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Needing some comfort today? Can you think of someone else in need of comfort as well? Let's take 6 minutes together with 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. Music today comes from John Prine, a wonderful songwriter on my mind who's in critical condition with COVID-19. He's like Van Gogh in that he wordpaints 'ordinary' people with great compassion and understanding. And, like Dylan and Van Morrison, he's done some of his best songwriting in recent years, not just in the '70s.

For motivation to reach out to an older neighbor: 'Hello in There' https://youtu.be/VKoYHFVBpEA

If you're feeling a bit down yourself: 'Gold Inside of You.' https://youtu.be/xnL9EoWwC8o

And if you need to know if God would forgive you if you tried coming back to Him: 'Boundless Love'
https://youtu.be/XRyZBgeprMs

Would you prefer presents from God or God's presence? Moses answers this differently than most, and that's a Very good thing! 8 minutes with Exodus 33; I apologize for the length, but there's a plot twist at the end you won't want to miss! Music: Third Day, 'Show Me Your Glory' https://youtu.be/Z_e3aJLRsdc

The accused is completely exasperated; the accusers are angry whiners; the likely outcome for the loser is death. Lockdown day 10? Nope, it's Exodus 17:1-7, one of the most remarkable passages in the OT. Make sure you also look at Paul's take on this in 1 Corinthians 10:4. I was still so annoyed with this morning's illustration about what humanity is like that I forgot to mention it, as well as today's music! Chris Rice, performing August Toplady's classic hymn 'Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.' I'll mention something about the 'hide myself' portion tomorrow, but a word here about Toplady's call for God to be a 'double cure' from sin: The first cure is from sin's 'guilt' or 'wrath' Jesus pays the penalty of our guilt for breaking God's law. Yet Toplady also wants to be freed from sin's 'power' In other words, we can be forgiven by the blood of Christ, but still remain under the delusion that the goals, behaviors and rewards of this world are worth pursuing over God's ways (see 1 John 2:15-17). The DOUBLE cure is to receive that Christ has the power and desire to lead us into a new way of living as we 'hide ourselves' with him. That's where we're going tomorrow! https://youtu.be/rlhJ6ApK25E

For a beautiful quasi-techno take on the hymn, try this: https://youtu.be/oajlCygi7lU

Spiritual exfoliation. It's a thing. Join me for a few minutes on Malachi 3:1-2, and God's occasional deep cleans that involve taking a pipe bomb to our perceptions of self-sufficiency. Music: Jason Isbell's '24 Frames' (If you prefer George Frederick Handel or heavy metal for this theme, I'm willing to oblige.)

https://youtu.be/ZtgPeNKpnyw