It’s #FiveMinuteFriday and I am sooooo glad to be back! We moved to Tennessee June 8 but were stuck at our son and dil’s home for three solid weeks with unexpected delays at our new place. We finally moved in this week but we have NO INTERNET so this morning, in order to post this blurb and catch up on some other things, I am forcing myself to sit at Starbucks at six a.m. Somebody has to do it. Enjoy this take on the word, Protect and find others writing on the same subject here.

The name Angelica Figueroa Guerrero might not mean anything to you but she died doing something few others have done. This 39 year old mother shielded her 15 year old daughter in a bathtub, laid right on top of her, protecting her from a tornado that ultimately struck their home. Her daughter survived but Angelica did not. She gave her life for one she loved.

The Bible tells us there is no greater love than to lay down your life for another! Angelica’s story helped me see Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus could have called 10,000 angels to come and save Him from the cross at Calvary. But He didn’t. He gave His life willingly and He suffered, willingly. He threw Himself down over His children, not beside them to shield them a little bit, but He shielded us with His spirit, covering us with His own blood! If that isn’t love….what is?

Why did He do it?

Because He was protecting His children. He knew the tornado’s in our lives would threaten us, scare us, torment us and take us down without His sacrifice. But if He gave the ultimate protection, His life, then we would have eternal life and the infilling of His spirit with us at all times as protection, a covering, from the evils of this world.

Is everyone always protected? No, it is true sometimes bad things happen to good people and bad things happen to God’s people. But that is where the really beautiful part comes in to play. Even if we think the battle was lost, it was not. If Angelica Guerrero knew Jesus, she didn’t die in vain. Her reward was not in this life anyway. Her story serves as an example of courage, sacrifice and love. Our struggles are an encouragement to others and to ourselves!

Jesus WILL show up when you need protection the most. He will either carry you THROUGH the trial, or He can REMOVE the trial from you, or if He decides it is best, TAKE you on to glory and the reward that we live for our entire lives.

What do you need protection from today? God is more than able to help, call on His name!

Can you BE that protection for someone else? Do they need someone to step in and be Jesus to them today? Don’t let the opportunity pass you by.