God Protects His Children

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and mountains tumble into the sea.

 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

(NLT) Psalm 46:1-3

               Have you ever felt God’s protection as you worked through a difficult circumstance? I’m sure you have. Have you prayed for God’s protection over a friend or family member? We have done it when we ask His presence with another person as we intercede for him or her.

               God’s presence comforts us. When I awaken most mornings, I hear birdsong fill the air. It brings me assurance that our weather will be nice—not necessarily sunny. It also tells me that I am able to still hear them. 

               God’s presence protects us. We have times when circumstances abound that could create extreme hardships on us but He steps in and contains the elements and we can return to a semblance of ‘normalcy’. When we have these circumstances in our lives, we can seek shelter and refuge in our God.

God’s protection strengthens us. Because He is near to us, we receive strength. We can stand firm against the onslaught of this fallen world and all the hardships it tries to cause.

               God’s protection reminds us of His love. When we feel Him near us, it’s like He gives us a hug by wrapping His arms around us and holding us close to Him. When I pray for a person with a great need, I ask God to wrap His arms of love around him or her and draw that individual close to Him.

Dear Father God: I thank you for the protection You have given me, Your child. I ask that protection for my friends and my family members as they go through their days. Please guide us as we walk through this world as we face the trials and tribulations that come across our path. AMEN

Our City's Independance Day Celebration

On Friday July 3rd, our city gathered to celebrate two birthdays. Our nation's 239th and our city's 150th. We had a parade.

This was the truck that pulled our flatbed wagon. We had two guitarist playing hymns, patriotic songs and children's Christian songs the entire route of the parade. We also had Jillian's Journey girl and a friend riding behind the cab in the truck bed.

We waved flags and greeted people along the route.

In addition to those riding and singing,We had some walking and passing out candy to the children. Also, there were two who carried the Christian flag and the American flag, again these walkers walked the whole route.

I didn;t get to do this last year. I noticed, this year, that the children along the route sang along with us. There were some adults who also sang along. I  was touched. 

I asked Jillian's mother, Rheanna if she could take pictures with my camera. I thank her for being so nice about it.

God Sustains Us

“Cast your burdens on the LORD and He will sustain you;

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Psalm 55:22 (NASB)

      Cast: Fishermen cast their lines into the water in order to place their bait near the nests of fish. A few years ago, I tried to learn to fish. I had to hold my rod at arm’s length and bring it forward, manipulating my shoulder and at the same time clicking the button on the reel. My goal was to place the bait a considerable distance away from where I was.   

               When David penned these words, he probably had seen commercial fishermen casting the nets of their trade across the water as they plied their trade.

               Burdens: What does David mean here? A burden is anything that weighs us down. What might look like a burden to the world may be a normal part of life to one of God’s children. The secret to a Christian’s outlook is that he or she can do all things through Christ.

               Sustain:  This term simply means ‘stand’. In a court of law, one side of the case or another might object to a question asked by the other side or a response given to a question, again by the other side. The judge can either allow that objection to stand (sustain) or disallow it (overrule.)

                God, in His infinite mercy, listens to our concerns. When we allow Him to take them from our hearts and minds, He gives us strength to do what He desires from us.

               When we are able to give our concerns to Him, He protects us from harm. It is in our best interests to submit our concerns to our loving Father. Only He has the power to resolve them.