Bring on the Rain...Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HgAVenbUU

The Blessings of Brokenness by Charles Stanley

God has really used this man, and this book to train me....I don't know why I think of myself just trotting down this gold pathway to heaven...I see the road to heaven in my mind....but somehow, I forget to paint in the trials....I have had to change the way I paint the picture in my mind...I was forgetting to put on my camaflouge suit...getting ready to dodge the bullets....When did I forget I was in a war?

And...when did I forget that God is always molding me and shaping me....?

Here's the part that spoke to me today.....

"When we experience diffiicult times or feel great inner pain and turmoil, we usually try to assign blame. We say one of two things: either "The devil caused this" or "God caused this." The great likelihood is this:::::The devil caused it, and God allowed it.

He next talks about Job..but, here is the part that spoke to me..."Throughout Jobs pain and losses, God never abandoned Job for EVEN A MOMENT. He knew at each step of the way how Job was being afflicted. God also knew he was refining Job.

I drew a picture of me life today....(stick figures are my specialty)! And I drew arrows at me...listing all the painful things that have happened in my life....divorce, troubled finances, living single, loss of job, unmet desires, lonliness, confusion, depression....

God was standing there when those arrows came...and He allowed them to come....

My stick figure had a happy face....and I was thinking....if my way of glorifying God is to smile through the trials...then so be it....if he wants to rain more trials on me....well, I will still smile...with His help.

Anyway...once I finished my quiet time...this song was on the radio..pretty good timing.....

See Let it Rain Next

Kurdish People

At my last missions conference, FB Jax was hosting missionaries from the middle east...to keep this short for today...I walked around...looking at the booths....and tucked away was a table...with a huge picture of one man.....his eyes looked sad to me....and the caption was, "There is a Kurdish Proverb that says the Kurds have no friend but the mountains." At that moment, I wanted to go to them, and tell them "What a Friend We have in Jesus!"

Last Sunday (we just joined a new church), the pastor was talking about our new missions director, that we are going to be the host church for training churches on getting more involved in missions...then mentioned our new Kurdish ministry....

My ears perked up....the largest population of Kurdish people are in Nashville....Tennessee....

Ashley and I came to Tennessee because she felt in her heart that she wanted to go to Nashville...to go to Vanderbilt for her masters...

We'll see what happens......

Back to counting my blessings

I am noticing that my blogs have been very "downcast" lately...Like David....I am willing to share with you those moments of despair.....but, God picks me up and keeps me going...still....I need to count my blessings...

I had a good week...I am blessed to have encouragers...(you know who you are), blessed to have the strength to make it...with a good attitude....

Ashley has begun to like going to garage sales with me....and WE love it....we live in a good area and the past 2 weekends we have found a few really nice clothes, shoes, and sweaters for 1.00! It's fun to find little things...like a treasure hunt! Ashley and I were playing rummy last night, and commented about how we wish we had a card shuffler...well..we found one of those today....at a garage sale...new...for 1.00....originally 20.00...fun to find the bargains...she found 4 Gap sweaters for 1.00 each...we found a Dirt Devil to vacumn the stairs for 5.00...:) and a New Scrabble game for 2.00....we had accidently sold ours and like to play..oh, and a Black and Decker toaster oven for 7.00....we had been wanting a toaster (ours is in the POD) , but didn't want to pay 19.00 for a cheep one, and 40.00 for a better one...so, we are happy!

Then we came home and had strawberry rice Krispie Squares...Ashley made them in the microwave!

It's been a fun day!

Lord I am Yours....Rebecca Lynn Howard

One of my favorites...

With all of my heart, I raise my hands....to worship you....with all that I am...

Lifting my voice to the One I adore.....let go of myself.....Lord, I am Yours.....

There was a debt, I could not pay....but, with the cross, You took it away...

Now I am free, I am free, I can't ask for more.....

No longer mine....Lord, I am Yours!

Temptation will come....my whole life long

Lord, when I'm weak, You make me strong,

The flesh and the Spirit are always at war.....

But the battle's not mine

Lord, I am Yours!

With all my heart, I rasie my hands.......to worship You.....with all that I am!!!!

Lifting my voice to the One I adore....let go of myself.....Lord, I am Yours!

Let go of myself.....LORD...I am YOURS!

Forgetting those things which are behind

I press on..........

Behind...one minute ago....

Why?

Sometimes it's hard not to ask, "Why?"

Hymns...

I grew up singing hymns....I really like the songs that we sing today...but, I am thankful for the hymns....

I hope children these days are learning the lessons you can learn from singing a hymn....there is such conviction in hymns...

Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Master...today...Search me and try me...

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot...O Lamb, of God I come.....

