Speaking of Trust....

As the year begins to draw to a close, take a gander at some of the thoughts I'm sharing with supporters and friends.

CHECK IT OUT HERE!

You all make ministry happen.

Couldn't do it without you.

Ruthless Trust

I'm reading Brennan Manning's book Ruthless Trust and can I just say WHEW! While I wouldn't say I align myself theologically with all of Manning's writings (Franciscan Priesthood v. Evangelical Free) I think he is spot on with much of what I have been reading here. 

I've been struggling recently (most of my life) with just giving God all of my un-abandoned trust. Knowing, and resting in the fact that he (God) is HUGE and ABLE. Able to see my needs and meet them. Able to go before me into situations that scare the living day lights out of me. What I have found recently is that I want comfort, God wants Christ-likeness. 

Manning writes this, 

"We often presume that trust will dispel the confusion, illuminate the darkness, vanquish the uncertainty, and redeem the times. But the crowd of witnesses in Hebrews 11 testifies that this is not the case. Our trust does not bring final clarity on this earth. It does not still the chaos or dull the pain or provide a crutch. When all else is unclear, the heart of trust says, as Jesus did on the cross, "into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)"

I sometimes would prefer a crutch... something to fix it and dull the pain. That's not what Christ offers, what he does offer is a promise that he IS THERE. and He is. 

God has shown up, even today. I fell apart a little last night. Scared and frustrated I asked several friends to be in prayer, and today God showed me that he's with me. The presence of Christ in my life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is better than ANY crutch or pain relief.

This month, I choose to celebrate Thanksgiving.

For a lot of people, it's already Christmas time. While I'm not opposed to Christmas as a holiday, I do NOT want to miss Thanksgiving! So I'm going to celebrate Thanksgiving for the whole month of November.

Looking at the past year I just have SO many things that I'm thankful for. How bout you?

Staff Conference becomes Labor Camp becomes Training Camp

Just got back from spending 14 days at our Training Camp in Pardeeville, Wisconsin. (Pronounced 'Party-Ville', which is appropriate) We went there for multiple reasons, First, Conference. We talked about how 2011 was, laughed, told stories, and talked about things we need to change or do better as a ministry in the future. Overall, 2011 was a great summer for Royal Servants. These meetings took place in the evenings in what became known as "the clean room", otherwise known as the part of the uninsulated building blocked off with plastic containing two space heaters and a bunch of couches. It was COLD there. we got down in the 40's every night and a few nights as low as 32, in a building with no insulation, heat and covered with windows, needless to say it was a cold sleep.

Our Second reason was to build Training Camp. Our team of 16 Royal Servants staff became construction workers. We did everything from building our Cooking Cabanas and the Food shack, to raking and laying grass seed. We organized the Barn and moved everything from our former location in Lewistown, IL up. It was a huge feat and i must say that the day i realized that we were not only hard core but a little crazy was day 13 when we only had two days left and plenty of work, IN THE RAIN the women went out and put the cedar siding on all the Cabanas. Then when it got dark...still raining... we got our headlamps out so we could finish the job. I had more layers on than normal, but overall stayed pretty dry (pictured right).

Our Third and final reason for the two week sprint, was for time together. Our staff is tight. We all love one another dearly and LOVE to spend time together. We really do see each other as family and when we come in from around the country laughter and joy are in no short supply! We spent time in the Word together and in times of prayer. We had long conversations over work about life, ministry, support raising, and just about ever other topic possible. I walk away amazingly blessed to be working with such an amazing team of people.

I'm now mostly recovered physically, but I have HUGE arm muscles right now and don't know what to do with them! :)

FALL NEWSLETTER!!!!

For those of you who like to read newsletters from missionaries, here's on that I put together for the fall. It covers the happenings of what is going on in ministry and life including a lot about the trip to Rome and what's to come. Click anywhere in this paragraph to read the newsletter.


AND if you don't get your fill, read the Fall Newsletter BONUS edition! 

I hope you enjoy them :)

The Glory of God.....

Go ahead, try to define it.
Pretty sure you'll have just as hard of a time as we did last night at Kairos as we wrestled with the topic.
The best thing I think we came up with was something like this: The Fullness of God's Majesty and Perfection. But I feel like even this is missing something. So what do we do when we encounter this? I'm not really sure! fall on our face? total and utter humility followed by repentance and obedience? complete awe?
But if we're in awe of something, we don't ignore it right? so why is it that we are not just ALWAYS fully consumed by awe of God's Glory?
I confess I often let myself be consumed by far too many other things. When we are truly in awe of something, we can't ignore it. I want to live in a place that keeps me truly in awe of the Glory of God.

