Lead Me to the Rock

Lead Me to the Rock

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.  Psalm 61:2-3

We all go through trials.  It is during these times that we become more desperate for the Lord to act.  When trouble leans upon us and its shadow lurks, our hearts can grow faint.

We must ask the Lord to lead us to Him.  He will help us to look up to that higher place where Jesus is seated.  With His help we can stand upon the rock.  He will cover us.  He will hold us and protect us.  When we are in Him, we are surrounded by a mighty fortress.

He causes us to stay still amidst the storm.  Here we can speak to the mountains in our life and watch the Lord move them out of our way.  In Him we are strong and not weak.  Through Christ, we can do all things. Nothing shall be impossible to us in prayer as long as our will agrees with the will of our Creator.

Dear Lord My Refuge,

I cry out to you.  Help me to trust in You when I face trouble.  Lead me to Your high place and teach me to rest in Your loving arms.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

We Will Not Fear

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  Psalm 46:1-2

During the summer of 1998, I took a missions trip to China with five other people from our church.  We ministered in the underground churches which are not sanctioned by the Communist government.  A friend of mine and I traveled to Shanghai where we were asked to preach in an underground Christian gathering. At the end of the service, a group of us went to a house in the village.  It was late at night and the owner of the home suddenly warned us all to be quiet and to go into one of the bedrooms. 

Outside, the Chinese police combed the area with flashlights. My friend and I prayed quietly and put our trust in the Lord. We were the only white-skinned individuals in the area.  Our lives were probably not in grave danger, but if we were caught for proclaiming Christ under the Communist regime, we could be forced out of the country. The Chinese Christians who were with us were in much greater peril.

We waited in silence for about 20 minutes till we were told that the officers had passed us by.  Then my friend and I called for a taxi and made it back to our hotel.

God protected all of us and, although adrenaline rushed through my body, I was not afraid.  I believed God would take care of us.  We later learned that a minister friend of ours in the States was praying for us at that exact time. I am sure my lack of fear was a direct result of our friend’s prayers. 

You too can trust the Lord in difficult situations.  He promises to take care of you.  God is forever faithful.  When trouble comes, we can choose not to fear.

Dear God My Refuge,

I thank you for always being there for me.  No matter what, you never leave me.  Help me to place my trust in you during difficult times.  I thank you for your hand on my life and your peace in my heart.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

One Summer day a boy and his older cousin were wading in the salty waters of the Mediterranean Sea in Greece. The young man said to the four year old boy, “You can swim! Just move your arms and kick your feet like this.” He motioned with his arms.

The boy dove into the deeper waters. He began to inhale alkaline liquid while coughing and flailing his arms and legs.

His father, Jim, spotted his son, whose feet pierced through the waves. He grabbed his son and thrust him above the waters. The boy violently coughed up water while squeezing his father. In minutes he resumed normal breathing. All was well.

This was a true story. That boy was me. Jim is my father.

The story reminds me that we should place our trust in the Lord and not in others. My dad is like Father God in this story. My cousin represents other voices.

When we place our trust in the Lord He’s quick to save us.

Who are you trusting in?

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. God Bless you for all you do!

The Morning Sun

The morning sun rises in the east

Your mercies to me each day are free

You've given me eyes to see

Your beauty

You came to cleanse me from my sin

My heart's unshackled from within

The Spirit fills me to the brim

In this battle I win

God is more than enough

You overflow my cup

Nothing's impossible with You

All your promises are true

The evening sun fades in the west

Because of You, all my days are blessed

In You I stand the test

For You are my righteousness

A Two-Edged Sword

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

We know from Ephesians 6 that the sword of the Spirit is an offensive weapon used for Spiritual warfare. It is a weapon in our mouths against Satan and his forces. It is the spoken word of God. But God also uses His word to encourage us and to disciple us.  

The word of God is a two-edged sword. It builds up and it tears us down. It declares who we are in Christ and it corrects us so we can better conform to the character of Christ.

The Bible is also a mirror. When we look into it, we see how God sees us. We see ourselves victorious in Christ. We see ourselves healed. We see ourselves blessed, but God also shows us our sinful habits and attitudes so He can transform us.

God’s word brings life to our spirits but death to our flesh. It is a two-edged sword.

We need God’s word desperately. It is food for our souls. Let’s spend time daily reading, studying and meditating on it. It has the power to encourage, strengthen and change us.

Dear Father God,

Give me revelation knowledge of Your word. Let it reveal to me my identity in Christ. Let it highlight areas in my life that need to mature. By your grace and by your Spirit enable me to change. Thank you Lord. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Faith is a Rest

Faith is not feverish striving

It is not wrestling a greased pig to the floor

It is not a forever war

Or a Mount Everest climb without a reprieve

Faith is a rest

The battle is won

Faith is a hammock in the shade

We rest on His promises to us.

In the midst of the storm

We can sleep

Trust in the Lord

And you will never be ashamed

Trust in Him and be freed from all fear

The Seed

The yellow seed once rested in the cob of corn

Surrounded by a leathery husk

Summer gave way to Autumn leaves

Soon the seed plummeted to the ground

Death overshadowed it

The cold air breathed over it

Then rain and sun took their turns

Death gave way to life

And the small seed sprouted

Over time the plant matured

It gave birth to two cobs

And multiple seeds then festooned both of them

Our faith is like a seed

We must die to ourselves

To bring forth a harvest

Are you ready to dive into the soil

To produce multiplied fruit

Obedience to and oneness with  the Master

Is the only way

Happy harvest