A few verses of Scripture to start your day. Psalms 46:1-2a   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear......God is my refuge because when no one else could possibly know what I'm thinking, or how I'm feeling, God knows.  A refuge is a place of safety.  God is a place of safety for me.  A place for me to go and take a break from my physical problems, from what may be torturing my mind at the moment, from depression that the devil wants to put on me.  God is an awesome place of refuge.  It's so peaceful there.  I try my best to stay there most of the time.  Sometimes I venture away from that place of refuge, but I quickly come crawling back, because I know that being near God is the safest place I can be.  It's the safest place anyone can be.  God is my strength because I have none of my own.  I have no physical strength without God.  I have no mental strength without God.  I have no emotional strength without God.  I have no spiritual strength without God.  I am weak without God.  God strengthens my physical body on a daily basis.  Some days I need more physical strength than others.  He gives me what I need each day.  For example...Yesterday, Grace and I spent the day in Alexandria.  We left at 7:30a and arrived back home at 6p.  I drove that day. (My mom usually drives me long distances if I need to go.)  If I had left on my own, without God, I wouldn't have made it out of the driveway.  That's how much I need His strength and His help.  I CANNOT go even one day without His strength.  I need His mental strength because, if left to my own devices, I would stay in such a dark place that no one would be able to find me and get me out.  If I stay with God, I find I can pretty much stay out of those dark places.  God is also my emotional strength.  That one I am having to work really hard on.  I really need to let go and let God have my emotions.  Especially that anger.  I think maybe I feel out of control with what's happening in my physical life and that makes me very angry and my anger gets taken out on those I love the most.  I am really trying to work on that one with God's help.  I can't do it alone.  He is my spiritual strength.  Who else would be??  I want to ALWAYS dwell in the safety of God.  I want that for you too.  Let God be your refuge and Strength.  He's waiting. Psalms 46:10a    Be still and know that I am God.....At some point during your busy, hectic day - STOP!!!  Take a time out and meditate on God and His goodness.  Sure, you may have problems, everybody does.  And yes, you may be an extremely busy person.  Are you too busy for God??  I wouldn't answer YES to that.  That would be oh so sad.  Be quiet.  Be calm.  Be still.  SSHHH!!  Isn't God wonderful.  It is so good to know that He is God and He is still in this world, waiting for us to be quiet, for just a moment, and know that He is God.  WOW! Psalms 48:1a     Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.....God IS so wonderful.  And there is always something that God can be praised for.  Your health.  Even if your health is not so good, you're still alive aren't you.  And if you're not saved, still being alive is a good thing.  God is still giving you a chance to come to know Him.  If you're already saved and in ill health, He may want to use you to bring a smile to someone else's face.  There is always someone who could use a smile and a kind word.  God is great because He let me get out of bed this morning.  He is great because He's letting me watch the sun play on my hands as I type this blog.  He is great because I can hear Sami (my parakeet) talking with some birds outside.  He is great because I can see my sleeping daughter in her bed.  God is great just because.....You feel in that blank.  What can you praise God for this morning.  DO NOT tell me nothing!!  There is something.   Have a wonderful day in the Lord.  And remember...God can be your refuge and your strength, and He is so worthy of our praise.  Find something to praise Him for today.