Thursday, January 17, 2013

Stubborn Praise

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Those who know me well would include the modifier 'stubborn' as one of the character traits that I pocess. Enough said!  Today, I choose to apply that bent toward the good...praising God in the hard and painful places of life. January 17, 2013 marks ten years since the car crash that shattered our 'perfectly ordered lives'. Yet, praise in the midst of remembering is my response of thought and posture of my heart today.
Praise because:
  • Greg is at home with Jesus
  • Steve will one day be gloriously restored from his broken body and mind
  • Randy and I will be reunited with Greg some day
  • God is soverign and He is LOVE
  • Jesus is our Living HOPE
  • God's Word reveals His plan of redemption in ALL things
  • The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and Counselor ministering to the broken places in our hearts.
  • This morning the embrace shared with Randy spoke deeply to me.  I felt, too the very real embrace of my Father God, especially as I quietly watched the sunrise on the hills of Arizona.  One very special song, that has ministered deeply to my soul, I Will Praise Him Still by Fernado Ortega came to mind.  It expresses perfectly with all the emotions of this anniversary date that I will mark until time is redefined in the Kingdom yet to come.
     
    When the morning comes on the farthest hill
    I will sing His name, I will praise Him, still.
    When dark trials come and my heart is filled
    With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him, still.

    (Chorus)
    For the Lord, our God, He is strong to save
    From the arms of death, from the deepest grave,
    And He gave us life in His perfect will,
    And by His good grace, I will praise Him, still.

    When the morning comes on the farthest hill
    I will sing His name, I will praise Him, still.
    When dark trials come and my heart is filled
    With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him, still.

    For the Lord, our God, He is strong to save
    From the arms of death, from the deepest grave,
    For the Lord, our God, He is strong to save
    From the arms of death, from the deepest grave,
    And He gave us life in His perfect will,
    And by His good grace, I will praise Him, still.