WORD POWER...katapheugo

Now here's a word I bet you never heard of ... KATAPHEUGO. It is the greek lexicon word meaning "refuge".

Katapheugo (kat-af-yoo'-go) (verb)

DEFINITION: to flee away, flee for refuge

When I was a child, I lived in a community where there were alot of Hmong refugee's. Whenever I heard the word "refuge" I automatically thought of this part of town where most of these refugee's lived.

It wasn't until later that I realized that the word refuge meant safety. We all seek to have a feeling of safety...

• safe from danger
• safe from our enemies
• safe in times of trouble

A documentary about Jimmy Stewart, the actor revealed an amazing story of the "net of safety" that he found. It was the year 1941, World War II and Jimmy Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps and prepared to go overseas. Stewart's father choked up when he tried to say farewell to his son, so he wrote Jimmy a note. After being shipped out, Jimmy read the words that his father had not been able to say outloud:

My dear Jim boy,

"Soon after you read this, you will be on your way to the worst sort of danger. Jim, I'm banking on the enclosed copy of the 91st Psalm. The thing that takes the place of fear and worry is the promise of these words. I am staking my faith in them. I can say no more. I only continue to pray. Goodbye, my dear. God bless you and keep you. I love you more than I can tell you."

Dad

As you know, Jimmy Stewart returned home safely. A decorated war hero, he was unharmed even though his record included 20 combat missions. During the heat of battle, Stewart is said to have leaned on the words of his tattered copy of Psalm 91.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;

my God, in Him I will trust." - PSALM 91:2

No matter what battle you may face today, lean on Him and trust in His protection. For God is our refuge or katapheugo. And that is a Word that you can bank on!

NOW THAT IS A WORD PACKED WITH REFUGE!