up since 3:30.. don't ask me why, lots of time to read, pray and memorize scripture before getting up at 7... lot's of time to think about many things and contemplate what is happening in my soul / heart/ life / mind..
listening to a song from long ago a little later, on repeat, as I am out driving doing errands for my beloved husband, these are the lyrics:
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendor He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
listening to this song because that's the one I chose for the slideshow of pictures I made for my mother... or I should say in memory of her...
thinking about one of the scriptures I memorized last week and practiced this morning :
Therefore let those that are suffering ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL... entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.... ( 1 Peter 4:19 )
home again, looking at the memories from a year ago today, this is what I found:
Sometimes God allows all our anchors to break —- so we know the only unbreakable anchor we have is Him
Overwhelming waves can carry you into the open arms and overwhelming love of God
When God raises the winds and lifts the waves — you can always trust His hand to lift you higher — further up into Himself
and... this:
In his sovereign watch-care, the all-good, all-wise God decides when his children will suffer for doing good ........ 1. Peter 3:17 His eyes are on us!
I guess it's a theme... the life of a follower of Christ... always being refined, always suffering in some way.. because He, who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light is faithful and is all about making us more holy... because He is holy...
last year on this day, my mother was in the hospital in Switzerland suffering from pneumonia, also suffering from lung cancer that was spreading and a heart that was about to give out, family dysfunction was lived out over there and it was communicated to me, over here.. immigration complications, or should I say the absence of documents to begin the process that should have been there long ago, had me stuck, not able to be there for her.... loneliness in this new place, trying to find meaningful connections to fellow believers....
so, suffering, ok, in this world you will have trouble... but suffering according to God's will???
like suffering in a marriage and no way out? still doing good...
like suffering from a disease and ultimately losing the fight against it... ( He takes us safely to His Heavenly Kingdom ... )
like slain int the shadow of the Almighty... say what?????
like being killed while reaching out to people to share the Good News...
like everything being so overwhelming, the waves being so high, there is no standing up under them... there is just no way you can fight the battles by yourself... no way to control the situation....
tossed about and carried right into the arms of Almighty God...
finding refuge in His shadow...
closeness like never before... and the winds and waves are still raging against the ROCK... but HE can handle it and we are safe...
suffering according to God's will...
His good and perfect will..
His plan, which prospers and doesn't harm..
His power perfect in my weakness,
in my loss, in my inability to change one single thing,
just looking to Him for EVERYTHING...
receiving it all and MORE
His unfailing, overwhelming, eternal, steadfast love..
sacred and gentle and sweet... just like He is...
there is nothing else we need...
just be still.... because the presence, the glory AND the power of the Lord is right here...
He will never leave or forsake..
AMEN
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