SHILOH MESSENGER - June 2023
















Heart Rhythm

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

We recently received an invitation to hear a Musical Arrangement composed by one of the Shiloh Interns. As we sat in the Shiloh Chapel, being fully engaged, we beheld the manifestation of a creative piece of art that God had gifted this young man with… It was indeed an array of mixed emotions, with a whole lot going on. The sun was shining through the Chapel windows with such a strength as the music began with a peaceful presentation. It was but a few moments later that the sun went in hiding as clouds covered it, and the musical sound changed almost in verbatim as the Chapel Atmosphere shifted. The music that was now coming forth took on a more somber portrayal. This somberness lasted only a bit and then suddenly the musical notes began to climb once again in a robust and joyful expression with light returning. It was quite a creative arrangement for sure. As we sat there taking this in, we could hear these words in the depth of us…. HEART RHYTHM. This Young man had recently experienced a major loss in his life. His Mom had lost her battle with Cancer. This would be his first Mother’s Day without her… and trust us … he is a Mama’s Boy. As we sat and took hold of this moment, this priceless invitation from him… We sensed his heart…. We asked this Intern had he named this piece of music that The Lord had allowed him the gift to create. He replied, “No not yet.” He stated he began the composition while his mom was still with him, and he finished it after her passing. We then told him that we sensed very strongly it should be titled HEART RHYTHM. This musical arrangement came forth with the different highs, lows, and even that which is in between of the heart, and its multiple expressions in the varying seasons of the soul. He sensed peace with HEART RHYTHM. He felt that even in the midst of moments of reflection and sadness, He truly can rest in….. It is not a goodbye to his mom, but a see you later…. This is the blessed assurance for those who are redeemed and follow Christ. In talking with so many people on a regular basis, it is evident that many are going through some of the greatest challenges that they have faced yet… and others seemingly are skirting through this life with such a renewed strength of a greater joy, and still yet… there are others... that are right there in between. We each will have these differing Seasons of the Soul that will emerge at various times. We do not know when one season will end and another will come. We can each be assured that nothing remains the same... It is wise when we can each purpose to be ready in each season to lean upon HIM and glean with our aim to become more conformed to HIS Image. Each Season of the Soul, even in times when the clouds are hiding the sun…. It is a beautiful orchestration of life that has been woven together by THE GREAT COMPOSER. We reflect on the words penned from Solomon in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born, & a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted, a time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to break down, and a time to build up, a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to seek, and a time to lose, a time to keep, and a time to cast away, a time to tear, and a time to sew, a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” What Season of The Soul are you in Beloved? What are you learning from the journey? Even in the rough rides of life, there still can be the reassurance of Smooth sailing even through the somberness. It is possible to have both. The evidence is clear with painful challenges of life at different intervals... but also very much so, there is the manifestation of HIS Multiplied Grace on display. We love the deep HEART RHYTHM of the words that were penned by Horatio Spafford. “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL” This well-known hymn was penned under a time of deep distress. It seems that our deepest expressions of our soul are in times when we are challenged the most. Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago with a lovely family, a wife and 5 children. They were not strangers to tears and tragedy. Their young son died with pneumonia in 1871, and in that same year, much of the business was lost in the Great Chicago fire, yet God in HIS Mercy and kindness allowed the business to flourish once more. On November 21, 1873, the French ocean Liner, Ville du Havre was crossing the Atlantic from the U.S. to Europe with 313 Passengers on Board. Among the Passengers were Mrs. Spafford and their four Daughters. Although Mr. Spafford had planned to go with his family, he felt it necessary to stay in Chicago to help solve an unexpected business problem. He planned to join them later. The Ship collided with another Ship 4 days into the Voyage and Spafford’s four daughters died. His Wife survived the horrific tragedy. The lyrics of this powerful and beloved hymn was penned by Spafford during that deep distressing time. “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” We do not get to choose and pick what a season looks like, or how long it may last. But We are offered the gift of HIS Amazing Grace. In every Season of the soul for The Follower of Christ even thou the darkness may hide HIS FACE, We can trust in HIS unchanging Grace. It is indeed a Magnificent Composition, HEART RHYTHM.


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