Saturday, May 22, 2010

strength from fear

At the Thursday night online Bible study I attend, we got talking about strength from fear, a line from the Crystal Lewis song “Beauty from Ashes”. Here is a portion of the song.

He give beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair


A question was asked about strength for fear and how to understand that phrase.
Proverbs 14:26-27 states: He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

I like Matthew Henry’s comment on these verses:

Where this reigns it produces a holy security and serenity of mind. There is in it a strong confidence; it enables a man to hold fast to both his purity and his peace, whatever happens, and gives him the boldness before God and the world.

Some other verses:
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

After some discussion, we decided that as long as we have God in our hearts and a strong unshakeable belief in Him, we will be protected by Him. We will have a peace that no matter what happens, God will be there to help you and I through this life.

Blessings,

ed

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Comments on Jacob and his dream (From Mark's sermon)

What struck me today about Mark's sermon was his comment that most of the significant events in the Bible did not happen in church. Any place can be that certain place where God meets us. He met Jacob in the middle of nowhere; Jacob had nothing - a rock for a pillow and his father's blessing. Just as He met Jacob in that certain place, God shows up in ordinary places and will never condemn us, because we are a broken people and God does not condemn broken people.