Tag: life

What Wondrous Love

I’ve been having a difficult time this year focusing on the meaning behind the Easter season. Whenever I go out to the store, there are various displays of candy and toys and other paraphernalia that people are racing to throw into their carts. Now I’m not saying that these things are bad necessarily, but sometimes it’s hard to look past all of that to Jesus and what He did for us.

And what did he do for us? Because of His great love for us, He allowed Himself to be beaten and mocked and nailed to a cross. He went through this agony for us – for you and for me – because we needed His forgiveness for our sins. And because of His resurrection three days later, we can live in freedom and abundance.

What wondrous love is this! It’s a love that we do not deserve. It’s a love that is pure and unselfish and kind. It’s a love that wants the best for each one of us…and we can receive God’s best by choosing to walk with Him!

So what has been filling your mind and life this holiday season? Are you getting caught up in things that don’t matter much in the long run? Or are you clinging to Christ and to His wondrous love for us? ❤

What Wondrous Love Is This
American Folk Hymn

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

*We’re playing the above song on handbells at church tomorrow. Prayerfully we’ll do okay! 😀 Happy Easter to each of you…I hope you have a nice time with your family and friends or however you choose to spend the holiday. Let’s just remember the One Who is behind it all.

Photo Credit: Lukas Budimaier

Trusting His Heart

From the beginning to the end God has me in His hand.

So then how does all of this sorrow fit into His plan?

Why do I feel like I’m drowning in suffering,

When what you’re telling me is that you want me to sing?

I know that You are God and that what You do is good…

But will there ever be a time that I can say I understood

Why you didn’t take away the hurt and the pain?

Please help me to to trust Your heart until you make things plain.

Strengthen me through these trials and guide me in Your will,

And when I want to argue, Lord, please teach me to be still.

10 Things that People with Depression Want You to Know

  1. Depression is not just “being sad.” Yes, you feel despair and discouragement often when you struggle with depression. But you also feel a lack of energy, low motivation, irritability, and a host of other things. Sadness just does not encompass all of the emotions that you struggle with when you are depressed.
  2. We can’t just “snap out of it.” We did not “choose” to be depressed, and we can’t just force ourselves to feel better again.
  3. There isn’t always a specific reason for why we’re feeling depressed. People often think that our depression is linked to a devastating event in our lives – although sometimes that can trigger it. But depression is not as simple as feeling low because of something bad that happens (whether big or little).
  4. We may try to hide how we’re feeling so as to appear “normal.” Sometimes we don’t feel like we “fit in,” or we feel like we’re “strange” because of our illness. Please encourage us to be open about our emotions.
  5. Things that may be easy for you can take a huge effort for us. Many times, just getting out of bed in the morning drains all of our energy. So things like making meals, taking care of our families, and navigating the work world can be overwhelming. Help us to feel good about little victories.
  6. We just need you to listen. Oftentimes friends and family members want to give advice that might help us feel better. We appreciate this, but what we really need is a listening ear. Just like any other disorder or illness, it’s difficult for someone who has never experienced the illness to be able to understand. And that’s okay! Just knowing that you are there to listen is enough.
  7. We tend to isolate ourselves without realizing it. Our homes may be our safe places. It can be easy to stay indoors during the day – especially if there’s bad weather – instead of getting outside for some fresh air. And when we make plans to get together but don’t keep them…it’s not because we don’t care about you. It’s because interacting with others takes a lot of our energy – and energy is not something we have a lot of!
  8. We can’t just “take a pill” to make depression go away. Some people with depression take medication to help with the symptoms of their illness – I am one of them. However, I don’t believe that medication fully cures depression. Many times, it assists with controlling some of the symptoms, but also causes new symptoms (like making you feel emotionless).
  9. Just because we have a good day (or week or month) doesn’t mean we’re cured. Depression is complicated, and it can come and go. So please don’t think we’ve got this thing beat if we have a period where we feel better.
  10. We’re doing our best to fight this monster. We haven’t given in to defeat. Just because we struggle doesn’t mean that we’re not doing our best to live full lives. And we appreciate all that you do to help us!

I hope that this list has been helpful, and I encourage you to leave a comment with any thoughts you might have! ❤

I got my inspiration for this post from this website.

Photo Credit: Maria Victoria Heredia Reyes