50 years ago I was “nestled in” – in the snow cave just outside the kitchen door at my family farm house where we spent snow days and summer days – being kids… While my mom and dad worked, we were dropped off early to grandma and grandpa’s, with my 2 aunts too, and we played – we learned – we enjoyed – and yeah we got a little bored too at times… But snow days? Loved them – so blessed in memories – especially because my grandpa would install the snow fence – unheard of these days but it allowed these snow drifts to accumulate all winter – making the area cave-worthy – AND it kept the house more buffered from the wind – that would be a good thing to install these days once again. Surely these drifts sometimes could be 6 feet tall. 

In the cave, after the hard work of digging (with my cousins and brother) – I remember simply “being” – taking a break and just resting – in my thoughts and in my place – contemplating life – always a good place to pause. And after the fort was built one could go back and enter it again with no work – just play. and just time to “be”.

Today I am nestled in – a wonderful winter wonderland out there – 18 inches it seems – the wind has not whipped it to much (yet) and my bent-over front bushes do make the spring gardener in me want to run out there and trim the tops down – yeah – because they are bent and I could reach them – but I will nestle here instead – nestle here on the couch of the room I just re-reshaped yesterday – moving old christmas gifts that stayed for 2 months – now sitting and reshaping my outlook on life.

NESTLED IN – yeah – nice… 

What about being nestled in with the Lord – yeah – now that is an incredible space to be in – and we should nestle and renestle and find and re-find that place where we realize that the Lord has us in the palm of His Hand always – and if we only take that moment to rest in the cave of closeness not cavernous of unawareness. Actually once we realize this cave of protection and care exists – we might find it easier to climb back in – because the work to find it was already done – and the work to build it? well the Lord put in the work to find us a place IN Him – so all we have to do is “be” – as in “be still” – and be…

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I just now returned from 2 hours outside – I had been nestling in but then my youngest said “Let’s go shovel!” – “I’m waiting for you” – yeah! and that was great – a partnership of shoveling but being together – and then taking to neighbors and watching the plow go by – which was necessary but also blocked us back in – 3 feet snow bolus’s in the plow’s wake – sigh…  Oh well after lunch and this nestling I can go back out – honestly isn’t that also a great response to the Lord – be ready to jump when it is time to jump and be accepting to pause when it is time to pause. Be still and be still working – all the time…

So – back to nestling now – and even a nap perhaps – a time to reflect and just let the Lord handle things today – a snow day only comes once in a while – but the Lord? He is ALWAYS present – and holding us in the palm of His Hand. Thank You Lord always for You.

Amen

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Psalm 46 NKJV

God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

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Psalm 37 NKJV
The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked
A Psalm of David.

Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.

For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.

A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the Lord upholds the righteous.

The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.

The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.

Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
For the Lord loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
The Lord will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.