God Is There

Don't panic. I'm with you.

 There's no need to fear for I'm your God.

I'll give you strength. I'll help you.

 I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. – Isaiah 41:10 (The Message)

When did you panic last? What was going on? Of what are you afraid? Where is God? What is God doing?

This came from the Christian Century on July 26, 2011:
When Fred Rogers received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy award in 1998, he asked the celebrity audience to take ten seconds of silence to think about people who had loved them into being and helped them become who they are.
Within seconds weeping and sobs could be heard throughout the audience. Then Rodgers said, “May God be with you,” and sat down. Eliot Daley, a Presbyterian minster who had worked with Rogers, says it is significant that Rogers didn’t say “God bless you.” Rogers knew that the people were already blessed by God. He wanted the people in the audience to be aware that God was with them.

Sometimes when things seem hard we forget the many blessings that have saturated our lives. However, even when the world seems more full of curses than blessings God is still with us. I know we need to be reminded of this from time to time, because I know I need to be reminded of this from time to time. When we walk in valleys so deep they can be called the valley of the shadow of death, God is still there. Even though God tells us not to panic, not to be afraid, and all the rest we will be. Today let us pray that we may be filled with faith. In that way when fear knocks on our doors we may open them and discover God is there.

With hope and joy,
Garrett

Our God, Our Protection

God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea, even if the oceans roar and foam, or the mountains shake at the raging sea. Selah – Psalm 46:1-3 (NCV)

Do you believe God is your protection and strength? How have you witnessed God help in times of trouble? Who have you seen God help in their times of trouble? Can you hold on just a little while longer?

The following story is found at: http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/burninghut.htm
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

I do not know about you, but often times it was only in hindsight I discovered how God was working, and God is always at work! No matter the troubles in our lives, God is our protection and our strength. An old African-American spiritual says it best, “Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer, ‘cause everything is going to be alright.” So no matter what we are going through, we must not forget that there is nothing that is not temporary for God. With such faith let us hold on a little while longer because our protection and strength, our God is at work. And God is good all of the time!

Check out the blog to listen to the spiritual http://firstpresalbany.blogspot.com

With hope and joy,
Garrett