Likely, many of you have already heard the story of Christopher Duffley, but if any of you have not, you may enjoy going to his website, http://www.christopherduffley.com or looking up his singing on You Tube, where he sings such songs as “Open the Eyes of my Heart,” (when he was so very young), “I Can Only Imagine,” “This is Amazing Grace,” and others.
Have a blessed day!
The Bible says God is a shelter for us.
Could He ever be a shelter that leaks?
Hardly, since He made the planets and stars
and wonderfully built all the mountain peaks.
Under His wings, there’s strong shelter,
even in situations that are dire.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
were sheltered by Him in the midst of fire.
Daniel, thrown into the lions’ den,
and Noah, obeying and building an ark…
Both were sheltered by Almighty God
in two different circumstances that were dark.
Likewise, today, we need a shelter
in perils and plagues that could distress.
As Christians, we become sheltered ones,
under the wings of the true God who loves to bless.
P. A. Oltrogge
“For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in your tabernacles forever; I will trust in the shelter of your wings. Selah.” Psalm 61:3-4 NKJV
“They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones….Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord; are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83:3, 17-18 NkJV
“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” Psalm 143:9 NKJV
“The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16 NKJV
and Psalm 91 NASB:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you.
You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down,
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.
poem postscript:
(Some might ask, what about those persecuted for their faith in Christ? Surely, the Lord has helped/helps them in trouble in supernatural ways. We do earnestly pray for them, at this moment, for deliverance from their enemies, and that those who persecute will find Jesus Christ, the true God, themselves.)
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 NIV
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…” 1 John 4:18
Are you at a point where fears are trying to dominate your thinking?
Or are you in a situational “boat” that makes you feel as though you’re sinking?
Then let this scripture permeate your thoughts, to make things perfectly clear,
that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
God’s perfect love surrounds you like pleasant views down a wilderness river.
Knowing you’re afloat on the river of His perfect love has great power to deliver.
P. A. Oltrogge
“And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:16-19 NASB
“How precious is Your lovingkindess, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fulness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” Psalm 36:7-9 NKJV
“…and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 NASB
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High…The Lord of hosts is with us, The God of Jacob is our stronghold.” Psalm 46:4 and 7
further encouragement:
http://www.moorelife.org “Faith in the Power” series
(Click on “Word Supply,” “Series,”
and then “Alphabetical List”)
Photo/Unsplash
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
The Bible is very explicit about the importance of the words that we speak.
But keeping the meditation of our hearts acceptable to God is something we should also seek.
Are the meditations of your heart more like worry or negativity in recent days? Think, instead, upon God’s promises, thanking Him, and rejoicing in Him always!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 NKJV
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2 NKJV
“But to the Son (Jesus) He says:
‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions,'”
Hebrews 1:8-9 NKJV
Postscript:
Worry or complaining are draining;
Praising is life-giving and joy-raising!
Photo/Porch of the Lord
“I an not afraid; I only believe!”
…from the account of the raising up of the daughter of Jairus…
“When He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, ‘Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher any more.’ But when Jesus heard this, he answered him, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, only believe, and she will be made well.'” Luke 8:49-50 NASB
“I am not afraid; I only believe…”
When I pray, I believe I receive.
“I am not afraid; I only believe…”
By speaking in faith, worries are relieved.
“I am not afraid; I only believe…”
overcomes any fears that the devil may weave.
If a matter hasn’t yet come to its desired perfection,
just say, “Everything is headed in the right direction.”
Even if it seems as if all hope is gone,
remember the Lord’s mercies are new at every dawn.
Trusting God has heard and will answer your prayers,
cast upon Him, every one of your cares.
P. A. Oltrogge
“–for we walk by faith, not by sight–we are of good courage….”
2 Corinthians 5:7-8 NASB
It follows that if we walk by faith, we also talk by faith! Though that’s not always easy if faced with challenging circumstances, it’s greatly beneficial, according to the Word of God.
“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23 NASB
“The mouth of a righteous man is a fountain of life….” Proverbs 10:11 NASB
“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life.” Proverbs 13:3 NASB
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 NASB
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 RSV
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all you care upon him, for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV
Quote by Kenneth Copeland:
“Fear tolerated is faith contaminated.”
Excellent book, “Faith to Faith”
available at http://www.kcm.org
If you need specific prayer, many ministries are there to help. You can submit your request for agreement in prayer either online or by phone. The following are some ministries to choose from:
http://www.awmi.net
http://www.kcm.org
http://www.oralroberts.com
http://www.josephprince.org
http://www.rhema.org
http://www.cbn.com
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:19 NKJV
Yes, Christians, in every walk of life, are working to persuade
that “the way” to eternal life for every person has been made.
Because of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection–
through Him, our Father God sees any believer in perfection.
And you don’t have to take one Christian’s word alone,
for there’ve been many testimonies that conclusively have shown
that Jesus is alive–His Father is still giving time to decide
to accept His invitation, which is going out worldwide,
to be a part of His kingdom through Jesus, His spotless Lamb–
an invitation very graciously extended by the great “I AM.”
Please respond as soon as you can–one thing unknown is the exact date,
of when things will come to a close, so it’s very wise not to wait.
There are really just two kingdoms, one of darkness and one of light.
Come into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, the only choice that’s right.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” John 14:6 NKJV
“Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.”
2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 NIV
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John 5:11 NIV
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 NIV
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:36-37 NKJV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 NKJV
Testimonies to watch or read at http://www.awmi.net
Also search: You Tube Jerry Savelle Terri’s Fingers
Photo: “Little Heaven”
Unsplash
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight;
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I need not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart.
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, after victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
attributed to: Dallan Forgaill
This old hymn uses words like Thou and Thy, as found in the King James version of the Bible, but speaks of a son’s (or daughter’s) love for and focus on God as their Father (Abba, Father) and that He and His Word are a shield and sword, a shelter and a high tower for them.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 NASB
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12 KJV
“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.'” Galatians 4:6 NIV
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 8:35 NASB
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fulness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2 KJV
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NKJV
“My lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.” Psalm 144:2 (Psalm of David)
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 NASB
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
…praying for you, dear friend
Sequoia National Park,
California
Oh beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee!
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Written by Katharine Lee Bates
Photos/Unsplash
“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV
So grateful, as we see the fireworks displayed,
that this is a land founded by people who prayed…
So many who recognized that this world’s true King—
is Jesus, the Christ—Lord above everything.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty;
and it’s through God’s beloved Son that men are truly free.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'” John 8:31-32 NKJV
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 NKJV
“…no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.”
1 Corinthians 12:3 KJV
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” spoken by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 KJV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” spoken by Jesus in John 3:16-17 KJV
The Porch of the Lord 