Flyin home.

9 hours into a 10.5 hour flight really gives you some time to think. First, I’m grateful that we didn’t have a layover in London and that we are flying directly to Chicago from Rome. But more importantly, I’m grateful for an amazing time of ministry with some amazing contacts, outstanding staff disciplers, hard working, positive students, and a great cast of senior staff. Don’t get me wrong, the summers always offer their unique challenges, and this summer had a few. Overall it was a successful summer that offered many opportunities for our team to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ boldly, to grow in our walk with the creator of the universe, and have an amazing time with a solid team of like minded people in Rome.

Now I know that I’m not always an overly emotional person (except when I’m watching movies or select tv shows of course) but it’s hard to say good bye to this crew. As I hugged them goodbye, some for the last time, I felt the full weight of how honored I am to get to be living my dream job. I just spent two months on taking mission trip of quality high school and college students to Rome. I get PAID to do this. Yes, sometimes it is hard support raising and stuff, but it is SO worth it. I had the chance to watch this group grow in their faith in such cool ways. I love getting to sit down and talk about what is going on in their lives and what God is doing to challenge the ways they have previously thought and lived. Even the “really good” kids are often profoundly impacted and have their hearts shaken even more for the cause of Christ.

And now the finances are balanced, the medical logs completed, last bit of paperwork given back and major goodbyes done… and with that, Another summer in the books. And as I find myself on this long flight it’s been a perfect moment to reflect before diving headlong into the busy that awaits when my flight touches down in Minneapolis tonight.

Suzanne once gave me a great analogy, I’m now in the blank space between the end of one chapter and the top of the page which will start the next. August has Halbleib’s wedding, a vacation in Florida, young adults retreat at church, and a bit of time at home in Indiana before my Midwest visiting of likely Rockford and Wisconsin. Then, before I know it, September will be here and a completely new chapter for me with Reign Ministries begins. I’m not sure I know a ton, but I know this about the next chapter: I want to live life to it’s absolute fullest, I want to love others with all that I am, and I want to glorify God in every aspect of it all.

Prego...More than a pasta sauce in Italy....

The church here in Dragonia is inside of a compound which also houses an apartment building with 3 families from the church. The hospitality of our neighbors is OVERWHELMING. They have insisted on us using and eating everything they own. I'm typing this toay from an auning in the shade of Ester's porch. She lives here with her husband, parents, and sister. What an amazing family. a few minutes ago Giovani (her dad, who speaks very little english) came out to the porch an said to me "PREGO!" saying you're welcome to be here.

I was working on their porch the other day when Ester came out with a bottle of cold water to make sure I wasn't thirsty in the humid italian heat. It kills them to think I'd be anything but perfectly comfortable. They HATE that we eat lunch meat sandwiches and malto meal and if we didn't resist, they'd cook every meal we eat.
The hospitality and generosity of the people in the church has lead to many amazing times of fellowship which almost ALWAYS include a large italian meal. I am forever ruined for Lasagna.... Stoufers will no longer do it for me :) when i asked Ester if i could help cook so i could learn a few tips she said no because they were going to be cooking for 2 days and didn't think i could be away from the team that long!
Our team's schedule has been quite full! in the mornings we're up, ready, eaten and out the door by 8am ready to jump into ministry. a group has been heading into central Rome to the Universities. They walk around the campus and strike up conversations with the students (many of them speak english). God has given our team many amazing conversations and even a handful of people who have committed their lives to Christ!!! The rest of the team (about 7) have stayed here at the church helping run a VBS for the kids in the area. It has been fun to teach them songs in english and help them learn their memory verses in Italian. Everyone then comes back for a siesta and some free time before heading back out around 4:30 to different parks and piazzas in the area to do our street ministry performances. Our students are sharing BOLDLY and i couldn't be more proud as i watch them every day not only share their faith, but grow in it through times in the word and teachings. We get home late and don't normally eat dinner till close to 9 and bed time is rarely before 11:30pm. but I have not heard any complaints!
I have not gotten to be with the team when they're out doing ministry as much as i normally like because I'm pulling double duty as our team medical person and finance person. Unfortunatly we have had to take a few doctor runs. Praise God though that everyone is alright and they've only been minor issues. And as far as keeping the books? well that takes me a little longer than the average person.... for those of you who know me well, know that math is NOT my strong suit. But so far, I haven't LOST any money (i have however managed to gain some... go figure. Maybe I'm better at this than i thought!)

