By Emily Agee

“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they demise my hurt. An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and amen.” Psalm 41:1–13

Thought for the week: ‘Whenever trouble storms into your life, there is shelter’

“The Lord is my light and my salvation:

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life:

Of whom shall I be afraid?

For in time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:

In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me:

He shall set me upon a rock …

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.

Wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27:1, 5 and 14

Announcements

Our sympathy goes out to the families of LaKishta Brown and Oliver Benson in their time of bereavement.

Brown’s funeral will be Saturday, May 31 at 11 a.m. at United A.M.E. Church in Verbena.

Benson’s funeral will be Saturday, May 31 at 2 p.m. at West End Church of Christ in Clanton.

Agee Brother’s Funeral Home directing.

On our sick list this week, we ask you to remember in your prayers: Annie Faye Wilson Cooper, Minnie Avery, James Singleterry, Martha Binion, Larry Wilson, J.R. Booker, Lisa Wright, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Nathan Shortridge, Harold Frazier and Barbara Gail Nix.

May God heal, strengthen and keep them in his care is our prayer.

—Emily Agee is a religion columnist for The Clanton Advertiser. Her column appears each week.