Scripture for Today:  Psalm 34:17-18  “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.   The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as a crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.”

It is apple season!  Apple cider, apple tartes, apple sauce and apple jams are all making their appearance.  I was able to visit Calvados, known for its apple farms and products in Normandy.  The farms there have been in families for centuries.  The remnants of former apple presses make up part of the landscape, as pictured here.  After having a guided tour of one of these farms, we were treated to a fresh cold glass of cider.  It was like biting into a fresh apple!

The process of pressing the juice out of the apples involves many steps.  The methods have evolved over the years but the principle of crushing the fruit remains the same.  Crushing pressure is required to extract the juice needed for that delicious cider.

Our verse for today is a promise for the righteous.  God promises to be near and save those whose heart is broken and whose spirit is crushed.  He hears our crying and He sees our tears.  He waits for us to give Him all the broken pieces of our heart.  He waits for us to turn our crushed spirits to Him for healing.  The guilt of our sin can be a crushing weight.  He lifts it with His forgiveness.

The conviction of my sin can feel overwhelming.  But His forgiveness gives purpose to that crushing action.  He not only puts my broken heart back together but He changes my sorrow into joy!

Thank you, Lord, for your saving healing forgiveness!

(Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.)