Under God's Protection

This Art Reflection was written for The Gathering House Church in Spokane Washington. It was presented during the service on March 17th, 2019. You can purchase this art work at http://www.inspired-art.com/Gallery_8/Gods_Protection.html

http://www.inspired-art.com/Gallery_8/Gods_Protection_files/shapeimage_1.png

by Artist Danny Hahlbohm 

Art Reflection by Margot Cioccio

As I sat writing this reflection I went searching for a particular quote and I found my self drawn in to listening to the music of one of my favorite song writers, who’s life here on this earth in my opinion ended far too soon. Yet he lives on many years later in recordings and rough demos made a mere 9 days before the fatal car wreck that took him home like Elijah in a chariot of fire.  As we look at living and dying in the sermon today Im reminded of  Psalm  91:11-12 say For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 

In Psalm 139:14-18 

I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it. How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing into something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought. 

How much freedom is there to be found in knowing that God has already planned the number of your days. 

In John 10:25-30. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

How much freedom is there in knowing that nothing can snatch us out of his hand

The image today is another recent painting from artist Danny Hahlbohm. The title he has given to it is Under  God’s  Protection. He writes on the site notes “We are children of the living God, and God protects His own. When need be, God will send His mighty angels to protect us from harm and evil. His angels are powerful and mighty, not like those depicted in some “new age” imagery. God does not have wimpy angels.

His angels do His bidding, weather good or destructive, and they have the power and capability to carry out God’s mission no matter what that might be. No wonder why in the bible, when an angel appears, the first thing that angel says is, “fear not.”

In Philippians 1:27-28 in the  Passion Translation it says… "When I come to see you, or hear good reports of you, I’ll know that you stand united in one Spirit and one passion - celebrating together as conquerors in the faith of the gospel. And then you will never be shaken or intimidated by the opposition that rises up against us, for your courage will only prove as a sure sign from God of their coming destruction and that you have found a new life.” 

Irregardless if the opposition you face is thugs who would try to rob, rape or even kill you or a diagnosis of cancer or some other thing that threatens to take your life. I want you to look intently at this art work on the screen today. Allow it to be seared into your mind and heart. 

Last week we looked at Jesus as the Word, this week we look at art that depicts him as provider and protector. He is the commander of the angel armies. Paul in the passage today is speaking about living and dying. He is ready to depart this life but knows that his staying benefits the Church. In verse 20 he says “In my life or in my death, Christ will be magnified in me. My true life is the Anointed One, and dying means gaining more of him. 

From the realm of God’s golden glory which is much closer than you may think. Do you feel Him? He is here with us right now.  See his right hand extended, and reaching out to you. It reminds me of how the king extend his scepter to Esther when she came to him uninvited. That extended scepter or hands means you who have approached the King will live and not die.  He does not hold back the things that you need to overcome and to be victorious. His mighty angel army come and go at his command. 

I want to end with some words written by Rich Mullins the song writer I mentioned earlier. 

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by 

He will never break His promise, He has written it upon the sky 

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by 

I will never doubt His promise though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes 

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by 

He will never break His promise though the stars should break faith with the sky 

My Deliverer is coming, my Deliverer is standing by

Here's A Youtube video of Rich Mullins song My Deliverer

https://youtu.be/K8-NxI_IWd0

Hold Me Jesus

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

That me in the middle taking notes during Navigate

This is our Pacific North West Navigate team of 3 churches

James 3:17 - 18  

“ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, 
then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, 
full of mercy and good fruits, with out variance, 
without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness 
is sown in peace for them that make peace.







I am running way behind today in getting something posted.  Last night tired caught up with me and I just had to say I'm done and go to bed. So for those of you who look forward to this early in the morning I apologize. I have a couple of things that I have been working on that are in the process of being ready to post. This is one I wrote while in route to Minnesota for the Navigate conference. Finding Gods peace in the midst of a busy day seems to be something I need today as well.


I am on the plane in route to Denver where we will have a quick layover on the way to Minnesota. I’m currently listening to Rich Mullins song Hold Me Jesus which seems a good spring board from which to write. So Hold me Jesus - cause I’m shaking like a leaf  - you have been King of my glory, won’t you be my prince of peace.



Seems the Lord is speaking to me a lot about peace lately. I was struck the other day by how many salutations and greeting in the New Testament letters are about peace. The writers seem to think is an important thing with which to open a letter and to pray over their readers. So I will follow that example and pray that God would bless you with a greater understanding of Him as your Prince of Peace.

James 3:17 - 18  Says “ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, with out variance, without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

Peace often requires standing up for what is right. It is often walking into a difficult situation and rather than escalating the situation helping to diffuse the anger of those present. We have ample opportunities to practice this in our work in the inner city with the homeless and poor. There are days when people come in very agitated. On those days our job as believers in the room is to help settle and calm the the tension in the room.

You may have opportunities to bring God’s peace into the situations that you find yourself in today. There may be very traumatized people that you encounter today that need not only your prayers but for you to bring peace, to remind them that they will be ok, that they need to breathe and trust and accept the help that is being afforded to them by your very presence.

I think we often wrongly think that peace is all about floating in our own personal peace bubble. Quite often it is more the ability to walk into a stress filled situation and bring peace to others. It is the mercy of God working through you to bring grace and peace into a situation in which little or none existed until you came on the scene to bring the fruit of peace that you have gained from the wisdom of spending time in the presence of the Lord. 

Prayer:
So Hold Me Jesus  - walk near me in difficult situations as I am dealing with troubled and difficult people. Help us to be a living bible - the only one they may read today. Help us to demonstrate the your peace in the midst of the storms we are personally facing and those of others whose lives we touch.  Lord I think of the line in Rich Mullin's sings that says “I’d rather fight you for what I don’t really want than take what you give that I need”. Help me to accept those things I need and to stop fighting you for those things that I don't need. Help me to have the wisdom to know the difference.
Help me to accept it when you say no, or not now, to maintain trust and hope that you are working and you know better than I what I truly need.