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Sunday Psalms:

O God, 
whom I praise, 
don't stand silent and aloof while the wicked slander me and tell lies about me.
They surround me with hateful words and fight against me for no reason.
I love them, 
but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!
They repay evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Psalms 109:1-5 NLT
We don't talk much in church about what happens when relationships fall apart, let alone sing about it! 
When families are at loggerheads, when flatmates don't get on, when there's conflict in the workplace, the classroom, when there's bullying, harrassment, when you're not believed, disregarded, rejected.
And here we have David writing a poem about it and it's in the middle of our Bible. 
If you are or have experienced rejection, accusations, blame, then you're not alone, and here we have an expression of those things from centuries ago. 
David starts with God, his relationship hasn't shifted even though his circumstances have. 
Then David considers if there's a reason, and puts the blame where it belongs, getting quite specific about what he's experiencing. 
Maybe those are good places for us to start too when others words and actions are difficult to fathom;
Start with our relationship with God, talk to Him.
Own our part, but only our part.
Get specific about what we're experiencing.
And remember that conflict is found in the heart of our Bible, we're not alone in this.
#sunday
#psalms
#conflict
#somethingtoponder

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