Sunday, May 29, 2011

Visiting


Most of the time when you visit a church they sing different songs than you are used to. Chances are that most of the songs sung will not be what you are familiar with and that can either make you uncomfortable or it can open your ears to a fresh word of truth.
In a old Midwest Boys and Girls Club Gymnasium I sat with a quiet spirit burdened with the passing of the first anniversary of my nephews death, waiting on God.
The sermon ends and preparations are made for communion. When the piano started it was like walking in the edge of the surf with the waves rippling on your ankles.
To hear at that moment of deep sorrow and waiting ...

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
He loves us

Well, you know the tears came, and then that song was followed by Beautiful things
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

and every time I hear those songs I am right back in that gym, reminded that He knows our sorrow, He knows our loss and He is making it into something beautiful. Life is being found, not just in Stephen's life which is now being shared gloriously with Christ but Life is being found in me.
This week I have questioned why we need to be made better, why can't we just be who we are, why do we need to be stronger? What if we don't want to be stronger? Ah, sanctification...haven't written about it in a while.
In our easy American life we forget that beautiful things are made out of dust and work and pain.

He wants to make us in His image, to be his portion, it IS better to be closer to Jesus and be made like him and if these horrible things do that, then that is what we need. Sometimes God withholds something from us (like the life of a family member) because it is good for us.
Can I trust God?
Can I trust God to withhold something for me because it is good for me or will I bemoan it?
Do I believe that God has the best for me and he had the best for Stephen. I believe He is still teaching me that only the Blood of Christ is sufficient for my salvation or that of anyone I know or will come across on this journey. There is nothing else I need to do or have to make that true.

Stewart wants to download some songs for me and I had forgotten about the David Crowder song until I pulled in my driveway today and it came on the radio...immediately I was right back in Exodus Church and the tears were right there welling.
And the promises of God remain unchanging.


I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Luke 10 : 19

Nothing will harm us...Nothing, that's a good promise too.

4 comments:

Gloria said...

I've often wondered why it is I would be uncomfortable in another church. I remind myself it shouldn't be that way, we are all believers, we all love Jesus...yet often I stand there or sit there feeling awkward.

Thank you for sharing those beautiful lyrics and for being so transparent with your faith.

Daibhidh said...

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

AllThingsHomey said...

You leave me speechless.......

Unknown said...

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