I Will Praise You in This Storm

So as many of you know it's been kinda stressful around here with Nathan starting a second job and all. He goes in tomorrow for his 1st day as a cashier at Walmart. So for those of you family members you also know that we have been under some serious attack with our cars. I think I told you all that I had some major work done on my van a few weeks back? Well, Nathan has also been having a time with his car that he drives back and forth to work in Columbus. This tiny car was meant to save gas on the highway and all we've done so far is put $$ into it! It's broken down several times with throwing a belt and overheating. So after about 5 times of getting that repaired, we ended up putting a new alternator in for $600. It's frustraiting but worth it if it stops breaking down on the interstate. Well, this morning Nathan's car overheated YET AGAIN on the way to work. This was the first day driving it after the alternator was replaced. So we're back to square one after spending about $1000 on a $1500 car! Uhhh!


I say all of this to say that I/we are asking for prayer over and for our family. The whole car ordeal is just a tiny window into the serious attack of the enemy as well as a time of waiting on God to move, that we have been going through these past several months. It's a time of releying on God and knowing that He in in controll. As Nathan says, I know it's frustrating all that is happening, but at least we are all here and all healthy. It could be so much worse! Praise God for the blessings in the storm!

The song "Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns has really been an inspiration to me. I heard it when it first came out after Katrina, but the words to this song go so much farther than just a real-life storm. I attached a video that shows the song from a deployed soldier's point of view. It's worth checking out. There are some very inspiring scriptures in the video as well. I wish I knew how to imbed the video into my blog. Oh well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef9jKHwHueQ

Here are the lyrics to the song as well.....

"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now

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 Your 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

I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

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

You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

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

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

It's times like these that our family clings onto our fmaily scripture as well. We remember that no matter how frustraiting the now looks, it is all for his purpose and to lead us to towards the calling He has set before us. No one ever said a calling was a "free gift" Sometimes you have to prove yourself worth to carry out the calling by enduring the hardships and staying the course.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

Ok....I so did not mean for that to be a sermon! LOL! I guess that's what you blog readers should expect by now! It's all about a little scripture of encouragement amoungst the Emma stories, hair bows, scrapbooking, and cute kid pics! This is a well rounded picture of who I am and what matters most in my life. Isn't that what blogs are supposed to be about??

Today was probably the last evening we'll see Nathan home for a while so we decided to have a family night. We went out to Fazoli's (after driving 1/2 way to Columbus to get Nathan) and then had a family movie night. We all got in PJ's and layed on sleeping bags to watch a Veggie Tales movie in the dark. The girls love movie night and I think it was a stress reliever for all of us.