Shield



These cold days can plant a chill into my body that I sometimes have a

hard time shaking…. Oh but I am thankful for the touch of Fall that has come 

our way.    A hot bath or a hot cup of cocoa seem to be my "go

to" relief. But what happens when someone or something happens that

send to you a cold feeling of rejection...or uneasiness...or

embarrassment? Then where do you go and what do you do for

relief...to heal a wounded heart or tampered pride? We like to think

that we are not vulnerable to unkind words or unjust actions...but I

think if we really fess up...there is a guarded sensitive side in each

of us that gets bruised or blind sided with an unexpected hit. We

tend to fall right into the pit of self consciousness, defeat, and

lose a little confidence making it hard to climb out of a darkened

pit.

I've been there, you have been there too....and it is hard to put the

experience behind and not dwell on its effect. Your mind says "just

move on"...but your heart is struggling. For somehow it has wrapped

you up in the snares of uncertainty and it is hard to break free. You

just need someone to come in and cut through the tangles and release

the hold that has got you in its grips. God knows you are struggling

and He is standing right there waiting for you to ask Him for help.

It is hard to really get your mind to accept the reality that God can

handle this....and he can do a much better job, than any of us, in

releasing the trap that has beset us...but He can. So what is the

hold up? Pride, I guess is part of it...For I want

to be stronger than this...I don't want something so little to make me

stumble...I don't want something such as this to dominate my thinking

or rattle my senses....but it has. I want to be liked, to be

included....ever thought that? Then you start thinking maybe I should

make some changes...be more like so and so...or act more like so and

so...That is when we get in trouble.

For God has made you and I just as he has planned. We are not called

to be like others but to be molded by God to be more like Him. I so

often get off track looking at what others are doing and how others

are being that I lose focus of what is God doing...and How is God

acting? He should be my guide and my measuring stick!

And when I finally get down to looking at why this chill has affected

me...then I realize that it is all about me and the world....about how

I feel and how I have allowed someone else to make me feel.

If we go to the Lord...we will find that we are perfect in His

eyes....now that doesn't mean he isn't making way for new ways and new

thoughts....but He knows what a masterpiece he has created....He sees

the end result. Just remember that God is still working on each of

us...and we may fall short in the eyes of friends and in the eyes of

the world but as long as we are tagging along with God and focusing on

His work...we are doing just fine.

You want the chill of hurt feelings or rejection to go away...then

there is only one answer and it is God. For oh, how he loves and

adores His children. He has already forgiven all of our

mistakes....but that doesn't mean we still won't make them...he is

just using them as teaching guides to bring us closer to His vision

for His creation in each of us. He is waiting for us to ask....ask for

help...ask for a shield protection....ask for His arms to be wrapped

so snugly around us that we won't feel the chill of rejection or be

vulnerable to hurt feelings getting a tight grip on your heart!

Just like a hot bath or hot cocoa can warm up your very insides....so

can God bring a sense of warmth and love and inclusion to a tattered

heart. We all need to be loved...

that is just a fact...and when we aren't for whatever reason....it

hammers our soul....and we become discouraged and despondent.

Well, you are loved....every moment of every day...by not only the God

who created the universe but the God who created you....just as you

are...with all your flaws and all your quirks...because he loves a

good story ...and he tells His through each of our lives and the way

He is working though us. God knows what is to come of each of the

children he has created....it is His glory that he will shine through

us...and His glory radiates through his deep and profound love. Oh,

how we are blessed by knowing God...May we accept His love...and be

grateful for the warmth that he generates through it. For the chill of

the world has no chance to get through if we allow God's love to wrap

us up!

And just one more thought on this…the above comments are about when something happens to you or I; but how do we handle it if we have made a blunder by saying an unkind  word or letting anger show its ugly head to someone else and you realize that you have in turn hurt them.

 I did that a couple of week ago and still am regretting it.  You can’t take back words or actions but you can sincerely apologize and prayerfully ask God to heal their hearts and forgive yours.  It was a reminder of a lesson learned and not practiced:  lesson to be patient, walk away or calmly and carefully ask God to help you choose a way to express the frustration. Then let  God release from you that which it not beneficial to your heart and mind.  I did write the note, in sincerity,  and I do not expect a response, but still I regret not behaving in a manner that exemplifies the example of love that I have been taught and given.  I do pray that God will lead me down gentler roads when I find myself 

losing ground in patience.  

Psalm 3:3

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and

lift up my head

Dear Lord, Your love for each is us is greater than we can ever

imagine...but so often we lay your shield of protection down

forgetting that we are in a constant battle

with the world at hand. Guard our hearts and minds and shield us with

your loving arms so that we may be protected from the snares that try

to v\blind side us. Remind us that we are made just as you have

planned and we are a story in progress ...and the end of the story is

only known by the author. You God are the author of our lives...and

each story you tell through our lives has merit. We are grateful for

your love and protection. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you

to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

All past emails can be found at: Cathyjodeit.com (Contents Page)