Word for Your Wednesday

{REFUGE}

It’s been 12 years since my dad died; September 1st would have been his 62nd birthday. Some days it’s still hard to believe he’s not here playing with my kids. He was a great dad and spent a lot of time with me. One of our favorite things to do was to go camping. You couldn’t get me to go camping today unless you paid me…seriously. 

There are few fun things about camping: s’mores, playing cards, and telling stories. In fact, one of the most precious moments of my life came during one of our camping trips. I asked him, “Dad, when are you going to ask Jesus in your heart?” He quickly answered, “As soon as some one tells me how”. That night (as a 3rd grader) I led my dad in the prayer of salvation and our lives were never the same!

One reason I’m not a camping fan is you can never predict the weather (at least not in Minnesota).  If you have a good tent, you can find refuge from the rain, the wind, or even the snow. A tent protects you from the elements.

God is my tent.

The word REFUGE is used 90 times in the Word. Listen to this definition: that which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a strong hold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy. The Bible often describes this REFUGE as a hiding place similar to a cave or the cleft of a rock. I don’t know about you, but I don’t live near any mountains. Furthermore, there is nothing ‘nice’ sounding about a cave… think bats – EWWWW.

I’m so thankful I don’t have to go camping or be a cave-dweller for God to come through for me. He is my REFUGE now, where I am, in my life, and in my trouble.

 Psalm 91:1-2 “You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:14-16 “Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.”

Psalm 94:18-19 (MSG) “The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, God, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up.”

How does He actually become your REFUGE?

It’s so simple we usually complicate it; all we have to do is cry out to Him.

Are you in trouble? Do you need protection from the elements of life? Do you need a sanctuary? Your Heavenly Father is one cry for help away.  The minute you call on Him, He’s there to do His job –  protect His child, protect His daughter.

I like to picture my Heavenly Father just like my Dad. Just the 2 of us hanging out and having fun, all the while protected from the outside elements….like those nasty mosquitoes!

Love you more than knowing I get to see my dad again (ok, maybe that’s a stretch I probably don’t really love you more than that), 

Sunday