Monday, October 25, 2010

God is Here

Yesterday morning our choir sang another inspiring anthem that really touched me. It's called "God is Here". I wasn't able to figure out who wrote it, but it really encouraged me and I hope it does you as well:

"There is a sweet annointing in this sanctuary
There is a stillness in the atmosphere

"O Come lay down
The burden you have carried
For in this sanctuary
God is here

"He is here
God is here
To break the yoke
And lift the heavy burden

"He is here
God is here
To heal the hopeless heart
And bless the broken

"O Come lay down
The burden you have carried
For in this sanctuary
God is here..."

While I freely admit that my burdens seem woefully insignificant to others' I know, God is faithful to bring encouragement to me when I need it most, and this song yesterday was a great example of that. It was another hard week of migraines and trying just to make it through the day of busyness at The Company, including training my new co-worker. While I can work sick and with headaches, I have a hard time working with a migraine, especially when it involves veritgo. My doctor and I have been working on getting the migraines under control but so far, that's not happened. I am thankful for an understanding boss (who himself gets migraines so he can sympathize) and supportive co-workers.

But most of all, I am so thankful that while there are millions all over the globe with life and death issues, God is faithful to be HERE with me as well for my little issues. I don't understand how He can be every where at the same time, but I know He can! :)

Whatever your burdens are, may it be an encouragement that He is there with you, too!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

No More Night

The choir sang one of my favorite anthems this morning at church. I wasn't able to find online who wrote this, but the words are just so beautiful:

"The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away
It's not a dream, God will make all things new that day
Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell
Evil is banished to eternal Hell

"No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the Great I AM
We will live in the light of the Risen Lamb

See all around, all the nations bow down to see
The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King
Slowly the names from the Book are read
I know the King, so there's no need to dread

"No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the Great I AM
We will live in the light of the Risen Lamb

"See over there, there's a mansion prepared for me
Where I will live with my Savior eternally

"And there will be no more night

"No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the Great I AM
We will live in the light of the Risen Lamb"

I heard from a high school friend today that her Mom is probably a couple of weeks from going home to Heaven, after a long time battling an awful disease. And I just couldn't help but cry, come quickly Lord Jesus! I'm so thankful we have eternal hope of life forever in eternity without pain, disease, or tears. Praises to the Great I AM, indeed!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Verses That Have/Are Encouraging Me

I frequently struggle with discouragement and depression and there's no better cure for that than seeking the Lord's comforting truth in His Word. Here are some verses that have and continue to bring me comfort and encouragement. I hope they do the same for you. I don't have a verse-numbered version of The Message yet (though hoping I get one for Christmas!) so I just have the chapters...

"You've kept track of my every toss and turn, through the sleepless nights. Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book."--Psalm 56

"God's love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost. Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquistie your love O God! How eager we are to run under your wings...You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light."--Psalm 36

"Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there...disciples so often get into trouble; still God is there every time...no one who runs to Him loses out."--Psalm 34

"If God hadn't been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, 'I'm slipping, I'm falling,' you love, God, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up."--Psalm 94

"From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord...You've always been great toward me--what love! You snatch me from the brink of disaster!...You God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit."--Psalm 86

"You're my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down."--Psalm 31

"I said to myself, 'Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; eye, you've been rescued from tears; and you, foot, were kept from stumbling.'"--Psalm 116

"I was right on the cliff edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me. God's my strength, He's also my song, and now He's my salvation...Thank God, He's so good. His love never quits."--Psalm 118

"Praise God, everybody! Applaud God, all people! His love has taken over out lives; God's faithful ways are eternal. Hallelujah!"--Psalm 117

Monday, October 11, 2010

Prayer Request

I would like to ask anyone reading this to pray for my friend Rosana's husband Ed.

Ed had complex heart surgery a week or so ago and that part actually went pretty well. However, they discovered last week that during the surgery, somehow the oxygen supply to his brain was decreased. He is now under medical sedation but no one knows what to expect when he wakes up. The sections of the brain that are affected in Ed's case are responsible for multiple things from short term memory to motor skills.

Specifically today (Monday 11th), Rosana is responsible for finding a long-term care/rehab facility for Ed. She is praying that the 3rd place she is interviewing today will be willing to accept Ed--that they will have a bed available for him and that they will feel like they can help his neurological recovery. This facility she's visiting today is world-renowned for brain rehab and has won multiple awards for their quality of care.

Ed's condition is certainly critical, but not without hope. Because we serve a Great Physician. We are praying for complete healing for Ed and for strength and peace for Rosana. She just wants him to wake up and be "there".

Thank you for praying. Our God is able!

Friday, October 1, 2010

So Like God

So you know my recent anxiety about changes at The Company. Yesterday as my boss was leaving at the end of the day, he gave me some very good news. They have hired my new co-worker. K actually already works for The Company in another department and I have known her the past 6.5 years I've worked there. While I don't know her well, I know that she is nice and seems like she will be very good to work with. She will move from her department to the seat 6 feet away from me on October 18.

How like God not only to answer my prayers for a good co-worker, but to go above and beyond and to make it someone I already know and like! While it will still be stressful to train K while I try to keep up with my own work during our busy reporting cycle, I know K will work hard to help as much as she can. Not only that, but my boss and my supervisor have both told me they want me not to stress out. I'm so thankful to work with supportive leaders.

I am once again amazed that I am amazed at how marvelously kind and gracious my Heavenly Father is. Why should this surprise me? He is always good, always kind, always gracious, above and beyond anything I could imagine. How foolish I am to worry instead of trusting Him. One of my favorite Psalms is 118 and a portion in The Message says "Thank God. He's so good. His love never quits." And for me, that about sums up my thoughts on this.

Thanks for your prayers. So like God to do immeasurably more than I could ask or think! (see Ephesians 3:20-21 on sidebar)

Have a great weekend, everyone. And may you relish God's goodness and kindness in your life this day.