Virginia
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||May 28, 2007 at 12:09am|email it|934 reads
 

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voice_in_dc
May 28, 2007 at 5:41am
Wow. This was really good Virginia. It really encouraged me this morning. Joy...having it in spite of everything around us.  I suppose knowing Him, our joy should be complete, so it shouldn't surprise any of us when we can show joy in the midst of a trial...but it is so against our human nature to do so...this will give me something good to ponder today. Thanks.
Deb
May 28, 2007 at 7:47pm
Have you heard the song "Praise You in this Storm"?  It is so hard to do, but something we should be able to do, even if we don't quite feel like it.  God is all we have when we come right down to it.  He is what is left when everything and everyone else is gone.  Amen to your blog...very good.
Virginia
May 28, 2007 at 11:42pm
Voice - I'm not sure it's against our nature.  We all use that phrase "human nature" as an excuse.  We are divine creations, reflections of our creator.  Each of us fully capable of choosing joy no matter what the circumstance. Unfortunately choosing otherwise is easier, far too easy in a fallen world. Choosing otherwise wins us only the passing comforts of the physical world.

Now you'll have to ponder twice :)

Deb - I haven't heard that song, like the title though!   This is the one that always brings it home for me.  I'd sung it once or twice and not thought about it much other that liking the feel of it.  Then in March of 2006 my husband was in the ICU and not expected to live ... I left the hospital for church not knowing if he'd still be alive when I returned.  The opening song for the service that day just ripped my heart out.  I sobbed through the whole thing, but I sang every word.  Knew then they'd be seared across my heart forever.

 Blessed Be Your Name


Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name


Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name


Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name


Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name


Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name


Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name


You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

No matter what the Lord gives me, or what he takes away ...
nevertheless
my heart WILL choose to say Lord, BLESSED BE YOUR NAME.

Joy doesn't have to be laughter, dancing, celebrating, or even smiling.  Joy can be the tiny whisper of future hope that allows you to take one more step forward when you think there's nothing left.  I think what makes us not feel like praising the Lord in the painful moments is as much trying to conform to the world's views of how we should act and feel in those moments.

A beautiful couple at my church sang this song at their daughter's funeral.  I love that!  It would never be allowed at my husband's church but if they did I'd hope that even at his funeral I could embrace those words and bless His name with everything in me.  That is joy.

Blessed be,
Virginia

Denise
May 30, 2007 at 3:21pm

Virginia
How I would love to be able to write my feelings out as you do.  I admire you for your strength and courage, although I know that God is the source of that strength.  My sister in law is facing the same thing as my brother is terminal.  He has COPD and Pulmonary Hypertension, and is in latter stage of that, I have their picture posted from Mother's Day.  She seems to be so strong, but I am sure that inside she is hurting desperatly.  It helps though that my brother has accepted this and is looking forward to the day he will cross over. 

I seem to be a little selfish in that department, for I would love to keep him here, but then, I am not the one who is suffering.

I pray for you and your husband.

God Bless you
Denise

Kathy
May 30, 2007 at 3:28pm

Powerful blog, Virginia.  And the song Deb mentioned is powerful too.  You can listen to it on my profile page.  It's the last song listed in my playlist. 

voice_in_dc
May 30, 2007 at 10:47pm
Virginia,  you are right that joy is a choice we chose. By being created in His image, our desire should be to be like Him in all things. Our true "human nature" should be that which was BEFORE the fall. I guess it is the fallen world, though, that gets in our way and causes us to not see the joy for the storm.  Too many of us associate being happy with joy. While both often occur at the same time, it isn't always the case. Joy is and should be everlasting. Just some more ponderings on the thoughts you shared...
Virginia
June 01, 2007 at 11:55pm
Denise - Thank you.  My writing is both a gift and a deeply ingrained habit.  From the time I learned to write I kept daily journals, it is far easier for me to sort through a problem of cope with emotions when I put pen to paper and let it flow that any other way.  I know what you mean, I don't want to let Bill go, and I don't want him to hurt anymore either.  I will whisper prayers for your brother and sister in law.

Kathy - LOL No listening to songs online for me.  Am hearing impaired so that doesn't work real well. I will stop by the music store and see if I can find sheet music to look at.

VOice - I love more ponderings! :)
voice_in_dc
August 14, 2007 at 5:34pm
Virginia...I needed this today. Thank you. Your life is so rich. I know you have your hands full and your heart aches often, but the wisdom you share is...well...not of this world.
Virginia
August 14, 2007 at 6:05pm
(((Voice)))

I'm so glad this was there for you!   I just write whatever God puts in my heart.

Blessed be my friend,
Virginia
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