In The Arms of God
In my hometown a husband and wife had been murdered and their twelve year old daughter, Jennifer, was missing. A statewide search went out for Jennifer. All over town there were signs that read, "Pray for Jennifer." Her picture was everywhere, and yellow ribbons were placed on doors as a sign of hope. Every time I saw her picture or a yellow ribbon I said another prayer for Jennifer. I stayed tuned to the news for any words of information about Jennifer's whereabouts.
My husband and I had to go out of town for several weeks for revivals, but I still kept Jennifer in my heart and in my prayers. When we came back home I went to pick up our mail. As I walked into the post office I saw a picture of Jennifer and under it read, "Jennifer Found - In the Arms of God."
Everyone that spoke to me that day in the post office had sadness in their hearts and many had tears in their eyes. Little Jennifer had been murdered. Many times we are faced with such tragedies in this life, and many things we just cannot explain. But there is a resting place for the weary and the abused, and for the little ones that we may not ever be able to hold and touch again on this Earth. There is a place, In The Arms of God! I am reminded that king David said, when his child died, "And while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." [2nd Samuel 12:22-23] Jennifer cannot return to us. She is now in the arms of God.
Safe in The Arms of Jesus
"Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o're shaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! tis the voice of angels,
Borne in a song to me.
Over the fields of glory,
Over the jasper sea.
There in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o're shaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest."
Fanny J. Crosby & W.H. Doane, © 1870 by W.H. Doane