Just Be Held

A few mornings ago I decided to turn on the music instead of watching the news.  The news is always full of bad stories and I just wanted to worship.  I have an Amazon Fire box and so I sorted thru and found a channel with Christian music.  I was singing, packing my lunch, making breakfast and just worshiping the Lord as I readied for my day, when this song came on.  I've heard it many times but the cool thing about this app is it prints the words on the screen.  It came to the above verse and I just stopped in my tracks and tears started falling down my face.

You see, I've been in some storms this past year.  My heart has been downcast and I've wondered where God has been in it all.  I have wondered if he loves me as I've been told He does.  Its easy to wonder when you feel completely surrounded by a storm and you can't feel his presence.  The words of this song reminded me I need to take my eyes off of the storm and place them on the cross.

The Cross.  The one thing that we as Christians probably take for granted more often than we want to admit.  We know what Jesus did for us.  We are thankful.  But this past Sunday our pastor reminded us of the horrific nature of the cross.  What Jesus went thru for US.  The flogging, the beating, the thorns piercing his head, the mocking, the spit in his face, the humility.  He walked a road to a hill, carrying a cross that was meant for me.  It was meant for you.  It was brutal by nature and we live our lives taking for granted what He did. 

It humbled me. 

It made me cry.

It broke my heart.  

It gave me hope.

It showed me how much He loves me.

It opened my eyes to the fact that I need to quit looking at my storms and look at the cross.

Does He really love me?

"But if your eyes are on the cross, you'll know I always have and I always will..."

We live in a troubling time, and so often we worry about so many things - bills, family dynamics, job, government, sickness and disease.  Just be held.  What is Jesus saying in this song?  

Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held

Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you'll find Me
And where you are, I'll hold your heart
I'll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who won't let go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
(Stop holding on and just be held)
Just be held, just be held
Just be held, just be held

Not a tear is wasted, I'm painting beauty with the ashes.  What a beautiful reminder that nothing is lost in our suffering.  God is using EVERYTHING for His purpose in our life.  We may not understand what we are going thru.  We may question why He seems to make us take the long route to our destination.  The Israelite's had to take the long way around to the promised land.  Why?  Because they weren't ready for the fight that they may have encountered if they went the shorter distance.  Sometimes God protects us from things we don't even realize is ahead of us by keeping us where we are.  

So, just be held.  Let God hold you in the storm.  Let God shelter you and never forget He has not moved from you.  If you feel lost and alone, seek Him and you will find Him.  He says in his word if you seek me with all your heart you will find me.

Jeremiah 29:13  "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart".

So, today, just be held.

Cherish the Moments...

I had a very vivid dream last night.  My grandparents on my moms side are both passed away.  In my dream they walked into my office while I was working.  At the moment I was surprised but not too stunned to see them.  They came to visit.  As I tried to get away to spend time with them it seemed the busier I got.  I was anxious to leave, but people kept coming in and wanting help and asking me questions - they were distracting me from being with the 2 people I most wanted to be with.

As I was finally able to leave, they walked ahead of me out the door, across the street, into a crowd.  I tried to keep up.  Its as if they knew where they were going and they trusted I would follow.  I turned a corned and end they were gone. I panicked.  I asked a lady if she had seen them.

      "They are old and I can't find them!  They were just here!" 

I ran around frantically trying to locate them, but I couldn't.  They were gone.  I was devastated.

I woke up thinking about this and God showed me that is very much what happens in our lives.  We get busy, we get distracted, and the people who are most precious to us move ahead and in a moment, everything changes.  They become sick and die.  They age before our eyes and we take them for granted, and then they are gone.  And we stand around and say "They were just here!".

I wish we could all just appreciate who we have in our lives RIGHT NOW....I am not guaranteed tomorrow and neither are you.  In a moment, everything could change.  

In my dream I went back to my office.  I was upset and crying.  More people had come and the office was packed full of people wanting help and no one was helping them.  I had multiple secretaries around me and no one was doing anything!!  I was anxious and started crying.  I missed my Grandparents and I was brokenhearted that I had lost them.  I turned and saw a dear friend from high school walk in the door and straight to me.  He wanted to know why I was crying.  I quickly wiped my tears and said "I can't talk now, I have to help all of these people.  Can you wait for a bit?"

He said he couldn't wait and so I lost that moment with him.  He had to leave.  He was gone.  

Again, God showed me that sometimes we are given JUST A MOMENT to connect with someone.  That connection is Him, reaching out to us thru others that He uses.  His hands and feet.  I lost that moment because I was too busy.  In a moment, everything changes. 

 I know my grandparents knew how much I loved them, because I showed them and told them often.  My friend probably doesn't know how much I love him because I have failed to tell him.  How many people in your life have you taken for granted, trusting that you have time to say how much you care?  We are all one moment away from a debilitating disease, from an accident that can take us from this earth.  Anything can happen in just a moment.  

So, why don't we make a point starting today to let those we care about and love know how much we love them?  Why don't we make that phone call, send that text, have that cup of coffee?  Is what is keeping you so busy, or the anger you hold keeping you from smiling at them and forgiving them, the disappointment you hold because of something they said or did - is it greater than letting it go and loving them today?  

We aren't promised tomorrow.  

Everything can change in a moment.

What are you going to do with your moments today?