…How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me! -Matthew 23:37

This morning I was praying for my community; that I might love it well, however and whomever presented. I asked The Lord to show me my place in seeking the lost and hurting; asked Him how He’d like for me to partner with Him in the process.

He’s so good. I immediately saw a duck. Yeah, I know, chickens would have made more sense but hey, I’m being honest with what He shared with me. He knows I’m a duck sort of girl, letting any storm roooollll right off my back!

It’s kind of hard to get our minds around the one-ness we have in Christ, and that’s okay. I think that’s why we so easily fall into the trap of thinking we’re in any way separate from Him. In our physical existence, we SEE with our earthly eyes the physical perception of apart-ness, so He blesses us with imagery of our closeness to most-closely portray our actual union. (I LOVE how He meets us where we are!)

He showed me that He longs to gather my friends, my community, under His wing “as chicks”. We had a lengthy discussion as I rested under His protection. He showed me that while the storm raged on around us, I was in a warm, dry, perfectly peaceful place. We decided that because we BOTH now knew and had confidence in our Father’s protective shelter, He was calling me to scurry as fast as my teeny chicky legs would carry me to find other chickies. I’m called to show them my shelter and offer to share it’s warmth, loving my neighbor chicky as myself…just like He does.

We’re protected. We rest daily under the shelter of our Most High God. It’s tempting to stay there, as the storms of this world seem to be increasing both in count and nastiness. But: we don’t focus on the storm. We allow ourselves to be consumed by the fact that we quite literally dwell IN Him, and He in us. He is our fortress and strength, our ever-present help in time of need. (Psalm 46:1)

But not just us. Today, let’s thank our Father for the safe dwelling. It’s our confidence, and we can trust it, can trust Him. Let us also ask Him who He’s calling us to bring out of the rain.

Today, we share our shelter. We all need one and they appear in short supply.

Who will you share yours with?

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. -Psalm 91:1-4