Sweet friends

So great to see some of my most wonderful friends again in the Philippines,

Maggie, Tina, and Lydia.

Time spent with Jon Thurlow's - "Strong Love"

Trust and care: two things I'm so confused by right now.
I've been so consumed with worry and thoughts of fear regarding the future, also i think just life in general. I was playing this CD the other night and had a total revelation of just how much God cares for each of us individually.
It's an unexplainable thing when the peace of God finally falls on you during a time of worry and stress. I've realized he cares for me so much, and it has confused me even more! It's just like "gah! I don't understand you God, how could you have been there all along, and never stopped caring for me... and now you're telling me to throw all my worry at your feet, and you'll just take care of... everything?" Can you imagine something more kind?

"... humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5: 6-7.

Now comes the harder part: trust. It's an ongoing process, you can't just say 'I trust you' (which I've tried to do many times) and then return to your restlessness the next day. It's so real that every day, I have to be reminded to trust in the Lord. And whenever I come to that point, it's the sweetest thing. It's definitely not achieved easily... that's why it's so important to maintain the secret place as a constant. Something I've failed at many times... but life always ends up showing me how needed it is. There's so much freedom when I trust in Jesus... I love it!

So about this CD, I love the way it's laid out. Tracks #6-9 are all about trusting in the care and love of God! Sadly, I can't share each song, but I do want to share some of the powerful lyrics from them, here they are:

Fountains:
"Cast all your cares on me, 'cause I care for you. 'Cause all your fountains are in need, and I have everything you need. Just keep coming back to me. 
Those who call upon my name, they will not be put to shame. Just keep coming back to me.
Come to me if you're weary, I'll give you rest. My yoke is so easy, my burden is less.
... Remember that I am a rewarder of those who seek me. Keep coming back to me."

Dependent On You:
"Surely I've calmed and quieted my soul, like a child rests against its mother.
There's not a care in the world when I am trusting you completely. 
So help me to trust you, help my unbelief. I want to be dependent, I want to be dependent on you."


My Little One:
"There's no need to be afraid, Daddy's here and it's okay. My love will take the fear away, my little one.
You can give to me the doubts and fears. Pour out your heart, I'll catch your tears. I've always been the God who hears my little one.
You've held it in a long long time, so let it out, it's okay to cry. My heart and arms are open wide, my little one.
I'll hold you close and tight to me, I'll help you through the unbelief, I said that I would never leave my little one."

Strong Love:
"Death nor life nor angels nor powers, present things or things in the future, height nor depth nor any created thing can separate me from your love.
I know the end of the story, I come up from the wilderness, leaning on my beloved. Your love is so high, your love is so wide, your love is so deep, your love is so long!"
- Jon Thurlow, Strong Love

There's a lot more I could say about the care of God and times learning to trust Him in this blog, but mainly I just wanted to share this awesome song and the incredible, simple truths Jon Thurlow's been able to spin into lyrics.
I hope you too are overwhelmed by God's pure love for you and learn to trust him better everyday.