No more doom and gloom

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

If there is one message that rings true in Psalm 23 it is that God is always with us. No matter what trouble comes, fear that emerges, anxious thoughts that grip us, or the deepest, darkest places that attempt to consume our peace, God is with us. The shepherd uses both the rod and the staff to direct us, keep us, and protect us. The staff to guide us. The rod to protect us. Sheep need both - the shepherd knows this very well.

Fix your eyes on the shepherd, not the 'wolf' that comes to steal and destroy. We won't be overtaken by the 'wolf' because the shepherd knows he is there, already has a plan to deal with him, and is ever vigilant to protect us. When our eyes are on him, the 'wolf' is no longer our focus. God is bigger than our 'biggest' issue. Too many times, we embrace the 'issue' instead of our shepherd. The sheep have learned to 'herd close' to the shepherd when they are afraid. Why? They know he cares so greatly for them that he will fend off any attack on their behalf.

Goodness and mercy follow his sheep. That means there is no room for fear or dread. What do the sheep do when threatened by the wolf? They cry out! They alert the shepherd that they feel threatened, that their peace has been disturbed. His immediate response is to acknowledge that he already has things well under control and is alert to the danger. When our eyes are fixed on the wolf, doom and dread, anxiety and restlessness become our constant state of mind and body. When they are fixed on Jesus, goodness and mercy envelop us, giving us deep peace even in the midst of threatening circumstances. Just sayin!

Is God fair?

Do you ever feel 'ashamed' about your understanding of the Word of God? There are indeed times when someone will come out with some 'deep' insight into what God has said, then we simply sit there in a state of 'awe' because we had never seen that truth before in that particular passage. We shouldn't ever feel 'ashamed' that we didn't see the truth like they did - we should revel in the fact God surrounds us with people who can see things we might have missed and that they are willing to share them with us! It is one of the means God uses to actually help us learn his truths.

Lord, you gave us your instructions and told us to always obey them. How I wish I could be more faithful in obeying your laws! Then I would never feel ashamed when I look closely at your commands. The more I understand how fair your laws are, the more sincerely I will praise you. (Psalm 119:4-7)

God gave us his instructions, not so they could sit on a shelf or in a bookcase never being read. He gave them to us as practical tools to keep us away from temptation, safe within the boundaries he sets, and so we'd have the weapons we need when the enemy of our souls tries to convince us we will never be safe or overcome sin. Always obeying these instructions is where we struggle. We understand them to a point, but it could just be we need to understand them a bit better. We won't come to that place of deeper understanding on our own, though. We need the help of the Holy Spirit, teachers of the Word, and even our closest friends to help us 'see' what remains hidden within those pages.

Perhaps we avoid time in the Word of God, choosing to just be 'spoon fed' bits and pieces on a Sunday morning. Maybe we don't want to make the effort to discover what it is God wants to reveal. The more we get into the scripture, the more 'insight' we will develop. Insight is nothing more than discernment - another big word that means we can see an underlying truth. God's plan for us is to give us insight so we will grasp and begin to incorporate that underlying truth within our lives. For example, when he tells us not to covet what our neighbor possesses, he isn't keeping us from good things. He is instructing us to avoid the traps of jealousy, comparisons, and pride. 

His laws are indeed 'fair', even though Satan might want us to think otherwise. This world's philosophies will attempt to tell us there is no 'fairness' in God's 'restrictions', but both his 'restrictions' and his 'allowances' are fair. The frequency at which we expose ourselves to God's truths will determine how well we begin to appreciate both God's allowances and his restrictions. Both are for our safety and blessing. God is always 'fair' - even when he places a 'do not go there' sign clearly in our path. Just sayin!

The shelter of his arms

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path. (Psalm 91:1)

There are not a lot of places where I feel truly 'safe', nor are there many individuals I feel really 'safe' to be my 'real self' around. When I find both in one - I am beyond delighted! We all know what it is like to be around someone we don't feel 'safe' being around, knowing full well they will 'use' what they glean from our interactions together for their gain, with little regard for how we will 'fair' in the deal. There are also places we 'go' that make us feel less than 'safe' - challenging our emotional, physical, or spiritual well-being just by being there. It is good news to me that we can find both a trusted friend and a safe haven of rest in one person - God himself. 

Hidden traps and deadly hazards - does this sound like any relationship you may have been in at one point or another? I think we ALL find our way into one or two of those in our lifetime - really not intending for those relationships to have that much effect on us, but coming to realize they have worn us down to the point of feeling 'used' and sometimes even 'abused'. God doesn't set traps for us - he also doesn't want us to succumb to the deadly hazards this world puts in our way. So, he is ever-vigilant to protect us from those things that will strip us of our strength, drain us of our time, and disconnect us from other healthy relationships he has given us for our well-being.

Outstretched arms that not only protect within their 'surround', but 'fend off' the attacks that come our way. If you have ever walked a trail and been hit squarely in the face by a branch, you will understand the importance of someone blazing the trail ahead of you. They 'hold back' that branch, allowing you to pass by it without making contact with it. Why? The likelihood of us noticing it is slim - we get distracted by the other things on the trail. Life puts many a distraction in our path - fending off the attacks of the things we miss in the process is part of how God protects us each and every day.

I find it absolutely comforting to read and re-read those words, "Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door." When we make him our refuge (our place of safety and security), we can be assure that EVIL won't get to us under his watchful eye. Some may ask if this is true since 'bad things' seem to happen to God's good people, but let me just remind us of one thing - evil exists all around us - but God is above ALL evil. Those things we label as 'bad' aren't always 'bad' when we go through them with him - because he has a way of taking what we label as 'bad' and making 'good' from what our enemy intended for our harm. Just sayin!

