Tricia McNair: Noble Life Ministries

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you knew others were trying to cause you trouble or destroy your good works? Have you had your reputation to be at risk because someone slandered your good name? Well if you have you must know that God is a refuge for you in time of trouble. Isaiah 25:4, "For you have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, shelter from the storm, shade from the heat- for the blast ruthless was like a storm that could destroy a wall." When I look at this text it speaks to my soul, and I am reminded that God is my refuge and my shelter from the storm of life and no matter how strong the blast of life may be coming at me, God is my refuge, my strength, my Helper and my shelter. A shelter is a basic structure or building that provides cover. I am here to tell you that there is nothing basic about God. He has provided for us a fortress, a strong tower and the righteous run into it and is save, but when enemy runs into

Judaism is intensely aware of the power of speech and of the harm that can be done through speech. The rabbis note that the universe itself was created through speech. Of the 43 sins enumerated in the Al Chet confession recited on Yom Kippur, 11 are sins committed through speech. The Talmud states that the tongue is an instrument so dangerous that it must be kept hidden from view, behind two protective walls (the mouth and teeth) to prevent its misuse! The harm done by speech is even worse than the harm done by stealing or by cheating someone financially, because amends can be made for monetary harms, but the harm done by speech can rarely be repaired. For this reason, some sources indicate that there is no forgiveness for lashon ha-ra (disparaging speech) A Chasidic tale illustrates this point: A man went about the community telling malicious lies about the rabbi. Later, he realized the wrong he had done, and began to feel remorse. He went to the rabbi and begged his forgiveness,

"Help us," they cry. "Defend us against our enemies. Protect us from their relentless attack. Do not betray us now that we have escaped. Isaiah 16:3 (New Living Translation) In Isaiah 16:3 Isaiah pleads with the rulers of Judah to hide the outcasts of Moab. He asked that they do not betray the women who had escaped. Isaiah wanted Judah to be a place of refuge and protection for Moab under judgment. According to Genesis, the Moabites were relatives of the Israelites, both peoples tracing their descent back to a common ancestor, Terah. Terah's son Haran fathered Lot, whose son Moab was born after an incestuous relationship between Lot and his eldest daughter (Genesis 19:37). Moabite women were faced with sexual immorality for generations and God's judgment was on the Moab nation. The women had escaped and Isaiah pleads that they would not be taking advantage of by the rulers of Judah, but they would be protected and hidden from their enemies. Isaiah knew that God

2010 has left us now and we have begun a new calendar year, 2011. There are a few things that we can be certain will remain true in 2011 and beyond: 1. God will always hear and honor the prayers of His people 2. The Holy Bible will always be the Word of God with answers to our circumstances, problems and situations 3. Jesus Christ is still Lord! And since all three things above are true, why don't you make this year, the year that you serve God. The year that you have the strength to restore your health, your finances and your broken relationships. Why not make it the year that you allow God to bring restoration and hope to broken dreams? Why not turn to Jesus the Christ instead of Mr. Alcohol and Drug to sooth your pain? We often look to others to do what we must do ourselves. No one can make us lose weight, stop lying, drinking foolishly, committing adultery or sexual immorality, destroying our friendships or any other destructive thing we did in 2010. Only we, with the