Image from biblestudytools.com
Listen here to the narration of today's devotional: https://bit.ly/35HBvky
1 Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! 2 Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! 3 Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! 4 Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. 5 Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles, and the verdicts he's rendered - 6 O seed of Abraham, his servant, O child of Jacob, his chosen. 37 He led Israel out, their arms filled with loot, and not one among his tribes even stumbled. 38 Egypt was glad to have them go - they were scared to death of them. 39 God spread a cloud to keep them cool through the day and a fire to light their way through the night; 40 They prayed and he brought quail, filled them with the bread of heaven; 41 He opened the rock and water poured out; it flowed like a river through that desert - 42 All because he remembered his Covenant, his promise to Abraham, his servant. 43 Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy; his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out! 44 He made them a gift of the country they entered, helped them seize the wealth of the nations 45 So they could do everything he told them - could follow his instructions to the letter. Hallelujah! (Psalm 105: 1-6; 37-45 The Message)
May this be a terrific Thursday for you and yours, dear Friend! I thank the Lord for your life and your willingness to travel with this community in our prayer and devotional life. I pray that God blesses you as we journey in the scriptures; and as we pray that the first blessing be yours. I ask for prayers for a dear sister in the Lord, who is yet another Covid-19 patient. She is, at the time of this writing, doing better, and just this past Tuesday did I find out about her situation and her grave condition. I'm referring to Elizabeth Alegria Riley, of Corpus Christi. She's a member of Kelsey Memorial UMC, and sister to The Rev. Frank Alegria, who early in this pandemic also had Covid, but recovered; we pray the same for Elizabeth. She's in ICU, intubated and receiving treatment. Her vitals are the best she has had since she was admitted, and we pray it is a sign of her coming recovery. Please join in prayer for her and others who suffer this disease. Pray for one another, and pray for yourselves.
The psalmist was not a shy person. He did not believe in keeping things, especially wonderful things, to himself. We remember him as a boy, and the outspoken, confident way that he approached King Saul when the Israelites were frozen in terror agains the giant Goliath. His also being a songwriter and singer make this psalm truly stand out in his views about sharing/witnessing for God. One sometimes thinks, why would it be necessary to witness among a group of people whose main religion is Judaism? Their history was a rich, long, story of God leading and interceding for them, but as happens, even among Christians; not everyone is paying attention, and not everyone is believing what they should be hearing. The Rev. Dr. Fred Craddock, wrote once that he returned back for a funeral in a small church he had served and quickly remembered the woman who died only had a daughter as family, and every Sunday this was the girl that distracted Fred because she was never listening to his sermons and was a pretty rambunctious child. At the end of the service at graveside, he approached her hoping to comfort her and as he started to talk about comfort and strength, she interrupted, "It was something you said when I was a child that has helped me throughout this sad time of Mother's death..." And he had to admit, one never knows. We need continue to share and witness, regardless of the immediate reaction or rejection, trusting God that His message is getting through.
It's in verse four (4) that we find the key to this passage, "Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence." He was one who knew that if we look close enough, and long enough, the hand of God in our midst will be seen and experienced. He also reminded them of the Exodus presence and power of God; God led them out, and they didn't leave Egypt empty-handed; "their arms filled with loot," a cloud to keep them cool during the day and a fire to light their way through the night; when hungry, they prayed and God sent them quail and manna, the bread of heaven; from rocks spew forth drinking water, and that water was like a stream in the desert. All because God never forgot His covenant with Abraham, all in hopes of having their love and obedience. Hallelujah, amen!
If we take time each day to remember our day, make note of the way God blessed you. If you keep a list, you will soon run out of paper.
PRAYER: Loving Father, thank You for all You do, have done, and will do in our lives. May we be like David in our bold way to sharing with others the great things You have done for us. We pray for healing of our sister Elizabeth, for others like her, and for those in our hearts right now as we pray; in Christ Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share your list of God-things with someone in need today!
Receive my blessings of hope and comfort,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
Witness to your faith by wearing a Praise Mask! https://bit.ly/2XAvMZ4
