March 2011 - Beauty FOR Ashes

We were incredibly blessed by one of our gals, Tanya, who shared with us.  She gave us some background, including a recent adoption that fell through at the very last minute.  Something in her heart knew it wasn't going to end up how they'd hoped, yet she had been so sure they were following God's lead.  Perhaps even more than the loss of the baby, losing confidence in her ability to discern and follow God's voice rocked her world.  Had she just heard her own longing for a child?  Had God really led them across the country only to send them home with empty arms?  It just didn't make sense.  And where to go from there, when nothing seemed certain?  It felt so out of control, in a panic-inducing kind of way!

As time has gone on, Tanya once again feels confident that they did, indeed, hear God leading them regarding the adoption.  The ending, surprising to them, was not one bit surprising to God.  So what was the purpose of that pain?  Was it somehow for the birthmom?  Or for some greater purpose they'll understand down the road?  Or will they not know until heaven? 

Tanya shared a portion of an online devotional she read one morning.  It talked about a book that the author had read for several weeks, continually vacillating betweeen wanting to quit reading and wanting to know how it all would end.  If she quit part way through, she'd be left with the hopelessness found in the middle of the book.  She had to read the whole thing, every page, to discover the whole story and to figure out the author's point/purpose in writing.  Every page had value in the grand scheme of the book, even if that particular page included hard things.  At the end of the devotional, two questions were posed: If your life was a story, what would the title be?  What chapter are you on? 

Assuming God does not call us to heaven in the immediate future, we are not at the end of our book.  We are somewhere in the middle.  Chapters have come and gone, more are in the future.  Our current chapter may be filled with loss, pain, confusion, anger, doubt, etc., but it is not the end of the story. It plays an important part in the overall story, but it is not the end. 

Isaiah 61:1-3
 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.

This section of Isaiah 61 is called The Year of the LORD's Favor.  In verse three, it talks about God giving beauty for ashes.  Tanya explained how she had first thought the verse said "beauty FROM ashes," but it's actually "beauty FOR ashes."  FROM ashes seems to indicate that God will use the ashes to create something beautiful - kind of a recycling idea.  FOR ashes, however, indicates that God will exchange beauty for our ashes.  We won't have our ashes after we've been given the beauty.  How many times do we want to hang on to our ashes?  We hesitate handing them over to God, because they seem to be all we have left of our dreams, hopes, and goals.  We don't know what God will give us, how He'll give it, or when, so we want to cling to the ashes.  We'd rather hold brokenness than risk being emptied out by God.  Yet it is in the emptying and the subsequent filling - however long it takes to happen - that we are healed. 

It reminded me of the image of a person holding a single deflated balloon by a string, being offered a bunch of large, brightly colored balloons.  In order to accept the bunch, first the person must let go of the deflated balloon.  Until that hand is empty, it cannot grasp the new gift - the beautiful.  We are not guaranteed what God will give or when He will give it or how long we'll remain emptied out.  But we ARE guaranteed that he will give beauty for ashes and He will be with us every step of the way.

Tanya recently read Disappointment with God, by Philip Yancey.  She is coming to terms with the fact that God is not unfair - life is unfair.  Even though listening to His voice is what seemed to take them through intense pain, what alternative is there, really?  She is seeing some positive changes God is making in her life, which is very encouraging.  She is not afraid to ask the "why" questions of God - sometimes in the asking we are able to grow nearer to God.  As another gal pointed out, there is a difference between asking with a humble and open heart, and asking angrily, expecting a certain answer.

Psalm 139:16 says that all of our days are written by God in our life book.  So we do actually have a book!  He alone knows the exact title and the arrangement of the chapters.  But as the author, He also knows the way the story ends.  He knows how He will bring justice, how He will renew our strength, and just how long each chapter should be.

Lamentations 3:20-24
²⁰ I well remember them,
   and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
   and therefore I have hope:
 ²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.”

The Message version says it like this:
^19-21I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
   the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
   the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember,
   and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
 ^22-24God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
   his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
   How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
   He's all I've got left.

