HOPE, Angels Watching Over Us 10-30-13

When my children were babies, I would sing them to sleep with several songs. One of my favorite songs back then is being sung a lot in my home again these days. I'm not even sure where I learned it. But, here's how I sing it:

All night, all day, angels watching over me my Lord, 

All night, all day, angels watching over me. 

Now I lay me down to sleep,

Angels watching over me, my Lord.

Pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Angels watching over me. 

All night, all day, angels watching over me my Lord.

All night, all day, angels watching over me.

If I should die before I wake,

Angels watching over me, my Lord.

Pray the Lord my soul to take,

Angels watching over me.

All night, all day, angels watching over me my Lord.

All night, all day, angels watching over me.

Those are comforting words - knowing that the Lord's angels are watching over us around the clock.

Our first child was a girl - whom, at some point, I began calling Angel. She's almost 24 now & I can still be heard calling her Angel from time to time. Over the years, I have given her a few angel figurines & gotten a few for myself. I'm always reminded of the promises of God when I see angels. They are with us, watching over us, wherever we go!!

"He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go." Psalm 91:11 NCV

And, I am so touched by the love of the Father for children:

“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” Matthew 18:10 NLT

I believe that God has angels watching over each of us. The Bible tells of how they protect us, encourage us, guide us... all at the direction of God.

When I think of the day I'll be a part of the celebration in heaven, my heart leaps with joy...

"Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:11-12 NIV

Linking October 2013 with The Nesting Place

 for the 31-day Challenge

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

Pistol Packing Mama - Beware!

And... they say that living in the country is sedate & boring!  Well, not when there's a brutal murder a mile down the road in the wee hours of a Saturday & the murderer is still afoot weeks (yes, I mean WEEKS) later!  When the conversation with your walking friend along country roads, fields & woods is interrupted by the sound of a low-flying helicopter buzzing over your head, life out here isn't boring.  When on another day you & a different walking partner glance over your shoulders to see three 4-wheelers slowly approaching while combing every inch the ditches along your walking road, it's not boring.  As a matter of fact, it's a little unsettling!

My friends & I have joked about running into the corn in the opposite direction - if someone walks out of the woods toward us. We've begun wondering actually whose DNA is on those discarded water bottles (shame on litterers - another blog) that we pass along the roadside. One friend is glad she brings her Akita along. Another friend has begun carrying pocket mace. My city-friends are telling me to be careful... to be safe.   

In a little sleepy town like this, how can he still be missing!?! Even America's Most Wanted has gotten in on the search.  

I've had several friends tell me that I need to get a gun to take along with me. And, I'm not really a "gun person." However, when I was in 2nd grade, my best friend's father made her a toy gun in his wood shop. She was a true "country girl". We had decided that her older brothers (19 & 21) had guns. Why shouldn't we?!?!  Hence, her father supplied us each with a "piece" to protect her family's farm from the notorious LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS that are so prevalent at the foot of the North Carolina mountains. (Ha!)

That gun has been going along with me on my walks for over 20 days now!  I guess you could say that I am a pistol packing mama.  Carrying a gun like that adds a whole new meaning to the term "pistol whipped."  

Do I put my hope of protection & safety in my neighbor's Akita, in my other friend's pepper spray, in the gun which slayed countless "scarey sounds" in those North Carolina woods many, many years ago?  

No!  I put my hope of protection & safety in something far greater... the One who hung the stars... the One who lovingly created me inside my mother's womb... the One who lovingly created the man who has eluded the authorities & needs a Savior now more than ever.  

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

Psalm 20:7 NIV

"We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us.

We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack

and the left hand for defense." 

2 Corinthians 6:7 NLT

I am not oblivious to the potential dangers around. I will proceed with caution as I am out & about.  I won't be careless.  But, I will trust in the Almighty God for protection from our "local fugitive" & so many other things in the world over which I have no control.

UPDATE:  Still looking for him... 5 weeks later...

As A Child... I Come!

Throw cares away & come to Him as a child

A scripture caught my eye today... "You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive salvation that comes by trusting Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:15

The first words "you have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood" really grabbed my attention. I was born into the home of parents serving in full-time Christian ministry. I was a "PK" - a preacher's kid. I was taught the Word from childhood through my entire lifetime at home. 

As I entered young adulthood, did I remain faithful to what I'd been taught? Unfortunately… NO. I too frequently exercised my "free will" to question all the wonderful things that I had learned & seen lived out in my home as I was growing up. God allows that for all of us. We are given the choice to CHOOSE what we want to do. Often lessons are learned in the process. Many of our choices come with consequences - regardless of the lesson learned. 

I've returned to walking daily with God & am so blessed to be in His loving care. However, some of the consequences of past choices can be seen & felt in my life from time to time even now. "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." is told in Mark 10:15. I'm so glad that God suggests for us to have "child-like faith". Sometimes I just need that. Sometimes I just need to let go of past hurts & foolish decisions... and run to Him as a child would! I can come to Him freely, as a little child with no history of rebellion. 

And TODAY, I come to Him as a child. 

"The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and He saved me." Psalm 116:6 NLT