By Donna Churchill 
One of the first characteristics I think of when I think of the Lord is Provider. After my husband died over twenty years ago, the Lord promised me He would always be my Provider. Over the years His provision has taken many forms, not just financial. He has proven Himself faithful time and time again in providing. I have to admit, even after all this time, sometimes I am still amazed at how He does that. I’d like to share some recent provisions that left me in awe of Him all over again! 

I love snow; I truly do! It is so beautiful! I love the big, fat, fluffy flakes that fall slowly from the sky when the world seems to go completely silent. Growing up in Vermont, it was never much of a problem to see those kinds of flakes, but over the last few years, our winters have been very different. Even this winter where there has seemed to be snow aplenty, we have not seen many snowfalls with the big fluffy flakes. A few weeks ago, I expressed to the Lord how I would just love to see those big flakes at least once this winter. A few days later, my work day was unexpectedly canceled, so I was home for the day. I walked into my den, sat in my chair preparing to spend some time with the Lord. I happened to turn in my chair and as I looked out the window, I was speechless! Great big, fat, fluffy snowflakes were falling slowly from the sky! I was mesmerized and awed again with my Savior. I sat for at least ½ hour expressing my thanks and gratitude to Him, watching those big, fat, fluffy flakes fall. His faithfulness and provision given in such a small thing! 

This next provision - for a few reasons, I can’t share many details, but I can share that I was concerned about a financial need. I’m not usually one to worry about these things, but there was absolutely nothing I could do about this particular need and this concern had turned to worry. I confessed that worry to the Lord and expressed that He had never let me down and I knew He wouldn’t this time either. I had no idea how He would come through, but I knew I needed to trust Him in a way I hadn’t had to in a long time. He proved Himself faithful again. A check that I was expecting came and it was for almost 6x the amount I was expecting, covering the expense that I had!! His faithfulness and provision given in a big thing! 

This last provision, to me, is the greatest of these three. I have been walking with the Lord for a little over 50 years (yes, I’m that old!) In all that time, I have dealt with a besetting sin that I have prayed and prayed about. I had some revelation about it through the years and there were times of confession, but I never felt I could see the root of it. Over the last couple of years, things escalated and this sin affected a relationship I had with a dear friend; we’ve been friends for almost 40 years and her grace covered me time and time again. Over the last six months, she and I have had a few conversations regarding this and we have prayed together about it. I am so blessed that God provided such a friend to walk with me through this and that she did not abandon our friendship. She would have had every reason to. Just a few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit revealed the root of this sin! What a day of rejoicing that was for me! I was able to see what I couldn’t see before, because now I was ready to see it and repent, ask forgiveness and trust in the change God was doing in my heart. I am so thankful that God’s discipline is evidence of His love and His love never fails! His faithfulness and provision given in the greatest thing – a changed heart! 
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I pray that these experiences of mine and testimonies of God’s provision and faithfulness have encouraged you. His love and heart toward us desires to provide all things for us – from the small things to the big things to the greatest thing! Don’t stop asking, don’t stop trusting and don’t stop believing! He is faithful and He will provide! 
He truly is Jehovah-Jireh, our provider, in all things! 

By Rebecca Vickery

Refuge-(noun)- a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.



I don’t know about you, but for me, these days have been so overwrought with trials in every direction.  There is not a physical refuge.  I cannot get away from the onslaught.  It is pervasive.  From within, from without, I am hard pressed on all sides.  



When I am in spatial peace, my thoughts attack with a million different what-ifs.  The present seems so volatile, so what does that say for the future?  And then I hear the refrain, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough worries of its own.”  And I repeat it for myself.  Thank you, Lord, for the reminder.


My heart is gently reminded back into the present.  And so it goes.  My heart and mind wander into anxiousness, and the Spirit brings me back.  Still… it seems the safe spaces are shrinking, my peace with it, and the enemy seems to be making headway across the board. I lift my eyes up to the Lord, where does my help come from?  And suddenly, the world entire halts for a moment.


It’s just me in the presence of the Lord and His presence surrounds me.  The voices of my enemies quiet for a moment.  The stresses of my environment cease for this moment.  My racing thoughts find themselves a stoplight.  There was a song written by Lifehouse in the year 2000.


