It is Well

It is Well.  It's been one of my favorite hymns since I heard Natalie Grant sing it at a Women of Faith conference some years ago that took my breath away.  I found myself listening to the contemporary version of this song by Bethel Music featuring Kristene Dimarco on Pandora a little over a month ago, thinking how much I liked the version, and how it would be fun to sing. Fast forward and here I am singing it with the worship band this Sunday it's funny how God works. ;)

I find myself singing this at a very appropriate time in my life.  In a time where I am feeling like it might not all be well with my soul.  A time where I feel like I am drowning in the everyday tasks of life.  A time were I am finding trouble knowing where to draw my strength and where to seek guidance.  A time where my frustrations are many and my joys are quickly forgotten.  A time where I feel like the odds are surmounting against me.  A time where I am so caught up in the schedule and busyness of life that I forget to take a minute to to sit...and be well.

It was when I sat to work on my song that it became so clear to me.  The song says, "Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on you.  Through it all, through it all it is well."  My eyes are so trained on what is going on around me that I forget to raise them up to Him.  That phrase, "Have your prayed about it, as much as you have worried about it?" comes to mind.  If I could just keep my eyes on Him, and my thoughts focused on His plans and purpose throughout all this craziness going on around me, then I can be well.

It sounds so easy doesn't it?  I wish it were, but it takes discipline to keep eyes up instead of down.  The things and worries of this world surround us, grab our attention, and entrances us.  It's what they were made to do, but we have to take the stance that we are people in this world and not of it!  It takes work people, the devil makes it so easy to go the other way, to be focused on worldly things and not God.  It's so worth the work though.  I know that in my times of peace and feeling like it really is well with my soul is when I am dedicated to my daily devotionals, taking studies that are teaching and transforming me, talking regularly with my friends who are encouraging and seeking the same path, and just really being in relationship with God.  Seeking Him first.

I always wonder how I fall out of it, but really it only takes one slip, and I am back to my old ways, worrying and stressing, trying to figure things out on my own, and it is not well with my soul.  It's a good thing He never gives up on me.  When I come to me senses, He is always there ready with open arms.

Another lyric in the song says, "So let go my soul, and trust in Him."  That's what I pray for you and for me.  How freeing is that?  Let go and just fall into the arms of God trusting He will catch you...because He will.

It's really simple.  Keep your eyes on God and trust in Him.  It will be well with your soul.

Check out the video of Bethel Music featuring Kristene Dimarco here:

It is Well

Win at Being You

When I first bought the Anomaly cd by Christian Rap/Hip Hop artist Lecrae, I was excited to hear the music, but I was also excited to support a former classmate in his ministry.  Little did I know that that the album would speak to me in that way that it did.  I popped the cd in, and on the first listen I was hooked!  There is a song called Outsiders that immediately grabbed me.  In the space I was in (and still am in), I was struggling with what I am supposed to do in this time and place I am in.  God has put some books and experiences in my path that caused me to rethink what my priorities should be in my walk and my serving.

There is a lyric in the song that says, "I failed at being you, but I'm winning at being me."

There is so much truth in that statement.  How many times do we strive to meet someone else's goals?   Someone else's expectations?  How exhausting is that?  I know I am guilty of this.  Trying to meet the perfection standards set for us by the Facebook pictures of everyone's perfect life, the Pinterest pins of crafts, cakes, meals, school lunches, clothing, etc.  In the midst of trying to be good at everything for fear of not being able to perform/create/parent as well as the next person, we lose who we are and what our purpose is.  We can't do it all and do it well, and to be honest we are miserable doing it (although our smiling FB picture of us doing such things).  Essentially we are failing like the lyric says.  

I can't succeed at being someone else because God made me to be me.  He didn't create a cookie cutter human race with everyone have the same gifts and abilities.  He created each and every one of us to have a specific purpose.  How awesome is that?!?  Out of all the billions of people on this earth, God has a specific purpose for YOU that is not meant for anyone else. 

Trying to live in someone else's shoes may not mean that you are doing something wrong or even not God centered.  For example, there are many ministries and opportunities at my church.  I have served in some capacities because I felt like I should, and not because I felt like I had the gifts or resources to do so.  I was trying to be the person that was meant for that job when it wasn't who I was.  Let's just say it wasn't the most rewarding experiences, and at times I felt that I cheated both the ministry by not being the person they needed and the person who should have been serving by taking their place.  I have also served in capacities that I knew were my gifts and my calling.  Both opportunities are good ones, but not all were really meant for me.

What about when being me, puts me on the outside?  Good news, you are in good company.  Jesus was rejected, gossiped about by the Jewish elders of the time, put on trial and brutally killed for being Him...an outsider.  There are also so many other "outsiders" out there than you realize until you take the step in faith.  They are waiting to embrace you, encourage you, and love you for you.  Does this mean it will be easy.  Um, no.  Going against the grain of society is never easy.  Friends and family may tease you, think you are strange or even leave you altogether.  Guess what though, the Heavenly Father will never do that.  As I get older, I realize more and more that my life is so much easier when I am working to please God rather than please others.  He has also provided as I do these things to be sure that I am encouraged to continue.  Yes distractions come along and I follow them like a dog after a squirrel at times, I am human!  But once I realize it, I turn again back to the arms ready to receive me for me. 

Why waste your time here on this earth trying to be someone your not?  Live out your purpose and win at being you!

Throwback Thursday about Good Friday

I was looking back through my facebook and found this "note" from Holy Week of 2009.  I know that Holy Week has come and gone, but we are still celebrating the season of Easter. :)

This post was inspired by my son at our Good Friday service.  The simple, innocent, yet brilliant view of a 4 year old child.

April 10, 2009 - It was funny tonight at the Good Friday service, in the choir, we are singing The Weeping Tree cantata, and as we go through the story of Jesus's crucifixion the pastor's are laying the cloth on the cross, putting the cross of thorns at the top of the cross, and the nails. The final piece the pastors put on are rose petals to symbolize the blood of Christ as he died. Before the final song, the congregation was invited to lay stones at the foot of the cross to symbolize laying down our burden and sin. The pastors also invited to to take us rose petal for remembrance if we would like. I happened to get down from the choir loft at the same time as my son and husband were at the cross. We all laid down our stones, and my son picked up a rose petal. Before we split ways back to our seats, my son grabbed my sleeve and said "Mommy, this is love" is a sing-songy voice as he held up the love petal. In his mind I am sure that he saw a flower petal and you give flowers to those you love. It really struck a chord with me though when he said that b/c it hit me that yes, it is love. It was God's love for us shown through his son's blood on that day. I am not normally this in depth with the things I write, and I usually prefer to stay away from stating my opinions on religion or "witnessing" ( I am a former Lutheran, I can't help it! :) ), but I kept thinking about it all the way home, so I thought I would just put it out there, how my son in his simple observation really brought one of the points of Good Friday home for me. Happy Easter!!!