I am not hiding

My protection and success come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. (Psalm 62:7 TLB)

Protection is often thought of as the preservation from harm or injury. It comes from the root word 'protectio' in Latin and means "a covering in front". We want God 'out front' in our lives - shielding us from all harm that is attempting to find a means to lay us out. The idea is that of 'guarding' so as to keep safe from invasion or loss. The President of the United States has a 'protection detail' with him wherever he goes. His 'detail' is huge, not only in number, but in the armored vehicles he has at his disposal and the military defense at the ready wherever he goes. The purpose is to keep him safe from any harm that might be planned for him. This allow him to do his job, much like God's protection 'out front' in our lives helps us 'do our job' on this earth. The right 'protection' makes all the difference, doesn't it?

Success speaks of more than just beginning well - it refers to the way something is ended. The 'termination' of the thing is deemed favorable whenever we say it was a 'success', right? The word success comes from the root word for succeed and carries a meaning of thriving, growing, and prospering. With the right 'out front' covering, the ability to thrive is much different than being exposed to the things set against us in this life, isn't it? The one who knows 'success' has accomplished what was intended - the attempt had a positive outcome. The main thing about success is that the desired result is accomplished. As our scripture today points out, with the appropriate covering in place, the ability to see the desired results in life are much better than if we go out there 'exposed' all on our own!

Refuge might be considered to be a hiding place - a place of safety. We only need a place of refuge when danger drives us into that place, right? The root of this word comes from the word meaning to run or flee from. This implies there is danger in what we are escaping - causing us to need a 'hiding place' where we will be safe. I don't live in tornado country, but I have lived in earthquake regions and know every opportunity is taken to instruct people how to find the best place of safety when the ground starts to rumble. You don't run out into the open, you find a sturdy place of safety, such as under a strong table. Why? Things come 'at you' when the ground starts to rumble, maybe not with the force of the tornado's winds, but an earthquake has a damage all its own. Regardless of the 'force' coming against us, we need a place to 'run into' for our safety. Let that be God and you won't ever find your place of refuge faulty! We aren't hiding out - we are sheltering within. Just sayin!

The value of a bib

The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ. 

(2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ERV)

It was Mark Twain who reminded us of the fact, "It is easier to stay out than to get out." It might be helpful to actually use an illustration here. Think of a baby at the high-chair, all ready to eat some mushed up spinach and carrots and spaghetti. He is wearing a bright white t-shirt and his clean little diaper. What is the instinct of most parents just before they sit that plate of colorful food in front of the little guy? It is either to strip the wee one of his white shirt, or to place a bib large enough to cover it! Why? We know the stains that will be inevitable if we don't keep them away from the shirt - easier to keep (or stay) out than get out! The "weapon" against the stain doesn't have to be all that complicated, does it? Both are relatively simple - but unless we avail ourselves of one or the other, we will inevitably be dealing with the problematic stains!

There are far too many times we don't want to take that little extra effort to just "guard against" the things that "get in", but when we don't do that very well, we find the "getting out" is much, much harder than we'd like it to be. Attitudes tolerated that ought to be dismissed quickly are often setting us up for even worse attitudes, and actions, later on down the road. Look again at what Paul says - we don't just give into the things we need to dismiss - we capture them and "make them give up". I liken this to what my brother used to do when I was a little child. He'd tackle me, holding me down, tickling me until I nearly lost my breath from laughing so hard. It didn't take long for me to cry "uncle" and beg for my merciful release. But...how did I get tackled in the first place? I put myself in range! I got in his space - near enough for him to grab me - and sometimes quite deliberately, I might add!

We wonder why we are working so hard to "get out" what got into us, but we ignore the fact we "got into" that predicament because we put ourselves near enough to be drawn in and pinned down! If we'd spend just a little moment of time ahead of time taking that thought captive BEFORE we act upon it, we might find we are doing a little less "stain removal" after the fact! The issue isn't the stubbornness of the stain - it is the stubbornness of the one who allowed the stains to occur in the first place! It took only a couple of occasions of fighting to remove stains on those fashionable and cute little "man shirts" my daughter dressed my grandsons in from infancy to suddenly make her appreciate the value of removing the shirt while they "dined"! We may not learn our lesson the first time, but if we are constantly fighting to remove stains from our lives, I'd have to ask what we aren't understanding about how they get there in the first place?

We may want to "look good", not wanting to wear that "unfashionable" bib of God's protection, but I'd much rather guard against the stains of life than work hard to remove them later on! Just sayin!

Better than anti-virus!

Protect me, God, for the only safety I know is found in the moments I seek You.
2 I told You, Eternal One, “You are my Lord, for the only good I know in this world is found in You alone.”  (Psalm 16:1-2 VOICE)

New product emerge every now and again, designed specifically for the purpose of protecting us from one thing or another.  The motorcyclist manufacturers would like us to believe the best of helmets, toughest of boots, and thickest of leather will protect us from the worst of injury should we take a spill on the motorcycle.  The airbag manufacturers made millions over the use of a simple bag which inflates with the sudden impact of a car colliding with another, all to assist in permanent damage to ones brain.  Cyber companies invent new and ever emerging ways to "protect" us from all the hackers of this world.  Even the best protection today may be outdone by the next generation of that same type of protection in the future.  I am so glad the only true protection which never changes, always remains consistent, and is always present with us is that which God affords with his watchful eye, quick hand, and protective covering!

The only safety we know is found in the moments we actually turn our face toward him. It is hard to find safety when we walk in the opposite direction, isn't it?  In taking a path other than that which he marks out for us, we are in danger of discovering we are ill-prepared for the journey, much less protected.  We are often left quite vulnerable simply because that path isn't the one he would have chosen for us.  Does it mean he will not protect us even when it is not the path he would have chosen?  No, certainly not!  It means we may face a few consequences we really didn't want to deal with, but it doesn't mean he turns his back on us just because we choose a way on our own.

Motorcyclists may wear all that protective gear, but it is almost impossible to avoid injury if one chooses to ride a motorcycle and is involved in an accident. They protected themselves the best they could, but at best, that protection is only going to preserve them from injury at a high level.  The sore muscles and the potential for broken bones still exists.  The cyclist is "out in the open", making his/her injury potential much higher than if they were surrounded by the solid steel frame of an automobile.  Even the automobile won't protect totally. There is just no other protection that affords the same level of protection as that of the Almighty.

