Category: Protection

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My Favorite Place

Where do you abide?

Abide is an old fashioned word that isn’t used very often anymore. A person’s home was often referred to as their abode. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word abide as this: “to remain stable or fixed in a state; to continue in a place”. In other words, it means to stay put or be established, to put down roots.

Putting down roots is different than just going for a visit. Abiding has a sense of permanence. It implies that we are established or settled in. It can be a physical place such as our home or our city but it can also be a place of emotional stability.

Did you know that we can settle in to, be established and abide in love? We are encouraged to make it our home.

As a child I moved frequently. My dad was a construction worker; he operated heavy equipment and for years he was employed on road construction projects. As the road advanced toward the next town, we moved. The one thing that always moved with us was the love of my parents. We lived in a trailer but love was our abode.

Life surrounds us with things that are temporary but God gives us a permanent abiding place.

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home (*abide) in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain (abide) intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home (abide) in his love.” John 15:9-10 MSG

*abide is the word used in the old English, King James version of the Bible.

We can look at God’s love as if it were a home, our home. We can open the front door, walk in, sit down and know are welcomed there. This home of love provides us with protection and security. It protects us from life’s storms. It is a place of well-being.

“Those who live (*abide) in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 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

The door’s open – you can move in today. God’s love is a permanent place to abide!

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Yesterday’s News

Yesterday I watched as something very strange transpired. The stock market fell and all the financial analysts were saying it was because of the coronavirus reports.

Fear was rearing it’s ugly head!

For years I have read and taught about the protection the Lord promises us from His Word, particularly Psalm 91. However, there was a part of that chapter I didn’t fully understand until a few years ago.

“You will not be afraid of trouble at night, or of the arrow that flies by day. 6 You will not be afraid of the sickness that walks in darkness, or of the trouble that destroys at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand. But it will not come near you.” Psalm 91:5-7 NLV

In my lifetime we have been warned of the swine flu, the bird flu, SARS, Legionaire’s disease and now the coronavirus. I’m not saying that these diseases are not real threats but I am saying that God’s word gives many promises of protection to those of us who trust Him. He will keep us safe.

“Because you have made the Lord your safe place, and the Most High the place where you live, 10 nothing will hurt you. No trouble will come near your tent.” Psalm 91:10 NLV

The Lord doesn’t want us living in fear. I know I’ve told you before but it bares repeating now. There are over 300 verses in the Bible that counsel us not to fear, to worry or be anxious. Those things, left unchecked, will rob us of our faith in God. Faith is trusting the Father to handle all the circumstances of our lives; fear displaces that trust and tries to convince us that He won’t.

“I will give honor and thanks to the Lord, Who has told me what to do. Yes, even at night my mind teaches me. 8 I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved. 9 And so my heart is glad. My soul is full of joy. My body also will rest without fear.” Psalm 16:7-9 NLV

Rest without fear!

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They’re Back

About this time every year a strange phenomenon occurs. The migration begins. They arrive in their dulled colors of khaki and gray, heads adorned with broad-billed coverings while cameras and binoculars adorn their chest. They are unusually silent. They are the birders.

You will find them congregating along the river paths and searching the tree tops for their prey. Our area has many species of birds and they attract a lot of attention. So I felt I would take this opportunity to also draw your attention to the birds.

I love to hear their song right before sunrise. The sweet melody lets me know the day is about to start and the birds are grateful for the bounty of their day. The bird baths have received a good scrubbing and are filled with fresh water. The trees and scrub brush provide nesting space; I’ve even had them build nests in my flower pots, under the branches of the geraniums.

These melodious, brightly colored, two-legged, dual-winged creatures are examples of God’s love and provision. These are the words of Jesus:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:25-33 NLT

There have been times that I have worried about all these things – food, clothing, shelter, bills, health, etc. But once these words from my heavenly Father really began to sink into my heart I let those worries go. Each time I hear the song of a robin, the coo of a dove, the call of the quail I am reminded that God, my Father, loves me more than the birds and if He will provide for them He will definitely see to my well-being.

As they start their day singing, I let my heart join them in song and say “I sing because I’m happy, I singing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me”.

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A Trip To Remember

A good portion of the country is having really bad weather – the snow, sub zero temperatures – yuk! I remember those days. A friend posted their first day of winter temperature, -40.

