"Precious Child" by Karen Taylor-Good
In my dreams you are alive and well,
precious child, precious child
In my mind I see you clear as a bell,
precious child, precious child
In my soul there is a hole
that can never be filled.
But in my heart there is hope
'cause you are with me still.
In my heart you live on,
always there, never gone.
Precious child you left too soon
and though it may be true
that we're far apart,
you will live forever in my heart.
In my plans I was the first to leave,
precious child, precious child
But in this world I was left here to grieve,
precious child, my precious child.
In my soul there is a hole
that can never be filled.
But in my heart there is hope
and you are with me still.
In my heart you live on,
always there never gone.
Precious child you left too soon
and though it may be true
that we're far apart,
you will live forever in my heart.
God knows I want to hold you,
see you, touch you.
And surely there's a heaven,
so someday I will again.
Please know you're not forgotten until then.
In my heart you life on,
always there, never gone.
Precious child you left too soon
and though it may be true
that we're far apart,
you will live forever in my heart.
I came across this song when helping my sister find a song for a funeral. Amanda is very talented and has written choreography many times for our church's liturgical dance team. On this particular occasion, she was dancing for an even harder event--the service to celebrate the life of a young girl. Mattie was a special friend to the Burrow family that my nephew, Layton, met while at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
When Mattie relapsed for the last time, her parents began planning for the service. They asked Amanda to dance for the service. When I came across this song, I sat and listened and cried. Never had I felt such deep sorrow as when we experienced the loss of our niece, Erynn Lee Hebert. This song reopened those still fresh, deep wounds.
I have not spoken in depth about just how exactly the loss of one of her twin daughters made my sister-in-law feel. However, this song has to come close to some of those feelings. I know the words rang true to this broken heart of an aunt.
As the year anniversary of Erynn's death approached, this song found its way into my lap by way of a book with songs for funerals. As I read the words again, I found myself shedding tears. I found myself struggling, wanting to know answers to some of life's most difficult questions. I had not felt this type of feelings until Layton's illness.
As a grown woman and mother, I found myself struggling with my own faith as I sat at Layton's bedside and watched him fight for his life. I can remember wishing for the faith of a child--to be able to just let go and trust, without effort, that God would take care of it all.
How could a God who loves His children allow them to suffer like this? The cliches of "what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger" angered me so much. All of those questions I thought I, as a Christian, would never ask suddenly surged up from within my deepest hiding places. I wanted to know why about everything. I felt my faith falter and suddenly felt lost despite my lifelong acceptance of Christ as my Savior.
As Layton recovered and went into remission for his lukemia at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, I felt somewhat strengthened in my faith. I had never really considered myself to be a "fair weather" Christian, but it was sort of looking like that was the definition of me. I still had weak spots when it came to following the stories of Layton's friends. Three of the five of that group that began treatment together for various illness have passed away. The question of why one child but not another rang over and over in my head.
That question hit home one year ago on November 23rd when our niece, Erynn Lee, died after a struggle with illness. But this time the question was more personal to me. It was so difficult to celebrate the miracle of Layton when faced with the tragedy of Erynn. I really wanted to know the answer to the question of ,"Why does God take one child but not another?"
The answer will never be found. But, I take comfort in the promises found in the Book of Revelation--there will be no more night, no more pain, no more suffering, no more illness, no more cancer...WE WILL LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE LAMB! Like the song said, God knows our hurt and pain, our sorrows and our losses. He sees every tear we cry and knows our hearts. The promise of our faith is that, though we temporarily lose loved ones in death, we will live forever with them in a new Earth, a new Jerusalem.
Nothing can fill the void left behind by the death of a loved one, especially by the death of a child. But, we do have hope for a future with them in the presence of our Lord. I pray for any of you who may have experienced such a loss that you may find peace in the promises of the Word. Know that it's okay to get mad at God, know that it's okay to ask Him those tough questions. But also know that whatever amount your heart hurts, His hurts just as much if not more. We are His children, so when we hurt, He does too! Lean wholly on Him for His shoulders are strong and carry whatever the load. He will get you through the pain and hurt and loss. Remember His promises to us for our futures together in Heaven.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Forgiven
What a powerful, stand-alone kind of word! Have you ever thought of the force behind it? It has been a magnet of sorts for me. i have been extremely drawn to the topic especially since last spring. If you think about it, forgiveness is the central theme throughout our faith. We received the ultimate forgiveness when Christ gave His life for the sins of mankind--the sins of the past, the sins of the present, and the sins yet to come. What a responsibility and what an awesome gift for us!
But with the gift of being forgiven, we also have a responsibility to forgive ourselves and others. While I have to admit that I find it difficult at times, I sometimes am more challenged in forgiving myself. I even find difficulty in accepting forgiveness from others. I sometimes fight that feeling of not being good enough for/worthy enough of forgiveness. it is so much more difficult to accept TOTAL forgiveness from our Heavenly Father.
In all honesty, we did NOTHING to deserve it. It was a gift given to us, His children, through the grace offered by His Son's sacrifice. WOW! Talk about really making me feel humble. God gives His forgiveness freely to undeserving me. All I have to to is accept it with the understanding that I will not only improve my actions but will also show the same grace to others. In a sense, forgiveness is sort of the gift that keeps giving. Perhaps by forgiving someone, that person can then forgive someone else. Or, maybe that person needs your forgiveness to be able to forgive himself/herself.
It seems so simple, right? But then why do I struggle so much with it? I don't really have any definite answers. But, maybe you also struggle with forgiveness. i know that for me, I sometimes fight with my own self; I continue to hold my past over my own head. Why? I don't know. But what I do know is that I cannot fully accept forgiveness if I can't let go of my own short comings. And if I can't accept forgiveness, how can I truly expect to offer it? It seems to be a round and round cycle of sorts. So, my solution...PRAY!!!
I need to pray daily for all areas pertaining to forgiveness--accepting it, offering it, asking for it. When I was battling with so many issues this past spring, a Sanctus Real song spoke to my heart. So many things made more sense to me in my journey into FORGIVENESS!
"Forgiven" by Sanctus Real
Well the past is playing with my m heart
And failure knocks me down again
I'm reminded of the wrong
That I have said and done
And that devil just won't let me forget
In this life
I know what I've been
But here in Your arms
I know who I am
I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven.
And I don't have to carry
The weight of who I've been
'Cause I'm forgiven
My mistakes are running through my mind
And I'll relive my days, in the middle of the night
When I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry
In this life
I know what I've been
But here in Your arms
I know what I am
I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven.
And I don't have to carry
The weight of who I've been
'Cause I'm forgiven
When I don't fit in and I don't feel like I belong anymore
When I don't measure up to much in this life
Oh, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ 'cause
I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven.
And I don't have to carry
The weight of who I've been
'Cause I'm forgiven.
