The Song Goes On

I was doing chores the other day and had my favorite radio station playing when an old song I loved came on that spoke to my soul. I hadn't heard it for a long time. Maybe you have heard it, the title is "Everlasting God." I paused for a moment as I listened to the lyrics. Phrases like " Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord", "Our Hope, Our Strong Deliverer", and the last stanza "You're the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need, You lift us up on wings like eagles" resonated through me. All of these lines come from scriptures. I listened and absorbed this musical comfort and devotion. Here I stood with my duster realizing that one of the best coping methods and stress tools there is lies in the music that I love to play. 

Not only that, but the Christ affirming lyrics that were going in to my mind and soul were feeding my faith:
1. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord- we get stronger in the period of waiting. I have found that to be true! What a good reminder. The waiting period is a time of growth. "but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength" ~Isaiah 40:31
2. Our Hope, Our Strong Deliverer- He is our hope and strong deliverer. He is our only hope, but we always have hope in Him, and He will always deliver us in His time. "Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle." ~Psalm 140:7.3. You're the defender of the weak- "I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy." ~Psalm 140:12 

4. You comfort those in need- Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction. ~2 Corinthians 3,4

5. You lift us up on wings like eagles- "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:31

Focusing on God and reading my Bible as much as I want to are things I am still prayerfully working on. When things get tough and stress hits hard I am getting much better at going to God in prayer when I need to. Christian music has a way of engaging one's senses through the music and lifting one up through both the music and the verse. I go to it quite often and have formed a good habit of listening whether cleaning in my house and driving in my car. I have been known to be rocking in my car, singing along at a stop light and have learned to not look at other drivers while doing so! Ah, the joy that one can feel when completely engaged in a song that reminds us of how blessed we are! What Christian song has spoken to you lately?

To listen to Everlasting God click here

He Promised Me

After a series of tests, the doctor's office called me and wanted me to be there the next day. This is the specialist that is almost 200 miles away; who knows I live that far away. They wouldn't tell me anything, just that they needed me there the next day. Once more that fear crept in to me; what could be so wrong that they wouldn't tell me anything and they want me there tomorrow?

I called my husband and told him what happened which I had to do since I couldn't drive myself that far. Now there were two of us worried. The truth is I could have talked to everyone I knew and no one could have made me feel better about my appointment the next day. Nothing anyone said or did could have changed the anticipation I felt about the information I had not yet learned about my already deteriorating health. I just had to wait.

There are two things that help immensely in this type of situation and helped me that day: prayer and going to the Word. I prayed and was lead to my well worn chapter of Psalm that I go to frequently when I am afraid, Psalm 91. It is a chapter of comfort of promises; 8 promises that assure me that I am protected and safe with Him all the time.

When I read through Psalm 91 God says: I will rescue him, I will protect him, I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honor him, with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. What comfort that brings to me! Then there is the verse I cling to, I call it my 911 verse; Psalm 9:11- "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Now I can breathe again. Whatever happens God has me covered. He has been with me through everything thus far and I have survived. He is faithful, He will always be with me and my Perfect Father will protect me.

The next day ended up being a false alarm. I was called in to the doctor's office right away because the doctor had to have surgery, oh how I wished they had told me that on the phone! While I did need to have medication changes there were no serious implications from my tests; everything was okay.

As someone with multiple serious chronic illnesses, fear can come with new and strong symptoms, strange test results and increasing medical bills.

While people may help us to feel better momentarily, the Word assures us of God's promises to be with us and take care of us through it all.

To read Psalm 91 click here