Holy, holy, holy!

Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.  This is a quote from today's "Our Daily Bread" devotion. It is a good reminder when looking around at all the miraculous things we see every day... a baby, flowers in the snow, bees that fly with tiny wings, starfish that can grow new limbs. It's also a good reminder when looking at the stories in the Bible. 

My husband and I were watching a show the other day about the ark and the flood. The scientists created a model of the ark and put it in a wave machine and their model sank. Their point was that the waves created by storm conditions would cause the ark to toss and turn violently, taking on water, and sink within minutes. But, 1) they aren't fully reading the Bible and 2) they are using their logic, not God's.

Genesis doesn't say it stormed... "it rained" could mean a gentle rain and, believe me, if we have a steady, constant rain around here for 2 weeks, things start flooding. Also, Genesis says "all the fountains of the great deep were broken up..." so rain wasn't the only source of water. And finally, it wouldn't have to storm in the vicinity of the ark... the earth is a vast place. Just because I have the faucet turned to full flow in one end of my bathtub doesn't mean there are violent waves at the other end. 

Again, never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations. 

"Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!  All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea."

Red Letter Day

Many of you know the struggles I've had the past few years.  Struggles with depression, wandering in the wilderness of life.  Days filled with tears, regrets, and "What ifs".  But as Easter approaches this year, the hope is returning. I'm trying to live "One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus" as my mom used to sing. And, as dad used to say, "forgetting the bad and holding on to the good memories."

Then I think of Paul in Philippians 4:8-9 saying, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

So, even as I continue to struggle with the roller coaster of emotions, I'm humming NewSong's lyrics to "Red Letter Day":

Every day before the rush gets started

I get down on my knees

And I pray, Lord, I need You here to guide me

Please speak to me

And something happens that I can't explain

His Word starts talking to me and

I'm out to face this world again

Chorus 

I had a friend call me up and tell me

How he struggles through each day

I told him that I didn't have all of the answers

This world's a crazy place

I've learned to hide God's word in my heart

So I can have it with me when the pressures of the day start

Chorus 

So many hidden treasures in God's Word for us to find

The mysteries and secrets that are there to bring us life

I do believe it's gonna be another red letter day

[it's gonna be another red letter day!!]

I do believe it's gonna be another chance for me

To take His Word and walk by faith

I got a smile with every step I take

Knowing He is here with me

It's gonna be a red letter day

May God grant you a Red Letter Day.

Love Broke Through

Jesus is my focus.... it's been a year since my dad was allowed to slip from this earth to heaven. A year of drought in the dessert of my broken heart of prayers not answered as I wanted. But just as He promised, God never left me and I'm glad to say, the melody is humming in my heart once again.  I've prayed for this longing, this unquenchable joy... a melody of love, worship, praise that you can't get out of your head because it stems from a heart filled with His joy. 

Today's melody is Toby Mac's, "When Love Broke Through" and how appropriate. Talking about wandering through the dessert, hopelessness, and darkness. So, as I often do with these songs that plague my soul, I looked up the lyrics so I could read the words and these 3 phrases stuck with me:

Walls I built 

Opinions I learned 

Covered in the ashes of bridges I burned 

Lord, I know you're still working on me. Please continue to shine and continue to help me forgive and move forward. Thank you for the lessons dad taught me, for the faith he shared, and for the special times we had. Help me to pass along that faith, that love, the joy that only You can bring.