With No Regrets

"For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God."  (2Corinthians 7:8-12 NAS95S)

Observation:  Godly sorrow comes with no regrets.  True repentance is without resentment.  As Paul says, true repentance produces vindication, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and an avenging of wrong.  Godly sorrow produces an earnestness in the heart of the receiver that results in a life of passion and purpose.  How we need the true repentance of the Lord!!!

Application:  These words come at a great time in my experience and in the experience of the churches of the San Luis Valley.  We have be walking our way through the book of Malachi.  Our series is entitled The Refiner's Fire.  It is all about being purified through the fiery tears of repentance and true turn around.  

And these words of Paul come as an assurance this morning that we don't have to fear repentance.  That when we repent, there is joy awaiting us on the other side of mourning.  True repentance is seen in the true apostle who goes forth with the seed of the gospel:

"He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalms 126:6 NKJV)'

It is the tears of the truly repentant that will cause the seed of God's word to come to life in the lives of the lost.  When they see His power to save, His power to transform our lives, His power to create a true change in us, they will come running to the foot of the cross.  I believe part of the reason the church is so ineffective today is because we are so unrepentant.  

It is time we sought the gift of repentance.  It is time we cried out for the convicting influence of His Holy Spirit.  Time that we got on our knees and pleaded... God save us.  God change us.  God sent a Spirit of grace and supplication (Zechariah 12:10) upon your people that we might look upon the one whom we have pierced and mourn with a true repentance because of the power of His sacrifice on Calvary's cross.  May this be our prayer!  And as the tears of repentance flow, may the seed of God's word bear the fruit of salvation in the lives of the lost!

Other Sheep

"And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us." (Acts 16:13-15 NAS95S)

Observation:  Throughout the scriptures we find worshipers of the true God.  Men and women waiting for an invitation to follow the one who has been like a secret admirer to them.  They have known they are loved by Him, and they know they love Him.  But they don't know the full gospel.  They haven't received the whole story.  This was the case of Lydia, and the case of Cornelius, and the case of the Ethiopian Eunuch.  

Jesus, while He was ministering upon the earth, informed us that this was the case for many many others.  Unnamed ones who surround us every day.  Jesus said it this way:

""I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd." (John 10:14-16 NAS95S)

There are those right now who are following the voice of our shepherd Jesus.  And they are simply waiting to have an invitation to come into the fold.  In Revelation we read the call for God's people to come out of Babylon.  That means they are out their and not just in here.  The Remnant is bigger than we thought.  The people of God are more diverse than we thought.

Yesterday I was listening to a message from Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids by David Livermore entitled God Works in You.  In his message he referenced the story of a young Iranian woman named Afrus.  

When David met her she told of a time when she was in her final year of studies at the University of Teran.  It was a dark time in her life.  Her parents had migrated to Europe and her friends were leaving Islam for the secularism of the west.  She, however, felt a passion to remain true to her Muslim convictions.  At the same time she was experiencing a heavy depression and darkness.  

So, she decided to increase her prayer time; in addition to her regular daily prayers, she added a prayer time just before going to bed at night.  She began pleading with Allah.  "Show me that the teachings of Islam are true.  I don't want to abandon the faith like my friends.  But I need something to give me hope!"  Just praying gave her some perspective and hope and she began doing this night after night; pleading with Allah, "Reveal yourself to me.  Show me something."

One night she was particullary overcome by the darkness of her despair and it felt so lonely that it was litterly like a wait was being pushed down on her chest; she could hardly breath and her heart rate was racing.  And she began pleading, "Allah, show me that the teachings of the Koran are true... give me something to hang onto!"  

Her room was pitch dark, it was the middle of the night, and all of the sudden her room turned bright as the noonday sun.  As she looked up, she saw a Christ figure.  And He says, "Come to me, all Ye who are weary and heavy laden.  And I will give you rest."  The room went pitch dark.  She's was a little ticked.  She'd been praying for Allah to come to her and for whatever reason, She believes the Christian God showed up.  What was she supposed to do with this whole thing.    Frustrated, she wrapped up her prayer mat, went to bed, and tried to sleep.

Next night, same thing.  Afrus pulled out her mat and began to plead.  "Allah, I don't know what's happening.  Maybe I'm hallucenating.  Show me.  Reveal yourself."  Again the room was pitch dark and then bright as the noonday sun.  Then a figure like the son of man:  "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

This time she began sobbing uncontrollably.  So the next day she sought out some classmates that she knew were part of an underground Christian fellowship at the university of Teran and told them what happened... she started to connect with them, she stated to study the scriptures with them, and she began to encounter Jesus...   She started joining them in working out her salvation along with them; knowing she had experienced some divine encounter with Christ...