I had listened to that song so many times before this one particular day, but I had never really HEARD the message it spoke. When I listened with new ears, I heard so many truths. I had allowed the devil to make me question my deserving forgiveness. He waved my past in my face and kept knocking me back down making me feel like I could never get back up again.
I literally relived my days in the middle of my nights. I would cry myself to sleep, when sleep finally came. i felt unworthy and allowed others to keep me down. Instead of bringing my burdens to Christ, I tried to carry them on my own. I soon felt as if I was bearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. As soon as I allowed my Lord to relieve my load, I was able to focus better. I began to realize that I had to forgive myself for my own past.
You see, the events of last spring opened wounds that I had forgotten. I thought I was beyond my past mistakes, but by not acknowledging them and forgiving myself for them, the devil had opportunity to use them against me. At that point, I not only had to battle the present situation but was also fighting all of my past struggles as well. I recognized my inability to handle the situation and asked for help.
As I grew stronger, I began to recognize my need to forgive myself for my past failures. I needed to be able to see myself for who I am now: remade, beautiful, "a treasure int he arms of Christ". I did not have to carry my burdens alone. I, through the GRACE of God, had been forgiven long ago. As I face each new day, I remind myself of this blessing--I AM FORGIVEN! If I can remember this, i can face anything. I can handle scrutiny, criticism, slander. If I am honest with myself and God, I will be able to recognize my mistakes and seek forgiveness.
I recently purchased something to be a constant reminder of this blessing. it is a pewter ring that has the word "forgiven" etched on the face of the band. Etched on the inside of the band is a Scripture reference, Ephesians 1:7. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." I still catch myself doubting my forgiveness or ability to be forgiven. But when I glimpse down at that ring, a smile crosses my face. Because, I know that by grace I am FORGIVEN. It is my hope and goal in life to be able to seek, offer, and receive the gift of FORGIVENESS whenever possible. After all, what better a gift to share with one another than the greatest gift with which God blessed us--His forgiveness!
But with the gift of being forgiven, we also have a responsibility to forgive ourselves and others. While I have to admit that I find it difficult at times, I sometimes am more challenged in forgiving myself. I even find difficulty in accepting forgiveness from others. I sometimes fight that feeling of not being good enough for/worthy enough of forgiveness. it is so much more difficult to accept TOTAL forgiveness from our Heavenly Father.
In all honesty, we did NOTHING to deserve it. It was a gift given to us, His children, through the grace offered by His Son's sacrifice. WOW! Talk about really making me feel humble. God gives His forgiveness freely to undeserving me. All I have to to is accept it with the understanding that I will not only improve my actions but will also show the same grace to others. In a sense, forgiveness is sort of the gift that keeps giving. Perhaps by forgiving someone, that person can then forgive someone else. Or, maybe that person needs your forgiveness to be able to forgive himself/herself.
It seems so simple, right? But then why do I struggle so much with it? I don't really have any definite answers. But, maybe you also struggle with forgiveness. i know that for me, I sometimes fight with my own self; I continue to hold my past over my own head. Why? I don't know. But what I do know is that I cannot fully accept forgiveness if I can't let go of my own short comings. And if I can't accept forgiveness, how can I truly expect to offer it? It seems to be a round and round cycle of sorts. So, my solution...PRAY!!!
I need to pray daily for all areas pertaining to forgiveness--accepting it, offering it, asking for it. When I was battling with so many issues this past spring, a Sanctus Real song spoke to my heart. So many things made more sense to me in my journey into FORGIVENESS!
"Forgiven" by Sanctus Real
Well the past is playing with my m heart
And failure knocks me down again
I'm reminded of the wrong
That I have said and done
And that devil just won't let me forget
In this life
I know what I've been
But here in Your arms
I know who I am
I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven.
And I don't have to carry
The weight of who I've been
'Cause I'm forgiven
My mistakes are running through my mind
And I'll relive my days, in the middle of the night
When I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry
In this life
I know what I've been
But here in Your arms
I know what I am
I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven.
And I don't have to carry
The weight of who I've been
'Cause I'm forgiven
When I don't fit in and I don't feel like I belong anymore
When I don't measure up to much in this life
Oh, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ 'cause
I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven.
And I don't have to carry
The weight of who I've been
'Cause I'm forgiven.
I had listened to that song so many times before this one particular day, but I had never really HEARD the message it spoke. When I listened with new ears, I heard so many truths. I had allowed the devil to make me question my deserving forgiveness. He waved my past in my face and kept knocking me back down making me feel like I could never get back up again.
I literally relived my days in the middle of my nights. I would cry myself to sleep, when sleep finally came. i felt unworthy and allowed others to keep me down. Instead of bringing my burdens to Christ, I tried to carry them on my own. I soon felt as if I was bearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. As soon as I allowed my Lord to relieve my load, I was able to focus better. I began to realize that I had to forgive myself for my own past.
You see, the events of last spring opened wounds that I had forgotten. I thought I was beyond my past mistakes, but by not acknowledging them and forgiving myself for them, the devil had opportunity to use them against me. At that point, I not only had to battle the present situation but was also fighting all of my past struggles as well. I recognized my inability to handle the situation and asked for help.
As I grew stronger, I began to recognize my need to forgive myself for my past failures. I needed to be able to see myself for who I am now: remade, beautiful, "a treasure int he arms of Christ". I did not have to carry my burdens alone. I, through the GRACE of God, had been forgiven long ago. As I face each new day, I remind myself of this blessing--I AM FORGIVEN! If I can remember this, i can face anything. I can handle scrutiny, criticism, slander. If I am honest with myself and God, I will be able to recognize my mistakes and seek forgiveness.
I recently purchased something to be a constant reminder of this blessing. it is a pewter ring that has the word "forgiven" etched on the face of the band. Etched on the inside of the band is a Scripture reference, Ephesians 1:7. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." I still catch myself doubting my forgiveness or ability to be forgiven. But when I glimpse down at that ring, a smile crosses my face. Because, I know that by grace I am FORGIVEN. It is my hope and goal in life to be able to seek, offer, and receive the gift of FORGIVENESS whenever possible. After all, what better a gift to share with one another than the greatest gift with which God blessed us--His forgiveness!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Songs from the Soul
Our church has experienced several deaths in the past six weeks. So, songs like "It Is Well" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" are fresh on my mind. However, stuck in my head today were the words "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee..." At first I wondered why this song was so fresh in my mind. Then I remembered why--the choir si singing an anthem with "How Great Thou Art" in it.
What gets me the most is the profound nature of the words "Then sings my soul". Have you ever thought about the depth of those words? Have you ever stopped to think about the power behind those words?
I would define my soul as the inner-most part of my being. Describing a person as singin simply explains his or her actions. To me, describing my soul as singing simply explains his or her actions. To me, describing my soul as singing is an incomprehensible/undescribable depth of worship. It is the inner-most part of what I am breaking forth in song.
I have shared on more than one occasion how I worship thorugh song; I sing while praying; I sing when I am happy; I sing when I am sad. I find music speaks such volumes, and, when I am open to listening, God can speak to me through music.
