1) We were reminded today that the kind of prayer God hears are ones that come from humble and repentant hearts.   The temptation of course is to think the “gap is too big” between us and the almighty God of the Universe.   Does that thinking creep into your life on occasion?  What do you do when it does?

2) Waiting is hard, no question about that.  Why do you think God sometimes, in his sovereign plan, tell us to wait?

3) Eugene Peterson had that realization about his night watchman job – what allowed him to be relaxed and contented to put in his 8 hours and collect his paycheque was the owner who cared, the engineer who kept everything running and the knowledge that hundreds of people were doing great work during the day.   For both the writer of Psalm 130 and those who follow Jesus, our waiting is based on A) the conviction that God is actively involved in his creation B) God is vigorously at work in redemption.    How do those 2 convictions help you personally?

4) Fill in the blanks for the definition of “Redemption”.  1. Buy b___________ 2. Release by the p__________________ of a price.  Tom the little boy who built his boat, lost his boat and bought back his boat is a perfect illustration  of Redemption.   What does it do in your heart, mind and emotions that we are God’s twice: first he made us and then he bought us back?

5) Pastor Darin quoted C.H. Spurgeon as having helped him see the connection between Psalm 130:8 and Matthew 1:21.   The original hope is realized 10 centuries after Psalm 130 was written but b/c Jesus was the Saviour for the whole world – which included Israel but was not limited to it – that means the body of Christ is made up of people from every tribe, language and people group.   Who have you personally known from another culture that came to faith in Christ?  What was their story?