The Lord is in His Holy Temple: A Link Up In Pages in Our Heritage of Faith

Some days, the darkness seems so oppressive. And we cry out in anguish as we hear one more horrible headline. We pray, asking Him to respond, to bring about Justice, but it can still look dark.

"Five people were killed and 45 injured after a stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair"

Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

"Explosions Shake Tripoli As Libyan Rebels Advance"

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.

"Activists Say 18 Killed After Syrian Leader Assad Says Military Operations Stopped"

He boasts of the cravings of his heart;

he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.

"Tampa High School Bomb Plot Suspect Spoke of 'Another Columbine'"

In his pride the wicked does not seek him;

In all his thoughts there is no room for God.

His ways are always prosperous;

he is haughty and your laws are far from him;

he sneers at all his enemies.

"Girl, 6, allegedly videotaped mom having group sex"

He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;

I'll always be happy and never have trouble."

"Man shoots at officers, is tazed behind Iroquois High School"

His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;

trouble and evil are under his tongue.

"Internet Jihadist Calls on Muslims to Cut Off Letterman's Tongue"

He lies in wait near the villages;

from ambush he murders the innocent,

watching in secret for his victims.

"Killeen, Texas, police say Pcf. Naser Abdo admitted after his arrest to planning an attack on Fort Hood personnel, which would have been the second Fort Hood attack in two years."

He lies in wait like a lion in cover;

"Gunmen kill 7 in Israel in attack near Egypt border"

He lies in wait to catch the helpless;

he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

"New Video Surfaces Showing Unprovoked Attack by Philadelphia Teens"

His victims are crushed, they collapse;

they fall under his strength.

"Suicide Truck Bomber Attacks U.S.-Run Base in Afghanistan"

He says to himself, "God has forgotten;

he covers his face and never sees."

"Baltimore County Police are investigating the murder of 19-year-old in Parkville."

Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.

Do not forget the helpless.

"7 Killed on Way to Funeral in Central Philippines"

Why does the wicked man revile God?

why does he say to himself,

"He won't call me to account"?

"Witness in Florida Gang Killing Found Dead Before Trial"

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;

you consider it to take it in hand.

"Former NBA Ref Kills Self on Day Wife's Body Found"

The victim commits himself to you;

you are the helper of the fatherless.

"Missing California Toddler, Father Found Dead"

Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;

call him to account for his wickedness

that would not be found out.

"4 Relatives Charged in Phoenix Girl's Death"

The LORD is King for ever and ever;

the nations will perish from his land.

"Israel's Channel 10 reports 4th Attack by Gunmen Near Border With Egypt"

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;

you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

defending the fatherless and the oppressed,

in order that man, who is of the earth,

may terrify no more.

"Taliban Cashing in as Pakistan's Karachi is Torn Apart by Violence"

In the LORD I take refuge.

How then can you say to me:

"Flee like a bird to your mountain.

For look, the wicked bend their bows;

they set their arrows against the strings

to shoot from the shadows

at the upright in heart.

When the foundations are being

destroyed,

what can the righteous do?"

The LORD is in his holy temple;

the LORD is on his heavenly throne.

He observes the sons of men;

his eyes examine them.

The LORD examines the righteous,

but the wicked and those who love violence

his soul hates.

On the wicked he will rain 

fiery coals and burning sulphur;

a scorching wind will be their lot.

For the LORD is righteous,

he loves justice;

upright men will see his face.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field 

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the LORD's renown,

for an everlasting sign,

which will not be destroyed.
Psalm 10, 11 and Isaiah 55

And so we wait upon the Lord. He Who is Faithful will accomplish His Purposes on this earth. He speaks to us through His Word. Faithfully! And we rest in Him.

"Upon God's faithfulness rests our whole hope of future blesssedness. Only as He is faithful will His covenants stand and His promises be honored. Only as we have complete assurance that He is faithful may we live in peace and look forward with assurance to the life to come. Every heart can make its own application of this truth and draw from it such conclusions as the truth suggests and its own needs bring into focus. The tempted, the anxious, the fearful, the discouraged may all find new hope and good cheer in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father is faithful. He will ever be true to His pledged word. The hard-pressed sons of the covenant may be sure that He will never remove His loving-kindness from them nor suffer His faithfulness to fail."        A.W. Tozer  The Knowledge of the Holy

How has He shown Himself Faithful to you? Answered prayers? Strength for your day? Grace to walk through whatever lies before you? The comfort of His Word as a balm for your soul? The love and support of a dear friend as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death? His Faithfulness weaves Itself through all our days. Will you testify to it? Will you continue adding pages to Your Heritage of Faith? Or will you being by writing the very first page, to bring Him Glory and strength your own faith?

Whatever it is, old or new, "little" or "big," would you share it here? You will honor us and encourage us and help our faith grow stronger.