God's protection goes way beyond the physical, though.  The protection we can count on is that of being guarded against attack - from without and within - whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.  His protection is what assures us we walk through stuff, avoiding the loss others may experience who walk that same path without his protection.  His protection includes a covering from danger or damages, yes, but it also assures us of the ability to realize the steps to take along the way.  We don't walk alone - we don't survive on our own strength - we don't overcome because we possess all the right tactics.  His protection over our lives is the only real "protective covering" we can count on.  Just sayin!

Cling isn't accidental

Because he clings to Me in love, I will rescue him from harm; I will set him above danger.  Because he has known Me by name, He will call on Me, and I will answer.  I’ll be with him through hard times; I’ll rescue him and grant him honor.  I’ll reward him with many good years on this earth and let him witness My salvation.  (Psalm 91:14-16 VOICE)

These are God's words - his promises to keep us safe, rescue us when we are about to slip into some harmful pursuit, and to be attentive to our voice as we cry out to him in the honesty and integrity of heart willing to be open to him. They are words of commitment to those of commitment.  Nowhere does God say, "If you get it ALL right, I will be there for you."  In fact, these words imply something quite different, for we come upon harm, realize danger, finding ourselves needing to call out for rescue, and even counting on him for the extension of our days because we are not always in the right place, doing the right thing, open to hearing what he says the first time he says it, or aware of just how close we came to taking our last breath at times!

This passage is a summation of trust being placed in God and his joy at taking us under the safety of his wings as we face both things we are well-aware of and those things lurking in the darkness we just will never see. One who clings is "adhered to" so as to not allow any escape, nor allow any penetration of unwanted things inside.  I think of the cling wrap we can buy at the grocer to cover over our foods.  The purpose is to seal in and seal out - keeping food as fresh and useful to us as possible.  I have seen other very creative ideas for the use of these cling wraps, such as the binding up of that which might otherwise become marred as it passes through wherever it is bound.  It is commonly used in packing and moving industries as a means to secure, cover for protection, and keep from excessive movement during transit.

Thinking about the qualities of the cling wrap, I can see how God may tell us to cling to him.  You see, God is reminding us of the importance of clinging to him, so as to seal out that which will adversely affect us.  There are all manner of influences just vying for our attention - to get an inroad into our lives.  God's Spirit isn't magic for us, but when we draw close to him, close enough to be under the shadow of his wing, the Holy Spirit "seals" us.  He marks us out as his and he provides the protection we need to avoid the harmful influences which want that inroad.  A packer or mover may use the clingy sheet of plastic to wrap around the object in order to secure it during transit - keeping it from being marred, jostled so as to allow breakage, etc.  I don't think this is too dissimilar to the way God envelopes us in his arms - keeping us so tightly nestled into the security of his bosom that we don't get "jostled" by all that could possibly shake us up in life.

We may not realize this, but clinging isn't just a one-way thing.  The adherence comes because there is a waiting surface for the substance to cling to.  Cling wrap in the package is just cling wrap coiled up on itself.  Cling wrap over the surface of my potato salad in a serving bowl is transformed into the protective barrier it can be only because the bowl received the "cling" of the wrap.  The two actually come pretty close to being "one".  I think this is a vital image for us as we consider what it is to cling to God in the way he describes in this psalm. We see cling wrap, but we don't see the seal.  We appreciate the seal when we almost spill the substance out onto the floor and it remains securely in the bowl. We may not fully realize the seal we have with God, but when it comes to the point we are counting on that seal to keep us secure, it doesn't fail us!

One further consideration of what it means to truly cling.  Trust is a vague concept to some because we have had it violated more than it has been honored and kept.  It is like we see all relationships as generic cling wrap - not very trustworthy!  I have bought some pretty cheap cling wrap in my days, only to find it does a mediocre job at best of protecting whatever I expected it to cling to.  I pay a little extra now because I have seen the value in the right wrap! We might have placed our trust in things and / or people not so "reliable", leaving us feeling like we didn't want to trust anyone or anything much anymore. 

I encourage us to reconsider that stand, though.  What we might not realize is the idea of the cling wrap depending upon the surface it will be asked to cling to as much as the quality of the wrap itself.  Cling wrap just doesn't cling well to porous surfaces - it might try, but those tiny, uneven places actually allow for air, dust, and the like to "interfere" with the cling.  Sometimes it isn't the fault of the wrap which is to blame, but the surface.  God offers the best "wrap" possible, but we must have an "open surface" in order for the cling to actually make that full connection it so needs to be the absolute protection it is intended to be for us.  God isn't looking for perfection in us, but he is looking for us to make as much of ourselves open to receiving his connection as possible.  The greater the surface which is connected to his "covering", the greater the protection we experience.  It is a matter of opening up to him to trust him - even when we know our surface is a little more uneven or rougher than we might think he can deal with!  His protection is better than cling wrap - it is like bubble wrap, cling wrap and shrink wrap all combined! Just sayin!

Stirred and awakened

The Eternal’s purposes will last to the end of time; the thoughts of His heart will awaken and stir all generations. (Psalm 33:11 VOICE)

When we understand the intended result of something, we are more likely to either move toward it because it is good for us, or we move away from it because we see it won't bring anything good into our lives.  The movement toward or away from something is solely based on what we see as the "purpose" and the "outcome" of the thing.  The desired result may be understood, but us "getting that result" whenever we try to get it may not always work.  In fact, what I have learned from playing some of the video games I have struggled with like those "matching games" is that we try way more than we succeed in life until one day we develop an awareness of what is supposed to happen to help us pass that level.  To be truthful here, sometimes it is just by accident I actually find the key to passing the level I am on!  I don't think God wants me to face life the same way - counting on accidental happenings to get me through though.

