Thankful

Psalms 28:7 (NKJV)
⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.


What is it about music that causes our emotions to pour through us as we sing? I have no clue, but it seems to be a natural response when we experience extreme emotions. In pain, pleasure, sorrow, joy, gain, or loss, we tend (or at least I do) to express those feelings in song. I generally wake up with some song on my mind. Music isn't what I want to talk about, but if you notice in the above verse David's reaction to God's help is to sing.

What was the source of his singing? His joy! What gave him joy? The Lord's faithfulness! David says that he trusted in God, and God helped. This help brought to David great joy and peace, and David responded with a song of praise. How many times have I been helped by God without so much as a thank you in response to His work? Too many times.

But I want to take this opportunity now to say to my Lord, thank you! The last couple of weeks have been somewhat difficult as I remember the passing of my mother. Along with this memory is attached the memory of my wife leaving on the same day basically (see http://mdarrinh.blogspot.com/2010/08/journey-begins.html if interested). To say that this was the most devastating time in my life would be an understatement! It has taken me a very long time to recover from the losses of that day, and I still have much more recovering to do. The amount of pain and  anger I still feel during this time always catches me by surprise. In addition to this memory, I have been having difficulties in some relationships with friends that have confused, hurt, and perplexed me. But God is showing me that He is still working it all out for my good and benefit that I may become more like my Lord Jesus Christ.

But let me say as David did. The Lord is my strength and my shield. He has carried me through these times with His strong arm. He has protected me from so much that could have destroyed my life during these times. He has lent me strength when I felt as though I could not carry on. Indeed I often wonder what is the point of the path I am taking. I know my life and my past and how I always seem to end up in failure. Yet God gives me strength to continue this journey. He gives me hope that this time His plan will come to fruition where my plans have failed. I see the mistakes and sins of my current life and wonder at the mighty hand of God to protect me from myself. Through it all, I just want to say thanks to my God and King. Let me lift up a song of praise to Him today and everyday.

Now I know you are waiting for me to sing, but this is a blog. So to suffice I will post the lyrics of one of my favorite old songs and a video you can listen to someone sing it much better than I could. May God bless those who read this today that they may be strengthened in their faith and protected from all harm. Amen.

Verse 1:I've Had Many Tears And Sorrows,
I've Had Questions For Tomorrow,
there's Been Times I Didn't Know Right From Wrong.
but In Every Situation,
god Gave Me Blessed Consolation,
that My Trials Come To Only Make Me Strong.

chorus:
through It All,
through It All,
I've Learned To Trust In Jesus,
I've Learned To Trust In God.

through It All,
through It All,
I've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.


verse 2:
I've Been To Lots Of Places,
I've Seen A Lot Of Faces,
there's Been Times I Felt So All Alone.
but In My Lonely Hours,
yes, Those Precious Lonely Hours,Jesus Lets Me Know That I Was His Own

chorus

verse 3:
I Thank God For The Mountains,
and I Thank Him For The Valleys,
I Thank Him For The Storms He Brought Me Through.
for If I'd Never Had A Problem,
I Wouldn't Know God Could Solve Them,I'd Never Know What Faith In God Could Do  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFzdFzzBqTc