Have you ever trembled in
fear? Maybe lots of things make you
tremble. I’m not a “trembler” by
nature. I’m a screamer and a crier, but
trembling? Not so much. The first time I remember trembling was my
wedding day. Right before the wedding
was to start, I just could not stop shaking.
My mom took me on her lap and comforted me – hoop skirt and all (me, not
her J). The music started and I calmly walked down the
aisle.
The next time I remember trembling
was years later – it was when my mom called me and said my step-dad had died
and she needed me, NOW. I got in our van
and tried to drive to her as fast as I could, except I couldn’t hold the
steering wheel because I couldn’t stop trembling. In fact, I was shaking so much, the van was
actually shaking! NO LIE!
I got on the highway and
thought to myself, “How am I going to drive?
I can’t even hold the steering wheel?”
I was in a panic, trembling. I
started to pray, “Lord, my mom needs me, I have to go to her but I can’t
drive. Please help!” Just then, I looked beside me and my step-mom
was driving next to me, waving and honking the horn. She could tell something was wrong. She motioned for me to pull over. I pulled over and she ran to me. I told her I was trying to get to my mom,
that Dad Tuttle had died. She hugged me
and prayed. As soon as we embraced, the
trembling stopped.
I thought of my trembling
episodes during worship this morning. We
read Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams
make glad the city of God
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
He lifts His voice, the earth melts.
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
He lifts His voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
UMMMMMM, God is our refuge
and strength – our fortress. My Webster’s
Dictionary says, “fortress” is a stronghold, a fortified place. “Fortify” is defined as “to add strength by
reinforcement” or “to strengthen and secure”.
Okay, so my strength is
God, who is my fortress, my stronghold or my reinforcement. I mean, that sounds really neat that God is
that. But do I believe it – do I believe
it enough to live it? To live
it enough that when I tremble, or when you tremble, He’s enough. Period.
For me, reading, learning
and knowing scripture has helped me believe it.
God’s Word has blessed me in ways I could never count. Reading
This is why it
says: “When He ascended on high,
He led captives in His train and gave gifts to His people.”
He led captives in His train and gave gifts to His people.”
(What
does “He ascended” mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly
regions?
He who descended is the very one who ascended
higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) (Eph
4).
WOW - that's an awesome way to think of God - to remember Who He is.
Another way to live it is by praying - being the recipients of prayers (like my
step-mom’s that day) or praying myself.
Leaving it all with God. The
fear, the circumstance, the trembling.
Leaving it in my “fortress”, with my “reinforcement”, knowing He sees,
He knows and He is Who He says He is.
Music has also helped me
realize Who God is. Listening to scripture
in music has blessed me so! Music just
speaks to me, to my heart and to my soul.
When scripture is put to music, I am doubly blessed!
Martin Luther wrote a song
from Psalm 46 that is pretty well known, “A Mighty Fortress”. We sang the Promise Keeper version in worship
today and as we sang, the trembling came back.
Oh, not a “scared” kind of trembling, but a “Holy, Holy, Holy, this is real” kind of trembling. I have attached it here.
Verse 2:
Did we in our own strength
confide, our striving would be losing.
Were not the right man on
our side. The man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that might
be? Christ Jesus, it is He.
Lord, Saboath His name,
from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.
His kingdom is forever – a
mighty fortress is our God. AMEN!
(you trembling too? J)
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