I just cannot get past the power behind the concept of my soul singing. What an awesome level of praise: our souls singing, "How great Thou art!" As you look through the Bible, countless times passages speak of singing to the Lord or praising God with SONGS of praise. I would have to agree--for me I know of no better way to praise and worship than through song.
I was looking for a particular passage to affirm this and the words to this hymn. What I founjd was just how difficult it was for me to single out one passage in particular. By nature, the Psalms speak often to singing. For whatever reason, the 47th Psalm spoke to my heart today.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations, shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the Earth!
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whome he loved.
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trupets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the god of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
Close your eyes and imagine the power and volume behind 100 voices singing together. Now take it one step further, imagine the voices of the people are rising up from their innermost beings--from their souls. That's what God longs for the souls of His people lifting songs of praise and worship and honor to Him. The next time I lift my voice, I will lift it from deep within me, from my soul. Will you let your soul sing, too?
What gets me the most is the profound nature of the words "Then sings my soul". Have you ever thought about the depth of those words? Have you ever stopped to think about the power behind those words?
I would define my soul as the inner-most part of my being. Describing a person as singin simply explains his or her actions. To me, describing my soul as singing simply explains his or her actions. To me, describing my soul as singing is an incomprehensible/undescribable depth of worship. It is the inner-most part of what I am breaking forth in song.
I have shared on more than one occasion how I worship thorugh song; I sing while praying; I sing when I am happy; I sing when I am sad. I find music speaks such volumes, and, when I am open to listening, God can speak to me through music.
I just cannot get past the power behind the concept of my soul singing. What an awesome level of praise: our souls singing, "How great Thou art!" As you look through the Bible, countless times passages speak of singing to the Lord or praising God with SONGS of praise. I would have to agree--for me I know of no better way to praise and worship than through song.
I was looking for a particular passage to affirm this and the words to this hymn. What I founjd was just how difficult it was for me to single out one passage in particular. By nature, the Psalms speak often to singing. For whatever reason, the 47th Psalm spoke to my heart today.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations, shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the Earth!
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whome he loved.
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trupets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the god of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
Close your eyes and imagine the power and volume behind 100 voices singing together. Now take it one step further, imagine the voices of the people are rising up from their innermost beings--from their souls. That's what God longs for the souls of His people lifting songs of praise and worship and honor to Him. The next time I lift my voice, I will lift it from deep within me, from my soul. Will you let your soul sing, too?
The Grace of Being Remade
"You Are More" by Tenth Avenue North
There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide
She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love."
But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
you are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight
She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try
But don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
you are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to
This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
My most recent struggle has been trying to understand something that I probably never will: Why grace was afforded so abundantly to some but I was treated so ungraciously? That drive to comprehend something so incomprehensible can push me down a path of resentment and unending pain and disappointment. It can also create those shadows on the wall that I fear--self-doubt, insecurity, low self-esteem. If I am not careful, the feelings that are justifiably mine can consume me and welcome that darkness back into my life.
The song "You Are More" by Tenth Avenue North really touched me in my most sensitive places in my heart. At first it spoke to me personally. It helped me to understand that it does not matter what my past mistakes are; it does not matter what people have made me look like or how they have spoken ill of me. Jesus loves me; He has forgiven me; I HAVE BEEN REMADE! What a comfort to me to hear.
I know all of this to be true, but it sometimes helps me to have it reinforced. I have to remind myself that what others think or feel or assume does not matter. As long as I set my eyes on Christ and live with a hear for Him, I am doing what needs to be done. So as those shadows threaten to loom on the walls of my heart and as that "Boogie Man" tries to make himself larger than life, I draw on the promise of God's forgiveness and my new lease on life. I know that I am remade and that my God knows that.
I also feel a challenge through this song. While I find peace and comfort for my personal hurts, I also realize that I need to put the shoe on the other foot. I need to remember how I felt being incorrectly judged, feeling like I could not "prove" myself to receive grace. It is not my place to judge someone. I must remember that though I may feel hurt and anger toward someone, that does not mean that that person does not deserve grace. It does not mean that though someone does not show me grace that I should withhold it from him or her.
Because I am remade, I daily strive to be more like Christ. I want my heart to be purified by the Purifier of souls. As I put God first, the rest comes a bit more easily. It doesn't mean that I still don't question why I should show grace to someone who did not so readily show me grace. however, when Christ paid the ultimate price for God to bestow His grace upon us, He never asked God why He should give grace to those who did not do the same for Him. He simply gave His life so that grace could be given to all. That's the special quality of it--you don't earn grace or deserve it. It is freely and lovingly given. What a challenge for me to fulfill!!
That drive to comprehend the incomprehensible could very well become my own stumbling block, if I let it. But, I can also acknowledge it, work past it, and daily strive to be more like my Savior. What a gift I could give someone by showing them the grace I so longed for. What a gift I could give myself by doing it without questioning it!
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12)
There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide
She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love."
But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
you are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight
She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try
But don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
you are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to
This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
My most recent struggle has been trying to understand something that I probably never will: Why grace was afforded so abundantly to some but I was treated so ungraciously? That drive to comprehend something so incomprehensible can push me down a path of resentment and unending pain and disappointment. It can also create those shadows on the wall that I fear--self-doubt, insecurity, low self-esteem. If I am not careful, the feelings that are justifiably mine can consume me and welcome that darkness back into my life.
The song "You Are More" by Tenth Avenue North really touched me in my most sensitive places in my heart. At first it spoke to me personally. It helped me to understand that it does not matter what my past mistakes are; it does not matter what people have made me look like or how they have spoken ill of me. Jesus loves me; He has forgiven me; I HAVE BEEN REMADE! What a comfort to me to hear.
I know all of this to be true, but it sometimes helps me to have it reinforced. I have to remind myself that what others think or feel or assume does not matter. As long as I set my eyes on Christ and live with a hear for Him, I am doing what needs to be done. So as those shadows threaten to loom on the walls of my heart and as that "Boogie Man" tries to make himself larger than life, I draw on the promise of God's forgiveness and my new lease on life. I know that I am remade and that my God knows that.
I also feel a challenge through this song. While I find peace and comfort for my personal hurts, I also realize that I need to put the shoe on the other foot. I need to remember how I felt being incorrectly judged, feeling like I could not "prove" myself to receive grace. It is not my place to judge someone. I must remember that though I may feel hurt and anger toward someone, that does not mean that that person does not deserve grace. It does not mean that though someone does not show me grace that I should withhold it from him or her.
Because I am remade, I daily strive to be more like Christ. I want my heart to be purified by the Purifier of souls. As I put God first, the rest comes a bit more easily. It doesn't mean that I still don't question why I should show grace to someone who did not so readily show me grace. however, when Christ paid the ultimate price for God to bestow His grace upon us, He never asked God why He should give grace to those who did not do the same for Him. He simply gave His life so that grace could be given to all. That's the special quality of it--you don't earn grace or deserve it. It is freely and lovingly given. What a challenge for me to fulfill!!
