Have you ever been really thirsty? Like it's 100 degrees out and you've been working in the sun all day with no water kinda parched? I can honestly say I haven't ever been that thirsty. And I definitely count that as a blessing. As someone who gets heat sick really easily, and dehydrated even easier, I've spent a lot of time lying in dark rooms with a cold washcloth over my eyes nursing serious headaches, and that's enough of that for me.
But I wonder...
Have I ever been that thirsty...for God? Do I take care of my need for Jesus in my life like I take care of my need for water? I carry a water bottle pretty much everywhere I go. Do I remember to take Jesus with me? Or, does it take a spiritual migraine for God to get my attention?
I can't get enough No I can't get enough Of Your amazing love I can't get enough
And then I wonder. Do I feel the thirst? Before it gets to unparalleled levels, do I recognize the need for more? Do I run back to the water that God provides, His amazing love?
And I just wanna be where You are I just wanna be near Your heart There is nothing like Your love There is nothing like Your love
Jesus that is my prayer tonight - that I would want to be where you are. That I would recognize Your love, recognize my thirst for your love before the migraine sets in.
Jesus I love You
I can't get enough No I can't get enough Of Your amazing love I can't get enough
I can't walk away No I can't walk away From where I've seen Your face And I can't walk away
And I just wanna be where You are I just wanna be near Your heart There is nothing like Your love There is nothing like Your love
Jesus I love You
With all the angels singing Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy Jesus I love You
What do you think of when you hear the phrase "I am surrounded"? Is it positive? Or negative? Do you think of being surrounded by enemies? For sure when I hear the words I definitely bring up all kinds of negative images.
I am surrounded
On every side, can’t see the light of day
But what if... what if...
What if we thought of it in the Hebrews 12 way? Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. - Hebrews 12:1
But I am persuaded
Beyond all hope, You won’t let go of me
I stake my claim
On every word You say
You will not be late
What if instead of feeling surrounded by our enemies we realize that stronger than those foe, closer to us, we are surrounded by a crown of witnesses to the life of faith, people to remind us of the truth. Who reminds you of the truth? Do you hold them close? Surround yourself with them? Do you stake your claim on the every word He says? Knowing that He will not be late?
I will sing through fire and thunder
Cause You are on my side
I trust You with my life
I know my story, it isn’t over
Even against all odds
You are a faithful God
That’s who You are
You are a faithful God
What do you do in the midst of the fire and storm? Do you sing of God's faithful love? Because friends, He is faithful.
The darkest of weather
Though I can’t see, I still believe You’re good So I’m moving forward
Through crashing waves, I know I’m safe with You
You hold my life
You hear my cry
With every breath inside
Today has been a dark weather day for me. A friend of mine I haven't talked to in a while (not a close friend, but someone who I do count as a friend, someone who has been their for me over the last few years) messaged me that a close friend/coworker of hers had died, and that she herself was just diagnosed with cancer. I hurt so much for my friend. And honestly, I can't see God in that. But, even though I can't see it, I do still believe that He is good. And I know she does, too. And I truly believe that as I cry out to God he hears my cry, every breath of it.
I am convinced
That Your promises will hold together
And I will dwell
In the hope of Your love forever
God help me dwell in your hope forever!
I am surrounded
On every side, can’t see the light of day
But I am persuaded
Beyond all hope, You won’t let go of me
I stake my claim
On every word You say
You will not be late
I will sing through fire and thunder
Cause You are on my side
I trust You with my life
I know my story, it isn’t over
Even against all odds
You are a faithful God
That’s who You are
You are a faithful God
The darkest of weather
Though I can’t see, I still believe You’re good So I’m moving forward
I've tried to start this blog about a dozen times. I've listened to the song a million times now. Every time I have an intense emotional reaction. But I can't figure out how to write about it. The words sit there spilling out of my eyes and not my fingers. I'm writing this on my phone because I think I finally connected the thoughts swirling in my head and don't want to lose it. Please forgive any typos.
Have you ever thought how we make our plans for our life. The 1 year, 2 year, 5 year goals? The place we think we'll be? And then we think somehow because we made those goals and they might be good and godly goals, inspired by God, but we think then we have some claim to them. Like we should be definitely headed there. What do you do when you aren't headed on that path?
You unearth me like a vein of gold
With the powers that drive up the flowers from the fold
You cast me, uncursed, unearth my body and my soul
Like fire from my ashes, like fire from my coals
Have you ever found yourself then worrying about those goals? Worrying about how you're going to get there. Worrying about how you could possibly do the thing you set out to do? Who you think you are, who you are meant to be?
And I build my life around
Someone who I thought that I was
But it turns out
All the things I do to feel young
They only make me old
Or maybe on that path you feel like you got derailed? Or like you are chosing the very opposite of what would get you there? In Matthew, Jesus is hanging on the cross and people are taunting him. "The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”" (Matthew 27:39-43 NLT) What do you do when you feel like your goals are shattered? Do you react to the taunts, give in to the temptations? Do you find yourself taunting others in your pain?
But you raise me
Like a baby
Like a fiery Phoenix bird
Oh, and you lift me up
Like Lazarus
And love me like death in reverse
Friends, in the middle of the pile of ash that your goals may feel like, the person you thought you were, the person you are feeling yourself become, God is there. Raising you up. Like a baby he lifts you up out of your shame and pain. He takes the taunts. So that He can give you new life. So He can love you like death in reverse.
Be encouraged today. May you find yourself loved in God's reverse way.
You descend upon me like a rolling stone
Like black swan raging on for all that I know
You know it unnerves me when I lose control, and I'm
All out of options and I'm out of my head
Then I build my life around
Someone who I thought that I was
But it turns out
All the things I do to feel young
They only make me old
But you raise me
Like a baby
Like a fiery Phoenix bird
Oh, and you lift me up
Like Lazarus
And love me like death in reverse
You unearth me like a vein of gold
With the powers that drive up the flowers from the fold
You cast me, uncursed, unearth my body and my soul
