Honesty...

...in the words of Billy Joel, is such a lonely word.

I hope you found it helpful yesterday to reflect on honesty and its place in our walk of faith with God, following Jesus.  If you want to catch up on Kim's talk looking at 'Honest Thomas' you can do that here.

And it was encouraging to hear your responses to Psalm 74, the psalm of lament that we read together.  Some of you have sent me the psalms and prayers that your groups wrote, and I've reproduced them below - I hope you find them an encouragement to keep being honest with God about how you're responding to life at the moment.

Don't forget too to visit the Hope for the Hungry in Harare page and make a gift to support One Way School at this difficult time, if you're able to.  Any gift is greatly appreciated.

Blessings, Ian

Our laments, in Covid-19 lockdown

O Lord, we are feeling desperate and lonely, cut off from our families, friends and work colleagues.  How long, O God, will we have to endure this terrible virus?  We can’t even come together to worship you.

But Lord we choose to worship you, remembering your great love and faithfulness.  Even if the news is totally gloomy we will trust you and know that there is hope for a wonderful future with you.

And we praise you Lord that you can bring good out of evil.  Praise God that since the start of the pandemic, more people than ever are turning to you.
 

How long, how long O Lord, before you act?
God you created order, day & night & seasons.
So many people making decisions that affect he innocent and poor.

How long must we sing our song?
How long, how long O God before we can go out again?

O Lord thank you that you have given us a new day. In the midst of our trials there is hope. 
Thank you that you are always with us and this season is for a time. 
While it may feel this may go on for ever help us to see your demonstrations of power just as the psalmist did.

Thank you that you break into our world and that you remember your covenant with us.

Lord we know that nothing takes you by surprise and we know that your everlasting love embraces and holds each of us as tightly now as ever.
 

O Lord, we wait for You,
Where can we find You in this time?
We long to see our families again.

We know that there are people in more difficult places than us,
People around the world choosing between health and living,
Where support and food are harder to come by.

Lead our leaders in making the right choices,
That will lead to recovery from this time.

O Lord, preserve us and keep us safe.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 

Oh Lord our Father, whatever we may have done please forgive us because we are still your children.  Oh Lord we love you and we give you thanks for all you have done for us your children.

Please give our leaders and scientists your wisdom and please bring this terrible virus to an end.

Our hope is still in you because you are the same loving Father we have always known.

Amen.