It's Friday and I am just now getting to what I believe is an important task. That task is letting the sheep know that in spite of turbulent waters (sheep won't drink from churning water, thus the term "lead you beside still waters" in the 23rd Psalm) there are some safe waters from which to drink. As I mowed my grass this morning I was thinking about what God was leading me to say and I thought of two songs. First, I remember a 60's song by Peter, Paul and Mary called "Isn't This a Time." The line in the song that captured my attention was a quote from Thomas Paine which says "These are the times that try men's souls." In the 1700's those trying times were surely upon the American people. We have repeated this quote many times during the course of our nations history. Every generation has had that time which they have believed is historically worse than other times in history. I won't argue about the comparative difficulty of this time verses other times. I would rather remind you of something eternal in the midst of the temporal.

The second song that came to mind was a new song by a group called Casting Crowns. Here is how their song goes:

"I was sure by now, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth"

This song is a beautiful and profound _expression_ of God's provision in times of trouble. The last verse is where I would like us to focus today. It is a quote is from Psalm 121. It is about where we "live" as a people. In 1994 our family began a journey which took us from the economy of this world into the economy of God's Kingdom. It was scary, difficult, uncertain and we had many times of doubt and fear. In 1998 a new church called Good News was chartered to do ministry in South Walton County, Florida. It was scary, difficult, uncertain and we had many times of doubt and fear. But we could always go to this "song" (Psalm 121) God had given us, "I lift my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!" Our "help" doesn't come from the government or the stock market. Our help doesn't come from corporate America. Those are false "hills" upon which the world has told us to cast our fate. We are called to cast our fate on the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. All the "stuff" is really His. We'll talk Sunday about how God sings to us about His assurance of provision, even in "times that try to souls of all people."

May you know that you are loved by Jehovah Jireh (our God who provides).

In Christ's Love, Randy