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus...

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war...with the cross of Jesus...going on before...

Life isn't always fair/"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"

Was it fair that Joseph was thrown in prision? Or that he was left there...did his life seem "fair" at all? I haven't had this test in awhile...unfortunately...I would not give myself a passing grade....No, it wasn't fair what happened to me...but, what was and is my reaction?

I want life to be fair....always....I want to be treated fairly...always...

The Spirit and the flesh wage war.....

The flesh says, "I am not going to act Christlike....I want to be mad....I want my way.....I am going to be mad......I'm not going to......

"Have Thine own way, Lord....have Thine own way...

Thou art the potter, I am the clay,

Mold me and make me...after Thy will....

While I am waiting...yielded and still....

Have Thine own way, Lord.....have Thine own way...

Search me and try me....Master, today

Whiter than snow, Lord...wash me just now...

As in Thy presence, humbly I bow....

Have Thine own way, Lord....have Thine own way

Wounded and weary...help me I pray

Power all power surely is Thine

Touch me and heal me...Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord...have Thine own way

Hold o're my being, absolute sway

Fill with Thy Spirit, till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me.....

"Jesus...Don't You Care?" Mark 4: 38

"Do you believe the Bible is 100% inspired by God? If your answer is yes..like mine...then we must believe that every story....was sovereignly placed there for ONE reason....for God too tell us...you and me....."I love you!"

I find it interesting how we often disect the Bible...focusing more on the faults of those we are reading... I can tell you today that I am probably like every single person I read about in the Bible....

"Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him,

"Teacher, do YOU not CARE that we are perishing?"

I can't tell you how many times I have spoken those same words to the Lord....in the past....and how many times I have only been hindered from saying them, because of this story....

God put this story in the Bible ...to show us...you and me...that we would have those times where we think He is asleep....when our world is so rocked by the storms of life that we feel we are going to die....and we wonder...Jesus....do you not CARE? Sovereignly he knew what we would face, gave us men to identify with, to answer that question.

"Have faith..I am in this storm, too."

A song I love that I heard in college.....

"When I think I'm going under...part the waters, Lord.

When I feel the waves around me...calm the sea...

When I cry for help O hear me Lord and hold out Your hand

Touch my life....still the raging storm in me....

Knowing You love me..helps me face another day

Hearing Your footsteps, drives the doubt and fears away

And in the night of my life, I see the promise of day

Here is my hand....show me the way.....

When I think I'm going under...part the waters, Lord.....

Another version adds

I need Thee every hour...most gracious Lord

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford

I need Thee O I need Thee

O bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee...

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain

Come quickly and abide Or life is vain

I need Thee O I need Thee....every hour I need Thee

O Bless me now My Savior, I come to Thee...

O bless me now My Savior, I come to Thee....

Restraint

I cannot imagine the restraint of Jesus....to have created the world...to be allknowing..all powerful...all wise....and to have restrained Himself for 33 years......

Page 56 line 5

What is Sovereignty?...Supreme power....controlling influence......

Yesterday I was blue...ok...life has ups and downs....Rick Warren said once that he used to think life was full of ups and then downs...now he believes...they just run side by side...Whatever the case..life is not easy.

Something disappointing happened at work last week...and I am not getting paid for the next 7 days.....I felt very depressed about it yesterday..I was reading through Facebook...trying to cheer myself up...it was working...sort of.......tears continued to stream...

Then, I read from a posting...."Grab the nearest book...turn to page 56, line 5 and post whatever is on that page." Here is what was on the page starting from the top.....

afraid. I will provide for you and your children........

afraid...I will provide for you and your children......

Line 5 really didn't matter after that....it was God speaking to me and assuring me that He is in control....that He is my provider..

Backing up a page...."But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is not being done, the saving of many lives...So then, don't be....afraid....I will provide for you and your children....

Think about it....had she asked for another page...and another line....is God Sovereign...Yes...

Does he care about the sparrow? yes......

Normally I don't do this sort of thing...but, I grabbed the nearest book...my Bible...

High School Reunion -30 years Part 2

Reunion is to be continued...I have written more...3 times...but having trouble saving it...perhaps it is too long....will continue later....

High School Reunion-30 years

It was sweet....from the moment I stepped in the door...it was sweet.....I was seeing faces I hadn't seen in over 30 years....."Do you remember who I am?" I ran to the filing cabinet of my mind that was covered with dust....and quickly blowing the dust away..... opened the drawer and began to pull out the file...Class of 1978.

Some of the men were the toughest to remember....they were still "boys" when I last saw them and here they were...taller, broader...and so mature looking .."Please, don't ask me to remember....where is your nametag? and, wait a minute...I need my glasses.....I can't read your nametag without them" ...oh, time had caught up with us....

