Today's Scripture passage and meditation really struck home for me today as my family, including myself, tend to be rather stubborn, independent and quite reluctant to show need or ask for help. We like to think of ourselves as totally capable and self-sufficient, and so, asking for help from God--or from anyone else for that matter--is quite foreign to our usual nature.

And so, David's frank admission of his need and his willingness to turn to God is a good reminder to us that we need to do so as well. Maybe it's a good reminder to you as well.

How many times as parents we have said, 'listen up', to our children when they didn't seem to be listening. And, it's not just children. The lack of listening to others seems to be epidemic in our society and our world today. That, too, seemed to be the problem with much of Jesus' audience in today's passage. Actually, they were listening, but they weren't paying close attention to it or taking it in or examining carefully the implications of what He was saying. I pray that this won't occur with any of us.

Following Jesus and being faithful to Him and to His way is never easy or simple, but hopefully these meditations will be of help

Observing our world and our society today--especially with the turmoil and divisions, and the outright war and sabre rattling taking place, many people would jump to the conclusion that much of the world has lost its way, And, indeed, can this not also be said of our families, churches, communities--and even of ourselves at times? It is here that Jesus' promise to be the light of our world is most welcome. But then, there is a catch--there always is! We must allow Him to be that light. We must listen to Him--via His word--and then allow Him to help us and direct us.

“Jumping to conclusions” Meditation – John 7:37-52 (Forward, p. 28) CEV p. 1110

I do not claim, not in the least, to always being inspired by God, but something that never ceases to amaze me is when I am preaching or writing, and something new or unexpected comes forth. I find myself asking a question, 'now, where in the world did that come from? I say that because there has been nothing in my study or my research or my previous experience that led me to it. It has come totally 'from the blue', as it were. I think that this is something akin to revelation.

Anyway, Jesus was most careful to tell His questioners that nothing He taught was of His own devising, but was totally from God, totally a revelation. And, I can't help but think, that if Jesus felt the need to be totally reliant upon God as the source of His learning, how much more should we. Anyway, here is something to ponder and pray about.