He Is My Rock and My Refuge

In You,

O Lord,

do I put my trust

and confidently take refuge;

let me never be put to shame or confusion!

Deliver me in Your righteousness and

cause me to escape;

bow down your ear to me and

save me.

Be to me a rock of refuge in which to dwell,

and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually resort,

which You have appointed to save me,

for You are my Rock and Fortress.

Psalm 71:1-3 amplified version

Redemption Stories

Definition of redemption: the action of being saved from sin, error or evil; the action of buying one's freedom

We all love stories of redemption. These stories make the best movies and the best books. On Tuesday, Bible Study resumed and Jan shared a wonderful overview of God's amazing plan of redemption for all of mankind. And then, in our groups, we shared stories of God's redemption in our own lives.

It is a blessing to see how God sought out Adam and Eve even though they chose to disobey Him. Right from the beginning, He called out to them. He made provision for them as well. They were not comfortable in their new state. They felt naked and ashamed. This was not God's plan for them. So He gave them what they needed to cover their nakedness and their shame by making them clothing from skins . He himself, God Almighty, made the covering for them. Genesis 3:21. Such a tender, personal, intimate scene from the pages of scripture. Ultimately, it is Jesus who clothes us with total redemption (and again, blood was shed-His precious blood). Galatians 3:26. God's love for us is so amazing, so complete and yes, so undeserved.

So Bible study has begun. And God's redemption stories abound. We share so many of the same struggles and heartaches. I am so glad we can come together to encourage one another with our stories of hope and God's grace and unfailing love.

Bringing Out to Bring In

I can say ‘no’ in nine different languages. Using English alone I can say ‘no’ in more than twenty ways and that’s without adding hand gestures. With toddling grandchildren and the steady traffic of teenagers through our house, every synonym of that word is ever ready. That is not a boast so much as a survival technique. Sometimes I worry that I use it too often so I have been purposely saying yes a bit more emphatically when I get to use it. But like a recalcitrant teenager myself, I sometimes think God says no to me all the time. More often than not, also like said adolescent, I’m just not paying close enough attention to His words or expressions.

It is true there are some thou-shalt-nots in our walk of faith, but there are also loud and hearty’ yes’ and ‘amens.’ When we sing “Only a Sinner Saved by Grace” it is easy to follow that up with all that Jesus saved us from, but He also is saving us to something. As it says in Deuteronomy, “ . . . He brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great strength . . . To bring you into their land to give it to you as an inheritance . . .” (Deut 6:37-38) He brings us out to bring us in.

God has promised us a home in heaven. Jesus is getting it ready. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” (Jn 14:2) In the meantime, Jesus is bringing us out of the world and into His earthly tent or tabernacle. He doesn’t take us out of the physical world so much as washes the smudges or singes we get along the way and pours into us the attitude and ambiance of His dwelling.

I am forever telling my teenagers, “When you say yes to something, you say no to something else.” With Jesus the reverse is also true. When He says no to us, it is only because He is saying yes to so much more. In our study in the Psalms on God’s house we will see not only the Inn He provides for us on our journey through this world, but we will get glimpses of those “many rooms.” We will see what God is saying yes to as He redeems us.