That is an illustration of one who is not of this fold.  Of a true worshiper of God being found by Him.  Found even as she was praying to Allah.  You see I believe there are Hindu's, Muslims, and Seeks who are praying to Jesus when they think they are praying to their gods.  That what makes the difference in our prayers is not the titles we proclaim, but the Spirit that is leading us.  That if we will be open to the leading of God's Spirit, that He will guide us into all truth.  That He will take the things Christ has proclaimed and proclaim them to us.  

I believe we have the incredible opportunity of joining with the Spirit of God and seeking out the Lydia's, Cornelius's and Afrus's of this world.  And sometimes, meeting them after Christ has sought them out.

Dwight Nelson preached a powerful message on the working of God's Spirit amidst the pagan peoples of this world... Here is a link to that message along with the notes from His message:  

A Christmas Gift for the Pagan Majority | Study Guide | Free MP3

Application:  Yesterday I put on one of the little "May I pray for you?" buttons that Geri Morrison had given me.   My wife and I had gone to Fort Collins to look at a couch she saw on Craig's list.  Walking into the man's house I was conscience of the prayer button and wondered if he was going to ask us to pray.  I even said to my wife as we were walking in, "where is your prayer button?"

She said, "I gave mine away yesterday and forgot to get another one."   

Well, the man never said anything about the button.  And I kind of forgot about it until now.  But as I'm reading and reflecting this morning about how God reaches his people, I was struck with another experience that happened yesterday immediately after visiting the man's house.   

As we were leaving, I told my wife, "why don't we go look at bunk beds at American Furniture."  As we were there looking around, a sales lady joined us.  After helping us look at a few bunk beds she gave us her name... Carolyn.  She said to identify her if we made an online order so she got the commission.  Just as I finished writing down her information... She pointed to the button on my shirt... with a look on her face of... What's that?

I said, "O we have a nurse..."

She looked confused.  Then we explained the whole story of how the buttons got started.  And I asked her, "Would you like this button?"  

"Yes!" she said with excitement.

"Could I pray for you?"  

"Yes, please pray for my husband Mike.  He is battling cancer."

So right there, in American Furniture, our family had the opportunity to pray with a total stranger and send her on her way with a prayer button.  What a powerful example of the truth that God has his people everywhere.  People hungry for prayer.  People hungry for hope.  People waiting for a mission.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus I lift up Carolyn and Mike to you today.  Father I ask that You will bless their lives and fill them with Your Holy Spirit.  Father open the way for him to get the help he needs.  Father fill him with Your Holy Spirit.  Fill Him with Your power and grace.  Father I ask that You will provide for their family financially.  I'm sure this is a very difficult time.  Father, please surround them with Your love and grace and assure them that You will never leave them nor forsake them.  Father they need You desperately.  

Supply all of their needs according to Your riches in glory.  Amen!

Words

Closely connected with Christ's warning in regard to the sin against the Holy Spirit is a warning against idle and evil words. The words are an indication of that which is in the heart. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." But the words are more than an indication of character; they have power to react on the character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived by their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at Satan's instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe that they are. It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt, dangerous to question and criticize divine light. The habit of careless and irreverent criticism reacts upon the character, in fostering irreverence and unbelief. Many a man indulging this habit has gone on unconscious of danger, until he was ready to criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."  The Desire of Ages, p. 323

Observation/Application:  From early childhood God has sought to speak to me about words.  The first verse of Scripture I ever remember being taught was Psalm 19:14:

Let the words of my mouth 

and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. 

My Grandmother Moon taught me this verse... I called her Nani.  She was a woman of kind words and caring works.  She fed me lentils, she rubbed my head, she prayed with me.  It's sad to think she is gone.  But her legacy lingers.  It is a legacy of faith.  A legacy that reminds me to watch my words.  A legacy that speaks to my heart this morning with a message of humility:  Speak with thoughtfulness.  Speak with reverence.  Speak honor to your Father in heaven by the way you speak to your brethren.

Prayer:  O Jesus I thank You for Nani.  Thank You for the kind words she spoke to me in my formative years.  Thank You for the days I sat at her table and ate of her grace toward me.  Thank you for her rough hands rubbing my scalp.  Thank You for the love you extended to me through her.  Thank You for her gentle rebuke when she would say to me "O Jimmy!"  When I was in her presence I knew I was loved. 

Father I confess to you that my words have not always been loving.  Many times they have been critical, harsh, doubting, and bitter.  Lord, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!"  I yield the bitterness of my heart to you this morning.  Lord take my fears about where we are going.  Father take my distrust...  Lord Jesus change my heart.  Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy Sight.  Forgive me I pray. 

