Psalm 31:14-16

"I put my trust in you, Lord,

I say, ‘You are my God.’

"MY TIME IS IN YOUR HANDS,

deliver me, from the hands of enemies and persecutors.

"Let your face shine on your servant, save me in your love."

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I would like you to think of time today:

1. Think of a time of religious commitment when you said, "I put my trust in you, Lord."

What did it feel like to say those words?

PAUSE TO REFLECT

2. Think of a time when your life was at a boundary (a critical decision, a time when life and death hung in the balance…) and you said, "I put my trust in you, Lord."

What did you sense when you said those words with heartfelt conviction – did anything in your consciousness change?

PAUSE TO REFLECT

3. Think of a common time, a time of daily prayer or meditation, sitting in creation and you said, "I put my trust in you, Lord."

Pray quietly, –over and over again – "I put my trust in you, Lord…You are my God."

What is the feeling in your heart when you recite those words?

PAUSE TO REFLECT

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What does it mean to you to say with the Psalmist, "MY TIME IS IN YOUR HANDS…."?

Your life /// Your work /// Your family time /// Your leisure

1. Think of a time when you have said or felt that your "time is in God’s hands."

What changes when you deeply trust those words, "My life is in God’s hands"?

How is the tone of your life different when you live as if those words are true?

How is the way you relate to others, conduct business, raise your children (or play with your grandchildren), cast your votes in November, listen to politicians debate, care for both your soul and your body – in the most practical terms, how are you different because you believe that your "times are in God’s hands?"

PAUSE TO REFLECT

The CD of the James Taylor song, "The Secret o’ Life" is played for the congregation.

Worshippers were asked to quietly reflect on each of the following:

"The secret of love is opening your heart….Okay to be afraid, just don’t let it get in your way….Love is the only road.

"Time isn’t really real – it’s just your point of view – How does it feel for you?"

"My time is in your hands, O God."

"Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."

"My time is in your hands, O God."
 
 

TEMPORAL TIME AND LIFE

Psalm 31:

"Be strong, take heart, all you hope in the Lord" for I have

"I put my trust in you, Lord…you are my God."

"Let your face shine on your servant – Save me in your love."

ETERNAL TIME

Revelation 21:1-7

"A new heaven and a new earth….the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down from God as beautiful as a bride on her wedding day….here God lives among all people, tents with them, they are God’s people….wiping away tears, no more death, no more mourning or sadness….drink from the water of the well of life!…"

Heschel: "Time is eternity in disguise."

"I put my trust in you, Lord, you are my God. My time is in your hands, O God."
 
 
 

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STUDY GUIDE FOR THE WEEK FOLLOWS
 
 

MEDITATION FOR THE WEEK: 10/3

Secret O’ Life James Taylor

The secret of life is enjoying

the passage of time

Any fool can do it

There ain’t nothing to it

Nobody knows how we got to

The top of the hill

But since we’re on our way down

We might as well enjoy the ride

The secret of love is in opening up your heart

It’s okay to feel afraid

But don’t let that stand in your way

’cause anyone knows that love is the only road

And since we’re only here for a while

Might as well show some style

Give us a smile

Isn’t it a lovely ride

Sliding down

Gliding down

Try not to try too hard

It’s just a lovely ride

Now the thing about time is that time

Isn’t really real

It’s just your point of view

How does it feel for you

Einstein said he could never understand it all

Planets spinning through space

The smile upon your face

Welcome to the human race

Some kind of lovely ride

I’ll be sliding down

I’ll be gliding down

Try not to try too hard

It’s just a lovely ride
 
 

Isn’t it a lovely ride

Sliding down

Gliding down

Try not to try too hard

It’s just a lovely ride

Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
 
 
 
 

FOR MEDITATION AND REFLECTION

•The Psalmist wrote (31:14-16),

I put my trust in you, Lord,

I say, ‘You are my God."

My time is in your hand,

deliver me,

from the hands of enemies and

persecutors.

Let your face shine on your servant,

save in your love.

•Also, please read Revelation 21:1-7

• For reflection and meditation with texts:

"The one true freedom in life is to come to terms with death, and as early as possible, for death is an event that embraces all our lives. And the only way to have a good death is to lead a good life. Lead a good one, full of curiosity, generosity, and compassion, and there’s no need at the close of the day to rage against the dying of the light. We can go gentle into that good night." William Sloane Coffin

QUESTIONS

•What thoughts come to mind about your sense of time and life as you hear the words of this James Taylor song?

•What is the dialogue in your soul as you compare the Taylor song with the quotation from William Sloane Coffin?

•What does it mean to you that "your time is in God’s hand"?