 26:17-25

II. Selections
Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Joshua 5:12
The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

Matthew 26:22
And [the disciples] became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

III. Meditation

Surely you don’t mean us, Lord?
Our manna is gone; now we must rely
on the other resources you have provided?
That should not greatly distress us, but it does.

We’re used to the old; can we cope with the new?
We do not trust you, do not trust ourselves in this.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation; but in our
joy, forbid that we claim to be wiser than we are.

Sustain in us a willing spirit, to live in harmony
with no regard for social or economic class.
Erase all trace of our conceit, and let us
enjoy the bountiful crops of Canaan.

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I. Readings
Psalms 97, 147:12-20, 16, 62
Joshua 3:14-4:7
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 26:1-16

II. Selections
Psalm 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp my body also rests secure.

Joshua 4:7c
“…So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.” [Joshua to the twelve men he had appointed, one from each tribe of the Israelites]

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 26:3-4
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

III. Meditation

What is permanent, and what will be transformed?

The schemes of the religious authorities did not persist.
Even memorial stones are not remembered forever.

Nothing in the world can be trusted to endure, so why
should we be conformed to the things of this world?

Let our hearts be glad and let our souls rejoice;
let our bodies rest secure that in you we can
be transformed into what will endure.

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I. Readings
Psalms 89:1-18, 147:1-11, 1, 33
Joshua 3:1-13
Romans 11:25-36
Matthew 25:31-46

II. Selections
Psalm 33:20-21
Our soul waits for the LORD;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp he is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp because we trust in his holy name.

Joshua 3:5
Then Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Matthew 25:44
“…Then [those on the king’s left hand] also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ … ” [Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation

When was it, Lord?
When did we see you in need and not respond?
Our soul has been waiting for you;
our heart is glad in you; we trust in your holy name.

We have nothing but praise
for your riches and wisdom and knowledge.
We sanctify ourselves
and ask you to perform wonders among us.

So how could it be
that we did not recognize you there in need?
Were you concealing yourself,
hiding among the wretched and miserable cast-offs,
the starving and the dying?

How inscrutable of you!

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I. Readings
Psalms 42, 146, 102, 133
Joshua 2:15-24
Romans 11:13-24
Matthew 25:14-30

II. Selections
Psalm 42:6b-c
My soul is cast down within me;
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp from Mount Mizar.

Josh. 2:21
[Rahab the prostitute] said, “According to your words, so be it.” She sent [the two spies] away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.

Rom. 11:18b
If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.

Matt. 25:22-23
“…And the [slave] with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ … ” [Jesus to his disciples, in the parable of the talents]

III. Meditation

Rahab the prostitute risked everything
as she put her trust in two strangers.
She believed they were sent by you,
and she followed their directions.

Is it so difficult for us to trust you
and to follow your word to us?
When we are cast down, help us
remember you—all you have done.

You support us, as a root supports
the branches. Support us as we take
the talents you have entrusted to our
care, and make us trustworthy with them.