“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
The Church in the attached photo is Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne du Bon Berger in Caredeux which is a suburb in the Northeast area of Port-au-Prince; the white truck was the vehicle God blessed me with while living in Haiti. I was blessed to have been there on a few Reformation Sundays and the above verse from Psalm 46 reminded that again that God is exalted among ALL the nations, in ALL the earth.
Pastor Thomas Bernard read Psalm 46 in French and I followed along in my NIV Bible during the service; God was present at that moment in French, Creole and English. No matter what the evil forces of this world are throwing at you or the congregation in Caredeux, God reminds us to be still and know that He is God; He is in control. We will be tossed about throughout our lives, pulled this way and that but don’t fear; be still and know that God is with you. I close with the words to the hymn ‘I AM forever who I Am’ that we sang on Reformation Day in Lincoln and it was written by Kurt Von Kampen.
“Though mountains slide into the sea, and waters rush where fields should be, though monuments and nations fall, Your Holy city stands through all. When nothing seems to stay the same, You teach us your eternal name. We buy and sell, we lose or gain, our fortunes shift like sun and rain. Sustain our lives, reward our toil with bread and honey, wine and oil. Save us and others from our greed; You always give us what we need. Our lust for power, wealth and land diminishes the earth you planned. Prevent our crimes and futile wars; convince us that all things are yours. We rage and burn and kill and steal, but you redeem, restore and heal. Like shepherds watching for the light, aware of dangers in the night, we hear the angel “do not fear”, the Savior of the world is near. We run, we see, we touch, we laugh, You came to earth on our behalf. Each generation looks for truth and doubt can trouble age or youth. If other gods would take your place, remember us with love and grace. Reclaim us if we go astray; You are the Truth, the Life, the Way. Some days seem long, though life is brief, and death is waiting like a thief. When vision fades and dreams go dry, we still on unseen things rely. Our stories take up but a page but Yours goes on from age to age. I AM forever Who I AM; above you, beneath you, around you and within you. Be still and know that I am God.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay