"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives 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)

Justie was my friend. She was a resident in the nursing home in which I used to work as a personal care assistant. She was a gorgeous person who I greatly admired. Although she was physically frail and despite her on going struggles with Parkinson's disease, she was steadfast in her faith and resolute in here joy. There was a constancy in her that came from her daily feeding in her God. Her mind was littered with scripture and she lived in something of a constant joyfulness.

As I contemplate her circumstances at the time of my knowing her, I am in awe of who she was in the face of great difficulties. In many ways her body was falling apart and some would say her best years behind her. But as I knew her, she was someone who was deeply conscious of her God, someone who though everything was giving way around her, lived with God as her refuge and strength. She used to say to me often; you know what the most repeated command in the Bible is?" And I would always ask (even though she had told me often) no what is it? To which she would say: "Fear Not." There is one "fear not" commanded for everyday of the year in the bible."

"May we know God as our refuge and strength, our ever present help."

Grace and peace from Marcus