Praise You In This Storm

I was sure by now

That 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

I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

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

You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

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

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

By Casting Crowns

Driven By Eternity

Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. ~ Sean O'Casey

We are but vapors in the wind. We are all flowers quickly fading. We are only pilgrims passing through earth’s time into another realm. Time here is zero compared to all of eternity. What is our goal? What is our mission?

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Most of you have probably seen the movie, Beauty and the Beast, which depicts a story of a handsome prince who becomes a ferocious beast because of a lack of love despite outward appearances. The beast’s time clock is an enchanted rose, for which he has to pay great heed. His mission is to fall in love before the last petal falls. If he fails, the curse will never be broken.

Now, think of our lives as a beautiful elegant rose. Job 14:2 We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. Each soft petal that wilts and falls to the ground is every year that slips through our fingers. And our assignment, unlike the beast, is to seek to please the Lord in everything we do, say, and think. 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. We are challenged in the scriptures to embrace an eternal mindset. What we do on this earth will be revealed in full at the judgment seat. We have to make every moment count. We have to live our lives in perspective of time without end. Even my finite mind cannot seek to wrap itself around such a mind-blowing concept.

We, as Christians, can either leave an impact on someone that will either drive them to the cross or from the cross. Whether it is the result of an arrogant attitude or from an act of unconditional love for someone, we have the capacity to leave a lasting impression. Whatever the case may be, we have the power to bring life or death to any situation. Deuteronomy 30:19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

Thus, I encourage you to allow yourself to be driven by eternity, to look at your life through rose colored glasses, to remember that your life is but a flower quickly fading. I urge you, dear ones, to consent to being propelled by the love and fear of the Lord. Our journey is a straight and narrow path. Love protecting you from the pit of legalism and fear protecting you from the pit of lawlessness. Make it your mission to run with endurance, to pace yourself with patience, and to complete your race with perseverance. Make it your goal to run and not give up!

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Believing God for His Best

This morning, after I had my devotion time, I picked up a book titled, Believing God for His Best: How to Marry Contenment and Singleness. As I sipped my chocolate caramel chai enchantment tea, :) the words inscribed on each page seemed to tug at my heart! These were not just any words typed on paper, these words were anointed and empowered by Jesus to change the focus of and impact one's life. It caused me to ask myself, "Is marriage an idol in my life? Does Christ have first place in my heart? Do I find my security and identity in Him alone? Am I willing to trust Him completely? Am I ready to embrace these years?"

If we are ready and able to say that God can have total control in our lives, then why do we aggresively hold back this area? Why can't we just give the Lord the pen to write each of our love stories? He knows our desires, thoughts, dreams, goals, likes, dislikes, etc. Thus, He is more than capable of bringing someone into our lives to carry out the mission that He has placed in our hearts. "The two will be one flesh." There will be an agreement in each other's life callings.

I love thinking of our run towards Christ as one side of a triangle. Your future spouse as the other. When you go after Jesus (the top point of the triangle) wholeheartedly, suddenly you'll look over to your other side and see that special someone running after Jesus too! It's amazing! I encourage you, keep running hard! Don't let the temptations and distractions pull you off course! Stay focused! "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33