Yay for Church!

I know, I know. Every week I say this: I LOVE Monroe Community Church! I mean, really. How many places do you know have a pingpong table that's basically IN the sanctuary? ;)

Not only was worship incredible this morning (thanks in part to Jeremiah, who was so into it) and a unique approach to a sermon message--but the community there is just awesome. It's a much needed blessing and I've been meeting some really great people through it. A few of us just started up a pingpong game after the service, and then Julie came over and invited me to go to Qdoba with a group. I was definitely up for that! I didn't know how to get there so Eric W., a fantastic keyboardist, drove for us. The six (and a half-- Jeremiah and Julie have a 1 year old) of us hung out there for probably more than an hour. (I admit that Kathleen and I were playing with Eric's supercool iPhone for most of it.) Then on the way back Eric and I stopped at Schulers for a bit. Now I'm finally back to Calvin, and I'm trying to decide whether to buckle down and work on stuff or to get back out at 5pm for a small group at Henry and Amy's house... toughie. I really want to go.

I learned a new song today that just struck me so deeply:
Praise You in This Storm (words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms)

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth



Singing this song was so freeing. It captured the emotions I'd felt in the last year and gave me a way to articulate my gratefulness towards God's faithfulness. For some reason, the line "And every tear that I've cried You hold in Your hand" literally brought tears to my eyes just singing it. It was so beautiful, and it reminded me that God saw and heard me during all those nights I cried myself to sleep last semester out of the pain and frustration of what I was going through. And He has brought me to a new place, a re-newed place.

You know, even though I'm still "walking in the "wilderness" (Think "Blessed be Your Name") I know that the "streams of abundance [DO] flow" and that I'm moving towards the "land of plentiful." I came to a certain quietness in my soul this morning, a distinct peacefullness-- and in coming to that place I realized how full of anxiety and unsettledness I'd had before. I really need to work on that-- letting the living water (the Ravah?) flow deep in my soul. Before church this morning, I felt so much anxiety about receiving my student placement tomorrow. Now, I feel prepared to receive it and accept it wholeheartedly. I know so deeply that teaching is what the Lord has called me to, that it's my passion, that nothing in the world gets me going so much as the thought of teaching (in God's name, of course!) :) I'm ready.

I needed to "vent" and express some of God's goodness to me lately, and I've hardly scratched the surface. But let it be known that I am delighted in what life brings to me these days-- whether it be school, opportunities to serve, my church community and new friendships, or finding joy in the little things-- and that I'm continuting to move towards a better place. "Stagnant" is not a word I would use to describe my life right now-- praise God for that. :)

Much love & blessings!
Betsy