Today's Max Lucado:

NO EXEMPTION FOR ANXIETY

"Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs.  The sky is falling, and it’s falling disproportionately on you.  Anxiety ain’t fun!

"One would think Christians would be exempt from anxiety.  But we are not.  It’s enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing.”  Is that what he meant?  Not exactly.  He wrote the phrase in the present active tense—implying an ongoing state.  As if to say, “Don’t let anything in life leave you perpetually breathless and in angst.”

"The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. Could you use some calm? Of course you could.  We all could.  We all could use a word of comfort. And God is ready to give it."

***

I used this chapter of Psalms to open the new year in 2014 for a Karen's Korner!

As we come to celebrating our country's 250th anniversary, it talks about 'Your Holy Nation', which could be 'Any/All Nations' who Honor God!

Has God 'honored our nation' because we are 'holy'. Sort of like our lives:  not perfect but 'honoring Him' at least in spots and parts of our lives!

Psalm 145

New Life Version (NLV)

"I will praise You, my God and King. I will honor Your name forever and ever. I will honor You every day, and praise Your name forever and ever. The Lord is great and our praise to Him should be great. He is too great for anyone to understand. Families of this time will praise Your works to the families-to-come. They will tell about Your powerful acts. I will think about the shining-greatness of Your power and about Your great works. Men will speak of Your powerful acts that fill us with fear. And I will tell of Your greatness. Many words will come from their mouths about how good You are. They will sing for joy about how right You are.

"The Lord is full of loving-favor and pity, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all. And His loving-kindness is over all His works. All Your works will give thanks to You, O Lord. And all those who belong to You will honor You. They will speak of the shining-greatness of Your holy nation, and talk of Your power. They will make Your powerful acts and the great power of Your holy nation known to the sons of men. Your holy nation is a nation that lasts forever. And Your rule lasts for all time.

"The Lord holds up all who fall. He raises up all who are brought down. The eyes of all look to You. And You give them their food at the right time. You open Your hand and fill the desire of every living thing.

"The Lord holds up all who fall. He raises.

"The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them.  The Lord takes care of all who love Him. But He will destroy all the sinful. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. And all flesh will honor His holy name forever and ever."

***

It's coming! Tomorrow is July 4 and we celebrate 250 years as the United States of America!

Time to thank God for all His blessings to us. We are a flawed country, with flawed citizens and leaders over the years. But just like our own lives, God chooses to love and bless each of us!! Why I don't know?

God,
we want to say thank You
for Your Love and Your Care
over the generations!
Thank You for Your protection
as we had leaders who wrote our
constitution and other guiding laws,
which no nation had ever seen before.
Thank You for people willing to lead
and fight in battles and wars to make and
keep us a free nation.
Thank You for men and women willing to serve us in the military;
 and all kinds of other leadership positions.
Thank You for each citizen;
You were willing to die to save us from ourselves
and any destructive behaviors.
Thank You for 250 years
and the future which You have planned
for each one of us.
And for the United States of America.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

*

"God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home."

~ by Irving Berlin, published in 1938