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Mighty fortress doom sure11/12/2023 ![]() ![]() Read these four verses and see how they build on each other to praise the God whose kingdom is forever. I am reminded of the classic hymn by Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Normally I wouldn’t use this space to include the words of an entire hymn, but I believe it’s worth it. I’m counting on its veracity because He brings more peace than any treaty or alliance of men possibly could. ![]() And so the rock of Christ, the anchor of my soul, must be my sure hope and my stability, not the predictable norms I long to cherish. The eternal truth that God is sovereign is either true or it is not. Yet, sadly, there is so much hardship and pain you or I cannot change or fix in this world. Between the people struggling inside Ukrainian and those who have fled to neighboring countries, this may be the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. Second, it’s important to support-with prayers and financial donations-the relief efforts for Ukrainians. ![]() God continues to gather His people! Exciting? Yes! And from Israel we just heard this week that many thousands escaping Ukraine are ultimately headed for Israel. Evidence God is going ahead since He was not surprised by this war. They also told about many people coming to Christ in the weeks preceding the invasion. This world is not our home and it was so encouraging to hear of these believers living it as fact. She heard last week of other missionaries from America, living in Ukraine who have decided to stay because they believe this verse is true: “ Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become so dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8, NASB). Just one verse among many speaks to this: “… according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:9).īut until that day, which could be very near or yet in the distance, the words from Isaiah 33:6 remind me, over and over, to ask myself, I s my security and stability resting too heavily on my circumstances? Am I trusting in God today? And am I living not just for myself and my own people but am I giving my life for others?įirst, as much as possible keep up with what God is doing in Ukraine and in surrounding countries … His deeds and wonders that are rarely told on regular news channels.Ī friend of mine who was a missionary to Ukraine years ago still has friends there. And He did say there would be wars and rumors of wars. He is always working toward His grand finale. Everything God does is a part of His grand plan. Yes, this figures in to the grand narrative God is authoring and orchestrating. An unprovoked invasion displacing millions of people and destroying everything within the reach of bombs is uncharted territory for all of us born since World War II.Īs believers in Christ we also have to ask, is this another step on the sure path to the return of Christ? The answer is decisively yes. ![]() Since then we’ve known more school shootings, political turmoil, growing racial unrest, a worldwide pandemic, rising crime, and now a war. The first time I wrote about this verse was in 2008 when our country was in the throes of a significant economic downturn. Life-changing events have been happening with increasing regularity and intensity. “And He shall be the stability of our times” Isaiah 33:6 How do we respond to this shock, this unnerving and unraveling of all we depend on for stability and peace?Īs I’ve written many times before the sure word of God says, As Peggy Noonan wrote in The Wall Street Journal on February 26, “Putin has shocked the West. And we wonder about the unthinkable … could this lead to a nuclear confrontation? No one knows what Putin will do next. We also pray for those who don’t know Jesus as Savior … that they would meet Him and respond in faith.Īnd as we watch and feel from afar we wonder: What will tomorrow bring? How will life change, both in Ukraine and around the world. Everything is shifting and unstable.Īs Dennis and I watch the constant reporting every night we are praying daily and often for the believers-for their protection, for God’s provision for their needs, for power and strength. But those remaining in Ukraine now know the opposite the constant sound of bombs and the experience of crumbling walls, falling roofs, and impassible roads … if those who stayed even have access to transportation. Every day I trust the walls and roof of my house to remain stable, the roads on which I drive to remain solid. ![]()
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