Over the Hill

 Listen to this medley of songs from my absolute fave Christian band from my teen and college years.  It was the mid-1970s into the 1980s. There's a reason I'm meditating on this group of songs today. (click on the link to learn about them......if you were into the Jesus movement as a teen in the 1970s, you probably know their music). Pay mindful attention to the lyrics. 

My oldest girl came over last weekend (she lives in an apartment not far from our home) to help clean out the basement (most of it was childhood stuff, seasonal decor, bins of books and music).  We found this CD. 

 It was mine from when I was a newlywed.  An old "friend" had mailed it to me. He was a former youth group leader at the church camp I went to every year from 1967-1977.  He was one of the people who led me to Christ. He was also a pedophile. Many of you know my story.  Or at least parts of it. I won't go into that here.  One day I will share the entire testimony.  I'm not quite ready for that! I had never listened to it although trust me, I knew every single song on that cd. I knew the songs because I had every.single.album the 2nd Chapter of Acts ever made. 

 There were reasons I tossed the CD aside back in 1990.....but this time?  I took it to my car to listen to on the way out to the central part of New York State last week where my life began.  And where my life drastically changed in 1975. I "had" to listen to this Cd as I knew in my heart it would be a huge stepping stone on my path of wholeness and freedom in Christ. 

I popped it in as I was driving west on the NYS Thruway just past the city to the west of our home.  As I came up to one of the infamous hills,  I felt my hands clench hard on the steering wheel.  I was remembering a time in 1977.....when I was 17....and he was with me on a trip....and this music was playing....and we pulled over to an apple orchard on the road that parallels the Thurway.  I decided to get off at the next exit and find that spot.  It's hard to find now but you have to go over the crest of the hill. And that's when the song from the above Medley came on (When the Son comes over the Hill).  And yup...you guessed it.  The sun.....that glorious bright orb in a deep cold blue sky, came up and over the hill.  It literally took my breath away.  I pulled over and said "God. .....YOU are  the One that brings me true Love, and Peace, and Freedom".  I had remembered what my counselor-friend had told me so very long ago....it's been almost 30 years now....she said to always remember TRUTH.  Satan wants us to believe lies. Boy, does he ever.  I was facing that old thought pattern of "why didn't he really love me? "  I literally had to say the words out loud:  He didn't love me.  He didn't love D----. (my friend who also is one of the survivors).  He didn't love E------.  He was a pedophile. Pedophiles don't love.  Jesus loves me.  I'm washed clean by His blood and I'm a daughter of the King. God will never leave me nor forsake me.  He loves unconditionally.  He doesn't need to buy me gifts to make me love Him..because He sent me the greatest Gift of all:  Jesus.  My Savior and Redeemer.".

Now, this was huge for me.  For over 30 years I have avoided going that particular route to where my younger sister lives.  Last week, I faced it.  And as the sun came over the hill, it dispelled the dark clouds that had started to gather as I headed west just like the Light of His Love was dispelling the darkness in my soul.....  and the lyrics were perfect as I got to that part of the song:

"I heard the Word at night, speak to darkness with His Light.  Not a shadow will return for all darkness shall be burned.  And the Son comes over the hill." 

Any darkness left in my soul  is chased away by the ShadowChaser Himself.....the Light of Life. 

And all darkness...all evil....shall be burned up in hell. 

If you have things from your past casting shadows on your soul, bring them to light....and let the Son drive the darkness away.