Hello My Friends/Guest,

Today is Sunday July 05, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Psalm, please read chapters 60-66 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2060-66&version=9

Today's Message: We Can Survive
We will face many unpleasant circumstances in our lives, but no matter how hopeless it looks we can not cease from singing and praising God through it all. He is our Salvation, our Rock, and our Refuge, with Him We Can Survive!

David was forced to leave the promised land to escape from Saul, exiled from his loved ones and the physical comforts of the palace, he wrote this Psalm, “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.” - Psalm 61. David was overwhelmed with sorrow and loneliness, he prayed intensely, asking God to hear his prayer. He confessed his distress, but also his confidence in God whom was the Rock that was higher than him. He knew that God was his shelter and the strength he needed to fight the enemy. He vowed to abide with God forever, singing praises to Him and spending time with Him daily, knowing that God would save him. We too have been in David's shoes, sometimes it feels as though the more we seek God the more trouble we face, but that is just Satan telling us that. We can not let Satan control us, we must seek God in all that we do and never cease from singing praises and spending time with Him in prayer and reading His Word.

Although David's difficult circumstances remained the same for many years, he never stopped waiting on God. “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” - Psalm 62:1-8. David put his trust in God, knowing that eventually he would deliver him, declaring that He would wait on God, whom was his salvation, his rock, and his defense (safeguard). David then turned his thoughts to others who faced trials and suffering, urging them to take refuge in God as well. Once we place our trust in God, knowing that He will save us, we can put our focus on others and not worry about ourselves. God truly is our refuge and He alone will take care of us.

God really does not want to see us suffer, but He knows that suffering not only brings us closer to Him, it also takes us one step closer to becoming more like Jesus. We can only imagine the pain that Jesus went through as He was mocked, beaten , and tortured, then forced to carry the wooden cross that He would be nailed to and hung on until He died. “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.” - John 19:29-36.

Although He suffered for a time He was delivered from His pain, and got the victory because three days later He rose from the dead. “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” - John 20:11-16. Jesus is a testimony to all who suffer that we can survive! When you feel as though everything is hopeless seek God in everything, sing to Him, Praise Him, Read His Word, and Talk to Him, He is there and will help you and deliver you from all your pain and suffering.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We want to trust You at all times, in the good times and in the troubled times.  Thank You for Your promise that You will not let us drown when we pass through the deep waters. We will not be burned nor will the flames hurt us when we walk through the raging fires that seek to engulf us.  We don’t have to be afraid because You have saved us and called us by name. You are truly our Refuge and we pour out our hearts to You for all that we have need of.  May our faith increase and our devotion deepen as we seek You and Praise You in all that we do. In Jesus' Name............Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and week.
God Bless,
Christina

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