The mosquitoes here make me think i'm back in MN! I am glad I enforced a madatory purchase for hydocortizone cream for our team at walmart before heading over, we've all got at least a few bits on our ankles, lets, arms, or randomly on my middle toe. (i know right?)
As usual, one of my favorite things about Rome is the art and history of the place. I've got my Rick Steve's audio tours on my ipod and i give mini tours to our team as we see the different sights of Rome. Looking at some things here finds my gaze on objects from the time of Christ and BEFORE! The cathedrals and basilicas are beautiful but at the same time heart breaking. The people don't realize that they don't need to work for their salvation, that God offers it as a free Gift through the sending of his son Jesus Christ. We as believers don't do "good things" because we're supposed to, but because we desire to be more in the likeness of God who has given us eternal life.
I hope this post find you doing well, I do have my email and I would love to hear from you.
Your prayers are felt, don't stop :)

Check out more of my pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.556240648759.2048456.163800297&l=20b008f6f0


PS. if my spelling is bad, i'm sorry. my spellcheck is in Italian so it's saying every word is wrong except the italian ones :)

Training Camp!

Training Camp is now in full swing. Hard to believe I’ve been here three weeks already and a good way into my fourth! The Italy Family has been coming together nicely and it looks like we have a fantastic team that will do amazing things for the Lord this summer.


We have 9 staff disciplers who have amazing hearts and a passion to see their students grow and to see people come to know Christ.
Our students are like sponges as we are going through teachings and preparing for the job ahead. We’ve had quite a bit of rain, and evacuated the staff and students a few times up to the Rec center, but luckily none of the storms were bad enough for me to need to leave mine. My tent has stayed almost completely dry through every storm we’ve had. Ironically, the only place I have a puddle is underneath the case of water bottles that I got in case I need a drink at night and don’t have a full nalgene!

God has kept me in Psalm 62 (STILL) and I’m still learning and gleaning new insights each time I go through it. Saturday night I had the opportunity to do the welcome for the students and Psalm 62:8 in the Message version was my primary point. I shared about my first Royal Servants experience and then read that verse. It says this: “So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be.”

I thought that “God is a safe place to be” is a beautiful word picture for God is our refuge.

Please continue to pray for our team. Check out the website for our itinerary if you’re interested in sending me mail while I’m in Rome! (PS…. I LOVE MAIL) My goal this year is if you send a letter, I’ll send you back a postcard.

Blessings!

Reign Staff Week!

Wow what a great week its been so far. Its amazing to gather with the other 20 people who work year round around the country. It's fun to come together and laugh and work and get ready for the summer ahead. It has been HOT here in Lewistown but I'll take that instead of major thunderstorms! so far there have been three different storms that have near missed us and gone north! We've worked hard and sweat a ton to get camp ready. All of us are anticipating an amazing Christ focused summer.
Thanks for your prayers, things are going great.

Hello Royal Servants 2011!

