Inside daddy's jacket

     Georgia has a favorite thing that she does with her Daddy. First off, when she sees his car pull in the drive after work she squeals like crazy, pounds on the window and then runs to the door so that she can jump into his arms as soon as that door is open even a crack. They have such a sweet connection and I cannot get enough of watching them together. Her hands down favorite thing right now is climbing up on Doug's lap and tucking her little arms and legs all the way around him, inside of his jacket and then saying "zip! zip!" Once zipped up, against his chest in his jacket, she looks intently into his eyes and then lays her head on his chest and says, "Ohhhh...." He then talks with her and tells her how much he loves her and they snuggle. Seeing them like this gets me every time.
    You see, she has done this from when she first came home. Our little girl, still sick and so very weak, scared of so much (and rightly so) of things happening around her, has always sought of the safety of being as close to her Daddy as she possibly could get...tucked right inside of his jacket. That sigh that she makes and the look on her face tell so vividly that, at that very moment, all is right in her world.
     Life can be crazy around here and I can get overwhelmed with so many worries....it can feel like things are just swirling around. I get heavy hearted for so many things happening in our world...147 million orphans is just not ok...so dying for lack of clean water is also appauling...some of the trials of those that I love that I cannot change, so many trials in our own life...so many things to cause worry, heartbreak and fear. And within it all...the Lord keeps whispering to me about Georgia in Doug's jacket.
    In this life we are promised trials, we are promised persecution...when following Jesus, it is not supposed to be easy. I would even venture to say that it SHOULD be very difficult if we are truly walking the way Jesus did. Loving those who are difficult, letting go of things that we "deserve" in the world's eyes, choosing to serve rather than be served...those are not easy things. Then add in "normal" everyday life stress: parenting, marriage, finances, jobs, health issues (in our case 3 different therapists a week each with a mile long list of things for us to do with Georgia), family issues...and the list goes on. With all of this junk, it is easy to get paralyzed. I have to admit that I also can tend to see others at church or read blogs of other moms and get overwhelmed by guilt because they seem to have it all together. The end result? One stressed out mama :)
       But you see, I am learning that there is a better way. That we truly are supposed to be "more than overcomers". How does that happen? You have probably guessed it long before I figured it out...inside MY Daddy's jacket. Hebrews 4:14-16 says this:

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
  
     More and more the world seems to be getting more stressful. It can be a lonely place for all of us. But it does not have to be! The verse above is a reminder that Jesus has walked this path. He has felt this fear, this pressure, this deep weariness. One interpretation that I have heard of this verse is that we can, as little children throw open the door of the throne room and run full-tilt, jumping into the lap of our Daddy King. He wants us there, longs for us to be there and delights in our arms, weak with stress and trials to wrap around Him.
      Psalm 34:4-10 says:

"I sought the LORD, and he answered me;



he delivered me from all my fears.


Those who look to him are radiant;


their faces are never covered with shame.


This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;


he saved him out of all his troubles.


 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,


and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;


blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his saints,


for those who fear him lack nothing.


The lions may grow weak and hungry,


but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."

   Did you read that? Those that seek the Lord are RADIANT..they LACK NOTHING...they are NEVER COVERED WITH SHAME...the angels encamp around them...they have a refuge...they lack no good thing...they have a refuge! More and more as life seems to be stressful around me, I find the Lord asking me to come and be still with Him. Not to reading devotions or a certain amount of Scripture (although those are vital things too), but along with that, just to be still. To lean in and hear His voice, to stop and recognize His presence around me, to let Him  reorganize what is true and right and noble...to be taught. And you know what happens? Those things around me may not change but I do! When Georgia is nestled up in Doug's jacket, she sees, feels, and hears him...she knows him and that he is there.

When I stop and am still, I can fix my eyes on my Father, hear His voice and see things as they really are (and where I should and should not act) and you know what...the worries can find their true spot. I can see what is from God and what Satan has been sneaking in, and I can take care of it (more for another post soon)! I walk away from that time knowing that it is not what I do but who my Daddy King is that matters.
    Life is crazy and seems to be getting tougher...do you know this God? Do you have this shelter? Do you want it? If you want to know more about Jesus and the comfort and power that He has? Email me! I love to chat!!!!!! shannon_miller72@yahoo.com