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This year has been incredibly hard for many families, mine included. My trouble pales when I see the trouble that the whole world is in. I struggle to find words of comfort for so many situations.
No words come. When there is no answer to trouble the only thing we can do is turn to the God who made us. Cling to Him with all we have and look forward to a better time, a better place.
I ran across a song recently that was sung in English and Arabic. The phrase that was repeated again and again was “in the shadow of your wings.” I found that phrase in the following Bible verses. Psalm 17:8; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 57:1; Psalm 63:7 – Take some time and look them up.
Here are the words to the song with a recording below. I pray it brings you comfort no matter what trouble you are facing.
In the Shadow of Your Wings – Cathy Spurr/ Debbie McNeil
I will dwell in the shadow of your wings.
I will know of the peace your love can bring.
Night will fall but I will not be afraid
When I dwell in the shadow of your wings.
In the shadow, in the shadow, in the shadow of your wings. (x2)
This life isn’t all there is. We aren’t left to ourselves.
God has reached down to offer us life.
Not a temporary 70 or 80 year life, but an eternal life.
The offer is free.
The offer is to all.
He doesn’t force anyone. No one is compelled to take the offer, but why wouldn’t you?
Are you afraid to give up your wants for His?
Are you afraid that you will miss out on some temporary pleasure?
Won’t you answer the call?
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose.” Jim Elliot
Wonderful Words of Life – Philip Bliss
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life.
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life. (x2)
Christ the blessed one gives to all, wonderful words of life;
Sinner list to the loving call, wonderful words of life.
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven;
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life…
Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life.
Jesus only Savior, Sanctify forever.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life…
For further study:
Psalm 90:10 – As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.
Proverbs 23:4-5 – Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
I can still remember sitting next to my dad and, without thought, resting my head on his shoulder. It was a safe and comfortable place to be. I was a shy child and there was nothing more comforting than to sit beside him and half hide my face behind his strong arm. Sometimes during a long sermon as my head would nod I would gratefully rest my head and drop off to sleep knowing he was there beside me.
Other times at a camp meeting or other large event I would stand beside him and grab his arm as he talked to people I didn’t know. I would not have dared be there by myself, but there was a quiet excitement to being with him. He would protect me. He would bring me safely home again.
Yet again we would be walking through the park. As I got tired, my dad, grinning, would take my hand and we would walk/run the rest of the way. It was so much easier with his arm encouraging me on.
Those arms of his brought great comfort. It wasn’t what he said so much as the action of a simple hug or strong presence. I was heartbroken when he died just before I turned 30. I wasn’t as grown up as I let on, but because of the gaping hole left by his departure I learned to look to my heavenly Father more…to look for His strong arms to comfort and to give courage…knowing that whatever trouble I came across, He would be there to walk me through or possibly to take me home.
It reminds me of a song I learned when I was young. I can still hear my Father singing it with his strong Bass voice.
Are you leaning on these Everlasting Arms? If not, why not? Don’t delay. Decide before it is too late.
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – (E.A. Hoffman/A.J. Showalter)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms! What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms!
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms! Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms! (Chorus)
What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. (Chorus)
I have been blessed over the last weeks to have many people praying for me. I am grateful for those prayers and for those who helped in many other ways.
I also think back to the nights in the hospital and even the times I woke up in the middle of the night once I was home. Those were times of being reminded by God of his tender care of me. The verses he would bring to my mind or the fragment of a hymn.
“Jesus the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrow cease. ‘Tis music in the sinners ears. ‘Tis life and health and peace.”
Our world is in trouble right now. It is more than a physical sickness. It is a spiritual darkness that envelops many. We think especially of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, but there are many people hurting in many locations like Afghanistan and China. It seems hopeless, but we have a God who sees and hears. He still comforts those in trouble. He is at work even in the darkness. Our hope lies not in governments or leaders, but in the God who patiently waits for men to turn to Him. My prayer is that the current trouble causes such a turning.
My granddaughter, Arianna and I recorded this a couple of years ago. It was written by Emma and Stuart Townend. “I Am Here for You”.
For further study:
Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.”
Isaiah 31:1 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!”
Isaiah 41:10, 13b – “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” “…Do not fear, I will help you.”
Jeremiah 31:3 – “…I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”
Matthew 28:20b – “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
John 16:33b – “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I John 4:10 – “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or slowed. A clot forms, breaks off and damages part of the brain. Depending on where it happens and how long the brain is deprived of its blood supply determines the symptoms that affect the rest of the body.
Right now my body is in the process of healing or I like to describe it as waking up. It is wonderful to see God’s self-healing design at work.
I was reading Ephesians 1:19-23 today and was encouraged by “the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe”. I would encourage you to read the whole passage. It also talked about Christ being the head of all things.
Later in Colossians 1:18 “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.”
When Christ doesn’t have first place there is a disconnect. Our life will be out of order. The church will be out of order. Our world will be out of order.
My prayer is for my own life to be connected to Christ my head in every way. I pray the same for His church and each of your lives.
I’ll finish with a song that seems to relate to my present situation. I pray it will be a blessing to you.
Years past I have posted a musical advent calendar to celebrate Christmas. This year I am putting up a few of my non-traditional favorites all together instead of one by one. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas week remembering God’s most gracious gift to us.
Windows of His Grace 