A Prayer For You: God Is Our Refuge and Strength. 🙏🏼

My Friend, 

Please listen to my brief prayer for you and please make it your prayer also. 🙏🏼 

https://youtu.be/qpFTWXDhzqs?si=KObn2OCFlR9ZihCL

God is your refuge and strength, and He is with you everyday and every step of your journey. May you seek Him and cling to Him always in Jesus name I pray. Please take time to read study and take the heart ‭Psalm‬ ‭46:1‭-‬3‬ for starters. 

You're in my prayers. 

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Randolph Koch

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7.8 Magnitude Earthquake in China.

A colleague of mine in Asia forwarded several pictures and articles to me over the last week. (Since the day of the earthquake which was a little over a week ago.)

My heart cries out for these people who have suffered under the weight of the rubble as rescuers search for them, and those who are suffering the loss of their loved ones and for those who have lost their lives.

Please pray for them!

I’ve also learned that Medical Teams International is currently working to send over a half millions pounds of supplies to help them and they’re working with Boeing to deliver the supplies via several new planes that they are already planning to delivery to China. Please pray that this effort will be successful and help support them as God leads!

I’m reminded of the following scripture and will direct my prayers that those who are directly impacted by this disaster will be comforted by Him.

“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.”
~Psalm 46:1-3


Again, I will pray that God will comfort them during this devastating time and I'll especially pray that they would come to a personal relationship with the Him. May the Body of Christ be there to minister to the hurting and share His love while meeting the physical needs!

I wanted to share a few pictures that once you see them, I believe you’ll be moved to prayer as I have been. Please note: These images may be disturbing but they are also the reality of what has happened and what is occurring due to the Earthquake. Thanks for your prayers. Please see the below.


Please join me in prayer!

Humbled in Christ,

rlk














A boy is rescued from the debris of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province May 13, 2008. [Agencies]














Bodies of many of the victims. [Agencies]




















Several young children trapped in the rubble. Note the IV attached to one of them onthe left. Some apparently are alive while some sadly are not. [Agencies]




















Young Man trapped in the rubble. [Agencies]


Young Boy receiving medical attention. [Agencies]


The Remnants of what was once a building. [Agencies]

Please pray!

Our Refuge

The Word:
Read: Psalm 46:1-11

"Our Refuge" by Randolph Koch

Here they come again. The pressures, trials, and struggles of life. It seems that we have daily events that give opportunity to refine us; reminding us who we should be seeking as our shelter. Personally I've been bombarded with one event after another, making me almost feel like I'm going to break down or make me question what is going on. "Why are things going so rough I've asked myself?"

There have been so many times where there has been so much to do at work with literally not enough time to get everything done. It's pretty overwhelming at times. Then I'm reminded of the scriptures that tell me to cling to God and not operate under my own understanding. Seek refuge. Seek the only cover that will protect and sustain us because the storms will continue to come.

Recently, I turned on the news to see coverage of the aftermath of a cyclone that led to a major flood in South Africa. The people were running as fast as they could through very deep water, scrambling to save their lives. Some were only able to escape with the clothes they had on their backs. It was heart wrenching to see them. It was obvious that they had tremendous fear. It was visible on their faces as they climbed onto a small platform where a helicopter was waiting to try to rescue as many people as they could. There was a lack of helicopters so when one would come, you'd see them sprint by the dozens toward their rescue; many being turned away because there was no room for them. There were pictures of those that had been waited for hours and in some cases days in the chilling waters, to be rescued.

In other parts of the world during this same time, volcanoes were erupting. People in these locations were fleeing also for a safe refuge. All of these things remind me of the truth that every one of us no matter in flood, famine, or any situation good or bad we need our own refuge. We need to run to Jesus and cling to Him with everything we have. We cannot rely on ourselves completely because we cannot make it without Him. He is our refuge. The question is will we seek Him today?

Maybe it's been a long while since you've made Him a part of your life? Give Him control and He can take care of you completely. Enter back in to His presence and know that He'll strengthen, encourage, and hold you up by His power, glory and strength.

Maybe you're a Christian that is walking faithfully with Him? May you seek Him all the more because you know the value of seeking and clinging to Him in your life.

You could be a non-Christian reading this today- I'd like to encourage you to seek His refuge for the first time. Come to know salvation through Jesus Christ. He is waiting with open arms for all of us to run to Him.

For all of us may His refuge be our daily homecoming as we come and go - wherever we go. We can trust Him for He will never fail us. No matter what happens in this world He'll be your refuge.

I pray for all of us that in times of trouble or not, we'll seek Him as our refuge. You'll never go wrong by seeking Him.

Questions to Get Started With:
-Do you cling to Him as your refuge?
-Do you seek Him daily?
-Are you striving in the midst of your struggles?
-Or have you ceased to strive and know that He is God?



(Originally published Feb 28, 2000)