Safe in the Arms of God

The eternal God is your refuge,  

  and underneath are 

    the everlasting arms.

                               - Deuteronomy 33:27

So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

For I am the LORD, your God,

    who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

    I will help you.

                                      - Isaiah 41:10,13

When Jesus takes your hand, 

  He holds you tight. 

When Jesus holds you tight, 

  He leads you through your whole life. 

When Jesus leads you through 

  your whole life, 

    He brings you safely Home.

                                      - Corrie ten Boom

In the valley, no matter how 

  treacherous and painful and difficult, 

nobody can take your hand 

  out of the hand of the Good Shepherd.

*

Because in the valley, 

  we are not holding onto Him 

    for dear life. 

It’s the Good Shepherd who has 

  taken us by the hand! 

It doesn’t make any difference 

  if we let go.

Thank God, He will never let go.

*

The wisest thing you can do 

  is immerse yourself in the Bible.

 Scriptural truths establish you 

  so that, when you get into the valley, 

the Lord Jesus Christ, 

  who holds your  hand 

    every step of the way, 

  will keep reminding you of them.

                                      - Charles Stanley

Even though I walk through the valley 

    of the shadow of death  

Your perfect love is casting out fear  

And even when I'm caught in the middle 

    of the storms of this life  

I won't turn back  

I know You are near

… And I will fear no evil  

For my God is with me  

And if my God is with me  

Whom then shall I fear?  

Whom then shall I fear?

… Oh no, You never let go  

Through the calm and 

    through the storm  

Oh no, You never let go  

In every high and every low  

Oh no, You never let go  

Lord, You never let go of

… Yes, I can see a light that is coming 

    for the heart that holds on  

And there will be an end 

    to these troubles  

But until that day comes  

Still I will praise You, 

    still I will praise You

    

                                       - Matt Redman

The Sure Foundation Even To The End

He will be the sure foundation 

    for your times. 

                                       - Isaiah 33:6

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

    though the earth give way and 

the mountains fall into the heart
        of the sea,

    though its waters roar and foam

       and the mountains quake
            with their surging. 

Be still and know that I am God.

                                       - Psalm 46:1-3,10

This God is our God 

    forever and ever;

He will be our guide

    even to the end.

                                       - Psalm 48:14

But I trust in you, O Lord;

    I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands

                                       - Psalm 31:14-15

Even to your old age and gray hairs

    I am He, I am He

       who will sustain you.

                                       – Isaiah 46:4

When the earth and

    all its perple quake,

it is I who hold its pillars firm 

                                       - Psalm 75:3

Now to him who is able 

  to do immeasurably more 

    than all we ask or imagine,   

  according to his power 

    that is at work within us, 

      to him be glory

                                       - Ephesians::20-21

He who began a good work in you 

  will carry it on to completion 

    until the day of Christ Jesus.

                                       - Philippians 1:6

Thus Far The Lord Has Helped Us

Ebenezer ~ 

    Stone of Help

Then Samuel took a stone 

  and set it up between Mizpah 

     and Shen. 

He named it Ebenezer, saying, 

“Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

                                            - 1 Samuel 7:12

“He who hath helped thee hitherto

    will help thee all thy journey 

        through.”

When read in Heaven’s light, 

  how glorious and 

      marvelous a prospect 

  will Thy “hitherto” unfold 

      to thy grateful eye.  

                                       - C. H. Spurgeon

O Thou of little faith,

God hath not failed thee yet!

When all looks dark and gloomy,

Thou dost so soon forget—

Forget that He has led thee,

And gently cleared thy way;

On clouds has poured His sunshine,

And turned thy night to day.

And if He’s helped thee hitherto,

He will not fail thee now;

How it must wound His loving heart

To see thy anxious brow!

Oh! doubt not any longer,

To Him commit thy way,

Whom in the past thou trusted,

And is “just the same today.”

                              - Streams in the Desert

On The Journey

Help along the way,

  Strength for the day.

Journey

An act of traveling 

    from one place to another; 

  an adventure; an expedition; 

    a pilgrimage; 

      a passage or progress 

        from one stage to another.

Life is a Journey

The Lord will watch over 

  your coming and going

    both now and forevermore. 

                                         - Psalm 121:8

Blessed are those whose

  strength is in you,

    whose hearts are set

      on pilgrimage.

                                      - Psalm 84:5

All these people were still 

  living by faith when they died. 

They did not receive 

  the things promised; 

they only saw them and 

  welcomed them from a distance, 

    admitting that they were foreigners 

      and strangers on earth. 