That drive to comprehend the incomprehensible could very well become my own stumbling block, if I let it. But, I can also acknowledge it, work past it, and daily strive to be more like my Savior. What a gift I could give someone by showing them the grace I so longed for. What a gift I could give myself by doing it without questioning it!
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12)
Chasing Your Boogie Man to Christ and Leaving Him at the Lord's Feet
Here I find myself once again finding testimony in music...My inspiration comes from two songs in particular, "God Is Bigger" and "At Your Feet". I'll begin with the lighter side of my thoughts this time.
The first song, "God Is Bigger", is actually one written for children. It found its way into our vehicle by way of a free Veggie Tales CD from Chick-filet. Let me just stop and say how awesome I find it to have received a Christian CD with a kid's meal! Now, onto the words...You have to imagine the conversation of a child in reference to the things that cause him/her fear at night.
The child's solution is to "call the police". But a voice says, "You don't have to do that. You don't have to do anything." To which the child responds, "Why?" The voice says "Because..." and then the chorus goes as follows:
God is bigger than the Boogie Man
He's bigger than Godzilla
Or the monsters on T.V.
Oh, God is bigger than the Boogie Man
And He's watchin' out for you and me.
WOW! A very basic, fun children's song can be applied to us today as adults! Our things that go bump in the night, our boogie man, our monsters may be different than a child's. However, the message is the same for all of us--God IS watching out for us and He IS taking care of us!
I couldn't but chuckle when I first heard the song and thought,, "How cute!" But the more we listen to it, the more I listen to the message. As a child, things that make shadows on the wall are frightening. Imaginary monsters are scary. What a blessing for a child to be able to know this song's simple but powerful promise. What a blessing it will be for a child later in life to know this promise form God when he/she faces new monsters and boogie men.
This brought me back to the thoughts of my latest very dark time. I mentioned it in an earlier entry. My dark place had shadows on the wall--shadows of insecurity, shadows of self-doubt and low self-confidence. My dark place had a boogie man that brought me despair and depression. But then, I began to lean on the promise that God was watching over me and was taking care of me. And, slowly, the dark place became brighter and brighter until it was totally lit with Christ's love for me.
Was the boogie man gone? Were the shadows gone? No, but I could really see them in better light, see them for what they really were. Those shadows were not so big after all. And that boogie man, well, he was a pitiful little nothing of a creature. It became very evident that I had nothing to fear. Did everything magically get better? No.
In fact, in some ways, the real work had just begun. Once things were more clear and not so distorted, I was able to begin working through it all. I still have a lot of unanswered questions and hurt, but day by day these become less and less. The process was not originally a day by day process. In fact, it wasn't even an hour by hour process. At first, I had to work through it all minute by minute reminding myself to simply breathe.
As I leaned more heavily on God's promise to watch out for me and care for me, I found a renewed strength. I didn't have to bear it all on my own. The weight of my struggles was also shared by my Savior. Feeling less weighed down, less down-trodden, my spirits began to rise from the depths of my dungeon of hurt and pain. I found an increase in my self-confidence.
As I quit struggling to "do it on my own" and accepted the help from loved and trusted ones and allowed allowed God to shoulder my load, I began to believe that I could do it...I could do it by acknowledging that I COULD NOT do it with out God's help. I always believed and trusted God, but never had I had to be so dependent upon Him. Never had I had to so fully surrender myself.
Before my dark reached its depths, I had the opportunity to attend a Kutless/Casting Crowns concert. I was just beginning to face some struggles and went to this event with a heart yearning for some much-needed nourishment. My soul was searching for that closeness to God and His reassurance. When I left that concert, I left with my cup running over. I left with a calm. Little did I know that that was just the calm before the storm.
I guess that's why when the storm hit, I was totally caught off guard, or so I thought. That concert event gave me what I needed to draw on to make it through the eye of the storm to the other side. Did I come through with my "hair and make-up" in tact? No. The point is that though I looked as if I had weathered a storm (on the inside and the outside), I HAD WEATHERED IT! I survived it.
In fact with God's help, I not only survived it, I grew through the process. Though the forgiveness aspect has been tough, I am still working on it making a bit of progress each day. Each day I can release a bit more of my pain and hurt knowing that those who hurt me cannot take away the one sure thing in my life--my relationship with God. No matter what actions were taken against me, no matter what ill-words were spoken of me, those persons could not sway how my God loves me.
At the concert, I had many of what I call God moments. I was moved to tears countless times--tears of joy, tears of sorrow and hurt, tears of anger. But one song in particular spoke to my broken heart: "At Your Feet" by Casting Crowns. There are many times since that I have found myself needing those words. So much of the song seemed to be just for me. So, I am going to share it now with you.
"At Your Feet"
Here at Your feet, I lay my past down
My wanderings, all my mistakes down
And I am free
Here at Your feet, I lay this day down
Not in my strength, but in Yours I've found
All I need, You're all I need
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
Oh, to dwell and never leave
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
There is nowhere else for me
There is nowhere else for me
Here at Your feet, I lay my future down
All of my dreams, I give to You now
And I find peace, I find peace
Here at Your feet, I lay my life down
For You my King, You're all I want now
And my soul sings...
'Cause I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We're at Your feet
We're at Your feet
And I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We're at Your feet, we're at Your feet
We're at Your feet, we're at your feet
Here at Your feet, I lay my life down
What peace I found in this song! I began that night by letting things go and laying them down. i could no longer carry the weight of it all. I had to lay my life at Jesus' feet before I could take another step. This prepared me for what was to come, what would be some of the darkest days of my life.
When the dark closed in, I had to draw on that peace and strength that I had just discovered. I had to remind myself that in order to find the Light, I had to make my way to Jesus' feet. I had to place my life--my fears, my hurts, my joys, my hopes--at His feet. Then I only had to take His hand and look into His face. The strength began to rise inside me. The Light crept into my darkness. And, then I found true peace.
The first song, "God Is Bigger", is actually one written for children. It found its way into our vehicle by way of a free Veggie Tales CD from Chick-filet. Let me just stop and say how awesome I find it to have received a Christian CD with a kid's meal! Now, onto the words...You have to imagine the conversation of a child in reference to the things that cause him/her fear at night.
The child's solution is to "call the police". But a voice says, "You don't have to do that. You don't have to do anything." To which the child responds, "Why?" The voice says "Because..." and then the chorus goes as follows:
God is bigger than the Boogie Man
He's bigger than Godzilla
Or the monsters on T.V.
Oh, God is bigger than the Boogie Man
And He's watchin' out for you and me.
WOW! A very basic, fun children's song can be applied to us today as adults! Our things that go bump in the night, our boogie man, our monsters may be different than a child's. However, the message is the same for all of us--God IS watching out for us and He IS taking care of us!
