God our Refuge

I was reading Joshua chapter 20. God's chosen people are settling into the promised land, receiving their assigned territory, building cities and fortresses. They were to include six neutral areas, cities of refuge, for the protection of any who had killed unintentionally.

It occurred to me that if we had such areas, my consuegro (co in law, son's FIL) would not be serving a life sentence, well, at least not in a state penitentiary. Read/hear/see his story [http://deathbylethalsubjection.wordpress.com/]. It was a drug related crime, "he struck his neighbors unintentionally [unknowingly]...he did not hate them beforehand [the key]"

Of course, even if we had cities of refuge, he would still have to remain there till judgment before the congregation, and the death of the high priest.

As it is he must stay where he is. The gloriously redemptive part of the story is that GOD Himself is his refuge, his redeemer, who has turned his life into a beautiful example. Many are being drawn to Kingdom life.

There may not be any literal cities of refuge, but God is our Refuge. Run to Him and be safe!

Steadfast Savior

"He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem...
...His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
...For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them."

These days we remember Jesus' steadfast obedience and purposeful death on our behalf.

My response:
--gratitude?
--purposeful living?
--steadfast focus?
--sacrifical obedience?

Everlasting Father

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Today is my Dad's birthday: four score and eight.
He has been a wonderful Daddy, kind yet firm, hard working and faithful, a minister of the Gospel all his life.

Because of Daddy's exemplary life, I have never struggled with the concept of a heavenly father, near and dear. I call on Him at all times and talk to Him readily, my Everlasting Father.

Look for other Names of God and let us praise Him together!

God is our Leader

This lamp symbolizes two things for me:
--it will always remind me of the dear friend I visited this weekend, a favorite touch in her house
--the lamp of God's Word that sheds light on our path

Well, I said I would join Rachele's praise project every Thursday, and this was to be the first, but I was traveling in North Carolina and unable to connect to the internet. I wrote a paragraph anyway and here it is.

When the Israelites were traveling and camping for 40 years, they had God leading them in a very obvious and visible way. There was no doubt about the next move or the length of their stay in one campsite.
I was asking God for clear guidance regarding two questions, one more long term than the other:
What to do this week of spring break and whether to retire this year or keep working.
Circumstances, voices, leadings added up day by day and here I am in NC with granddaughter K, after a nine hour drive, in response to a persistent desire to visit a dear friend from 40+ years ago.
Before I left home, I was pressed by a phone call from Social Security to state my intent before the week was over, the decision became clear to both of us.
The future lies open with changes ahead and God our leader goes before us. Even if not by cloud or fire, He will show the way.