Mid-Week Message - No Greater Security

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the Lord:  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him."  Psalm 91:1-2  (NLT)  

One of the very first things that many newborns do is either take a pacifier or suck their thumbs.  It gives them a feeling of security to have something in their mouths.  Many children will also latch onto a favorite blanket or stuffed animal.  Those of you whose children did this know how difficult it can be to separate them from that object.  Even though their parents are with them, they still seem to need the presence of their security item.  My own daughter sucked her thumb on one hand and tickled her face with her hair with the other hand.  

We all want to feel secure.  Psychologists say that women in particular have a great need for security.  I know I do.  I want to know that there is someone watching out for me, that I am not alone.  It would be wonderful if my beloved could be with me all day every day, but that just isn't possible.  The demands of life dictate that at times we must be apart.  There is also no promise that, at some point, I will not be left without him due to illness or death.  While that thought grieves me, I know that there is One who will never leave me.

Before my husband and I moved to the state of Georgia a few years ago, we had a ministry at an independent-living retirement facility.  Each Sunday, we would gather with this incredible community of souls to share the Lord's Word, sing hymns, and have moments of encouragement.  My responsibility was to deliver a devotional moment.  One Sunday morning I spoke about the verse in Isaiah and Romans that says, "How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring good news."  

The greatest message we can share with anyone is that because of Jesus, we have eternal security.  In Romans 8:38-39, Paul tells us, "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."  

Friends, there is no greater security than that.  No matter where we find ourselves in life, we will never be outside of His love and protection, unless we are the ones that choose to move away from Him.  His love is unconditional.  We are His children, those whom He has chosen to bring into His eternal family.  All we have to do is to repent of our sin and ask Jesus to come into our hearts and be the Lord of our lives.  

If you have never done that, please do.  We have no assurance of waking up in the morning.  Grab for the greatest provision of security that is available, the great I Am Himself.  Jesus left the enormity of Heaven to be born as a human baby and, ultimately, die a vicious and cruel death for each of us.  By rising from the dead, he conquered death and gave us the promise of eternal life with Him if only we will follow Him.  There is no greater security blanket than that.  

I pray that everyone will have a blessed week and that, as we face the difficulties set before us, we would remember that this world is only temporary.  Our futures are secured through the grace and mercy of our Creator.  

Mid-Week Message - Security From Our Father

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."   Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

One of the vivid memories from my childhood is a time that there was a thunderstorm in Amarillo, Texas.  It was in the middle of the night and I was scared.  As I always did when I was afraid at night, I called out for my Daddy.  He came in to check on me and asked me what was wrong, even though he already knew.  Because I was feeling so insecure, he pulled my bed away from the window and positioned it near the door so that I could see across the hall to my parents' bedroom and know he was there and I was safe.  

I think back on that night now and realize what a beautiful picture it is of my relationship with God.  When I am scared, He is always there.  No matter what time of day or what the situation, He is always there to help me feel secure.  Just as my earthly father acknowledged my fear, so does the Lord.  During this past year there have been numerous times when I didn't know what was going to happen next.  Our lives were completely turned upside down and I found myself in unfamiliar territory not knowing what my next step should be or in which direction.  To say there were days when I was terrified is an understatement.  But I knew where I could go for refuge.  

Psalm 23:4 in the King James Version says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."  When I read that there is something that jumps out at me and that is the word "shadow."  In order for there to be a shadow, there must be a source of light.  Since God is light, we know that even in those deep, frightening valleys we can be sure of His presence.  If we know that He is there then whatever is causing our fear loses its power.

Fear is a powerful tool used against us by the enemy.  He loves it when we feel frightened and alone.  It creates an opportunity for him to whisper such things to us as, "Where is your God now?"  He wants us to doubt the Lord's presence.  He wants us to feel isolated so that our faith will be shaken.  His goal is to create a wall of doubt that will separate us from the Father.  What we have to keep in mind is that there is nothing greater than the Almighty.  His greatness is always bigger than any situation we can find ourselves in and His light will always overcome any darkness that the enemy attempts to create.  We just have to have our eyes open to see it.  

I don't know what your circumstances are.  I share my own experiences in hopes that they may resonate with something you are either going through currently or have gone through.  My prayer is always that hearts can be touched in a timely manner and that the Lord will use the words He gives me to reach into lives that are needing to see His light.  I have no reason to write these messages except to glorify Him.  I pray for each of you and ask for His blessings in your lives.  If you are in a place of fear today, my hope is that you will see the Light that dwarfs whatever is causing your fear.  That light is the reassurance that you are not alone.  Keep your eyes on the Light rather than whatever is causing you to be fearful.  The temporary will always lose out to the eternal. 

