"And you said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man and man still live.' "
"He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who 'do business in great waters', these see His 'wonders in the deep'. Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and loving-kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you."~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon
On March 28, 1999, Jim was working late. Our two precious boys were sound asleep and I was alone, sitting at the kitchen table drinking hot tea. I was sitting there feeling sorry for myself because my husband wasn't home yet. For some strange reason, I was overwhelmed with sorrow and loneliness that night. As I cried out to our Father God, He reminded me that this was such a small stream of a trial compared to all that He had already delivered me from.
Our gracious God, so gently reminded me of the 13 years of child abuse, high school drama and trauma and the three years I spent walking away from Him. And through it all, He was there. He was there to discipline me when I needed it, to hold me, comfort me and love me when no one else could be trusted. And He was there when I said I thought I could "take it from here".
During all these contemptuous times, God never failed me and always reminded me to empty myself of myself, lift my eyes to Jesus, act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before Him. In the midst of my sorrow, I wrote the words to this song:
You Are
You are the sunshine of my days,
You are the apple of my eye.
Lord I lift my voice,
And praise Your name.
You are the One who makes me strong,
You are the Giver of all hope.
Lord You make right,
All my wrongs.
Lord I adore Thee,
For all You have done!
With grace and mercy,
You gave us Your Son!
You put me in, the cleft of the rock.
And You cover me, with Your hand.
You lift me, and mold me,
So that I may stand...on Your Truth,
O Lord, how I love Thee!
I praise You,
O Lord, my God.
I exalt Your Name,
You're the Great "I Am"!
You are the sunshine of my days,
You are the apple of my eye.
Lord I lift my voice,
And praise Your name.
You are the One who makes me strong,
You are the Giver of all hope.
Lord You make right,
All my wrongs.
Lord I adore Thee,
For all You have done!
With grace and mercy,
You gave us Your Son!
You put me in, the cleft of the rock.
And You cover me, with Your hand.
You lift me, and mold me,
So that I may stand...on Your Truth,
O Lord, how I love Thee!
I praise You,
O Lord, my God.
I exalt Your Name,
You're the Great "I Am"!
0 comments