Tanya shared with us the words to Laura Story's song "Blessings" 

YouTube - Laura Story "Blessings"

Laura Story - "Blessings" Lyrics

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
But long that we'd have the faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Another gal, whose precious son died less than two hours after he was born, has learned so much about God in the year since her son's death.  She encouraged us to just soak in the now.  Take what God gives and love it.  Don't try to fix the pain or run from it.  Embrace it - for it is in the very midst of great suffering that you will learn life-changing truths about God and about yourself.  Fighting your way through the journey of grief may get you at least temporarily to the other side, but you will miss out on the richness of relationship that God is offering along the way.

So - what chapter are you on?  Let us encourage you to keep walking one day at a time.  God knows the end to your story, and it is amazing.  He also knows the trials contained within the book - and He promises to walk with us every step of the way.

February 2011 - Vision

I was reading a blog and came across this quote (I really wish I had written down the blog address...if I find it again I'll update this!) - "We can let our obstacles or our vision determine our future." 

I don't know about you, but I have this stubborn and independent streak in me that bristles at the idea of not having options.  To think that an obstacle, ie something I would rather not have in the first place, will determine my future, well, it makes my face scrunch up just thinking about it.  So I started thinking about my obstacles (easy to do) and my vision (what?) and realized I needed to delve into this a bit more.

Biblical examples always help.  Moses heard God's voice tell him his future, but doubted that future because of his relationship with the king of Egypt and the Israelites, because of his speaking ability, etc.  What God called him to do - the vision God had for his life - did not make sense or seem possible because of obstacles.  I imagine Moses saying "Uh, God?  Did you forget that the king is mad at me, my people despise me, and I fumble over my words?  I think you have me confused with someone else."  How often do we feel that way?  Feel that God is calling us to something that is just not possible given our circumstances?  Feel that He is just asking too much, too soon? 

Losses have a way of sucking every ounce of vision from our lives.  Suddenly the world is turned upside down and what was formerly important, besides what was lost, is now unimportant.  The idea that there's enough right with the world, and with our lives, to have a vision that would carry us forward almost seems insulting.  And yet that's exactly what God gives us.  He knows best, even (and perhaps especially) when we think He is wrong.  Our losses were not a surprise to Him.  He knew how it would all fit into His master plan, His vision for our lives.  That's not saying He is glad babies died, or that He wanted it this way.  Remember His original plan - it did not include death. 

It is important, especially in times when we cannot see clearly, to ask God for His vision for our lives.  Sometimes, though, our grief, as well as the world around us, is so loud that we cannot discern that vision.  In those times we must start with the Bible and search for direction.  It may be a generic vision at first, but it will at least get us heading on the right path so that in time we will be able to discern His specific vision for us.  Find what God is doing and join Him - His vision does not change!  Our part in that vision can change, and it will likely be different than the part those around us will have. 

Write down 5-10 obstacles in your life right now.  Things that are disappointing, crushing, not how you'd like them to be, not how they should be.  For most of us, that list pretty much writes itself! 

Now look at that list and try to convince yourself that God has a vision for your life EVEN WITH those obstacles on the table.  Perhaps because of those obstacles - He has crafted something just for you that will not waste one ounce of the pain that has come from those obstacles.

Now think about your vision, or God's vision for your life.  Write down 5-10 ideas, words, phrases, etc that describe what you think your vision includes.  For me this list included words like joyful, loving, content, fulfilled, serving, life-giving, and making a difference for God.  No, that doesn't tell me what specific action plan to flesh out when I wake up tomorrow - or does it?  Until I have a more specific vision, I can certainly choose to live out, with increasing success, those key words and ideas.  As I am more content and serving, I will be at least walking in the right direction. 

Which will you choose to focus on this week/month/year?  Your obstacles or your vision? The one you focus on is the one that will gain power and momentum.  Will you trust God to have answers for your obstacles as He works out His vision?  Or will you be stalemated, stuck forever in the desert? 