God's work is never done when it comes to us.  We were created with everything we need for godly living, but somehow our will enters in and we find ourselves not actually moving toward God, but away from him.  This was never God's purpose in creating us - his purpose was that of closeness and fellowship. Since he knows we have this tendency to move toward what he has not purposed for our lives, he uses the thoughts of his heart to awaken and stir us within - to turn us away from that which will not yield righteous living toward that which will draw us into the shelter of his wings.

There are times I hear mom stirring in her sleep. I listen for a little while, wondering if she is ready to get up - something which concerns me as she ages and her mental faculties sometimes betray her.  She has been "lost in the hallway" sometimes at night - kind of turned around and not able to find her way to the bathroom or back to her bedroom.  So, I listen for her stirring and see that she will be safe in her passage.  I think God does this in our lives - he watches when we stir and ensures we are moving in the right direction which will bring us safely to where we need to be.  When she is stirring, I know she is okay.  It is when she is not stirring that I just wait and watch - listening and observing.  

I think God does a similar thing with us.  He waits and watches for our movement, not because he needs to know we are okay, but because he needs to see that we take the right first steps with safety and security.  As we awaken, our "footing" is not all that steady.  We are a little "wobbly" in our movement.  It takes a little while for our body to catch up with us.  It is at this point we are most susceptible to injury - such as losing our footing, stubbing a toe, or even getting a little turned around.  As we awaken spiritually to things God wants us to move into, God wants to ensure we are taking steps which are well-grounded and secure along the way. 

There is nothing like being awakened and stirred from within.  As we awaken naturally, it is usually because our bodies are rested, or we need something such as a bathroom break.  When we are awakened in any other way than our bodies responding to some internal signal, such as hearing a loud noise which awakens us from a sound sleep, we are startled and shaky in our movements. Our perception is "colored" by the unknown which awakened us.  Our internal bodies weren't really ready to be awakened, but something stirred us and it may not always be a good thing!  God watches over his creation to ensure we are each stirred at the right time, in the right way, with the right stimulation to ensure we have a good footing and are protected in our movement forward. Just sayin!

Fenced in?

To care for something is more than just giving it a little attention now and again. I came home yesterday to find a beautiful husky just sitting on the curb outside my home.  At first I didn't know if she was friendly or going to be kind of stand-offish with me.  After pulling into the garage and seeing she didn't run away, I asked her to come over and to my surprise, she did!  She immediately cowered down, rolled over and let me give her a few good rubs, scratches, and a little ear jostling.  No tags, just a collar.  Someone obviously claimed her as a pet, but were they caring for her all that well?  Not at the moment! She was free to roam and now I had to decide where she needed to roam back to!  It didn't take me long to identify an open gate at a neighbor's home, recall they had two dogs, and then equate the open gate with the escaped dog.  What did take a while was getting them to open the door to actually tell them their dog was roaming the neighborhood!  Once they knew the dog had been out, they immediately went to the gate to see that it was secured.  The truth is pretty similar in some of our lives - we don't really know how much we care for something until it is about lost out from under our noses!

The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always. He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water. He soothes my fears; He makes me whole again, steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name. (Psalm 23:1-3 VOICE)

Thank goodness God isn't like us!  He doesn't wait for one of us to "escape the confines" of the place he thinks we are to actually become concerned with where we are at the moment. In fact, he ensures the boundaries are secure before he ever places us there!  He does observe our cleverness in trying to escape those safety confines and he often reminds us in a gentle manner to remain within those confines.  God knows our whereabouts and our activities at every moment of the day - even when we think he may not be "watching" or really paying enough attention to "care about" whatever it is we are facing.

Mom wants to see me off in the mornings as I make my way into the garage and off to work.  We have a small step down in the garage about three to four feet away from the doorway. It doesn't seem like much, but when you are legally blind even a three to four inch drop-off can be your undoing - especially when your balance is also compromised by age!  I often tell her I will not pull away from the garage until I see she is safely back up on the stoop and near the door itself. Why?  I hate thinking she could be out there all day if she stumbles and cannot get up.  It hasn't happened yet, but there is always that potential she will slightly misjudge the location of that step and down she goes!  God knows where we have the potential for any misstep or misjudged step in life.  He is watchful over us to ensure we aren't getting too close to the edge of what could spell certain disaster, or at least compromised safety for us.  He isn't content to just let us be "on our own" without also providing some level of continual "oversight" for the path we are on.

In the case of the dog escaped from the yard, nothing bad happened because she didn't wander far from the security of her yard.  She did get a little taste of "freedom" though, so she might be tempted to do it again and again. It is kind of like that for us in life - we push the envelope a little and get a little taste of something which is maybe a little different than we expected, but it also doesn't "burn us too badly" when we are outside of those safety confines God has placed, so we want to do it again.  We might want to "push the envelope" a little more and more until we get burned bad enough to stop what it is we are doing.  As with the neighbor's dog, "gates" and "fences" can be breached - God won't keep us from what we are determined to do.  He will not enforce his will over ours. If the neighbor were to force his will over the dog's, he might chain her to a stake driven way into the ground, as well as place her within the confines of the fence and gate.  That would eventually break her will!  God isn't into breaking our will, but he is into teaching us to trust his will!

His will places the boundaries for our safety.  Our will has to decide if we will stay within them.  His will determines the breadth of our "safety zone", but our will has to determine to exercise our choices within that zone if we are to remain in a place of safety.  Our will to choose doesn't cease to exist just because we come under the care of another - we just submit our will to the watchfulness and care of the other!  Just sayin!

At the ready

A recent TV commercial shows a rather largely muscled, foreboding gentleman dressed in a suit standing guard in front of a person's house.  In the commercial, the premise is that nothing gets past this particular security system you can have installed and pay for each month.  The idea of this "body guard" of sorts is kind of effective to make the point - someone is standing watch over your life.  I have never been famous enough to need a body guard, nor have I had enough wealth to support such an expensive "personal protection" service for my home. I have gone into some pretty scary places, unarmed with natural weapon, nor supported by any burly dude big enough to stand up to any attacker who might come my way. I have been awakened to some "creepy" noises and wondered if someone was about to pounce on me in the dark of the night.  I haven't felt the need for another protector in my life because I have the privilege of being protected by the biggest "body guard" there is!  He not only protects my body, but my soul and spirit, as well!  

