From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage.ga@verizon.net>
Subject: Blessings to All
Date: Sunday, April 06, 2003 6:25 AM

"For my eyes are toward Thee, O God, the Lord;
 In Thee I take refuge..."  Psalm 141:8

We have a divine protector who is the Lord as we see in 2 Chronicles 16:9,
"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may
strongly support those whose heart is completely His..."

He is our Fortress and our Defense:
This is David's song to the Lord when He delivered him from Saul,
"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
 My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge;
 My shield and the horn of my salvation, my strong hold and my refuge;
 My savior, Thou dost save me from violence."  2 Samuel 22: 2-3
David repeats these words in Psalm 18: 2 and he goes on in verse 3,
"I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
 And I am saved from my enemies."

"He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
 And for his children it will be a refuge."  Proverbs 14: 26

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
 The righteous run to it and are safe."  Proverbs 18:10
Yes! There is safety in the mighty name of Jesus!  For in His name are all
the characteristics of who He is!!

He is our Hiding Place, a Refuge and a Shield:
"For in the day of trouble He will conceal
 me in His tabernacle;
 In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
 He will lift me up on a rock."  Psalm 27: 5

"You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
 From the plots of man;
 You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion
 From the strife of tongues."  Psalm 31: 20

"You are a hiding place for me;  You, Lord, preserve me from trouble,
 You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance.  Selah [pause, and
calmly think of that]!"  Psalm 32:7

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

"You are my hiding place and my shield;
 I hope in Your word."  Psalm 119: 114

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
 The Lord bestows favor and honor;
 No good things does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless."  
 Psalm 84: 11

Oh what a wondrous God is ours!  Once again I direct you to Psalm 91 which
tells of the security of the one who trusts in the Lord.  I will close with
the Lord's promise in verses 15-16,
"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
 I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
 I will be with him in trouble (distress);
 I will rescue him, and honor him.
 With a long life (length of days) I will satisfy him,
 And let him behold My salvation."  ( ) are margin notes.

Together let's sing:
Keep your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."    Amen.