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5 God, the one and only - I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? 6 He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life. 7 My help and glory are in God 8 So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be. 9 Man as such is smoke, woman as such, a mirage. Put them together, they're nothing; two times nothing is nothing. 10 And a windfall, if it comes - don't make too much of it. 11 God said this once and for all; how many times Have I heard it repeated? "Strength comes Straight from God." 12 Love to you, Lord God! You pay a fair wage for a good day's work! (Psalm 62:5-12 The Message Bible)
Happy Thursday, dear Friend. I ask that you take time to lift up The Rev. Patricia Zaiontz-Newcomer, who has been in ICU for some days after suffering a fall. She underwent emergency surgery and we pray God restore her and make her well. Patricia was a pastor in our Coastal Bend District and I love and appreciate her and her ministry to the Lord, Thank you for praying for this dear sister. Also, please pray for The Rev. Scott Bradford, pastor of First Methodist Church of San Angelo. He had some discomfort last night (Tuesday) and today, Wednesday, he went to his doctor who has ordered a series of exams, including a referral to a cardiologist. Pray for this dear pastor's healing and strength. Pray for his wife, Laurel and their family, as well as his church family. Late word is that Scott has a Friday appointment with a cardiologist. And, please pray for Mr. Robert Saucedo, who early Wednesday was in the ER and has other health and family problems. May the Lord heal his body and family. Also, prayers for The Rev. Troy Bell, pastor at Jackson Chapel UMC in San Marcos, TX, who is hospitalized and needing our prayers.
I'm old enough to remember the ads on the back of comic books. Kids, if you're not familiar with comic books, talk to grandma or grandpa. My favorite ad was from a muscle man named Charles Atlas. Just his name inspired me! Atlas, as the Titan who held the world in motion according to Greek mythology. He was born Angelo Siciliano but changed it legally in 1922 after a friend told him he resembled the statue of the Greek titan. He had developed a system to build himself up by what is now known as isometrics. The popular legend is that he went to the zoo and watched a lion stretch and thought, "this old gent has no barbells nor exercise equipment and yet he is muscular," and thus developed his course. He went from a scrawny young man into a muscle man. The ad promised strength and the ability to be popular if you would buy the course. How I dreamed I could one day afford his course!
True strength is found in God. David the psalmist king wrote that in God we can find strength and all that we need in God alone. David begins his list with hope, and a solid footing and breathing room for his soul, and even compares God's presence to being an impregnable castle; considering himself set for life. God has provided help and glory and David has placed, as should we, his entire trust in God. And his command is for all, us included, to place our hope and absolute trust in God.
David knew that the pressures and stresses of life were not match for God's strength. In the things of this world we find things that batter us and harm us, but in God we find that which blesses us back to wholeness. As he writes, "Man as such is smoke, woman as such, a mirage. Put them together, they're nothing; two times nothing is nothing." This may sound dismal, but when compared to the reality and awesomeness of God, it's a true statement. And when we compare the present to the eternal, we know we should confide solely in God.
The passage ends with the declaration of David, "Strength comes Straight from God," which he had heard before and now it echos in his mind and heart as that which he needs always to hear. And he shares his love with God along with his praise for all God has done for him.
Friends, as we face the challenges of daily life, remember to seek stillness in God. As the chaos of today swirls around us, remember in Him we can find calm and peace if we carve out moments for quiet reflection and if we surrender to the peace that He alone can offer us.
We should also anchor our souls in God's strength. God is our mountain and fortress if we let His steadfast love be our hiding place. We should also learn to daily lay our burdens at His feet. God knows our struggles so we should offer them to Him and find in Him that peace in His understanding. We should also learn to release the trip of worry from our minds; Remember, compared to God's power, our anxieties are like smoke.
PRAYER: Loving God, lead us to the mountaintop that is Your presence. It is there that no storm can overcome us and Your peace is ours for the taking. Grant us the courage to quiet our souls and to lay at Your feet our burdens. As we walk in this adventure with You, grant us peace; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: May the peace of this psalm grant us peace and strength. Receive my love for you. Please know that I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