The Food of Rest

Then the Lord God said, "Behold the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" -- therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which He was taken...  Genesis 3:22

Observation:  Bread is the food of toil.  Fruit is the food of rest.  Our original diet was the fruit of rest:  

"From any tree of the the garden you may eat freely; from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die."

The original diet was a diet of freedom.  Eat from any tree the Lord said... Eat freely.  Unfortunately, we focused on the one tree we weren't allowed to eat from.  We believed the lie of the tempter.  We believed God's word was bondage rather than a blessed boundary.  We thought his warning was keeping us from a blessing rather than keeping us from a curse.  And, as a result we came under the following curse:

By the sweat of your face 

You will eat bread, 

Till you return to the ground, 

Because from it you were taken; 

For you are dust,

And to dust you shall return."

When we ate of the forbidden fruit, we became slaves of the dust.  And our diet became one of toil, tears, and sweat.  No longer could we eat freely.  Now we must work for our food.  We labor for the bread that perishes.  However, in the midst of our toil their is hope.  In the midst of our struggle, God offers living bread through the following invitation:

""Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"" (John 6:27-28 NAS95S)

This living bread that Jesus offers does not come through the work of sweat and toil, but the work of surrender and trust:

"Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.""  (John 6:29 NAS95S)

The work of belief is all about trusting in God's provision; not the provision of manna; not the provision of bread alone; but the provision of the word.  As it is written:  "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).  In other words, we do not live by the fruit of our labors, but we live by His word.  And ultimately, that means that we live by the word that became flesh and dwelt among us (see John 1:1-14):

"Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." 

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst... 

"I am the bread of life. "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." 

So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.""  (John 6:32-35, 48-51, 53-58 NAS95S)

Prayer:  Lord Jesus thank You for being the living bread.  As we prepare to partake in communion this Friday night, I ask we will remember that we need to toil any more.  I ask that You would remind us that we may enter Your rest.  That when we eat of the bread, we are eating the fruit of rest because You rested in the grave.  You are the broken bread.  Because of Your brokenness we are blessed.  Because of the blood you spilled we are now filled with Your Spirit.  Because of the grace and favor of Your Father, we find life in You the living bread.  

Silence: The Key to Meaning and Mystery

"There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind."  (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 NAS95S)

Observation:  It is only through the Almighty that our labor, our love, and our living has meaning (Eccl 2:24-26).  However, in the midst of this meaning, there is also mystery:

"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."  (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NAS95S)

Life is the tension of meaning and mystery, the known and the unknown.  It is for this reason that Solomon urges us to eat, drink, and be merry; to labor with love and appreciation.  Yet, even this is impossible without the fear of the Lord.  It is love and respect for our maker that gives life meaning.  It is love and respect for our maker that allows us to be content with mystery and unanswered questions.

The wise man instructs us:

"Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few."  (Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 NAS95S).

Meaning is found in silence:  "Be Still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).  Silence is also the answer for mystery.  For silence no longer asks questions... It simply listens... It simply accepts that it does not know.  It understands that to be known is more important than to know.  When we are silent, we begin to realize that we are known, and through this knowledge we are coming know him:

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:12 NAS95S)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way."  (Psalms 139:23-24 NAS95S)

""This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."  (John 17:3 NAS95S)

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, still my soul.  Let me know, even as I am fully known! (1 Cor, 13:12, Gal. 4:9).

The Power of Remembering

"The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. With trumpets and the sound of the horn Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD. Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity."

(Psalms 98:2, 6, 9 NAS95S)

"In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders:  

I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old."

(Psalms 77:2, 6, 11 NAS95S)

Observation:  There is power in remembrance.  The is hope to be found in recollection.  The words of Delirious' song What is This Thing Called Love come to mind:

Looking back into yesterday and all the dreams that heaven sent

Maybe love will come our way.

And when I stood upon the land I threw the dreams into the sea

Maybe they will rise again

And maybe, maybe love will come our way

And maybe, maybe hope will come to us again

What is this thing called love?

I know I've found it, it's in Your eyes.