The Lord is your Protector. The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you. The sun cannot harm you during the day, and the moon cannot harm you at night. The Lord will protect you from every danger. He will protect your soul. The Lord will protect you as you come and go, both now and forever! (Psalm 121:5-8 ERV)

A protector is one who stands in defensive mode in your life - one who is at the ready to provide whatever intervention is necessary to see that your safety is assured.  Whether it is attack, invasion, potential loss, or just plain annoyances which are coming upon you, the Lord stands ready to defend.  Attack is the idea of being "fought against" in a violent manner.  It isn't just a call to give over your jewels and wallet, it is a lunging of full force against you in order to overtake and over-power you.  When we think of being "attacked", it brings to mind the hostilities of aggressive and over-powering behavior.  Invasion carries the idea of "entering into" your life - unwelcomed, often unnoticed, but with the intent to do harm.  We think of germs as "invading" forces which enter into the body and then set up shop to do their destructive work within you as their "host" for their activity.  

To understand personal loss, one must have something they don't want to lose. I often put things away so carefully because they are important documents, treasured items of some sort.  The day comes when I just want to get those out and use them for some purpose - and don't you just want to kick yourself when you have done such a good job "putting them away carefully" that you can't even find them!  To experience loss, one must value something.  For anyone to take what you value indicates they get close enough to you to actually take what you once had.  In other words, to experience loss you must have experienced the possession of something - the greater the value that possession is to you, the harder the loss will be felt whenever someone takes it away.  In thinking about annoyances, they are many and too innumerable to list, but you will likely understand that they are nuisances which you really didn't want to have to deal with, but there they are and now you are faced with the challenges they present.  

God stands as our defender from attack, invasion, loss, and just plain annoying things.  He is on the ready - at the guard - not like the burly guy in the commercial, but as the defender of our souls, spirits, and bodies.  His "impressiveness" isn't his "size", but his authority.  The truth is we can invite things into our lives which we might not like the resulting problems which come by having welcomed them into our lives, but God isn't to blame for the bad stuff which comes when we do.  He still was standing guard - we just didn't let him do his job! We opened the door for the attack, or invited in the thing which is giving us the greatest of problems now.  In essence, we knew he set up a defensive to not allow these things INTO our lives, but we chose to "shut down" his defenses by our rebellion and self-determined behavior.  It is as though we "ducked out" on our body guard and now we find ourselves in a "problematic situation".

When we embrace the authority of God in our lives, we can rest assured we will be upheld by his hand.  When we resist it, we can also be assured he will not leave his post.  He is at the ready to set in order what we allowed to create chaos in our lives once we come to the recognition of the futility of our misguided "judgment calls" which allowed us to "skirt" his authority.  This is called restoration - something we'd need a whole lot less of if we'd just trust his "defense" of our lives a little more!  Just sayin!

Flash Flood Warnings!

To whom do you run when you face troubles?  I remember awful summer storms in the Arizona desert, lightning flashing across the sky, black clouds rolling in around on all sides, and loud rolls of thunder shaking the very panes in the windows.  It wasn't so bad when I was nestled all secure in the safety of my home, mom close at hand.  It was terrifying when I found myself a couple doors down, caught in the sudden down pour and only fence upon fence separating me from that absolute safety of mom's care!  I would remember hearing her calling for me and before long, her arms would come over the fence, lifting me to "safety" in those loving arms of hers.  She'd rush me inside and then all would be well.  You know, God is kind of like my mom - he has big enough arms to reach over obstacles in my path; a loud enough voice to be heard over the cacophony of noise in my world; and a tender, enveloping embrace which makes me feel at peace once I enter into it!

I run to you, God; I run for dear life.  Don’t let me down!  Take me seriously this time!  Get down on my level and listen, and please—no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety. You’re my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.  Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you.  I’ve put my life in your hands.  You won’t drop me, you’ll never let me down.  (Psalm 31:1-5 MSG)

When those summer storms hit, my greatest fears were the tremendous "energy" which seemed to be generated in the midst of them.  The winds were horrendous - gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour sometimes.  The dust billowing in around seemed to almost occlude the visibility.  The tremendous lightning show would take down trees, light up the sky, and put the fear of being fried to a frizzle into almost all of us.  Then there came the down pour of rain, with sudden force and the gully-washers of flash-floods.  Dry washes would fill with muddied waters flowing at tremendous force, making passage across them impossible. To be caught on the opposite side of where you needed to be almost ensured you were riding out the storm right where you were!  

There are times in our lives when the same sudden force and fury of chaotic frenzy comes in upon us in ways we cannot imagine possible.  We face the fear of the moment with almost the same response:  "Daddy - rescue me!"  It might sound like "God I need your help here" when you say it, but it all means the same thing!  As our heavenly Father, he delights in hearing our cries for help and he is quick to reach over those obstacles of life with his big arms, lifting us safely into his embrace!  

As our writer aptly puts it, God "gets down on our level and listens to our needs".  His response is to meet us right where we are, but not to leave us there - he lifts us up to a new level - one which we could not see because of the obstacles in our midst.  He becomes the granite cave we hide within and the high cliff from which we can see above the "storm".  I have flown in airplanes, knowing full-well all manner of snow, wind, rain, hail, etc., was going on below me.  From up above the storm, it doesn't look as ominous, does it?  In fact, it kind of pales in comparison to the vastness of the blue sky spread out on all sides of us!  I think this is what God does for us when we cannot see the vastness of his love and care because of the horror of the storms billowing.  

Most importantly, we can rest in this fact - God never fails to see the storm long before it comes our way.  He prepares for the very help we will need when the winds blow and the noise almost overwhelms us.  To this day, my daughter is scared of thunder and lightning.  It wasn't because I didn't rescue her the way my mom did, but because she just is.  But...she isn't when I am around, or she can call me to just talk, or when she is safely buttoned up in the comfort of her home.  Why?  As long as she is sheltered and she hears the familiar voice, she is safe!  Guess what?  As long as we know we are able to run into his shelter and hear his familiar voice, we will not fear the storm either!  Just sayin!

