Refuge

Deuteronomy 33:27 says, "The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you." Doesn't that paint such a beautiful picture for you? It does for me. Having grown up without a good father figure, I often picture myself with Jesus, doing "fatherly" things. I will close my eyes during worship and picture myself curled up in Jesus' lap, as my girls do with my husband. I just imagine that to be the most peaceful, safest place of refuge anyone could ever experience!

The word "refuge" can be translated "mansion" or "abiding place," which makes us think of our home. Well, I guess "mansion" is not the first word that comes to my mind when I think of home, but abiding place sure does! Although, our new home is a mansion to us. The Lord did a miracle for us over the summer and blessed us with a home that literally goes above and beyond all we could have ever asked for or thought for ourselves. It was as if God jumped right into our hearts and pulled out every last little desire for a house that we had so deep in our hearts, and just went "Voila!" The way the Lord worked all the details out, well, it's nothing short of a miracle.

That being said, we love being home. It truly is our "refuge." There is something to be said for the statement of Dorothy that cries out, "There is no place like home." I've been different places and thought to myself, oh how I wish I had on some ruby red slippers because I just want to go home! No place like it. Even when the girls are fighting and/or playing really loud, there is still such a peace in the house, a peace that I did not have in any home growing up. I'm so glad my girls get to live in a peaceful environment, one where mom & dad love each other, have fun together; a home where there is no fighting and shouting...just a refuge.

Home is a place of comfort. In our home, we pretty much always where our "cozies." As soon as we walk in the door, if we don't have plans to leave the house again, (and who am I kidding, even if I do have plans to leave again) off go the outside clothes and on go the cozies. We save loads of money in dry cleaning this way! But it's just cozy! You put on some cozy jammie pants and a shirt...nowadays you gotta throw on the sweatshirt too, but still, cozy. Our girls can always tell when Joey has somewhere to go and they plead for him to get on his cozies!

Home is a place of safety. It's a place of comfort. It's a place of rest, of peace, of joy. So if that is our earthly refuge from the outside world, how much more of a refuge is the Lord? He is our shelter and our retreat; He is our abiding refuge. As psalm 23 tells us, we can fear no evil when we are abiding in our refuge.

At home we let our guard down don't we? We just let loose and feel the freedom to relax without fear of anyone misconstruing our words or taking something the way it was not intended. We just are free. How much more free can we be with the Lord? That we could speak our hearts cry out to Him, knowing that He won't take our words out of context; He won't judge us for what we say or think. He knows the very deep recess' of our heart already, so we can take refuge in that...we can just be free.

I read this today by Spurgeon:

"Home is the place of our truest and purest happiness. It is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in Him that far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labor. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burdens and quickens the fingers to perform the task; in this sense, we may also say that God is our home. Love for Him strengthens us. We think of Him in the person of His dear Son, and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labor in His cause."

Take a moment today to thank God for the refuge that He provides for us; a refuge from the craziness of the world; a refuge from the fear & worry that so quickly try to beset us. I love Jesus. And He loves me. And if home is where the heart is, then I'm relaxing for just a little while longer...

Get into position!

Malachi 3:6 says, "I am the Lord, and I do not change." That verse is awesome! Life is full of change. So much so, that I'm tired of hearing myself say that so often. Change, change, change. But amidst the changes of life, it brings me such joy to know that God Himself will never change. He does not need to change. He does not need to work on His issues, like we do! He does not need to control His temper. He does not need to try to be kind while pummeling through a crowd at wal-mart, not that I've ever personally had trouble with that, nope. He does not need to check His motives, or the content of His heart. He does not need to grump at the driver that cut Him off on the road, even though that person can't hear said grumping; not that I've ever done that either ;)

He does not need to change! He is perfect. He is all knowing. He is powerful. He is my stability. He is my deliverer. He is the creator of Heaven and Earth. He does not need to change. He is my desire. He is my fortress. He will send His angels to protect me and to guard me in all my ways. He will set my foot on a rock! He will keep me from slipping into a pit. He does not need to change! He will collect my tears. He sees my need. He hears my prayers. He is preparing the answer to my prayers, even now. He desires good things for my life! He does not need to change! He is my provider. He is my defender. He is my King! He is my dad. He is my hero. He is my best friend. He is lovely. He is beautiful. He is kind. He is gentle. He is gracious. HE DOES NOT NEED TO CHANGE!

I love it. Everything changes. The earth. Space. The ocean. Our bodies. Our families. Our friends. Church. Work. Our homes. Our cars. Our lives. It all changes. But not God. He never changes. His ways are the same today as they were before the foundation of this earth was made!

And because of that fact, we can face any kind of adversity and come out of on the other side, with our head held high, because God never changed. We experience change in adversity, but God does not. He is the same as He ever was. We can rest on that anchor of truth; "I am the Lord and I change not!"

When we grab hold of that glorious truth, we find our stability. We can have that stability in the midst of anything we face. ANYTHING we face. Because James 1:17 says of the Lord that "there is no variation or shadow of turning." Meaning God is not even thinking of changing! No matter what you face, no matter what you have done, He is not even thinking of changing His position. And His position is Love, everlasting love at that (Jeremiah 31:3.) His position is peace. His position is grace & mercy. His position is provision. His position is way-making. His position is wisdom. His position is justice. His position is safety (Nah 1:7.) His position is truth. And that, my friends, will never change.

He loves you now as much as He ever did. Regardless of what you have done. Regardless of the toll life has taken. Regardless of the crisis you have faced. He loves you the same. Because He never changes. And He has no intention of doing so.

Now that gives me peace today. That helps me say like St. Paul said, "having done all, stand." Whatever you are facing today, whatever lemons life is throwing at you, stand. Stand. Stand. STAND! Because the never changing God is standing with you. All His attributes are with Him. No better place to be, then standing with the One who never changes.

Thank you Jesus.