12-Jan-15

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! Psalm 9:9-11How often we feel discouraged, in trouble or depressed.  There is no where to go for comfort.  That is when we sing praise to God.  What?  Who can sing at such a time?When I was a child and we sang the song, Count Your Many Blessings.  I hardly knew what a blessing was or what it meant.  Now I know, my childhood was a blessing.  One of our sons came home for a visit.  He seemed to be so relaxed.  He said, “Being home is not worrying about the next meal.”  He trusted that there would be food.  Such a trust and faith in God is ours — he is our stronghold — if we seek Him.  IF is that small BIG word in our lives. A choice we make.  We choose to praise.  We choose to rejoice.  We choose joy.  We choose Jesus…..Even if we are thrown into the depths of despair, TRUST!  Trust the Lord.  In the last two years, my life took a turn to despair with the illness that slowly erases the brain of my mate of sixty-two years.  And I choose to praise God.  For each heartache and each difficult moment I treasure for God walks with me. He is readying me for the Glory Land.  Praise God.When I read the message of Daniel’s trust in the Lion’s Den, I draw strength in his faith.  Our Sovereign God is my stronghold of joy and faith as I walk in this life.  Praise be His Name.