My Spirit was blessed and God confirmed a thought I had, just hours before, through a song I heard at church this past weekend.
You see, when I am free on the weekends, I continue to help out the NICU at our local hospital with holding and loving those little ones who need some extra attention. If you are a faithful reader you probably know it is one of my favorite ministries and things to do as I have ended up penning thoughts on my experiences often.
This weekend I enjoyed positioning the babies in different ways once my arm gets tired of one way. My two favorite ways to hold the little ones is snuggling them against my chest and the other is putting my two hands together to hold their little head in the palms of my hands.
Photo courtesy of Jamie Smed under Creative Commons License (CC BY-2.0)
I imagine snuggling them against my chest came about because of the birth of my youngest son who arrived 2 1/2 weeks early.
Thankfully, he did not need the NICU services but he did require lots of snuggle time against my chest to help regulate his body temperature as he was only 5 lbs 11 oz. and didn’t really have any body fat. We also got to stay an extra day in the hospital to make sure he was okay.
Gazing upon the babies’ angelic faces while holding them in the palms of my hands is so special to me.
So many thoughts run through my head. This weekend I was thinking about the baby just resting in my hands. Watching their faces make different expressions, sometimes wrinkling up their face making a frown or the happy smile that lights up their face, just gets me lost in thought wondering what they could be thinking of to make such faces. They are so young and innocent.
Photo courtesy of Jamie Smed under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)
I was thinking about how often WE need to just rest in the palms of God’s hands, something I am trying to implement more in my daily life. Just taking time to just BE with God– through reading of the Word, in prayer, just taking a few moments getting away to a quiet place to rest in His Presence, in the stillness.
Do you take time to rest in the palms of God’s hands?
Do you take time to let His Word, the Bible, speak to your life?
Is your life a prayer to Him as you go about your day talking with Him about everything?
Do you take time to smile at God and His goodness that you see in every step of your life?
Do you even let God know when you are not happy with something, maybe even frowning during a rough patch?
What truly made me smile, and maybe even made a few tears come to my eyes was when I went to church and heard a song called On Eagles Wings, one that I’ve heard many times. Take a listen and/or read the lyrics below.
ON EAGLE’S WINGS
v 1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
Who abide in his shadow for life
Say to the Lord, “My refuge”
“My rock in whom I trust”
Refrain:
And he will raise you up
On eagle’s wings
Bear you on
The breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of his hand
v 2 The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear
Under his wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield
Refrain
v 3 You need not fear
The terror of the night
Nor the arrow that flies by day
Though thousands fall about you
Near you, it shall not come
Refrain
v 4 For to his angels
He’s given a command
To guard you in all of your ways
Upon their hands
They will bear you up
Lest you dash your foot against a stone
Refrain
And hold you
Hold you
In the palm
Of his hand
The part that really resonated with me and the thoughts I had just been thinking about God was verse 4 from the song and the very ending of the song~~so make sure you listen until the end! I had just read this passage so the last verse just seemed related in mind:
When I said, “My foot is slipping, your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. –Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)
May these thoughts, especially during this Lenten season, cause you to pause a little from the busy-ness of your life,
Take time to rest in the palms of God’s hands….His hands are big enough for you, my reader!
Soak up His love for you as He gazes upon your face
Remember He wants only the best for, you, His child
Remember His great love for you~
If I am perfectly content sitting for 3 hours at a time holding/loving/gazing upon one particular little one in the NICU, soaking in the beauty of someone that I do not even know or have a connection to…
…how much more must our heavenly Father revel in looking at His perfect creation that He formed and planned as we take time to rest in Him?!
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. –Isaiah 49:15-16 (NIV)
This really touched my heart; it was exactly what I needed to know right now. This day. Thank you so much, Christine.
🙏 Sharon
“Be still and know that I am God”
What a blessing to hear, Sharon, of God’s perfect timing once again! He is so good like that; providing for us when we need it! Thanks for reading and sharing to encourage my faith too. Yes, another of my favorite Bible verses; just perfect! Blessings~
For some strange reason – that song always brings tears to my eyes!!!
Good emotional release I guess…
Yes, I have always enjoyed that song too, Carm. Yes, indeed a great emotional lease; I’m encouraged to hear how it blessed you as well! Blessings~
thank you,Christine. I needed this in my life now.
So thankful to hear that these thoughts were an encouragement and blessing in your life today, Janet! Saying a prayer for you, Janet~~May you experience His love and peace as He is holding you in the palms of His hands! Blessings~