Praise the Lord for this new day. We woke up this morning; it is calm and tranquil all around here. All the area schools are closed, but my wife works out of the area and her school is open. We got some rains yesterday and it was windy part of the day. In the early evening we saw that the transformer station that is located on Boswell Hill Road near Maple Drive was in flames. No sooner than we saw the flames we lost most of the power in the parsonage - we had a brownout. We called the Electric Company, who sent three huge Utility trucks and fixed the problem. It took them almost 4 hours. Jessica and Tom lost power in Philadelphia. Their work is closed today. Sunita and Andy fixed an Indian dinner for all their neighbors and shared the meal together last night. Washington is closed for another day. Praise the Lord for First Responders, Red Cross workers, Police, national Guard, ambulances, and Hospital Emergency personnel. Praise the Lord for every one who is involved in the rescue mission, caring for the needy. Praise the Lord for the church as people of Jesus go out on relief and rescue missions. In every Crisis Lord places an open door before us to serve Him and His people.
I am looking at one of my favorite Psalms this morning. Psalms
91:1-16, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and
my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Throughout the Bible we find references to the Secret Place in God. In this secret place there is special protection and provision for those who would dare to believe God and trust Him to be their God in every situation and all circumstances. God’s miracles of protection and His power to keep the people of God in the face of great difficulties are seen time and again throughout the Bible.
John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men were present -- but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
The Secret Place of God is not made with human hands. No power of man, no ability of our own hands can create such a place as this. Zechariah 4:6, "… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." The Secret Place where we are to dwell is built only by the Spirit of God and is complete control of the LORD OF HOSTS. The Secret Place is a place of ultimate trust and faith in God where hope is alive and well. The Secret Place is a place in God where we know that God has everything under control. Our heart knows, our spirit is strong, and our mind is made up and we claim the words of Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. These are not just words but a fact and are irrevocable.
Throughout the Bible we find references to the Secret Place in God. In this secret place there is special protection and provision for those who would dare to believe God and trust Him to be their God in every situation and all circumstances. God’s miracles of protection and His power to keep the people of God in the face of great difficulties are seen time and again throughout the Bible.
John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men were present -- but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
The Secret Place of God is not made with human hands. No power of man, no ability of our own hands can create such a place as this. Zechariah 4:6, "… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." The Secret Place where we are to dwell is built only by the Spirit of God and is complete control of the LORD OF HOSTS. The Secret Place is a place of ultimate trust and faith in God where hope is alive and well. The Secret Place is a place in God where we know that God has everything under control. Our heart knows, our spirit is strong, and our mind is made up and we claim the words of Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. These are not just words but a fact and are irrevocable.
"...Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I
deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name" – Abiding in
the Secret Place of God causes our love for Him to grow ever stronger. God will
set us on a pedestal for we are the “apple of His eye” and he will put us out of
reach of anything or anyone who would harm us.
"...He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." God promises to hear the cry and prayer of those who dwell in the Secret Place. He promises to be ever near us and bring honor to us.
"...He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." God promises to hear the cry and prayer of those who dwell in the Secret Place. He promises to be ever near us and bring honor to us.
It is related that during the Civil War a
Confederate soldier who was placed far out in a lonely wood to watch suddenly
felt a strange dread and fear come over him. The moon was shining dimly in the
deeply wooded place. Although it seemed strange and unwise, he felt constrained
to sing softly the old song, "Jesus, Lover of my soul let me to Thy bosom fly,"
and the stanza, "Other refuge have I none." This he did, and immediately felt
relieved of his fear.
A few years later, when the war was over, he was at a meeting and sang the same song. After the song, a stranger came up to him and said, "I never saw you before, but I have heard that voice before." Then he asked him if he sang that song one night during the war. Then he related to him how he and some of his men, who were Union soldiers, were hidden behind trees and had their guns turned on him and were ready to fire! "But," said he, "as we heard that song, ’Jesus, Lover of my soul,’ and, ’Other refuge have I none,’ I said to my men, Don’t shoot that man,’ and we slipped away and left you. I shall never forget the voice I heard that night."
There is only one refuge and that is Jesus, and we need Him at the end of the way.
In Christ,
A few years later, when the war was over, he was at a meeting and sang the same song. After the song, a stranger came up to him and said, "I never saw you before, but I have heard that voice before." Then he asked him if he sang that song one night during the war. Then he related to him how he and some of his men, who were Union soldiers, were hidden behind trees and had their guns turned on him and were ready to fire! "But," said he, "as we heard that song, ’Jesus, Lover of my soul,’ and, ’Other refuge have I none,’ I said to my men, Don’t shoot that man,’ and we slipped away and left you. I shall never forget the voice I heard that night."
There is only one refuge and that is Jesus, and we need Him at the end of the way.
In Christ,
A Special
Thanksgiving Worship;
Saturday, November
17, 2012
Location: First
United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott
Sponsored by: Union
Center United Methodist Church
Speaker: Dr. Dino
Pedrone,
President, Davis
College, Binghamton,
Special Music :
Worship Band of Davis College,
Organist : Yancey
Moore
Pianist: Aric
Phinney
All are welcome. For
Information call: 607-748-6329
or
607-748-1358
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