Cover me!

To take refuge, one must move into what has been provided as "cover".  In the terms of a hunter, they set up a small tent of sorts, creating an illusion of "belonging" in the surroundings.  The illusion is meant to fool those animals who frequent the area, giving them a sense of security, but not alerting them to the intruders in their midst.  God's refuge is unlike that of the hunters - for it is never an illusion, never meant to trick, and does not disguise those who would attempt to intrude upon its security.  Yet his refuge is a place of "cover" for those who avail themselves of it.  Not a place to "duck and cover", but a place of protective covering, free of worry and harassment. 

But you’ll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to you.  Let the party last all night!  Stand guard over our celebration.  You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers, for decking us out in delight. (Psalm 5:11-12 MSG)

Some things we need to know about God's refuge:

- It is a place where we are welcomed with open arms.  God doesn't hold out on us, or hold back on welcoming us in.  If you are like me, you have one of those little peep holes in your front door.  Whenever someone comes to the door, I have the opportunity to "screen" my visitors to see if I want to open the door to them.  This little security device is handy not only to protect me, but to keep me from opening doors to all those people who come around to hock their wares!  I don't think God's door has a peep hole because "screening" those who might seek refuge is just not in keeping with his character.  Those who run to him are received with open arms - welcomed without limit into his presence.  

- It is a place we can go for "cover".  There are times we just need to "hide away" - not so much because we have done something wrong, but because we just need a place to regroup and rest.  It is a place of "rehabilitation" for us when we are worn to a fray.  It is more than a place to "evade" an attack - it is a place to gain strength and wisdom for the upcoming invasion attempt! Too many times, I think we view God's place of refuge as a place to escape to in order to avoid being taken down.  This is definitely one of the meanings of God's refuge, but it is not the only one.  His refuge is a place of "action" as much as it is a place of "rest" - for we gain insight into the counter-attack we need to wage against the weapons formed against us!

- It is a place of celebration.  Now, not many "run for cover" in order to "celebrate" anything!  In fact, when we see ourselves running for cover, it is usually because we are trying to escape something.  We need to reconsider this thought - for it is not us "escaping something", but us "escaping into someone".  We move from a place of handling life on our own into a place of allowing God to envelope us in his tender-graces until we are wise with his wisdom, strong with his strength, and enabled with his ability to stand against all life is sending our way.  That gives us cause to celebrate!

In a more literal sense, "cover" is the counter-attack someone wages in order to take the pressure off of you so you can reach a place of safety.  God's refuge stands open to receive us and he "covers" us with all we need in order to arrive safely in his arms.  God's refuge is a place of both protection and provision.  Run into it and experience all he has awaiting you there.  You won't find yourselves disappointed by his welcome, his provision, or his preparation.  Just sayin!

Getting a perspective on the hazards

If you have ever tripped over what seemed like "nothing but air", you have probably felt pretty silly!  If you would have tripped over a known hazard, such as an uneven crack in a sidewalk, a cord in your path, or even your own shoelace, you'd have felt half as silly.  I used to laugh each time I saw the introduction to the Dick Van Dyke show, when he'd enter the living room, run into the ottoman and roll head-over-heals as he connected with it.  The illusion presented was of him not knowing it was there, but the lack of "reality" of ALWAYS landing on his feet each and every time he did this was absolutely unbelievable!  I am sure it took him a little practice to manage this maneuver.  No matter how good our reflexes might be, we cannot escape a "fall" once in a while!  We might escape the fall the first time, or the second, but eventually our senses become dulled to the constant "tripping hazard" and we will eventually "submit" to the fall.  This is why it is so important for us to actually "watch our steps" - for in this one "precautionary" move, we often can avoid at least the "obvious" hazards.

So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.  (Hebrews 3:12-13 MSG)

I know this may seem a little "elementary", but if we stop long enough to actually explore what tripped us up, we might just find a pattern.  Truth is, we rarely trip once - usually we trip again and again until we get the idea the "hazard" is there.  Our brains "learn" the hazard is there, so much so that even if it were removed, we'd still respond with lifting our feet or maneuvering around the hazard!  The first time we fall, we might just dismiss our trip as a fluke - the second or third time suggests a pattern we might just need to deal with in order to keep from tripping again.  

Hazards are most "dangerous" when they are unrecognized.  If we begin to take apart our passage above, we might just begin to get some insight into the "tripping hazards" and how to avoid them:

- We probably aren't watching our step.  Nothing is avoided if we aren't aware of it.  I saw a prank someone pulled on their wife the other day.  The husband stretched clear plastic wrap right at eye level across a closed doorway, then called his wife into the room.  It was instantaneous - what she could not see caught her directly in the face, causing her to stumble and fall.  Now, some of you are laughing at that one, but others are wondering why the husband would think a prank like this was something he should pull on his wife. Perhaps he should beware of her returning the "favor" with something like plastic wrap stretched tight across the toilet the next time he goes to relieve himself!  Whatever we do, we have to watch our step.  We have no ability to alter course or avoid hazards when we are unaware of their existence. 

- We have to know what might actually present a hazard.  There are things I can have in my environment which are not a hazard for me, but for my nearly blind mom, hunched over in her old age and a little unsteady on her feet, those same things are bad news!  So, in essence, one size does not fit all.  In other words, what might not be an issue for me might present a huge issue for you or the next guy.  The key is in understanding what is a hazard to each of us and then being sensitive to avoid those things.  For example, if you cannot read a love story without getting all down on your present circumstance of being single, then love stories are really a "hazard" for you. Just because another person can read the same thing and not be pulled into the mully-grubs and wallowing in a pity party isn't the point - the point is what the story presents to YOU which may be a think causing you to trip up. The old adage "What's good for the goose is good for the gander" doesn't really apply - the gander's issues might be quite different!