When we lived in Montana we always had to look at the weather report, consider any possible storms and plan accordingly. Most anywhere we went we would have three mountain passes to go over and winter travelling could be treacherous. Several times we had drives of the “white knuckle” variety. I have been so thankful for Dave’s excellent driving skills and the Lord’s hand of protection.

But what must the weather have been like travelling to Bethlehem all those years ago?

I know it wouldn’t have been sub zero but it can get cold in the desert regions. Was there rain? Ladies, imagine this, you’re nine months pregnant, riding a donkey, and sleeping under the stars. Regardless of the weather, it may have been perfect, that’s not the time you want to try out the new tent and sleeping bags you just got from BassPro, right?

What was Mary thinking, this was certainly a “memory maker”? Did the trip effect her disposition? What questions did this young woman have, afterall it was her first pregnancy? Was there an older, more experienced Mom travelling with them?

“So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box. 17 When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child. 18 Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.” Luke 2:16-19 ERV

As a mother, I sit here this morning remembering different Christmas mornings with my children and grandchildren. I pray that the significance of that first Christmas morning stays as the focal point in their lives long after I am gone.

There aren’t enough words of gratitude to express my heart’s joy over the events of that first Christmas morning and how it changed my life.

Thank you Father for loving me enough to give me the gift of Your Son and a relationship of eternal life that first Christmas day.

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Listen for the Bugle

Isaiah, the prophet said this about Jesus.

“Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD. He wasn’t some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us. 3 He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, “He is a nobody!” Isaiah 53:2-3 CEV

According to Isaiah Jesus was common looking, unattractive and nothing special as far as physical traits. He wasn’t Charles Atlas; he wouldn’t have been the captain of the football team or even voted most likely to succeed. His own family and disciples didn’t understand Him.

Remember how the disciples became upset with Jesus because the ship they were in was taking on water and about to sink?

“Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?” Mark 4:38 CEV

If their faith had really been in Jesus as the Son of God, they would have approached the problem differently. “Hey, let’s wake Jesus up because He’ll have the answer to our problem. This storm isn’t a surprise to Him. He’ll know what to do.”

Those who were closest to Jesus had to grow in their faith and accept Him for who He was, the Son of God, just like us. We cry out “Lord, don’t you care I’m about to go under; cancer is about to sink me, the waves of debt are flooding my boat, the storm of rebellious children or a typhoon with my mate is about to capsize me in this ocean? Don’t you care?”

Even when we come to Him in that kind of desperation and fear, He will speak to our storm and say “Peace, be still!” Then He takes time to teach us again – Come boldly to my throne and find help in your time of need. But then, He expects us to accept, by faith, that help is on the way!

In the old Westerns you could always hear the Cavalry bugle before you saw the soldiers. The invitation to come boldly is the sound of the bugle. It’s then our responsibility to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day” (Exodus 14:13)

Let God be God in your life today. Don’t limit Him but what you see. Say like the young virgin Mary, “with God all things are possible”!

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On a Journey

Over the river and through the woods…you know the rest of the words, don’t you?

The journey of the holidays can be treacherous at times and exhilarating at others. Yesterday, we went to the grocery store. Easy enough right? The traffic has increased greatly in the last few weeks as more people are coming back to their winter homes. The parking lot that normally is half empty was now almost completely full. People were driving the wrong way in the lanes and drivers’ tempers were short.

We were glad to be home. Safe and sound. Our temperament remained joyful and I whispered a silent prayer saying thank you Lord that I don’t have to go out in that again, any time soon.

Thinking about yesterday’s trek to the store brought to mind another journey that took place in a land called Judea. A young woman, in her final weeks of pregnancy, set out on a trip of approximately one hundred miles. She traveled with the love of her life, a man named Joseph.

They had to report to the government office, along with the rest of their community, to be taxed. Not a responsibility that would have been high on my list right before my due date. But they went.

I’m sure Joseph tried to make her as comfortable as they journeyed and I’m sure she tried to make the best of it and not complain but she had to have been so weary each night.

Do you ever get weary “on your journey”? Life is hard sometimes, it just is. How do we handle it? Do we murmur and complain, thinking God has completely forgotten about us or do we trust and draw close to Him ? In His presence we will find comfort and joy!

