As the children (who were still living at home), we posed for this picture. I was a young adult and commuting to the local university and working in town.

Our parents allowed me to use the car once per week to pick up my friends (for a car pool), where we spent full days at Northern~3 x per week.

Of course, parents are a type of stronghold as their children grow and spread their wings. We have experienced that with all four of ours.

There comes a time when we experience the Lord as our stronghold. He shelters and protects us in a way that our parents cannot.

Like David, who wrote this Psalm, we can practice verse 4.

Psalm 37:4[ESV] Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Truly, our delight in God’s ways means having a relationship with our Heavenly Father. This is only possible through His Son and our Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ came through the line of King David. He was the One who made it possible to heal our ancestral wounds (whether wickedness or ruthlessness).

Taking refuge in God means trusting His way for salvation. He makes all things new.

It seems like foolishness and weakness to the world system, but in God’s economy it stands strong forevermore.

At Star Camp (aka Vacation Bible School) last week, we discussed the Revelation 21 vision of Heaven as recorded by the Apostle John.

Each of the children painted a picture on their easel afterward. My rendition of the passage focused on the colors and light described. (I asked AI for an image of each gemstone named in the foundation).

During the story time, I made this statement: “I believe the precious stones and gold in Heaven represent all the lives of the people there. It’s beautiful because the light of God is shining through us.” -Teresa (See Pic 👇)

Psalm 37: 34-40 (ESV)

³⁴ Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.^[a]
36 But he passed away,^[b] and behold, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

³⁷ Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
³⁸ But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰ The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.Read full chapter

1 Corinthians 1:21-25 (ESV)

[21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. [22] For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, [24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Revelation 21:22-24 (ESV)

[22] And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. [23] And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. [24] By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

*photo credit-Calvary Baptist Church directory