Preparing for Worship (Sunday, February 1)

If your week has been like mine, many of your plans were interrupted by last week’s storm and you’ve spent a fair amount of time shoveling. In Psalm 147:16-17, the psalmist writes “He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before this cold?” Weather events like this are humbling as we see the power of God and all plans are brought to a halt. I don’t remember seeing this much ice in Northern Virginia, but I’m looking forward to what the psalmist describes in verse 18, "He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow."

As we regather for worship this Sunday, we will be turning to Psalm 119 for one week before we begin our next sermon series. In preparation for worship, I invite you to read Psalm 119:33-40, and I encourage you to take time to meditate on this stanza of the psalm. Consider the psalmist’s prayer as he prays about what he knows, what he loves, what he fears, and what he needs.

How does this psalm speak to what you know, love, and fear? When we look in the mirror of God’s Word (James 1:22-25), it exposes our hearts (Heb 4:12). When confronted by the Word of God, it is right that we turn to the Lord in prayer, and this is what we see in this stanza (Ps 119:33-40). May the prayer of the psalmist become our prayer, and may the Lord graciously turn our hearts to Himself.

As we continue to deal with icy conditions, please use extra caution in the OBC parking lot. Snow plowing has shortened many of our parking spaces, which allows less room when pulling out. We will keep our regular morning schedule with Sunday School and Great Commission Prayer at 9:00am, and we will gather for worship at 10:00am. Please note that we are rescheduling our Members’ Meeting to Sunday, February 15.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as the Lord allows.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Ben