“I look up to the mountains—  does my help come from there?2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth !3 He will not let you stumble;  the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The Lord himself watches over you!  The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day,  nor the moon at night. 7 The Lord keeps you from all harm  and watches over your life. 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,  both now and forever.Psalm 121 NLT

Do you think Mary knew these verses? If she did, I’m sure they brought her strength, knowing that the Lord had promised to keep her from harm.

Trust the Lord with your journey – it may just be a trip to the grocery store or it may be a trip that will change your life and that of your families. Our heavenly Father won’t abandon us.

Enjoy the journey!

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Bump In The Night

Have you ever been in a situation when you knew there was something out there – something out there in the dark – and you were afraid? But then, in the light of day you saw that it was really only a tree branch or a strange rock formation or a small animal, something insignificant. Maybe you didn’t wait till light of day but instead you got out your spot light or turned on the flood lights on the porch – when you could see things clearly, it wasn’t scary at all.

Living rural we hear things that go bump in the night quite frequently.

Not so long ago, Dave and I were awaken in the dark of night by a loud thumping on our bedroom wall. What in the world?! Dave pulled back the curtain and found he was looking eye to eye with a deer. This buck had stuck his head into the bushes out side our window for a midnight snack of supple leaves and berries. Really? Dave tapped on the window to get him to run off but he was determined to stay until Dave opened the window and yelled through the screen.

Bringing things into the light gives us a true perspective.

That’s how I feel looking at things through the light of God’s word. It tells us that the Lord is our light and our salvation, whom shall I fear? When we let God light our circumstances we will see that His light is bigger than our problem and we can trust Him and not be afraid!

“You, Lord, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone. You protect me,
and I have no fears. 2 Brutal people may attack and try to kill me, but they will stumble.
Fierce enemies may attack, but they will fall. 3 Armies may surround me, but I won’t be afraid; war may break out, but I will trust you.

4 I ask only one thing, Lord: Let me live in your house every day of my life to see how wonderful you are and to pray in your temple. 5 In times of trouble, you will protect me.
You will hide me in your tent and keep me safe on top of a mighty rock. 6 You will let me defeat all of my enemies. Then I will celebrate, as I enter your tent with animal sacrifices and songs of praise. 7 Please listen when I pray! Have pity. Answer my prayer.

8 My heart tells me to pray. I am eager to see your face, 9 so don’t hide from me.
I am your servant, and you have helped me. Don’t turn from me in anger. You alone keep me safe. Don’t reject or desert me. 10 Even if my father and mother should desert me, you will take care of me. 11 Teach me to follow, Lord, and lead me on the right path because of my enemies. 12 Don’t let them do to me what they want. People tell lies about me and make terrible threats, 13 but I know I will live to see how kind you are. 14 Trust the Lord! Be brave and strong and trust the Lord.” Psalm 27 CEV

Don’t let fear cause you to hide. Turn the Lord’s spot light on your circumstances today!

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God Never Sleeps

We came to the Phoenix area yesterday. Spent a few hours in the afternoon with our youngest daughter and our two small grandchildren. Then on to our oldest daughter’s where we spent the night. We’re in Phoenix because I will be speaking at a church luncheon today. What a privilege!

In the middle of all this, we are on baby watch. Our fifth grandchild can be born at any time. Last night Sam and Kristine joined us for an impromptu sleep over. About a year ago I shared a teaching on Mother’s Sleep. You know that sleep mothers have where you never fall into a deep sleep but are always listening for a cry, a call, a cough or a breath. Well, last night I was doing that again. Listening through the night to make sure Sam and Kristine had settled in and were sleeping well.

That’s how the Father is with us. Always attentive, always listening for our call. He never sleeps but is always watching over us.

“He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel  never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” Psalm 121:3-5 NLT

The attentiveness that we as parents and grandparents show to our children can’t even begin to compare with the Father’s watchfulness to us.

Thank you Father that you never sleep or slumber!

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Starting to Sink

A couple days back I shared with you the story of Peter going overboard. You remember, he saw Jesus walking on the water in the middle of the night and thought it was a ghost. Peter questioned Jesus and asked if it was really him; Jesus said yes. Then Peter said well then let me come to you on the water. Jesus said, ok.

