Oh How He Loves Us, and oh, how I love this song!
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I have had the song below on repeat in my brain for almost a week now. The lyrics are beautiful. It is a super intimate song, one that reminds me that I worship a relational Being with whom I have a deep soul relationship.
This song started on my heart when I was out of town this weekend in the beauty of the desert of Arizona. I think I know why God put it there–to remind me of how close and intimate He is, and longs to be with us. I think it is so easy to get caught up in the beauty of creation, and forget that all of creation is just a reflection of the Creator God! His love IS extravagant, everything about Him is, and to think we can be in relationship with Him forever? It blows my mind.
From Streams In The Desert February 13th reading:
Do not take revenge, my friends. (Romans 12:19)
There are times when doing nothing demands much greater strength than taking action. Maintaining composure is often the best evidence of power. Even to the vilest and deadliest of charges, Jesus responded with deep, unbroken silence. His silence was so profound, it caused His accusers and spectators to wonder in awe. To the greatest insults, the most violent treatment, and to mockery that would bring righteous indignation to the feeblest of hearts, He responded with voiceless, confident calmness. Those who are unjustly accused, and mistreated without cause, know the tremendous strength that is necessary to keep silent and to leave revenge to God.
Men may misjudge your aim,
Think they have cause to blame,
Say, you are wrong;
Keep on your quiet way,
Christ is the Judge, not they,
Fear not, be strong.
The apostle Paul said, “none of these things move me: (Acts 20:24) He did not say, “None of these things hurt me.” It is one thing to be hurt, and quite another to be moved. Paul had a very tender heart, for we do not read of any other apostle who cried as he did. It takes a strong man to cry. The apostle Paul had determined not to move from what he believed was right.
___________
When I read this devotion, I immediately thought of my tongue with my own family. Do I respond with voiceless, confident calmness? The “confident calmness” is what really stood out to me. Too often I get exasperated and impatient, and even if I am not raising my voice, it shows all over in my body language. My eyebrows alone can send a strong message loud and clear–don’t mess with mama!
But..
I don’t want to be known as the mom with expressions that cause fear. I want to be calm, confident and gentle.
I admit, I sometimes take it personally when my kids don’t obey. When the family leaves stuff laying around and I get in the “poor me, no one knows how hard I work, everyone just dumps their stuff and expects me to get it..” blah, blah blah. Yes, these things do hurt. It sucks to feel unappreciated or that the lessons I’ve taught in responsibility for YEARS sometimes go unheard and unpracticed. I’ve realized that when I feel wronged, I take revenge with my words. Words of complaint. Words of self pity. Blech.
But above, the apostle Paul says. “none of these things move me.” He did not say “none of these things hurt me.” What a great reminder that even though I may hurt, I can still determine not to be moved from what I know is right.
What do I know is right?
A gentle answer turns away wrath. (Proverbs 13:1)
This video was uploaded to Youtube on January 10th and already has over 800,000 hits. I really loved it, and agree with all that he has to say. I had to share.
{Elaine & I, during our fight with breast cancer}
I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite writers and people, Elaine Olsen of “Peace For The Journey.” I have never met her in person, but our hearts are entwined despite. We both were diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2011. She was a gift to me, walked with me and is still by my side with her words. Her words got me through and lifted my head so many times during the fight. Her mouth speaks truth, the type that shoots straight to the heart. This post she wrote did exactly that, I am so thankful to have her words (despite her lack of voice, as you will see,}here at New Nostalgia!
{from Elaine}
My voice has been silenced in the last twenty-four hours. Literally. Sickness has claimed my vocal cords. This has never happened to me before, not completely in the way it has happened for me this time around.
My whispered shouts for the attention of others are met only by their silence. Not because they don’t care about me, but rather because they can’t hear me. Their listening isn’t prone to my whispering, so mostly… I’m ignored. Probably a relief to most of those in my household, but to a woman who’s used to being heard… a great frustration indeed.
And I’m thinking…
About my voice. About my words. About needing to be heard. About what I will say when I am, again, able to say.
And I’m thinking…
About quietness. About the value of forced silence. About going inward with my thoughts instead of outwardly displaying every single one of them.
And I’m thinking…
About God. About his voice. About his needing to be heard. About his willingness to keep company with silence… with his thoughts, instead of outwardly displaying every single one of them.
And I’m thinking…
About how very connected I feel to Him in all of this. About how my inability to speak amplifies the volume of God’s witness.
