Time is truly flying. I can't even write about all of the things I have wanted to share, because things are happening so fast it's difficult to remember everything! One thing I'm learning and that God is reminding me over and over again....is to praise Him always. When I'm rejoicing, when I'm struggling, when nothing of significance is happening or it feels like everything is going wrong all around me. Regardless of my feelings or my circumstances, I must keep praising my God. He deserves it, and He always reminds me of His goodness and love in those moments of raw emotion before Him as I recognize my sadness or frustration while also praising Him. It's really difficult to stay in a place of hopelessness when we intentionally focus on His faithfulness.
One particular evening I was driving and (yet again) crying...I don't know what it is about driving, perhaps it's just that I feel more alone with God in those moments...or maybe it's because I blast the worship music every time I'm alone in the car. Either way, once again God spoke to me through a song recorded by Ryan Stevenson:
In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
In the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm.
This is a song I've heard a bunch of times, but it hit me differently this time. It was a week ago, the night before we were to have our first snowstorm here. I realized that I could fight against God and complain and allow this to depress and consume me, or I could praise Him. I could be thankful that I get to experience a new day, no matter what it looks like outside. I shared this in a video on Facebook the next day and I truly meant every word. I do not like making videos of myself. It's something that I never would have considered doing before we moved, but now I appreciate this method of communication so that I can share my heart with my friends and family in a different way than just typing it out. I was extremely self conscious about it, but God kept nudging me until I finally caved and made the video. It was way out of my comfort zone, but another thing He is showing me is that I am here on this earth to give Him glory, whether it's comfortable for me or not! Anyway, publicly praising God really helped me to focus on Him. For the first time in many years, I did not cry or feel depressed over snow. Even thought it was in October!
That day, our new pastor and his family were in a serious car accident. His wife sustained a broken rib which led to the decision to deliver her baby very early. Please pray for them. Their little boy is in the NICU for up to 3 months. This is a tough situation as they have 3 other little ones and the hospital is an hour away from here. I did not know how serious the situation with the baby was until Sunday when I arrived at church and Derrick, who had already been at Sunday School with the older kids, told me that they were still at the hospital. We were so blessed to see the church come together to keep things going and to hear a brother step up to share a message that was convicting, challenging, and motivating. A couple things stood out to me that morning. One, is that our pastor was choosing to praise God in spite of what happened. God is good and we can truly declare this to be true in every single situation of our lives. He knows what He is doing. He takes care of His children. We are truly blessed as His children. The other thing was that the man who shared a message with us was so passionate about truly giving God the glory for everything in our lives. He said that a mentor of his always asks him, "Did you praise God today?" I had to ask myself that as well. Did I praise Him today, or did I complain? Did I praise Him when I got something right and had success or did I take the glory for myself? I've had people tell me I should be proud of myself and build myself up when I do well. But I know better. I've lived long enough and experienced enough to know that there is absolutely nothing in and of myself that deserves praise and glory. God is the good in me. I want people to look at me and see Jesus. I want them to see that HE has changed me. That HE is the reason I do anything and everything. I want Him to have all the praise. That is why I want to praise Him no matter what life brings. So that, hopefully, everyone around me will see where the glory truly belongs. Not to myself, that's for sure. It belongs to the God of all Creation, of Heaven and Earth, and everything in it. He is the God who made a way when there was no way...the God who rules the universe but also knows each of us personally. That's the God I worship, and the One I want to praise regardless of how I'm feeling in the moment. Without Him, I am nothing. This is not a statement of self-degradation, but of true gratitude, humility, reverence, and wonder. I am in awe of my God for all He is and all He has done in and through me. Each and every day. I want to close with a passage that was recently shared with me and was perfectly timed with all that God has been showing me. We praise Him to show His glory, and so that others will praise and give Him glory.
I look forward to sharing with you all after another month goes by! Thanks for reading, and remember to keep on praising, no matter what!
Ephesians 1:3-14 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[a]for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known[b] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee[c] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,[d] to the praise of his glory.
