Shadows. Scary sometimes aren't they? Kind of like life - scary sometimes. Forty-six year old husband is in the advanced stages of a painful totally disabling disease, child has a potentially life threatening diagnosis with who-knows-how-many-more surgeries, sometimes crushing financial responsiblities, children to raise through it all and on and on the list goes. "How do you do it?" I'm often asked. Good question. Walk in my moccassins for a mile. How would you do it?
We're human. We hurt. We have questions. You know, there's a lot I've learned about my Heavenly Father from my youngest son. I never get upset with him when he hurts or questions why he has to go through surgery after surgery and live for a year in a body cast while all of his friends go "Scot free". I just hold him closer and assure him of my love. My heavenly Father does the same thing for me - He holds me closer and reminds me over and over that He loves me.
Recently,these three songs stood out - they were all about shadows. The first one was on a record my daughter was playing of the Cathedrals. George Younce sings, "I'm in the Shadow". It goes like this:
I'm in the shadow of Somebody bigger,
And all the worlds power can't pull us apart.
Jesus stands firm between me and my Father
And only my Father can look on the heart.
Looks like I'm down for the very last time
No one to turn to - my life's on the line.
Then I remember, "I'm a child of the King
With Jesus beside me, I can do anything!"
You may accuse me when you see me fall
But Jesus will hear me whenever I call.
My failures were set at the foot of the cross.
I'm in the Lord's shadow - to Him I belong.
I'm in the shadow of Somebody bigger
And all the world's power can't pull us apart.
Jesus stands firm between me and my Father
And only my Father can look on the heart!
Then while listening in on Hobe Sound Bible Church's service the special song included this:
"Then I heard footsteps walking in the shadows and a Hand reaching down to show me He's still there.
Oh, I heard footsteps walking in the shadows and a Hand reaching out to show me He still cares!"
and
"Standing somewhere in the shadows you'll find Jesus. He's a Friend who always cares and understands. Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find him and you'll know Him by the nail prints in His hands."
Puts a different light on shadows, doesn't it? They aren't scary if there's Somebody bigger there! That's how I do it - me and every other victorious Christian going through scary situations ~ Hiding in the shadow of His Wings!
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noise of the pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day.
...
For he shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
...
Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him on high, because he hath known My Name.
He shall call upon Me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."
Psalm 91:1-6, 11-12, 14-15
9.Patriotic Parades - LOVE to go to parades. The bands playing, flags waving and all the old cars are my favorites.