- We need to know the power of the hazard.  They actually "divert" us off-course.  At first, we may just walk around them, or totally avoid going in their direction.  Not a bad idea - at first.  Yet, in reality, the hazard might be in the path we need to be taking - so avoiding it by diverting around it, or going a different direction really may not be the solution.  The best thing to do is to deal with the hazard!  Hazards which divert us off-course are really not hazards, they are detours!  God doesn't want us detoured by "tripping hazards" - he wants to remove them for us so we don't have to deal with the distractions and diversions they cause.

- We need to recognize today as the time to deal with the hazards.  If we have a tendency to think we can deal with it later, we are going to pay for that "avoidance strategy" down the road.  Truthfully, there is no better time than the present to deal with it!  It is in "today" that the hazard first affects us - so we need to learn to deal with it where it exists!  It is good to know that a hazard exists, but it is better to realize that the revelation of that hazard was provided to us today so we could allow it to be dealt with right now in the present moment.  Avoidance strategies don't fix the problems of today - they just magnify them in our tomorrows.

- We need each other to stay on our toes.  As a kid, we used to play this little game of seeing who would "flinch" first when someone pretended to take a swing at them.  We didn't make contact with each other, so don't get the idea we were beating up on each other!  It was a game of reflexes - whoever would respond by flinching was considered to be a little bit of a "weak link". We'd celebrate the one who could see things coming his/her way and then not even flinch, bat an eye, or move at all.  I think we sometimes think this way in our spiritual lives, as well.  We have to develop an "unflinching" stance and somehow we will be celebrated or rewarded.  In reality, God made our reflexes as a means of protection - if something looked like a hazard, we have the reflexive response to avoid it!  Sometimes we put pressure on each other to be "unflinching", but in reality, we need each other to help us realize good reflexes which will help us to flinch when hazards are coming our way - not flinching could actually cause us harm!

- We need a good grip.  Years ago I could bound up and down stairs two at a time and never use the handrails.  Now, I grip tightly, as my step isn't as sure as it used to be and the bad knee isn't as reliable as it once was.  In fact, it has buckled a few times and I have nearly fallen, but the "grip" I had on the rail made all the difference in helping me to stay upright.  I am looking at having the knee replaced in the next couple of weeks, so as I sat speaking with my surgeon about my reluctance to using a walker (not something a 56 year old woman wants to do), he was quite patient as he explained how much more stability it would give until some of the healing had occurred.  I asked if I could just use crutches, but he continued on to explain how "four-points" of contact which framed my body really provided me with much more opportunity to avoid weakening an already weak knee until it could mend fully.  Yep, I need the walker.  So, guess what?  I made a bag for the front of it yesterday and am prepared to be "getting a grip" on that which will provide stability for my healing.  I will eventually convert to the crutches and cane, but for now, my "good grip" will be on the walker.  Some of us need to look at our tendency to want to hold onto only what we think others will see as "cool", when what we need is the "surrounded presence" of what will actually give us the best opportunity to avoid falling!  Just sayin!

Fence me in a little - its okay!

Mending fences - something we don't do much anymore because we live in gated communities complete with their tall brick or block walls.  For most of us with "fences" in our yards, they are erected more for a sense of privacy than as a functional "tool" to assist us with our herds, flocks, or the like.  As I ventured through the back country of Tennessee this last week, something caught my attention about those folks who had fences.  They actually served the purpose of keeping something in and also keeping something out!  The cattle were out to pasture, but within confines.  The horses could run the paddock, but within confines.  This is what fences do, isn't it - they confine something.  Two things occur - the living things inside remain safely in the protective barrier, receiving the care they need, and the things which do not belong stay on the outside of those fences.  Broken down fences don't provide for protection, nor do they provide for care.

In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.  (Ephesians 4:1-3 MSG)

Paul is writing to the Ephesian church and comes to a place of explaining a little about how they should be treating both their own spiritual walk and their relationships with each other.  In this letter, Paul does a great deal to lay out the importance of being "built up" in the faith, and the critical nature of keeping unity in the process - not allowing differences to keep them apart, or to drive a wedge in their relationships.  This is good stuff!  What we don't recognize sometimes about fences is their protective benefits!  Keeping us "INSIDE" the barriers allows us to focus on each other, taking care of each other's needs, and then ensures us access to the stuff we need to grow strong and healthy.

As I observed the cows in the pasture, safe within the fenced green meadow, I observed them doing some things you don't get to see too often when you are a city girl.  I observed them caring for the young.  The little ones were able to frolic freely, but they were under the observant eyes of the "moms" in the pasture.  This is probably quite an important process in their development because the ability to learn comes in exploration - but it is under watchful eyes!  I think we might do well to take note of this "practice" as we consider how it is we best grow.  We are given a little space, still safe within the confines of the fence, but also under the watchful eyes of loving and caring authority.  All momma cow had to do was let out a little "moo" and the calves came immediately to her side.  Good reminder for us - even within the boundaries there are times when we need to heed the warnings of those God places there alongside.

Back to those fences - they are as varied as can be as you move from one farm to another.  Some used barbed wire and fence posts, others the traditional split-rail fencing, and still others the more modern and painted wooden rail fencing.  Most were natural in color, some painted bright white, gleaming brightly against the lush green of the meadows.  The more "natural" ones, like the split rail or the barbed wire, blended into the environment and were not as "prominent" in your field of view.  The brightly painted ones let you know without question what the boundaries were, whereas the barbed wire might actually give me a little prick before I realized how close I was to it.  

You know, if we think about it, there are different fences at different times in our lives, aren't there?  Sometimes the fences are easily recognized, at others they are cleverly concealed in the landscape around us.  Either way, the serve the same purpose.  Now, what does all this have to do with Paul's letter to the Ephesians (or to us)?  Paul gives three words of "commission" to the members of the church:  1) Get up and get moving; 2) Meet each other's needs; and 3) Be attentive to the "broken" places in your relationships.  Most of the relationships we have been given are like "fencing" material in our lives.  The good ones help to build a wall of protection - giving us a safe-zone to be ourselves within the confines of the safety of those relationships.  The broken-down ones afford opportunity for us to look elsewhere for our protection and security, but wandering may present some unnecessary obstacles to our safety!

