Two songs, one anthem

On a recent Sunday morning, one of the worship songs was “Shout to the Lord”. That song will always hold an exceedingly dear place in my heart. When I was a little girl, my church at the time learned sign language to worship in this song. This song will always bring tender memories of my mom, my sister, my friends, older women of the church, my dad, and myself just loving this song and loving the Lord through our worship in it.

However, on this Sunday morning, I smiled as I sang along, thinking how dear this song has been to me and thanking the Lord for the present state I find myself. My mom loves Psalm 16:6 that says, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

My mind kept going to the Lyrics of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”. Another internal smile happened as I thought of Mrs. Rachel Lynde, from the Anne of Green Gables series, who often said one should only think holy thoughts on Sunday, and since that song is patriotic but no a hymn, I ought not be thinking about it in the pew. We could discuss Mrs. Rachel Lynde in detail, but we shall not.

Some of the lyrics to the aforementioned patriotic song are ,“If tomorrow all the things were gone. I worked for all my life. And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife. I’d thank my lucky star to be livin’ here today cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away. And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me. And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, ‘cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the USA” (Punctuation and capitalization edited by me for clarity.)

As the worship song went on, “My Jesus, my Savior, Lord, there is none like You. All of my days, I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love. My comfort, my shelter tower of refuge and strength. Let every breath, all that I am never cease to worship You. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing. Power and majesty, praise to the King. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name. I sing for joy at the work of Your hands. Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.”

You might be thinking, how are these two songs connected and where is the spiritual tie in coming? Allow me to explain. Both songs are such and anthem of love and devotion. Both declare a fervent commitment to be known by their love of something. Each song is dedicated to the pillar of freedom that has given them the possibility of being free and declaring adoration for it.

Over the years, you, my beloved readers, have watched the ebb and flow of my life. You know when I am healthy and when I am hurting. You know when I am resolute and when I am fighting against worry. You know when I am crying out for grace and mercy, and when I am walking in resilience. Both songs hit like an anthem for how my spirit feels lately. As Anne Shirely, from the Anne of Green Gables series, often betook herself to calm fields and woods flowering with radiant blossoms, and there she felt gratitude for many things. So does my spirit find itself in pleasant places and giving thanks.

Let me share a personalized rendition. Several months ago, I felt as Greenwood’s lyrics said starting all over with the conviction that change was of God, and I had the support of my husband. The song

says the flag still stands for freedom and my rendition says: the Bible and the church still stand for freedom and the enemy can’t take that away. (whether it’s freedom of fear or economics or opinion. The Lord sets us free.) Greenwood continues, I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me. I would alter this to say, I am humbled and grateful to be a Christ-follower. I want His light to shine from within me. And I will not forget the One, perfect Man who died for me and gave me His righteousness though I was still a sinner and separated from the Father. The chorus of the song ends with, I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, ‘cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the USA” To finish my adaptation I would say, I will gladly testify to His redeeming love and work in my life. I can trust Him with anything and everything. He needs no defense, but He can have my voice. I love Him and desire to make Him known. Thank the Lord for His blessed work and the hope we have in Jesus.