Some beautiful holidays.

HOLDING HANDS

I will never forget that day I took my little grandsons hand, he was only four years old, he gripped my hand as I took him to the shop. My heart was breaking inside as I had no idea when I would see this little one and two other grandsons again.

I love the way that hand signifies trust, you are going to take care of them, look after them, protect them, lead them. It felt so good holding his little hand. Somehow even though I had no way of knowing what the future held deep down I had this feeling that it was not going to be an easy path and there was much pain to come. A God given instinct I suppose!

It has been quite a few years now, I long for that little hand to be in mine again. To feel his trust, his love, but alas time goes by quickly and children grow and I will be a bit of a stranger now. Probably not someone he would feel he could trust.

Another child went that day also, a woman perhaps, but still to me my child. She no longer wants to reach out a hand to me and at times it is like a spear piercing my heart. The years are passing and time becomes precious as one gets older. A few olive branches later still no reconciliation. Perhaps there never will be but one cannot give up hope, for without hope we are lost.

Sometimes I cry out to God, ‘Why?’ and try to bend His arm to work in the situation, but we all have free will. I cry to Him of my pain and how awful it is and how He could not understand. It is then He gently reminds me of all the hands that He has held that now reject Him. He reminds me that just as I wait for this child to return so does He, along with many others hands.

Today as you read this if there is a hand you are waiting to hold again, stop now and send up a prayer to the Father who awaits many little hands today.

Under His Wings

UNDER HIS WINGS.

As I stood being prayed for I was aware of someone behind me, yet how could it be someone when they towered over me about eight foot high? Then each side of me I saw something pure white stretching out beside me about 4 foot on each side. I thought at first it was a cloak of pure white huge feathers. Then they wrapped around me and I was totally enfolded by this cloak. But then I realised this was not a cloak, this was feathers, wrapped around me, and within them I was totally safe. They were completely soft and I felt like a baby being swaddled. I knew I was safe within those wings. I was reminded that the Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove and I realised that this beautiful being was the Holy Spirit. I was under the wings of the Lord, I was “IN HIM” the Holy Spirit was engulfing me in Him. Then the Lord spoke to me “Psalm 91”.

PSALM 91

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spending time in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you are my refuge. I trust in You and I am safe”. That is right He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you are perfectly safe; His arms fend off all harm.

You will stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God is your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil cannot get close to you, harm cannot get through the door.

He ordered His angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they will catch you, their job is to keep you from falling. You will walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and bring down your foot upon young lions and serpents upon the path.

“If you hold on to me for dear life“, says God, “I will get you out of any trouble. I will give you the best of care if you will only get to know and trust Me. Call me and I will answer, be at your side in bad times, I will rescue you, then show you what it means to come under my authority. I will give you a long life.

Father x

(NIV and Message mixed)