The Lord is my strength!
July 27, 2018 Dear Family of Mary “Dear children! God called me to lead you to Him because He is your strength. That is why I am calling you to pray to Him and to trust in Him, because He is your refuge from every evil that lurks and carries souls far from the grace and joy to which you are all called. Little children, live Heaven here on earth so that it will be good for you; and may the commandments of God be a light on your way. I am with you and I love you all with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (July 25, 2018) “Dear children! God called me to lead you to Him because He is your strength.” In the Psalms there are many references to God as our strength, our refuge, our protector, our shield. Clearly the psalmists had had experiences of the strength and protection of the Lord, for they sang about it many times. Here are four selections from the Psalms that extol the Lord for being the strength and safety of His people. We can pray these Psalms with the same conviction. The Lord is our strength! He is our salvation! Psalm 18 I love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (Ps 18:1-3) Psalm 28 Blessed be the LORD! for he has heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The LORD is the strength of his people, he is the saving refuge of his anointed. O save thy people, and bless thy heritage; be thou their shepherd, and carry them for ever. (Ps 28:6-9) Psalm 3 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of me, there is no help for him in God. [Selah] But thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy hill. [Selah] I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! For thou dost smite all my enemies on the cheek, thou dost break the teeth of the wicked. Deliverance belongs to the LORD; thy blessing be upon thy people! [Selah] Psalm 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation. (Ps 91:1-16) In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2018 PS. The Youth Festival in Medjugorje, Mladifest, begins on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Mary TV will stream the entire festival, live. We will also archive the sessions so that you can catch up on what you miss. Please pray for our team as we prepare for this great event. Here is the schedule published by the Parish: