As children we all played the game of tag. There was always a base where, we would be safe and could not be tagged. All of us seek a safe place. A place where we can find shelter and refuge. When life gets messed up, it is good to have a safe place. There are times in our spiritual life when we find our self running for safety. The idea of a refuge or safe haven came from the heart of God Himself. He made a place for HIs people where they could seek safe haven in a time of trouble. Our text is one of many in the bible that describes the establishments of cities of safe haven where a man who had accidentally taken a life to run to and escape death by the avenger of blood. There were six of these cities established throughout Israel that ensured that at all times a city of refuge was close. God went to great lengths to provide easy access to a safe place for all. God made a way for everybody. God always provides a place for someone who needs refuge. The cities of refuge were type and reference to what would come. God always provides a safe haven. God's grace is all encompassing. Bro. Hughes shares stores about these cities and how they illustrate God's love for us. In Canan was the city Kedesh. The name means "the sanctuary" In side that city was a large alter. The presence of an alter is a reminder to us that there is always a way to get back to God. Kedesh was a place for the man who felt unworthy of God's favor. The alter is a reminder that God made a way. Sheckem was another city. The name means shoulder. This was a place for a man who needed help; for a man who could not carry the weight of is problems by himself. God has broad shoulders that can help carry the load. God is able to carry anything that we cast upon Him. The next city was Hebron which means fellowship. God made room for all, not just the children of Israel. The Lord has a place those that fall by the highway of life. Too many poeple feel like the black sheep. All are part of the Lord's flock and all are important to Him. The grace and mercy of God is so large, that He has a place for the misfit and the cast off people. Bezer was on the wilderness side of Jordon and the name means strong hold. Here God established a safe place. The city was strong and secure. Bezer was a refuge. for those unable to defend themselves. Life gets so complicated that sometimes we come to God and we feel like He cannot figure it all out. Somehow are are a unique case and this not explainable. Before we even were born, God made a place for a life that is so confused. God has a place for the weak, the frail and the vulnerable. God made a way for even the weakest among us. The city Golan meant exile. It was a place for people that society has washed their hands of. The world may have rejected us, but God has a place for all. There is a place were all are welcomed no matter the past or history. These cities of refuge were to provide temporary safety, but the love of Jesus is eternal. When we come to Jesus, the grace of God is avliable to all. In these old cities, the one seeking refuge had to give up liberties in exchange for their safety. The sanctuary of Jesus does not require that we give up liberties, in fact, it GIVES liberty. God has room for all; no matter what the sin, God can carry it all.

As children we all played the game of tag. There was always a base where, we would be safe and could not be tagged. All of us seek a safe place. A place where we can find shelter and refuge. When life gets messed up, it is good to have a safe place. There are times in our spiritual life when we find our self running for safety. The idea of a refuge or safe haven came from the heart of God Himself. He made a place for HIs people where they could seek safe haven in a time of trouble. Our text is one of many in the bible that describes the establishments of cities of safe haven where a man who had accidentally taken a life to run to and escape death by the avenger of blood. There were six of these cities established throughout Israel that ensured that at all times a city of refuge was close. God went to great lengths to provide easy access to a safe place for all. God made a way for everybody. God always provides a place for someone who needs refuge. The cities of refuge were type and reference to what would come. God always provides a safe haven. God's grace is all encompassing. Bro. Hughes shares stores about these cities and how they illustrate God's love for us. In Canan was the city Kedesh. The name means "the sanctuary" In side that city was a large alter. The presence of an alter is a reminder to us that there is always a way to get back to God. Kedesh was a place for the man who felt unworthy of God's favor. The alter is a reminder that God made a way. Sheckem was another city. The name means shoulder. This was a place for a man who needed help; for a man who could not carry the weight of is problems by himself. God has broad shoulders that can help carry the load. God is able to carry anything that we cast upon Him. The next city was Hebron which means fellowship. God made room for all, not just the children of Israel. The Lord has a place those that fall by the highway of life. Too many poeple feel like the black sheep. All are part of the Lord's flock and all are important to Him. The grace and mercy of God is so large, that He has a place for the misfit and the cast off people. Bezer was on the wilderness side of Jordon and the name means strong hold. Here God established a safe place. The city was strong and secure. Bezer was a refuge. for those unable to defend themselves. Life gets so complicated that sometimes we come to God and we feel like He cannot figure it all out. Somehow are are a unique case and this not explainable. Before we even were born, God made a place for a life that is so confused. God has a place for the weak, the frail and the vulnerable. God made a way for even the weakest among us. The city Golan meant exile. It was a place for people that society has washed their hands of. The world may have rejected us, but God has a place for all. There is a place were all are welcomed no matter the past or history. These cities of refuge were to provide temporary safety, but the love of Jesus is eternal. When we come to Jesus, the grace of God is avliable to all. In these old cities, the one seeking refuge had to give up liberties in exchange for their safety. The sanctuary of Jesus does not require that we give up liberties, in fact, it GIVES liberty. God has room for all; no matter what the sin, God can carry it all.

God is everywhere. He is present in the future. He is in the past. He is on the right. He is on the left. He is above and below. He is everywhere. That concept has often been used to portray God as sitting in judgement waiting for us to mess up so he could strike us with lightning. That is not the God we serve. God is also portrayed as being distant and removed. We pray is if we are trying to get a long distance message through to God. The truth is that God is right here. Right now. We may not see Him, but He is here. Just because we cannot see Him, does not mean that He is not real. He is here before we get here. He will be where ever we go, before we get there. He is a god that is constant. He is a god that is present and knows even the number of hairs on our head. Nothing about life is an accident. He is not a spectator, but an active participant in our life. Our text is a truth that is a decisive factor in our life. God worketh even until now. It does not matter what is going on in life, the fact is that even though other things are at work in life, God is also working. God does not let anything trump what He is going to do. God is still working. Chaos may be all around, but God is here. Nothing is hopeless as long as God is available; and he is ALWAYS avaliable. Our human nature is to look at the physical things that affect our situation. It is easy to get consumed with the immediate situation. God is working even in the midst of these things. Despite what we can physically see and manipulate, God is working and His will be done. It may look impossible. It may look so bleak that we cannot see anything working out, even now God is still working.

God is everywhere. He is present in the future. He is in the past. He is on the right. He is on the left. He is above and below. He is everywhere. That concept has often been used to portray God as sitting in judgement waiting for us to mess up so he could strike us with lightning. That is not the God we serve. God is also portrayed as being distant and removed. We pray is if we are trying to get a long distance message through to God. The truth is that God is right here. Right now. We may not see Him, but He is here. Just because we cannot see Him, does not mean that He is not real. He is here before we get here. He will be where ever we go, before we get there. He is a god that is constant. He is a god that is present and knows even the number of hairs on our head. Nothing about life is an accident. He is not a spectator, but an active participant in our life. Our text is a truth that is a decisive factor in our life. God worketh even until now. It does not matter what is going on in life, the fact is that even though other things are at work in life, God is also working. God does not let anything trump what He is going to do. God is still working. Chaos may be all around, but God is here. Nothing is hopeless as long as God is available; and he is ALWAYS avaliable. Our human nature is to look at the physical things that affect our situation. It is easy to get consumed with the immediate situation. God is working even in the midst of these things. Despite what we can physically see and manipulate, God is working and His will be done. It may look impossible. It may look so bleak that we cannot see anything working out, even now God is still working.

In scripture, life is likened to many things. Paul speaks of it as a contest or a race. Perhaps the best description of life is a battle. There are forces that come against us every day because we have chosen to live for God. If we had not made that decision, the devil would not need to come against us. When we make up our mind that we will server God, we will find daily battles that have eternal spiritual implications. The bible tells us that the devil is a thief bent on killing, destruction and death. Understanding the battle so life are critical to living a victorious life. No battles are the same. What worked in one battle, will not help in a different battle. Some battles are like the ones mentioned in our text. David had encountered a lion and a bear. David faced those battles by coming straight at them to slay them. Some battles are once and done. There are no other accounts of David going against another lion, another bear or another Goliath. There are some battles in life that once they are overcome, we do not have to worry about them again. However some other battles are not like that. Others we have to face again and again. David went against the Philistines many times. After many times, howver, the bible tells us that at some point, the Philistines troubled David no more. Eventually we can overcome those problems and we will not have to face them again. The third type of battle are the battles that come every day. Saul was an every day battle. The bible tells us that every day, Saul sought after David. This was a different kind of battle. David could not use a sling and a stone against Saul. He had to deal with Saul in a different way. He could not win the victory over Saul by killing him, David had to outlast him. These daily battles are the ones that wear us down. No matter how much we pray or how faithful we are, these daily battles come at us. If we are not careful, these daily battles will get to us. These daily problems are not an indicator of our relationship with God. There is no way to pray enough, to fast enough, or to be faithful enough, these daily problems will still be there. We ask the Lord why is it that we face these issues. We ask God if we have messed up. God said no, the answer is to get daily bread. We can find something to remind us of how God has blessed us every day. We can find something in God's word to show us how God has been faithful to us every day. The daily battles to not mean that we are back slid, or being punished or somehow deficient. The Word does not fail. The victory over those daily issues is not in making them end, but in our attitude that no matter what comes against us, God is on our side. For daily battles, we need to be reminded that God gives DAILY benefits. There are things that God has placed something in EVERY day that will help us make it though THAT day. He didn't send the thing on Monday because it would not be needed until Tuesday. God is never a day late or a dollar short. He is never lacking in any way. God is so ordered, He knows exactly what we will face, and has made provision for us to face it. In place of praying God where are you, we need to pray God, thank you for your provision today. There are three things that we need to do daily to help with these daily battles. First Pray. Daily prayer will help make the daily battles less frustrating. Secondly, we must learn to praise daily. The Lord inhabits the praise of His people. Lastly, every day no matter what the battle, Perform. Follow through on our promise to God. Sometimes winning the battle is mostly showing up. We must make a choice daily to live for God. If every day we pray, praise and perform, those daily battles will be daily victories.

In scripture, life is likened to many things. Paul speaks of it as a contest or a race. Perhaps the best description of life is a battle. There are forces that come against us every day because we have chosen to live for God. If we had not made that decision, the devil would not need to come against us. When we make up our mind that we will server God, we will find daily battles that have eternal spiritual implications. The bible tells us that the devil is a thief bent on killing, destruction and death. Understanding the battle so life are critical to living a victorious life. No battles are the same. What worked in one battle, will not help in a different battle. Some battles are like the ones mentioned in our text. David had encountered a lion and a bear. David faced those battles by coming straight at them to slay them. Some battles are once and done. There are no other accounts of David going against another lion, another bear or another Goliath. There are some battles in life that once they are overcome, we do not have to worry about them again. However some other battles are not like that. Others we have to face again and again. David went against the Philistines many times. After many times, howver, the bible tells us that at some point, the Philistines troubled David no more. Eventually we can overcome those problems and we will not have to face them again. The third type of battle are the battles that come every day. Saul was an every day battle. The bible tells us that every day, Saul sought after David. This was a different kind of battle. David could not use a sling and a stone against Saul. He had to deal with Saul in a different way. He could not win the victory over Saul by killing him, David had to outlast him. These daily battles are the ones that wear us down. No matter how much we pray or how faithful we are, these daily battles come at us. If we are not careful, these daily battles will get to us. These daily problems are not an indicator of our relationship with God. There is no way to pray enough, to fast enough, or to be faithful enough, these daily problems will still be there. We ask the Lord why is it that we face these issues. We ask God if we have messed up. God said no, the answer is to get daily bread. We can find something to remind us of how God has blessed us every day. We can find something in God's word to show us how God has been faithful to us every day. The daily battles to not mean that we are back slid, or being punished or somehow deficient. The Word does not fail. The victory over those daily issues is not in making them end, but in our attitude that no matter what comes against us, God is on our side. For daily battles, we need to be reminded that God gives DAILY benefits. There are things that God has placed something in EVERY day that will help us make it though THAT day. He didn't send the thing on Monday because it would not be needed until Tuesday. God is never a day late or a dollar short. He is never lacking in any way. God is so ordered, He knows exactly what we will face, and has made provision for us to face it. In place of praying God where are you, we need to pray God, thank you for your provision today. There are three things that we need to do daily to help with these daily battles. First Pray. Daily prayer will help make the daily battles less frustrating. Secondly, we must learn to praise daily. The Lord inhabits the praise of His people. Lastly, every day no matter what the battle, Perform. Follow through on our promise to God. Sometimes winning the battle is mostly showing up. We must make a choice daily to live for God. If every day we pray, praise and perform, those daily battles will be daily victories.

Life is unpredictable. About the time we think we have life figured out, something happens that changes the course. Like on the sea, we can be sailing along and all is well. Then a storm can come on us unexpectedly. Some storms pass quickly, while others last for a long while. The unpredictable nature of a storm and what it can bring into our life is unsettling. Often we know what to do, but in the pressure of the moment, we are struck dumb and do not know what to do. In our text, the disciples were trying to get through the storm and Jesus comes walking to them on the water. They do not recognize him immediately. Peter asks join Jesus on the water. As he gets out of the boat and begins to go, he gets distracted by the waves and the storm. When this happened, Peter knew what to say when he was going down: Lord, same me. Too often people will be sinking in a storm and they cannot even knowledge that they are going down. They live in a state of denial and some will drown in the midst of their storm all the while saying that all is well. Other people live in shock that they are in a storm. They simply cannot believe it is happening to them. Peter survived his storm because he knew who to call on. He didn't call on the other disciples to save him, he called on Jesus. There is only One that can help when we are going down and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only did he know who to call on, Peter knew what to say: Lord, save me. He let go of his pride and cried out to be saved. Far too many people are more concerned about their pride and how they look than being saved. In the midst of his storm, Peter shows us how to deal with life's unexpected.

Life is unpredictable. About the time we think we have life figured out, something happens that changes the course. Like on the sea, we can be sailing along and all is well. Then a storm can come on us unexpectedly. Some storms pass quickly, while others last for a long while. The unpredictable nature of a storm and what it can bring into our life is unsettling. Often we know what to do, but in the pressure of the moment, we are struck dumb and do not know what to do. In our text, the disciples were trying to get through the storm and Jesus comes walking to them on the water. They do not recognize him immediately. Peter asks join Jesus on the water. As he gets out of the boat and begins to go, he gets distracted by the waves and the storm. When this happened, Peter knew what to say when he was going down: Lord, same me. Too often people will be sinking in a storm and they cannot even knowledge that they are going down. They live in a state of denial and some will drown in the midst of their storm all the while saying that all is well. Other people live in shock that they are in a storm. They simply cannot believe it is happening to them. Peter survived his storm because he knew who to call on. He didn't call on the other disciples to save him, he called on Jesus. There is only One that can help when we are going down and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only did he know who to call on, Peter knew what to say: Lord, save me. He let go of his pride and cried out to be saved. Far too many people are more concerned about their pride and how they look than being saved. In the midst of his storm, Peter shows us how to deal with life's unexpected.

The word Judah means praise. In our text, the women were going back to the physical land of Judah, but we can easily say that they were going back to a place of praise and restoration. They were defeated, but that was not the end of their story. They took the road that took them to Judah. Naomi obviously had some resentment and disappointment about her situation. When we are hurting and wounded it is difficult to praise. Naomi heard that God was blessing in Judah and decided to go there. There is blessing in praise. Naomi knew that she had to be where God was blessing. The bible tells us that she set out from where she had been living. Many of us have been living in a place too long. Naomi lost her husband, and both sons. Her praise was drained out of her, but she knew that she could not stay in her low state. She was determined to get back to a place where God was blessing. We cannot control the circumstances of life, but we can control how we respond to it. What do we do when the hope has gone from life. We must move from that place to a place of praise. Naomi tells her daughter-in-laws to return to their people. She no doubt wanted them to come with her. She did not want them to return to the life of idolatry in Moab. The girls had a choice to make. They could choose the familiar road and return to the life they had once known, or they could chose the road that leads to praise and blessing from the one true God. We have that choice. Orpah thought the price was too high. She returned to her gods. The world is full of gods. The god of lust, the god of entertainment, the god of fame. Orpah returned to a world that is deceiving. The Orpahs in our world have a value of Christ, but they are not willing to release those things from their own world that hold them back. Ruth made a different choice. She rejected the gods of her fathers, and embraced the God she had discovered. Ruth had never seen anything like Naomi's God; and she wanted more of it. Ruth saw that Naomi was hurting, but believed that her God would bless her. She set out on the road to the blessings of the One true God. God indeed did bless when they got to Judah. We know now that the road to praise brings provision. When they didn't know how they would make it, God provided. The road to praise led Ruth to a place where she, a Gentile, is in the lineage of Jesus. Many have take the road of Orpah; back to the old life style from which they were free. Ruth chose the less traveled road that leads to praise and blessing.

The word Judah means praise. In our text, the women were going back to the physical land of Judah, but we can easily say that they were going back to a place of praise and restoration. They were defeated, but that was not the end of their story. They took the road that took them to Judah. Naomi obviously had some resentment and disappointment about her situation. When we are hurting and wounded it is difficult to praise. Naomi heard that God was blessing in Judah and decided to go there. There is blessing in praise. Naomi knew that she had to be where God was blessing. The bible tells us that she set out from where she had been living. Many of us have been living in a place too long. Naomi lost her husband, and both sons. Her praise was drained out of her, but she knew that she could not stay in her low state. She was determined to get back to a place where God was blessing. We cannot control the circumstances of life, but we can control how we respond to it. What do we do when the hope has gone from life. We must move from that place to a place of praise. Naomi tells her daughter-in-laws to return to their people. She no doubt wanted them to come with her. She did not want them to return to the life of idolatry in Moab. The girls had a choice to make. They could choose the familiar road and return to the life they had once known, or they could chose the road that leads to praise and blessing from the one true God. We have that choice. Orpah thought the price was too high. She returned to her gods. The world is full of gods. The god of lust, the god of entertainment, the god of fame. Orpah returned to a world that is deceiving. The Orpahs in our world have a value of Christ, but they are not willing to release those things from their own world that hold them back. Ruth made a different choice. She rejected the gods of her fathers, and embraced the God she had discovered. Ruth had never seen anything like Naomi's God; and she wanted more of it. Ruth saw that Naomi was hurting, but believed that her God would bless her. She set out on the road to the blessings of the One true God. God indeed did bless when they got to Judah. We know now that the road to praise brings provision. When they didn't know how they would make it, God provided. The road to praise led Ruth to a place where she, a Gentile, is in the lineage of Jesus. Many have take the road of Orpah; back to the old life style from which they were free. Ruth chose the less traveled road that leads to praise and blessing.