I couldn't but chuckle when I first heard the song and thought,, "How cute!" But the more we listen to it, the more I listen to the message. As a child, things that make shadows on the wall are frightening. Imaginary monsters are scary. What a blessing for a child to be able to know this song's simple but powerful promise. What a blessing it will be for a child later in life to know this promise form God when he/she faces new monsters and boogie men.
This brought me back to the thoughts of my latest very dark time. I mentioned it in an earlier entry. My dark place had shadows on the wall--shadows of insecurity, shadows of self-doubt and low self-confidence. My dark place had a boogie man that brought me despair and depression. But then, I began to lean on the promise that God was watching over me and was taking care of me. And, slowly, the dark place became brighter and brighter until it was totally lit with Christ's love for me.
Was the boogie man gone? Were the shadows gone? No, but I could really see them in better light, see them for what they really were. Those shadows were not so big after all. And that boogie man, well, he was a pitiful little nothing of a creature. It became very evident that I had nothing to fear. Did everything magically get better? No.
In fact, in some ways, the real work had just begun. Once things were more clear and not so distorted, I was able to begin working through it all. I still have a lot of unanswered questions and hurt, but day by day these become less and less. The process was not originally a day by day process. In fact, it wasn't even an hour by hour process. At first, I had to work through it all minute by minute reminding myself to simply breathe.
As I leaned more heavily on God's promise to watch out for me and care for me, I found a renewed strength. I didn't have to bear it all on my own. The weight of my struggles was also shared by my Savior. Feeling less weighed down, less down-trodden, my spirits began to rise from the depths of my dungeon of hurt and pain. I found an increase in my self-confidence.
As I quit struggling to "do it on my own" and accepted the help from loved and trusted ones and allowed allowed God to shoulder my load, I began to believe that I could do it...I could do it by acknowledging that I COULD NOT do it with out God's help. I always believed and trusted God, but never had I had to be so dependent upon Him. Never had I had to so fully surrender myself.
Before my dark reached its depths, I had the opportunity to attend a Kutless/Casting Crowns concert. I was just beginning to face some struggles and went to this event with a heart yearning for some much-needed nourishment. My soul was searching for that closeness to God and His reassurance. When I left that concert, I left with my cup running over. I left with a calm. Little did I know that that was just the calm before the storm.
I guess that's why when the storm hit, I was totally caught off guard, or so I thought. That concert event gave me what I needed to draw on to make it through the eye of the storm to the other side. Did I come through with my "hair and make-up" in tact? No. The point is that though I looked as if I had weathered a storm (on the inside and the outside), I HAD WEATHERED IT! I survived it.
In fact with God's help, I not only survived it, I grew through the process. Though the forgiveness aspect has been tough, I am still working on it making a bit of progress each day. Each day I can release a bit more of my pain and hurt knowing that those who hurt me cannot take away the one sure thing in my life--my relationship with God. No matter what actions were taken against me, no matter what ill-words were spoken of me, those persons could not sway how my God loves me.
At the concert, I had many of what I call God moments. I was moved to tears countless times--tears of joy, tears of sorrow and hurt, tears of anger. But one song in particular spoke to my broken heart: "At Your Feet" by Casting Crowns. There are many times since that I have found myself needing those words. So much of the song seemed to be just for me. So, I am going to share it now with you.
"At Your Feet"
Here at Your feet, I lay my past down
My wanderings, all my mistakes down
And I am free
Here at Your feet, I lay this day down
Not in my strength, but in Yours I've found
All I need, You're all I need
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
Oh, to dwell and never leave
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
There is nowhere else for me
There is nowhere else for me
Here at Your feet, I lay my future down
All of my dreams, I give to You now
And I find peace, I find peace
Here at Your feet, I lay my life down
For You my King, You're all I want now
And my soul sings...
'Cause I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We're at Your feet
We're at Your feet
And I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We're at Your feet, we're at Your feet
We're at Your feet, we're at your feet
Here at Your feet, I lay my life down
What peace I found in this song! I began that night by letting things go and laying them down. i could no longer carry the weight of it all. I had to lay my life at Jesus' feet before I could take another step. This prepared me for what was to come, what would be some of the darkest days of my life.
When the dark closed in, I had to draw on that peace and strength that I had just discovered. I had to remind myself that in order to find the Light, I had to make my way to Jesus' feet. I had to place my life--my fears, my hurts, my joys, my hopes--at His feet. Then I only had to take His hand and look into His face. The strength began to rise inside me. The Light crept into my darkness. And, then I found true peace.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Building Stronger Christians with Simple Words of Encouragement
1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing."
A couple of weeks ago, there was some confusion dealing with some special food requests for my children while at school. Over the past two years, the pediatrician had written a prescription (for extra calories/fat) for whole milk for our triplets. We forgot to inquire about it again at this year's check up. When some comments were made in the line one day about not having the milk for them, the tensions began to rise.
I contacted the pediatrician to see if we were going to continue the whole milk another year. After I confirmed 2% was okay, I began to think more like a nurse than a mom. I am fully aware of the larger amount of food concerns for children these days (i.e. allergies, diabetic dietary restrictions, etc.). What a headache that must be for the food manager some days!
Then I began to think with my heart. What a thankless job that must sometimes be! So, I wrote her a thank you note and left it with the school nurse to deliver. I thanked her for accommodating our needs over the past couple of years. I acknowledged the difficulties and challenges that she must sometimes face. I told her that we noticed the work that it takes and that we so much appreciated how she was a part of a wonderful team of people who cared for our children while they were at school.
A couple of days later, I went to their school to have lunch with their class. I was in the line with them when the manager noticed me. She said something that I couldn't quite hear. As I made my way to the end of the line, she came out and met me. "I owe you a hug!" she said. We hugged, and she explained how her day was going horribly when she received my note. She said that it had lifted her up.
After this, I received an email notice from a Christian greeting card company, as I do once a week or so. This one in particular caught my attention. It was a reminder of the National Day of Encouragement. It also gave the Scripture for this devotion. That Scripture passage, though brief, spoke volumes to my heart. It very much described the story I shared above. And it also reminded me of how important it is for us to encourage each other.
The refrain to an older popular song comes to mind as I write this:
Lean on me, when you're not strong.
And I'll be your friend;
I'll help you carry on.
For, it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on.
While this doesn't specifically speak of encouragement, it does speak of the action/reaction phenomenon. We need to encourage and build each other up. You never know when you may be having a horrible day and stand in need of some encouraging words. Imagine what kind of a world we could have if we would only but lift each other up with encouragement and kind words?!
A couple of weeks ago, there was some confusion dealing with some special food requests for my children while at school. Over the past two years, the pediatrician had written a prescription (for extra calories/fat) for whole milk for our triplets. We forgot to inquire about it again at this year's check up. When some comments were made in the line one day about not having the milk for them, the tensions began to rise.