As I made my way around the room, glancing into faces and back into the file....I asked myself...is that ????

The night continued that way....with hugs, and pictures, and the matching of faces to files....and hugs and pictures and the matching of faces to files..

David Deese was asked to pray..."And Father, God........and Father God......and Father God....if anyone here is not saved....let them be saved today..." David Deese...who was he in high school?

You see, the thing is...the reunion was put together by someone I hardly knew....in fact, when he called me....I had to go back to the yearbook, find his face, and try to remember him from high school and..honestly, I could not remember Matthew Rose....

And yet, he had asked David to pray...and Reginald....and Miriam...and Bobby.....and Kenneth, and George...

Interesting that Matthew and I had the idea to put the reunion together, at the same time...in two different states...in January 2009..I started making a spead sheet....and then, he called, and told me he already had the lists, was going to put the reunion together...and I, anticipating a move...thought...great...."I"ll help you, Matthew...anyway I can." "

"Great, he said...you can be the MC."

Looking back....he did more than I ever would have or could have done...Oh, I might have had some different pizzazz, but, I would have never thought it ok to have so much mention and focus on the LORD in the reunion....thank goodness, that ultimatly, God was in charge....and He knew...and chose Matthew Rose....who was perfect for the job!

The fish fry was great....eating grits with fish reminded me that I was raised in the South....honestly, the food was good!

The music started, and yes, we were reluctant at first...to get out there and dance....I'm not sure how we managed to break out of our "comfort zones" but we were soon dancing to the tunes of the 70's that we knew and loved so well...."The electic slide?????????? I had attempted this dance at numerous weddings....always went left when everyone else was going right....I looked at Cindy...she was floundering a little herself...."Aren't we (since we were the cheerleaders) supposed to be the leaders of this kind of thing?" We both laughed...and continued to dance.

I looked at Sherry....HUMM...she can really dance...wasn't she the majorette?? :)

More dancing...more water...more water...did we say, "MORE WATER?" It was as if we were in a gym in great clothes...not stopping for anything but WATER!" WE laughed and joked "Must be the age."

"Cindy...can't you remember a dance we used to do in the 70"s..." She remembered one, and we began teaching it to the group...it was actually, to me, easier..but the group loved it...especially one of the guys in the group...didn't have his name...but, he was a lot of fun.

The electic slide began playing again...(a real favorite that night), and I grabbed Brenda...she had been trying to help me all night....here we go...she went left...I went right..she went up..I went back.....

"Naomi, it's in 4's. Count to 4...." It was the same guy I had taught to dance, and that comment was all I needed to hear to change the future of my dancing! :) I had it! It was like scoring a touchdown....and the cheerleader in me screaming inside....yes!

Friday night was fun.....

The next morning, Mother was asking me about the night...

"Was Reginald Miller there? He has been such a blessing to the community..so instrumental in working with kids in the area.."

"No...I said...didn't see him.....but, there was this great guy there...I taught him a dance...he taught me the electic slide....I need to get his name...He didn't have his nametag on...."

Next morning at breakfast..."Cindy....who was the guy that taught me the electic slide?"

"Oh, that was Reginald Miller!"

What a riot! Boy to man....that's all I can say....he must have gained 70 pounds of muscle since then....!:) We all had a good laugh about that one!

Breakfast was fun...."Why don't we do a 50th birthday bash next year together....?"

A black and white ball....

Note: Community center has already been reserved for next July!

Friend of God

One of my favorite songs is:

I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God...He calls me friend.....

I was listening to that song yesterday, and reflecting on the fact that God is my friend....sticks closer than a brother...what does He think of my friendship toward Him? Am I a faithful friend? Oh, that He could always say of me.....she is a good friend......she is always there when I need her....she always lends a listening ear....she helps me....supports me....loves me...

Busy month...Time with God

It has been a busy month....and I miss those long sits with the word...long sits with the LORD. I am painfully aware in times like these how much I need the LORD....nothing good dwells in me...and, I depend upon God to infuse me with His love, His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His goodness...In ways....though....it is good for me to see how very weak I am....that it is ALL because of Him.....I can understand why my brothers of old often made alters to the LORD....it takes time to build...time to make that determination that nothing is going to distract from the fact that God is ALMIGHTY...and WORTHY OF OUR BEST....WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE.....WORTHY OF OUR LOVE AND TIME AND.......FRIENDSHIP...... Things in life get in the way...distract us from the most important which is....worship of the ONE who gave us breath....the ONE who sustains us daily with every good thing.....the ONE who knows us best....and loves us most.....the ONE who is patient....and understands that we are...but dust.....