Waiting Here For You

Recently, I was just so encouraged. I came across Psalm 27:14;

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

The feeling I got was just this expectant hope; a hope worth waiting for. My Study Bible says of this verse that we should look to Him with dependence and trust and when we do we are able to be strong, to be courageous, to take heart; no matter what!

There is a new song out (new to me anyway) sung by Christy Nockels (see video below) called “Waiting Here for You” and the lyrics remind us of all the Lord has done for us and as we come to grips with that we will “wait here for you with hands lifted high in praise.” That just sums it up so well!

Father, no matter what we will wait for you.

Father, no matter what we will be strong.

Father, no matter what we will take heart.

Father, we are waiting here for You with hands lifted high in praise. Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace!

An Easter Prayer

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

We humbly come before you this day praising you for all things. We praise you for your love, your strength, your sovereignty, your grace and we praise you for your Son; Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

This special day; Resurrection Sunday we humble ourselves and confess our brokenness, our many failures which make your sacrifice even more amazing.

Lord, this day we remember your word from John 16;

33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."’

Christ, we rejoice that you have overcome the world and that because of your atoning sacrifice we might have eternal peace and life and hope through you our savior.

Father, as we celebrate resurrection Sunday let us reflect upon the events and circumstances that faced our Savior during this most Holy week; a triumphant entry, the persecution, the plotting, the betrayal, a washing of the feet, a supper together, prayer, a soul overwhelmed with sorrow, torture, pain, denials, the separation. All done for each of us; your children.

God, we pray for Christians around the world facing trials of many kinds that you would strengthen, encourage, provide and comfort. We pray for your church that it will be an ever expanding, attracting light of hope and love. We pray for the beautiful feet of the missionaries bringing the good news to those in need.

We pray for this nation as it faces economic crisis, moral dilemmas, and threats of many kinds, that we will be a nation that turns to You for all things, that You will grant this nation wisdom, relief, hope, and love.

We pray for believers with their many needs, we pray for relief from economic suffering, we pray for healing from all ailments, we pray for guidance for the lost and love for the lonely. We pray for our Church leaders, our pastors, all ministry leaders and their families that they might be encouraged and strengthened.

Father, this special day I pray for each of us that we might remember the sacrifice and the events of this Holy week, that we might overcome our issues, troubles, and doubts and confidently proclaim as the apostle Thomas did; My Lord and God.

Father, mostly we pray that you would be glorified and your will be done. We pray these many things in Jesus most Holy name. Amen!

Divine Rhythm

Recently we took a trip that might have been one of my families last where the four of us share a hotel room (yes, my kids have grown up). This has always been a treasure for me, but my timing does not match the rest of the family. I am an early riser; it’s what I do. I read, pray, study; it is my time of fellowship with God. This time was a little different. I was reading a chapter in Tim Keller’s “The Reason for God” called The Dance of God.

In this chapter, Keller describes the Christian life and in it he beautifully describes what it is to glorify. He tells us to glorify is to praise, enjoy and delight in something. He tells us to glorify is to defer and to sacrifice your own interest to devote yourself making the other happy. Your ultimate joy is their joy. He goes on to say that this process “creates a dynamic, pulsating dance of joy and love.” An amazing rhythm…

I read somewhere that Hebrew tradition tells us that dance functioned as a process of prayer and praise, as an outward expression of rejoicing, and as a way of reconciling God and His people. We can see this image in scripture as we know from Exodus 15:2; The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. In Psalm 149:3 we see; Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.

As I sat in my hotel room reading about this, thinking about this, with the three people I love most in this world soundly sleeping; I suddenly felt an overwhelming peace, a beauty, a joy that I can’t adequately describe. I sat in silence with only the light for my book. I could hear the joyful rhythm of my three girls breathing as they slept. I felt tears well up in my eyes and I thanked God for allowing me this dance. Simply divine.

Grace and Peace!

Whatever

Blogging is a very interesting thing. It allows a new method of communicating while also allowing for a space to express desires, thoughts, doubts, beliefs and a range of emotions. This blog is now entering its 6th month and it remains a drive of mine, a desire to share. The original intent was to blog with grace filled messages – restoring thoughts if you will (get it?).

I truly believe it has been as much a blessing to me as I learn and grow by way of this modern mode of communication and creativity. I believe blogging can provide just one more way to think about, learn about, worship and praise our God in heaven…as we remember in Philippians; 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

So this blog for me helps me work through the whatever and helps me to think about these things. I think for me that I have come to realize that this is another outlet of praise. I must confess I have very limited musical talent (just ask my family), but I do have a joyful noise to make and this site provides a path for that noise. As we see in Ephesians 5; 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. This path for my noise allows me to make a melody that comes from the heart.

Which really gets to the point. Blogging helps me grow in understanding, to mature as a Christian, and to make a melody of praise to the Lord from my heart. I will end this blog with Psalm 150;

Let Everything Praise the LORD
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

With every breath may we all praise the Lord!

Grace and Peace!