Psalm 103

A Really Good Day

Posted on by Betsy

What would a really good day look like to you right now? Attending a college football game surrounded by a blaze of russet-colored trees with a crisp breeze blowing across the field? Sounds GREAT. Or how about a day on the water catching the plumpest flounder the ocean has to offer? Sign me up! Or maybe a lazy sleep-in, stay-a-bed day reading a good novel with a pot of strong coffee on the nightstand? Or perhaps a family gathering celebrating a 90th birthday with great food, lively conversations, peals of laughter, and a lot of reminiscing? Yes, please!

Here’s one we can all agree on: a global announcement that the pandemic is miraculously and definitively gone from the earth.

Here’s another one we can all agree on: the day you came clean with God and received his forgiveness for your sins. Now THAT was a really good day.

We are blessed to be loved by a God who is far stronger in his steadfast love than he is in his anger over our sin.

We are also blessed that God doesn’t deal with us according to our misbehavior. If that were to happen, where would we be? If we were punished in equal measure to our sin, I am pretty sure most of us would be “smote” by now.

Psalm 103 (New Revised Standard Version)

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

The sins we have committed are no longer part of our history and God has removed them as far as the east is from the west. Imagine that! This is the benefit of his steadfast love for you.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far he removes our transgressions from us.

Any day we remember the extent of God’s compassion for his children is a good day. Any morning that we wake up and recall his enormous steadfast love for us is the start of a good day, no matter what comes next.

13 As a father has compassion for his children,
    so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.

May God bless this day with constant reminders of his love for you.

Make it a Good One by Karen Warlitner

A Really Bad Day

Posted on by Betsy

I confessed to my church yesterday that I hit the wall last week and had to shut down for a day or two. It came after a string of bad days that included a two-week house repair that was now in its third month, a visit with family that included conversations that drew lines between blue and red perspectives, and getting in the car with my husband to drive over five hours home and discovering ten minutes out that we had a flat tire.

Ever had a bad day that seemed like it wouldn’t go away?

I heard about a couple that was having a really bad day together. They had each had a bad day at work and when they got home, they were arguing a lot. Finally the wife got fed up and told her husband to just write her a note if he really wanted to talk to her. He agreed, so for the rest of the night they passed notes back and forth.

When they went to bed the husband left a note on the kitchen table saying, “Please wake me up at 6 A.M. I have to wake up early for an important meeting.” He went to sleep and all was well.

The next morning he woke up and immediately realized something was wrong. He looked at the clock and saw that it was 9 A.M. He ran to his wife and asked why she didn’t wake him up. She pointed to the table.

Next to his note was another one. He opened it and it said, “Wake up! It’s 6 A.M.”

Yep. That was a really bad day.

Do you know what to do when a bad day comes along? There’s only one thing to do…bless the Lord.

Psalm 103 (New Revised Standard Version)

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and do not forget all his benefits—

Oh, especially on a bad day, do not forget all of God’s benefits to you! The author of all creation loves you so much he knows the very count of hairs on your head. The One who told the stars where to shine has loved you from the moment of your conception. The Father who sent his only Son to die on the cross was sacrificing it all for your salvation.

3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

When I “cried uncle” after my bad day, I took some time to shut down all the cacophony and really focus on my blessings. I came out a few days later feeling renewed and ready.

Next time you’re having a bad day remember who redeems your life from the Pit. Remember who heals you and forgives all of your wrongdoings. Turn to the one who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, and just sit in his presence.

More bad days are likely to come but if you rest in his arms you’ll be renewed and ready, too.

The Start of a Really Good Day by Michelle Robertson