THE "OLD LADY"

Psalm 146:1-7
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--the Lord, who remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.

During a visit to London I popped in to see the "Old Lady" of Threadneedle Street. That, I'm told, is an affectionate name for the Bank of England. An informative video in the bank's free museum told me that I couldn't cash a check, open an account, or borrow a few quid to hold me until payday. This is the bankers' bank and operates much as the Federal Reserve Bank in the US.

One of the Bank of England's main tasks is to maintain the stability of the financial system for the United Kingdom, at home and abroad. In one room I hefted a 13-kilo gold bar, symbol of the reserves that help undergird the institution. Then I studied the Bank's role in responding to crisis during the dangerous and uncertain years of World War II. As I made my way back along Threadneedle Street, I tipped my cap to the "Old Lady" for all her hard work in keeping the financial system on track.

Secure, constant, even, firm, unwavering. All these synonyms remind us of how much we seek stability in a world of crisis and change.

Psalm 146 says that Almighty God is our security when things fall apart. He is our refuge--our safe place; our strength--our source of inner power; an ever-present help in trouble--always with us in time of need.

Therefore, because God is always with us and never changes, we will not be afraid--no matter what happens.

Just for today, try keeping a record of everything you read, see, or hear that affirms the unchanging, never-failing love of God. Carry a pad, jot in your PDA, e-mail it to a friend tonight. When we focus on circumstances, we cringe. When we center our attention on Jesus, our confidence grows in Him because He is the Lord and He does not change.

Today, no matter what happens, Almighty God is our stability. You can take that to the bank. --Dave McCasland

DESTINATION POINTS

* What situations are fear- generators in my life today?
* Where am I seeking stability to face them?
* I'll read the phrase: "God is our refuge and strength," placing the emphasis on a different word each time I say it.

LINKS:
The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street
http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/BankofEngland.htm

Bank of England Museum
http://touruk.co.uk/london_museums/bankofengland_museum1.htm

In God We Trust
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2002/001/4.42.html

bottom line: God saves us and won't withdraw His love.

soul journey