"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!

"Brave?"

I recently had a friend of mine call me brave. Brave? Me? I don't think so! I am sometimes on the verge of tears and and feeling quite weak, emotionally and physically. Brave is a word normally used to refer to war heroes and soldiers; like our troops fighting in Iraq right now for our safety and freedom. Brave is a word used for the strong, and those that protect! Brave is not a word that I would use to describe myself!

I usually feel as though I am one of the weakest people I know. Some would even say I have a weak constitution. I have Celiac (wheat gluten allergy) and many other health issues and yes, I have fears...The thought of going blind scares me! The thought of getting a corneal transplant scares me! The thought of losing another loved one scares me! I know from experience that it's what my mind comes up with ahead of time that is scary, not the event itself, although it can be uncomfortable. It's a game of "what-ifs."

So, it's a mental thing, right? Well, in a way...I mean, thoughts and feelings are one thing...but what we do with them or in spite of them is another, right? For instance, I am afraid of flying. I love it, but it scares me to death. On the one hand, thinking of falling out of the sky all those feet down to the ground is scary! On the other hand, from up there in the sky I can see the beauty of God's creation in a whole new way and it's easier to see how God can keep track of what's going on in each of our lives. I remember that He loves me dearly and my life is in His hands. So, in spite of the fears, I went on an airliner and then a small plane during my recent trip to California and Acapulco. I also faced the fear of being on a cruise ship out away from land.

How did I do it? With the strength of the Lord, I "bravely" stepped or should I say flew out in faith. I faced my fears, but not alone. One of my now favorite verses is one I memorized for my first airline flight..."Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NASB)

Don't get me wrong, that's not to say that I never tremble or fear...I just know that God is with me and I continue to do what scares me in spite of how I feel at the time. No matter what comes my way, I lean on God and His love to give me the strength and courage to face it. So now you see why it's not me who's brave, but God's strength in me that causes me to act brave. I am weak, but He is strong. I also have many wonderful friends and family members who pray for me and lift me up when I'm in a weak moment and that encourages me to face another day. (but that's another whole post)

Here is a Kathy Troccoli song that is close to my heart and very applicable as I face an uncertain future concerning my sight. I hope it will encourage you to be...brave.