Mid-Week Message - When Your World Shakes

 "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God."  Psalm 62:5-7  (ESV)  

Our little dog, Jack, is terrified of storms.  When he hears the wind pick up, heavy rain begin to fall, the thunder clap, or when he sees lightning, he starts to shake and needs to be near one of us with our hands on him.  Still, even though he is beside us, he looks at us for reassurance that he will be okay.  

The other evening I was having a discussion with a friend about tornadoes and earthquakes.  Being a Texas girl, I am quite familiar with tornado watches and warnings.  I have never been in one, thank the Lord, but I have been near enough to feel some of their power.  As frightening as they can be, if given the choice, I would choose to live where there might be a tornado rather than where there might be an earthquake because the thought of the earth moving under my feet is more than I can handle. 

Life is full of events that can shake our world, isn't it?  When a loved one is diagnosed with a deadly disease or when we deal with the grief of a death, we wonder how we can possibly take the next step.  Many things may occur that can make the ground under our feet feel uncertain and most of us have been through plenty of them.  

I would love to deliver an encouraging message and say that those times are over.  But they aren't.  Yet.  As long as we live on this tiny orb in space we will face hardships and trials and many of them may take our breath away as we wonder how we can cope, how we can go on.  

Gratefully, the Bible reminds us that there is a place to run to for refuge.  There is only One who cannot be shaken and that is the Lord Himself.  In Him alone will we find hope.  Only by His side will we find the peace that will allow us to continue the journey set before us.  He is the only One that knows the future.  He has already walked the pathway we are on and will take us by the hand and be our guide. 

I know several who are walking through valleys right now.  To them I want to say that there is no place where God cannot go.  There is no situation that He is unaware of or that is too difficult for Him.  Though your world seems dark and unsure, He is the light and He is steadfast.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  He knows where you have been and where you are going and He will remain by your side, not only during this difficult time, but forever.  Run to Him and allow Him to be your refuge, your fortress.  There you will find security.   

Mid-Week Message - Seeking Security

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the Lord:  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him."  Psalm 91:1-2  (NLT)  

One of the very first things that many newborns do is either take a pacifier or suck their thumbs.  It gives them a feeling of security to have something in their mouths.  Many children will also latch onto a favorite blanket or stuffed animal.  Those of you whose children did this know how difficult it can be to separate them from that object.  Even though their parents are with them, they still seem to need the presence of their security item.  My own daughter sucked her thumb on one hand and tickled her face with her hair with the other hand.  

We all want to feel secure.  Psychologists say that women in particular have a great need for security.  I know I do.  I want to know that there is someone watching out for me, that I am not alone.  It would be wonderful if my beloved could be with me all day every day, but that just isn't possible.  The demands of life dictate that at times we must be apart.  There is also no promise that, at some point, I will not be left without him due to illness or death.  While that thought grieves me, I know that there is One who will never leave me.

Before my husband and I moved to the state of Georgia a few years ago, we had a ministry at an independent-living retirement facility.  Each Sunday, we would gather with this incredible community of souls to share the Lord's Word, sing hymns, and have moments of encouragement.  My responsibility was to deliver a devotional moment.  One Sunday morning I spoke about the verse in Isaiah and Romans that says, "How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring good news."  

The greatest message we can share with anyone is that because of Jesus, we have eternal security.  In Romans 8:38-39, Paul tells us, "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."  

Friends, there is no greater security than that.  No matter where we find ourselves in life, we will never be outside of His love and protection, unless we are the ones that choose to move away from Him.  His love is unconditional.  We are His children, those whom He has chosen to bring into His eternal family.  All we have to do is to repent of our sin and ask Jesus to come into our hearts and be the Lord of our lives.  

If you have never done that, please do.  We have no assurance of waking up in the morning.  Grab for the greatest provision of security that is available, the great I Am Himself.  Jesus left the enormity of Heaven to be born as a human baby and, ultimately, die a vicious and cruel death for each of us.  By rising from the dead, he conquered death and gave us the promise of eternal life with Him if only we will follow Him.  There is no greater security blanket than that.  

I pray that everyone will have a blessed week and that, as we face the difficulties set before us, we would remember that this world is only temporary.  Our futures are secured through the grace and mercy of our Creator.