My Rock And My Fortress

The last castle Brian, our son Daniel and I saw in Germany was the Burg Meersburg Castle.

 

 

It is the oldest inhabited castle in all of Germany, built around 630.



 

Located on a rocky outcropping, 440 metres above sea level, this castle has a fabulous view of the lower city of Meersburg and Lake Constance.

 

 

Of course, it is not a royal palace, but rather a fortress to protect and shelter people from their enemies.



 

As God's children, our rock and fortress in the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

 

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my saviour;

my God is my rock,

in whom I find protection.

He is my shield,

the power that saves me,

and my place of safety.

Psalm 18:2 (NLT)

 

 

"The Lord is good,

a strong refuge

when trouble comes.

He is close to those

who trust in Him."

Nahum 1:7 (NLT)

 

 

"He is my loving ally

and my fortress,

my tower of safety,

my rescuer.

He is my shield

and I take refuge in Him."

Psalm 144:2 (NLT)

 

 

"This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge,

my place of safety;

He is my God,

and I trust Him."

Psalm 91:2 (NLT)

 

 

"He alone is my rock

and my salvation,

my fortress

where I will not be shaken."

Psalm 62:6 (NLT)

 

 

"God is our refuge and strength,

always ready to help

in times of trouble."

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

 

 

"The Lord is my rock,

my fortress,

and my deliverer."

2 Samuel 22:2 (NLT)

 

 

"For You are my rock,

and my fortress:

For the honour of Your name,

lead me out of this danger."

Psalm 31:3 (NLT)



The Lord Leads Us Beside Cool Waters

Uhluberlingen and Meersburg are two beautiful towns bordering Lake Constance that Brian, our son Daniel and I visited on our last full day in Germany.

 

 

Lake Constance is on the Rhine River on the  northern foot of the Alps.



 

 

It is the third largest lake in central Europe, . . .

 

 

 

 . . . bordering on three European countries: Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

 

 

 

It is also an important drinking water source in southwestern Germany.

 



When we walk with God, we will never be hungry or thirsty, and the searing sun will never reach us for the Lord in His mercy will lead us beside cool waters.



"They will neither hunger or thirst.

The searing sun will not reach them anymore.

For the Lord in His mercy

will lead them;

He will lead them beside

cool waters."

Isaiah 49:10 (NLT)

 

In other words, our walk with God is just a beautiful at the pictures above.



We Must All Appear

In the spring of 1933 Adolf Hitler established the first concentration camp on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory, southeast of a medieval town called Dachau, ten miles from the city of Munich.

 

 

This camp was set up initially for political prisoners and was the model for all the later concentration camps as the "school of violence" for the SS men who commanded it. 

 



It was eventually enlarged to include forced labour, the imprisonment of Jews, homosexuals, Jehovah Witnesses, and other people Hitler didn't fancy, as well as the German and Austrian criminals, and foreign nationals from countries Germany invaded.



 

This camp from hell existed for twelve years.



 

Out of the 200,000 prisoners here, 41,500 were murdered. The rest lived in fear of brutal punishment and terror detention involving standing cells, flogging, pole hangings, and standing at attention for extreme lengths of time.



On April 29, 1945, the American troops finally gave these prisoners their freedom. However, nobody could free them from their horrid memories.

At that time, 30,000 of the prisoners were seriously and critically ill.

After the war, the Dachau Concentration camp then housed the SS soldiers awaiting trial. However, most of them were never prosecuted as many fled the country, or went into hiding. The others who awaited trial escaped punishment because there was insufficient evidence to prosecute them. Much of the evidence was destroyed and the majority of the witnesses were too terrified to testify. Those few who went to prison were only sentenced a few years and then released.

However, the Bible says we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us will receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. In other words, one day justice will be done.

"For we must all appear

before the judgment seat of Christ,

so that each of us

may receive what is due us

for the things done

while in the body,

whether good or bad."

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)



 

Later the Dachau camp held ethnic Germans who were expelled during Hitler's reign and awaiting for resettlement.

 

 

Today, it stands as a memorial site.

In The Morning

One early morning in Germany, Brian, our son Daniel and I decided to hike the trail circulating the shores around the alpine Lake Alpsee which is located near the two castles: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.



 

 

"It is good

to proclaim Your unfailing love

in the morning."

Psalm 92:2a (NLT)

 

 

"Every morning

I will sing for joy

about Your unfailing love."

Psalm 95:16b

 

 

"Every morning

I bring my requests to You

and wait expectantly."

Psalm 5:2b

 

 

"Weeping may last through the night,

but joy comes with the morning."

Psalm 30:5b (NLT)

 

 

"Have you ever

commanded the morning to appear?

Job 38:12a (NLT)

 

 

"Let me hear

of Your unfailing love

in the morning,

for I am trusting You."

Psalm 143:8a (NLT)

 

 

Great is His faithfulness;

His mercies begin afresh

each morning."

Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)

 

 

"Lord, be gracious to us;

we long for You.

Be our strength every morning,

our salvation in times of distress."

Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)

 

 

"I wait for the Lord,

more than watchmen

wait for the morning."

Psalm 130:6a (NIV) 

As Pure As Transparent Glass

Eating outside on the cobbled streets in Europe was fun! There was always lots of activity going on entertain us.

 

 

In Innsbruck there were two people posing as statues on the streets. At first I thought they were statues! until I saw the tin cans in front of them for people to put money i 

 



 

 

We also heard talented musicians play on the streets too.

 

 

The European streets made out of cobblestones were beautiful! But one day we will live in Heaven where the streets in the city are made out of gold as pure as transparent glass. Can you imagine how beautiful those streets will be?

 

"The great street of the city

was of gold,

as pure as transparent glass."

Revelations 21:21b 



Praise Him In The Heights Above

From the city of Innsbruck, Brian, Daniel and I hiked up part of the Nordkette mountain, instead of taking the train, and then hopped on the Nordketterbahn Cable Cars to take us almost to the top.

 

 

At the highest station pictured above, we were 2256 meters above sea level.

 

 

 

Once we reached the top, the scenery of the capital of Tyrol and the surrounding mountain peaks was spectacular!

 

 

 

"Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise Him in the heights above.

Praise Him, all His angels;

praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.

Paris Him, sun and moon;

praise Him, all you shining stars.

Praise Him you highest heavens

and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for at His command they were created,

and He established them for ever and ever.

He issued a decree that will never pass away."

Psalm 148:1-6 (NIV)



We Do It For An Eternal Prize

One day during our two-week stay in Germany, Brian, I, and our son Daniel drove to Innsbruck, Austria.

 

 

 

Innsbruck is the capital city of Tyrol in western Austria.

 

 

 

It is located in a broad valley between the high mountains of Karwendel Alps at the junction of the Wipptal or Sill River.



Innsbruck is world famous for hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. It also hosted the Winter Paralympics in 1984 and 1988, and the Winter Youth Olympics in 2012.



 

 

Olympic athletes are extremely disciplined in their training so they can one day win a gold, silver or bronze medal. It is glorious time in an Olympian's life when he/she finally receives a medal for all of his/her hard work. However, no matter how glorious that may be, that glory will one day fade away. While on the other hand, Christians who run the race and win will receive a glorious prize that will last forever.

 

"All athletes are disciplined

in their training.

They do it to win a prize

that will fade away,

but we do it

for an eternal prize."

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)