Saturday, September 6, 2008

Trusting in God's arms and Praising Him in the Storm (Fearfully Fabulous Friday & Then Sing My Soul Saturday)

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. This is my first time participating in Fearfully Fabulous Friday and Then Sing My Souls Saturday.


My friend, Jill, has kindly invited me to join her new Fearfully Fabulous Friday!

For Fearfully Fabulous Friday we can write or share pictures about the way we love the Lord, along with bible verses that help us draw closer to Him. Examples of how we are fearfully and fabulously made are GREAT! We can write about the miracle of birth, adoption and life! We can write about Creation! We can share photos of birth, adoption, and His creation!

I am thankful to God for giving us His Words and many encouraging writings of His beloved people.

I am thankful to God that He loves us and is in control of everything in our life. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. He is our Creator and He cares for us. In this life we shall have our share of ups and downs, happiness and sorrows, wellness and sickness. Our greatest assurance is God loves us and He is with us through them. He is lovingly working all things for His glory, our good and the good of His people.

Recently, I read a very encouraging devotional by CH Spurgeon and like to share with you too. Hope you will also find encouragement in it.

"On mine arm shall they trust." Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God.

Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone!

There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein!

When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time.

Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in him. Dishonor not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms.

Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.

(Taken from Morning and Evening, CH Spurgeon, Morning, 31 August)
How true it is that in times of severe trial we have nothing on earth that we can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast ourselves on God alone. It is then that we are drawn nearer to God and to know His love and faithfulness in very real and personal ways.

O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone!

For this reason, we can thank God for the trials, afflictions and difficulties we face in this world. All of these are working together for our good and God's glory.

Therefore we can rejoice in the Lord always because He loves us and He is in control of all things. May God deepens our love and devotion to Him, and make us useful in His Kingdom.

And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to His purpose
... in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him that loved us.
(Romans 8:28, 37)




My friend, Peggy, encouraged me to share this song and participate in Then Sing My Souls Saturday as it really suits the encouragement from God's Words above. Thanks, Peggy, for telling me about this song!

Praise You In This Storm

I was sure by now
God 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

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 you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But 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


May God enable us to cling unto Him in difficult times and Praise Him in the Storms because He loves us and will see us safely through.

May you continue to know God's love and care in very special ways today and everyday!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a blessed weekends!

For more participants of Fearfully Fabulous Friday, do Jill.

For more participants of Then Sing My Souls Saturday, do visit Amy.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nancie,

Thank you for joining me! I am touched by your post on many levels.

Oh how wonderful is God to care for us and love us through the trials we bring onto ourselves when we choose our way vs. His!

Oh how wonderful is God to allow us to see the need for Him and He waits for us to fall on our knees asking Him to be our all and all.

Oh how wonderful is God to give us the gifts He has when we deserve the death He asked His Son to give for our lives.

You are such a blessing to me and all who visit your blog!

Lots of love and blessings tonight sweet friend!
Jill

Anonymous said...

Amen my precious Nancie...how inspiring and true! I went to see Jill's blog but I could not figure out what FFF was about...I thought perhaps it had to do with "babies" and I have no experience with that
except daycare or other's...(lol).
I read what she wrote and it did not seem to be about that...plus she used our Father's Love Letter one time...so I kept clicking on the name FFF and I needed to click on here...that was about a half hr. ago I figured it out :( sorry...so
here I am late in the night
...reading someone deep like Charles Spurgeon and I GET IT!

plus all along I just could have come and visited you and read exactly what I was to do! Good explanation!...:(

I use to do Psalm Friday on Fridays, because I love the Psalms!

Your writings are always filled with thanks and encouragement...I don't know how you are ever down???

Your choice was perfect! Do you know the song..."Praise Him in the storm" by Casting Crown. YouTube has many really good ones:)
it would go perfectly with this and then you can link this up to Then Sings My Soul Saturday...or you could link the other one from earlier this week.
The reason I say this is so more
people learn about Jill's new meme.

Your words have touched my soul. Your emails and comments on so many of the PRAYER FOCUS that no one went to...really blessed me!!!

So because of you, today or tonight
I do know God's love and care in a special way!

