“But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; let them also be merry and joyful” (Psalm 68:3, Coverdale Version, 2019 Anglican Book of Common Prayer).
Dear Praying Friends:
As we all know, sorrow and sadness can easily oppress even those who do not live in a war zone as David did.
Surrounded and harassed by enemies, he nevertheless summoned God’s people to “be glad and rejoice," and even to “be merry and joyful.”
Why? Because God cares for the needy, helpless, and oppressed. He releases the captives and takes them to a better place; goes with his people through the wilderness, showers them with blessings, defeats their enemies, sets up his dwelling place among them, daily bears their burdens, and generally saves them (Psalm 68:5-20).
Special occasions also call for celebrations of “feasting and merriment,” as the invitation to attend an evening of remembering God’s past provision and presenting a vision for the future for Christ the Reconciler announced. This community of prayer is led by Dori’s nephew Thomas Cogdell and his wife Amy. When we first moved to Texas in 2015, we chose to settle in a town not far from their retreat center in Elgin. We attended their prayer meetings and retreats for seven years, enveloped by love and joy.
And merriment. The attached photos provide a glimpse of Saturday’s festivities, which also featured glad reunions with dear friends. Sometimes God wants us just to have some good, clean fun with his people!
“The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people” (Psalm 68:35).
Yours in his all-sufficiency,
Wright
