It's been nearly two months since I've posted here. I guess my "excuse" could be summed up with, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
It's been a bit of a rough patch for me since my last post. Nothing major, just a lot of little things that have added up. A necessary but bittersweet break from the film. Friends and family facing personal struggles that I am helpless to do anything about other than pray. My annual bout of Pre-Christmas Blues. Major rifts in some cherished relationships. Painful health issues that are taking their sweet time healing.
Yeah, I know. I hear you. You're sending some cheese to go with my whine. (I prefer Colby-Jack or a nice Brie, just in case you're interested) ;)
Truthfully, I'm not whining. I'm not complaining. EVERYONE has pain. I get it. I'm cool with it.
Throughout it all there has been an underlying Peace. You know, the One That Passes All Understanding. I know that this too shall pass. God is meeting me at each and every broken place. It's a beautiful thing.
I only share my obstacles because I can't share what is helping me deal without sharing them in the first place.
While I'm not a musician (yet), I have always enjoyed music. Music reaches us in places we can't begin to fathom:
Its language is a language which the soul
alone understands,
but which the soul can never translate.
~ Arnold Bennett (1867 - 1931) ~
I'd like to share with you a list of songs that help heal me, encourage me, support me, inspire me, comfort me, strengthen me, and continue to minister to me through tough moments. Here they are, in no particular order:
Whatever You're Doing by Sanctus Real
** This song has been KEY for me.
"Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly"
That's What Faith Can Do by Kutless
"Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining"
Hold On by Toby Mac
"If you can hold on,
to the one that's holding you
there is nothing that can
stop this crazy love
from breaking through"
Get Back Up by Toby Mac
"We lose our way,
We get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again,
One day you will shine again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever"
Before the Morning by Josh Wilson
"So hold on you gotta wait for the light
press on and just fight the good fight
'cause the pain that you've been feeling
is just the dark before the morning"
Sometimes He Calms the Storm by Scott Krippayne
"Sometimes he calms the storm
and other times he calms his child"
The Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says 'do not be afraid!'"
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
"I'm waiting, I'm waiting on you Lord
and I am hopeful, I'm waiting on you Lord
though it is painful, I'm waiting on you Lord"
Rise by David Wilcox
** Okay, if you've never heard of David Wilcox (American, not Canadian), YOU ARE MISSING OUT!
"I know that a heart can just get buried
Stone by stone, crushing hope until it dies
Far away, but the message somehow carries
Beloved, it is time for you to rise."
Blessed Be Your Name by Tree 63
"Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say"
Move Along by The All-American Rejects
"when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through"
Our God by Chris Tomlin
** OF COURSE I would have a Chris Tomlin song on here. Don't you know me at all? :)
"Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God"
Healing Hand of God by Jeremy Camp
"Taste and see the fullness of His peace,
And hold on to what's being held out.
The healing hand of God"
He Will Carry Me by Mark Schultz
"And even though I'm walkin' through
The valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me"
What songs minister to you?
Showing posts with label healing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healing. Show all posts
Monday, December 13, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Jesse
My new friend, John, lost Norman, his beloved dog of many years, in 2005.
Less than two months ago, John gathered his heart and his courage and headed to a dog rescue foster home. He came back with Jesse, a blue tick coonhound, one of the neediest and most skittish dogs he'd ever seen.
For a long while, Jesse would only come out from under John's bed to eat. Outdoors was terrifying for him. John had to physically pick him up and carry him outside. Now slowly, gradually, he is finally making his way out from under the bed, out of the crate, out of the bedroom and into the living room, and even making progress outdoors. Jesse's slow development of trust is even extending to John's daughter, Maddy.
Last night John posted on Facebook that Jesse's playful side is starting to emerge. In fact, he's so playful that he ripped the blankets and pillows off John's bed and took them to his crate. The mental picture I have of that makes me smile.
