Ella Fitzgerald

     Ella Fitzgerald spoke to me today. I was sitting in my chair at the office minding my own business and she just sat there on my desk and spoke right to me...or at least it felt that way. I like to listen to music from the 1920s and 30s. I long for the "simple" days where people didn't watch TV but they gathered around the radio or put on one of the family records to listen to the greats like Ella, Duke, Dizzy, and Benny. The tragedy of this story is that I don't have a record from this golden age of music much less a record player to play it on. Sad. Nonetheless, I heard a word from Ella today.

  
     As much as I try to make reading Scripture the primary way I hear from the Lord, He usually speaks to me through music. I guess that's why I love it so. Singing. Playing. Listening. God can really just crawl all over me in a good song.
     Today, as I sat in my chair looking at the Sunday School lesson and I clicked on the tracks downloaded to my computer from Mrs. Fitzgerald. She began to sing about the longing in her heart for love. A man to hold her, care for her, and watch over her. Making her his own was what she longed for. He carries the key to her heart. She sings of this man that will watch over her not as though she needs someone to restrict her, but to free her.
Jesus Christ, ransomed His life for us. We, caught in sin,  were separated from God bound to wander in the wilderness like a sheep without a shepherd. Like an Israelite without a home. Moses, as he broke through the cloud of smoke on Mt. Sinai, came down to find the people terrified of hearing from the Lord. They had seen his power displayed in the smoke, lightening and thunder and they would not even approach the mountain! Moses spoke up in Exodus 20:20 saying, "Do not be afraid, God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." God did not want the people to ever forget what they had seen at the mountain. He wanted them to always remember His bigness and the power of His greatness. They could learn the hard way, not follow the Lord's commands and feel first hand the consequences of sin... or trust Him.
     This week in Sunday school we are pleading with the kids to trust the Lord. Don't "try" something that they know is wrong so they can "experience life". True life is the freedom that comes with a protector that holds the key to our heart. With a shepherd. With "Someone to watch, over me."

It may be out of left field. It may not be way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan
 “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b