Walking Through the Shadow of Death A Song in the Valley

Walking Through the Shadow of Death

A Song in the Valley

Songs play a big role in our lives

Songs carry a message and effect what we believe

In my sister-in-law, Judy’s, seven month journey

Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death there was a song

Within days of Judy being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer

 Her daughter-in-law, Stacy, had made a recording of songs to encourage

Out of those songs one stood out above the rest

The song was by Mercy Me entitled, “Even If You Don’t”

This song became Judy’s theme song as well as those of us who love her

This song will forever remind us of our seven month journey

And how Judy and all of us kept our hope in the Lord

Sometimes the song was a cry

Sometimes it was a prayer

But always it was praise to the Lord  

May the Lord give you a song for every season of your life

Sing unto the Lord a new song Psalm 96

Judy’s theme song and the families in the Valley of Death

https://youtu.be/PT_X7daBsCo

A Song in the Valley

Songs are powerful.

Tunes come to mind with very little or no

prompting of what is going on around us.

The recorded music industry is the engine helping to drive a much broader music industry, worth more than US$130 billion globally. This is over three times the value of the recorded music sector, and shows music to have an economic importance that extends far beyond the scope of recorded music sales. 

Songs play a big role in our lives.

Songs carry a message and effect what we believe.

In my sister-in-law, Judy’s, seven month journey through

the Valley of the Shadow of Death there was a song.

At the time I was not too familiar with it.

Within days of Judy being diagnosed with

Pancreatic Cancer, her daughter-in-law, Stacy,

 had made a recording of songs to encourage.

Out of those songs one

stood out above the rest.

The song was by Mercy Me

entitled, “Even If you Don’t”.

The recording played over and over.

It seemed whenever the radio

was on, this song was playing.

I cannot tell you how many times

I heard Judy sing this song.

The recorded songs that Stacy put together, played

pretty much day and night through the seven month journey.

When “Even If You Don’t” came up,

 family and friends in the room would

start singing or humming with the song.

Many times it was with tears,

 but always giving strength to all of us.

The words reminded us of our hope

even when we could see no hope.

Here are the words…

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

You've been faithful, You've been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
‘Cause I know You're able
I know You can

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Songwriters: Bart Millard / Ben Glover /

Crystal Lewis / David Garcia / Tim Timmons

Yes, God is able.

Yes, I feel the sorrow and pain.

But even if you do not deliver me,

my hope will be in You alone.

It is well with my soul.

The story of Shadrach, Meshach

and Abednego came alive to us.

We did not know if God would

deliver us out or through the fire.

But like the three Hebrews,

 our hope was in the Lord.

This song will forever remind us of our

seven month journey and how Judy and her

family and friends kept their hope in the Lord.

Sometimes the song was a cry,

something it was a prayer,

 but always it was praise to the Lord.

  

May the Lord give you a song

for every season of your life.

Sing unto the Lord a new song.

Judy’s theme song and the families in the Valley of Death

https://youtu.be/PT_X7daBsCo

Scripture Reading

Psalm 96:1-3 NIV

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Daniel 3:16-18 NIV

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."