a journey just begun

This post may seem a little disjointed-it’s how I feel at the moment… but thank you for reading. I pray something in it blesses your day.

It’s been a year, a difficult year. The laughter has been sweeter and the tears have been harder to control, because yes- I am one of those people that bottles it up (but I’m getting better).

Of course, I have no idea how long this journey will go on, just that it will only last until I am in heaven with the Lord.

But isn’t this true of all facets of our journey? We feel a whole year is a long time, and we often live as though the rest of our life stretches out infinitely… which it does, but not our earthly life. This life is passing. It will be over before most of us are ready.

And then what? Do you know what will happen to you when your time of life on this earth is finished? Do you have a blessed hope in a journey just begun?

This journey, in which the past year as been rough emotionally, is just the beginning of the greater journey of life with Jesus. Some days I lose this focus, but God’s mercies are new each day and His hope is blessed and eternal.

What I am speaking of here is the fact that 1 year ago, my brother left this life on earth and is continuing his eternal life with Jesus in heaven. Often I am reminded of something my mom shared with me is that a reason for the different outcomes possible in the grieving process is choice: “Where do I want my journey of grief to take me?” I can choose this.

For myself, I can choose to allow the overwhelming sadness that comes in odd waves at the most unanticipated times to draw me to God and allow my heart to grow in His love and compassion for others; or I can push away His comfort and focus on the loss, making way for a root of bitterness to spring forth. I can actually see either of these outcomes before me when the tears burn my eyes suddenly.. and one day we will all be together again, praising Jesus for His unmerited favor torwards us. And this grief on earth will be but a distant memory in light of eternity with the Son of God as our light.

a song that has been a comfort to me at different times of my life:

a song that encourages me to remember God’s control

Psalm 42:5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-13
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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my soul must be still

by tascha

my soul must be still

Again, there has been a song “stuck in my head” recently that has been encouraging to me… I pray it can encourage someone else out there, too. 🙂

“Be Still, My Soul”

by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

verse 1
Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend –Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

verse 2
Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake –To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know –His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

verse 3
Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart –And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay –From His own fulness all He takes away.

verse 4
Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on –When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

and here is a beautiful rendition I found on youtube:

Friends, we must BE STILL… and let God.

Below is a recording I did during a time of very deep grief… I pray either is a blessing to you.

Again, there has been a song “stuck in my head” recently that has been encouraging to me… I pray it can encourage someone else out there, too. 🙂

“Be Still, My Soul”

by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

and here is a beautiful rendition I found on youtube:

Friends, we must BE STILL… and let God.

Below is a recording I did during a time of very deep grief… I pray either is a blessing to you.

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that song I can’t get out of my head….

by tascha | 1 comment

Did you ever just find yourself humming a tune or singing a few words of a song, and it just won’t stop?

Sometimes it’s annoying…. tonight, it’s a comforting reminder that:

God’s Been Good

Verse 1

Lately I’ve been looking back, along this winding road
To the old familiar markers of the mercies I have known
I know it may sound simple but it’s more than a cliche
There’s no better way to tell you, than to say

Chorus

God’s been good in my life
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night
And though I’ve had my share of hard times, I wouldn’t change them if I could
‘Cause through it all, God’s been good

Verse 2

Times replay and I can see that I’ve cried some bitter tears
But I felt His arms around me, as I faced my greatest fears
You see I’ve had more gains than losses and I’ve known more joy than hurt
As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved

Bridge

For God has been my Father, my Savior and my Friend
His love was my beginning, and His love will be my end
I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is
But the best that I can say it is this

Chorus

Friends… He’s been SO good in my life!

comfort in FOLLOWING…

by tascha

This beautiful song, over a century old, still proclaims such truth! The melody is soothing, and I enjoyed hearing our song leader sing this as the special music last night!

When God is leading… then I am following. The comfort that a child has knowing that the parent will do them no harm is the same comfort I can have when truly following God’s leading me along!

I found a beautifully sung version on youtube to share…

God Leads Us Along

1 In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet.

God leads His dear children along;

Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,

God leads His dear children along.

2 Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,

God leads His dear children along;

Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,

God leads His dear children along.

3 Tho’ sorrows befall us, and Satan oppose,

God leads His dear children along;

Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,

God leads His dear children along.

4 Away from the mire, and away from the clay,

God leads His dear children along;

Away up in glory, eternity’s day,

God leads His dear children along.

Chorus

Some thro’ the water, some thro’ the flood,

Some thro’ the fire, but all thro’ the blood;

Some thro’ great sorrow, but God gives a song,

In the night season and all the day long.

speaking to myself

by tascha | 1 comment

…but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord… Ephesians 5:18 & 19

Two weeks ago, while singing along with the congregational music in church, the Lord hit me with an idea.

{Don’t worry, it did not hurt. :)}

I usually try to pay attention to the words we are singing, even when it is the most familiar of hymns. I have never really stopped to think of just how many songs my brain has filed away from singing them for so many years, but it’s a LOT!

If you have been faithful to church for several years, you probably have quite the collection too.

But do you SPEAK TO YOURSELF with these words? hymns and spiritual songs….

Do you know any verses of Psalms that bring comfort or encouragement to your soul?

Do you recite them to yourself in times of stress or discouragement?

I have come to realize that more than venting to a friend {which I do on occasion}, finding a song to sing can change my attitude when changing my situation is not an option-even more than “bringing it to the Lord in prayer.”

Now, do not get me wrong. Praying about our problems or difficult situations SHOULD ALWAYS be our first response… but sometimes, instead of just venting to the Lord [to prevent venting to people], maybe we should ask Him to bring a song to mind that we can sing and meditate on the truths.

So, the idea the Lord gave me?

Consciously allow Him to really speak to me through a song in the services each Sunday… morning or evening, congregational or special music… and let you know!

Like I said, He gave me this idea 2 weeks ago! So, I have some catching up to do.

He HAS spoken to me through the music…

one day at a time…

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