“Benjamin: “God’s beloved; God’s permanent residence. Encircled by God all day long, within whom God is at home.” Deuteronomy 33:12
NKJV: “The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders.”
Oh, I SO want this to be my very own scripture! At my funeral, I want people to say that my life was God’s permanent residence…that I lived safely in Him so that He could live safely in me.
And how cool is the part about “dwelling between His shoulders”? A couple of years ago, we went to Disneyland and in the process of standing in lines for rides and lines for food and lines for more lines, Josiah got tired and asked Steve to carry him. And here’s a weird thing: that didn’t make Steve mad and it didn’t make Josiah feel like a failure. They apparently have a deal: Steve’s the dad and Joe’s the kid and neither expects anything other than that.
God and I have the same exact deal.
He’s the dad and I’m the kid and sometimes I’m going to run from day to day with energy and excitement. I’ll feel strong and unstoppable as I forge into unknown territory with courage and confidence to spare. But on other days, I might get weak and confused and not know exactly which direction to go. I may wonder why He ever trusted me in a world as large and looming as Disneyland in the first place. And in those moments, I will ask for help and He will do what good Dads do: He’ll pick me up, put me on His shoulders and say, “Here, Bo. How about you watch the parade from up here?”
I’m in a season like that right now. And by right now, I mean RIGHT NOW. Even facing Monday on my own two feet looks unlikely. I guess I could try. I could fix my attitude, adjust my focus, scrunch up my courage and tunnel through. But I don’t think that’s how I’m supposed to approach this week. I really think that – at least for this week – I’m supposed to take a seat on His shoulders and let Him do the walking while I do the trusting. Trust isn’t my strong suit, so I hope I do good…I’ll let you know.
Determined to enjoy the view,
Bo
P.S. Thanks so much to those of you who prayed me through The Great Sickness so I could preach 4 messages this weekend. I’m blessed to be a part of the best Family in the whole world. And to the millions (okay, hundreds) who have checked out the Great Dates page…I hope you find a romantic little spot to call your own.
I love you. That’s all. 🙂
Awww…me too, Katie! I think that the mutual admiration helps our working relationship a great deal. And I’m certain it will help when you read all your emails from me this morning. 🙂 Such a busy week!
Bo, I love your blog! It is just like your messages…spoken just in your voice. Every message you give strikes such a chord in me that is usually takes a couple of days of chewing and digesting before I am done. Thank you and thank God for your gifts! and Praise God that the plague is behind you.
Have a blessed week!
So, I’m sure I could just tell you this in person, but leaving a comment I know others will see is kinda like bragging.;) Hearing your message this weekend and reading this post has proved to me what I’ve long suspected : I’d be nothing without my parents. You are loving and supportive and not only tell me what I need to hear, then you help me deal with it. Dad is still the same dad he was when
Tess was his little Princess Barbi and I was his little lion and Whitney was…I haven’t any idea-lawyer. He still hugs us the same way, although our feet stay on the ground, and talks to us the same way, just with bigger words. Most importantly and astonishingly, you’ve both never changed you I Love You. We all know it and it makes things like accidentally owing the bank hundreds of dollars do-able.
To my remarkable parents: I Love You,
Your little lion.
Your post reminds me why banks make terrible parents. 🙂 I love you, Tori!
That is a scripture to write in bold print and tack it up everywhere it can be seen…love it!
I love how you wove this post with the verse…I think I need to take some time and ponder this…what does it really look like to rest within the confines of His shoulders…ultimate safety…no worries in that place…that’s for sure!
Another good one…so glad you are feeling better and that the Lord infused you to be able to speak this weekend!
Helen