Get up and get moving - the first commission.  Even the cows within the pasture fence moved - they had places to be and other cows to see.  There were fresh clover patches to explore and wildflowers galore.  They'd miss it all if they just looked at the fence and said, "What's the use?"  To put it mildly, there are some of us who tend to see a fence as confining, so we don't even explore what is "within" the fence!  Don't get me wrong - the fence is not the problem - it is the way we view the fence that is the problem!  Move where you are - begin to see the possibilities of where you are at this moment.  The fenced in area of your life is really filled with potential, but you must get up and move if you are to explore the vastness of its "confines".

Meet each other's needs - the second commission.  As the cows began to nudge each other along, they tended to go toward the same general area of the pasture.  Huge, wide open spaces awaited them at the beginning of each day, but someone took the lead.  The others followed, because they trusted the lead.  I think we all need to be leaders at times.  It wasn't that calves who did the leading, though.  So, this speaks to us of the mature helping those less mature to make the right choices in life.  I think this is paramount to our safe growth as a family of believers.  Indeed, as the day went on, the ones who took the first steps to move the herd along may have changed a little.  It really doesn't matter who takes us to the green fields of clover or the pools of refreshing water at the end of the hot day.  It matters that we lead when called to lead, follow when it is clear we are to follow, and to remember we are to look out for each other.

Being attentive to the broken-down places in our lives is a little trickier.  Paul calls us for to be alert at noticing difference and then setting out quickly to mend the fences.  I think this brings us to the important point of constantly monitoring the condition of our relationships.  Broken-down fences need mending - and quickly.  If you are a rancher, you probably understand this better than I do, but it appeared to me those farmers are attentive to their fence-lines!  Not so much to make the property look nice, but to ensure those under their watchful eye were cared for well.  The fences were mended quickly.  We'd do well to consider the times when we observe the fragility of our "fences" in relationships and then focus on "building up" those fragile places so the work of "mending the fence" doesn't grow into some insurmountable project!  Just sayin!

Bubble-wrap me, God!

I saw a post by someone on Facebook this morning.  The statement was simple, but definitely worth the "repost":  "I know ONE person who will never give up on me . . . GOD!"  There are always going to be times when we find ourselves thinking everyone has given up on us, or that we want to give up on everyone else!  When we feel like giving up, we are simply at the end of our resources, aren't we?  We are exhausted by the fight, worn down by the demands, or simply frustrated with the seemingly impossible odds.  David reminds us there are more "options" than to give up:

Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs.  Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice.  Our Lord, you bless those who live right, and you shield them with your kindness.  (Psalm 5:11-12 CEV)

First, and foremost, we need to "run to God" when we are in the spot of feeling like it is time to give up.  Whether we need "bolstering" for the continued battle, or just need to finally put down what we have been holding so tightly to, God's arms are the RIGHT place to be.  To run into the arms of God for "protection" is the SAFEST place to be.  Think about it a little - - - when we are facing insurmountable odds, don't we want someone to protect us from the very thing we see as insurmountable?  When we are holding onto stuff we have been instructed to put down, don't we need something to "fill the space" where this "stuff" has been stored?

David tells us to run to Jesus - for protection.  I think of all kinds of "protective" things I have in my life.  I have a silicone sleeve on my smartphone - not because it looks good, but because I may drop it!  I have car insurance - not because I like supporting the insurance company, but because I don't drive these streets alone!  I wear shoes each day, not because I enjoy having my tootsies enclosed in leather, but because the Arizona sun makes the sidewalk hot enough to cook an egg!  Protection is the preservation from injury or harm.  Some of the things we have / use for protection are to protect us from injury - others are to protect us from harm.  Injury suggests something we might have happen to us because of how we respond to a situation or in a particular circumstance.  Harm is something which might catch us unaware - like a tornado out of nowhere.

David says we will experience something of encouragement and uplifting when we run to God for protection.  When faced with harm - run to him.  When needing to avoid injury - run to him.  What we often find ourselves doing is running to others - not sure why this is, but it is a fact.  We run to what we find comfort in rather than running to the one who provides a "covering" for us.  The word "protection" comes from the Latin protectionem - a covering over.  Take this a step further, and you will find the root word protegere which suggests placing a cover in front.  God's protection is not a hiding place - but a place of shielded covering.  It is a place where we can take refuge - still seeing the battle clearly, but being out of the line of fire.

I stated earlier, God's arms are the RIGHT and SAFEST place to be.  Shielded covering makes them the safest place to be.  Uplifting encouragement makes them the right place!  As I am writing this, I am listening to the words of a song which simply say, "Let faith arise!"  In the arms of Jesus, we find our faith "on the rise".  We have a chance to "refill".  It is in his arms we pour out our hearts, share our fears, and find the faithfulness of God in managing the disasters of our lives.  

There are other forms of "protection" we might find ourselves using in life.  Things like words to "protect" us from being found out.  We use words to mask where we really are emotionally, spiritually, or physically.  Ever had anyone ask you, "How are you?" and found yourself answering, "Fine, thank you, and you?"  It is likely you are asked this each day, by multiple people!  How many times are you honest?  Probably not many!  In fact, if someone ever stopped me long enough when I asked this of them to actually "tell" me how they really were, I'd be so caught off-guard!  

We use projects to occupy our time and attention, so we won't have to face the hard reality of the real issues we are facing - things like broken relationships, feelings of loneliness, or despair.  We "protect" ourselves by insulating ourselves within a huge "wall" of busy-ness.  

The problem with all of our "shields" of protection - they "mask", but they don't really "shield" us from harm or injury.  Only the arms of Jesus are capable of truly "shielding" us.   Just sayin....