In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, “Like Lightning and Thunder” from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 1." That mp3 is available at https://www.dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2353 The lyrics can be found below.
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You will find the show notes and lyrics below:
Hello and welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. Here in Oklahoma we have more than our fair share of storms - especially in the springtime. More than our fair share of tornadoes. I know. I know. We live right in the smack dab middle of Tornado Alley so what should we expect?
This week’s song is called Like Lightning and Thunder and the story behind it is probably not one you might expect. I was on a 40 day fast in May and June of 2010 and I was experiencing many major storms of life. Let’s just say that I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed by life. The storms seemed to be raging out of control and I did not know what to do.
I then began to meditate on Psalm 40 along with Isaiah 40 as a means of helping me stay focused on the fast and my need for the Lord to intervene and restore me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. On may 10, 2010 - day 8 of the fast - I happened to be meditating on Psalm 40 verse 5a which says:
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us [plans for us].
As I began to meditate on this passage of Scripture - began to just mull it over in my mind - I kept getting stuck on the phrase ‘many are the wonders which you have done’ and for some reason, I was reminded of something I did quite a few times when my children were still at home. During some of those springtime tornado storms I mentioned earlier, I would often load my children into our 15 passenger van and we would go storm chasing. Don’t bother calling child protective services. They are all grown and out of the house now and actively seeking therapy for these episodes.
Seriously, I wanted the children to have a healthy fear of the power of those storms, but I also wanted them to develop a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty and creativity and power of God’s love being demonstrated right before our eyes. With every bolt of lightning, we oohed and aahed about how massive or how beautiful the display was…at how creative God was in the way no two lightning bolts were ever the same…at how some would flare out into dozens of streams streaking across the sky while still others seemed to crash directly into the earth with one incredibly intense impact.
We marveled at the way in which some thunder seemed to all along as if it were bouncing off of the clouds seeming to echo for several seconds while still other claps of thunder would sound as if a bomb had just exploded very near the van. I taught them how to estimate how near the lightning strike actually was by teaching them that if you count five seconds between a lightning strike and the thunder that follows it, that means lightning is just one mile away. I thoroughly enjoyed these storm chases and enjoyed watching my children overcome their fears and begin to see with eyes of wonder - even in a storm.
And then it dawned on me. I needed to learn to see the spiritual and mental and emotional storms of life
in much the same way as I saw a physical storm. Rather than being overwhelmed and overcome by the storms of life, I could step back while in the midst of these storms and see them from God’s point of view. The song Like Lightning and Thunder was born that day and I recorded it just as you will hear it. I added the storm sounds later from a recording of a storm I sat through while on the front porch of our house. This song gives me a much greater appreciation of the magnitude of God’s power and creativity…and it does something very healing in my soul.
[Psa 135:6-7 NIV] 6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. 7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
I love that passage from the Psalms. It brings a strange kind of calm to my soul. I know I share quite a bit about one of the storms that I am now encountering in my life. Parkinson’s. I am honestly feeling my body and my mind losing ground at times, but I feel somehow sustained by the fierceness and the fury of this storm because it causes me to lift my wings of faith and rather than being blown about by these relentless and strong winds, I spread my wings of faith and use those very same winds to help me rise above the pain and suffering and see the beauty of the storm.
I see the beauty in the way my children help me find the humor and joy in this storm. I see beauty in the way my grandchildren take it in stride and argue about which one gets to hold my party hand - the one that tremors almost constantly. I see beauty in the way my wife cares for me even when I feel like I am a burden to her. I see beauty in the way people treat me with kindness and patience when they notice me tremoring or having a difficult time getting my words out. I see beauty knowing my God is walking through this storm with me. Heck, I find beauty in the fact that I still have the capacity to be creative and write and that my writing still sounds coherent and seems helpful to people.
