Reading from Our daily bread Feb. 10th 2014.
In Wales, the music of men’s chorus groups is deeply engrained in the culture. Prior to World War II, one Welsh glee club had a friendly yet competitive rivalry with a German glee club, but that bond was replaced with animosity during and after the war. The tension was gradually overcome, though, by the message on the trophy shared by the two choruses: “Speak with me, and you’re my friend. Sing with me, and you’re my brother.”
The power of music to heal and help is a gift from God that comforts many. Perhaps that is why the Psalms speak so deeply to us. There we find lyrics that connect with our hearts, allowing us to speak to God from the depth of our spirits. “But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Ps. 59:16). Amazingly, David wrote this song as he was being hunted down by men seeking to kill him! Despite his circumstances, David remembered God’s power and mercy, and singing of them encouraged him to go on.
May our God give us a song today that will remind us of His goodness and greatness, no matter what we may face.
By: B Crowder
Proverbs 18 : 10
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrcrP1ysjw
Reading from Our daily bread Dec. 20th 2013.
In the medieval world, farmers would care for their crops until an enemy appeared on the horizon. Then they would flee with their families to their fortified city for protection from the marauders. The city of Carcassonne has been a refuge for generations. Built in the 5th century BC, this stone fortress has provided protection for Romans, Gauls, Visigoths, Franks, and French. Its sprawling size and majestic watchtowers and battlements gave confidence to those hiding inside its protective walls. As believers, we can take refuge in the presence of the living God. The book of Proverbs tells us: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10). “The name of the Lord” refers to God’s character—abounding with faithfulness, power, and mercy. The term safe means “set on high out of danger.” We all face threats at times that make us want to run for cover. Some seek security in material wealth or relationships. But the Christ-follower has a more secure refuge. Because of who God is and what He can do for us, our best protection ultimately rests in Him. If you are facing a threat today, go to the Lord, who is a strong tower. You will find refuge in His care. By D Fisher
In the times of greatest struggle,
When the angry billows roll,
I can always find my Saviour,
Christ, the Refuge of my soul. —
Woodruff
Taken from the Weekly Pulpit
There are many war similes in the Bible.
1. People mistake by resting satisfied with unstable and insecure bases. The sense of dependence is in everyone so strong that noone can be happy quite alone, and leaning on nothing. People try to satisfy themselves with one or other of three things.
(1) Health. They assure themselves that if they were to lose all they possessed, their health and energy would enable them to make their way in the world again.
(2) Friends. They say, "I have friends who are well off, and they will be sure to help me."
(3) Money. "The rich person's wealth is their strong city, and as a high wall in their own conceit."
Neither of these "towers" can be safe trusting-places. Health is uncertain. Friends fail. Money takes wing. If they provide some little shelter from the common sorrows of life, they can provide none for those spiritual sorrows which are the real sorrows.
2. People cannot be truly strong for life until they have God behind them. To know a person is to apprehend all that makes up their individuality, or to "know their name." So the " name of God" includes everything that spheres Him as God: a just apprehension of God and His relations — a true knowledge of God. To know God in covenant is a strong tower. The "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," is God known through relationships and tried by experience. That God can be our "tower." In Scripture, to know the name of any one implies familiarity and confidence; and to know God by name implies such confidence as makes Him to us a strong "tower." To do anything in the name of another is to carry with you their authority, as with the ambassador or the old prophet. The name of God is a storehouse of wealth and strength, from which all recurring needs can be supplied. Then comes the moral force needed to deal with —
1. The attacks of life.
2. The defences of life.
3. The retreats of life.Who can use this defence of God? Only the person whose purpose is to live the righteous life, and whose constant effort is to realise their purpose.
Safe in The Shadow of The Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPBbpYlgN9c
Psalm 61:1-4 AMP … Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and fainting; lead me to the rock that is higher than I [yes, a rock that is too high for me]. For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower against the adversary. I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever; let me find refuge and trust in the shelter of Your wings.
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvl6ZLAB5Jo
Listen to the above as you pray
Lord when I feel overwhelmed, remind me I need only call out to You – My Rock, My strong tower. Let me find refuge and trust in the shelter of Your wings. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I! ………………
……………………… Amen
Rock of ages
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avOLfsUkQ_4
The hall keep was a low building while the tower keep or donjon could have three or more floors and be topped by turrets and battlements. With its extra thick walls and protected entrance, the keep was generally the safest place in a castle during the siege warfare of the 11th and 12th century CE. The folk around the the castle would run inside to gain safety.
You can still see the ruins of these today. All that is left of some of them is the main keep, the most famous and intact is being the Tower of London which is designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO as it is one of the very few intact medieval buildings.
To day we have Watch towers known as observation towers, on which persons supervise a larger area.
The observation towers were used duing the war to spot enemy aircraft to give folk warning of the oncoming danger.
Fire look out towers have been used widely in Australia, Canada, and the United States to hoist the fire look out persons to heights where they can identify and report new wildfires. In the United States, there once were over 5,000 fire lookout towers.
The watchers takes care of the folk by raising alarms when smoke or flames are spotted .
Some Churches have Bell towers, the Church has always been a safe place of sanctuary. The Bells would toll out warnings. After the second world war all the church bells rang out to send out the message of Peace.
God is the Tower that we can come to, to feel safe, he is watching, and will wrap His loving arms around us when we are in distress.
God’s tower is a beacon of hope, it shines out like a lighthouse. Tall as a tower, guiding, protecting, and saving us from ourselves. For God’s son came to give us everlasting life. In John 8:12 it is written “When Jesus spoke to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
God will take care of you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijytLs96yig
Where do you run for protection and safety? In this physical world, to protect us we need a physical structure, like a tower. But in this world, even a physical structure can fail us.
However, in the spiritual world, the Lord tells us we can run to Him and stand strong behind the power of His name. How do we do this? How do we run to the protection of our Lord when we need it?
If we look at the words of scripture, the action verb here is “run.” This means that we take action when we need protection. In other words, we must run to it to find safety. This may be as simple as calling on His name with prayer when we need His protection. As simple as it sounds, so often it is easy to forget where to run to when we are in need. Turn to him in prayer
King David wrote in Psalm 46.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Give Thanks for He is always in every way present Amen
God is our strength and Refuge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VpfhZzqIXw
Blessing
May the God the rock of our salvation be with you this day and always and fill you with His peace. Amen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7pdABvpnc
you can let this run if you want to to take time to think of Gods love spreading through out the world and talk to him in prayer
God bless you Susannah and Jonathan.
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