He never let’s go
Sorry for being quiet for the past few days…
I returned from my church’s English Ministry Winter Retreat late Sunday afternoon, but not before experiencing the most memorable moment of the entire retreat–having a near-death experience on the road. What happened was a story of sheer grace, one that will be great for a future sermon of mine. I won’t post what happened here, but if you want to know the story ask me and I’ll tell you about how I literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
You know how people say that their entire life flashes before them when they almost died–I must say that such a statement is completely false, at least in my experience. Life does not flashes before that moment of near death, it actually flashes after the fact.. and there is no light. Since that moment on Sunday afternoon on that rural road, my life has flashed after me numerous times… just thinking about what could have happened, what I would missed out on, all that I have not experienced yet, all the books I’ve bought that I haven’t read, all the relationships that I haven’t cherished, all the people I haven’t yet told I love you.
I think I’ll visit Ryerson CCF this Wednesday to share the story. I’m not that traumatized that I can’t drive, but realizing how GREAT a gift is this second chance I have been given that I need to live it to the fullest for Him–His will, His purposes. It is just so tragic that life requires such a near-death experience to change the person. I was listening to Francis Chan’s talk streamed from Passion07, and I am so humbled by the fact that God has called me His friend. There is no good reason in me to be chosen to be His, faithful and forgiven, but for His own purposes He has called me to be His own; it is all because He elected me unconditionally. And to sit here and type these very words, it is a gift of God… to still be alive and be His apostle, it is all by His will.
Thank you Lord for not letting go.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
During this whole ordeal, this song by Matt and Beth Redman has stuck in my heart:
You Never Let Go
Verse 1:
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
Your perfect love is casting out fear.
And even when I’m caught
in the middle of the storms of this life,
I won’t turn back, I know You are near.
PreChorus:
And I will fear no evil,
For my God is with me.
And if my God is with me,
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
CHORUS:
O no, You never let go,
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go,
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me.
Verse 2:
And I can see a light
that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare.
And there will be an end
to these troubles, But until that day comes,
We’ll live to know You here on the earth.
Bridge:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming
for the heart that holds on,
And there will be an end to these troubles,
but until that day comes,
Still I will praise You,
still I will praise You.
