I'll Praise You in the Storm

Yesterday was the day of: God's faithfulness and provision.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

I teach Sunday school infant-K. The lesson was about Elijah and the widow (1 Kings 17:7-16), this is one of my favorite stories as it really shows how God provides for us everyday just what we need. He is actually probably the only one who really knows what we need. As I prepared for the lessons I was reminded about all that God has done and provided in my life.

WOSHIP

After Sunday school, during worship service the choir sang a song that went right along with the theme of the day (that was becoming known to me).

Praise You in This Storm
by Casting Crowns
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away
Chorus
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Chorus

My eyes started to tear as I thought about the storms I am facing right now.
As my Mom mentioned in her last post, my Dad has a LVAD heart pump. When he is able to receive a transplant he will be out of work for almost 6 months. We have tried to come up with ways we will make it through those months and have started preparing. My Mom sells crafts at a Farmers Market, and we are trying to be very wise with money. However, I am currently not working.
I have my own small business being a Mothers Helper but there has not been many calls coming in. God convicted my heart about not being a Nanny (with responsibility in raising the children) but that I should be a helper in those times when things get a little chaotic for Mom's. I've been praying for the past 2 months about what the Lord wants me to do this Fall, and I haven't had a clear reply. So I am a little frustrated.
Then as I thought about how God has been there through my storms, I began to think about last Spring when my courtship with a young man ended. The healing from that relationship was one of the most painful I have ever been through. This song would pretty much reflect my prayers during that time.

SERMON

The Scripture for service was:
Hebrews 12: 22-29 "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

The difference between Mount Zion and Mount Sinai (v. 18-21) is that Mount Sinai is for the unbeliever, for them to realise their sin. Whereas, Mount Zion is for the believer and is a place of forgiveness. When you come to Mount Zion you will see:

• City of the living God our new Home. Our address has changed.
• Greeted by the angels
• The Church of the firstborn. We are enrolled in Heaven.
• God the judge of all. All Christians will stand to be judged FOR their works, not BY their works.
• The Old Testament Saints
• You will see Jesus. Our mediator and our advocate. When Satan goes up the heaven and tries to accuse us of wrong and points out our sin to God saying "look what she is doing"...Jesus pleads our case. Isn't that cool!
• The Blood. God can't see our sin behind Jesus' blood.

How exciting to be reminded of the joy and blessing of following God!
As we had our Hymn of commitment "Blessed Assurance" a dear couple came up to share God's provision in their lives recently. The husband was blessed with work...4 times over!!! He gave it to the Lord and TRUSTED...and God blessed them. But not before a little bit of storms.

ENDING WORSHIP

We ended service with the Chorus "I know Whom I have Believed".
I walked out feeling so sure of who I was...a child of God. All of these stories and verses and songs encouraged me...in a way only the Lord could. I have been so worried about my Dad, money, my love-life, and I've even been worried about worrying...because I know, as I've always known, God will take care of me. God decided to encourage me more with the Widow and the oil jugs that never went dry, and a song that spoke right to my heart, and a sermon to remind me of my calling. HE LOVES ME!!! :)

LATER THAT DAY

I was trying to plan my birthday party and I want some friends to sleep over, and my Mom reminds me that my Uncle is coming down this weekend. This isn't a bad thing. But it messed up the vision I had in my head of how I wanted the party and sleepover to go. Now, I am going to be 22, so most of my friends are older as well...so it doesn't present that big of a problem...but it just wasn't what I had planned. I was upset, so I went to my room to vent and pray and somehow calm down. It took a while.
I sang hymn's, listened to music and prayed, but I still felt all "fired up" inside. So I prayed again. I grabbed my Bible and asked God to speak His truth to me in this time and opened it up...it opened up where is seems to be landing lately...in psalms (due to the crease). I began reading the pages that opened, not sure what I would find. Then, there is was...

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord as been good to you" Psalm 116:7

It may not seem like much but it was incredibly humbling! I realised that this was not the end of the world and God has been so good to me that I didn't NEED to have this party or even figure out what to do. My prayer turned from requests, to thanksgiving. And my mood turned too :)

BEING A STAY-AT-HOME-DAUGHTER

Many of my friends no longer live at home, due to disagreements, "independence" or school. I however, am still at home, and am convicted to stay. I'm convinced that God is honoring my request when I was 13..."prepare me for marriage now, so that I will be a good wife and mother". Let me say, I am very prepared for disputes! I know when I should not say things, when I should "cool off" and when I need to compromise. Though my teen years I gained much wisdom from my parents, which I believe was a blessing from Homeschooling. Now, as a new adult...I am learning WAY more from my parents, lessons that can only be learned when you are with them A LOT. I would be missing out if I moved out when the temptation came. My parents do not, by any means, "lord over me". We all have responsibilities in the house and we all encourage each other. I am able to still talk to my Dad about boys and he is able to still protect me. I am able to help my Mom and she is able to help me. We all draw each other back to the Lord and His Word and we all do not get along all the time. Let's face it, if we did, there would be a problem!

So yesterday was another lesson I might have missed out on if I was "miss independent". I am so grateful to my parents for being my helpers and for them encouraging me. I'm also so happy that God convicted me to be a stay-at-home-daughter, it teaches me to be a stay-at-home-wife...because let's face it...it wouldn't be right to leave my husband and move out when I want independence, if things get hard...or if I want to follow "my dreams".

REFLECTION

If we are true followers of Jesus Christ "our dream" would be to obey and honor the Lord with what HE calls us to...NOT through what WE want!