#WarOnGrumbling Day 37

I'm grateful for friends who can make me laugh, and friends who can let me cry. 

It has been meaningful and endearing having friends nearby as I navigate my way through the valley of the shadow of death, where I need to be able to access the full spectrum of my emotions. 

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

#WarOnGrumbling #40DaysOfThanksgiving

#WarOnGrumbling Day 8

I am thankful that when I am weak, my God is strong.

This afternoon I was slated to be part of a prophecy team, something I had agreed to a couple weeks ago. I had lunch with my nephew beforehand and I was emotional and tired. On the way over, it occurred to me I was perhaps not in the best mind frame to be speaking into the lives of others. So I uttered the time-honored prayer of the intercessor: Jesus, help me.

And guess what? He did. I felt a confident assurance and calm which I seldom experience, and I had no issues hearing from God for the people in the room.

As I drove away, Papa reminded me of something He'd repeatedly nudged me about over the past year: when I admit I'm weak, He displays His strength on my behalf. Right...

I am at peace and even take pleasure in any weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and afflictions for the sake of the Anointed because when I am at my weakest, He makes me strong. (2 Corinthians 12v10 The Voice)

You are able to keep me from stumbling //
And in my weakness //
You are the strength that comes from within //
Good Shepherd of my soul take my hand and lead me on

#WarOnGrumbling #40DaysOfThanksgiving

Wonder

I want to live with a constant sense of childlike wonder at Jesus and what He's done in my life. But everything this world comes against that. Every message to middle-aged women comes against that. Admittedly, there are days that even I come against that. 

When I heard Amanda Cook sing "Wonder" all that collides with my desire for a life of awe fell away.

May we never lose our wonder // 

wide eyed and mystified // 

may we be just like a child // 

staring at the beauty of our King 

I vividly remember the afternoon I noticed the tone of my heavenly Papa's voice in the midst of Him correcting me on a sinful thought pattern. For the very first time I heard the lovingkindness in His voice. From that day forth, everything changed. I knew that the chastening of my good good Father wanted the best for me.

And once again it was Amanda who sang about what I'd been through with her spontaneous song at Bethel: 

We will see the look on Your face //

We will hear the tone in Your voice //

And we will be changed as we behold You

It's Thanksgiving Day and I'm grateful for artists like Amanda Cook who listen to heaven and can put words and voice to the issues I'm struggling with. It makes me feel so much less alone.

May we never lose our wonder// Wide eyed and mystified

May we be just like a child // Staring at the beauty of our King

Fill us with wonder // Cause You are beautiful in all Your ways

King of Kings // You are beautiful in all Your ways

Just close your eyes, you'll see Him

You are beautiful in all Your ways

Open the eyes of our heart to see You God

Cause You are beautiful in all Your ways

Oh You are, yes You are

We give our lives to sing

Cause You are beautiful in all Your ways

You fascinate me

You fascinate us, with who You are

You fascinate us with your love

You are beautiful You are glorious

You are beautiful Yes You are

#MonthfulOfMusic #HoodMom

war on grumbling day thirty one

Day 31 

Today I'm thankful that I hear God's still small voice. #WarOnGrumbling #40DaysOfThanksgiving

I can hear God speak, but I sometimes go through periods where I willfully avoid sitting down to converse with Him. 

I'm sick today, a situation the Lord often uses to break in to my life. When I'm ill, I admittedly feel weak and vulnerable, and unable to give in to my usual distractions. I'm more prone to lie still enough to hear His voice.

I was in a friend's car this afternoon and she had to run in to her school to pick something up. She popped in a worship CD before leaving the car, which prompted me to journal about a painful experience that I had an epiphany about in the last 24 hours. All of a sudden in the middle of my tear-stained written rant -- without even the slightest provocation by me -- Papa cut in and started to speak really clearly. His short sweet feedback was eminently revelatory and within the span of a few minutes things made more sense.

And it makes me wonder. Why do I avoid spending the time to hear the voice of the Most High God of the universe, the One who created me and loves me and is so evidently for me? 

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

We will see the look on Your face // 
We will hear the tone in Your voice // 
And we will be changed as we behold You

war on grumbling day two

Day 2

I'm so thankful that I can approach God with childlike wonder. #ConsistentlyInAwe #WarOnGrumbling #40DaysOfThanksgiving

May we never lose our wonder // 
Wide eyed and mystified //
May we be just like a child // 
Staring at the beauty of our King //
Cause You are beautiful in all Your ways //