The Safest Place in the World

Finding our true security.

by Trey Graham

In the summer of 1994, I visited the safest place in the United States. I can honestly say I stood in the most protected room in this entire nation.

During one of my visits to Washington, D.C., another Army officer, assigned to the White House military office, asked if I would like to experience something that few people have ever seen. Of course, I agreed, and he proceeded to take me to the bomb shelter beneath the White House that would house the President and his family if nuclear attack or civil unrest ever hit the city of Washington.

This Army captain showed me the briefing rooms for the Cabinet members, the housing for the troops that would be assigned to guard our nation's leaders, and even the living quarters for the First Family. I realized at that moment that I was standing in the single most protected spot in the United States, that no other room in America could provide equal safety or protection from harm.

In my experience, then, the safest place in this country is in Washington D.C. But the safest place in this world, the safest place in your world and mine, is wherever the sovereign God of the universe takes us. You can be no more secure, you can build no thicker walls, you can find no greater protection than being in the very center of God's divine will for your life. If God calls you to a place, you can be sure He has gone before you and prepared the way.

Finding security

To a child, the loving arms of a parent provide safety and comfort that can be found in no other. For the newlyweds, a hug from a spouse says "I will be with you always and we will make this work, together." For the Christian, when pains come and plans fail, security is found in the powerful, faithful, loving hands of God.

Imagine . . . for the prophet Daniel, the safest place in the world was in a lion's den. For the Paul, one of the apostles, it was in a prison. For another of Christ's followers, John the Beloved, it was in exile.

For Helen Keller, the safest place in the world was a silent, dark world. Mother Teresa found safety in an Indian slum. For Jesus the Nazarene, the safest place in the world was on a wooden cross between two thieves.

Without God, these places would be hell. With God, these places are the classrooms that teach us character, the courtrooms where we testify of His glory, the churches in which we worship our risen Lord and Savior.

Being where God is

Where is the safest place in the world for you? Tim Cypert, a minister in Rockwall, after recovering from a bone marrow transplant (and only receiving a 30 percent chance of survival), said, "I would rather have cancer and live in the will of God than not have cancer and be out of the will of God."

Wow, that is faith. More faith than most of us will ever know. Cancer, a safe place? You bet. Why? Because God was there.

I don't know where God is going to take you. It may be Washington, D.C., it may be New York City, or it may be Abilene. God may take you to the moon, He may put you in battle or sentence you to prison. Remember, though, wherever He sends you, He is there. And where God is, ultimate safety reigns.

As Salmon Portland Chase said in 1861, "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God or safe except in His defense." In the White House, there are walls and barricades and troops to protect the single most influential person on the planet: the President of the United States. In the safest place in the world, however, you need no walls or bombs or troops; you need only Him.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." God, take me anywhere, as long as You go with me.

Trey Graham is a minister, speaker, and writer in Texas. His e-mail address is treygraham@west-point.org.

http://www.cog7.com/BA/NowWhat/Articles/PersonalStruggles/SafestPlace.html

To You From HIM

As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy. At one point you had to wait, fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair.

Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet.

You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.

Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up once again. And once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!

Your friend,

GOD

PS - Do you have enough time to send this to another person? If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions. Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me," I will be ashamed of you before my Father." Not ashamed Pass this on. . . only if you mean it. Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without him, I am nothing but with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

I am Thankful…

For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes because that means she is at home and not on the streets.

For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me at work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.

For the lady behind me in church that sings off key, because it means that I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive.

And finally…for too much e-mail, because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.

-adapted

Getting to Know You…

Know thyself.

Four friends would get together and play cards. Mr. Fun liked to play, yes, for the fun of it. Somewhat serious about the game, he more liked the idea of getting together with buddies and "yuking it up." Ms. right was concerned with everyone following the rules of the game, keeping it moving ahead and on the level. Mr. Myway was intent at winning the game and often reacted with overly strong emotion. Ms. Easy couldn't care less about the game, winning or losing, and enjoyed hanging out. she would sometimes reveal her hand as she talked. This made Mr. Myway and Ms. Right agitated. Mr. Fun found it comical.

It is thought that there are four basic temperaments: Sanguine (the fun way), Melancholy (the right way), Choleric (my way) and Phlegmatic (the easy way). Each one runs on a continuum, and people normally have characteristics from any or all of the categories. In relationships, opposite temperaments often attract and can enhance, but they also can clash, causing conflict and heartache. Counselors are finding that when people learn about temperaments, a great cosmic light bulb is illuminated. Not every approach and reaction to life can or should be categorized, but understanding our basic make-up and motivations and the way we interact with others can indeed change our lives.

Understanding temperaments can take us from thinking people different and therefore wrong to different but perfectly okay.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? (1 Corinthians 12:17 NASB)

-taken from Coffee Break Devotions: Cappuccino, p. 118-119