Perhaps you feel like right now you are sitting in the middle of the desert - I do that sometimes.  I just get overwhelmed and sit down, preferring to stay in this yuck rather than keep fighting to find the right path.  The problem is that nothing will be get better by sitting down.  The Israelites ended up wandering in the desert for 40 years!!  The idea of wandering in my own desert that long (or even 40 days) is not happy.  But God was with them the entire time.  He had their exact path mapped out, and He didn't waste that time.  If they had chosen to just sit down, their journey would only have been prolonged.  Only by walking, one step at a time, one day at a time, can you get any closer to getting out of the desert.  Your circumstances, your obstacles, they may feel like the desert, but you can at least make yourself get up and start moving.  Better to wander forty years than sit until you die in a place you never wanted to be.

Here's that quote again: "We can let obstacles or vision determine our direction."  Which will you choose?

New Beginnings

It is January, and people all around are making resolutions.  Ok, so it's halfway through January, so people all around are breaking their resolutions...!

While I'm not a huge fan of resolutions, I do think it can be powerful to see each year as a new beginning, and take some time to think about what we hope and plan for the new year to bring.

For our January gathering, we reflected a bit on 2010 by writing down three good things that happened, big or small.  With most everyone having experienced a major loss in 2010, looking for good things proved to be a challenge.  But we acknowledged that the good things were woven throughout the year whether or not we recognized them.

Next we wrote down three dreams/hopes/goals for 2011.  Just a little looking ahead and imagining things to be different from how they now appear.  Sometimes we can feel stuck in a perpetual circle, not making any forward progress.  And that can be discouraging.

We took a brief journey into the lives of several Biblical characters.  It is important to remember that these were actual people who lived long ago - not fictional characters.  We began with Jonah.  His life calling was to present people with God's messages.  I imagine he was waiting for his next assignment, hoping to be sent to give good news to some wonderful town, when God told him to go to Ninevah and call the people to repent.  To Jonah, this was an awful assignment.  The last thing he wanted to see was the people of Ninevah being given another chance.  This new beginning felt like a slap in the face.  Jonah, angry, went in the opposite direction and boarded a ship for Tarshish.  Of course he could not hide from God any easier than we can today...God sent a fierce storm that threatened to break apart the boat and cause the sailors to drown.  Only by throwing Jonah overboard did the seas calm down.  God sent the huge fish to swallow Jonah, preserving his life, giving him a chance to repent and get his heart right.  After being spit back onto land (and hopefully taking a nice long shower), Jonah began the journey to Ninevah.  While his feet were obeying, his heart was still resentful of the assignment.  He missed out on some of the blessings he could have received.

Jonah is an example of the wrong way to react to a new beginning that we do not desire or welcome.  Running from the next thing God has planned or allowed will not change our new reality. It will only prolong what must take place, and may very well result in negative consequences along the way.  Let's not make a hard situation worse by refusing to submit to what God is calling us to do.

Next we looked at the life of Ruth.  After her father in law, husband, and brother in law all died, Ruth made the hard choice to travel with Naomi (mother in law) to Naomi's native country.  Ruth left all she knew to accompany another grieving woman (who had lost husband and two sons).  That was probably not an enjoyable trip.  Once they arrived, Ruth had to find discarded/leftover grain from fields so she and Naomi would have food to eat each day.  Perhaps she only collected this food for a few weeks before meeting Boaz, the man she would later marry, but Ruth did not know at the time that the season of collecting grain would be short.  Yet rather than despair or dwell on the obvious hardships in her life, she made the most of her new beginning and "did the next thing" that needed to be done.  Her story ends well, with a new husband and children, provision, and many other blessings.  None of us can see what is ahead, just around the next curve of the road we travel.  But we do know that God is with us every step of the way.

Remember the kid song "12 men went to spy on Canaan, 10 were bad and 2 were good"?  The 2 "good" spies, Joshua and Caleb, saw the same super-sized men who inhabited the land of Canaan as did the 10 "bad" spies, but rather than be overwhelmed by the idea of overcoming those giants, they chose to focus on the abundance of God's provision in Canaan.  God rewarded their faithfulness and trust.  While they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years with the rest of the unbelieving Israelites, they were allowed to enter into and enjoy the promised land with the next generation.  When God reveals to us a destination or calling, we must be single-minded as we place one foot after the other in the direction He has marked out.  We need to put on blinders like those that horses wear to keep them from being distracted or scared by things to the right and the left.  God's callings and destinations do not come without trials.  We should anticipate them and choose to trust God through them.  Let's not miss out on His abundance by being scared of the journey.

