.. whatever happens.. rejoice in the LORD....

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

( Philippians 3: 1)

no matter how things are going for me, no matter how much reason for "happiness" I have or none.. no matter if my relationships are what I want them to be, no matter how successful I am, no matter the amount of worries of any kind I have... in order to safeguard my faith I have to choose to rejoice...

I was sure by now

God 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 Your 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 you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But 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 lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

whatever happens... and on this earth you will have trouble, but the One who chose to save you by dying on the cross for you, He, He has overcome the world.. He has overcome death, He paid the price.. whatever happens.. choose to rejoice in Him and praise Him.. 

let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. for the joy set before him ( of making us His own )  he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

( Hebrews 12: 1-2 )

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

( Philippians 3:8 )

whatever happens is nothing compared to the immeasurable riches of knowing Him ... the endless treasures of being His... eternally.....