A Reason to have Peace...

"Blessings"
Laura Story

Although my "reason" series was going to go through December, it seemed that life had a different plan. Between sicknesses (mine and Steven's...but mostly Steven's), Christmas planning and get togethers, work, and family--the blog posts took a bit of a back seat. However, I have a lot of other songs and lot of other reasons to share, so I'll keep sharing as long I have something to share:)
This song is so perfect as we look at starting a new year. 2011 definitely wouldn't seem like a year that I would want to re-live--but then stop to consider that many of the bad things that happened this year were closely followed by really great things. Most significantly, my mom nearly died in October, but by the middle of December she was shopping, celebrating Christmas, playing Minute to Win It, WALKING, and even visiting the nurses and staff that took care of her this year. I can't think of a bigger blessing--but would all of those things seemed so significant if she hadn't been diagnosed with AML and later coded in the ICU? Probably not. Not that I would wish any of that to happen ever again, but when we come out on the other side of "bad" things, the good things seem a little better and little quicker to come. That's why I think this song speaks to me--what if our blessings come through raindrops? And if our healing comes through tears---well I'm good at healing then, because I've cried millions of tears this year. And to remember that those friends and family that we've lost this year (and the years before) are waiting for us when we begin our eternal life? Well, sometimes we need that reminder for just a little bit of peace.

I was listening to KLOVE this week (if you don't know the station, consider tuning it...it's a national station, and it's available online at klove.com)....anyhow, when listening to KLOVE they mentioned that we could start 2012 with PEACE and one of the ways they were going to 'do' something to get there was by writing down all the things that you wanted to get past on a piece of paper and then shredding it. Wouldn't that be symbolic? Maybe you don't need a symbol, but if you do, that's a way to start. I think I might make a list of things that I want to shred, but I think that I may also make a list of all the blessings that I want to remember too. Just something to consider for the new year.

"Blessings"
Laura Story
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

A Reason to Surrender

I Lift My Hands

Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin is one of my absolute favorite artists--Steven's too. In fact, we didn't attend many concerts this year, but we made sure to go to Chris Tomlin a few weeks ago when he was in town with Louie Giglio. If you ever have the opportunity to worship with Chris Tomlin--DO IT! You will thank God for the gift He has blessed Chris with!! So, now that you know I Heart Chris Tomlin, let's share a little about this song.
I think this year has been one of doing a little more than lifting up my hands. Sometimes I just felt like I was throwing up my hands and asking God...."what next?!?" It was this song that kept me thinking "You are faithful God, forever". If God is faithful FOREVER then shouldn't I surrender to Him? Lift my hands to Him and know that if I give up what I think I want and rely on Him to provide what I need then I can find comfort.
Easier said than done, right? How does someone just surrender to God. I think that each person would answer that in a unique way, and that is the amazing thing about our relationship with God...He is OK that we are all unique in how we relate to Him. You can go to God on your best day or at your worst and He will treat you the same--with unconditional Love. Don't you wish you could do that to everyone? Oh sure, we try to, but sometimes... well, you know what I mean.

Be still....be still...surrender to God. Reminding myself of this has helped so much during this year. It's almost like I'm singing parts of the Bible to help remind myself...I may not know which verse I always want to turn to, or which book or chapter is the one I'm looking for, but the songs are always in my heart and my head. That being said, I do know some verses that I particularly turn to or recite to myself; Psalm 46:10 "Be Still and Know that I am God...". This doesn't mean that you don't move, but more important that you are intentionally surrendering to God. You stop to listen to Him and to recognize that you are not doing this on your own (whatever this may be at the time. So the next time you find yourself wanting to throw up your hands in despair, do so...but be ready to feel the strength of the Lord as He takes care of the weak. He will recognize your surrender and find ways to remind you that He is faithful, FOREVER.

I Lift My Hands lyrics
Songwriters: Christopher Tomlin,Matt Maher,Louie Giglio

Be still, there is a healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are fortress for the weak

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

Be still, there is a river
That flows from Calvary's tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Pure grace that washes over me

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes
Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
And I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God
You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

A Reason to Remember...

This is the Stuff
Francesca Battistelli

I love this song, it's my phone ringtone...yes, I actually paid for it! It's so loud, I actually jump a little when my phone rings, but I can't bear to change it.
This songs speaks to me on so many levels...it's that everyday stuff that seems to happen that sometimes gets irritating ...but this song reminds me that it's all for a reason. That if I keep looking for the reason for some things happening, I'll realize that maybe the initial frustration isn't so I will be irritated, but so that I will realize that it's something that doesn't TRULY matter. So this song reminds me that I need to remember that it's not all about the choices I make, but maybe it's about the reason I made the choice I did or maybe I was presented with this situation because God needed to get my attention.
I think some people would think of it as "don't sweat the small stuff"...which is a nice idea, but sometimes you gotta "sweat it and forget it". Learn the lesson and move on.

"so break me of impatience, conquer my frustrations, I gotta new appreciation...it's not the end of the world" If there is one part of the song that I sing over and over again as a reminder, it's this section. Sometimes that is my prayer. Lord help me realize that whatever "this" is that seems big at the time is not that big. Lord, help me REMEMBER that no matter what, "You got this!"
"Someone save me"--Lord, that is You, because, ultimately, doesn't God have our back? I mean, He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, for US! FOR ME! Thank God for that!!! Isn't it great to remember that even when these little things start to frustrate you or make you impatient that you can ask the Lord to forgive--AND HE WILL!!

The lyrics to "This is the Stuff":
(Written by Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, & Tony Wood)

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use