Joseph - you know, the one who had that coat of many colors?  Favored by his father and hated by his brothers, he was sold into slavery.  Not a great new beginning.  He kept a good attitude, trusted God, served well, and was thrown into jail as a result of a woman who lied.  Not a great new beginning there either.  But even in jail, Joseph was faithful.  He was eventually released.  Through another series of events, he was promoted to a high status in Egypt through which he essentially saved the people from starving during a famine.  Among those he saved were the very brothers who sold him into slavery years ago.  Joseph forgave them and they had a wonderful new beginning as a reunited family.  He is a great example of persevering through very difficult circumstances and trusting God regardless of what life threw his way.

Finally, we talked about the woman in the New Testament who had the unstoppable bleeding.  Doctors couldn't heal her.  When she learned that Jesus was coming her way, she pressed through the thick crowds of people so she could touch the hem of His robe - certain that even a tiny touch would bring healing.  She was in desperate need of a new beginning, and she knew exactly where to go.  Straight to Jesus.  May we all do the same.  He can bring a new beginning through a changed situation, changed relationships, or "simply" through a changed attitude and renewed faith and trust that God can do all things and that God loves us very much.

Some new beginnings are truly a leap of faith.  Hold tightly to what you know to be true, regardless of what your feelings tell you.

We finished the evening by talking about the fruit of the Spirit.  We shared which of the 9 fruit of the Spirit we felt our losses highlighted we needed to increase, as well as which of the 9 we wanted to specifically focus on in 2011.  Love...joy...peace...patience...kindness...goodness...faithfulness...gentleness...self control.  They are all part of one fruit - that's why it's called the fruit of the Spirit and not the fruits.  Working on one will have a domino effect and result in improvements on all nine.  Amy brought up the important point that on our own we are helpless to become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, etc.  Only through God working in our hearts, changing us, shaping and molding us, can those traits increase.  It is God's will that we become more full of each trait, so we know that by trusting Him and walking with Him we will see improvements in these areas.  She also reminded us that God can give us the "want to" even when we don't feel strong enough (or obedient enough) to desire change.  (Philippians 2:13, Living Bible)

What will you focus on in 2011?  Which trait do you feel would make the most positive difference in your life?  Are you ready and willing to let God guide you into your new beginning?  The end of all God stories is wonderful...and well worth the trials we experience along the way.

October 2010 - How can I worship?

Definition of worship: to be devoted to and full of admiration for; reverent honor  paid to any object regarded as sacred.

What is worship

Not just singing

The way we live our lives

Thoughts, words, actions, time alone, how we take care of our bodies

What do your words, actions, thoughts, etc show that you are worshipping?  Is it God?  It’s easy for me to begin to worship, at least in part, my own dreams and desires, or another person I seek to please.  God is the only one worthy of worship though!

Recount some of the things He has done – miracles, provision, past and present, promises of the future (Biblical examples and personal examples)

Sometimes we do what we don’t want to do because it is right.  Drive the speed limit, don’t say to another what you feel like saying, fix a meal for your family, clean the house, get out of bed, etc.  But it is right, so we do it.  The same is true of worship.  It is right, so we should do it.  The rewards for choosing to worship when we don’t want to far outweigh the rewards of all those other things.  And they far outweigh what we think we’ll gain by not choosing to worship.

Why don’t we feel like worshipping God after a loss or during grief?

Do we blame Him?  Do we feel abandoned or betrayed?  Do we need somewhere to place our anger or despair?  Do we feel we had a right to whatever we have lost?  Are these feelings rooted in truth or lies?  The only way to combat lies is to soak them in the truth.  The truths of God don’t change with our circumstances.  Even when – and perhaps especially when – things don’t make sense, the truths of God remain.  We don’t have to understand them for them to be true.  Do any of us truly understand how the internet works?  Yet we use it often without question.  Do we truly understand how all matter is made up of tiny molecules, some forming gases, others forming liquids, and others forming solids?  Yet we breathe air, drink water, and sit on a chair – trusting it to hold us up.  So why do we buy into the faulty thinking that we have to understand God before we worship Him?  Why do we think we need to make sense of what He has done, given, taken, or allowed before we worship Him?  He is, after all, God.  Without Him there is nothing.  Certainly no good thing.  And even in the midst of excruciating loss there are still abundant blessings all around us deserving of His worship.

