God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1 NASB)
I've written about this verse before. When there was a bombing. Or a school shooting. Or some other act of violence. Or in times of loneliness. Or during a pandemic. And this verse is on my mind again this morning.
When these events happen in our lives, it's easy to be overcome by them. To feel overwhelmed. It's easy to let grief or fear or anger or sadness or frustration consume us. I began this post with the first verse of one of my favorite Psalms, Psalm 46. It is a profound truth that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
The next word of that Psalm is a very important word. Therefore. Because it is true that "God is our refuge and strength", how are we to respond?
"Therefore, we will not fear." That's our response. We will not fear. No matter what happens. No matter how many bombs go off, or how many shootings there are, or how many acts of terrorism. No matter what we hear on the evening news. No matter what's going on in the world. No matter what's going on around me. No matter what happens. Because God is our strength, our very present help, we will not fear. That's our "therefore". That's our response. Because God is MY refuge and strength, I will not fear.
We know the truth. That no matter what man does, God is still God. God is in control. Even when we don't understand and no matter what comes our way, that truth remains.
No matter what.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea." (Psalm 46:1-2 NASB)
Monday, July 20, 2020
Monday, July 6, 2020
Let Freedom Ring
"Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof."
Those words from Leviticus 25 are inscribed on a bell we have come to know as the Liberty Bell, originally cast in the Whitechapel Foundry in East London, England, and now housed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Over the weekend we celebrated our nation's independence. July 4, 1776 was the date of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, and we celebrate that day every year.
But our independence, our freedom, is about more than a one-day-a-year celebration. It's about more than picnics and parades. It's about more than fireworks and flag-waving and funnel cakes.
Our freedom as Americans is something to celebrate every day of the year, not just on one day in the middle of summer. It's something to be cherished and protected. It's something we must never take for granted, but continually be thankful for.
Our freedom as Americans is a precious thing that must be guarded and defended. And just as the verse from Leviticus that is inscribed on the Liberty Bell reminds us, we must "proclaim liberty throughout the land"!
If that is true of our freedom as Americans, how much more is all that true of our freedom in Christ! Our freedom in Christ isn't something just to be celebrated once a week on Sundays, but to be celebrated and cherished and treasured and proclaimed every day! Because "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" (John 8:36 ESV)
"For freedom Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1 ESV)
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2 ESV)
[Jesus said] "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 ESV)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 ESV)
Free in Christ Jesus! Free indeed! Our freedom in Christ is not dependent on political parties or political correctness or political whim. That freedom is all and only in and through Christ Jesus! Free indeed!
Proclaim that freedom "throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof"!
What will you do today to proclaim liberty? To let freedom ring?
"Let Freedom Ring" - The Gaither Vocal Band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVVbSXz7jaU
Those words from Leviticus 25 are inscribed on a bell we have come to know as the Liberty Bell, originally cast in the Whitechapel Foundry in East London, England, and now housed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Over the weekend we celebrated our nation's independence. July 4, 1776 was the date of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, and we celebrate that day every year.
But our independence, our freedom, is about more than a one-day-a-year celebration. It's about more than picnics and parades. It's about more than fireworks and flag-waving and funnel cakes.
Our freedom as Americans is something to celebrate every day of the year, not just on one day in the middle of summer. It's something to be cherished and protected. It's something we must never take for granted, but continually be thankful for.
Our freedom as Americans is a precious thing that must be guarded and defended. And just as the verse from Leviticus that is inscribed on the Liberty Bell reminds us, we must "proclaim liberty throughout the land"!
If that is true of our freedom as Americans, how much more is all that true of our freedom in Christ! Our freedom in Christ isn't something just to be celebrated once a week on Sundays, but to be celebrated and cherished and treasured and proclaimed every day! Because "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" (John 8:36 ESV)
"For freedom Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1 ESV)
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2 ESV)
[Jesus said] "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 ESV)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 ESV)
Free in Christ Jesus! Free indeed! Our freedom in Christ is not dependent on political parties or political correctness or political whim. That freedom is all and only in and through Christ Jesus! Free indeed!
Proclaim that freedom "throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof"!
What will you do today to proclaim liberty? To let freedom ring?
"Let Freedom Ring" - The Gaither Vocal Band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVVbSXz7jaU
Thursday, July 2, 2020
What Time Is It?
10:11
10:12
10:13
10:14
4:59
9:14
Every clock in this house showed a different time this morning! What's going on? And what time is it anyway? We've had a few episodes of power flickering on and off this week, so I suppose that could account for all these differences in time Except perhaps for 4:59 and 9:14. One probably just needs a new battery, and the other never made it to Daylight Savings Time.
I checked my phone, and 10:14 was the actual time.
Recent world events have many questioning what time it is on the world calendar. We can't know that for certain. But we can know this:
"You know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11 ESV)
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