a safe place

Psalm 84:3

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ³ Even the sparrow finds a home,
      and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
   at a place near your altar,
      O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!

Birds often make a nest at the top of our back porch columns.
They are a reminder to me of the safe haven "near God's altar"

Yesterday I met with my third younger friend this year. The third friend who would sit on my couch and confide in the me the hurt they had suffered from sexual abuse and neglect as a child. As the tears poured down, and Scriptures were shared, and God's presence comforted... I understood that we have been given a mission. My personal anxiety melted. This is not about me, my family, and my comfort and ability to control.


I do not know what N and V have suffered. I do not know what hurts they may have buried deep within. Hurts that may not even surface until some distant time in the future, taking everyone by surprise.


It is not my job to heal, but to participate with God in providing a safe place close to Him where they may find healing.

Healing Begins lyrics, Tenth Avenue North

So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good
And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside

So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear


So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
We're here now, oh

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LartL77Nuqs&feature=related