That’s one angle.  Here’s another angle.  In times of grief, what else is there to do BESIDES worship God?  Has anyone ever come up with a true solution besides worshipping Him?  Without Him there is no peace, no joy, no fulfillment.  Other fixes may be great in the short run, but in the long run each and every one will fail.  Worshipping God is the opposite.  Sometimes it feels effective immediately, but most of the time it requires time and repetition before it reaches the deep places of our hearts most in need of His healing touch. 

We must worship because He IS.  We must worship because He commands.  We must worship because we have nothing else we can do. 

Something in us is healed when we worship.  And that should not surprise us; doing things God’s way always brings blessing and wholeness.  There is a power in worship, perhaps even more so when that worship feels sacrificial.

Part of our battle plan in grief must be worship.  Singing is one of the easiest (though sometimes hardest) ways to do this.  While stages of grief are normal, natural, even God-given, getting stuck in a stage may indicate that there is a spiritual battle going on inside your heart.  The enemy would love to steal even more from you than he already has.  Worship, specifically praise, is your best weapon against his attacks. 

Is it a lie to sing when you don’t feel like it?  No, because what you sing in worship is the truth.  There is a book about marriage called Love is a Decision – we are not to love our spouses only when we feel like it.  We are to love them all the time.  We are not to worship God only when we feel like it; we are to worship Him all the time.  Just as loving your spouse in the tough times is the main thing that will restore your relationship, worshipping God in the tough times is what will restore your relationship with Him.

The Psalms are full of songs to God that begin with anger or despair.  It is ok - even right - to express those feelings to God.  But at some point the psalms turn to the truth of God's promises.  The lament turns to praise.  Some people expect that Christians will always exude joy, even in tough times.  While it is true that we have the joy of the Lord in our hearts, that does not mean that on the surface we must always have a happy face and be ok with our situations.  Perhaps today you are in the first half of a psalm, in the middle of a heart-wrenching lament.  Hang on.  With each step you take toward God, with each minute-by-minute decision to trust Him, you are getting closer to the praise part of your psalm.  

Sometimes singing a praise/worship song feels like a lie because you don't feel like He is good or that you have even one ounce of faith in your heart.  But go ahead and sing - make the song be a prayer.  Ask God to make the song true in your life.  If we wait until we feel like doing the right thing, we may never get around to doing the right thing.  God promises that His Word will not return void.  Each time we sing praises or say verses from the Bible it is like an arrow that shoots out toward the lies that are entangling us.  We don't have to fully believe those truths in order to shoot the arrow.  If we keep feeding our minds with the lies, allowing the despair to set up camp and crown itself king, of course we will feel stuck in grief.  But if we choose to instead feed our minds with God's truths, in time those truths will set up camp and the true King will reign in our hearts.  

This is not a prescription to eradicate grief or the hard times that come with loss.  This is a way of life.  But it also happens to be the only true way to get through those super tough days.  

Here are a few songs to get you started.  Remember, you can make them your prayer if they are not yet true for your heart.

You Have Made Me Glad – Hillsong

I will bless the Lord forever
And I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all sin
And he has set my feet upon a rock
And I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord....
You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need
Whom have I in Heaven but you?
There's none I desire beside you
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord....
CHORUS:
You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need
REPEAT CHORUS
You have me glad
And I'll say of the Lord....
REPEAT CHORUS x 2
My very present help in time of need

Made to Worship – Chris Tomlin

Before the day, Before the light
Before the world revolved around the sun
God on high
Stepped down into time
And wrote the story of His love for everyone
He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be
All we are
And all we have
Is all a gift from God that we receive
Brought to life
We open up our eyes
To see the majesty and glory of the King
He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be
And even the rocks cry out
And even the Heavens shout
At the sound of His holy name
So let every voice sing out
And let every knee bow down
He is worthy of all our praise
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free, yeah
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see, you and I will see
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free, yeah
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be

