How can we bless the Lord? (inspired by Psalm 103)

Bless the Lord, o my soul 
And all that is within me -- 

            My creaky bones, my still beating heart
            My imagination, my words as yet unsaid
            My talents, yes, and even my shadows
            My yesterdays, my tomorrows

Yes, ALL that is within me, 
bless Your holy name, Lord. 

            Glory, glory
           Father, Son and Holy Spirit
           Glory, glory 
            Praise!  Amen. 

Bless you, Lord, o my soul 
Let me not forget not all YOUR benefits 

            Help me always to remember, to know, to trust
            Imprint them, Lord, in my gut 

First, You forgive all my iniquity
            
             Every single sin, 
             the whole bunch, 
             Overwhelming or oh-so petty 
             Absorbed, Transformed, GONE! 

PLUS You heal all my diseases

            The pains - aches -  
            The utter exhaustion -  the debilitation
            That take me “from my true rest in Thee” 
            Absorbed, Transformed, GONE! 

PLUS You redeem my life from the Pit 

            from
            Despair, depression, 
            Destruction, doubt,
            Deepest darkness.
            Death.
            Absorbed, Transformed, GONE! 

           and 
           Each and every day…
          You resurrect us -- me --
          Renew us 

         Jesus, Son of God, 
         Scorned, Scourged, Suffering 
         Thank you.

PLUS You crown me with steadfast love and mercy
You satisfy me with good as long as I shall live 

            Right now, 
           Right in this moment,
           Today, tomorrow and always 

So that my youth may be renewed like an eagle’s 

            Strong, 
            Soaring,
            Sharp for Your Presence, Lord 

PLUS you work vindication and justice for all who are oppressed 

            We can trust this, right? 
            After all, 

You made Your ways known to Moses 
And your deeds to the People of Israel

            You freed them from slavery 
            You led them through the wilderness
            You covenanted with them 
            You would be their God …. 
            They would be Your people
            Forever and ever more. 

            They learned - 
            We learn - 
            oh so slowly 
            That ….

Lord, you are ALWAYS merciful and gracious 
slow to anger, 

            A bit like bitumen pitch just inching along

abounding  
            
           Burbling, gushing, waterfalling over

In steadfast love 
            
           But, Lord, 
           what about those 
            Still captive
            Still bound by poverty, hunger, violence? 

            O, Lord, tarry not … 
            Transform the oppressors, 
            Free the oppressed…

           TODAY 

            Amazingly 

You will not always accuse 
Or smoulder your anger forever. 

            Against  me -- us -- your people -- all people
           Who perpetuate oppression
            Let others suffer 
            Look the other way 

            Instead 

Of dealing with us as our sins deserve 
Or repaying us according to our iniquities 
            
            You act 
            Yes, you act
            Yes! In LOVE 

For as high as the comets, the stars, the galaxies 
are above the Earth 
So great 
            
            so glorious

is Your granite-sure love toward those who fear You. 
            
            Toward
            Those who turn to you
            Turn back to you 
            Return 

As far as the east is from the west 
So fa-a-a-a-a-a-r…..do You remove our transgressions from us.

            Because we can’t, remove our transgressions
            Ourselves, can we? 
            No matter how much we want to
            No matter how hard we try 

           You had to act for us
            Once and for all 

          Out of Love 
          You hung them on the cross
          And now
          every day…
         You resurrect us -- me --
         Renew us 

          Jesus, Son of God, 
         Scorned, scourged, suffering
          Thank you 

As a father has compassion on his children 
So You, Lord, have compassion on those you fear you. 

            And also, Lord, surely,
            For those who doubt, deny, 
            haven’t yet woken up to 
            Your Presence? 

For You know how we were made 
You remember -- 
           
            You never forget 
            (After all, You made us!) 

That we are dust. 

            YOUR
            Sacred 
            Beloved
            Dust. 

As for us humans, our days 

             ourstoriesouraccomplishmentsourregretsourprayers

are like grass; 

We flourish like the flower of the field; 
            
            Like trilliums in rain-soaked spring shade
            Like oat grass scorched by summer sun
             Like purple asters bold against autumn chill

For the wind passes over us, and we are GONE
And the place - the world -  knows us no more. 
            
            Aka 
            It forgets us 
            It is as if we never lived

But Your love, O Lord, is steadfast 
It is from everlasting to everlasting 
            
            Timeless
            Forever 
            and ever and ever and….more

On those who fear You, 

            Those who turn to you
             Those who have yet to turn to you
             Turn back to you ... yes?
             Return 

PLUS Your righteousness, Lord, extends to our children’s children

            To Mavis Lee and beyond - - - - 

To those who keep Your covenant 
And remember to do Your commandments 

            To Those who do not forget
            What Jesus said, 
            If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, 
            just as I have kept my Father’s commandments 
            and abide in his love….

            And This 
            is my commandment, 
            that you love one another 
           as I have loved you. 

            Help us - me - to remember, to know, to act

Lord, You have established Your throne in the heavens,
And Your kingdom rules over all. 

            Glory, glory
             Father, Son and Holy Spirit
            Glory, glory 
            Praise!  Amen
            
Bless the Lord, O you his angels 
You mighty ones who do his bidding. 
Obedient to his spoken word. 

Bless the Lord, all his hosts, 

            All the hearts that welcome Him 
            feed Him, need Him,
            free Him

His ministers that do Your Will 

            Your Body here on Earth

Bless the Lord, all his works, 
In all places of his dominion. 

            Oh yes, Oh yes…

Bless the Lord, o my soul.  

 Copyright 2021 Catherine Ripley