I think one of the greatest lessons we can learn is how to lament as a community or as a body of believers.  When we can look at others around us and join together in weeping and crying out for others, it gets our eye off of ourselves and our problems.  And when we look at our problems less, many times our problems become less.  Prayers of group confession and laments over actions (or inaction) spur us to do better and to renew broken relationships.  And so take some time this week and call up someone from the church and lament together about how God can change what is taking place at your place of worship.

Lamenting for our sins is one of the most common laments in the Psalm.  And with Psalm 22 Jesus lamented for the sins that were placed on him (not his own).  So what are the sins that you need to lament this week over.  Confess those and Jesus will forgive you.

Laments are not just complaints.  They are not just sad songs/prayers.  They are not just spewing our negativity to God.  They are so much more.  God is not hurt or damaged by our complaints nor does he ignore or condemn us when we bring our grievances to him.  Many godly people in the Bible lamented.  We even have a whole book of laments.  But it is important to remember that God can still be trusted when we are lamenting.  He can still be praised when we are going through tough times.  If you always look at your circumstances, you will always find things to lament/complain about.  But if you also look to God, you will see someone who will help you through those circumstances and see you better on the other side.  Trust him with all your laments.

I am on vacation camping this week so please pray for good weather.

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful fourth of July last week.  Keep praying for our country that we would once again embrace the Godly principles we were founded on.  God bless America.

I want to wish our country a happy birthday this week.  I pray that you all will celebrate what the Lord has done for our nation and that his hand would continue to bless us.

No devotion today because I am at camp.  Pray for the campers.

Start praying with us for summer youth camp that starts this Saturday up in Evert, MI.  God is going to do some great things and you can be a part of it with your prayers.

Being stuck in a difficult circumstance is not uncommon.  In fact, as a modern day illustration just happened to me today.  My car needed a new alternator and with the minor engine knowledge I have (and have changed a couple of alternators in the past), I decided to tackle the job myself.  But trying to get a huge alternator out of a cramped engine is not always easy as I found out.  And despite how easy YouTube made it seem, it took me more than 6 hours of hot work to get it out.  (Plus another 3 to get the new one in).  But being stuck with car engines are nothing compared to being stuck spiritually in sin.  Nothing we can do in and of ourselves can get us unstuck in regard to sin.  But we have a Savior who came down to the muck with us and is able to lift us out of the miry we find ourselves in.  All we need to do is surrender to him.