Pickles & Praise

What is on my heart…

As I bobbed and weaved the familiar roads to work this morning I was in deep thought. Perplexing questions ached in my mind and demanded answers that I didn’t have.

“Jesus are you there?”… now I KNOW he is here. Our big, amazing, God never leaves us.

He’s always waiting patiently for us to quiet the chaos so that we can sit with him in all of his presence. This is something I remind myself daily, sometimes needed hourly.

My body is worn out as of late, and if I’m honest so is my heart and reason. Everywhere I look it seems that warfare is prominent and begging to win the battle against us. So many health scares and issues, broken spirits, broken hearts, and broken wills scattered around in large numbers. Many things are commanding our attention and trying to shake us into turning our gaze from The Maker to the mountain.

My heart and my mind have been arguing with one another and, in turn, I feel as though it has made me wrestle with where God is guiding me. So… dig dig dig deep into the word I go. Often when I find the things in life are trying to rattle me the most is when it’s best to dig in deep to the word, talk to God, and worship in all the in between moments. Even when I don’t feel like doing it. I’d love to tell you that I always feel like doing those things. The honest to goodness truth is I don’t. When my head and my heart are colliding, I don’t want to do anything of the sort, but this is where we must follow the character of Jesus and ignore our feelings. James 5:13 says “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing praise.” It also says in Philippians “Rejoice in the Lord always, I say it again rejoice!”

Now I am a girl of music … I worship through the times of trouble, triumph, and tranquility, in loveness, and in brokenness. I love to let music speak my heart and I will sing my heart out. Which brings me to my close.

My “repeat song”. Do you know what that is? One of those songs that resonate so deep within you that you leave it on repeat for hours at a time. I play it as the first song every time I get into my vehicle at the very least… That is a repeat song. Anyway! My repeat song right now is called “Roses” by Andrew Ripp. The Lyrics … ooof ..

“Ever wonder what was on the mind of The Maker

When He turned all of our sorrow into fields of grace.”

Another part says

“God is in the whisper if you listen closely

Winter means that spring is just a breath away.

So don’t go faster than this very moment

Sing a hallelujah in the pouring rain”

I’ll hit you with the chorus to bring it home…

“He must’ve known about the heartbreak long before us

He must’ve known about the mistakes, still He chose us

Planted the tree where He would die

Put thorns down the vine, and then He wore them And love is the blood red stain, the beauty that the pain exposes Maybe that’s why God made roses Maybe that’s why God made roses”

If you are here, Friend. If you’re in a place of unrest and uncertainty. Remember who you belong to. Remember that he turns “our sorrows into fields of grace.” I’m praying for you. I love my people hard and once you’re in my life. You’re my people.

Be good, Be Well, Behave.