If you were a guest at the Householder house tonight, you'd see a scene similar to this. We'll be snuggled up on the couch. I'll have a kid under each arm. The littler ones. The third one, big brother, within reach. Of all things, we'll be watching WIPEOUT, but we'll be having a great time. Who knew you could make falling down so much fun? And we'll be laughing & talking & having fun. Together.

We're not a swan family, but I do love my chicks. And I look forward to times when I know I'll have them nestled under my wings. Me & mine. Nothing better.

As I was thinking through my day early this morning, I got these two pictures in my head. The one I just described about my family. The one you see here with the swan family. And that word the word "nestle" came to mind. It means "to lie close & snug, like a bird in a nest; snuggle or cuddle." It comes from a Middle English word, first recorded in 1547 in reference to person settling or snuggling. Just like a bird in it's nest. It's an intimate word. A close word. A comfortable word.

The Holy Spirit got my attention next. There are word pictures in Scripture. Particularly in Psalms. Speaking of our Heavenly Father tenderly covering us, His chicks, beneath his sheltering wings nestled therein.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield & rampart. Psalm 91:4

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high & low men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster is passed. Psalm 57:1

I do not know what wipe out or disaster you may be facing, Dear Reader, but I do know. With certainty. That our Faithful Father will be your rampart. Your shield. Your refuge.

Find yourself nestled into His wings. And find yourself secure.

Would you consider sharing a note of praise or a request for prayer in the comments?

My youngest is trying to make sense of the world around. Building constructs of the bigger reality he is yet to know from the smaller home/family/church/neighborhood reality he does know. All this with just 3.5 years experience behind him.

Hurricanes were one of our many topics together this morning. He has his very own beginning reader tornado book. He loves it. 100% boy. Linebacker toddler. Rough & tumble. Known to leave a path of destruction. And now big brother has natural disaster book loaded with pictures. Including hurricanes. It spurred a previous this week JM question, "Why is everything in that book messed up?"

With his thoughts tempestuously swirling I am assailed as rapidly as gail force winds.

Are hurricanes bigger than tornadoes?

How did they get to be so big?

Why are hurricanes on the water?

What is the ocean?

Why is the ocean big?

I am trying to use things he knows to explain what he doesn't. The world is so big & his view of it yet so small. I wonder how, if at all, he is processing this. His wheels continue turning out questions as fast as I can answer. Then a transition.

Can a gun stop a hurricane?

Could a bullet stop it?

Two bullets?

Some really big gun bullets?

Then the biggest hurricane stopper he could imagine.

What about a humongous, humongous puncher thing like on WIPEOUT?

No, JM, there is nothing big enough to stop a hurricane. Nothing man can make. Nothing man can do. No gun. No hollercopter. No puncher thingy. Only God is big enough. Only God can stop a hurricane. That is one more reason we worship Him & pray to Him.

Strangely stymied, JM fell silent. Calm after the storm. Thoughts now raging within his Daddy.

I say God is bigger than anything.

Stronger than anything.

Yet, do I trust Him with everything?

How much do I do on my own because I don't think God can handle it?

Or that I do not want God to handle?

I say, "God is bigger," to my small son, but do I truly trust the Bigger God with my adult life?

Or, so small minded, have I made my own will the bigger god?