This is an email I wrote on 3/1/2006.  Father brought it to mind as I was pondering what I might blog today.  I think it speaks my heart.  I pray it blesses yours.

I was reading this morning in Deuteronomy (The Message) and stopped for a long pause on these words:

1:29-33 I tried to relieve your fears: "Don't be terrified of them. GOD, your God, is leading the way; he's fighting for you. You saw with your own eyes what he did for you in Egypt; you saw what he did in the wilderness, how GOD, your God, carried you as a father carries his child, carried you the whole way until you arrived here. But now that you're here, you won't trust GOD, your God—  this same GOD who goes ahead of you in your travels to scout out a place to pitch camp, a fire by night and a cloud by day to show you the way to go."

Just yesterday I was sharing with a friend about my Dad - how attentive and caring and generous he was with his love toward me.  And I told how in the night I would wake up and need a drink of water or to use the bathroom - but (even then) I saw things and heard things and they made me afraid to get out of bed in the dark alone.  So I would lay there in my bed and call, "Dad!  Dad!  Dad! Daaaaaaad!!!!"   And my sweet Dad would always get up (most of the time still sleeping, I think!) and ask what I needed and then take care of it for me.  If I needed a drink of water he would go get a glass of water, bring it to me, stand there while I drank it, then go back to bed.  Or if I needed to go to the bathroom and was afraid to put my little feet on the floor, he would carry me in there and wait, and then carry me back to bed!

Interesting that I would be reading Deuteronomy 1 today after having that conversation yesterday.  Very interesting.     But I know that in my life - and in most everyone's life - there are many times when we know the promise, know where we are headed, and yet we are afraid to move forward.  We have seen with our eyes and experienced first hand the amazing love of our Father and His power and strength and provision, and yet we are afraid to move forward.  Just like the Israelites who were thirsty in the desert, I would be thirsty in the darkness.  And my Dad would bring me water just like God made water flow from the rock for His children.  And just like my Dad carried me in the night, God carried the Israelites in the desert.  What a beautiful picture of a Father who is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. (Ps. 145:13)

My prayer today is that I will move forward when God says move - that I won't be terrified - that I will trust that He is leading the way and fighting for me!  And that I will do it based on the fact that I have seen Him carrying me and providing for me and loving me in the past - He will continue to do that, won't He?  I'm never too big to call out for Him in the dark... and neither are you!

Amy

Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
Selah
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 O LORD, save the king!
Answer us when we call!