[South African Starling]
We are all aware of the many catastrophic occurrences in these the last days the Bible prophesied about; we will not go into any depth about that in this weekend post. Instead, let us be encouraged by Scriptures from the Bible, and by quotes from various Christian authors and pastors, and the like. (Much has been written on this blog about Bible prophecy and end times signs; you may go to the search box at the upper right hand side of this page and type in things like: "last days", "Mark of the Beast" , "7 year Tribulation, " "The Rapture" , and other such topics and it will bring up several posts - some with videos - which you may view.)
Today, Psalm 57 seemed to cry out to me to comment on it. It was written by ancient King David while hiding in a cave when King Saul pursued him in an attempt to kill him. Following are 4 verses from Psalm 57, but we will go into more depth concerning verse 1.
" (1) Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me. For my soul trusteth in Thee: Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (2) I will cry unto God most high; Unto God that performeth all things for me. (3) He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. (4) My soul is among lions."
Many of you can relate to the above words of Psalm 57. Today's world is full of chaos, and it affects all of us in some way.
In verse 1 above, let us concentrate on when David said: "In the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be over past."
This is obviously a metaphor taken from the brood of a hen (or other bird) whose young ones take shelter under the mother bird's wings when they see danger, such as from a bird of prey; and there they continue to hide themselves until the enemy disappears. Also, in a storm or intense rain, the mother covers them with her wings to give them shelter. David the psalmist has this particularly in view, as when he wrote: "Until these calamities be over past."
One commentator has said, "David believed that these calamities would pass away, or would cease; that a time would come when he would not thus be driven from place to place. At present he knew he was in danger and he desired the divine protection, for under that protection he would be safe."
[Mandarin Duck]
"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: Hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be over past." - Isaiah 26:20
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13
The above verses do not necessarily mean to be so fearful in your heart that you do not go about daily routines - we cannot just stay in bed all day and pull the covers over our heads, so to speak. The main thing is to trust in the good Lord and wait for his guidance and direction.
Romans 15:13 tells us: " Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit."
"Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
[Nene goose - Hawaii's State Bird]
"Daily take some time to set your eyes on God's overwhelming presence of love instead of the circumstances of life. Meditate on the truth that God's presence not only follows you, but is with you and offers rest to your overwhelmed soul." - Proverbs 31 ministries
"Being at peace with yourself is a direct result of finding peace with God." - Olin Miller
"Socrates used to say ' Philosophers can be happy without music'; and Christians can be happier than philosophers, when all outward causes of rejoicing are withdrawn. In Thee, my God, my heart shall triumph come what may of ills without! By Thy power, O blessed Spirit, my heart shall be exceeding glad, though all things should fail me here below." - Charles Spurgeon
"With the power of God within us, we need never fear the powers around us." - Woodrow Kroll
Jesus is the answer to all of our fears ! When you have Him by your side and the Holy Spirit living within you, He will help you and guide you and give you peace. Really, even if someone kills us, our spirit lives on and we will join the good Lord in heaven at death.
The apostle Paul put it beautifully when he said, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." - John 14:6
"If ye love Me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." - Jesus at John 14:15
It all boils down to having faith in Jesus and believing that He is the Savior; that His shed blood at Calvary washes away all of your sins when you believe with all your very being that His death, His redemptive work at the cross, paid your sin debt in full. He was our substitute and died in our place, taking the sins of the world upon Him at the cross. He is the only way to heaven; and only He can save a sinner from the darkness and death; and bring him into His saving Light and life.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - Jesus at John 3:16
When you have Jesus with you, you can face anything!
Following is an excellent 39 minute sermon by Adrian Rogers on ways to draw closer to Jesus.
Time is running out!
Jesus will return soon to Rapture true followers of Christ to heaven to be with Him.
Are you Rapture ready?
Romans 10: 9,10, 13 tells us: (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
The apostle Paul put it beautifully when he said, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." - John 14:6
"If ye love Me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." - Jesus at John 14:15
It all boils down to having faith in Jesus and believing that He is the Savior; that His shed blood at Calvary washes away all of your sins when you believe with all your very being that His death, His redemptive work at the cross, paid your sin debt in full. He was our substitute and died in our place, taking the sins of the world upon Him at the cross. He is the only way to heaven; and only He can save a sinner from the darkness and death; and bring him into His saving Light and life.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - Jesus at John 3:16
When you have Jesus with you, you can face anything!
Following is an excellent 39 minute sermon by Adrian Rogers on ways to draw closer to Jesus.
Time is running out!
Jesus will return soon to Rapture true followers of Christ to heaven to be with Him.
Are you Rapture ready?
Romans 10: 9,10, 13 tells us: (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
