refuge

The God of Jacob

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment 
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Psalm 46:11 ESV

Notice here that God is called here, the God of Jacob. Not God of Abraham – the father of our faith.. He is not the God of Issac, the laughter and joy of God’s promise fulfilled. He is not even called the God of Israel – Jacob’s later God given name meaning prince and overcomer. He is our God of Jacob – the struggler and striver. He is with us as He was with Jacob as He was still locked in combat and wrestling through life with both his brother Esau and The angel of the Lord. At exactly that time when we are also gripped by an opponent who knows our point of weakness, God is with us. He never leaves, He strives along right by our side and comforts us in our dismal moments of what seems certain defeat. Right then and right now He is our God of Jacob – our fortress, our refuge, our mighty delivered and our closest friend!

Our Stronghold

/ pastorpete51 / 10 Comments

In case anyone hasn’t watched any television recently, we here in Florida are in for a doosie of a hurricane named Ian! So of course as we were finishing up our morning men’s prayer meeting the storm was central to our conversation. Just then my friend interrupted our small talk and suggested we turn to Psalm 46. This morning that passage took on a whole new meaning for us.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though tye earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2 NIV

Well we don’t have even one mountain in our whole state, but huge swaths of real estate are predicted to be under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Some of us are evacuating inland, others stocking up on water and gas for their generators. But no matter where we decide to go we can rest assured that God is very present in this our troubled time.

Finding Refuge

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8 ESV

Storm shelters or at least a safe room are a must in North Texas where our son and his family live. They discovered this not long after their move there last year. One night as the rain was coming down and the winds suddenly picked up their cell phones went off warning them to take cover immediately. Ben, Deb and all five of our grand kiddos huddled together in the only room without windows in the center of their home. Fortunately the worst of the weather missed them, but it taught them an important lesson. Always be on the lookout for storms, and remember where to find shelter. Today’s verse puts together those thoughts in our our relationship with Jesus. Our Lord is with us and available, just like the safe room in our family’s house. They couldn’t rush out with 2 by 4’s, nails and plywood to build it after the warning came. It needed to be a familiar place they could find easily. When we daily taste and see the goodness and mercy of Jesus, we will know immediately and without asking, where to head when storm warnings light up our world and the wind is raging outside our door. Maybe you haven’t tasted and seen God’s goodness in a long time. Today is the perfect time to spend time with Him. Get to know Him so well that when the warnings come, there will be no panic or confusion. He longs to fill with calm assurance anyone who runs to Him for refuge. Today is your day to surrender to Jesus!

I was immensely blessed and in need of this new release fron Don Moen titled, Great is Your Mercy.” I pray that it ministers peace and mercy to you this morning. Have a blessed Sunday all.