I contacted the pediatrician to see if we were going to continue the whole milk another year. After I confirmed 2% was okay, I began to think more like a nurse than a mom. I am fully aware of the larger amount of food concerns for children these days (i.e. allergies, diabetic dietary restrictions, etc.). What a headache that must be for the food manager some days!
Then I began to think with my heart. What a thankless job that must sometimes be! So, I wrote her a thank you note and left it with the school nurse to deliver. I thanked her for accommodating our needs over the past couple of years. I acknowledged the difficulties and challenges that she must sometimes face. I told her that we noticed the work that it takes and that we so much appreciated how she was a part of a wonderful team of people who cared for our children while they were at school.
A couple of days later, I went to their school to have lunch with their class. I was in the line with them when the manager noticed me. She said something that I couldn't quite hear. As I made my way to the end of the line, she came out and met me. "I owe you a hug!" she said. We hugged, and she explained how her day was going horribly when she received my note. She said that it had lifted her up.
After this, I received an email notice from a Christian greeting card company, as I do once a week or so. This one in particular caught my attention. It was a reminder of the National Day of Encouragement. It also gave the Scripture for this devotion. That Scripture passage, though brief, spoke volumes to my heart. It very much described the story I shared above. And it also reminded me of how important it is for us to encourage each other.
The refrain to an older popular song comes to mind as I write this:
Lean on me, when you're not strong.
And I'll be your friend;
I'll help you carry on.
For, it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on.
While this doesn't specifically speak of encouragement, it does speak of the action/reaction phenomenon. We need to encourage and build each other up. You never know when you may be having a horrible day and stand in need of some encouraging words. Imagine what kind of a world we could have if we would only but lift each other up with encouragement and kind words?!
Letting Our Actions Show Our Hearts for Christ
James 2:14-17: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, " but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (NIV)
What a multitude of material for writing I have been blessed with over the past couple of weeks! Our lives have continued to produce surprise after surprise, some of them not so good!
After recovering from an unplanned fall and ankle injury, I had some outpatient surgery. After I had recovered enough to get on our riding mower, I jumped on an opportunity to cut our long grass. The children enjoyed some much-needed outside time. But, it was takiong a bit longer than I wanted to complete the job. Lunch time had come and gone, and I was finally beginning to wrap things up. i was mentally planning what I could possibly fix for a quick lunch for everyone. Grilled cheese is fast, but oh no, we have no bread and no cheese! Time for a grocery trip. Back to lunch...Well, I figured pizza was the next big thing. We didn't really have the money to splurge, but the convenience was more important right now!
So, as I began driving the mower to the shop, I enjoyed watching our husband with one of our sons. As I came to a stop, Josh was laughing. He told me that Isaac had said that he wanted to go to Pizza Hut for lunch. I said that I was going to order pizza anyway, so why not?! The kids were all so excited at the idea that there was no fussing when told to take baths.
As we walked in, there were some credits on one of those claw games. And, of all the luck, Craig snatched a toy on the first or second try. Naturally the other three wanted something, too. So Daddy promised that if they ate a good lunch, they could each try to get a toy out of the game. With it being so late, they were starving and ate more than a good lunch. So, as promised, Daddy went to pay for our meal and get change for the game. He was gone for several minutes and returned with a stunned expression on his face.
He said, "I don't know who this guy is, the bald man in the blue shirt. Do you? Because I think our children need to go thank him. He just paid for our entire meal!" WOW!! The oldest three went to thank the gentleman while our youngest suddenly decided she was shy and stayed with me!
Josh found out that he was once a mayor in a Texas city. He had resigned due to a career change that required him to be gone a lot. He was travelling through Jennings on business when he stopped at Pizza Hut for lunch. He said that watching the six of us walk across the parking lot to get inside reminded him of his own family and touched his heart. he touched ours as well!
This event prompted me to write. I found the passage in James that reminded me of our day. While we were not technically without food, this man's actions eased our burden of paying for that particular meal. In his faith, he acted. I'll close with the chorus of a very fitting song:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
If we live in faith with a heart for God, our actions will tell the whole world that we are Christians.
What a multitude of material for writing I have been blessed with over the past couple of weeks! Our lives have continued to produce surprise after surprise, some of them not so good!
After recovering from an unplanned fall and ankle injury, I had some outpatient surgery. After I had recovered enough to get on our riding mower, I jumped on an opportunity to cut our long grass. The children enjoyed some much-needed outside time. But, it was takiong a bit longer than I wanted to complete the job. Lunch time had come and gone, and I was finally beginning to wrap things up. i was mentally planning what I could possibly fix for a quick lunch for everyone. Grilled cheese is fast, but oh no, we have no bread and no cheese! Time for a grocery trip. Back to lunch...Well, I figured pizza was the next big thing. We didn't really have the money to splurge, but the convenience was more important right now!
So, as I began driving the mower to the shop, I enjoyed watching our husband with one of our sons. As I came to a stop, Josh was laughing. He told me that Isaac had said that he wanted to go to Pizza Hut for lunch. I said that I was going to order pizza anyway, so why not?! The kids were all so excited at the idea that there was no fussing when told to take baths.
As we walked in, there were some credits on one of those claw games. And, of all the luck, Craig snatched a toy on the first or second try. Naturally the other three wanted something, too. So Daddy promised that if they ate a good lunch, they could each try to get a toy out of the game. With it being so late, they were starving and ate more than a good lunch. So, as promised, Daddy went to pay for our meal and get change for the game. He was gone for several minutes and returned with a stunned expression on his face.
He said, "I don't know who this guy is, the bald man in the blue shirt. Do you? Because I think our children need to go thank him. He just paid for our entire meal!" WOW!! The oldest three went to thank the gentleman while our youngest suddenly decided she was shy and stayed with me!
Josh found out that he was once a mayor in a Texas city. He had resigned due to a career change that required him to be gone a lot. He was travelling through Jennings on business when he stopped at Pizza Hut for lunch. He said that watching the six of us walk across the parking lot to get inside reminded him of his own family and touched his heart. he touched ours as well!
This event prompted me to write. I found the passage in James that reminded me of our day. While we were not technically without food, this man's actions eased our burden of paying for that particular meal. In his faith, he acted. I'll close with the chorus of a very fitting song:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
If we live in faith with a heart for God, our actions will tell the whole world that we are Christians.
Offering Praise and Thanks Despite Life's Hot Spots and Storms
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)
2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV)
Malachi 3:2-3 "But who can endure the day of his coming? who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..." (NIV)
So...like most Americans, we are greatly feeling the money crunch. Pay cuts in our incomes have greatly impacted our household. But, we know that we are not alone in this area. Many of people in our country are facing situations like ours and so much worse. How easily we could become down-trodden.
Yet, what the Scriptures say is to praise the Lord in all situations. Through the good and the bad, God is always there by our sides. That in and of itself is worthy of our praise! WE ARE NOT ALONE!! Despite all of our hard times and difficulties, we have much for which to be thankful.
