A Spring of Joy

Glimpses of our world…

Wednesday Worship: You Never Let Go

Today my world came crashing down yet again.

The ultrasound of my neck showed a 1 cm nodule in my left thyroid bed. My endocrinologist is moving quickly to contact the surgeon to schedule surgery and biopsy. I don’t know much other than that right now.

This I do know. God hasn’t changed.

As I drove to pick up my boys from their Art and Music classes this afternoon, the song that immediately came on the iPod was Matt Redman’s “You Never Let Go” from his Beautiful News album. God knew I needed to hear it, that I needed to be reminded that He is holding me and will never let me go. I have a lot of fear right now. A lot of questions and a lot of unknowns again.

But as I walk through yet another valley, this is the truth that I will cling to; that He is near, that there is a day coming when all these troubles will end.

Until that day.

Still I will praise Him.

You Never Let Go

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Bible reference: Psalm 23
Matt and Beth Redman c2006 Thankyou Music
(administered worldwide by EMI CMG Publishing,
excluding the UK which is administered by
Kingswaysongs.com)

angie

October 22, 2008

The Doctor’s Office, The Music Conservatory

17 responses to “Wednesday Worship: You Never Let Go”

Rochelle

October 22, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Dear one, how my heart is aching with yours tonight! I pray God’s love to envelop you, Brian, your children, espeically little sick Audrey, and all your family. May His calm, His comfort, and His grace be yours during this time of uncertainty! Lots of love, Rochelle

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Karen Mirabella

October 22, 2008 at 6:18 pm

angie, i have been thinking about you today knowing that you have a sick little girl since i have one, too…..i hate that there is more to weigh heavy on your heart right now and will pray hard that Satan will not get a foothold in your mind and heart through the unknown.
love you,
karen

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Natalie

October 22, 2008 at 8:16 pm

10 days can’t come soon enough! Since reading the book, ‘A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23’ a whole new light has been shed upon Psalm 23 and the image of Jesus as our Shepherd. As our Shepherd, he was willing to lay his life down for His sheep. Everyday, He was willing to do this. And still, everyday He will never let Go or cease to watch over and rule His flock. He knows the health of EVERY sheep in His flock…..that includes you!! I also love the part of book that talks about walking THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. Yes, you are in an especially dark valley right now, but have faith, you will walk THROUGH it. And Jesus, as your Shepherd, will walk through it with you. Every step of the way.

I love you Angie. I’m praying for you.

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Monica

October 22, 2008 at 8:28 pm

After your call today I found this Jars of Clay song and played it over and over. Oh how our hearts are knit together in ways we cannot humanly explain, dear one. I want to run to you tonight–get in my car and drive just to hug you and hold you and pray with you. God loves you. I love you. XO Moni K

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I’m crying out to you

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death like a Gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear you aren’t listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness and the hunger
For a faith that assures

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

Yeah

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia alleluia, alleluia

Oh, Lord sing of Your mercy,
Mercy
Your mercy

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Mom

October 22, 2008 at 8:29 pm

Oh my dear sweet Angie,

My heart is so sad tonight with the news that you shared with me today. I am praying for you and your sweet family. When I was at Women’s Conference this past weekend there was a duet that was sung and the words to it were very dear to me then and now are even more dear to me. May God use them for comfort in your life.

He’s Always Been Faithful

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Morning by morning I wake up to find the power and comfort of God’s hand in mine.
Season by season I watch Him amazed in awe of the mystery of his perfect ways.
All I have need of His hand will provide.
He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or pain He did not recycle to bring me gain.
I can’t remember one single regret in serving God only and trusting His hand.
All I have need of His hand will provide.
He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song. The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long;
God has been faithful, he will be again. His loving compassion, it knows no end.
All I have need of His hand will provide.
He’s always been faithful; He’s always been faithful;
He’s always been faithful to me.

Text and Music: Sara Groves

I love you so!
Mom

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Melissa Bruining Teeter

October 22, 2008 at 9:13 pm

I love you and am praying for you. . .

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Sarah Wingard

October 22, 2008 at 10:35 pm

I love you Angie and I’m praying for you. Remember that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. He is good and always faithful. I love you so much.

~Sarah

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Mike

October 23, 2008 at 7:31 am

Dear, sweet, baby sister!

How my heart ached with sadness when Sherry called me with the news last night! I am so sorry to hear of this turn of events in your life.

