Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Where is God?
by Sandy Houpt
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
    the face of God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me continually,
    "Where is your God?"
These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
    and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
    a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help  and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
    at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
    have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock,
    "Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
    because the enemy oppresses me?"
10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
    "Where is your God?"
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help and my God.

-- Psalm 42
The focus for this year's Advent devotions is to "Pay Attention." The writer of Psalm 42 is searching for God. People say to him continually, "Where is your God?" Today people are still lamenting and saying, "Where is God?"

I am fortunate to help in the Epiphany Pantry. If I pay attention, I can see God in the hearts of my fellow workers - those who are there week in and week out - sorting donations, restocking shelves, and filling requests. God is using their hands and energy to help others.

The Pantry works in cooperation with social agencies, schools and even Dayton Children's Hospital. I am fortunate to speak with the case workers on the phone and sometimes in person when they come to retrieve their requested items. If I pay attention, I can see God in the work that they do. They have devoted their lives to trying to better situations I can't even imagine.

Those are two rather obvious examples of seeing God in the Pantry, but if I pay attention, I can find God in the eyes of the folks bringing in donations. They are giving not only their items, but of themselves to help their neighbors. More often than you know, we will be in need of an item to fill a request and before the day is over, someone brings it in. These are but a few of the places where if I pay attention, I can see God. "Where is your God?" Open your eyes, and pay attention.
Prayer: 
Dear God, thank you for the many opportunities we have to see You in our neighbors and the work that they do to serve each other. Open our eyes that we may pay attention to all of the good things You are doing using the hands and hearts of your people. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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