Persevering Through Adversity

Psalm 40:1-2- “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”

Endurance is the ability to stand up under adversity; perseverance is the ability to progress in spite of it. These two English words are translations of the same Greek word and simply represent two different views of the same quality: a godly response to adversity.

I’ve been reminded and convicted of many things while reading through Jerry Bridges book “The Fruitful Life.” Here’s what the Lord has been showing me in the chapter on “patience”:

Whatever the source of my adverse circumstances, the key to endurance and patience it to believe that God is ultimately in control, working out EVERY event for my good and His glory. Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” I need to realize that God controls ALL my circumstances, even though I don’t always recognize His control.

Most often, people do not see the purpose of trials. But through the encouragement of Scriptures we should hope, and through hope we should persevere. Our Christian experience is not a sprint that is soon over; it is a distance that lasts a lifetime. It requires perseverance because the reward - the object of our hope - is in the distant future. Endurance and perseverance are qualities we would all like to possess, but we are reluctant to go through the process that produces them. That is why God is so faithful to allow or to bring trials into our lives, even though we shrink from them.

Bridges ends the chapter with this:

“The fruit of patience in all its aspects – long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance – is a fruit that is most intimately associated with our devotion to God. All character traits of godliness grow out of and have their foundation in our devotion to God, but the fruit of patience must grow out of that relationship in a particular way. Only as we fear God will we submit to the trials He sends or allows. And only as we deeply apprehend His love for us in Christ will we find the courage to bear up under them. Trials always change our relationship with God. Either they drive us to Him, or they drive us away from Him. The extent of our fear of Him and our awareness of His love for us determines in which direction we will move.”

Father I pray that when I’m faced with adverse circumstances I would remember Your great love for me. May I “count it ALL joy when I meet trials of various kinds.”

In Your grace, You know where I walk
You know when I fall
You know all my ways
In Your love, I know You allow
What I cannot grasp
To bring You praise

Thank You for the trials
For the fire, for the pain
Thank You for the strength
Knowing You have ordained
Every day

Your great power is shown when I’m weak
You help me to see
Your love in this place
Perfect peace is filling my mind
And drawing my heart
To praise You again

In my uncertainty, Your Word is all I need
To know You’re with me every day

Yesterday I was able to get my little sisters out of the house for a while and take them to the park. We read and talked about a chapter of the book, “Girl talk” that we are going through, I had the girls write an encouraging letter to my dad to take next time they go visit him, we played soccer, volleyball, and football (well we attempted to :-p) and played on the playground. After the playground we went to the gas station and got icee’s. Here are some pictures we took:

Parent's Night Out Pictures

Parent's Night Out ended up being a lot of fun! Thanks so much to everyone who served!

Parent's Night Out

Recently the Lord has given me an ever growing passion to reach out to the younger kids and youth at my Church. For a while the Lord had been laying on my heart to arrange an event that would serve the parents of the Church. Well… it’s finally here! Tomorrow night the singles at GCC have an exciting opportunity to serve the parents by doing a “Parents Night Out”! This will be the first time we’ve ever done an event like this. I’m so thrilled and over-joyed with the fact that the parents (who definitely deserve a break) will get to spend a night out together! And the best part about this whole thing is that we get to spend a whole whopping six hours with their cute little munchkins! I’m sure there will be MANY coffee runs throughout the day =)

Please pray:

1. For strength and stamina for all the helpers
2. For a safe time and no injuries
3. That everything will run smoothly and that it will be a fun time
4. That this evening will be a blessing for the parents
5. And most of all that it glorifies God!

A BIG thanks to all the singles and youth that are volunteering to serve at this event! Thank you so much for all your help in advance!

Knowing me, I’m sure I will have lots of pictures to share on Monday :). Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

Praise God From Whom ALL Blessings Flow

As I shared yesterday, this week I’ve been feeling pretty weighed down with my circumstances. The Lord has been doing a wonderful work in my heart the last couple of days. The way I thought situations would go at the beginning of the week have slowly been changing. Thanks to Amber, I was off work yesterday and today and have been able to catch up on many things that I’ve needed to get done. We also found out why our basement floor flooded again. One of my sisters (not going to mention who ;)) accidentally left our hose running the whole night before. There is a very small hole in the concrete on the side of our house which was why the water was coming in. It will just need to be sealed. Praise God that it isn’t anything too big!

