Protected…

Protected…

I sit in the cool air, planning my day, watching the world come alive, I am immediately struck with a word from God.

First, let me back up and explain. Now if you know me, my stories are detailed and long. I say “To make a long story short”, but that never happens with me. I feel details are important. If you read the Bible, God does too. My husband will often look at the cat, when I’m telling a story, and commiserate that they have lost interest at a point in the story telling. I laugh because he knows me and I know him.

Back to my story, I start listing the things I have to do today to my husband. The yard needs mowed. I have laundry to wash, dry, and put away. I need to go pay bills at my mother-in-laws. I have homework for my new job. I need to complete the School Health Index before I can complete our school ArApp. I need to work on the budget. I have some cooking to do. And yes, there is a ball game or two that I’d love to have on in the background. Bible Lesson for the class tomorrow needs completed. On and on and on. Not to mention, another heat advisory today. But as I’m looking around, the still small voice speaks. The bush in front of me.

At first, I heard the words “closed off” as I looked at the flowers closed tightly from the night. They will open in the cool morning and then close at night. I grab my phone. You see, I wait to blog until God directs. There is meaning and purpose in waiting on God. Then I heard this word and my eyes misted and I knew. “Protected”. Just as the precious heart of the flower is protected by the petals that surround it. Our heart is protected and should be protected. Just as God provides for every detail of the flower to sustain it, he provides for us, me. Matthew 6:26: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

I know many times in my life, God has had to remind me. Sometimes, more than He should have to. As much as I hate to admit, He reminds me through small things that I am protected. He will provide for me. He loves me. I think of the flower and Solomon. I think of those who are sick and hurting. His hand of protection is upon them. I think of my friend that is struggling, He still holds her in His hands. I think of the people in my life whose family members have cancer, His hand of protection is on them. Oh, a nonChristian would not understand that protection, but I see it. I see the flower and I know He will never forsake me. He will never let me go. That is what I see in this shriveled flower among the tall grass that needs mowed. I see and hear Him saying, I will and am protecting and providing for you. I love you, my child, my daughter. Psalm 3:3: "But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."