Thursday, November 17, 2011

God's Protection


    It was a chilly fall day today.  The perfect weather for a nice hot bowl of soup.  My co-worker and I headed over to Panera to warm up with some of their delicious soup.  We were sitting there talking and laughing when her face suddenly changed.  She was facing the parking lot,  and got the strangest expression on her face.  I wondered what it was she was looking at, and she said, "What are they doing?"  "Who?", I said.   "'Whoever is in that white car over there!  The car stopped, but it looked like they were going to hit your car," she stated.  I turned and saw the car, kind of  double parked right in front of Panera.  I asked her if they hit my car, and she said, "No, but they just pulled in so weird."  It WAS really weird, they weren't really double parked, but definitely in two spaces and also pretty close to my car.  I went to the window and didn't see any damage.  My car seemed ok - so we went back to our conversation. 

     A few minutes later, we saw a few of the managers go out to the parking lot and were looking at the car.  We could see them talking and looking around.  "It's one of those crazy Honda drivers," I said,  sharing with Anne Marie, Charles' opinion of how Honda owner's seem to be the worst drivers on the road. By then the managers came back in and one of them was talking to the ladies at the table behind me.  They were talking about the white car and what they witnessed.  The car was actually empty, they said - there was not a driver in it when it came rolling into the parking space.  Apparently, the owner, left it in neutral or forgot to apply the parking brake. 

     Praise the Lord for his protection over us and our possessions.  Anne Marie and I talked more about the Lord and about His angels as we headed back to work.  We often pray for God to place a hedge of protection around us, our families, their homes and possessions.  I'm so thankful He allowed that car to roll right up to the curb and stop without touching my car.  He promises to preserve us, protect us and to be our help.   I had no idea what was going on behind me. There are times when we find ourselves in danger or in situations beyond our control.  He sees everything and is BIGGER and STRONGER than anything that comes our way. Thank you Lord for loving us so much and protecting us on this chilly fall day. 

 

Psalm 121

 1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
 3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
 4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
 5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
 6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
 7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
 8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

pre·serve
1. to keep alive or in existence; make lasting: to preserve our liberties as free citizens.
2. to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare.


Psalm 91
 1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
 2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
 3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
 6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
 7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
 8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
 9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
 10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
 11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
 12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
 13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
 14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
 15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
 16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation


I often like to read Spurgeon's morning and evening devotional.  It was powerful this morning, just had to come back and include it- so glad that I'm sealed.  

Morning, November 18

“A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.”
Song of Solomon 4:12
In this metaphor, which has reference to the inner life of a believer, we have very plainly the idea of secrecy. It is a spring shut up: just as there were springs in the East, over which an edifice was built, so that none could reach them save those who knew the secret entrance; so is the heart of a believer when it is renewed by grace: there is a mysterious life within which no human skill can touch. It is a secret which no other man knoweth; nay, which the very man who is the possessor of it cannot tell to his neighbour. The text includes not only secrecy, but separation. It is not the common spring, of which every passer-by may drink, it is one kept and preserved from all others; it is a fountain bearing a particular mark—a king’s royal seal, so that all can perceive that it is not a common fountain, but a fountain owned by a proprietor, and placed specially by itself alone. So is it with the spiritual life. The chosen of God were separated in the eternal decree; they were separated by God in the day of redemption; and they are separated by the possession of a life which others have not; and it is impossible for them to feel at home with the world, or to delight in its pleasures. There is also the idea of sacredness. The spring shut up is preserved for the use of some special person: and such is the Christian’s heart. It is a spring kept for Jesus. Every Christian should feel that he has God’s seal upon him—and he should be able to say with Paul, “From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Another idea is prominent—it is that of security. Oh! how sure and safe is the inner life of the believer! If all the powers of earth and hell could combine against it, that immortal principle must still exist, for he who gave it pledged his life for its preservation. And who “is he that shall harm you,” when God is your protector?

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