You Give and Take Away

This song has been very special to me for quite some time and it has new significance even now. I love the honesty of the words. Saying "No, I'm not okay" and "I don't really feel You" but in the end, still trusting and ultimately praising God for what He has worked in my life through the storms.

"Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now, God,
that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away;
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say "amen"
and it's still raining.
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 heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again.
my strength is almost gone. How can I carry on
if I can't find You?
And 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

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

"O God of Second Chances and new Beginnings, here I am again." -Nancy Spiegelberg

This song is my heart cry right now. It's a wonder that God doesn't get tired of picking us up and dusting us off.

Joy - Not Just Dishwashing Liquid

I came across another quote recently and was struck with the truth of it.

"Joy is not gush: joy is not jolliness. Joy is simply perfect
acquiescence in God's will, because the soul delights itself in God
himself...rejoice in the will of God, and in nothing else. Bow down your
heads and your hearts before God, and let the will, the blessed will of
God, be done." -Amy Carmichael

Things in your life don't have to be all lined up and going the way you want them to in order for you to have joy. Maybe you lost your job, were late for school last week because of the snow, had a fight with a dear friend, realized that a relationship couldn't be repaired, or simply got up on the wrong side of the bed. You can still have joy (and more importantly, show joy) even when these things are all going wrong and it feels like your world has been turned upside down.

I think the long and short of it is that joy comes directly from trust. If you trust God with your life - past, present, and future - and "acquiesce to His will," you can have true joy in the best and worst of circumstances.

Don't wait for everything to be peachy before you show your inner joy. We have something to offer this world! Now let's get out there and advertise it!

Creation

I have been feeling like I should put up a New Year's post, but was failing to be inspired. This morning, I came across this quote, and even though it's not "New Year's," it is definitely something to think about. I hope you enjoy it. :)

"The stars are God's fingerprints. The sun is a mere smidgen of His radiance. The moon is to remind us that He doesn't sleep at night. The vastness of space proclaims the infinity of His wisdom, while the sand pebble indicates His thoroughness with the puniest details. The lion hints at His fearlessness, the bear at His power, the hawk at His keen insight. And yet, those possess only a tidbit of God's omnipotence and omnipresence. Every tree points toward heaven; every bird has a song to sing; even every moment of wind goes in some direction. There is nothing chaotic about our beautiful designed world. All creation has a message to tell. It says, 'Listen, there is a God. There is a God!'" -Brent D. Earles