“Just before the light of day, Jesus went to them walking on the water. 26 When the followers saw Him walking on the water, they were afraid. They said, “It is a spirit.” They cried out with fear. 27 At once Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take hope. It is I. Do not be afraid!”

28 Peter said to Jesus, “If it is You, Lord, tell me to come to You on the water.” 29 Jesus said, “Come!” Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. He began to go down in the water. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 At once Jesus put out His hand and took hold of him. Jesus said to Peter, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”

32 When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing. 33 Those in the boat worshiped Jesus. They said, “For sure, You are the Son of God!” Matthew 14:25-33 NLV

There’s more to this story than just Peter walking on the water. The first thing we should notice is that everyone in the boat was afraid. They were on the sea in the middle of the night and they thought they saw a ghost coming on the water.

Fear had gripped their hearts. The first thing Jesus wanted to do was calm their fears so he spoke words of encouragement to them. “Don’t be afraid.” We all have a tendency to fear during life’s darkest hours. Perhaps that ghost of failure shows up in your dreams in the middle of the night when you are most vulnerable. Can you hear Jesus? He’s there and He says don’t be afraid.

Peter is embolden by Jesus words so he says “if” it’s you Lord tell me to come. What’s Jesus to say? “No Peter, don’t try this or Yes Peter, it’s me but stay put.”

Jesus says come and Peter went.

His eyes were on Jesus and he walked on the water! But then something happened. Peter began to look around, maybe thinking “hey, boys do you see this?”. He took his eyes off Jesus, saw the waves and felt the wind (external circumstances) and he began to sink. Fear came back and he was going down. I’ve often wondered how does one begin to sink. But in that split second of beginning to go down, Peter cries out, Jesus reaches out and they walk back to the boat together! And the winds ceased.

Do you feel like you are beginning to sink? Maybe you feel like you’re going down for the third time? You’ve felt like you were doing exactly what God wanted you to do, what He called you to do, you heard him say “come” and now the waves and the wind are bigger than you thought and you are going down.

Call out. Jesus is there. He will rescue you and the two of you will walk back to the boat together. Hand in Hand. Once they were safely in the boat, the others who were there realized that Jesus truly was God’s Son and began to praise Him.

I remember one other incident when they were all in the boat and ready to sink in the storm. Jesus stood up and said “Peace, be still”. You know we relate the “peace, be still” to Jesus talking to the wind and the waves but I think that Jesus may have been saying “peace to you disciples who are so fearful” and “be still” to the storm. Just a thought.

In closing I want us to look at a couple verses in Psalms.

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7 NLT

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” Psalm 46:10-11 NLT

Be encouraged because it’s God who says “be still, I AM God”!

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Changing Shadows

Yesterday afternoon Dave and I were sitting on the back patio and he made comment about the way the sun had changed position since earlier in the summer. In the summer, the sun is beating down on the patio by midafternoon and we have to drop the shade to diffuse the light and dispel the heat. Now, on the last day of September the sun was going down further south and casting a longer shadow. It’s amazing – who tells the sun to do that?

Other places in the country and the world for that matter, folks are noticing the leaves turning and even early snowfall. We, here, in the southwest don’t have those indicators but we do notice shorter days, longer shadows and cooling temperatures.

There is one thing that remains the same, winter, spring, summer, fall. There is no change to the faithfulness of our God. The old hymn states

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

No shadow of turning – our Father is consistent. His character of love and goodness has never changed. His mercy and His grace endure forever and they are fresh and new every morning. His compassion never fails. We can never say that God must be in a bad mood or is effected by light deprivation. No, He is the same yesterday, today and forever – He is always good.

“Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. 17 Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. 18 He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.” James 1:16-18 CEV

There are shadows mentioned in the Bible; shadow of death, shadow of other nations, man’s life is referred to as a shadow, and the Law of Moses was a shadow of what God was doing in the earth. However, the only shadow the Lord casts over us is the shadow of His protection.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-3 NKJV

“Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,9 From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.” Psalm 17:7-9 NKJV

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 36:7 NKJV

“Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.” Psalm 63:7 NKJV

So, as the days get shorter and we see the shadows fall it should be a reminder that wherever we are we can trust the Father’s faithfulness to cover us with the shadow of His wings and be our protector.

He never changes!


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