We often don’t know why God does the things that He does, but we do know that He is sovereign. May God’s own words in Romans 8:28-39 comfort you during this difficult time.

We are praying for you!

Love always,
Mike

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Kristin M.

October 23, 2008 at 7:52 am

You are precious, and you are loved, Angie.

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Julie Pizzino

October 23, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Dearest Angie,
My heart is running to the Father for and with you. You are so precious to Him. I pray you will feel His arms around you, that He will shield you from Satan’s fiery darts, especially that one so effective in my life, that “God is not good…if He were, life would not be like this.” Just this morning at Bible study we were reminded of that quote from C.S. Lewis in Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, that Aslan is not safe, but He is good. You are, to quote Mark Buchanan, in the Holy Wild with Him. May His goodness and mercy pursue you all the days of your life in felt ways. We love you hard, dear one.

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Brooke

October 23, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Angie, Your trust in God during this time is a light in this dark world. My heart is also heavy with this news and turns me to the Lord to lift up you and your family. May others be drawn to know Him deeper through your light. May God bring you comfort during this time and may you be led forth with peace.

Isaiah 55

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Jacquie

October 24, 2008 at 8:09 am

Oh Angie,

I’ll be praying for you sweet sister. I love you. I wish I were in Harrisonburg so I could come over to your house and give you a huge hug. I really wish that more than anything.

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maretta

October 24, 2008 at 9:29 am

O Father, You are Sovereign

1. O Father, you are sovereign in all the worlds you made;
your mighty word was spoken and light and life obeyed.
your voice commands the seasons and bounds the ocean’s shore,
sets stars within their courses and stills the tempest’s roar.

2. O Father, you are sovereign in all affairs of man;
no pow’rs of death or darkness can thwart your perfect plan.
All chance and change transcending, supreme in time and space,
you hold your trusting children secure in your embrace.

3. O Father, you are sovereign the Lord of human pain,
transmuting earthly sorrows to gold of heav’nly gain.
All evil overruling, as none but conqu’ror could,
your love pursues its purpose-our souls’ eternal good.

4. O Father, you are sovereign! We see you dimly now,
but soon before your triumph earth’s every knee shall bow.
With this glad hope before us our faith springs up anew:
our sovereign Lord and Savior, we trust and worship you!

Text: Margaret Clarkson, 1982

Music: Melchior Teschner, 1615

(You may recognize the tune as the one we use to

sing “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” a traditional Palm Sunday hymn)

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Chanley

October 24, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Dearest Angie,

All I can say is look forward to that Perfect Day! And shouldn’t we all? I have been struck with that recently how material minded we are and always tend to be. How hard it is to force our minds on eternal things. I think sometimes how difficult it would be to face cancer. It could be my lot very easily. With Mom & my Grandmother both having breast cancer in the past, Tanya & I are double risk! I’ve probably told you this before. I have been getting mammograms yearly for several years now. I read these verses this morning: talking of God being on our side Ps. 124:1ff “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side… vs. 8 “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Ps. 125 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.”
I pray this one for you Ps. 125:4 “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.”
May God’s peace be yours today & forever!!! God will take care of you, dear Angie, until your dying day. We look for a better day: no more sorrow, no more pain, sin, frustration–blessed thoughts only for those in Christ!

Love you and praying for you,

Chanley

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Kristen@nosmallthing

October 25, 2008 at 4:28 am

Oh Angie, I have only “known” you for a short while, but my heart aches for you friend. But your faith in God is beautiful, and I hope that it will help pull you out of your sadness, out of your fear.

Praying for you, and thinking of you today, this rainy October day.

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susan hart

October 25, 2008 at 9:41 am

not sure you can remember me and our family, angie, but you and i had good talks years ago. and lately, i have been reminded of you and yours again and am being constantly blessed and challenged by the things i am reading on your blog. this is the real world, isn’t it? why did we always think it was something else? this is where Jesus is–walking with us in our suffering, just as we enter into His. so why do we always want it to be different and “easy”? HE IS HERE!
i have your list of requests above my kitchen sink, and God helping me, i will continue to call to our God on your behalf.
much love because HE IS HERE,
susan

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Emma Henkel

October 27, 2008 at 8:29 pm

Dear One,

My heart is heavy for you tonight. May you know the sweet comfort of your heavenly Father during this time. I love you very much and continue to uphold you in prayer before the One who loves you very much.

Love Ya,
Emma

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