"There is Joy"

I've had a couple of bad vision days recently and am also struggling with a bit of depression. Satan tried to deter me from going to church this morning. I really wanted to just drop my kids off and go back home and crawl back into bed. But I didn't let him win. Take that, satan!

I'm so glad I went to church. The music is always great, but one of the songs was especially uplifting for me to sing today. It goes like this...

In The Presence of the Lord

There is joy, there is joy,
There is joy in the presence of the Lord.
There is joy that's full, there is joy that's free;
There is joy in the presence of the Lord.

There is peace, there is peace,
There is peace in the presence of the Lord.
There is perfect peace when I rest in Him,
There is peace in the presence of the Lord.

There is love, there is love,
There is love in the presence of the Lord.
There is love that's real no matter how I feel,
There is love in the presence of the Lord.

Stand and sing, stand and sing,
Stand and sing in the presence of the Lord.
Stand and sing your praise to the risen King;
Stand and sing in the presence of the Lord.

Another thing that was a real blessing to me today was that before my husband left to go out of town for the week, (at 3am this morning) he left post-it notes all over the place! One on the bathroom mirror that reads, "I love you!" One on the coffee pot (that was ready to brew when I got up this morning, just like it is nearly every morning) that reads, "Just for you, babe!" One in the refridgerator that reads, "I'm thinking of you." One in the car that reads, "Miss me yet?" I'm sure I'll find more througout the week. He's so sweet! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful man for a husband. He even left some just for our girls in their rooms/bathroom.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you all. It's so good to be reminded that even in hard times we can have joy, peace, love and rest in the presence of the Lord and in the blessings He bestows upon us. Simple truths of God's character! He is always the same, no matter how I feel! I praise Him for that!

"Shut Windows"

I found a poem this morning that I believe can be beneficial to all. Sometimes our sight is good throughout life. Not everyone has eye problems. Not everyone with Fuchs' totally loses their sight before having it restored through corneal transplants. Some eyes are supernaturally healed. Some people are born blind and are blind throughout life, with no option of transplants. Whatever your degree of blindness or renewed vision, I believe this poem is uplifting.

It makes me think of that song, "Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus..." I always close my eyes when I sing that song. Why is that? Well, when we shut, or cannot see with, our literal eyes it enables us to close out everything else, open the eyes of our heart and just focus on Him. There's the other song, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you." I can't sing that with my eyes open either and what a blessing that is! To truly see Him! Just Him! Whether blind or sighted, if only for a moment in our busy day, or for each and every moment of our busy day. To see Him, to know Him, to trust Him, to experience Him, to serve Him, to love Him...to see...Him.

"Shut Windows"

When the outer eye grows dim,

turns the inner eye towards Him

who makes the darkness light.

Fairer visions you may see,

Live in nobler company

And in larger liberty

Than the men of sight.

He sometimes shuts the windows but to open hidden doors,

Where all who will may wander bold and free,

For His house has many mansions, and the mansions many floors,

And every room is free to you and me.

~John Oxenham~