The memories of yesterday and the dreams that gripped us are ultimately memories of the love of God.  When I was younger, I longed to be used of God.  Now that I'm old I still long... But in a different way... I long to be in-dwelt and then used.  I find myself praying the prayer of Moses:

"Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. "For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?"" (Exodus 33:15-16 NAS95S)

It is not the accomplishment of my goals that shall distinguish my life, it is the presence of God.  It is not what I preach or say or do, it is the presence of God.  All this stuff, all my accomplishments, all my cuteness or lack thereof, only has meaning as He has me.  He must increase and I must decrease.  Christ in me, the hope of Glory!  That is what matters.  As Rich Mullins penned:

My One Thing

Rich Mullins
Matthew 5:8, Psalm 73:23-28 

Everybody I know says they need just one thing 

And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more 

And everybody seems to think they've got it coming 

Well I know that I don't deserve You 

Still I want to love and serve You more and more 

You're my one thing 

Save me from those things that might distract me 

Please take them away and purify my heart 

I don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing 

'Cause what will I have when the world is gone 

If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with 

My one thing 

You're my one thing 

And the pure in heart shall see God 

You're my one thing 

You're my one thing 

And the pure in heart shall see God 

Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus? 

And what better could I hope to find down here on earth? 

I could cross the most distant reaches 

Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time 

'Cause I'm certain already, I'm sure I'd find 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

And the pure in heart shall see God 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

And the pure in heart shall see God 

Every night and every day 

You hold on tight 

Or you drift away 

And you're left to live 

With the choices you make 

Oh Lord please give me the strength 

To watch and work and love and sing and pray 

'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus? 

And what better could I hope to find down here on earth? 

Well I could cross the most distant reaches 

Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time 

'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

And the pure in heart shall see God 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

You're my one thing (one thing) 

And the pure in heart shall see God 

Application:  Remember Jesus.  Remember the cross.  This is the Lord's message to my heart this morning.  Remember that there is no good thing in me but for the presence of God.  Remember that I am His servant.  Remember that He must increase and I must decrease.  Remember that I am not defined by what I do, but by what He has done.  I'm not defined by my successes or failures but by the proclamation of His word over my life:  "You are my beloved son in who I'm well pleased!"  

Yes, today, this morning, God is speaking to my heart:  I chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before me in love.  REMEMBER THAT!  HOLD ONTO MY WORD!

Prayer:  O the thrill of being loved by You.  The joy of Your abiding presence!  There is no other need than cherish Your love; no other need than to pass it on.  For in bestowing I find it growing in me.  In giving it away I find an ever increasing supply of Your gracious goodness and love.  Make me a conduit Lord Jesus.  Love me as You love through me.  Amen.

Spread Your Covering

""May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."" (Ruth 2:12 NAS95S)

"He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative."" (Ruth 3:9 NAS95S)

Observation: Ruth sought the shelter of the Lord before she sought the shelter of a man.  Her invitation to Boaz, "spread your covering over me,"  can also be translated "spread your wings over me."  In a marriage the man is to be the protector and provide.   Ruth teaches us that before a young woman seeks protection and provision from any man, she must seek protection and provision from the Lord.

Application:  As a Father, I have been called to model the shelter of the Lord to my daughter.  It is my responsibility to point her to Jesus as her ultimate protector and provider.  As I show love and respect to my wife, as I treat her with tenderness and compassion, as I guard her trust through marital faithfulness, I'm showing my daughter what it means for her maker to be her husband (Isaiah 54:5).  I'm giving my daughter a tangible picture of an intangible reality.  

I also demonstrate this providing and protecting love in the way I relate to my little girl.  Yesterday, I got her all flustered because I gave the little bit of orange juice that was left in the pitcher to her brother.  I told her I was giving it to him because she still had a lot of juice left in her cup.  She wanted me to save it and give her the extra juice cause I had already given JayJay a second serving.  I said no and she burst into tears.  

Eventually I went up to her room and laid beside her.  She had been very tired from a long day on Sabbath.  I put my arms around her and held her tight.  Covering her in my wings you might say.  And I could literally feel her little body relax in my protective embrace.

Mmm... isn't this a beautiful picture of our Father who comes close to us, who wraps us in His arms, who covers us in the shadow of His wings?  

Prayer:  Lord Jesus I lift up my little girl to You this morning; be a husband to her.  Teach her to seek refuge in You long before she ever seeks it in a spouse.  Lord fill my life with Your Holy Spirit that I may help her along this journey of finding in You a forever friend.  Help me disciple her in what it means to take refuge in Your wings.  Guide me as I seek to disciple her in prayer and the ways of Your loving will.  I thank You God for my little girl and pray that You will help me to bless her life with Your grace.  Fill me and fill her with Your Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Afterglow: 

"Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings"  (Psalms 17:8 NAS95S)

"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings."  (Psalms 36:7 NAS95S)

"Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by."  (Psalms 57:1 NAS95S)

"Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah."  (Psalms 61:4 NAS95S)

"For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy."  (Psalms 63:7 NAS95S)

"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."  (Psalms 91:1-4 NAS95S)

""The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, 'Destroy!'"  (Deuteronomy 33:27 NAS95S)