My Chaos… God’s Kingdom

How many of you think of birds, wings, or feathers when you hear the above Book and chapter? Normally I do too, however God gave me a new vision of it the other day. Don’t worry we will get to that, but as always there is a story to go with it. Isn’t our God just so wonderful!?

This valley I have been in has been so hard for me. It has been lonely, and filled with so many tears and doubts. Not in God because I know how good He is. The doubts were in me and my ability to walk the path God has chosen for me to walk. This comes from a very deep seated hurt that sometimes rears its ugly head, trying to trip me up. A lot of days I do not feel like this is something I can do in a way that gives God the glory he deserves. If you haven’t learned by now Satan is jerk and does not play fairly, But God…..

As I am gearing up to go to another conference this year in the beautiful Colorado Springs area (with some truly amazing women), I was working on a trip shirt, because every girls trip deserves a truly inspirational shirt. I found an image on Pinterest that read “I am a Psalm 91 kinda girl” and I knew instantly that I wanted to create a shirt (I could make it a decal if I wanted to) for this saying. So Wednesday night our son’s baseball game was canceled due to rain, and I took that time to do some work. As I sat down to create I was thinking wings, birds, and flowers, with maybe a castle thrown in. “He will cover you with his pinions (wings) and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler (shield)” Psalm 91:4 ESV. This is the verse that is usually highlighted for me. I mean who doesn’t need reminders that our God covers us and is so faithful to his children? However I could not get it to look right. I took the wings out, I added different flowers, I even removed the birds and just did flowers. The castle tower however was a different story. It was the one thing that I never deleted (just changed the style and a few details. Then as I read Psalm 91 again and a few verses stuck out to me this time verse 1-2 ESV “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress my God, in whom I trust.” Then verses 9-10 ESV “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place- the Most High, who is my refuge- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.”

I have read or recited these words so many times in my 35 years. I don’t think these words have ever stuck out like this. So think a castle tower much like the one above, its strong right, looks like it would be hard to conquer. Its is a fortress, or stronghold (step bible app), something that is very very hard to penetrate. In the crazy of this broken world we need a place that keeps us safe. That place is God and not only did he highlight that I did put my trust in Him, which gave me a fortress, He reminded me no evil shall befall me. Not because Satan won’t try or because my life will be filled with only good times and easy going days. No because God is faithful and will ensure that while Satan tries he won’t prevail in my life. Nor will Satan prevail in yours if you trust the one who defeats him! I know that I will have more days of struggles (and even some doubts) but I know who my fortress is and there I will find my refuge!! What about you? Do you know that you can trust God and that he will give you this to? If not the time is now, give God an opportunity to show you all he has in store for you!

Much Love Stacie