I have a reason to sing...

Today was my first day back to work... And what a beautiful day it was. I didn't realize just how much Healing those precious children would bring to me after last week. I felt my Heart fill with pure JOY as soon as I stepped into that classroom. 

Last week a friend from the school brought us dinner and left a cd that he had made that was marked "broken worship".. I hesitated to listen to it but when I did I felt God draw me in while listening to Hillsongs  "Desert Song".....

"All of my life, in every season, you are still God. I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship...I will bring praise....No weapon formed against me shall remain."

The message in that song is clear... Whether we are walking through the fire or in a season of rest ; God is still God and therefore we do have a reason to praise..

Why is that sometimes so hard to grasp? 

Probably because we think that once we find Jesus we will never experience hardship again. Sometimes we wonder, "Well, God, I'm doing what you have called me to do... So why is all of this happening?" or "I'm doing this for your glory, so why would you stop me from gaining the desires of my heart?"

After listening to this over and over I am feeling restored and I DO have a reason to sing..... 

We are not sure what lies ahead for our family but we will continue to pray for God to make that path known to us and for us to have peace in whatever and whenever that may be. 

This morning I came across  James 1:5.... "If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask him, and he will gladly tell you."

Well friends, I am asking. Maybe if you have time, you can ask on my behalf too.

To any of you who are walking through the fire I pray that you would let the Lord refine you through the flames.... In Him, We are victorious. 

If you don't know this song I posted it below...


Love 
Jessica 


Psalm 139 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

If I lost it all... Would my hands stay lifted?

Last night I had a hard time sleeping. The last two days have been such a Whirlwind of emotions. It all happened so fast that I didn't really have time to let it out in the moment... It wasn't until the next day when I returned from the hospital that I was able to wrap my mind around it all and start processing all of my feelings. I've had moments where I think I am at peace and then hours later I feel completely heart broken. As I laid in bed Wide awake last night God reminded me of Job.   He had family, wealth, friends, respect of all, good health and most importantly he had God. However, he lost it all. All. In. One. Day. It was all gone. His family and his wealth were taken from him, yet, he continued to praise God. Soon after, he lost his good health and the respect of all. His friends blamed him and soon turned on him. 

In the end, God steps in..  Job pleads for forgiveness. Job realizes that the one thing that has been constant through it all has been God. He realizes that he is and always has been God's and that God is bigger than all....all problems, all gains and all loss. God restores Job and provides for him once again, but the experience has forever changed Job and made his faith stronger.

We may not always have a choice about the situations we are put in or the tragedies that we are faced with, but we do have a choice in how we respond. I have a lot of growing to do in the area of being thankful and praising God in all things, but I believe that He will never let me go and He will hold my hand and carry me when things get too tough. Today I feel the nearness of God and I am finding peace knowing we will always belong to him. Even if everything else in life is ripped from us, HE remains unchanged. He is full of grace and loves us with open arms. 


I wanted to share a song that has really hit home today... It's such a song of healing for me right now.. Please listen to it if you have a chance. It's called "I'm Still Yours" by Kutless.

‎”When my life is not what I expected, the plans I made have failed.... When there’s nothing left to steal me away, will You be enough for me? Will my broken heart still sing?

If I lost it all, Would my hands stay lifted, to the God who gives and takes away?

I am SO grateful for all of the blessings in my life.  Please Lord help me to keep my hands lifted to you regardless of my circumstances...

Ask yourself this...  If you Lost It All...Would YOUR Hands Stay Lifted?

Thank you for all of your prayers.

GOD BLESS,
Jessica

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Mercies in Disguise

To all of our family and friends around the world.... Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words during the past few days. We feel your love and know we are held by a Big God who plans far out weigh our own plans....Thankful tonight for HIS protection once again over our family.

This song has been healing for me today... Enjoy.


Blessings
By: 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 is 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
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

And 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?
And 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?