Every Royal Servants summer is unique and special. I have amazing and life changing memories memories from each of my eight previous trips. Euro-Quest in 2001 when I was 17 gave me my first taste of missions and took me and my sister to 11 different countries over 8 weeks. For my first ever mission trip, this was HUGE.
Nehemiah in 2002 was a chance to hone in on leadership skills and for the first time I knew that God had big plans for my life in ministry. That summer in Turkey, he called me to surrender all, and I haven't looked back since.
Timothy in 2003 was a time that I was able to further learn how God had made me and to sharpen me as we traveled through Greece and Europe sharing the love of Jesus.
In 2004 I headed as a Staff Discipler/Sr. Staff on the Euro-Quest team where I got to pour my life into my 5 girls in my d-group as well as help be a part of planning and preparing for the ministry along with the other senior staff.
After a two summer hiatus exploring other ministry opportunities, 2007 found me on the Scotland team alongside what was an AMAZING leadership and a phenomenal team as a whole. I was able to teach and disciple regularly and that summer I knew God was calling me into full time missions.
In 2008 I was a late add to the Costa Rica team where I got to go as the Senior Woman. I had more responsibility and loved our costa family. Through trial and error, and a gracious leadership, we had amazing ministry among the people in villages around Costa Rica.
After officially joining staff 2009 took me to Ireland where our team TORE up. They were the type of team that goes after ministry hard. They were always eager to share the gospel and to have a GREAT time doing it. Our partnerships with the people in Ireland and England were unforgettable.
2010 took me to a place I never thought I'd go... Africa. Sierra Leone has literally changed the way I see the world. At the time it was the third poorest country in the world. Taking a light to people who have very little hope in life was astounding. Fellowship with believers there was something unlike anything else, they trusted God in a way that I envy. Their love of life and each other is an example to all. Spending a week in an orphanage with NO comforts of home living in a hut was the best part. God met us all there and the joy in the faces of the little ones will be something I will forever carry with me.
Each of those trips brought along with them life altering growth in Christ. Outside of my family, Royal Servants has been the biggest influence in my walk with Him. There have been lessons of faith that have stretched me to the point of near break and there have been times of great joy as I've released things to Christ. In the context of summer's I learned skills that help me year round seek the face of God and bring him Glory.
Each summer I also make forever life friendships. Friends who may not know my favorite American candy bar, but they know my heart. They are people who I have been in the trenches of ministry with. My love for them is deep. I am eternally grateful for the people who have come into my life as a of these summers.
So here comes Italy 2011. Now, ten years after I've began, I have a whole new approach and understanding of myself, of God, and of why we do this to start with. I'm excited about our leadership, our staff and our students. I know that this summer will mark me like each previous summer has.
Please pray that God will be glorified through our efforts, that hearts will find Jesus, and that our students develop a passion for reaching the world for his name.

Italy instead of Scotland!!!

Well, here at Royal Servants, we maintain a truly rigid stance of flexibility... In keeping with that theme, our Scotland team for this summer has been put on the shelf for another time. Because Matt is working so hard on getting our new training camp facilities prepared, he has volunteered to stay home for the summer which moved Jeff Bell and me to the Italy team!

Many of the people signed up for Scotland has now transferred with us and we are looking forward to amazing ministry in Rome for four weeks!

More to come...

In the mean time, check out my amazon page for the things that I still need to purchase before the summer hits. If you're interested, feel free to pick an item or two up and send it my way. You don't have to order the things from the websites that they're tagged on, if you find them somewhere else, that's great too.

Thanks for all your support!

Gear Me Up for Scotland!!!

I leave for Training Camp in just a few weeks!!! Wanna Help me get everything on my gear list for the summer?

Check out my Amazon.com Royal Servants Gear Up list!!!

Before you buy, choose an item or two and shoot me an email to make sure I don't get too many of one thing :)

ROYAL SERVANTS 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This summer I'll be joining the Scotland Trip!!! We will be doing ministry in Aberdeen Scotland. I am beyond excited since I LOVE THE UK so much. I know God has amazing things in store for ministry opportunities. Please be in prayer as we prepare for the summer ahead and as people are still signing up!

I'd like to see one of these this time!

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE MY FAMILY.

 Our Family's favorite place to be... together at DisneyWorld

8 solid days.... still all smiles.

fears and wrestling and growth in God

Sometimes when God tells us to do things, we feel too small for the task. I've had that kind of week. The kind where you look at the task ahead and Satan whispers the lies and a wrestling match with God ensues. It comes down to this... Do I believe God is who he says he is? and that he'll do what he says he's going to do?
Ever ask that question? i mean i know the church answer is yes, but sometimes we really have to wrestle it out first. at least i do. and he ALWAYS reminds me, that, yes. yes he is. and yes he will.

Memory Monday....to be a woman of the Word.

One thing that I have been challenged by over the last year or so at my church is how much scripture our pastors have memorized! Even in casual conversation they use passage and reference! They are men of the Word! My first impression months ago after meeting our Senior Pastor was "wow, I WANT THAT!" So after letting it go for several months, I again was faced with it this weekend and decided I can't live with the conviction any longer, so I'm taking action.
Over the course of a Royal Servants summer each student has a list of things that get memorized and several years ago, I came up with "Memory Mondays" to quiz our students throughout the summer so they weren't cramming the last week before the major test.
Memorization is hard. It takes work, and it takes diligence! Many of our students liked memorizing scripture but because it was difficult and not passing meant missing out on free time, Memory Monday was not exactly looked forward to! Some students came back to me after the summers and said "LB, I HATED memory Mondays, but I'm glad you made us do it because I still know most of those verses we learned!"
Becoming a woman of the Word isn't just going to happen because i want it to. no amount of my "want" will make it so. it requires my action. A quote by Rick Warren was re-tweeted by someone i follow the other day "Real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual."

