Oh how I love that song! I can recall so many times that the Lord has used it in my life...
When we first came to the church here, 2 years ago, August 1st, I wanted a house. We had a 15 month old and I wanted a yard for him to play in. I was not secretive at home by telling Jeremy, probably every 18 minutes. After having to return to work just 4 months later, I though for sure now we could definitely think about moving from our apartment...we still had debt, but did it really matter? (nice thought process, huh?) At church one Sunday I opted to go to the first service since I had to work in preschool during the second service. It was totally the Lord prompting me, because that morning we sang this song! I was joyfully singing and we got to the part that says "you give and take away"...I felt that the Holy Spirit asking me to give up the one thing I wanted more than the Lord. Yep, you guessed it, the desire of wanting a house. I couldn't understand why He was asking me to give it up, except for the fact that it was consuming my life!! The end of the story for that is, because of our obedience and following what He wanted, we are in a better position now to purchase the house...the very house God wants for us.
When my grandfather passed away in February, I was taking a discipleship class about a worship book by John Randall Dennis. I was learning that my circumstances cannot be my guide for worshipping Christ. Circumstance change, but my God, He's forever and He never changes. As I got in the car that day to drive home after talking to my dad and other family members, I made a conscious choice to worship Him. Yes, I was grieving, but that wasn't going to be my deterrent to worshipping Him! I went to this song by Matt Redman and sang it loudly! It reminded and confirmed to me that no matter my circumstance - whether in the wilderness or desert, or land of plenty, I was going to worship Him. It took some time for my grief to hit me, but when it did, I was ready to praise Him even more.
Be surrounded today with Him and not just the circumstances of life.
In His Hands -
Karen
10 comments:
Amen and amen. Blessings.
Beautiful. I think many of us have had experiences where the Lord used this song to grow us. Isn't He awesome!
Choosing to worship in desert or plenty. I love this. Bless you for sharing.
Karen,
Very sweet post that was a reminder to me of things past. When Chris and I were first married we were in an apt. too and even brought Joshua home to that one bedroom apt. My longing for a house was huge. I hated to go to church gatherings in homes because I would go home sad and jealous. I can remember walking thru a neighborhood (more houses) and crying my eyes out because I thought I would never get one, then I thought about the home he is building for me in heaven and I just surrended and gave it up. I said OK, I will be fine if I never get a house this side of heaven. Well now I have had 3 houses and all them were more than I ever imagined. Thanks for the reminder this morning!!! Can't wait to watch all this unfold for you guys.
Oh the house one hits me right now because we are tyring to sell our house and it has been a frustrating venture. Great post.
Praising him with you because He is our constant.
Blessings and joy to you.
Great post....such a powerful testimony of what God is doing in your life! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings
What an awesome testimony of God's faithfulness and desire to "meet our needs" and the desires of our hearts as well!
Thanks you for sharing those encouraging words!
Bless you big time!!!
Oh, Karen, I so love your take on this week's quote. You are so right - we should not look at our current circumstances if we are ready to praise. We should praise - NO matter what. I know that I wasn't always like that, but I know now that I can even praise Him in the storm of life :)
I am so thrilled that you are able to purchase your house now :)
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this week's IOW quote.
Be blessed today and always -- and praise Him in the storm...
Your post reminds me that God's ways are not our ways. Thank goodness! And yet don't we all struggle with that concept sometimes! Thanks for a great post!
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