People who say such things 

  show that they are looking 

    for a country of their own. 

                                      - Hebrews 12:13-14

Wait, My Daughter

Wait, My daughter,

    until you find out what happens.

                               – Ruth 3:18

Watch and pray

Stay the course

Whatever you do, 

    do it unto the Lord

Let It Go!

Do not worry about tomorrow, 

    for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble 

    of its own.

                                      - Matthew 6:24

Humble yourselves, therefore, 

    under God's mighty   hand, 

that He may lift you up 

    in due time. 

Cast all your anxiety on Him 

    because He cares for you. 

                                      - 1 Peter 5:6-9

Praise be to the Lord, 

   to God our Savior, 

      who daily bears our burdens.

                                      - Psalm 68:19

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

   in you I trust, O my God.

Show me your ways, O LORD,

    teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,

    for you are God my Savior,

    and my hope is in you all day long.

                                      - Psalm 25:1-2,4-5

The Lord is close to the 

    brokenhearted 

and saves those who are 

    crushed in spirit.

                                      - Psalm 34:18

Worry, Wealth and Worldliness

The seed falling among the thorns 

  refers to someone who hears the word, 

but the worries of this life 

  and the deceitfulness of wealth 

    choke the word, making it unfruitful.

                                       - Matthew 13:22

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, 

  hear the word; but 

the worries of this life, 

  the deceitfulness of wealth 

    and the desires for other things 

come in and choke the word, 

  making it unfruitful. 

                                       - Mark 4:18-19

The seed that fell among thorns 

  stands for those who hear, 

but as they go on their way 

  they are choked by life's worries, 

    riches and pleasures, 

      and they do not mature.

                                       - Luke 8:14

In What Do You Have Your Being?

In Him we live and move

    and have our being.

                                       - Acts 17:28

He will be the sure foundation 

    for your times. 

                                       - Isaiah 33:6

Those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

                                       - Isaiah 40:31

But I trust in your unfailing love;

    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord, 

    for he has been good to me.

                                       - Psalm 13:5-6

Keep your lives free 

  from the love of money and 

      be content with what you have,

  because God has said,

      "Never will I leave you; 

           never will I forsake you."

                                       - Hebrews 13:5

No one can serve two masters. 

Either you will hate the one 

     and love the other, 

  or you will be devoted to the one 

     and despise the other. 

You cannot serve both God 

     and money."

                                       - Luke 16:13

Not According to Our Expectations

In this world 

    you will have trouble. 

But take heart!

    I have overcome the world.

                              -  John 16:33

God’s Sovereignty – 

    not according to our expectations. 

When “life as it is”

   turns out to be very different 

      then “life as it is supposed to be.”

The world is not created

    for our purposes, but for 

        God’s purposes.

Where do we get the belief 

    that life is supposed to be fair?

It wasn’t supposed to be this way! 

  is the cry of the heart toward God

    when circumstances take an 

       unexpected turn for the worse. 

The heart feels cheated, ripped off 

    and wronged - by God. 

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We live in a fallen world where 

    broken ropes are a fact of life.

                                   - Steve Brown

The Everlasting Arms

The eternal God is your refuge,
    and underneath are 

        the everlasting arms.

 

                                  - Deuteronomy 33:27

I tread no path in life 

    to Him unknown,

I lift no burden, 

    bear no pain, alone;

My soul a calm, sure 

    hiding place has found:

The everlasting arms 

    my life surround.

 

                                  - Robert Browning

Our Dwelling Place

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been 

  our dwelling place 

    throughout all generations. 

Before the mountains were born 

  or you brought forth the whole world,

    from everlasting to everlasting 

      you are God. 

You turn people back to dust, 

  saying, "Return to dust, you mortals." 

Our days may come to seventy years,  

  or eighty, if our strength endures; 

yet the best of them are but 

  trouble and sorrow, 

    for they quickly pass, 

      and we fly away.

Teach us to number our days, 

  that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

                              - Psalm 90:1-3,10,12

Whoever dwells 

  in the shelter of the Most High 

    will rest in the shadow 

      of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, 

  "He is my refuge and 

      my fortress, 

    my God, in whom I trust." 

                              - Psalm 91:1-2

Don't you know that 

  you yourselves 

    are God's temple 

  and that God's Spirit 

    dwells in your midst?