How many times has the Father whispered my name in the midst of my chaos, only to be ignored because of the noise surrounding my life? My hearing isn’t prone to his whispering. But in silence—in this period of fewer, personal words—I more clearly hear the phrases from heaven.
Beautiful, peace-filled, stilled expressions of understanding from God’s heart.
My ninth grade English teacher once wrote in my yearbook, “Elaine, if silence is golden you can forget it.” Apparently, I was destined for poverty. Thirty years ago, I hadn’t a clue what she’d meant, and I couldn’t have cared less.
Today, I have a clue. Today I care more, exceedingly more. Today, silence really is golden, because silence has given me access to the whispers of home. And whenever that happens, friends, I’m the richest person alive.
I’m so glad I know Jesus. I’m so glad he knows me. And I’m exceedingly glad for those moments when I am able to clearly hear his voice. What tender grace is mine as a daughter of the King! I pray that you know him, hear him, worship and celebrate him in the quiet, closing moments of 2011. I believe that God has something vital and important to whisper to each one of us. I’ll be anxious to hear from you in coming days. As always…
Peace for the journey,
Elaine is also author of the book: Peace for the Journey. You can learn more about this amazing guide book to peace below.
I’m so pleased to be able finally tell you that “peace for the journey: in the pleasure of his company” is now available in an e-book format through:
Winepress (DRM free version, allowing you to read it on all popular readers)
In addition, “peace for the journey” is available in paperback from many online retailers, including:
I have always loved this song, but it took on a special meaning for me last Christmas, as I was weak from finishing 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and knew a double mastectomy was coming my way right after Christmas. I found much comfort in this song, especially the chorus. I find myself continuing to cling to the words the last few days. My MRI was finally approved by insurance, and I will have it on Monday night, results a few days after.
I honestly don’t know what I would do without the hope of Heaven, and His comfort– His breath whispers to me– as I continue to face my own mortality. It is a place I don’t like being, but at the same time, it is a place where I have the opportunity to release myself completely to His plan, and to practice a deep trust. It is a place where I am able to practice what I proclaim, and a place where what I proclaim has become so very tangible and real. These are the gifts, ones I am beginning to think I would not trade, even for health.
For my heart is healing, which is so meaningful and life-giving. Far beyond physical healing. Of course I would love to stay physically healthy, but I now know deeply what matters. Would I have been able grasp this without the tangible fear of death? Would “I know, that I know, that I know,” without pain and suffering? I do not think so. Would I be able to “remember the works of the Lord” and who He became to me in these moments? The memories would not be so vivid, they would not “stick” so easily.
Would I know what it means to be “held together by the breath of Heaven?” Maybe, but I don’t think it would be as sweet, and I would not allow myself to be held as readily as I do now.
The breath of this God-child, this God who “became flesh and dwelt among us,” to bring hope & healing–this is why I celebrate, and this is why I love Christmas.
{my momma came and took some pics of me}
Well, I saw Dr. M today, my Oncologist. She is the most calming person! She walks in and brings her smile, knowledge and care with her, which I always appreciate.
She felt my lump area, and was able to push through it and find a 1/2 centimeter area that she is wondering about. It is in the same area that a lymph node was found in my upper chest, right under my old port incision. She wants to look into it further with a breast MRI next week. I have an appointment on Monday and will have results a few days after that. Even if it is just a lymph node, it is right in the path between where my old tumor was and positive nodes under my arm, so she wants to keep a close eye on it. She also said that usually you should not be able to feel lymph nodes, and this is the second time in a month that she has, so an MRI is the way to go.
{It snowed today! Snow boots rock!}
She still feels like the largeness and roundness of what I can see in that area is due to radiated tissue moving around and bunching. That was relieving, in that if we do find cancer, its not this large tumor growing out of me. I’d much rather be dealing with cancer in a lymph node than a secondary tumor. I breathed easier when I realized this.
I could feel the area roll under her fingers as she felt around and it was a small bit tender. It gave me the ebee-jeebies when she would do it. Blech.
My initial blood work came back perfect. All white and red cell counts are right on! I look really healthy on paper, and feel pretty healthy, so I have decided to stop worrying (as much as possible) and act like I am healthy!
{reading blood test results}
I am doing much better emotionally. I say this every time– but the minute I let you all know about any health concerns, I am blanketed in peace. I know this is your prayers for me and it really is amazing. You help remind me that God has been and is so close and has brought so many amazing things my way while dealing with this cancer crap. He knows what He is doing, so I can let go. Why do I so often forget this??
Love to you all.