I stand amazed daily when I look at my circumstances and the faithfulness of God. One day I was feeling weighed down, and now, today, I feel that I’ve been filled with the joy of the Lord! Just when I wanted to give up, the Lord intervened and took those desires away. He truly does not let His Children be tempted beyond their abilities! The Lord knew exactly what I needed and I feel His grace falling like rain upon my life! I need to not be tempted to ask God why, but rejoice at the fact that this is where I’m called to be right now. The Lord has called me to lay down my life to serve my family and until something else comes, I will be doing the same thing day after day. This past year has brought me to my knees many times and I’m sure there will be many more times that I will sinfully be tempted to lose heart, but those are the moments that always lead me straight to God. Thank you Lord for Your AMAZING and SUSTAINING grace!

Thank you all so much for the encouraging e-mails I’ve been receiving! I thank the Lord daily for caring friends like you!

GREAT is The Lord!

This week has been a whirlwind of emotions for me. I’ve really just been tempted to give up…with Bruster’s that is! I need to keep reminding myself that this is where God has called me to be. I don’t know how my parents would manage if I told them I was going to get another job. Not because I’m doing a great job, but because it’s VERY hard to find reliable employees without supervision from someone in my family, and right now dad can’t devote any attention to Bruter’s so I am the one to handle everything. This week many things have come up and happened that have been unexpected. Here is a little update. Please continue to keep my family in your prayers because as the month goes on, I think it is just going to get harder.

I’ve been having a lot of difficulties with scheduling at work. People have been calling in sick/not showing up for their scheduled shifts and finding people that are willing to work/come in when I call them has not been working too well. Moving everything from one store to the other has started. It’s going to take a couple of weeks to get it all done mainly because we don’t have storage for everything to go to one store.

My dad was able to get away from the garden center late last night to spend the night at home to get a good night of sleep. It turned out that he didn’t fall asleep at all. He has been working all day until it's dark and is becoming tired and needed that sleep. It really is like a father going out to war for his family. As he left this morning, he was very weary and that was hard for me to see.

Right after my dad left, Victoria came running up the stairs yelling “mommy, mommy our closet is flooded again!!!” Sure enough, my mom and I went down stairs to see what was going on and there was about a half an inch of water sitting in Victoria and Karah’s closet. This is the second time that section of our basement floor has flooded this month. Mom, Victoria, Karah, and I got it all cleaned up this morning but there is still water coming in and we’re not sure where it’s coming from. It rained a little bit yesterday but nothing that would have caused a basement to flood. We’ve replaced different sections of our basement floor at least five times now. All we can really do in situations like this is just laugh! Though it is hard, we have all learned that having a complaining attitude is not going to help things. Obviously God has my family in this house for a reason!

This is a picture from when the closet flooded during huricane "Fay." They had to cut the wall to find out where the leak was coming from but they never found the source. This time the water is going in other other places.



I was reading in Psalm 145 this morning and was reminded of the GREATNESS of our God, “…I will extol you, my God and King, and BLESS your name forever and ever. EVERY day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. GREAT is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable…”

Though we are in a rough season right now, the Lord truly has blessed my family in many ways! He is FAITHFUL and He is GREAT! He is at hand and this is building my family up! When I’m faced with a difficult circumstance at work, I need to bless the Lord and remember His greatness and mercy upon my life. I truly am doing better than I deserve and it is only by the grace of God that I can say that!!!

Little Children by God's Grace

“The person who is truly humble before God is also humble before God’s Word. God says He esteems the person who is humble and contrite in spirit and who trembles at His Word."

Luke 18:14- “For everyone who exults himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exulted.”

“As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us.” As I was reading this, I stopped, and thought to myself, “I’m not always one to do this.” I need to not only search the Scripture that I read but allow the Holy Spirit to guide and show me what He wants me to teach me while reading the Word. Far too often I do the opposite of this.

“The contrast pointed to the Savior is not that between ‘educated’ and ‘non-educated’ but between those who imagine themselves to be wise and sensible- and those who live under the profound impression that by their own insight and their own reasoning’s they are utterly powerless to understand the truths of God and to accept them.” –Norvel Geldenhuys

Luke 10:21- “ I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden those things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

God views us as “little children.” If Jesus proclaimed to the Father that He was a “little child” than I MOST DEFINITELY am a “little child” of God and I need to humble myself before Him and realize that I cannot do it on my own. I cannot be a self sufficient person! By God’s grace, He has provided sources such as, my parents, His word, and the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom. May I remember that daily! May God help me to be humble enough toward the Scriptures to be found in that group Jesus called “little children.”