Personally, I am so thankful for my family. We have four miraculously healthy, beautiful children. We have a roof over our heads to call home. We have food to put on our table for meals. WOW! That is already so much for which to praise God! We have a beautiful church and a wonderful church family. And, we have the freedom to worship in our sanctuary and praise God, in the good times and in the bad times.
I have recently been through some of the hardest, darkest moments of my life. I began journaling my thoughts, my prayers, my fears, my joys. I began a diary to God. As I have come through those times and look back on my journal I realize it was at those lowest points that God's presence was felt the closest. When I surrendered and allowed myself to fully lean on Him, I found more strength. And despite still feeling down, I began to rejoice; I praised God. And what a blessing I gave myself by doing this.
I'm not saying that everything suddenly became all smiles and sunshine. I still had much to work through; however, I could praise God because He was there with me. I had sad parts, but I was able to see the good. I used that pain and hurt to grow...I grew closer in my relationship with Christ; I grew closer in my relationship with my husband; the two of us grew closer (as a couple) to God.
I don't feel that God caused these events that hurt me. however, as a dear friend once told me, God can make something beautiful from every situation. My friend also told me that those trials, "hot spots", were much like the heat that silver must endure while being refined. The refiner must hold the silver in the hottest part of the flame carefully watching so that it does not remain too long and become ruined. The refiner must keep a constant watch and must not remove the silver too soon either. And only when the silversmith can see his image in it is the silver refined and complete.
This analogy helped me so much. Those "hot spots" in my life were very painful, the very hottest of hot. And much like the silver, I needed refining. And, true to form, my Refiner never took His eyes from me. He remained vigilant in my refining process. And, once He again saw His image shining forth and reflecting from within me, my Refiner removed me from my "hot spots". How can we not praise a God whose promise is to always be with us?! How can we not offer praise for all He has done? How can we not offer praise for all He has not done yet? As I do in my everyday life, I found myself singing parts of songs as I wrote this. One chorus in particular rings true: "Blessed Be Your Name"
...You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be your name...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name!
The song says "my hear will CHOOSE...". It is our choice to praise God in the good and the bad. God gives us free will so to choose not to praise Him in the bad times is our choice to make. But, oh the glorious blessing that comes from choosing to praise Him at ALL times of our lives!
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from Heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God.
How true this chorus is! Our God is AWESOME and worthy of our praise. While He is all powerful, he is also all-loving. He never stops loving us. He is always with us, in the good and the bad. So, I encourage you to praise God in ALL things, in all times.
As I close, I'll leave you with one last set of lyrics by Casting Crowns ("Praise You in This Storm"). This song found a very special place in my heart when it touched my sister while she was caring for her son 2 1/2 years of age while he underwent cancer treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We all face "hot spots" or "storms" in our lives. What a storm to have to weather: caring for your child during a life and death set of events!
As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper
Through the rain, "I'm with you."
And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise
The God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands,
For You are who You are
No matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried,
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my hear is torn
I will praise You in this storm.
If Amanda could praise God in that storm of her life, how can I not praise Him in my tough times!? How can you not praise Him?
2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV)
Malachi 3:2-3 "But who can endure the day of his coming? who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..." (NIV)
So...like most Americans, we are greatly feeling the money crunch. Pay cuts in our incomes have greatly impacted our household. But, we know that we are not alone in this area. Many of people in our country are facing situations like ours and so much worse. How easily we could become down-trodden.
Yet, what the Scriptures say is to praise the Lord in all situations. Through the good and the bad, God is always there by our sides. That in and of itself is worthy of our praise! WE ARE NOT ALONE!! Despite all of our hard times and difficulties, we have much for which to be thankful.
Personally, I am so thankful for my family. We have four miraculously healthy, beautiful children. We have a roof over our heads to call home. We have food to put on our table for meals. WOW! That is already so much for which to praise God! We have a beautiful church and a wonderful church family. And, we have the freedom to worship in our sanctuary and praise God, in the good times and in the bad times.
I have recently been through some of the hardest, darkest moments of my life. I began journaling my thoughts, my prayers, my fears, my joys. I began a diary to God. As I have come through those times and look back on my journal I realize it was at those lowest points that God's presence was felt the closest. When I surrendered and allowed myself to fully lean on Him, I found more strength. And despite still feeling down, I began to rejoice; I praised God. And what a blessing I gave myself by doing this.
I'm not saying that everything suddenly became all smiles and sunshine. I still had much to work through; however, I could praise God because He was there with me. I had sad parts, but I was able to see the good. I used that pain and hurt to grow...I grew closer in my relationship with Christ; I grew closer in my relationship with my husband; the two of us grew closer (as a couple) to God.
I don't feel that God caused these events that hurt me. however, as a dear friend once told me, God can make something beautiful from every situation. My friend also told me that those trials, "hot spots", were much like the heat that silver must endure while being refined. The refiner must hold the silver in the hottest part of the flame carefully watching so that it does not remain too long and become ruined. The refiner must keep a constant watch and must not remove the silver too soon either. And only when the silversmith can see his image in it is the silver refined and complete.
This analogy helped me so much. Those "hot spots" in my life were very painful, the very hottest of hot. And much like the silver, I needed refining. And, true to form, my Refiner never took His eyes from me. He remained vigilant in my refining process. And, once He again saw His image shining forth and reflecting from within me, my Refiner removed me from my "hot spots". How can we not praise a God whose promise is to always be with us?! How can we not offer praise for all He has done? How can we not offer praise for all He has not done yet? As I do in my everyday life, I found myself singing parts of songs as I wrote this. One chorus in particular rings true: "Blessed Be Your Name"
...You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be your name...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name!
The song says "my hear will CHOOSE...". It is our choice to praise God in the good and the bad. God gives us free will so to choose not to praise Him in the bad times is our choice to make. But, oh the glorious blessing that comes from choosing to praise Him at ALL times of our lives!
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from Heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God.
How true this chorus is! Our God is AWESOME and worthy of our praise. While He is all powerful, he is also all-loving. He never stops loving us. He is always with us, in the good and the bad. So, I encourage you to praise God in ALL things, in all times.
As I close, I'll leave you with one last set of lyrics by Casting Crowns ("Praise You in This Storm"). This song found a very special place in my heart when it touched my sister while she was caring for her son 2 1/2 years of age while he underwent cancer treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We all face "hot spots" or "storms" in our lives. What a storm to have to weather: caring for your child during a life and death set of events!
As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper
Through the rain, "I'm with you."
And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise
The God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands,
For You are who You are
No matter where I am.
And every tear I've cried,
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my hear is torn
I will praise You in this storm.
If Amanda could praise God in that storm of her life, how can I not praise Him in my tough times!? How can you not praise Him?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Watching for the Roadsigns and Listening for the Directions
In my last entry, I told you how I was very touched by a devotion entry in the choir's weekly devotion book. That particular devotion addressed the calling of us by God today. Like the author, I felt that while I believe God still calls us today, I feel the call is different for each of us.