So now i set out, for gradual growth, the desire is that in the end i am more like Christ and have the knowledge of the Word.
Memory Mondays start today. If you'd like to join me in memorizing scripture, check out the Memory Monday Facebook group!

thousands of voices...

 

This weekend at Dare2Share 2,300 students are gathered to worship and receive the challenge to take their faith off the shelf and give it away. Amazing speaking, worship, art and drama. 

Great way to spend the weekend.

HUGE blast from the past with Shane & Shane leading worship.

Do you Dare?

So this weekend the Un-Tour is coming to Minneapolis and I'm excited about being a part of it! Dare2Share is a ministry that mobilizes and equips students to share their faith in Jesus with their friends, family and entire generation.
I'm excited about the passion they bring and am looking forward to volunteering at the event.
If you're looking for resources on how to share your faith in Christ, or if you're wondering what "faith in Christ" even means, Check out their website!

Around the world.

I have the privilege of being knowing a lot of people who, right now, are around the world sharing the love of Christ with people.

If you're one of my friends, serving the Lord across the globe. Thanks. I love you.

Spring Newsletter!

Well Ladies and Gents it is here again, my latest newsletter. You can always find it in the link to your right, otherwise you can click the link below.

This Newsletter includes looking forward to Royal Servants 2011, a contest, support update and a really great Disney World fact... amongst other things.

Thanks for taking a minute to read it!
LB's Latest Newsletter: Spring 2011

GOING PUBLIC!

no no, not the newsboys album released in january of 1995.....
Sunday I left church knowing that we had all just spent time together with God. I know that's kind of the point of church, but this week was different. It was amazing and powerful, more so than normal AND BELIEVE ME THAT'S SAYIN SOMETHING!!!
Pastor Troy has been speaking through the book of Matthew (which is awesome) and this week he was finishing up chapter 3. (Quick... anyone know what the end of chapter 3 is?)
If you guessed the baptism of Christ, you're right. two gold stars.
He talked about how John tried to decline and how Jesus persisted and how the Trinity was present and how his baptism wasn't one of repentance, but an inauguration of his earthly ministry.
He then went on to talk about how baptism is the first thing once we've repented and found salvation to do! "repent and be baptized"
Having been baptized myself years ago, my personal application drew more to the idea of what it meant, a public declaration of faith. it really does fly in the face of the "American Christian Culture" of people's faith being a "personal" thing not a public one. Christ calls for our faith to be public!!
Pastor Troy then did something that shocked both myself and probably most people sitting there, he said, come, be baptized... right now... like.... right now. and people did.

Over the course of three services 277 people came forward and made that public declaration of faith!! 1 in 12 people there Sunday morning were baptized!!! at one point there was a traffic jam in the baptismal because they were doing three at a time!
At first when he said it i was like, woah wait you have to um, they need to think about it, because um.. its a big choice and um wait... uhh. then the passage in Acts 8:26-40 of the Ethiopian and Philip came to mind, Philip explained Jesus to the man and he was immediately baptized because he believed, who am i to say that people shouldn't be moved to be baptized in obedience and public declaration!? sometimes, as a "conservative" Christian, i put God in a box and forget that the Holy Spirit has power and can move when and how he wants!
Praise God that he showed up Sunday and powerfully impacted all of us!
Have you been baptized?

Magic next week!

Sure I'm excited about going to Disney World for eight days. But, do you know what I am even MORE excited about? Spending that eight days with  my family.
My family is the absolute funnest group of people to party with and party we will. We will create lifelong memories at our favorite family playground.
My parents have always made family a priority and even now that we are all adults, we stop, take time and enjoy each other. Sure the location is ideal, but what is more ideal is that we get to be together. Something that doesn't happen often enough these days.
Thanks mom and dad for setting up for us a model of family as priority

