As I was reading this morning, I came across this scripture…Psalm 121.  I remembered a video (below) that I saw late last year and just thought of how it was speaking to me at the time. So much, that I was moved to buy a sky lantern and try it myself.

It was New Years Eve, we had a small get together of friends and family to celebrate the arrival of 2013.  I browsed the firework selection at Moss’ Mini Mart looking for some fireworks to cap off the evening.  I had Andrew with me and as he picked out some cool tanks and stuff with the eyes of an 8 year old in a store of stuff to blow up, I had one of those moments.  A Benji moment.  As I watched Andrew sorting through the bins and choosing what he thought would blow up the best, I just missed it…the two of them hanging out together.  Being boys.  Laughing.  Getting into trouble.  Goofballs.  And then I saw it.

To be honest,  I probably should have just bought whatever made the biggest explosion,  or the coolest effect.  That would have been more fitting.  LOL. But there it was, a sky lantern.  Instantly, I knew I would send it off for Benji.  Jump ahead to fireworks time, everyone is out, having a great time.  I envisioned this moment where we would set this lantern off and watch it rise majestically into the air.  It would be glorious and epic! Something like this…

Elevation Creative: Psalm 121 from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

Instead, the reality was a lot less artistic and majestic, but inevitably a whole lot more Benji. The wind pushed it where it wanted to go. We almost burned down the garage, but it finally settled into the top of tree behind it. It engulfed itself in flames and burned to the ground in a glorious heap of paper and burning wax as the kids cheered and ran over to see the fireball. It was epic all right…epic fail. One day, I’m going to ask Benji if he had anything to do with it. 🙂

This Psalm is so fitting with these video examples because of the ascent theme of each.  For me personally, verses 1-2 are the heart of it.   There many things in life we will will only get through with the help of the Lord.  By the end of 2011, my spirit was crushed and broken.  I honestly don’t know how people that don’t know the Lord as their personal Savior can do it?  The truth is, they can’t.  Alcohol, drugs, sex, self-abuse, suicide…these are just some of the tools of the enemy used to keep you from experiencing the freedom from his lies.  I know I tell you all the time that “God has an amazing plan for you!”, but it’s true.  As hard as 2011 was for me, he had an amazing future laid out ahead of me in 2012.  I just recently passed my one year anniversary with you fabulous bunch of  Aliens.  If I had fallen for the lies of the enemy and used his remedies for heartache and hard times, we wouldn’t have had that year together.  I would have missed out on so much.  I would have missed out on so much of God’s glory, mercy, healing, and grace.  And yes, I would have missed out on each of you.  He has a plan.  He always has a plan.  Don’t let your life become like my lantern fail, burning up in a fireball and crashing and burning to the ground. I love you guys.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

2My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

3He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

4indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5The Lordwatches over you—

the Lordis your shade at your right hand;

6the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7The Lordwill keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

8the Lordwill watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

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