"Psalm 80:1–19, June 26, 2025 (Thursday)"

"The tangled branches have been neatly organized."

“Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”(Psalm 80:19)

We wrapped up our Wednesday Bible study yesterday. For this session, we gathered twice every Wednesday—once in the morning and again in the evening. Due to various interruptions, it took us a bit longer than expected, but I’m grateful to everyone who faithfully completed the study.

My hope is that through our time together in the Word, each of us has gained a deeper understanding and wider perspective of Scripture.

Unless something special is going on, I’m usually at the church during the week. It’s been very quiet here lately, which means animals sometimes come right up to the office. Deer have wandered by, coyotes have passed through, and squirrels are constantly bustling around nearby. It feels as though nature is blending into our space.

However, the peaceful coexistence with nature was disrupted recently when a deer was struck on the road. Sadly, before the county could respond to the report filed on Sunday, a coyote had already found the body by the time they arrived on Wednesday. Since the deer had fallen into the ditch and not by the roadside, the county informed us they were unable to remove it.

Nature, in its own way, revealed the raw and unfiltered rhythm of life in the wild.

This unexpected situation reminded me just how many unpredictable things can arise. It also made me realize the importance of creating a church operations manual—a guide that helps us know how to respond in moments of confusion, and what steps to take within a day when something goes wrong. While the first time may catch us off guard, having a clear manual will help us respond better the next time.

Psalm 80 is, in a way, a spiritual manual. Perhaps the people of Israel didn’t expect to turn away from God—they thought they were walking with Him, showing obedience. But they fell into idolatry and disobedience.

Still, in their confusion and failure, the psalmist reminds us that God remains our Shepherd and that we are the vine He Himself planted. The song was likely sung over and over again, helping the people remember how to pray for restoration and return to God.

In that sense, faith is about remembering, being mindful, and refusing to forget the truth that God is always with us.

Meditation

What do you do to help yourself remember God’s love?

Intercessory Prayer

• Please pray that all issues related to the Oakland campus building will be resolved and that the property may be sold quickly and smoothly.

• Please continue to support and pray for our upcoming Vacation Bible School. We are preparing with faith and hope, and your encouragement and participation mean so much.