                              - 1 Corinthians 3:16

The Do Nots of the Bible

DO NOT fear
DO NOT be dismayed
DO NOT be terrified
DO NOT be discouraged
DO NOT be anxious about anything
DO NOT fret
DO NOT worry about tomorrow
DO NOT let your hearts be troubled
DO NOT be afraid

       ~ Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Philippians 4:6,  
               Psalm 37:8, Matthew 6:34, John 14:27 

O Lord My God

My Comforter in sorrow, 

my Deliverer, my Father, 

my Fortress, my God, 

my Helper, my Hiding Place, 

my King, my Light,

my Lord, my Mighty Rock, 

my Redeemer, my Refuge,

my Rock, my Salvation, 

my Savior, my Shepherd, 

my Shield, my Strength, 

  and my Stronghold

                                      4/26/98

Believe the Word of God

When the Bible says that:

Your times are in His hands

Your help comes from the Lord

He will make your paths straight

Your steps are directed by the Lord

You are loved with an Everlasting Love

Underneath are the Everlasting Arms

Great is His faithfulness

He is with you

He can be relied upon

He knows the plans He has for you

There is a time for everything

The testing of your faith develops perseverance

Your faith is a greater worth than gold

You participate in the sufferings of Christ

He is your Good Shepherd

He is the Potter and you are the clay

He is the Gardener and you are the vine

God will never leave you nor forsake you

His grace is sufficient for you

Nothing can separate you 

    from the love of Christ

                                                     2/17/98

The Sure Foundation Even To The End

He will be the sure foundation 

    for your times. 

                                       - Isaiah 33:6

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

    though the earth give way and 

the mountains fall into the heart
        of the sea,

    though its waters roar and foam

       and the mountains quake
            with their surging. 

Be still and know that I am God.

                                       - Psalm 46:1-3,10

This God is our God 

    forever and ever;

He will be our guide

    even to the end.

                                       - Psalm 48:14

But I trust in you, O Lord;

    I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands

                                       - Psalm 31:14-15

Even to your old age and gray hairs

    I am He, I am He

       who will sustain you.

                                       – Isaiah 46:4

When the earth and

    all its perple quake,

it is I who hold its pillars firm 

                                       - Psalm 75:3

Now to him who is able 

  to do immeasurably more 

    than all we ask or imagine,   

  according to his power 

    that is at work within us, 

      to him be glory

                                       - Ephesians::20-21

He who began a good work in you 

  will carry it on to completion 

    until the day of Christ Jesus.

                                       - Philippians 1:6

Fix Your Eyes On Jesus

Let us run with perseverance 

    the race marked out for us. 

Let us Fix Our Eyes On Jesus,

    the author and perfecter of our faith.

                                      – Hebrews 12:2 

  

Fix Your Thoughts On Jesus,

    the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 

                                    – Hebrews 3:1 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, 

    Set Your Hearts On Things Above,

        where Christ is seated at the 
            right hand of God. 

Set Your Minds On Things Above,

    Not On Earthly Things.

For you died, and your life is now hidden 
       with Christ in God. 

When Christ, who is your life, appears, 

       then you also will appear 
            with Him in glory. 

                             – Colossians 3:1-4 

  
Therefore, we do not lose heart. 

Thought outwardly we are wasting away, 

    yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

For our light and momentary troubles 

    are achieving for us an eternal glory 

        that far outweighs them all. 

So we Fix Our Eyes not on what is seen, 

    but on what is unseen. 

For what is seen is temporary, 

    but what is unseen is eternal. 

                    – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 

Then Peter got down out of the boat, 

    walked on the  water and came toward Jesus. 

But When He Saw The Wind, 
        He Was Afraid 

    and, beginning to sink, cried out,
       "Lord, save me!" 

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand 
       and caught him. 

"You of little faith," He said, 
     "why did you doubt?"

                        – Matthew 14:29-31 

Satan wants us to Doubt the Word of God. 

He wants to Distract us from spiritual things. 

He wants to Disable us in the Lord's service. 

He wants to Destroy us physically. 

His primary strategy:  Deception. 

The only way to avoid these tactics is 

to keep our eyes on Jesus 
   and not on the problem. 

                          – Dr. Charles Stanley 

Many believers gaze at their problems and

        glance at the Lord. 

We need to gaze at the Lord and 

       glance at our problems. 

            quoted by Joni Earekson Tada 

When we are blind-sided: 

* Focus on the cause of the anxiety 

    (becomes a magnet) 

            or 

* Focus on God 

    (when you take your focus off God, 

        you will be thrown off balance) 

                              – Dr. Charles Stanley

How shall we fix our eyes on things unseen? 

There is no other answer but faith, 

faith in the character of God Himself. 

That and no other is the anchor for our souls. 

                                – Elisabeth Elliott

Focus is the only thing 

    you can control. 

                                – Scott Turansky