Beautifully Unwrapped

So Silently the Wondrous Gift is Given

~ Held By Him: Posted 12/27/05 ~

I have heard the Christmas story and sung the Christmas songs for many, many years. But, never before has the fact that God sent His Son into the world so very silently struck me until this year.

It seemed as if the words silently, quietly, mysteriously, and humbly were bolded and italicized throughout the season. And, it was very apparent Christmas Eve.

We sung Silent Night, and those words, silently, so silently, the wondrous Gift is given were beautiful and seemed to pierce right through the crazy choatic day to my soul. Then, we got in our pajamas and went to the town square to read the Christmas Story in front of the large Nativity. As we sat there and my 5 year old prayed, I could not help but notice.....

    The quiet, peaceful, simple Nativity to my right, and the 1000s of lights, blaring carols and laughing people to my left.  

To my left was wonderful, the celebration of the season. ~ But, to my right was a baby wonderfully born to die to save my soul.

To my left was the light made by the world ~ To my right was the Light OF the world.

    To my left was what we all get so caught up in ~

To my right was Who gets caught up in us! 

I left the Nativity with a since of peace and stillness that I wish every soul on earth could enjoy. He comes into our lives and silently works. No fanfare, no loud words, no banners ~ just a gentle hand guiding, loving, forgiving, giving, and loving some more. May you have a chance to focus on His silence this season!

Held By Him

~ Held By Him # 1 ~ Hard to decide what to say on your first post....So, thought I would jump right in and share how I chose my blogspot name, Held By Him. It starts with Isaiah 40:11 He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads those that have young. I found this verse when I had a 3 year old, a 2 year old, and a newborn, and was working full time in a job with huge responsibilities. I needed Him to tend, hold, and lead my family! As I claimed and clung to Isaiah 40:11, it became my "Mommy verse". He tends his flock like a shepherd.... We have all heard Jesus as our Shepherd analogy. However, it provides a new meaning and is so reassuring to know we are His flock, and more importantly, our children are part of His flock. He is tending all through our childrens' days. What peace to know our Father, the God of the universe, is tending to our children, and to us. He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart...The most peaceful and comforting time to me is to imagine each of my children in my Saviors arms. I see Him with His arms around my child, kissing their forehead, kissing the boo boos, holding each child close, whispering comforting words, maybe even singing His own personalized version of Jesus loves me. And, sometimes, I picture Him gathering me - just holding me close to His heart. When I do not think I can put away one more dish, fold one more t-shirt, answer to one more 'mommy', He gathers me. When I think I am completely failing as a mom, or I am not sure I am raising my children as He would desire, He gathers me and holds me close to His heart; - more on this part of the verse at a later blog- just don't want to ramble too long on my first one :) He gently leads those that have young...I have this part double underlined in my Bible and gently circled. As moms we have such an awesome responsibility, and such a desire to raise our children to love and serve the Lord. That is a mountainous task - one that can not be done on our own. I know on my own, I would be so far off the mark. It can only be done on our knees, while being lead, gently by our Heavenly Father. What a comfort to know He is gently leading me - We NEED Him to lead us. When the baby is crying at 2 a.m. and you wonder if you should call the doctor or not, He gently leads those that have young....When you don't know if you should read Goodnight Moon for the 6th time, or put those 4 baskets of clothes away, He gently leads those that have young....When your child asks "Mommy, what is your soul?", He gently leads those that have young. So, if by chance you are reading this as a mom or even a dad, take a moment today, grab your Bible and underline Isaiah 40:11. Memorize it and claim it as your Mommy or Daddy verse. We are His precious lambs, each one of us. I have a beatiful picture of Jesus holding a little child hanging in my main hallway. I can't even begin to count the number of times I have walked by and been reminded that we, and our children, are Held By Him all the days of our lives.

Held By Him ~ The Story

When I began blogging on Held By Him it was a time when I was able to make it through the day, step by step, moment by moment, only because I knew I was being HELD by my precious Savior. My mom's health had begun a severe physical, mental and emotional nose dive.  Life had added many other blows, as we all know it can.  Everything I thought to be stable and real was crumbling. Natalie Grant's Held was ''my song'.  I remember more then one morning after church hearing it on the radio and using everything I had in me to not burst into tears - wanting to quit the 'strong woman' persona and just crumble within myself. I was also working on the Unto All Generations Series and the Scrapbookers Bubble Bath web-site. Held By Him became somewhat of an emotional outlet for things 'non-scrapbooking'. One of the most read posts - even to this day - is "Someone is Missing At Christmas" post.  Amazing to read the comments and get the emails about so many who have lost ones that loved so dearly. And, so Beautifully Unwrapped - I present to you the merge with Held By Him...