God2Share

He jumped off the bus and saw him in the distance by our mailbox.

My Dad was waiting for my youngest to get home from school.

As soon as Dan got a glimpse of Pappy, he took off like a shot.

Gratefully, my phone was handy and I was able to capture the moment he ran into his arms.

It was a treasured moment.

I don’t know if something happened in school that day or if it was just the excitement of someone waiting for him.

But whatever the circumstance, my son knew that he had a safe place to land in my father’s arms.

Do you ever feel that sense of wanting just to land safely in the arms of someone who loves you?

Maybe you have had a bad day.  

Maybe there has been pain and heartbreak in your life.

Maybe it is just the comfort of knowing there is someone out there waiting for you who cares.

We have a heavenly Father who cares so deeply for His children.

God waits for us to reach out to Him.

He wants to comfort us on our sad days.

He wants to rejoice with us on our good days.

Our heavenly Father simply wants to be in our presence to let us know how much He cares.

“The LORD waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them” Isaiah 30:18

With all of the changes swirling around us today, I am in desperate need of knowing that I can run into the arms of someone who cares.

Run into His arms today, friends.

He is waiting for you.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

    He is my God, and I trust Him.

 For He will rescue you from every trap

    and protect you from deadly disease.

 He will cover you with His feathers.

    He will shelter you with His wings.

    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

    nor the arrow that flies in the day.

 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,

    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.” Psalm 91 :1-6 NLT

“That’s the boy I met at school today!” exclaimed my son.

Just entering kindergarten, I was excited to see another child Dan could connect with in our neighborhood.

Without thinking, I began yelling and sprinting across the lawn to catch up with this boy and his mother.

And then it happened.

I was suddenly airborne, landing on the hard ground and spraining my ankle.

I had tripped over a metal drainage pipe that I had not seen.

But I was seen….

By the boys kindergarten teacher who just happened to be walking her dog up the street at the same time, bearing witness to my gracefulness.

Good times.

Acting without thinking resulted in a badly sprained ankle this time.

If only I had not acted on impulse.

This is also true when I am not staying close to God.

It is easier to trip and fall.

When my focus is not on Him, I can be thrown off the path of walking in His will.

“In Scripture it says,

“Look! I am placing a stone in Zion.

    It is a chosen and very valuable stone.

    It is the most important stone in the building.

The one who trusts in Him

    will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16)

This stone is very valuable to you who believe. But to people who do not believe,

“The stone the builders did not accept

    has become the most important stone of all.” (Psalm 118:22)

 And,

“It is a stone that causes people to trip.

    It is a rock that makes them fall.” (Isaiah 8:14)

They trip and fall because they do not obey the message. That is also what God planned for them.

“But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give Him praise. God brought you out of darkness into His wonderful light.  Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2: 6-10 NIRV

God gives us His commandments and direction to keep us safe.

When we are outside of His will, it is easier to stumble and fall.

We often react based on our emotions before thinking through to the consequences.

But we are God’s people.

He chose us and desires to be in relationship with us.

And on those days we trip and fall, He is always willing to give us grace until we get on our feet again.

But just like my sprained ankle, there may be some discomfort as we try to get back on the right path.

Friends, take the time to pause, ponder and pray before you step into your day.

It will help you stay focused on His path for your life.

And when you lose your footing, remember His mercies are new everyday.

Praise be!