My Safe Place

My Safe Place

During this crisis, which has mandated “social distancing” and “sheltering in,” I think on all that I’m grateful for; a good and strong husband, capable and resourceful children, healthy and happy grandchildren, a loving family…all sheltered in safety; secure. But, I’ve also thought about and prayed for the less fortunate…those who even before this crisis were not safe or secure, whether from food insecurity, financial insecurity, physical and mental illness, homelessness or domestic abuse. How much more might they be suffering now? Think about it!

Have you ever been terrified? Have you ever been without provisions? Have you ever experienced hurt? Have you ever felt alone? When it seems like nothing or no one in this world can help…Where do you go? What do you do? Where do you turn? Everyone needs a safe place.

As for me, I learned to reach for God, like a vulnerable little child climbing onto “Papa’s lap.” In my mind, all I hear is His heartbeat. All I feel is the warmth of His embrace soothing my soul…My Safe Place.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” — Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, let us embrace and share our Salvation…which literally means the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction…our SAFE PLACE.

My Safe Place
Fern Walker Jones

I put my head on your chest
And I hear your heart beating
I feel the rhythm
And the cares of my soul start melting

You are my safe place
I rest in your warm embrace
On your lap cradled in your arms
I’m sheltered from all harm

You are My Safe Place
Yes, You are
You are my Safe Place

Why do we look for love in man(kind)
Just to have our hearts broken
God proved His PERFECT LOVE
When he sacrificed His only Son

You are My Safe Place
And I no longer feel disgraced
On the cross you erased sin from me
Your greatest gift of love is life eternally

You are My Safe Place
Lord You are
You are My Safe Place

I take refuge in
The shelter of Your wings
My strong and mighty tower
Praises will I sing

So I have my head on Your chest
And I hear your heart beating
I feel the rhythm
And the cares of my soul ARE melting

You are My Safe Place
Until the day I see Your face
I’m on Your lap cradled in Your arms
Sheltered from ALL harm

Be Still and Know

Be Still and Know

(My thoughts for today)

Given today’s pandemic of COVID-19, I am often led to the Psalms, which is like a healing balm to my soul. Psalms 46:10 reads, “Be still and know that I am God.” As believers, how often do we take the time just to sit, reflect, and truly know that He is God?

From 1918 to 1919 there were three waves of influenza that were part of the global Spanish Flu pandemic killing 50 million worldwide. A century later we are witnessing another pandemic that has many worried, scared, and anxious about the future. What does the scripture tell us about anxiety? In Matthew 6:25, we read, “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

My prayer for today is that we will each take the time to celebrate today. Many have heard the words, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a GIFT which is why we call it THE PRESENT.” Take time today to relish the gift of another day. In these days of social distancing, remember that God wants us to have community. Take the time to call a friend that you have not connected with for so long, enjoy making memories with your families as you ‘shelter in place’, go on a walk and enjoy God’s beauty around us, look through old family photos and reminisce about God’s goodness, and take time to pray and turn your burdens over to the Lord.

My favorite scripture is one that I pray for each day–words that we should remind ourselves each time that are anxious–I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.” May you be reminded today to whom you belong, cast those cares upon Him, and remember to take time to be still and know that HE is God–He’s got the whole world in His hands.