Our Place Of Safety

It is National Police Week and with our son having served his city as a police officer for 20 years, we are proud to support the police and what they do for our cities, counties, and states.  So often the news only brings up the "bad" cops for us to view and some people tend to think they are all bad.  So not true.  Food for thought:  There are bad cops, bad teachers, bad pastors, bad factory workers, etc.  A percentage of "bad" can be found in every part of society.

We have been blessed to have had only good experiences with the police in our lives.  When Joel's life was threatened by a mentally disturbed church member, we were grateful when 5 squad cars showed up at our house and escorted us safely out of town.  We had plain clothed police officers sitting in our pews for a while as the threat was ongoing.  Spending over 6 years with an unpredictable, threatening parish member living blocks away from us in our town, we felt safer knowing the police were doing what they could to keep Joel and the family safe.

Over the years, more than once we ended up calling the police because of violent acts that we were observing. Being a pastor and family came with some unusual situations.  A few years ago a suspect the police were chasing ended up hiding in the attic of our garage.  Our dog Levi alerted me to something not being right......eventually I saw the man through a window and called the police.   While in Montana Joel officiated at funerals for 3 murder victims, when three California felons came through while trying to escape to Canada.  I have often said I should write a book about our experiences, but I would probably have to go into the witness protection program.  (wink).  Our experiences with the police have  been positive and we are grateful for them.

Safety is important to all of us I expect.  For me, as a child I did not feel always safe, and rightfully so.  But it carried over into adulthood and made my life stressful.  Even with all the healing that has taken place and the knowledge of God's deep abiding love for His kids, more often than I want to admit, I still have to remind myself that I am safe.  We are safe.  The world, the media, TV shows and movies all scream at us that we are not safe.  So, as Susie Davis, author of "Unafraid:  Trusting God In An Unsafe World", asks...."How do we live unafraid?"

Whether we are observing the chaos of the world, facing a medical crisis, or struggling with worry about our family or friends,  we have a choice.  Susie Davis says, "We can be aware of the terrible without forgetting the beautiful. We can look up with joy and realize the remarkable truth:  Jesus wants to take our fear and give us, in its place true peace."  And I would add His love.  "Perfect love casts out fear."

When Joel's life was threatened and the circumstances continued for years, we did what we could to keep the family safe, and we stepped out in faith trusting God's Word.  We remembered over and over that He was with us, and He was our shelter, our place of safety.

The other day I was meditating and I kept seeing the head of a cat.  I tried to remove the image and focus on Jesus, but Jesus interrupted my efforts with the word FEAR.  I immediately remembered hearing myself say....."I love cats but they carry tick Bartonella, a disease I suffered with for years.  Then I thought about what fears I had voiced regarding ticks.....and fears about health issues....and......and...... Jesus then took me to a mountain labeled FEAR and I saw myself putting bricks on it, building it up.  Jesus would take one off, I would put one back on.  Eventually I heard Him say with power, "FEAR NOT".  When he said those words the mountain immediately exploded.  It sounded and looked so real to me I physically jumped.  I heard Jesus say again....'Fear Not!"  Holy Spirit then moved on me making His presence known.

It was a wonderful reminder of Jesus being with us day in and day out.  A reminder of His promises, of His love.  One of my favorite verses is found in Psalm 4.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

 for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe."

Psalm 4:8

We are blessed to have our military and our police who work hard in difficult circumstances to keep us protected and safe.  We are all blessed beyond measure to have our Lord by our side.  He has told us to "fear not" over 365 times in scripture.  He is with us in life and in death.  God is always our shelter, our place of safety.  So grateful.