Safe Harbours

Welcome Back!
I was contemplating the blog and felt prompted to write about the "scenery" if you will... I chose the background of a Harbour. To the left you see a lighthouse and at the bottom are rocks. Clouds in the sky and the middle is rather foggy, if you will. Just like our lives sometimes. Rocks represent sin, bondages, blockages. Sometimes the way is foggy. But we are told in Psa.119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." A lighthouse throws out a lamp of light to warn and guide those passing along the waters it guards. The Holy Spirit hovered over the waters during creation... how much more will HE watch over us and guide us if we but ask?

Life is a journey, sometimes the ocean we move upon is tranquil, other times it is very stormy and rough. I've been through some rough patches, haven't you? I have a friend and she calls me, "her sheltering tree." We all need those people in our lives who are safe havens. I was thinking about the harbour... it is a protected place. When storms come, we need a safe harbour. I am reminded of two very old songs. One is a hymn that isn't sung much anymore. It's called, "I've Anchored in Jesus

Upon life’s boundless ocean where mighty billows roll,
I’ve fixed my hope in Jesus, blest anchor of my soul;
When trials fierce assail me as storms are gathering o’er,
I rest upon His mercy and trust Him more.

Refrain

I’ve anchored in Jesus, the storms of life I’ll brave,
I’ve anchored in Jesus, I fear no wind or wave.
I’ve anchored in Jesus, for He hath power to save,
I’ve anchored to the Rock of Ages.

He keeps my soul from evil and gives me blessèd peace,
His voice hath stilled the waters and bid their tumult cease;
My Pilot and Deliverer, to Him I all confide,
For always when I need Him, He’s at my side.

Refrain

He is my Friend and Savior, in Him my anchor’s cast,
He drives away my sorrows and shields me from the blast;
By faith I’m looking upward beyond life’s troubled sea,
There I behold a haven prepared for me.

Refrain

Words & Music: Lewi­s E. Jones, 1901 (Cyber Hymnal)

The other is a Country Gospel song that I heard for the first time when I went to North Dakota to New Town on the Indian Reservation. It was one of the pastor's favorites and they sang it a lot. You might recall it:

THERE'S A LIGHTHOUSE ON THE HILLSIDE
THAT OVER LOOKS LIFE'S SEA.
WHEN I'M TOSSED IT SENDS OUT A LIGHT,
THAT I MIGHT SEE.
AND THE LIGHT THAT SHINES IN DARKNESS NOW
WILL SAFELY LEAD ME ON.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE,
MY SHIP WOULD SAIL NO MORE.
EVERYBODY THAT LIVES AROUND US,
SAYS TEAR THAT LIGHTHOUSE DOWN.
THE BIG SHIPS THEY DON'T SAIL THIS WAY ANYMORE,
THERE'S NO NEED OF IT STANDING ROUND.
BUT THEN MY MIND GOES BACK TO THAT
STORMY NITE, WHEN JUST IN TIME I SAW THE LIGHT,
OH THE LIGHT FROM THAT OLD LIGHTHOUSE
THAT STANDS UP THERE ON THE HILL.
AND I THANK GOD FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE,
I OWE MY LIFE TO HIM
FOR JESUS IS THE LIGHTHOUSE,
AND FROM THE ROCKS OF SIN;
HE HAS SHONE A LIGHT AROUND ME
THAT I COULD CLEARLY SEE
AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE,
WHERE WOULD THIS SHIP BE?
AND IF WASN'T FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE,
WHERE WOULD THIS SHIP BE?

So why am I talking about Safe Harbours? The Lord led me to a scripture today that has to do with Safe Harbours and storms. Look with me if you will at Hosea 14: 1-3, 7-9 (Nas Version)

1.Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
2.Take words with you and return to the Lord,
Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity,
And receive us graciously,
That we may present the fruit of our lips
3.Assyria will not save us,
We will not ride on horses;
Nor will we say again, 'Our god,'
To the work of our hands;
For in Thee the orphan finds mercy."
7. Those who live in His shadow
Will again raise grain,
And they will blossom like the vine.
His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8. O Ephraim, what more have I to do with your idols?
It is I who answer nad look after you.
I am like a luxuriant cypress;
From ME comes your fruit.
9. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him knw them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
And the righteous will walk in them,
But transgressors will stumble in them.

As a Priest and Intercessor I have to take what the Lord gives me and apply it first to me before I can release it. These were hard words from the Lord! How many of you have had to speak hard words to your own kids sometimes- truth spoken in love because you love them. But hard words nonetheless! I know I have had to speak such to my boys.

When we know to do right, and we do not do it, it is sin. What is not of Faith is sin. Sometimes when you are going through tough times, you forget, or you get caught up in yourself and instead of speaking the Word of God, praying or praising, you begin to murmer or just falter. Been there! God is speaking; stop it! Yes, Sir!

Here the Lord is speaking to a whole nation, (are you listening America?) but a nation is made up of it's people. He is rebuking them, but he is also wooing them and teaching them at the same time. Isn't God good? He doesn't just write us off?
He corrects and trains us, and shows us what to do even as He is rebuking us.

He says we have stumbled. Stumbling isn't falling completely down. It is losing step, it is tripping, it is getting off. America you have gotten off. But the way is open for you to come back! The Lord says, "Return unto ME. And bring words with you. Interesting. He didn't say sacrifices, or gifts, or works. He said WORDS. Why? I can think of a few reasons.

He created everything by His Words. He Spoke. The Bible tells us that out of the heart man speaks. So, by what we say, our heart is being heard. Repent, (which by the way is not a BAD word!) means to turn around, change our mind and course. To return to the Lord, we must turn back from the way we are going. REPENT! And bring with us words. The fruit of our lips giving thanks! Remember without Faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him. So we must come to Him in Faith believing that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Say Remove iniquity from us and be gracious to us.

Nancy- can I say that on behalf of America? YES! If we who KNOW to do right and we do not it is sin. But we CAN stand in the gap and we can speak to the current situations.
Assyria can not save us. Meaning our President and the Govt. cannot save us.
Prov. 16:25There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. We need to lift up our voices and cry out to God! Repent for the iniquity, for trying to work it out in our own strength, repent for the stumbling, repent for the self-seeking ways of our society at large. Thank God for His gracious mercy and call those things that be not as though they are!

God plainly says to Ephraim (America) if we will repent of being our own gods HE will heal us of our backsliding. He will freely love us. (Hos. 14:4) This is what Christ died for! Blood washed America, I declare you shall yet be saved and serve God again! The Glory and destiny for which you were created, shall come to pass!

But until that turning comes in the natural, we have much chaos and turmoil in our land. That is where the anchoring in Jesus comes in, and having a Safe Harbour in the Presence of God and in His promises. We cannot stand on our own! But underneath are the everlasting arms! He will lift us.

Ps. 94:18 Amp When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.
Prov. 4: 12 (GNB) Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run.

Which brings us to the end of Hosea:
9. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right,
And the righteous will walk in them,
But transgressors will stumble in them.

God is God! His ways are just and true! If we will hold onto Him, even in these turbulent times, we will not stumble! Choose ye this day... CHOOSE LIFE! God's life. His way of doing and being right. Run to Him. Let us pray!