“When a believer is truly humble before God and His Word, he will also be humble about his own gifts, abilities, and attainments. He will realize and gratefully acknowledge that all the he is and all the he has comes from the land of God. Our attitude of humility in regard to our salvation should carry over to recognition that any of our abilities and achievements are equally a result of God’s grace.”

1 Corinthians 15:10- “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Bruster's Closing

As of today Monday, September 22, 2008 one of our Bruster’s stores is going to be closed for good. We opened this location in January of 2008 and it has been a struggle to make it a profitable store ever since we opened. It just isn’t in a good area for an ice cream shop. It has been up for sale for almost three months now and we haven’t gotten a single call. Our original intention was to sell the store and keep it up and running. It is to the point now that it is cheaper to close the store and pay the monthly lease than continue to keep the store open. This past weekend I announced to all the employees that the store would be closing. That in itself was not an easy thing for me to do. The Lord has blessed us with excellent staff there and I really value the relationships that I have been able to build with them. It is sad to see them go but hopefully if it all works out we will be able to keep two of the girls to work at out other location.

This store has been/is a very big financial burden on my dad. Please be praying that the store sells very soon. Both of my parents are already stressed out enough with other businesses. It would be a HUGE weight off their back to not have to worry about this any longer. They are trusting God and know that He is sovereign and will eventually send someone to buy the store if the Lord wills.

I’m heading over to that store later today to assess the situation and figure out what we will need to move over to our other store. It is going to take a big family effort to move everything. My grandfather, Jonathan, Amber, and I will hopefully be able to handle everything without having to take my dad away from other things he needs to be focusing on.

Thank you all once again for faithfully praying for my family! It is a blessing to know you all and to have you in our lives.

1 Corinthians 10:13- “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

A Thirst for God

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been reading the book “The Fruitful Life” by Jerry Bridges. I’m just now finishing the second chapter of the book and have already been so convicted. I just can’t help but share with you all =). You will probably be seeing many posts from this book. I hope you find them encouraging and convicting as well.

“True godliness engages our affections and awakens within us a desire to enjoy God’s presence and fellowship. It produces a longing for God Himself.”

Psalm 42:1-2-“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

David expresses an intense desire for God: “One thing I ask of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) David yearned intensely for God Himself that he might enjoy His presence and His beauty. Bridges says, “because God is a spirit, His beauty obviously refers not to a physical appearance but to His attributes. David enjoyed dwelling upon the majesty and greatness, the holiness and goodness of God.”

As David contemplates God in the awareness of His infinite majesty, power, holiness, and then as he dwells upon the riches of His mercy and grace poured out at Calvary, his heart is captivated by this One who could love him so. He is satisfied with God alone, but he is never satisfied with his present experience of God. He always yearns for more!

Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) He desires that we come to know Him better; therefore, the desire and yearning for God is something that He plants within our hearts.

“In the life of a godly person, this desire for God produces an aura of warmth. The person who spends time with God radiates His glory in a manner that is always warm and inviting, never cold and forbidding.” After reading this, I needed to ask myself the questions, Is this what someone would say about me when I’m around them? Am I someone that is warm and inviting? Or do I tend to have a cold heart and judgmental attitude towards others? This is sobering and convicting! There have definitely been times that I have displayed a self righteous attitude towards others. This is most definitely not what I desire! I desire to be one that has a “warm and inviting” attitude towards others. I want people to know that I care deeply for them just as the Lord cares for me.

At the end of this chapter there were some questions provided that I thought were very helpful. Here are a couple:

1. To what extent would you say God is at the center of your thoughts? In a typical day, do you think of Him occasionally? Frequently? Constanly?
2. Who or what has dominated your thoughts over the past day? Why is that?

Psalm 63:1-4- “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”

Gripped by God's Love

1 John 4:9-10- “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

I’ve been reading the book, “The Fruitful Life” by Jerry Bridges. He has helped me to see once again the love that Christ has poured upon my life. I’ve been reminded afresh of where I once was and where I am now. He say’s:

“The truly godly person never forgets that he was at one time an object of God’s holy and just wrath. He never forgets that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and he feels along with Paul that he is himself the worst of sinners. But then as he looks to the cross, he sees that Jesus was his atoning sacrifice. He sees that Jesus bore his sins in His own body and that the wrath of God- the wrath that he, a sinner, should have borne- was expended completely and totally upon the Hold Son of God. And in this view of Calvary, he sees the love of God. How much we appreciate God’s love is conditioned by how deeply we fear Him. The more we see God in His infinite majesty, holiness, and transcendent glory, the more we will gaze with wonder and amazement upon His love poured out at Calvary.”

“Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

If God’s love for me is a solid foundation of devotion, than I must realize that His love is ENTIRELY OF GRACE. That it rests completely upon the work of Jesus Christ and the union I have with Him. Because of this basis, I need to realize that His love can NEVER change, regardless of what I do. Deep down in my soul, I must get hold of the wonderful truth that my spiritual failures do not affect God’s love for me one iota- that His love for me does not fluctuate according to my experience. I must be gripped by the truth that I am accepted by God and loved by God for the sole reason I am united to His beloved Son.

How encouraging this is to my soul! Christ died to save ME… the worst sinner I know! May I live not for myself but for Him who died and rose again.

Romans 8:38-39- “For I’m convinced that…. [nothing]….will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

A Cup of Grace

I’m VERY excited to announce that a group of ladies (married and single) from Grace Covenant Church of Jacksonville have just started a blog titled, “A Cup of Grace.” It’s a blog about women helping women find the grace of God in all the tasks that He has called us to do. You can check it out here!

Each day of the week has a set topic of what these ladies will talk about. Today is “Titus 2 Tuesday.” Titus 2 Tuesday is a day that the singles girls have been asked to interview someone in their life that has been a means of grace to us in displaying what it is to be a “Titus 2” woman.

Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may be reviled.”

I’ve been given the privilege to interview my mom. There are many women in my life that I admire and respect but my mom by far has been the GREATEST means of grace to me! She has taught me what it should look like to love my future husband and children in the way she loves her own husband and children. She has shown me what it is to have a love for working in the home (even during hard times like right now) and has been a beautiful example of what it is to display a "gentle and quiet spirit" (1 peter 3:4) Because I know my mom is such a humble woman, she would never want me to give her the glory, she is always faithful to give ALL the glory to God in every situation/circumstance of her life.

Here is the interview that was posted on the blog:

I chose to interview my mom because she is truly a Proverbs 31 woman. As a little girl my mom became very familiar with what it is like to be a “helpmate,” doing all the cleaning and some cooking for her father because she lost her mother at the age of ten. Six kids and twenty-six years after my parents wedding, mom is still in a very busy season of life, whether it has been moving from state to state, helping dad with his business ventures (a full-time job alone!), homeschooling the kids, or maintaining the house. At an age when most women are done with raising children and more, she is still laying down her life to serve my dad and her children for the glory of God.

I never sense a complaining attitude (let alone a complaining mouth!) from her but a joyful heart to serve. Something that I love about my mom is that she really does “[laugh] at the days to come.” She continues to remind her children of the truth that God is faithful in EVERY season of life, and she happily supports my dad in EVERYTHING. I pray daily that when my time comes to be a wife and mother, I can be just half of what she has been to my dad and her children. It is a privilege to call myself her daughter!

1. How has the Lord been sustaining you during this busy season of life?

Somehow he always provides. I feel like I live on the edge, but god uses the demand to keep me dependent on him.

2. How can you encourage moms during the busy seasons of life?

The busy season will change and start to look different but for me it does not seem like it will ever end because of the make up of my family. There are new challenges & joys with every year of growth so it is good to expect them. Having an attitude of "When am I ever going to get a break!", is not helpful. We need to be prepared to serve our families for a lifetime as long as God gives us strength. Children grow and become more independent but they never stop needing us in different ways.

3. What are some books that you have read that have encouraged you?

Because of the busy season I’m in right now I don’t have too much time to read. Here are a few books that I have read in the past: “Streams in the Desert” (a daily devotional), “Keep a Quiet Heart” by Elizabeth Elliot, “Calm my Anxious Heart” by Linda Dillow, and day to day I mostly just read the bible.

4. Were there times as a young mother that you felt that you were "stuck" at home and how did God change your heart and give you a love for Homemaking?
I have never felt stuck at home. I love being at home and taking care of my family and house and the Lord has always given me plenty to keep busy.

Where Is Your Boast?

Jeremiah 9:23-24-“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I DELIGHT, declares the Lord.’”

