Peace
There is something so tender to my heart about singing in church a verse set aside in a song just for men and just for women. Today as the music played...all around the old sanctuary the woman lifted their angelic voices and sang..... "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay"............................women young and old sounding like they were in the presence of Jesus just singing with all their hearts.
For me, I am not sure there is anything more masculine and mighty then hearing men proudly and very boldly singing........"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay. Close by me forever, and love me, I pray; Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there." I could hardly keep my tears back as I listened to the men of all ages...singing to God and asking Him to be near them and to protect their children. That is what our men are called to do. To be our providers, protectors, shields, spiritual leaders........I truly love hearing men corporately pray and praise FATHER. There is nothing like it and I will never understand the relationship between a man and His God. Because they are to submit to God so that as wives we can submit to them.....they carry to weight of the families spiritual growth. I will never fully know what that is like but I love knowing that God has placed them in our lives to be head over us! I love that. I love that they have a different relationship between them.
Today a man and wife, from the choir, stood on stage to sing a duet. The husband immediately placed his arm around the small of her back and as they sang he would pat her gently. They had beautiful voices but as she would go to hit the high notes..you could see him tighten his grip around her and when her solo part was done.....he patted her side as if to say "way to go". I loved watching those gestures of support. He never took his hand away from her and because he was supporting her....she could sing with ease because he was right there. Beautiful. Such a beautiful picture of a husband doing what he is suppose to do......supporting with his arm, encouraging with his pat, and tightening his grip when things could go good or bad.....never once letting go.
Is marriage on my mind today? No. Not really. My day will come. The roles that are played out in a marriage ARE on my mind a little....in the area of protection. Yesterday, I was on the phone in my office/guest room chatting away with my friend Leanne. For whatever reason I was in a major "snacking" mood and walked to the kitchen. As I went to open the pantry door I looked over my shoulder and saw a young man...high school age.....standing very straight and very close to my kitchen window...staring in. I gasped with shock and made eye contact with the guy. Shock is a good word to use...because I did not act immediately for whatever reason.....normally I could see myself going outside and beating the guy down and giving him a piece of my mind hahahahhaha. Funny, but so something I would do. However, I just stood there. Not afraid, probably why i did not hurt him, but puzzled by his behavior. He slowly walked away and I could see that he was talking to himself and had some physical disabilities as well. I watched him walk off and got off the phone with Leanne. Called the parents who said to call the police. So I did....to make the story short.....no history of peeping tom's in neighborhood and they would up patrol on my street.
I tell you this story because I am single, live alone, and I SLEPT LIKE A BABY LAST NIGHT! After all the drama calmed down and I was alone again, in my home, God just began to bring verse after verse about peace and fear and worry to my mind and my heart.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE. May your gentleness be evident to all. THE LORD IS NEAR! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, which TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." philippians 4.4-7
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of POWER and SOUND MIND!" AMEN AMEN 2 TIm 1.7
"But the Lord is FAITHFUL, and HE WILL STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT YOU FROM THE EVIL ONE!." 2 THess 3.3
"The Lord is my LIGHT AND SALVATION, WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID? PS 27.1
I do not have the luxury of having a big manly man in my home to protect me in the night. I will one day, but I have something that is way better than muscles and testosterone......I have the favor of God that is covering me. I have peace that is from walking with Him in in good times and bad times. I have full trust in Him that should the time come that I need to defend, that He will give me all the supernatural abilities and wisdom of how to protect myself. ..............or not, because He longs to see me in Glory.....either way He is in control and has His eyes on me!
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,because he trusts in you".
Isaiah 26:3
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
John 14:27
Peace, peace that is from the inside...deep down....that allows you to know in her heart and head that you are taken care of. Peace in my soul when there is no peace around me. That you are on our Father's mind CONTINUOUSLY. That His eyes are upon us, His Spirit WITHIN US, and that we have been given the power to tell our wondering minds or satan's schemes to DEPART, FLEE IN JESUS NAME! I don't have to walk in fear because He is my PROVIDER, MY PROTECTOR, MY ENCOURAGER, MY SHIELD! ............My Shield. There is no "fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1 jonh 4.18 
Lord, I love you, and that love that you have given to me is greater than my need to fear those around me. Because I am your child, I have been given power to call on the name of Jesus and I have been given the sword of the Spirit to cut evil when it attacks. Oh Father, thank you that when I long to be held tightly in protection by the man you have made for me.......that you remind me that you are enough. That you and only you can ever make me truly safe. You are enough. In the middle of the night and alone in bed...YOU ARE ENOUGH! PRAISE YOU! PRAISE YOU THAT YOUR ARE THERE. PRAISE YOU THAT YOU ARE CONSTANT AND NOTHING GOES ON WITHOUT YOU KNOWING ABOUT IT! Thank you for letting me sleep so soundly last night! Thank you that I have great peace that allows me to walk freely! I love you!