A Song for you…

How many of us are going through a hard time right now? Or know someone who is??

Personally, I’m in a challenging place right now with my health. And I have several friends who have lost a loved one recently, others are in a hard place financially, or have put much of their life on hold since the pandemic. And loved ones who have wandered away from the Lord and just need some direction and hope in their life.

A friend sent me this song from youtube. It’s actually a prayer. And the words reflect what I want to say/pray for so many friends.

So I’m sharing it with you. Thank you to Jeff Pardo, Ethan Hulse, David Andrew Spencer and Katy Nichole for these amazing words. For so many, I pray for their healing, and for their circumstances to change, for fear to be released, for miracles and a breakthrough. And for some, I just speak the name of Jesus over them, because it’s the best thing I can do for them.

These words come from my heart too and go out as a prayer as I sing along.

And the music! Is so powerful and moving.

Thank you to the person who put together this version of the video, as the photos are also powerful.

I pray it will touch you  too, and give words to your prayers for those you love in your life too.

And thank you Patricia for sending it my way 🙂

Songs in the Night

Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night (Job 35:10)

Have you ever been in the dark? Literally? Figuratively?

Not a fun place to be. I believe God created us to want the light, to seek the light. So even in the night time, He gave us the moon and stars to light our way. Even a little bit of light draws our attention and dispels darkness.

I believe that He IS the Light that can guide us in the “dark” times of our lives. Those times of  disappointment, doubt, and discouragement, we don’t need to despair because God is with us and can teach us lessons in the dark. Even give us a song!

In the 1800s, William Taylor was a missionary for decades, traveling around the world; preaching and writing books. In a letter to a suffering friend he wrote: “The strength of the vessel can be demonstrated only by the hurricane, and the power of the Gospel can be fully shown only when the Christian is subjected to some fiery trial. If God would make manifest the fact that ‘He giveth songs in the night’ He must first make it night.”

I have been in such fiery trials that I consider dark times. It’s easy to sit down and have a pity party. But when I have turned my attention to the Lord, He has responded by giving me songs. And hope.

I pray that whatever darkness you’re facing, you will call out to God and receive His comfort. That you will recall His faithfulness to you in the past. And be encouraged that He has a plan and purpose for you.

May your eyes be open to His Light.

And your ears be attuned to the sweet song He sings to you.

Here is a song He gave to me at one of those times:

He Gives Strength

All was dark and dreary I could not see the light

            Sadness all around me, nothin’ was goin’ right

I picked up a Bible and tried to hold it near

            There I found a message I really needed to hear

Chorus

He gives strength to the weary and increases their power

He says “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed!”

He gives strength to the weary

He says “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed!”

I began to take those words He said to me to heart

Started feeling hope from God, He had done His part

I thought what I’d been feeling was hidden from the Lord

            But He knows every part of me and I have His Word, that

Chorus

He gives strength to the weary and increases their power

He says “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed!”

He gives strength to the weary

He says “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed!”

The Bible has a promise for those who hope in the Lord:

            He will renew your strength and help you learn to soar

You will soar like eagles and run but not grow tired

That is God’s own promise, He will lift you higher

Chorus

He gives strength to the weary and increases their power

He says “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed!”

He gives strength to the weary

He says “Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed!”

“Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed!”

Isaiah 40:29-31; 41:10

©1989 Laura Fail Shaffer

Waiting on the Lord Part 2

Are you still waiting?

Chances are you are waiting on something. And yes, it can be encouraging to know that other people are waiting too, that all this waiting is actually part of our being human. But knowing there are some things that just aren’t within our control doesn’t make the waiting any easier.

Can you remember a time before we all had cell phones? I was very pregnant and traveling with our 4 and 8 year olds, coming home from visiting my parents. Very long flight. My husband had said call when we got in to the airport and he would pick us up.

I found a pay phone and called to say we were here, and went to get our bags, then we all walked to the passenger pick up and waited with our luggage outside exhausted. The kids were tired and hungry and hot but we waited; standing, sitting, chatting…

After waiting an hour, I was worried. The trip from our house was usually only 45 minutes. At the risk of missing him, I gathered the boys and our bags and went inside to find another pay phone. My husband hadn’t even left yet! I just about collapsed.