"Therefore we can rejoice in the Lord always because He loves us and He is in control of all things. May God deepens our love and devotion to Him, and make us useful in His Kingdom." your words help me rejoice for HE IS ABLE & SO WORTHY
OF ALL OUR PRAISE & THANKS! Blessings Nancie...and may God pour back into you all that you pour out to others in encouraging words & prayers! You are deeply LOVED &
very wonderfully made...not too sure about the fearfully part(lol)

Anonymous said...

Nancie,
I'm so glad you found us and joined in this week at TSMS Saturday. Casting Crowns is one of my favorite groups and Praise you in this Storm is one of my favorite songs. It's hard to do sometimes, but so worth it. I hope you will join us again. Have a blessed week.
Amy

Anonymous said...

Nancie,
I am so glad that you joined us now over at TSMSS! Even though I already feel like I know you thru our other memes we participate in.

Your posts are always encouraging and uplifting and your song is a great one that you picked. Oh to praise Him in our storms...God wants our honor and praise in everything.

Thanks for stopping by. -Blessings, Laurie

Anonymous said...

Nancie,

Once again you have written to uplift and inspire us all. You are such a sweet spirit and you encourage us all. Thank you for taking the time to share you life and heart with us. This was beautifully done and I enjoyed it immensely.

God bless you dear sister!

Anonymous said...

A beautiful post! Honest, heart-felt testimony is always a blessing. It certainly has been to me and I know it will be to others who read this post.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to TSMSS! It's a slow day for them, usually we have many links by now. Good choice of video of this favorite of mine...HE is so good when we lay down our personal concerns at HIS Feet, at His cross
and PRAISE HIM through our storms!

I'm so glad you joined and shared from Casting Crown. This is my favorite meme...but WFW is catching up. If able, I may try FFF next time. I like Jill's Monday also!

Thank you again for all your encouragement! Some join later in the day & visit on Sunday also as they rest from the world! May GOD bless your TSMSS and weekend!!!

Anonymous said...

Love this song. Thanks for sharing. There is so much truth in the words you have written in this post. Loved the Spurgeon piece, too. He and Chambers are some of my favorite reads.

Blessings!
Cristine

Anonymous said...

Amen, so very lovely my friend.

Anonymous said...

Nancie,

Thanks for sharing about these two special blog days! I especially like the "singing" one and should give that some thought for next week.

You have such a wonderful caring spirit that comes through in your blog so beautifully. Thank you for always, always sharing your very heart and Jesus' love with us.

(And thanks for visiting my beach blog last week through our friend, Edie.)

Anonymous said...

I have always loved this song. Such truth spoke in the words.

To be in a place where we can praise God no matter what storm we may be going through is to know the true love and character of God.

every tear I cried He holds in his hands...He has never left my side..

Anonymous said...

Hi hon! Great song that is!

Anonymous said...

A beautiful praise song ~

Anonymous said...

Nancie thanks for all the wonderful thoughts...HUGS

Anonymous said...

Simply wonderful...both the post and the song. Thank you so much for the encouragement you've given through both.

Have a blessed weekend.

Anonymous said...

I am almost breathless everytime I come upon your posts, Nancie. Breathless for your kindness, gentleness and generosity. I always leave enlightened, inspired and educated. Those you have touched and continue to touch are very lucky, indeed, and that includes me. God bless you always.

P.S. Couldn't post for my TT but couldn't miss visiting you.

Anonymous said...

It always leaves me breathless every time I visit here. Breathless for the enlightenment and education I receive each time. Lucky are those you touch through your kindness, gentleness and generosity and that is including me, Nancie.

P.S. I couldn't post for TT but I couldn't let the week end without visiting you, either.

Anonymous said...

Hi Nancie!!
You always bless me when I come over, your writing is so real and heartfelt, I can truly connect spirit to spirit, heart to heart,
Praising him through the storms what a trust we have knowing he carries us through!!!

Luv ya Lorie

Anonymous said...

Hi Nancie, that's a great song and a wonderful and inspiring post!

Have a blessed week ahead!

Anonymous said...

Dear all, thanks for your kind comments and encouragement. Take care and God bless!