Good Morning, Girlfriends!!
I want to talk to you today about...shadow puppets. Even now, as I'm sitting here typing this to y'all, I can see my shadow on the wall in front of me. The way our table lamps hits me, I would have the perfect opportunity to begin making shadow puppets. But, as I'm no expert on them, I'll tell you about someone who is. My oldest son Ethan, is eight, and he's REALLY good at being eight. Well, we sit on the second row on Sunday mornings at our church. We would sit on the front row, but that row is reserved for the pastors. Can you see where this might be going? We have terrific lighting in our new Sanctuary...lighting that hits the back of the pastors, and by extension us. My senior pastor is very tall man, robed in white, and the canvass he presents to my son, is simply too tempting. The first time I witnessed Ethan making shadow puppet animals on the back of Pastor Noack's robe I was horrified. I'd heard the people behind me giggling, but it had not occurred to me that WE were the reason why. All through that service, Ethan would tell me: "Look Mom, it's a butterfly. It's a mouse. It's a deer, of course it's not a real deer. Can we go hunting this year? Don't worry mom, my puppets are just shadows, they're not real." Until very recently, pastor was completely oblivious to the predicament I've been facing...and he's been "backing". I filled him in during preparations of this week's Thought. And, as the story goes...my mind began to circle.
Shadows...not real....wonder what the Bible has to say about that? I immediately thought of Psalm 23. The 23rd Psalm starts out in a very familiar way..."The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." It was meant to be a comfort to us. The LORD is standing watch over us, just as shepherd stood guard over his flocks. We are completely safe under His watchful eyes. However, when you keep reading the Psalm, you will come to verse 4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." Even though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death....you see, the psalmist knew that there would be dark days ahead. We live in a fallen and sinful world. But, the valley of the shadow of death, says to us that death will not have the final word in our lives. Death merely casts a shadow over us, something that seems very dark, and heavy, but in reality is a mere shadow. Those who have found hope in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, know that Death cannot hold us any longer. The power of the grave has been broken. It will cast a shadow over us, our loved ones, friends and family, but it will not hold us in its cold depths ever again. Jesus saw to that when He walked up the hill to Calvary. He was (is) the awesome power of God Almighty draped in human form. Nothing on the face of the earth or under this earth could have kept Him nailed to that Cross...nothing except my sin...and your sin...and His overwhelming love for us. He faced the power and fury of Hell, so that in Him, we would never have to. I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I've been walking in it. I've been to three funerals in the last two months, I've seen Death's shadow cast over my family and friends. But the shadow is just that...a shadow. I will see each one of those people, who died in Christ, again...when it's MY turn. I will fear no evil, because my God is with me, standing watch.
Some of Ethan's puppets looked very much like the animals he was trying to make. But just because they looked real, doesn't mean they are. What shadow is looming dark and dreadful over you today? Is it your job? Your family? Loneliness? You know, when you can see your shadow, that must mean that the light is behind you. I challenge you this week to turn around. Let the Light and love of Jesus Christ warm you from head to foot. When we focus our eyes on Him, we will not be shadowed by the darkness. Walk in the Light. Have a great week!
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14
I want to talk to you today about...shadow puppets. Even now, as I'm sitting here typing this to y'all, I can see my shadow on the wall in front of me. The way our table lamps hits me, I would have the perfect opportunity to begin making shadow puppets. But, as I'm no expert on them, I'll tell you about someone who is. My oldest son Ethan, is eight, and he's REALLY good at being eight. Well, we sit on the second row on Sunday mornings at our church. We would sit on the front row, but that row is reserved for the pastors. Can you see where this might be going? We have terrific lighting in our new Sanctuary...lighting that hits the back of the pastors, and by extension us. My senior pastor is very tall man, robed in white, and the canvass he presents to my son, is simply too tempting. The first time I witnessed Ethan making shadow puppet animals on the back of Pastor Noack's robe I was horrified. I'd heard the people behind me giggling, but it had not occurred to me that WE were the reason why. All through that service, Ethan would tell me: "Look Mom, it's a butterfly. It's a mouse. It's a deer, of course it's not a real deer. Can we go hunting this year? Don't worry mom, my puppets are just shadows, they're not real." Until very recently, pastor was completely oblivious to the predicament I've been facing...and he's been "backing". I filled him in during preparations of this week's Thought. And, as the story goes...my mind began to circle.
Shadows...not real....wonder what the Bible has to say about that? I immediately thought of Psalm 23. The 23rd Psalm starts out in a very familiar way..."The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." It was meant to be a comfort to us. The LORD is standing watch over us, just as shepherd stood guard over his flocks. We are completely safe under His watchful eyes. However, when you keep reading the Psalm, you will come to verse 4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." Even though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death....you see, the psalmist knew that there would be dark days ahead. We live in a fallen and sinful world. But, the valley of the shadow of death, says to us that death will not have the final word in our lives. Death merely casts a shadow over us, something that seems very dark, and heavy, but in reality is a mere shadow. Those who have found hope in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, know that Death cannot hold us any longer. The power of the grave has been broken. It will cast a shadow over us, our loved ones, friends and family, but it will not hold us in its cold depths ever again. Jesus saw to that when He walked up the hill to Calvary. He was (is) the awesome power of God Almighty draped in human form. Nothing on the face of the earth or under this earth could have kept Him nailed to that Cross...nothing except my sin...and your sin...and His overwhelming love for us. He faced the power and fury of Hell, so that in Him, we would never have to. I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I've been walking in it. I've been to three funerals in the last two months, I've seen Death's shadow cast over my family and friends. But the shadow is just that...a shadow. I will see each one of those people, who died in Christ, again...when it's MY turn. I will fear no evil, because my God is with me, standing watch.
Some of Ethan's puppets looked very much like the animals he was trying to make. But just because they looked real, doesn't mean they are. What shadow is looming dark and dreadful over you today? Is it your job? Your family? Loneliness? You know, when you can see your shadow, that must mean that the light is behind you. I challenge you this week to turn around. Let the Light and love of Jesus Christ warm you from head to foot. When we focus our eyes on Him, we will not be shadowed by the darkness. Walk in the Light. Have a great week!
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14
Hey sweetheart!
You circled that one around pretty good. I loved it!
Next Sunday, I'll show him how to use his thumbs to make two inch worms talk to each other....
It's a good canvas folks!!!
Posted by: Jeff Louis | 11/05/2009 at 09:41 AM
From here on out when I sit in the front row I will scoot real low in my seat so as not to present a tempting canvass.
Posted by: John Cordrey | 11/05/2009 at 10:49 AM
That was amazing, D~!
You have such a way with words!
I love you! Keep doing what you are doing!
Posted by: Olivia Rutledge | 11/05/2009 at 02:34 PM