Umbrellas, Shadows, and Safe Hands

With the abundance of rain these days, I have been grateful for my umbrella.  Being under the umbrella allowed me to stay dry and be sheltered from the showers.  The umbrella even helped protect me from some of the stronger breezes.  As long as I stayed underneath the boundaries of its protection, the umbrella was able to provide the services I needed.  If I had left the umbrella in the car or decided not to use it, I would have paid the consequences and been soaking wet in no time.

God also offers his protection when the storms in life come.  Time and time again, God reminds us of how He wants to offer refuge in the shadow of His wings.  That protection is available when we are willing to stay close to Him, within His shadow.  When we venture outside those limits we are taking on more of the storm solo than God intended.  Jesus reminded us that when we are in God’s protective hands, no one can snatch us away. 

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 17:8

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:7

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Psalm 57:1

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 63:7

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand— I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”

Isaiah 51:16

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

John 10: 28, 29

 

Sharing the Good News

There are many ways to share good news:  verbally, by the written word, over social media, or through our actions.  St. Francis of Assisi is credited with saying,

“Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”

This past week, Robert Griffin III, quarterback for the Washington Redskins, arrived at a press conference to discuss last Sunday’s football game sporting a pair of crutches and wearing a t-shirt that read:

KNOW

JESUS

KNOW

PEACE

According to Michael Phillips, the Redskins reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Griffin was told by NFL Uniform Inspector Tony McGee that he couldn’t wear the T-shirt because it wasn’t a Nike product.  Thus, Griffin’s shirt was worn inside-out during the interview so that it was a solid color without a message.  Even though I’m not sure of the motive behind the decision, my hope and prayer is that hundreds of thousands more people will see and think about the meaning of the shirt now that the story and picture of Robert Griffin III, wearing the shirt with the message showing, have been posted on social media.

With the turmoil and situations in our world today, we are all in need of good news.  People need to know and understand that when there is NO JESUS there is NO PEACE.  God needs us to help spread the word that when people KNOW JESUS they can find and KNOW PEACE.  And we have all kinds of ways to choose from to communicate that message.  And may our actions speak as loud as our words, if not louder. 

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7 

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 
Romans 10:13-15
 

 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 

Unexpected

Iván Fernández Anaya, a Basque runner, was the champion of the 5,000 meter race for Spain in 2012.  On December 2, he competed in a cross-country race in Burlada, which is located in the Navarre province of Spain.  Towards the end of the race, he was in second place, but was still quite a distance behind the lead runner, Abel Mutai, who won the bronze medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics.  As Anaya approached the finish line, he saw that the Kenyan runner had pulled up about 10 meters short, assuming that he had already crossed the finish line.  Realizing Abel Mutai’s error, he could have raced past him, secured the win, and claimed the medal.  Instead, using gestures, he pointed out the finish line and allowed the Kenyan runner to cross the line first.

When interviewed, after the race, Anaya stated:

“But even if they had told me that winning would have earned me a place in the Spanish team for the European championships, I wouldn’t have done it either. I also think that I have earned more of a name having done what I did than if I had won. And that is very important, because today, with the way things are in all circles, in soccer, in society, in politics, where it seems anything goes, a gesture of honesty goes down well.” 

In my book, there were two winners of the race that day.

When encountering the unexpected, the results can be positive or negative.  I definitely enjoy the positive ones more.  In the past few weeks, I have been blessed with some unexpected happenings.  In our Bible Study class, we have a prayer list.  I had written a request for prayers for Chad on the Sunday that he was preaching at First Baptist Church of Gatesville and for the following week as Chad, his family, and the people of the church would be praying, seeking God’s will, and choosing the next pastor for their church.  That week, as one of the couples in our department was driving through Gatesville, they stopped in the church parking lot and prayed for God’s will for Chad and his family and the people of the church.  Then another man in our class was in the Gatesville area on Chad’s second Sunday as pastor and went to the worship service at church.  And to add to that, Tim brought me a worship guide from the church service.  This mother’s heart continues to overflow.

Jesus was constantly surprising people with unexpected responses – by forgiving rather than condemning the woman at the well, by giving Peter a mission and purpose after he had denied him, by associating with sinners and offering them new life…  As followers of Jesus, may those we encounter come to expect the unexpected from us as well.

To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3

A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 12:3

Shadows

Shadows can be fascinating, no matter one’s age.  It is entertaining to watch a child become aware of their shadow for the first time.  They are intrigued as the shadow mimics shapes and movements and usually try to touch it as if it is a new friend.  Depending on the angle and amount of light, shadows are elongated or shortened as they depict the original object.  Even though shadows occur every day, it is not something that we usually slow down to enjoy or take notice of.

By using a flashlight or some other artificial light source as a background, hand shadows can be made and projected on a wall.  It is amazing to see the shadow picture of different animals that people can make by using their hands, fingers, and arms.  When the moon, stars, or softer lights are present, shadows can also appear as different objects, especially when an active imagination is added to the mixture.

In Psalm 23, David writes about another type of shadow, the shadow of death.  These past few weeks and months, we have seen the shadow of death as it claimed the lives of some precious friends.  It seems that for the shadow to be there, a source of light must also be present.  Even when being pursued by his enemies, David took comfort in realizing that God was the Source of Light and Life that was with him.  Therefore, he need not be afraid. 

In the New Testament, Jesus reveals that He is the Light of the world.  Whatever shadows we face, when we intentionally recognize and acknowledge Jesus as our Source of Light, we too can have peace and be comforted because we know that He is with us. 

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4  

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12