Good morning!   A most blessed Thursday to you.

Let's begin our time of devotion together in the book of Psalm.  Open with me to Psalm 121:8 

The Lord will keep

    your going out and your coming in

    from this time on and for evermore.

I love this verse, especially in a season of busyness. Not all families and not all people have a busy season in May.   But for many, this is the time of graduations.  It's the time of finalizing summer plans, recitals, end-of-the-year performances, and award ceremonies.   We just celebrated Mother's Day. There's just a lot that gets crammed into the few short weeks of May. And even if this isn't your busy season, I know that you still know what a busy season is. Every single one of us experiences a busy season or two during the year, where we find ourselves running from one thing to the next.  In these times we often run out of time.  We wonder… where did the time go?   How can I get more time? Why isn't there more time?  All this brought to mind a painting by Salvador Dali. You can see these clocks that are just melting.  

When we think of time we know that there is order, and there is precision. But in this painting we see that time is “wonkified”. Time is portrayed as melting and sliding away. One day of busyness melts into another day of busyness, and we don’t know what happened to the time.  

That’s why I like Psalm 121:8. This verse reminds us that it is the Lord who keeps our time.  It is the Lord who keeps our going out, and our coming in.  He is the one to guide our steps.  He is the one to know our very steps before we take them.  And so it's really important to remember that God goes before us, and God goes with us. Nothing is a surprise to God.  He created time itself. And he gave us exactly the right amount of time. As his beloved children we have been blessed with time, and given the responsibility to be good stewards of time. 

We will all have busy seasons.  Even farmers have the harvest season, which is going to be busier than the growing season. So busyness doesn't surprise God.  But this is also why he calls us to himself… why he calls us to rest in himself, and to order our time according to his will. We all need extra grace during our busy seasons.  But we also need the Lord. When we are so busy that we think we don’t have time to spend with the Lord, we really need to stop and sit in His presence.

I want to encourage you, whether you are in a busy season right now or not… whenever you come to that busy season don't let the Lord be the first person to drop from your schedule.  Instead, reverse it, and begin with the Lord. Begin the busy day with prayer. Begin centered on him, his Word, and his will for your life.  He will make your time ordered. 

Again, let's hear this verse: 

The Lord will keep

    your going out and your coming in

    from this time on and for evermore.

The Lord is with you.  The Lord will always be with you.  Let us turn now to the Lord in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that in every busy season you are present and you are you are guiding us and leading us. We ask that especially in the busy seasons help us to turn to you, and begin our days with you, seeking your will for our lives.  Lord, in those days where the time seems to stretch and linger, we asked that we would use it to bask in your goodness and your glory, and appreciate the blessings of time that you have blessed us with, and given to us.  Lord, we ask that as we finish out this week, that you would guide us and help us to order our days. Help us keep your ever present in the center of our lives. Help us to be good stewards of the precious gift of time that you have so graciously given to us.  Lord, keep us and bless us until we come together again to sing praises to you. In your Holy Name, Amen. 

Have an incredible rest of your week. I look forward to resting in the Lord and celebrating with you, my brothers and sisters, in the goodness and the mercy of our Lord. 

God bless!

Pastor Malinak