My Constant Refuge

We recently came across a series of 3 minute podcasts, 29 of them, that Floyd had done a number of years ago.  Each one is a mini-sermon!  They are so rich and good.  They are posted under resources on our website.

We seem to keep finding these little treasures.  It's really exciting.  They've been hidden away.  We are collecting articles, tapes, videos, CDs - anything by Floyd.  They are being archived on the Founder's Page on the All Nations International website.  Many have been helping us on this treasure hunt!

We've been lifting a prayer request to the Lord, and saw an answer in recent days.  My daughter and granddaughter sang a prayer of thanks to the Lord for answering our prayer and sent it to me.  "Bless the Lord O my soul - for you have done great things!"  God is so faithful.  Almost every day I seem to be lifting something to the Lord.  He continually does great things.  I bless Him and I'm so grateful.

The source of God's help in our lives is unending!  There is never an end to His being able to meet us and help us.  The well of His provision never runs dry.  The power of His strength to help us never gets weak.  Whatever the need, whatever the situation - He is there in His might to help us.

This week as I was lifting a need to the Lord, I heard His encouragement that He never tires of my bringing needs to Him.  My dependence on Him keeps my heart continually linked to His heart of love for me.  Nothing in my life is "apart" from Him.  The very breath I breathe is linked to Him.  He delights in my bringing my details to Him to seek His help and wisdom.  And I couldn't make it without His involvement in every detail of my life!

"The Lord your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you;  in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

"My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19

"Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' "  Matthew 19:26

I couldn't have made it on our long unexpected journey without God's help - and I can't make it as I continue my journey without Him.  

I'm especially grateful for his daily help and presence as I deal with the first year of "firsts" after losing Floyd.  Everyone tells me that the first year is the hardest.  I've already had Father's Day and our anniversary - now this week was Floyd's birthday.  We always celebrated our birthdays, and made them special for each member of our family.  Even while Floyd was in the hospital, I always went to celebrate with him.  I sang, took a balloon to put where he could see it, and sometimes made special posters to hang in his room.  It felt strange to not do something with him on his birthday this week.  It  was a rather tender day.

On the other hand – it was his first birthday in heaven!!  I wonder if they celebrate in heaven??  Wouldn't it be fun to know.  Maybe he's with all of our family that have gone on before.  Or maybe they're so busy worshiping Jesus that they don't even think about it.

So many things remind me of Floyd.  We've had an unusually cold, wet winter this year - record breaking cold!  On the inland mountains they've had LOTS of snow.....not just a dusting of snow, but inches/centimeters deep.  Someone sent me a photo of some of the snowy mountains - with a giraffe in the valley below.  I’ve used it at the top of this post.  That's Africa - a continent of unusual contrasts.  I loved the photo because giraffes have always reminded me of Floyd.  :)  It made me smile.

I'm finding that God's sweet comfort is there for each new thing I'm facing.  It's different now, of course, but God's faithfulness is just as sufficient for each need I'm facing in this new season.  He is so good!

As I continue my journey, I'm so grateful that I'm not alone.  

" 'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you."  Isaiah 54:10

"By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me."  Psalm 42:8

"God is our refuge and strength."  Psalm 46:1

Whatever I face, I'm so grateful that God is with me.  He's my constant refuge.  I thank Him for that every morning when I wake up.