Thursday, October 8, 2009

Keep Singin



You know, I've learned something recently.  I've learned that life is full of challenges.  Really? you say. Yes, I'm perceptive.  What I mean is I've just come to peace with it, I guess.  No matter how "good" we are, how much we pray, how much we give or love, or even box ourselves into safe little cocoons, life happens.  Bad, hard things happen.  It's inevitable.  That said...

We've recently had a big helping of those challenges thrown at us.  Almost as if to say, while juggling the usual everyday-challenges like financial, job, and kid-raisin' stresses, "OK- Let's see if you can catch a few more balls".  In a week's time, we lost our two beloved dogs -Levi and Crystal -our best pals of 14 years, a close family member & a friend both in a medical crisis, other family members in marriage crises, additional  job stress, and those finances...it seems when we're finally poised to take a step forward, something(s) happens that knocks us two steps back.  Ugh.  One of the hardest weeks I've had in recent memory.  (Oh yeah - and our monarch caterpillar died too.  Hmmm.)

I cried.  I mourned.  I worried.  I prayed.  I cried some more.  But I didn't stay there.  I can't.  I was just able to find some peace in the midst of the- well - CRAP.  Music usually has a way of settling my spirit, and here were two songs that spoke volumes:

Keep Singing by MercyMe
Another rainy day

I can’t recall having sunshine on my face
All I feel is pain
All I wanna do is walk out of this place
But when I am stuck, and I can’t move
When I don’t know what I should do
When I wonder if I’ll ever make it through

I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
You’re the one that’s keeping my heart beating
I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
That’s the only way that I’ll find healing

Can I climb up in Your lap
I don’t wanna leave
Jesus sing over me
Oh you're everything I need
I gotta keep singing



Bring the Rain by  Mercy Me
I can count a million times

People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I’ve gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It’s never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you oh Lord
My only shelter from the storms
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know There’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise You
Jesus Bring the Rain

I am Yours regardless of
The clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what’s a little rain

Chorus

Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty (repeat)


Yes, life is sometimes hard.  Sometimes- it just downright sucks.  And even though I'm feeling better, it's not all over yet...in fact, some of it is just beginning.  But God is good - ALL the time, and ALL the time, God is still GOOD!  And I believe that with every ounce of my being.

As far as the dogs are concerned - they were a part of our family.  They were our 'kids' before we had kids.  Fourteen years of our life -that's a long time.  (Well, we had Levi that long, since he was a puppy.  I remember going to get him -he was the only one who ran up to greet me and wanted to play - that's why I picked him.  That, and his teddy-bear face! We 'adopted' Crystal at 1 1/2 when Levi was 3.)  They had 3 litters of puppies.  Just think...somewhere out there, there are 'little' Levis and Crystals (just go with it, ok) running around, hopefully enriching other families' lives like ours did.  That makes me happy...

 

 
 

4 comments:

Chris :-D. said...

Those are cool pics sweetie. I ESP love the one with HC sittin on him. Good choices. And-you know how I feel about those songs... I pray that God will raise your spirit like a Phoenix and shine His light on you so you feel the warmth of His embrace. I pray for peace and healing for where you are hurting, and for strength for the life that is yet to come. I give God thanks that I have a woman of God by my side as we lead our family on this roller-coaster called life, and thank Him because the valleys bring us closer to Him and help us to appreciate His blessings even more.

Keri Garon said...

When it rains it storms doesn't it? Fortunately God has a way of seeing us through when we trust in him.

Cheryl Barker said...

Kristi, I was happy to meet you over on my blog today! Thanks so much for visiting and taking time to leave a comment so we could get to know one another. Feel free to pop in any time. I usually post on Sunday and Wed. evenings.

It seems we have some things in common. My spiritual gift is encouragement, too, and I also love music. Love Mercy Me's Gotta Keep Singing. So sorry to hear of your recent struggles and losses. May God continue to encourage you through it all!

Christy R said...

I loved reading your blog, Kristi :-)

I also find strength in songs & love to listen to praise and worship music when I'm feeling down. Take care!