Even leaving right then, it would take at least another 45 minutes to get to the airport – then another 45 minutes to get back home!

Nothing else to do but wait.

So I decided that to keep the boys engaged and in better spirits, we would make up games and silly songs to fill the time. We made up a new song called “It can be fun to wait.” In the song we counted, marched, sang our ABCs. We made a memory.

Now, when I am waiting alongside other people, they all pull out their cell phones and focus on them. Me, I turn to prayer. There are always people or circumstances on my mind that I can talk to the Lord about. And now that we wear masks in many public places where I wait, I can even pray quietly and no one can see my lips moving.

Through this, and so many other times I could tell you about, God showed me that time spent waiting can be purposeful. It can be prayerful. It can be “praise-ful.” And all those things can help us be patient.

Later He gave me this song. I still sing it when I’m challenged to “wait on the Lord.” It helps remind me that I need to use whatever time I have to praise Him. For who He is. For what He has done. When I use waiting time to pray, it helps me be patient. I feel like there’s purpose in it.

Try praise and prayer next time you find yourself waiting for something.

Chorus 2 X:  I can wait patiently

I can wait prayer-fully

I can wait praise-fully

For God knows what I need and He provides for me

As I wait I will praise my God

and the wonderful things He has done

I will praise Him for all creation

The earth and the stars and the sun

As I wait I will praise His name

Holy and Mighty is He

I thank Him for sending salvation

Salvation for you and for me

Chorus 2 X:  I can wait patiently

I can wait prayer-fully

I can wait praise-fully

For God knows what I need and He provides for me

And sometimes I even still sing the silly “it can be fun to wait” song too.

Because, sometimes, now, it can be fun to wait!

God’s Footsteps, Fingerprint, and Handiwork

It was about this time of year that we got to go to Israel.  It really is the trip of a lifetime.

Seven days of visiting historical sites, sailing across the Sea of Galilee, visiting locations where Jesus walked and lived and taught, culminating with 3 days in Jerusalem was a spiritual journey unlike any other.  At the end I felt as if I had followed in Jesus’ footsteps, discerned God’s fingerprint and seen His handiwork.

When we left Israel our trip continued into Egypt.  It was late afternoon, and our long drive across the Sinai Peninsula took us late into the night.  We didn’t arrive at our hotel in Ras Sedr until 11 PM.

At one point during the night our guide asked if we would like to get off the bus and walk into the desert to take a look at the night sky.  He said we were miles from any source of light and the number of stars visible always seemed to amaze westerners.  We all said an enthusiastic “Yes!” and soon the bus and our two, armed escort cars pulled off the road.

We walked about 50 feet away from the 2-lane highway and they turned off all the headlights. It was indeed astounding!  Thousands of bright and distinct stars came into view.  Everyone there was uttering sounds of amazement.  “Ooooh!”  “Wow!”  “Look at that!”  “Unbelievable!”

As our eyes adjusted to the darkness, not only could we see millions of stars, but we could discern that some of what we usually see as a single star, was obviously a cluster of many stars.

For instance, the Orion Nebula. As a child, I learned to spot the four-corner placed stars that form Orion’s shoulders, knee and foot.  And the belt of 3 stars in a row resembling Orion’s belt to hold his sword.  Below the 3-star angled belt was a star that represented the tip of his sword.  It always just looked like a kind-of-fuzzy star to me.

But here in the desert with absolutely no light pollution, it was an explosion of light that allowed you to identify several distinct stars and a cloud that is the star nursery where new stars are continuing to form and be born.

After several minutes we got back on the bus and continued our journey.  With memories of our experience in Israel, and thoughts of the brilliant Sinai sky, I penned this song.

Back at home weeks later, I was able to set it to pictures I had taken, record it and post it on you-tube.

Please click to see and hear it at this link:

https://youtu.be/RbnL8nCGh4U