A Mighty Fortress is Our God!

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."

Surely He will save you from the Fowler's snare and from deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys in midday." Psalm 91:1-6 (NIV)

Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalm 91:14-16 (NIV)

Those words are so very true for me. Probably half of the gray hair in my mothers head are there because of the dumb things I've managed to do, or the stunts over the years I've pulled. Last night was no exception.

My husband and I own a bicycle built for two, that I love to ride. We live in a little subdivision that has some pretty big hills. Getting up those hills is a bear, especially when we put Roscoe's booger cart on the back. (Roscoe, our dog is a chunky little pug, who weighs at least 25 pounds.) Sailing swiftly down the hills is sheer delight! I love to cut through the air going at least 45 mph, and often we're going even faster than that.

Last night Roscoe was really getting into it as well. He was hanging out the front of the cart, almost laughing, as his jowls and ears were being blown back. Mark was in the front driving and really controlling the speed, and steering and braking. To put it mildly, he was having a blast putting on a show. Several of the neighbors were getting a kick out of the three of us. But on our second lap around, Mark turned a sharp corner going about 45 mph.

We had done this before going this fast, but I often whacked him and told him, "I'll never ride again if you don't slow down." But deep down there's also this thrill of defying death, just one more time, (kind of sick isn't it?)

You probably know what happened next. The tires were squawking as Mark stood up to try to stop. Roscoe's cart jack knifed, and so did the bike. The back tire, with me in the rear, slammed into the curb. Roscoe was silent. I whacked Mark and told him what a stupid J.A. he was. The booger cart laid on it's side all tore up. Quickly I unzipped the door, to check on what I thought was our dead dog.

Poor Roscoe, there he laid, his eyes were as big as a womb-bat. His tail stretched straight out, not curled like it always is when he's happy. If he could have spoke I have no doubt he would have said, "What in the hey happened?" He amazingly jumped out the door, as if to say, "We'll don't ask me to do that again!" In the cart laid this little poop. But I guess anyone, or anything would have left something, after being almost scared to death. Immediately he headed for home. I was right behind Roscoe at first, stomping and cussing as we went.

After a few steps, I went back to check on dumb you know who. The wind had certainly left his sails as well. The back wheel was almost pretzeled in half. We were about half a mile from the house; so it was a long walk back to carry a heavy bike and cart.

I was so mad, I didn't dare speak to Mark until he came in the kitchen and started to argue with me. Then everything came out at once. Beginning with I knew that was going to happen; and that God had given us so much more than mercy. Frankly, I'm surprised my head wasn't split open like a ripe mush melon splattering on the pavement.

Needless to say, I will not do that again, unless he promises to drive sanely especially around the corners! God has saved my bacon many more times than I ever deserved. I'm very thankful for a Most High God who really is our refuge in all times.

I seen a bill board a few weeks ago that is so true. It read: "They may take our home away, but they'll never be able to take my God or faith away!" How True, God bless You.