Before the Morning

I have heard this song a lot on the radio. It has wonderful lyrics. It serves as a great reminder to me as we endure these trying times. I pray that God will use these challenges to bring glory to himself. I know that I may never see the reason for trials here on earth, but someday I will see the big picture.

I am trying hard to focus on the many blessings that God has given me. I have so much to be thankful for. I am looking for the little things that bring joy. Even when it feels like life is falling apart I still have a reason to rejoice.

Before the Morning by Josh Wilson

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you
If there’s a God who loves you where is He now

Maybe there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending

Someday somehow you’ll see you’ll see

Would you dare would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

My friend you know how this all ends
You know where you’re going
You just don’t know how you’ll get there
So say a prayer

And hold on cause there’s good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time but you’ll see the bigger picture

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory

It’s just the hurt before the healing
Oh the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

Great Reminder

I heard a new song on the radio today as I prepared for our busy weekend. I didn't catch much of the song...I don't even know who sings it or what the title is, but one line hit me.

would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

What a great reminder that nothing can compare to the joy that come from God! That helps put everything in perspective.

Give and Take Away

Once again God used music to speak to me. This time he used the same song I blogged about here.

I do feel like I could give up my stuff to follow God. I feel as though this tough time in my life has been a time of reflection to see if I was really willing to give it all away and still remain joyful. I can truly say that I would be ok if we lost everything. That is until I heard these two simple lines again....

Anything I would give up for You
Everything I give it all away

God spoke to me. Am I really willing to give up EVERYTHING? Is there something that I am holding so closely that I am not willing to let go of it? I realized there was. I knew right then and there what it was. Through the tough times I have found myself saying "wow, sometimes I feel like Job." Then I would follow it up by saying "God, just don't take my children!"

Why is it that I could give up all my earthly possessions but somehow I am not willing to trust God with my most cherished blessings? I know that I need to open my palms and give my children to God. He has blessed me with them and they are His.

I don't know if I could say that I would be joyful if God chose to take my children from me. I am struggling with this. Losing my children is the last thing that I want to think about, but I know that God wants me to be willing to give up EVERYTHING. Please pray with me as I wrestle with this. I want to be able to say that I truly would give up EVERYTHING for my God!!!!!

God has used this season of my life to strip me of my pride. I know that all we have is a blessing from God and he can take them away at any moment. I have learned to be content with the here and now. God has proven himself faithful. He is my Jehovah-Jireh. I have become fully reliant on Him. Even though this season has been challenging it has been filled with joy. I would not trade this tough time for anything. I have noticed a change in my spirit that I thank God for it!

The Impact of Music

It was just another average morning. I got up got the boys fed and dressed and then it was off to school. As we started driving I turned on whatever CD happened to be in the player and we began singing. I dropped Keegan off at school and Truitt and I headed home. We continued listening to the CD and singing.

Once again, God used music to speak to me. He seems to use the music that I am most familiar with and listen to all the time. I'm noticing that it is the music that I would least expect to impact me. Maybe that is because I am so familiar with it. I tend to listen and sing without really thinking about what I am singing. When I take the time to stop and think about the words and what they really mean it hits me.

This day was no different. As I pulled into our driveway I found myself in tears (over a song that I would never expect to make me cry). When I stopped to think about the words I was singing, and the truth in those words, it hit me. It is so easy for me to lose perspective of what this life is all about. I was made to know God and to Glorify Him!!! All the other details of life don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. The part that got me most were those last two lines. They seems so simple and easy to say, but am I really willing to live the words I was singing? Yes, I want to live my life in such a way that my God comes before everything. I count all these other things as blessings from Him. They can all be stripped away at anytime and I don't want my happiness/joy to hinge on those things, because when they are stripped away I will still have joy. Joy that can only be found in God.

Are you dying to know what CD/song we were listening to? It is nothing groundbreaking or life altering, but God used it to speak to me, and that is all that matters. I slowed down long enough to listen to my God. The CD was Toby Mac's "Portable Sounds" CD and the song was "Made to Love."

Tobymac - Made To Love From the album Portable Sounds

The dream is fading now I am staring at the door
I know it’s over cause my feet have hit the cold floor
Check my reflection, I ain’t feeling what I see
It’s no mystery

What ever happened to a passion I could live for?
What became of the flame that made me feel more?
And when did I forget…

Chorus:
That I was made to love You
I was made to find You
I was made just for You
Made to adore You
I was made to love and be loved by You
You were here before me
You were waiting on me
And You said You’d keep me never would You leave me
I was made to love
And be loved by You

The dreams alive with my eyes open wide
Back in the ring You got me swingin’ for the grand prize
I feel the haters spittin’ vapors on my dreams
But I still believe…

I’m reachin’ out, reachin’ up, reachin’ over
I feel a breeze cover me called Jehovah
And Daddy I’m on my way…

Chorus:
Anything I would give up for You
Everything I give it all away

We Shall Not Be Shaken

I don't have much to share these days. Sometimes God uses music to speak to my heart and this is one of those seasons. I share these songs hoping that they may speak to you also.

"We Shall Not Be Shaken" by Matt Redman

When everything's breaking
You are left unshaken
When everything's tumbling down
You're the solid ground
Nations could be quaking
Economies failing
When fear is found all around
You're the solid ground

Our God, You are all that You say You are
You never change, You never fail, You never fade
Our God, You are faithful in all Your ways
Forever You stand, forever You reign, forever remain
And we shall not be shaken

We shall, we shall not be shaken
We shall, we shall not be shaken
When all around is sinking sand
For You are, You are never changing
You are, You are never changing
You will stand, the Great I am

Being Content

In the midst of all the things that we are dealing with God has really been speaking to me about being content where I am. I am learning to be content with God and God alone. This has not been easy, but I am in process.



The song "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns has really spoken to me. Especially the chorus. God is calling out to me. He tells me not to be afraid. I know he will use my circumstances for his glory. I just need to remind myself of that daily (sometimes hourly). I need to listen to my God and not the lies that this world throws at me. Thank you God for proving yourself to be faithful time and time again!!!




Oh,what I would do to have

the kind of faith it takes

To climb out of this boat I'm in

Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone

Into the realm of the unknown

Where Jesus is,

And he's holding out his hand



But the waves are calling out my name

and they laugh at me

Reminding me of all the times

I've tried before and failed

The waves they keep on telling me

time and time again

"Boy, you'll never win,

you'll never win."



But the Voice of truth tells me a different story

the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"

and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth



Oh, what I would do

to have the kind of strength it takes

To stand before a giant

with just a sling and a stone

Surrounded by the sound

of a thousand warriors

shaking in their armor

Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand



But the giant's calling out

my name and he laughs at me

Reminding me of all the times

I've tried before and failed

The giant keeps on telling me time

and time again

"Boy you'll never win,

you'll never win.



"But the voice of truth tells me a different story

the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"

and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth



But the stone was just the right size

to put the giant on the ground

and the waves they don't seem so high

from on top of them looking down

I will soar with the wings of eagles

when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus

singing over me



But the Voice of truth tells me a different story

The Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"

And the Voice of truth says "this is for my glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)

I will choose to listen and believe (I will choose to listen and believe)

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth



I will listen and believe

I will listen and believe the Voice of truth

I will listen and believe 'Cause Jesus you are the Voice of truth

And I will listen to you.. oh you are the Voice of truth