Amazing God of the Journey, strengthen the needs of this dear reader in their journey today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today is from Psalm 30: 1 I give you all the credit, God - you got me out of that mess, you didn't let my foes gloat. 2 God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. 3 God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. 4 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! 5 He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. 6 When things were going great I crowed, "I've got it made. 7 I'm God's favorite. He made me king of the mountain." Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces. 8 I called out to you, God; I laid my case before you: 9 "Can you sell me for a profit when I'm dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs and stories of you won't sell. 10 So listen! and be kind! Help me out of this!" 11 You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. 12 I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can't thank you enough. (The Message)
You know you're in a difficult sitiuation when you yell for help. You know you're well-loved and protected when your yells for help get answered. Life is that way, and what makes it nice for those of us who believe is that God is with us and answers us when we yell. This version of the psalm is a far cry from the more solemn versions of it. In real language it is describing some of this writer's life. There have been great moments, and there have been not so great moments. There were times when the writer was up, and times when the writer wad down. There were even times when the writer was down-and-out. But when God pulled and put this writer back together and when God pulled the writer up from those down-and-out times, those were times of great celebration! And not just for celebrating alone, but with others! Yesterday, in a tax seminar sponsored by our pensions board, the presenter laughed when she was reading IRS definitions of worship; and guess what? Worship, according to IRS guidelines, is done in fellowship! Yep. In a group, not alone. So, whenever someone says, "I don't need to go to church to worship!" Ask them if they'd like to be audited, no, ask them if they know the Internal Revenue Service's definition of worship.
The bottom line? Praise God all the time, for we know that we are never alone, God is with us. Pray for assurance and guidance and pray for our faithfulness. Join others in praising the name of God. It will do wonders for your soul.
PRAYER: Loving God, I praise Your name and I give You thanks for the blessings You have shared with me during my life's journey. I ask for the boldness to share with others that joy that is mine in knowing You and knowing that I am known and loved by You; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
PRAYER CONCERNS: Dear friends, please lift up prayers for Mrs. Marisa Barrera, wife of the Rev. Rudolfo Barrera, retired UM pastor. Marisa is battling cancer of the liver and lungs. It is believed to be in Stage Four. Please ask for God's comfort and peace with her during these days as well as for Rev. Barrera. We also ask for prayer for Mrs. Raquel Mariscal, wife of the Rev. Arturo Mariscal, who is also battling cancer. And for Ian Warshack, a young man mentioned before, who is being moved out of ICU, but still may face some amputations due to the illness he has. May God be with him. Thank you for sharing your faith in God through your prayers even for those whom you do not know.