I encourage you to take the time to watch a storm as it passes over you and around you - from the safety of your home, of course - and look for God’s handiwork. I honestly find storms to be amazing and beautiful. Why not live our lives with that sense of wonder? Why not look for something to be grateful for when we go through such storms? I guarantee you and are never alone - even in the most
devastating storms of life - and that does my soul good.
Before I say goodbye for this week, I would humbly ask you to consider getting a copy of my brand new book titled Parkinson's & Recreation 2 - No Walk in the Parkinson’s. I bare my soul in this book as to how I am dealing with Parkinson’s and I believe it will encourage you whether you have Parkinson’s or not. I really do. It's available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook. And if you wouldn't mind doing this for me: once you have read the book, would you consider going back to the place you purchased it online and leaving me a five star review?
I have to share a couple of quick reviews from those it has already received reviews from on Amazon.com.
GO writes: Inspirational and encouraging book. This is a wonderful uplifting book. I highly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed.
CR writes: 5.0 out of 5 stars It is life stories and Jernigan history mixed with how they deal with Parkinsons. I have read both of these and love his sense of humor and steadfast faith in God’s love no matter what happens. The second book recalls events from his life in the public eye, again remembering humorous episodes.”
Please consider reading the book,Parkinson's & Recreation 2 - No Walk in the Parkinson’s, and please consider telling others about it, if you don’t mind. That would help me out tremendously.
Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast! For more about my journey, music, and updates, visit dennisjernigan.com. Stay connected by following me on Facebook, Instagram, and enjoy my music on various streaming platforms. If you'd like to support this podcast's creation or the many various ways I still seek to minister the life and love of Jesus to others, consider joining my team at www.patreon.com/dennisjernigan.
If you're looking for the mp3 of the song “Like Lightning and Thunder" from the album "Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 1," head over to the store at dennisjernigan.com or find it on your favorite streaming service.
Remember this from today's episode: we can either be overwhelmed by the storms of life or we can use them to tap into the rich beauty and amazing power of God’s love in our lives - even with a storm like Parkinson’s thrown into the mix. My plan? To minister to the needs of others in spite of Parkinson’s by continuing to trust in the Lord. Now, go and be who your heavenly Father says you are.
Vol. I – Song Eight – Day Eight
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us [plans for us].
Psalm 40:5a NASB
Like Lightning & Thunder
Words & Music by Dennis Jernigan
Received on May 10, 2010
Psalm 40:5a
©2010 Shepherd’s Heart Music, Inc./Dennis Jernigan
Verse
Many are the wonders you have done
Many are the thoughts you have toward us
Great and awesome are your works
Many are the wonders you perform
Many are the cold hearts you have warned
Great and awesome are your works
Pre Chorus 1
Like lightning in the storm, a mother and a child,
A lion and its roar, a river running wild,
Like courage facing fear, a tender loving kiss,
Two faces drawing near, the joy of being missed
Chorus
Like lightning and thunder, life is resounding
Like lightning and thunder, your love is astounding
Like lightning and thunder, in power and glory
Like lightning and thunder, your love wrote my story
Like lightning and thunder, the fact that you love me
Like lightning and thunder, constantly thinking of me
Like lightning and thunder, Your blood washed me and cleaned me
Like lightning and thunder, in love You redeemed me
How great you are
How great your wonders are to me
Verse
Many are your wonders great and small
Oceans running deep or mountains tall
Great and awesome are your works
Many are the wonders of your love
There is nothing greater I know of
Great and awesome are your works
Pre Chorus 2
Like laughter in the rain, stars across the night
A kiss to ease the pain, the twinkle of a night
Like blooming of a rose, a true and faithful friend
Like watching children grow, like love that never ends
Chorus
Like lightning and thunder, life is resounding
Like lightning and thunder, your love is astounding
Like lightning and thunder, in power and glory
Like lightning and thunder, your love wrote my story
Like lightning and thunder, the fact that you love me
Like lightning and thunder, constantly thinking of me
Like lightning and thunder, Your blood washed me and cleaned me
Like lightning and thunder, in love You redeemed me
How great you are
How great your wonders are to me
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