From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage@juno.com>
Subject: Blessings to All
Date: Sunday, October 08, 2000 6:52 AM

"How precious is Your steadfast love, O God!  The children of men take
refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings."  Psalm 36:7

Steadfast: firm, sure, dependable, reliable, constant, unwavering.
Literally it means fixed in place!  That is God's love and it is more
precious than anything this world can offer.  How very blessed we are to
live in the presence of Almighty God who is our Father, to be able to take
refuge in Him.  Is He your first thought in times of trouble?  He should be,
for Scripture makes it very clear that He is our hiding place; our place of
refuge.

"The eternal God is you refuge and dwelling place,
 And underneath are the everlasting arms..."  Deuteronomy 33:27

"God is our refuge and strength,
 A very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1

"He will cover you with His pinions,
 And under His wings you may seek refuge;
 His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark."  Psalm 91:4

"In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
and His children shall always have a place of refuge.  Proverbs 14:26

But wait!  An even more importnt question.  Is His will your desire in all
you do? Considering that we are to be conformed to the image of  Jesus as
the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:29,
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be come conformed to the image
of His Son, that He (Jesus Christ) might be the first born among many
brethren."

Christ is the perfect example of doing God's will,
"...I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."  John 5:30

"He...prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink
it, Thy will be done."  Matthew 26:42

Submission to the divine will:
Is purposed from within,
"I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart."
Psalm 40:8

It establishes a divine relationship,
"For whoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is
my brother, and sister, mother."  Matthew 12:50

It requires whole-heartedness,
"Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart."  Ephesians 6:6

It is to be our daily guide,
"Now the God of peace...equip you in every good thing to do His will,
working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to
whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen."  Hebrews 13:20-21

God is so good!  Let us praise Him morning, noon and night and all the times
in between!  He deserves all honor and glory.  His grace has no measure, all
we need to do is open our eyes and see His hand of love in every area of our
lives. Oh how wonderful to belong to our faithful, loving, gracious LORD!