Another devotion from several weeks later spoke to me on a similar level. To me, it tied so many of my emotions together to focus on one central theme: "Be still and wait on the Lord". The Scripture passage came from JUDGES 6:17: "And he said to him, 'If now I have found favor with thee, then show me a sign that it is thou who speakest with me'. The author, Thomas L. Are, addressed the issue of the promise of God's guidance through life and the tough spots.
The author's question is "Where are the roadsigns?". While it is written that God clearly instructed others throughout history (i.e. Gideon, Moses, the prophets), we may not hear the call as clearly. Are stated that the lack of a clear voice leads him back to the resources upon which he has depended his entire life--the Bible, church, and reason. I can quite often identify with this.
Going back to my previous entry, I stated that God was still in the business of calling us today. He may call to us in different manners. But it is important to be still and wait on the Lord. Over the past several months, I have struggled with hearing God's instructions for me. I am wanting some roadsigns to make the way a bit more obvious. But, hey, who wouldn't want the way to be a little more clearly marked?! At least then, when the road becomes tough, we might find comfort in knowing how many miles are left.
As I make myself take the time and practice the patience required to "be still and wait on the Lord", I am able to see the way more clearly. I make some wrong turns, but I am able to find the roadsigns to get me back on track. As I follow the signs and trust the Lord, His call for me becomes more clear. Suddenly those whispers are more audible, the path is better lit, and I find ease in merging my will with God's in order to fulfill His purpose for my life.
Another devotion from several weeks later spoke to me on a similar level. To me, it tied so many of my emotions together to focus on one central theme: "Be still and wait on the Lord". The Scripture passage came from JUDGES 6:17: "And he said to him, 'If now I have found favor with thee, then show me a sign that it is thou who speakest with me'. The author, Thomas L. Are, addressed the issue of the promise of God's guidance through life and the tough spots.
The author's question is "Where are the roadsigns?". While it is written that God clearly instructed others throughout history (i.e. Gideon, Moses, the prophets), we may not hear the call as clearly. Are stated that the lack of a clear voice leads him back to the resources upon which he has depended his entire life--the Bible, church, and reason. I can quite often identify with this.
Going back to my previous entry, I stated that God was still in the business of calling us today. He may call to us in different manners. But it is important to be still and wait on the Lord. Over the past several months, I have struggled with hearing God's instructions for me. I am wanting some roadsigns to make the way a bit more obvious. But, hey, who wouldn't want the way to be a little more clearly marked?! At least then, when the road becomes tough, we might find comfort in knowing how many miles are left.
As I make myself take the time and practice the patience required to "be still and wait on the Lord", I am able to see the way more clearly. I make some wrong turns, but I am able to find the roadsigns to get me back on track. As I follow the signs and trust the Lord, His call for me becomes more clear. Suddenly those whispers are more audible, the path is better lit, and I find ease in merging my will with God's in order to fulfill His purpose for my life.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Whispers From Above
Whispers From Above
As I prepared to write this blog, I spent much time in prayer as to what to say. Many of you are aware that the choir has a time of devotion prior to each rehearsal. I had some dear friends give me a gift several years ago that I just began to use with the group. It is a devotion book entitled Please Don't Ask Me to Sing in the Choir! It is written by Thomas L. Are who was serving as the Senior Pastor of Shallowford Presbyterian church in Atlanta, GA at the time of publishing. Each entry has a different message and speaks through the heart of a musician, specifically a volunteer church choir member.
One passage particularly spoke to me and has stayed with me over the past several weeks. The Scripture message for this devotion came from 1 Samuel 3:4-5. If you read the first part of chapter 3 (vs. 1-1-), it tells of the lord calling Samuel. The Lord called to Samuel three times before Eli realized that it was God calling him. When Samuel went to Eli the third time thinking that the voice he heard was Eli's, the Bible tells us that it is then that Eli realizes that the voice is the Lord's. Eli then instructs Samuel how to answer the next time he is called.
The author of the devotion shares a message that he heard in church on this particular passage. He stated that the pastor said that God calls us today just as loudly as He called Samuel. However, the author wrote that for him, God called in whispers. I know it is that way for me. Not all of us hear God loudly speaking to us. In fact, many of us may even miss His voice if we are not listening for it. Thomas Are wrote that in many instances, the voice of God is natural and can be explained away, just like Samuel mistook His voice for Eli's.
God can speak to us through our everyday lives. For me, God speaks through song. It is through music, whether listening, playing, or singing, that I hear the Lord's voice. Sometimes, I am not listening carefully enough and miss that soft call. Other times, I am more focused and waiting for His voice. For you, it may be in the beauty of nature that you hear God's voice. it may be the laughter of children for someone else. It may be a time of fellowship for others.
The point is that God is still in the business of calling to us all. But, don't think that He isn't calling to you just because you don't hear Him as loudly as Samuel did. Instead, be still and wait. Be ready to listen when His voice does speak. The Psalms say this over and over again in one way or another. For example, Psalm 37:7 reads, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..." And again from Psalm 37 the 34th verse, "Wait for the Lord and keep his way." The Lord is speaking to us day in and day out. We have to be open to hearing His voice and be ready to hear it when He speaks.
One passage particularly spoke to me and has stayed with me over the past several weeks. The Scripture message for this devotion came from 1 Samuel 3:4-5. If you read the first part of chapter 3 (vs. 1-1-), it tells of the lord calling Samuel. The Lord called to Samuel three times before Eli realized that it was God calling him. When Samuel went to Eli the third time thinking that the voice he heard was Eli's, the Bible tells us that it is then that Eli realizes that the voice is the Lord's. Eli then instructs Samuel how to answer the next time he is called.
The author of the devotion shares a message that he heard in church on this particular passage. He stated that the pastor said that God calls us today just as loudly as He called Samuel. However, the author wrote that for him, God called in whispers. I know it is that way for me. Not all of us hear God loudly speaking to us. In fact, many of us may even miss His voice if we are not listening for it. Thomas Are wrote that in many instances, the voice of God is natural and can be explained away, just like Samuel mistook His voice for Eli's.
God can speak to us through our everyday lives. For me, God speaks through song. It is through music, whether listening, playing, or singing, that I hear the Lord's voice. Sometimes, I am not listening carefully enough and miss that soft call. Other times, I am more focused and waiting for His voice. For you, it may be in the beauty of nature that you hear God's voice. it may be the laughter of children for someone else. It may be a time of fellowship for others.
The point is that God is still in the business of calling to us all. But, don't think that He isn't calling to you just because you don't hear Him as loudly as Samuel did. Instead, be still and wait. Be ready to listen when His voice does speak. The Psalms say this over and over again in one way or another. For example, Psalm 37:7 reads, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..." And again from Psalm 37 the 34th verse, "Wait for the Lord and keep his way." The Lord is speaking to us day in and day out. We have to be open to hearing His voice and be ready to hear it when He speaks.
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