Recently I was reading the passage of scripture above and was convicted. There have been many occasions in my life that I haven’t boasted in the Lord with all my might, especially when talking to others. I loved Him very much so but, there have been times that I have let my circumstances rule more than the Lord in my life. How kind of Him to show me this! I should be so excited to tell others about what the Lord has accomplished for me, not what I have accomplished. The passage says that I am to boast in the Lord! I need to realize that more than anyone else in the world, He “understands and knows ME”, that “the Lord is a God who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the ALL the earth.” You know what else? It says that “He delights in doing this!” As John Piper says, “our call in life is to glorify God by enjoying Him FOREVER.” How foolish of me not to do this at ALL times! Christ sent His son to die for me so that I can enjoy this everlasting freedom in Him!

Jeremiah 10:6, 10-"There is NONE like You, O Lord; You are GREAT, and Your name is GREAT in might. But the Lord is the TRUE God; He is the living God and the EVERLASTING King."

There is nothing in this world that I should be boasting in besides our glorious and mighty Father who is in Heaven. The One who sent His son to die showing us His never ending steadfast love. Oh what hope this brings!

The words from the hymn below, “How Deep the Father’s Love” help to remind me of what it is that I should be boasting in:

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Here are some questions that I needed to ask myself…maybe they apply to your life as well:

1. Is there a thing or situation in my life that I’m more focused on than glorifying God?

2. If someone were to look into my life right now would they see a person that boasts in the ways of the Lord? Or someone that boasts in the ways of the world?

3. If the answers to questions one and two where yes, than what am I going to do to change this?

God is Faithful!

As many of you know, my family has been VERY busy lately. In particular, my parents. God is really using this season He has us in to draw me closer to Him. My dad has and is going to be living up at one of our garden centers for the next couple of months and my mom is still at home every day working in front of a computer all day long trying to keep up with things for my dads businesses. Not to mention the fact that she is still doing most of the home schooling, cooking, cleaning, etc. It has also been hard on me because I have had to run both the Bruster’s stores (with some help from Amber :)) on my own because they are going into the slower season and my dad needs to be focusing on other things right now. I know both my parents are feeling weak and weary. But, as always, they are continuing to trust in the sovereignty of our Lord. I was talking to my mom the other night, and was asking her how she is doing and she explained to me that even though this is VERY hard season to be in as a family, God is faithful! My family has gone through numerous seasons like this one before and the Lord has ALWAYS been faithful to us!

Some of you know that I was supposed to be in Orlando today for a Bruster’s meeting. Well, it got cancelled on Monday. I had already taken off work and had planned to come to Orlando. Well, the Lord has been so gracious to me! As soon as I heard the meeting was cancelled, I immediately knew that the Lord wanted me to use this time to have a small personal retreat. Kathy has graciously let me stay at her house to spend some time reading, praying, and just seeking the Lord (Thanks Kathy!). I know this is time He wants me to use to be praying for my family.

Today the Lord has already begun to shower His mercy and love upon me. He has directed me to different scripture verses that have been so encouraging and uplifting to my soul.

Philippians 4:19-“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 23:6- “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

Psalm 84:11-“No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Isaiah 41:10- “Be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you righteous right hand.”

Romans 8:28- “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Matthew 28:20- “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Something that I am trying to remind myself of daily is that Christ died not mainly to make things go well with me, but to bring me closer to God.

Thank you SO much to those of you that have been praying for my family and I. Your prayers mean more than you’ll ever know!

My Redeemer

Yesterday at Church we sang the Sovereign Grace song, “I Will Glory in My Redeemer” I was deeply moved! Worship in general was a wonderful time in the Lord’s presence but this song really ministered to me.

I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the holy Judge
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
The Lamb Who is my righteousness

I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone

I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagle’s wings
He crowns my life with loving kindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold

I stand amazed day to day when I look at God's faithfulness in my life. I am in awe of the grace that He pours out on me, and am most of all amazed at the priceless blood that has ransomed me! Singing this song was very timely. The line that stuck out to me the most was, “my feet are firm, held by His grace” This is something that I need to remind myself of daily. No matter what circumstances I face day to day, my feet will be held firm, by the Lord's amazing and sustaining grace. I am being held safe under His wings!!! I am over joyed when I remind myself of this truth. O how gracious the Lord is to use songs like this one to minister into the lives of His children!

Psalm 19:14-“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”