We believe the following outline is too timely to pass up at this time.

1. The Lord is BEFORE His people

     The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.  Micah 2:13

    And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  John 10:4

2. The Lord is BEHIND His people

    Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Psalms 139:5
(Note: This entire chapter is a wonderful affirmation on the omnipresence of God.)

3. The Lord is ABOVE His people

And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. Deuteronomy 33:12

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.   Psalms 63:7

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalms 91:1

4. The Lord is BENEATH His people

11. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:  12. So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.  Deuteronomy 32: 11 - 12

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.  Isaiah 40:11

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.  Isaiah 46:4

5. The Lord is AROUND His people.

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. Psalms 125:2

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psalms 139:3

6. The Lord is WITH His people.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:23
[NOTE: The underlined portion above is a hyperlink into a terrific website we often use in the Inspirations' Chapel preparation. The fine people who maintain the Just Bible site (http://www.justbible.com) use hyperlinks when verses refer back (or forward) to the same passage used in another scripture. In this case it refers back to the Old Testament usage in Isaiah 7:14. The Just Bible site has no advertising and there are no popups in the website.]

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20

7. The Lord is IN THE MIDST OF His people.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.  Isaiah 12:6

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

   After checking some national Internet message boards, we thought back to the days after September 11, and more recently after the calamitous hurricane, Katrina. The shock, sorrow and anger had barely begun to subside when emails and blogs swept across the Internet asking, "Where was your God when the terrorists attacked? Where was your God when Katrina hit?

    Message boards were filled with scathing denunciations of the "Christian God"  and His followers. No doubt those words have always been whispered in hushed tones away from the earshot of polite conversation, but they would never have been voiced as loudly or as often as has now become commonplace. Thankfully, there were also some excellent rebuttals, and after a time the questions will take their place in the forgotten annals of the internet trash bin.

    Although it saddens us to read such words, the fact that some people think that way should come as no real surprise and should serve as a wake up call.

    Christians have now become the target of outrageous diatribes that a few short years ago would have been unthinkable in a "Christian" country such as the United States. Otherwise rational men now openly question the very existence of God; and for the most part we, as Christians, sit back and remain silent.

    In case that our silence is because we lack a proper response, we prayerfully offer this outline from the very word of God as a beginning point to help us all answer the question, not only for the scoffers, but for ourselves as well. The outline is by no means definitive nor comprehensive, and we encourage you to add to it from your own study of God's precious promises.

Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important.
They don't mean to do harm -- but the harm does not interest them; or they do not see it,
or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.

The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss of present blessings.