We take refuge in a mighty God

Though we are in a battle, "The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." (Psalm 9:9). Our Lord of hosts is God commanding, ordering, summoning the hosts of heaven. These are the angels, in and among the starry worlds.

He organizes and dispenses helps from these realms to those who love Him. If you are feeling troubled, take refuge in Him. "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah" (Psalm 46:7)

His protections are never ceasing, constant, and uninterrupted: "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber." (Psalms 121:3). He misses nothing, He is not unaware of anything. We do not have to be fearful of him being overtaken by stratagems or surprise. He does not sleep.

Even when it seems to us that His helps are meager, not enough, ineffectual, they are not. "And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place." (Judges 7:7).

Hearken to God, precious brethren. The days are going to grow darker, but He is LIGHT!

"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." (Proverbs 1:33).  Of those who love Him we have a new heart: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26).

He strengthens this new heart, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalms 27:14). Eventually, precious brothers and sisters, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8).

He is our shield and our reward!

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." (Genesis 15:1)

Therefore, we will not be afraid

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Re-post: Roll call in heaven

Some encouragement for a Monday morning, a re-post from last May of some thoughts about heaven after the rapture:

There's a song by the Gaithers called "When the roll is called up yonder" and the next line is "I'll be there."



Speaking of New Jerusalem:

"Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life."

The roll call from Jesus reminded me of several scriptures I love very dearly. The illustrate the moment when certain of God's prophets were called. They heard God, and they responded "Here I am!" They report for the highest duty possible, a life of total dedication and obedience to Jesus. This is the only proper response to His call. It moves me to think of them saying "Here I am!" to God. These are the men whom God called:

Abraham, when God tested his faith: - Genesis 22:1, 11,
Jacob, in a dream, hears the LORD say that He sees Jacob's ill treatment by Laban - Genesis 31:11
Moses, seeing the burning bush and hearing the Angel of the Lord call Moses to perform the Exodus - Exodus 3:4

Samuel, as a boy, receiving his first call from the LORD. - 1 Samuel 3:4
Isaiah, in a vision from Isaiah 6:8, receiving his call to Prophet after seeing the LORD on His throne and exclaiming he is a man of unclean lips, being cleaned with the live coal, then eagerly answering God, "Here I am, send me!"

"Here I am!" they all said.

Now get this. Picture in your mind the great multitudes that appear before Jesus in heaven after the rapture. You are wearing a white robe and are enjoying a glorified body. You are seeing things unparalleled and experiencing indescribable joy. You see Jesus' face, and you can't get enough. In the midst of this, imagine Him opening the Lamb's Book of Life, in which your name is written. And 'books were opened' and the roll is called...and then then He calls your name.

Because of His sacrifice, because of His love, because of the blood, because you repented, you will say:

HERE I AM!

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An encouragement

I greet you all with a kiss of peace, and with good news that He loves us and is waiting to call us, His bride, home to Him soon. He is preparing the place in which we will dwell for all eternity, untainted by sin at last. We will gaze at one another through the spotless lens of the Holy One who redeemed us to Himself, and we will love Him and each other perfectly. His light will shine upon us untainted by clouds, pure as the blazing Light that shines supreme, transcendent, unmatched, our eyes shining as the reflection of His matchless glory. Angels will sing praises to Him and we will join in, love glowing out among all creation in glory, as only He can be! Why He chooses to share Himself with us, I will never know, but that knowledge and fact only makes me love Him all the more. He saved a wretch like me, and changed me from creature to daughter of God!

I sincerely hope you all are well. If you are not, then I hope that good news of what awaits us revives you, that we have the perfect assurance of the incomparable riches of His grace. O, His grace is sufficient for me, and if I feel this overwhelmed with it now, what will it be like when I get there??!! Think on that brethren. Beloved, these things are true, these things are noble, these things are just, these things are pure, these things are lovely, these things are of good report, there is virtue and they is praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Phil 4:8-9 paraphrased)
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Short shots of encouragement

I hope you enjoy these (short) blog entries. They are written with sensitivity and thoughtfulness from Christian bloggers. If you need a short shot of encouragement, these will do nicely.

Chris Sanchez, "The Passing of Steve Jobs"

Pastor Paul: "If the Lord Had Not been On Our Side"

Phil Johnson, "Sermon On The Mount in Under 2 Min: (by a child)" charming 95 second video of a child explaining the Lord's famous sermon.

John MacArthur: "Intimacy with the Father".

Small World Photo contest: Photographing the Micro. Romans 1:18-21 comes to mind when seeing these gorgeous photos!

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