Dear Trekker,
Do you ever come up with an encouraging, uplifting thought, that somehow you can’t shake… it is constantly on your mind? (My, I hope so, .cause I believe God the Holy Spirit plants in our hearts and minds such thoughts that we might be blessed and be a blessing to one another.) I’ve been obsessed recently with an incredible truth. .my Heavenly Father is watching over me! Let me tell you how it came about.
I am singing a duet with my choir director at Peterson AFB Chapel this Sunday. While searching through my stash of music to determine what to sing, I came across an old paperback book I probably inherited. It is titled, “Bennard’s Melodies”. Evangelist George Bennard, who wrote the “Old Rugged Cross”, lived in the late 19th and early 20th century. The book is so old it has no publishing date. It’s beat up, rabbit-eared, yellow with age. You get the picture. An oldie, but goodie! I turn the pages. #82 is “My Father Watches Over Me”. Instantly memories sweep over me. I heard and sang this as a solo long, long ago. We are not singing it Sunday, but the words and melody keep haunting me.
“I trust in God wherever I may be… upon the land or on the rolling sea, for, come what may, from day to day, my Heavenly Father watches over me! I trust in God, I know He cares for me, on mountains bleak or on the stormy sea. Tho’ billows roll, He keeps my soul, my Heavenly Father watches over me.”
Heavy man… I almost break out in tears as I write. I think of my grandson Josh who just deployed to Iraq. I think of my son who has struggled terrifically in recent years, watching his family disintegrate, who says, “It’s alright, Dad. Jesus is watching over me and nothing is happening that He doesn’t allow.” I think of my long time friend who has just been diagnosed with a cancer for which there is no cure.
I think of another teenage grandson, struggling for his identity because he was born severely handicapped. My thoughts run wild, yet I know my Heavenly Father is watching over me… over them… and over you.
Even amusing thoughts about ‘watching’ have come to mind. I love ‘kid stories’. At the cafeteria line in the grade school, a sign by the rosy, red apples at the head of the line said, “Take only one; God is watching”. A sign by the cupcakes at the end of the line, placed by some witty youngster, said, “Take all you want; God is watching the apples.” Yes, God is watching the apples, and we, in Christ, are the apple of His eye. God watches us because He loves us, even likes us and wants what is best for us! Jeremiah 31:28 is instructive: “Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down. So I will watch over them to build and to plant.” Redemption of his children living in a fallen world is always on His mind! He is watching a race of ‘little Christs’.
Watching over us involves protecting us, providing for us, and preserving us! Because we were not made to be robots, our choices often get us into jams. And we must live with the consequences of our choices. But He protects us from total free-fall. There is a net of grace underneath every daring, and sometimes stupid risk, so that when we ‘miss’ (as we inevitably do), the net of grace breaks our fall, and the everlasting arms catch us. Trekkers, that is protection! It started with our father Adam. God allows all of us to screw up and hide from him, knowing that this rebellion on our part opens the door to His loving, incredible redemption, planned before the foundation of the world.
Protection is one side of the grace coin. Provision is the other. He watches over us that He might provide for us. His grace is sufficient for every needed provision. May we trekkers not receive this grace of provision in vain! May we not hold back as if we could protect ourselves! “May we approach the throne of grace with confidence”, as Paul reminds the Hebrews, knowing He is watching over us to provide for us.
Finally, He watches over us to preserve us for His glory and eternal presence. I’ve turned 72 since I last wrote to you. My ultimate redemption draweth nigh! No, this is not an inspired announcement but it is a statement of fact. We are His possession. He made us and bought us back when we strayed. So He is preserving us for His pleasure forever. Let’s remember, there are only two entities in Heaven… God and people. He preserves us for that time and eternity.
With God’s protection for us and the nation we live in, given all the ‘stuff’ going on – tsunamis, earthquakes, terrorists threats, wars, senseless killings, bird flu, etc, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance? (No, I don’t think so, Jay Leno!) I don’t know about you, but I am glad my Heavenly Father is watching over me… And desires to bless our country, if we will allow Him to do so.
And now, in the benedictory words of Mrs. Audrey Wood, a special sister in heaven who put up with a pack of unruly church kids 60 years ago, “May the Lord watch over thee and me as we are absent one from another.” Ah… what memories of God watching over me. And He still does!
Trekking with and for the Father,
Jim Meredith