None But Jesus lyrics
Songwriters: Fraser, Brooke;

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won?t refuse
Each new day again I?ll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You?re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

So when You call I won?t delay
This my song through all my days

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

All my delight is in You, Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You, Lord, forevermore

For who you are

Standing here In your presence
Thinging of the good things you have done~
Waiting here, Patiently Just to hear the still small voice again
Holy righteous Faithful til the end
Saviour healer Redeemer and friend
I will worship you for who you are
I will worship you for who you are
I will worship you for who you are
Jesus
My soul secure 
Your promise sure
Your love endures
Always

Let Everything that has Breath

CHORUS:
Let everything that, everything that,
Everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Let everything that, everything that,
Everything that has breath praise the Lord.
VERSE 1:
Praise You in the morning,
Praise You in the evening,
Praise You when I'm young and when I'm old.
Praise You when I'm laughing,
Praise You when I'm grieving,
Praise You every season of the soul.
If we could see how much You're worth,
Your power, Your might, Your endless love,
Then surely we would never cease to praise.
VERSE 2:
Praise You in the heavens, joining with the angels,
Praising You forever and a day.
Praise You on the earth now, joining with creation,
Calling all the nations to Your praise.
If they could see how much You're worth,
Your power, your might, your endless love,
Then surely they would never cease to praise.

 Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

 ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
 Just to take Him at His Word;
 Just to rest upon His promise,
 And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

 Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

 Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
 Just to trust His cleansing blood;
 And in simple faith to plunge me
 ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

 Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
 Just from sin and self to cease;
 Just from Jesus simply taking
 Life and rest, and joy and peace.

 I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
 Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
 And I know that Thou art with me,
 Wilt be with me to the end.

 It is Well 

 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,          
 When sorrows like sea billows roll;
 Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
 It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
 Let this blest assurance control,
 That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
 And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

 My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
 My sin, not in part but the whole,
 Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
 If Jordan above me shall roll,
 No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
 Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

 But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
 The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
 Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
 Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

 And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
 The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
 The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
 Even so, it is well with my soul.

 Blessed Be Your Name

 Blessed be Your name
 in the land that is plentiful
 Where your streams of abundance flow
 blessed be Your name

 and blessed be Your name
 when I'm found in the desert place
 though i walk through the wilderness
 blessed be Your name

 every blesssing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
 an when the darkness closes in Lord still i will say:
 blessed be the name of the Lord
 blessed be Your name
 bleseed be the name of the Lord
 blessed be Your glorious name

 and blessed be your name
 when the sun's shining down on me
 when the world's "all as it should be"
 blessed be your name

 and blessed be your name
 on the road marked with suffering
 though there's pain in the offering
 blessed be your name

 every blesssing you pour out i'll turn back to praise
 when the darkness closes in Lord still i will say:
 blessed be the name of the Lord
 blessed be your name
 bleseed be the name of the Lord
 blessed be your glorious name

 you give and take away
 you give and take away
 my heart wil chose to say:
 blessed be your name (blessed be your name lord)

Corn mazes of life

We had the opportunity to visit this corn maze.  Before we went, I printed out this picture of the maze and spent some time looking at it.  I wanted to figure out how to get through it...without calling the "help" number listed on the info sheet.  As I thought about the maze, it was as if God spoke to me and said there were some important spiritual parallels between this maze and our lives.


With a corn maze, there is a most direct route through.  But is that the best route?  What would we miss by having speed or efficiency be our goal?  How much richer would our lives be if we made the journey the goal rather than the end?  As Christians, we know the end.  God can guide us through the maze, let us sit in one spot for an extended season, or decide to take us out of the maze from the middle.  Let's decide to look for God and His blessings in each moment of the day instead of striving toward the next thing.  

Are we trying to get through our grief as quickly as possible?  What if the comfort we long for comes in the very season we are trying to rush through?  Sometimes trying to get through quickly actually wastes time because we didn't experience what God had for us - we end up taking longer to get through because we have to go in circles several times before we relent and learn.  Don't be like Jonah and incur other negative consequences because you are avoiding your Ninevah.