OUR DAILY BREAD : MAKING MELODY

[cimi]

February 18
Wednesday


MAKING
MELODY

READ:
Psalm 126
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Do you know why bees hum? It's because they can't remember the words!

Ironically, that old joke reminds me of a serious story I read about a man awaiting heart bypass surgery. He was aware that people die during surgery. As he thought about all that could go wrong,he felt very much alone.

Then an orderly walked into his room to take him to surgery. As the young man began to push his gurney along the corridor, the patient heard him humming an ancient Irish hymn, "Be Thou My Vision." It prompted his memories of lush green fields and the ancient stone ruins of Ireland, the land of his birth. The hymn flooded his soul like a fresh breath of home. When the orderly finished with that song, he hummed Horatio Spafford's hymn, "It Is Well With My soul."

When they stopped outside the surgical suite, the man thanked him for the hymns. "God has used you this day," he said, "to remove my fears and restore my soul." "How so?" the orderly asked in surprise. "Your 'hums' brought God to me," the man replied.

"The LORD has done great things for us" (Ps. 126:3). He has filled our heart with song. He may even use our "hums" to restore someone's soul. __David Roper
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``````````````Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart--`````````````
````````````Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;````````````
`````````````Thou my best thought, by day or by night--````````````
``````Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. __Irish hymn```````
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Praise flows freely from the choir of the redeemed.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 126*****************

1 When the LORD brought
back the captivity of Zion,
we were like those who
dream. 2 Then our mouth
was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with
singing. Then they said
among the nations, "The
LORD has done great things
for them." 3 The LORD has
done great things for us,
and we are glad.

4 Bring back our captivity,
O LORD, as the streams in
the South.

5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap in joy. 6 He who
continually goes forth
weeping, bearing seed for
sowing, shall doubtless
come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with
him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Just as Psalm 126 is a psalm of praise for God's provision, Psalm
40 shows how despair can be replaced with a new song of praise:
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard
my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry
clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has
put a new song in my mouth--praise to our God; many will see it
and fear, and will trust in the LORD" (vv.1-3). Intercessory prayer,
meditating on the Word, and songs of praise have a way of lifting us
out of the depths of sadness, renewing our hearts, and setting our
feet on a renewed walk of faith. __Dennis Fisher