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1 Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks. 2 I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. 3 The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength. 4 When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth's kings will say "Thank you." 5 They'll sing of what you've done: "How great the glory of God!" 6 And here's why: God, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us. 7 When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me. 8 Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now. (Psalm 138 The Message Bible)
Happy Thursday, ConCafe Family; and the blessings of the Most High be with you, dear Friend is my prayer for today. And speaking of prayer, please remember to lift up Mary Martha Ehrig in prayer as she undergoes surgery today in Austin. Please pray for a successful surgery, with no complications and a speedy recovery. And may God's grace be sufficient for us in all that is before us. Lift one another up in prayer and pray for your personal needs with full faith in the God who fulfills our every need.
On social media there are short videos of a little girl who automatically and very sweetly thanks everyone who does something for her. When her mother gives her a meal, she sweetly says, "Thank you, Mommy!" When her aunt gives her a snack she says, oh so sweetly, "Thank you, auntie!" And on and on it goes as she very sincerely gives thanks to all. This psalm reminded me of that little girl, who obviously has a very generous heart towards the kindness of family and friends. That stands in sharp contrast to the spoiled children of Israel in yesterday's reading, where they demanded their way and God gave in to their demands. My hope and prayer for that little girl and all like her, to never change their attitude towards the generosity of parents and providers, and most certainly towards God. The heart of the shepherd boy who saw and experienced much and saw the hand of God at work in the perils and dangers that he faced, so to read his thanks in this psalm blesses me, for he truly loved God and loved to give God thanks because he knew that in every area of his life he was richly blessed.
I wonder how many of us truly know how to thank God with geniunely sincere hearts? I believe the more of the difficulties we see in our lives and truly understand Who it truly was that got us through, we know how to say thank you with joy to God. David knew God's love, God's faithfulness; he knew the holiness of God's name and the holiness and purity of God's word. He also knew the instant response of God to our cires and requests; and he knew that he was a blessed child of God. David also believed the kings of the world, as they learned of God and God's goodness would join together in a chorus of thankfulness. From the lofty height in which we tend to place God, we should know, like David, that God can see all things; there is no distance too great in which God cannot see and respond to our needs. David knew that as soon as he walked into what he called, "the thick of trouble," he could pray for God's power to bless him with life even in the midst of turmoil. He even shared his prayer for times like those, asking God to destroy all who came against him; requesting salvation at the end. His desire, as should be ours, calls for us to ask God to finish in us that which He started. God's love, after all, is eternal and God will never quit on us; may we never quit on Him!
PRAYER: Awesome Heavenly Father, we thank You for the faith of David which shared with us and all the world that special faith that has blessed us and so many. May we never walk far away from You in anything or in any way. Guide us close to Your heart; we pray in faith in the name of He who authored our faith, Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Seek to bless someone today with your brand of faith!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