“Find me here and speak to me.  I want to feel you; I need to hear you.  You are the light that’s leading me to the place where I find peace again.”


I have to be led back to that place.  Again, and again.  But the more I am led there, the more I want to return there.  He is my refuge.  A very present help in times of trouble.  HE IS.  I don’t know of another time when I have most needed him to be there for me.  And He is.  I don’t have to leave my geographical location to meet with him.  I simply have to do it. 


A few nights ago I was overwhelmed by my gratitude towards God for being there for me.  And I was reminded of a time when my heart was so prone to wander.  I wrote the following poem in response:
 

Eternal Father
Who was and is and ever more shall be
You have been my shelter Lord
You have been an ever present help for me
My refuge in times of trouble
Lord I’m done walking away
I want to go where you go Lord
I’m done having my way
I want to stay with you
 
You’ve been so gracious as I’ve sought my own agenda
You’ve brought me back when I’ve wandered far
But I have traveled that rocky cliff side
And I don’t to go without you, Lord, no
 
Precious Lord, please lead me on
Whatever way it is we need to go
And if it’s face first into the storm
Make me mighty like your buffalo
Through the ice, through the wind, the rain and snow
 
I’m done running off the other way, if you lead me onward
If you bid me stay
I will walk with you, with faith like a child
My hand in yours through the fierce and wild
I do not want any other way
 

In Matthew Jesus chastised Jerusalem, and laments “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!”  


I want to be gathered.  I don’t want to be resistant when I could be finding shelter under his wings.  The Lord is not waiting to jump out and say “gotcha,” he longs to gather his children to himself.  How often have I allowed myself to spin out in anxiousness and sadness when I could have been seeking refuge with the most high God.


My friends, God is not absent.  Sometimes we forget how much of a privilege it is to simply BE in the presence of God.  To be found by Him and be known as His.  If this world pushes you to the end of yourself, meditate on Psalm 46 and remember that He is an ever present help in times of trouble.  Peace be with you.

by Peggie Potter
​     John 14:12-15 So after He had washed their feet& put His robe back on& reclined again, He said to them, "Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me 'Teacher' & 'Master"-& rightly you say for I am. So if I your Master & Teacher, have washed your feet ,
you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example-you should do for each other what I have done for you .

     John 14:12-14  Amen, amen I tell you, he who puts his trust in Me, the works that I do he will do & greater than these he will do, because I am going to the Father.

      We praise & worship Jesus s our Savior & King for indeed he is !  But there is an equally important aspect of Jesus too
often overlooked: He is our example !

      Jesus was born human & walked in our shoes on this Earth, on & among His own creation & subjected to time which He also created. He knew hunger, fatigue, discomfort, & pain as well as heavy demands on His Person. He experienced poverty & need.
He came into this world as a helpless infant 7 left as God's sacrificial Lamb for all our sakes.

      Knowing this as well as that there is no way any of us could possibly pay Him back for all He has done for us, His one big
request of all of us is that we show the same selfless love, compassion, & concern-His servant's heart- He showed to each one of us .
 
     Remember that :
       He forgave us ! We are expected to forgive one another (Matthew 18:32). He gave of Himself to us ! We should do the same
​for our neighbors!

      He instructed us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31) He lived this example in that He provided healing &
sustenance. He laid down His very Life for us all because He "would that none should perish, but that all should come to everlasting life in Him" (2 Peter 3:9)- we too should feel this burden for the lost as well as members of His Body who were once LOST AS WELL!

    He forgave & even served those considered His enemies-from the Roman centurion & Samaritan & Syro-Phoenician women who sought healing for loved ones as well as forgiveness to those who persecuted & executed Him.

       It is true that living as Christ requires the same servant's heart as He had while on this Earth. And as in his case,
the eternal rewards make it all worth it, not only for ourselves, but for others who see Jesus' Love in us & as a result
give their lives to him as well !

      Hebrews 2:17-18  Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in all things, so he might become a merciful & faithful
Kohen Gadol (High Priest) in matters relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.