Peace, Perfect Peace??

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, or future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

Peace, Perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus, call us to heaven's perfect peace.
AMEN
(Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875)

“In 1875, while Edward Bickersteth was vacationing in Harrowgate, England, he heard a sermon on Isaiah 26:3, 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee' (KJV). The minister explained that the original Hebrew read, “Thou wilt keep him in peace, peace...' In Hebrew the repetition of the word indicates intensity or perfection. That afternoon Bickersteth visited a dying relative. When he found the man deeply distressed, he withdrew for a while and wrote this hymn. Then he returned to read Scripture and to share the comforting lines he had written.”
(Taken from The One Year Book of Hymns, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1995, Sept. 10)

The Prince of Peace has come and He gave us these words:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let
not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

May you find comfort in these words from the Prince of Peace,who came to this earth to provide you with His peace, dying in your place, paying the penalty for your sins and rising from the dead to give you life eternal when you put your faith and trust in Him.

May God's peace rest on you today,

Talk - Talk - Talk

"Talk, talk, talk - all you do is talk!" Have you heard those words or said them to anyone? People say that "talk is cheap", but the Psalmist in Psalm 71 (ESV) says, "Talk!" "My mouth is filled with Your praise and with glory all the day." (v.8) "My mouth will tell of Your righteous acts, of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge." (v.15) "With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of Your righteousness, of Yours alone." (v.16) "So even to the old age and grey hairs, [and I have many!] O God, do not forsake me until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come." (v.18) "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You..." (v.23) "And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long..." (v.24).
So speak up! As for me, I will fill my mouth with the praises of God and will glorify Him with my lips. I will tell others of God's righteous acts and deeds, of HIs power and of His help. I will proclaim and remind and shout and tell and sing so that all my hear about and come to know the great God I love and serve. He is my Rock of Refuge to which I may continuallly come. (Ps. 71:3)

God Our King

God is our King -
Sovereign - King of King
Celestial - King of Glory
Eternal - King of the Ages
Global - King of the Nations
National - King of Israel
Racial - King of the Jews
Righteous - King of Righteousness
Moral - King of Righteousness
Personal - My King
Beautiful - King in His Beauty
Terrestrial - King of All the Earth.

Worship Him.
Bow down to Him.
Adore Him.
Pledge allegiance to Him.
Honor Him.
Listen to Him.
Obey Him.

"The LORD Almighty - He is the King of Glory!"

God's Hiding Place

Where can I go when troubled, frightened, maligned or attached? God has a hiding place for His children. David said, "You are a hiding place for me..." (Psalm 31:7) Here are a few descriptions of God's provisions of safety.

a refuge, a rock of refuge - Psalm 30:1,3
a strong fortress - Psalm 30:2
the cover of His presence - Psalm 30:20
His shelter - Psalm 27:5; 30:20
A stronghold - Psalm 27:1
under the cover of His tent - Psalm 27:5
my dwelling place - Psalm 90:1; 91:9
the cover of His pinons - Psalm 91:4
behind His shield and buckler - Psalm 91:4
under His wings - Psalm 91:4
in the shadow of His wings - Psalm 36:7; 63:7
under the shelter of His wings - Psalm 61:4
a strong tower - Psalm 61:3
in the shelter of the Most High - Psalm 91:1
in the shadow of the Almighty - Psalm 91:1
in the hands of Jesus - John 10:28
in the hands of the Father - John 10:29
hidden with Christ in God - Colossians 3:3

Go to God. Reflect on His Presence, His Person, His Power. You will find your Hiding Place and you will find rest for your soul in the midst of any trial.

Psalm 71:3 tells us that we may come to Him continually. He is our perpetual Hiding Place - always there, always available, forever. He will never turn us away. Isn't God great!? And He is my God!

THIS GOD - MY GOD

THIS GOD – MY GOD

While meditating on Psalm 18 I was struck with the descriptions of God and with the verbs describing His actions. I encourage you to read the Psalm before reading my ramblings. We have a great God.

This God is – my Strength, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, my God, my Rock of Refuge, my Shield, the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.

When I call to this God, He hears, He acts, He answers, He delivers, He rescues, He comforts. He supports, He light my lamp and lightens the darkness, He strengthens, He steadies, He secures, He rewards. He shows Himself merciful, blameless, pure, and shrewd. He equips He trains, He provides, He elevates and makes great, He avenges and subdues, He exalts.

This God will take care of the battles for me. He will deal with any enemy I may have or encounter. Salvation belongs to Him.

Although written by David as a song of praise after the LORD rescued Him from Saul and his enemies, it is recorded for me and for all who love God. This God who answered David's cries for help, will answer my cries for help. He delights to answer the prayers of His children. Indeed, “This God – His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?” (Psalm 18:30,31ESV)