The arm

 Did anyone  else see this the other day?  

( for non UK readers this is Mike Tindall , ex UK rugby player and husband of Zara, niece of the King, coming out of the jungle where he had been for 22 days participating in a gameshow)



And did anyone else feel what I felt when I saw that image?

Im not sure I can quite put it into words.  But something about those powerful arms grasping and holding the princess he has been away from for weeks......   sigh.  It has stayed with me all week.  Partly its just that slightly sad girly longing to be wanted and protected and loved by someone that strong and passionate.  But partly it is a deeper ache of my heart for the day when I will walk across a bridge to meet the lover of my soul who will sweep me up in a strong embrace and let me know that I am both safe and loved.

It got me thinking about strong arms.

Isaiah 40:10-11 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

This comes in the middle of the passage about the Messiah with which we are so super familiar at Christmas  ( Comfort ye my people says your God) and is clearly referring to Jesus the shepherd.  He has strong arms. Strong hands.  They are capable and powerful and able to fight off all enemies.   Mike Tindall has trained for years and eaten well and looked after himself properly in order to have arms like those.   Jesus has exercised since before the foundation of the world - exercised His authority and grace and justice and mercy - so that His arm is strong and able.   But His arms also gather in the lambs and hold them close.  Isnt that such a lovely image?   Mike Tindal can not only be a power house on the rugby pitch using his strength and power to batter through the opposition and take them down, but is a tender loving husband holding his wife close to his heart. 

I love that Jesus is my strong arm.  I really need His strong arms around me, both to protect and reassure me.  I don't want a gentle Jesus meek and mild.  I want a slightly terrifying , lethal Jesus who is full of self control and who looks on me as the apple of His eye. 😁

And guess what?
That's exactly who Ive got 😁

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