Though I Fall
Posted By Phylicia on November 12, 2009 | No Comments
For the beginning of November, I was stunned at the beautiful weather we had here in Virginia. Sunday was 70 degrees and sunny, with several days before that being just as lovely. My roomie Lyndsey and I went up to Otter Lake and had a picnic and read out Revelation together (the picture at left was taken by the James River). But now the rain has swept in, as well as a near-freezing temperature, and the leaves are all but gone. I knew it was too good to be true!
Fall is a beautiful season, and I enjoyed it while it did last. As I thought about this season that comes and goes so quickly, I considered the word ‘fall’. I looked it up in my concordance and found a few verses that spoke to my heart.
“The steps of a woman are established by the Lord, when she delights in his way; though she fall, she shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds her hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24)
When Lyndsey and I stood on the bridge over Otter Creek, I tried to capture on film the falling leaves that shook down from the trees above. Each leaf spun into a graceful dance down to the tripping rills of the little stream, where it was caught up in the current and rushed out of view. As beautiful as that kind of fall appears, how dangerous it is for us spiritually! I realized that as soon as we let go of the Tree — our source of sustenance and security — we are spinning in midair with no where to go but downward. Once we continue the descent we are caught in a current of sin that spins us away from the place of peace we once knew.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father… Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-30)
The assurance that we have — a blessed assurance! — is that Christ will catch us as we fall, if we call on him for help. We are of far more worth than the hopeless, spinning leaf, or even a living sparrow. The Lord knows we are weak but he is as strong as our most difficult trial. There is no need to fall if we hold on to the Tree.
It has been too long since I wrote on this blog, and I am aspiring to begin writing again, early in the morning hours, so that I make time for those things that matter most! I will be posting as regularly as possible — with the exception of weekends — and hope for the best.
It has been on of those days. Not just one of ‘those’ days, but one those DAYS! It started out last night as I fell asleep over a broadcasting assignment that was due today. Then my phone rang five times in the three hours I slept (I have never been that popular), which by the final ring brought out an ungodly emotion in me that my roommates have probably never seen before. Apologies were necessary. I guess I was still tired because I slept through my alarm and through my English class as well, waking up just in time to race through the rest of my day.
What do you want most out of life? What do want most in life? In each of us there is a desire for something. It could be more money or financial stability, it could be a better education, it could be a spouse, or it could be a better car. Perhaps it’s not something tangible — maybe it’s good friendships that you desire, or peace about a decision to be made. Whatever it may be that instigates it, the bloom of hope inside you is the desire of your heart.
My first Sunday at Thomas Road Baptist Church, our worship leader, Charles Billingsley, announced to the crowd, “Today we’re going to learn a new song, so follow along, and we’ll get more familiar with it as time goes on.” The music began to play and I immediately recognized the melody as one of my favorite songs: ”I Have a Hope”.




