"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.” (Job 1:21)

And the Word of God says: "Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

As I write this email on the last day of the year, I am reminded that many families in our church have have lost loved ones in 2021. And just this week, our church body has been tossed and torn as the Lord took Tracy Dugan home to be with him.

In moments like this, where the specter of death overshadows us and the pain of loss afflicts us, words are not sufficient. But neither is silence. And thus, we come to the Word of God and find confessions like this: "My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!” and "My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!”

When our words fail us, the Word of God does not. And this Sunday we will gather to hear that Word and to meditate on Psalm 119:25–32.

While January will be a month where we focus on spiritual disciplines, personal and public, the first Sunday of the year will be spent considering how the Word of God gives grace when death afflicts.

As you have time read Psalm 119---its the long one, so give yourself time to soak it in—and pray for our gathering. Please pray for Collene and her girls (Kelsey, Mabry, and Naomi) and the rest of the family. May the Lord give them grace and strength as they make funeral arrangements for Tracy. As we have more information, we will share them with you.

Until then, let us bless the name of the Lord, for he is good and he does good. And ultimately, his work will put death to death, as life swallows the grave. Meditating on that point you may find help here: From Death to Life: How Joshua Teaches us to Find Resurrection Hope in the Midst of Loss.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday, as the Lord allows and the Lord gathers us together.

Sorrowful, yet rejoicing in the Lord,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions for Psalm 119

Psalm 119:25-32

1. As you reflect on 2021, for what are you thankful? Sorrowful? Prayerful?
2. As you begin 2022, what are you praying for or striving for in the power of the Lord?
3. When you have read Psalm 1:19 in the past, what have you learned or appreciated?
4. In verses 25–32, what are some of the words that stand out to you? How does beginning by looking at repeated words help you to understand these verses?
5. What is the flow of thought in these eight verses? How does that help you apply these verses to you?
6. In verses 25- 32, what do you learn about God? His word? And yourself?
7. how do these verses encourage you? And help you going into this year? How might they minister grace to you or someone else who has been suffering loss?
8. How does Mark 4 illustrate Psalm 119? How does the enfleshed omnipotence of Jesus encourage you? How does it give you confidence to approach this year?
9. What else are you praying for in 2022?