The storms of life create need for Refuge. Some storms (financial upsets, health problems, relational conflicts, major accidents, or similar losses) impact more severely than others. Our inner responses to external circumstances, determines our happiness and satisfaction with life.
Why this blog?
Since 2011 I have been posting articles on a blog site at https://authoredhersh.blogspot.com. At that time, I began writing articles to accompany a book I authored called Escaping the Pain of Offense: Empowered to Forgive from the Heart Although the articles are still relevant and can be accessed at that site, the forum of Google’s Blogger has waned in its usefulness as an adequate platform.
I believe it is time for a new forum. This forum offers a better overall experience for readers. It also allows for much more interaction between author and readers. My hope is that the articles and posts on this site will create a deeper desire to get to know the God I know, and am getting to know more all the time.
Part of the way we get to know God better, Is by relating to other people who love God, and have the same goal of getting to know God better. I look forward to hearing from readers, and interacting with your posts as you post thoughts on the content.
Why the topic of Refuge?
Jesus is our Refuge. I believe the gospel (“good news”) of Jesus Christ is the answer to all the world’s problems. We live in a broken world, and its brokenness (problem) is caused by broken people. The storms loom darker and stronger than ever. But the Light of Refuge shines brighter and more empowering than ever.
In short, God created the world (including man). And man rebelled against the order of things that God built into creation. Hence, man created a mess out of Creation, so big in fact, only God himself was able to clean it up. God the Father, sent his only Son Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world. Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. He rose from the dead three days later, and returned to Father leaving us the Holy Spirit to accomplish a work of transformation of the hearts of all who believe in this good news. There is hope in Refuge.
God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit accomplished all that is necessary to redeem the world. Now it is up to us to cooperate with God’s transforming power in our hearts to bring this Refuge into reality. Transformation from the inside out is the general theme of this Refuge Blog. This kind of transformation is such a huge task, it takes a lifetime to complete. Hence, there will never be a shortage of new things to learn and practice about inner, heart change.
I encourage everyone reading these words right now to read the Gospel of John in the Bible at least several times a year. The Bible is the ultimate source for truth on how transformation works, and the book of John makes it clear how every human can have a dynamic, ever-deepening, personal relationship with God. There is nothing to fear, and everything to gain, when we remain in Refuge.
The Psalms is a daily source of inspiration for me. Although many of the Psalms were written about one thousand years before Jesus appeared on the earth, the word Refuge is used to describe his salvation in the Psalms. The same Refuge that the Psalmist enjoyed is available to us today three thousand years later. Now that is an enduring Refuge! All through the Bible, God’s story of Refuge is unveiled. Praise be to our God of Refuge.
Have a great day, and please take time to comment below. Share a few sentences of how God has been a Refuge to you. You may never know who will be encouraged by it, and find it to be a refuge for them. Refuge encourages refuge. God rescues us so that we can help rescue others.
Psalm 46 blessings to all.
“God is our refuge and strength,
Psalm 46:1-2
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear …”