The swallow’s nest was hidden Up above the bales of hay And as I opened up the door She quickly swooped away
She thinks it is not possible That I could be her friend Though it was I who built this barn Where each Spring she comes again
And can’t believe her little ones Are safe when I draw near Nor knows I listen with a smile When I their voices hear
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds Luke 12:24 NKJV
The Swallows Nest by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2024 - all rights reserved
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5 NIV
Now I lay me down to sleep I pray Thee Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray Thee Lord my soul to take Amen
When I was small, I remember my mom coming in almost every night and praying these words with me. I never really thought about their meaning, or wondered where they came from. It was just sort of the finish line for my day, where I crossed over from busyness to dreamland. About forty years later, when I was reading through Psalm Three, I suddenly realized to my astonishment, that the source of my mother’s prayer was in this prayer of King David. Here he is fleeing from an army, led by, not a foreign enemy, but by none other than his own son Absalom. Imagine David’s feelings. He must have been both sorrowful and discouraged as he realizes that after years of trying to figure out how to be a good father, he has utterly failed, and Absalom has completely missed the boat in his relationship both with David and with God. Then added to this, David must face the very real possibility that with Absalom’s army right on his heels that if things don’t go well, he and all his men might be killed in the morning. Whether we are facing situations far less dire than David’s, or if matters of life and death are on our doorstep, today’s verse offers us both encouragement and comfort. We can be encouraged because, if we belong to Jesus, we are His, both on earth and as well as in Heaven, and can pray in faith, “Now I lay me down to sleep” But we also can lie down in peace, even if things go terribly wrong, because whatever happens, God will sustain us. God has promised to be our strength, our friend and our deliverer in whatever lies ahead. I wrote a little poem yesterday, which though meant for children, could be every one of ours tonight, and I pray that God keep you safely in the palm of His nail pierced hand. He loves and cares for you and is calling you to come to Him!
Christ My All in All
Before I sleep I ask the Lord My soul to safely keep I tell Him that the road seems long And the hills rise up so steep
Then He tells me He has promised To lead the way ahead And tonight stay by my side While I lie in my bed
Then in the morning when the light Comes shining on my wall I trust Him that whatever comes Christ will be my all in all
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3 NIV
Whatever the origins of Swing Low Sweet Chariot, the song has come to be a melody of hope to everyone who senses that they are waiting for Jesus to come. I especially enjoy singing it with my friends at long term care facilities. I believe that many in our little congregation understand better than I the nearness of Heaven and the promises of Jesus. Contrary to legend, neither Saint Peter, nor the Archangel Michael come to take us home. Our only method of transportation from earth to Heaven will be in the arms of the Good Shepherd who will one day come for us all. Are you ready to meet Him? Can He claim you as one of His flock. For Him to call us by name as members of His flock in glory, we must call on Him to be our Lord right here, before the chariot comes. I do hope you enjoy our impromptu version of this classic spiritual. Have a blessed day all!
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