keep

Recently, I ran across a journal from 2009. On the left side were verses from various Psalms; the right side was left open to record reflections. One hundred entries covering the critical days of my last stem cell transplant brought thanksgiving and praise to our Father in heaven.

Memories of visits, calls, and meals from many friends also renewed my appreciation for the Body of Christ. Most of the entries were rather mundane: “feel terrible, but the doctor says I am progressing…” “threw up three times today…” “Susan is trying to make me walk more…” “Gil is an awesome nurse…”

One entry did make me chuckle, though it was not very funny at the time. In a surgery before transplant, a catheter was placed in my chest to accommodate the taking of blood and the giving of stem cells. With a low platelet count, the small incision would not stop bleeding. A rather large nurse’s assistant came to my room to put pressure on the wound to try to stop the bleeding.

After twenty minutes of her weight on my chest, I asked, “Have you ever read The Shack?” She told me she had just started Paul Young’s book (which has recently come out as a movie). “Why?” the kind lady asked. “I feel like I am in it… and you remind me of Papa.” ‘Papa’ was the large woman that Young let represent God in his story. My new friend had not reached ‘Papa’ yet in her reading, but perhaps she smiled when she did.

Martin Smith sings a song called King or Cripple. One verse and the chorus go like this:

I love to hold the hand of One who healed the blind
And saw the leper run into Your arms of love
King or cripple – they were the same to You
You take a broken man and You treat him like a king

Keep me; won’t You keep me? Keep me; won’t You keep me?

The Lord does keep us! He alone has the power to reach through the pain and touch us with His love. David knew this at every stage of life and his ancient writings teach us to talk to God.

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 17:8

“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.” Psalm 18:28-33

“For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5