Raging Seas

I often look at my life and wonder how I got here. When did I get married and have 3 children? How did all this happen so fast? Have I truly been able to enjoy the blessings God has bestowed on me? Am I answering His call on my life the way He has asked or am I answering the call I want Him to ask me? God has not given me my life on a silver platter. Not even close. But even through our darkest hours, He has carried us through. Phillip and I have purposely saught God out. Telling Him, WE WILL FOLLOW! The bottom line is that if you are not in God's will, you will be miserable and when you are in His will, you have peace. It doesn't mean that it will be smooth sailing all the time, but He will carry us when the burden becomes too heavy to bear alone. It is so comforting to know that we are in the place God called us to be. Is it easy...not even close. Two things have blessed me lately and I have to share them. I hope they help you too.

The first is a song, that I am singing in church on Sunday: Let the Waters Rise by Matt Mahar

Don't know where to begin, it's like my world's caving in.
Tho I try but I can't control my fear.
Where do I go from here?
Sometimes its so hard to pray
When you feel so far away
But I am willing to go, where you want me to.
God I trust you.

There's a raging sea. Right in front of me.
Wants to pull me in. Bring me to my knees.
So let the waters rise, if you want them to,
I will follow you. I will follow you.

I will swim in the deep. You will be next to me.
You're in the eye of the storm, in the calm of the sea
You're never out of reach.
You were there with me then. You'll be faithful again.
I'm holding your hand.

God your love is enough. You will pull me through.
I'm holding onto you.
God your love is enough. I will follow you. I will follow you.

and Psalm 71

Lord, I have gone to you for safety. Let me never be put to shame. You do what is right. Save me and help me. Pay attention to me and save me. Be my rock of safety that I can always go to. Give me the command to save me. You are my rock and my fort. My God, save me from the power of sinners. Save me from the hands of those who are mean and evil. You are the King and Lord. You have always been my hope. I have trusted in you ever since I was young. From the time I was born I have depended on you. You brought me out of my mother's body. I will praise you forever. To many people I am an example of how much you care. You are strong. You are my place of safety. My mouth is filled with praise for you. All day long I will talk about your glory. Don't push me away when I'm old. Don't desert me when my strength is gone. My enemies speak against me. Those who want to kill me get together and make evil plans. They say, "God has deserted him. Go after him and grab him. No one will save him." God, don't stay so far away from me. My God, come quickly and help me. May those who bring charges against me die in shame. May those who want to harm me be covered with shame and dishonor. But I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more. I will say that what you have done is right. All day long I will talk about how you have saved your people. It is more that I can understand. Lord, and King, I will come and announce your mighty acts. I will announce that you alone do what is right. God, ever since I was young you have taught me about what you have done. To this very day I tell about your wonderful acts. God don't leave me when I'm old and gray. Let me live to tell my children about your power. Let me tell all of them about your mighty acts. God, your saving acts reach to the skies. you have done great things. God, who is like you? You have sent many bitter troubles my way. But you will bring me back. You will honor me more and more. You will comfort me once again. My God, I will use the harp to praise you because you are always faithful. Holy One of Israel, I will use the lyre to sing praise to you. My lips will shout with joy when I sing praise to you. You have saved me. All day long my tongue will say that you have done what is right. Those who have wanted to harm me have been put to shame. They have not been honored.

I know it is long, but oh so powerful. Phillip and I know that we have answered God's call on our lives. I don't know how anyone can be a pastor's wife and not be called. You are never doing the right thing and are always being beaten down by idle gossip. It is so hard to see what is going on around us. We chose not to give the devil a foothold and we will persevere. We will use our circumstances to give God the glory. People will always say things, but when Christians hurt each other, Satan has a field day. Why is it easier to be negative than to see God working? I will never understand that, but I chose to be a light amidst the darkness.