Cry out to Jesus

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the daysYou had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the peopleWith Burdens and Pains
Keepin' you back from your lives
You believe there is nothing
And there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

For the marraige that's struggling
Just to hang on
They've lost all of theirFaith and love
And they've done all they can
To make it right again
Still it's not enough

For ones who can't break
The addictions and chains
Who try to get up
But you crawl back again
Just remember that you're
Not alone in your shame
And your suffering

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

When you're lonely
And it feels like
The whole world is fallin' on you
You just reach out
You just cry out
To Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow
Who suffers from being alone
Wipin' the tears from her eyes
And for the children
Around the world
Without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

Oh cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

A Birthday to Remember

I'm another year older today. My family was wonderful. Judson showered me with wonderful homemade, glitter-covered cards all day long. Mikiah also made me a lovely card, gave me a Toby Mac CD and baked me my favorite angel food cake. I intended to post a picture of her lovely cake, but it was devoured before anyone had a chance to take a picture :o( My husband gave me a gift card via Judson to go buy those traveling pants (yay!), and found a unique, much-needed lamp for my living room. He even included a card that said I still light up his life! What a turn-on!

The day had it's ups and downs. In particular, work and school were a bit frustrating today. It was just one of those days when in many ways I felt a bit like a failure. The showering of love by my family was such a blessing! Then, when Josh sang a song that he wrote for me as his birthday present (along with a Benetti's Coffee Experience gift card - yum!), the tears rolled freely down my cheeks. The timing could not have been better. I'll close this post with the words of his song...

Behind Every Soul
Behind every soul that lives,
And every soul that stands for the Truth
There was another, and there was a mother

Behind everything that breathes,
A single drop of this breath of life
For us, there you are

Chorus
And where would we be,
If it wasn’t for you
You’ve given us breath
But you’ve nurtured us too
And I’m here to say,
If it wasn’t for you
I’d be lost, without you

Everyone that hears,
A little child talk about our Lord
Wouldn’t be here, if it wasn’t for you

Every dance for our Father,
Wouldn’t be a glorifying praise

And every soul that’s won
In China for God’s Son
Would be dead if it wasn’t for you

And for every prayer that was cried to hold us together
And for every tear that was shed, as we separated
This songs for you... and we say
Thank you
We say thank you
We say thank you
We say thank you for everything you’ve done

A Reason to be Thankful

Yesterday, I had a pretty intense period of time. I took Judson and Mikiah and a friend of Mikiah's to a local swimming pool. It was nice -- not crowded at all. While we were there, my sister called to let me know my dad was taking my mom to the hospital. When I was on the phone with her, she said she needed to get off because they had a tornado warning -- mind you, she was in her car driving to the hospital! My mom has been in and out of the hospital, but it is still unsettling to see the struggles she and dad go through. Needless to say, I was also a bit concerned about my sister driving in a tornado warning. Several minutes later -- perhaps even a half hour later, I took my eyes off the pool briefly -- probably just lost in thought as I wasn't doing anything or talking to anyone. When I looked up, I noticed a little kid under the water with their hands above water, moving around. There was a girl standing right next to him, so I thought it was her brother, and they were playing. But, when I looked around, I could not find Judson. In a split second I realized that little boy was not playing, and he was my little boy under water, flailing, panicking, and in the process of drowning. I will never, ever forget that look on his face. It is one of the most horrible things I have ever seen. He looked so terrified and where had I been? I got to him immediately, and he is okay. He couldn't have been flailing for more than a few seconds, but I'm sure to him it was an eternity. Of course, all these things happening in such quick sequence really shook me up. We went home. I felt like the worst mother on all the face of the earth, was concerned about "delayed drowning" phenomenon, and was also still concerned about my mom and sister. All I could think of is how desperately I felt like I needed to see my husband and get a little comfort. Unfortunately, he had not had a good day at work and was not in much of a state of mind to do any comforting. Besides, by the time I saw him, my sister had arrived safely at the hospital, my mom had been ruled out for some of the more serious issues, and Judson was just fine. There is no way he could have understood the emotional wrangling that had gone on during the previous couple of hours. In reality, his day was probably just as "wrangling" (if not more), and I have no doubt he could have used some comforting from me as well...

Not coincidentally, I was asked to teach the story in our Tweener's class this Sunday as the regular story-teller was called in to work. The story he was planning to teach? Peter walking on the water, of course. If you've been reading my blogs, you know I have been spending a bit of time on this story lately. One of the points the other teacher wanted to bring out, was who we call on when we're in trouble. As I was preparing that story this morning, it dawned on me that rather than running to Jesus first for the comfort I needed last night, I was anticipating running to my husband. While spouses can and should offer support for one another, there are those times when our humanness gets in the way of the ideal. What a great reminder that I need to always remember to seek fulfillment of ALL my needs in Christ first. The other people God gives me in life are a bonus. Those people may normally do a lot of great things for me (ie., my husband), but they cannot be perfect any more than I can be perfect!

This morning my emotions have settled down (though admittedly I still tear up when I picture Judson's panicked face...). I am SO thankful that my Judson is okay and even wants to swim again (with a life jacket!). I am SO thankful my sister did not encounter a tornado while driving. I am SO thankful my mother is receiving the care she needs. And, I am SO thankful that God uses those brief seasons of intense "squeezing" to remind me of important truths such as total dependence on Him. I want to close with the lyrics from this song...

Call On Jesus by Nicole C. Mullen from Talk About It
I'm so very ordinary
Nothing special on my own
I have never walked on water
I have never calmed a storm
Sometimes I'm hiding away
from the madness around me
Like a child who's afraid of the dark

But when I call on Jesus
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles and soar
When I call on Jesus
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to
come rescue me when I call

Weary brother
Broken daughter
Widowed, widowed lover
You're not alone
If you're tired and scared
of the madness around you
If you can't find the strength to carry on

repeat chorus

Call Him in the mornin'
In the afternoon time
Late in the evenin'
He'll be there
When your heart is broken
And you feel discouraged
You can just remember
that He said He'll be there

After the Storm

After witnessing visible evidence of but a small degree of God's awesome power in last night's storm, the words to this song echo in my heart today. This demonstration of His awesome power accentuates his amazing grace and love!

Who Am I (Casting Crowns)
Who am I?

That the Lord of all the earth,

Would care to know my name,

Would care to feel my hurt.

Who am I?

That the bright and morning star,

Would choose to light the way,

For my ever wondering heart.

Not because of who I am.

But because of what you've done.

Not because of what I've done.

But because of who you are.

Chorus:

I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow.

A wave tossed in the ocean,

A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,

Lord you catch me when I'm falling,

And you told me who I am.

I am yours. I am yours.

Who am I?

That the eyes that see my sin

Would look on me with love

And watch me rise again

Who am I?

That the voice that calm the sea,

Would call out through the rain,

And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am.

But because what of youve done.

Not because of what I've done.

But because of who you are.

Chorus x 2

Whom shall I fear?

Whom shall I fear?

'Cuz I am yours.

I am yours.