the attack... the battle

When I was in high school, a man in ministry that I respected told me that the times of greatest spiritual attack in his life always came just before or just after God was going to use him in powerful ways. Now that I am living my life in full time pursuit of God's will and desire to glorify God with all I am (which has nothing to do with my vocation), I find that what he said is true.
It feels like when I've seen God work in great ways, or when I see God getting ready to move in great ways, I see Satan spring to action. For me, it becomes a head game. It becomes Satan whispering lies and twisting truth, making me irritable and uncomfortable. Feelings of inadequacy hits hard and if I'm not careful, it get's me down...REALLY down.
After I got home from Blitz, challenging young people to step up and receive God's call to spread the gospel, I was feeling kind of down, I was taking things people said wrong and I was just frustrated. Almost immediately I thought about 1 Kings 19. Elijah had just experienced great victory over the prophets of the false God baal and then ended a three year drought with a prayer. God had shown up big time, Elijah was on top. When Jezebel heard about this, she threatened his life and it sent Elijah into a depressive/suicidal tail spin which lead to a two month journey into the wilderness where God walked him through the process of understanding Elijah wasn't alone.
The culmination of the chapter is that Elijah had a poor perspective of the situation. Elijah WASN'T alone. he wasn't the only one and God showed him that.
A few years back Dr. Neely spoke at founders week about what the Word of the Lord has to say to those who are struggling and I went back and downloaded it and listened to it again. What an amazing reminder that God is always God no matter how we feel.
I wasn't on the verge of a depressive/suicidal stint like Elijah when I got home, but I was down. But God is amazing to walk me back into his presence and remind me of truth so that I can refresh my focus and see the big picture of his work in the world.

snow day vs. sunshine

So everyone in my home state of Indiana are home today with a snow day. My family is stuck inside the house and my brother finally lost the battle against shoveling the driveway (we all know when he moves out dad will buy a snow-blower!)
While a good 1/3 of the USofA is in the midst of a pretty legit storm in one form or another, we here in the great white north are sittin pretty. Yes, it is white outside because we had a good snow of a few inches the other day, but today is quite nice outside! Well at least looking outside from the warmth of inside that is.
i went out to start my car this morning which prompted me to check the weather.... -3 and feels like -19! woah. yea. while i may not be snowed in, i'm pretty sure i'll be getting from one destination to the next as quickly as possible to stay warm.
All that said, I'd rather have sunshine than snow any day of the week. This is one of the reasons I love Minnesota... It's too cold for clouds to form so when it gets REALLY cold, its sunny :)


but don't expect to find me in my swimsuit laying out on my deck.......

Blitz was amazing

Alright so here's the deal. I am a missionary. And for my job I get to travel and tell students about God's call for us to share the gospel with those around us and abroad. I promote missions. I got to go do this with Tom and Margaret out to the good ol' Pacific NW for the last two weeks and let me just say it is such a blessing to get to do that. It is a blessing to get to serve the Lord as a career. While in the PAC NW I also got to see several friends and former students who I love dearly and I got to experience the beauty of God's creativity in nature.

Thanks Lord for the chance to serve you and to further YOUR Kingdom here on Earth. amen.

Read it.

Psalm 73

 ¹ Surely God is good to Israel,
   to those who are pure in heart.

 ² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
   I had nearly lost my foothold.
³ For I envied the arrogant
   when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 ⁴ They have no struggles;
   their bodies are healthy and strong.^[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
   they are not plagued by human ills.
⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace;
   they clothe themselves with violence.
⁷ From their callous hearts comes iniquity^[b];
   their evil imaginations have no limits.
⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;
   with arrogance they threaten oppression.
⁹ Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
   and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
   and drink up waters in abundance.^[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
   Does the Most High know anything?”

 ¹² This is what the wicked are like—
   always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

 ¹³ Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
   and have washed my hands in innocence.
¹⁴ All day long I have been afflicted,
   and every morning brings new punishments.

 ¹⁵ If I had spoken out like that,
   I would have betrayed your children.
¹⁶ When I tried to understand all this,
   it troubled me deeply
¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary of God;
   then I understood their final destiny.

 ¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;
   you cast them down to ruin.
¹⁹ How suddenly are they destroyed,
   completely swept away by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream when one awakes;
   when you arise, Lord,
   you will despise them as fantasies.

 ²¹ When my heart was grieved
   and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless and ignorant;
   I was a brute beast before you.

 ²³ Yet I am always with you;
   you hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
   and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
   And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
   but God is the strength of my heart
   and my portion forever.

 ²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;
   you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.
   I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
   I will tell of all your deeds. 

Thoughts? Reactions?