I, for one, am amazed at the exuberant personality this extremely shy, abused dog is finally starting to display. I'm dumbstruck by the miracle of what love, time and patience can do to bring healing to a wounded soul.
It gives me hope.
You see, I, too, am a rescue dog. So are you, to one degree or another.
Every one of us has been abused, neglected, mistreated at some point, and we all have the scars on our hearts to prove it.
Sometimes the abuse came from people we trusted. Sometimes the neglect was because of circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes mistreatment is the result of our own bad decisions. But we all bear scars.
Human beings need grace and mercy, love and attention, to feel safe and secure, so that healing can come.
All of us. Every. Last. One.
If we can extend grace and mercy, love and attention to our fellow humans, in whatever amounts we can, we help perform miracles as well. We begin to draw those around us out from under the bed.
Sometimes it takes very little effort. Perhaps only a smile, a look in the eye and a "thank you" to the cashier having a bad day will make all the difference. Sometimes it's more of an investment.
It is ALWAYS worth it. Human beings are always worth it.
Yes, it costs us something to love people. Yes it's hard. Yes, sometimes it hurts more than we can bear. But if we hang on a little longer, if we continue to love and care and ask, if we continue to walk with each other in grace, mercy and forgiveness, miracles will happen.
Healing goes both ways. Go ask John and Jesse.
Then, take it a step further.
Go ask Maddy.
Besides the miraculous healing of this sweet dog, I love to think of the effect caring for Jesse will have on Maddy. What she is learning about perseverance, bravery, compassion and healing are lessons she will carry with her the rest of her life.
Who knows how many dogs, or humans, will be rescued by that miracle?
Less than two months ago, John gathered his heart and his courage and headed to a dog rescue foster home. He came back with Jesse, a blue tick coonhound, one of the neediest and most skittish dogs he'd ever seen.
For a long while, Jesse would only come out from under John's bed to eat. Outdoors was terrifying for him. John had to physically pick him up and carry him outside. Now slowly, gradually, he is finally making his way out from under the bed, out of the crate, out of the bedroom and into the living room, and even making progress outdoors. Jesse's slow development of trust is even extending to John's daughter, Maddy. Last night John posted on Facebook that Jesse's playful side is starting to emerge. In fact, he's so playful that he ripped the blankets and pillows off John's bed and took them to his crate. The mental picture I have of that makes me smile.
I, for one, am amazed at the exuberant personality this extremely shy, abused dog is finally starting to display. I'm dumbstruck by the miracle of what love, time and patience can do to bring healing to a wounded soul.
It gives me hope.
You see, I, too, am a rescue dog. So are you, to one degree or another.
Every one of us has been abused, neglected, mistreated at some point, and we all have the scars on our hearts to prove it.
Sometimes the abuse came from people we trusted. Sometimes the neglect was because of circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes mistreatment is the result of our own bad decisions. But we all bear scars.
Human beings need grace and mercy, love and attention, to feel safe and secure, so that healing can come.
All of us. Every. Last. One.
If we can extend grace and mercy, love and attention to our fellow humans, in whatever amounts we can, we help perform miracles as well. We begin to draw those around us out from under the bed.
Sometimes it takes very little effort. Perhaps only a smile, a look in the eye and a "thank you" to the cashier having a bad day will make all the difference. Sometimes it's more of an investment.
It is ALWAYS worth it. Human beings are always worth it.
Yes, it costs us something to love people. Yes it's hard. Yes, sometimes it hurts more than we can bear. But if we hang on a little longer, if we continue to love and care and ask, if we continue to walk with each other in grace, mercy and forgiveness, miracles will happen.
Healing goes both ways. Go ask John and Jesse.
Then, take it a step further.
Go ask Maddy.
Besides the miraculous healing of this sweet dog, I love to think of the effect caring for Jesse will have on Maddy. What she is learning about perseverance, bravery, compassion and healing are lessons she will carry with her the rest of her life.
Who knows how many dogs, or humans, will be rescued by that miracle?
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