Psalm 46 - God Is Our Fortress 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 " Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. As ordinary as our days may seem, the world we live in is precarious. Each of us is affected by wars and rumors of wars (Matt. 24:6), national catastrophes, and personal crises. The unknowns we live with can threaten to overwhelm our faith and even our very lives. Where can we look for hope and security? "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (Ps. 46:7, 11). God alone is our hope in these troubled times. The aspect of God's "very present help" (Ps. 46:1) describes his readiness and willingness to save (Ps. 145:18; Deut. 4:7). God is our exclusive security when the world we live in falls apart. We all tend to place our trust in things like reliable friends, financial stability, and "sure things." But these temporary comforts can never serve as our sufficient refuge or foundation. The assurance of God's help is our hope even if the mountains crumble into the sea. He is the one who spoke everything into existence (Gen. 1; Ps. 33:6; 104:5-9), and by his word he can disintegrate it (Ps. 46:6). Dear one, do you lack the security of his presence and the confidence of his help when the morning dawns (Ps. 46:5)? To the wind and sea that threatened to capsize his disciples' boat, Jesus issued the rebuke, "Peace! Be still!"(Mark 4:35-41). There is coming a day in the future when Jesus will put an end to the rage of evil in this world, and his rebuke to the nations will stand: "Be still, and know that I am God"(Ps. 46:10). At Jesus' command, wars will cease and he will be exalted in all the earth (Ps. 46:8-10). "The assurance of God's help is our hope even if the mountains crumble into the sea." It is no wonder that Martin Luther was inspired by Psalm 46 to write his famous hymn,"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." God exercises his indomitable power over all things--nature (vv. 1-3), our enemies (vv. 4-7), and the entirety of this violent world (vv. 8-11). Our unchanging God promises his "very present help" to his beloved children. Who is more willing to come to our aid than the God "who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32)? In the unknowns of our tumultuous earthly circumstances, we are assured that God is both mighty to save and steadfast in his love (Ps. 63:3). Anchored in the truth of the gospel, we find our refuge in Christ. Is God your mighty fortress? When the challenges of life arrive, even the most difficult circumstances, will you have assurance that God is still in control? Through the gift of his Word, you can trust in God for all of life's trials. Psalm 33:4-5 says, "The word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord." If you believe that God is sovereign, and that your salvation is assured by faith in the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ, we encourage you to affirm your trust by this prayer: Heavenly Father, I confess that at times my fears about my own life's circumstances get in the way of acknowledging your sovereign power over all of creation. Please forgive me for my sins and help me to place my complete trust in your provision. Thank you for providing your only Son, Jesus, whose atoning death and resurrection has enabled me to be in relationship with you. By your Holy Spirit, help me to live in a way that honors and trusts you in all areas of life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Will the Real King Please Stand Up? From the very beginning, the Bible tells a story of redemption. God made the first man to rule as king over all He created, only to see Adam's reign end before it had barely begun. God knew all this and that's why He sent the One True King, Jesus, to dwell with us and reclaim what Adam had lost, saving mankind from the penalty of sin. Bestselling author Gloria Furman makes this concept come alive for kids in this colorful and creative book comparing Adam, the archetype, with Christ, "the last Adam." Children will learn that while Adam's sin sentenced all of us to death, Jesus's crucifixion and glorious resurrection restored the promise of eternal life for all those who believe in Him. Kids will be reassured that because Jesus is still on the throne, they can trust him whenever they feel sad or scared. There's nothing that Christ their King can't do for them!

This 365-day devotional, written especially for women, includes a year's worth of daily Bible reflections from more than 50 Christian writers and pastors.

Furman gives moms a fresh, biblical perspective on their calling to raise and nurture children, helping them live out God's story of redemption as they offer the message of the gospel to those around them.

Laying a robust biblical foundation and addressing a host of practical issues related to women's ministry in the local church, this book features contributions from a number of prominent Bible teachers.

Offering a rigorous exegesis of 1 Timothy 2:9–15, this classic volume explores Paul’s teaching on women’s roles in the local church. Now includes a new preface, a new conclusion, and new and updated chapters.

Gloria Furman explores the main themes in the book of Ephesians, showing us how the blessings we have received in Christ empower us to walk in a new way rooted in God's love for us in Jesus.

Grocery shopping. Soccer practice. Dirty dishes.

Motherhood is tough, and it often feels like the to-do list just gets longer and longer every day--making it hard to experience true joy in God, our children, and the gospel.

In this encouraging book for frazzled moms, Gloria Furman helps us reorient our vision of motherhood around what the Bible teaches. Showing how to pursue a vibrant relationship with God--even when discouragement sets in and the laundry still needs to be washed--this book will help you treasure Christ more deeply no matter how busy you are.

Filled with wise advice from someone who’s “been there,� this short book encourages pastors’ wives to look to Christ when facing the challenges of ministry, whether it’s late-night counseling sessions, unfair complaints, or unrealistic expectations.

In 25 short meditations, Furman helps women see labor and birth in the framework of the larger biblical narrative, infusing cosmic meaning into their personal experience and directing their focus off of themselves and onto Christ.

This book explores what the Bible’s teaching on men and women looks like in practice and helps readers embrace God’s good design as a path to true joy and lasting fulfillment.

With a clear articulation of the gospel alongside practical examples from ten women, this book supplies role models for learning how to faithfully and effectively share the gospel in any context.

Sometimes life feels a lot like a burden--day-in and day-out its the same chores and tasks, challenges and discouragements, anxieties and responsibilities. Dust bunnies show up on the stairwell, social commitments clutter the calendar, and our families demand daily attention and care. At times, just catching our breath seems like an impossible feat.

So where is God in all of this? Does he care about the way we unload the dishwasher or balance the budget? Do the little things like changing diapers or cooking meals make a difference? And how can we use our spheres of influence for God's glory and our joy?

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working woman splitting time between the office and home, Gloria Furman--writer, pastor's wife, cross-cultural worker, and mom--encourages us to see the reality of God's grace in all of life, especially those areas that often appear to be boring and unimportant. Using personal examples and insightful stories, her richly theological reflections help us experience the gospel's extraordinary power to transform our ordinary lives.