Glory Through Tears

Tears –
Tears that I wish I could cry –
Fall into an empty bottle
Clasped in my Savior’s hand.
The tears fall quietly –
As if not to disturb;
But they also fall quickly –
As if each tear knew that
It must make room for the next.
Consumed with darkness
I let the teardrops fall,
And trust that my Father sees them.
He alone knows
The purpose for this darkness,
And He alone can shine His light.
So I wait, and I hope, and I trust…
Relying on Him to get through each day;
And knowing that although
My tears are filling His bottle,
My Father’s grace and love
Are filling my life
And He will display His glory
Through my tears.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” ~ Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

 

Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash

Thankful Thursday (episode 9)

It’s been quite some time since I’ve shared a “Thankful Thursday.” Good things have been happening, and I’ve kept track of a number of them…but for a while I wasn’t putting as much importance on being grateful as I should.

But I’ve been reminded of its importance, and now I’d like to share my gratitude list. The list spans May, June, July, and some of August. These are things for which I give thanks to God:

  • We made some progress cleaning up our backyard
  • Even though I was feeling low and slept much of the day, we ended the day well by going to Barnes and Noble and then having a steak dinner
  • We are blessed to live in a rather small neighborhood
  • I made it through to the end of the SMARTER project as a Scorer at Measurement Inc.
  • God’s forgiveness
  • I saw a beautiful cardinal at our bird feeder
  • I didn’t have to cook or clean up!
  • We were able to get my car’s oil changed for a decent price
  • I didn’t go back to bed after getting up in the morning
  • Who God is – His kindness, protection, wisdom, grace…
  • Free coffee from the Wawa that opened near us
  • God kept us safe in a bad thunderstorm
  • I was notified that I was approved to have some of my student loans forgiven
  • Mom’s knee surgery went well
  • I had just enough money to pay for the groceries we needed
  • How my cat Misty reaches out for my hand with her paw when I pet her
  • We were able to help good friends move into their new apartment
  • God kept me safe while traveling to doctors’ appointments
  • My Dad had his workers put hardwood floor in our house!
  • My first TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) treatment went well
  • I was able to take care of our friends’ baby and I enjoyed it 😀
  • I’ve made it to my twentieth TMS treatment and I’m feeling somewhat better!

Thanks so much for reading, and feel free to share something that you’re grateful for in the comments! ❤

 

Photo by Wendy Rueter on Unsplash

Broken but Beautiful

It’s easy to focus on the negative traits that we possess – at least it is for me. I’m so good at finding my flaws, my imperfections…and it’s easy for me to feel like I have nothing to offer God.

But that isn’t the case.

We normally don’t think of brokenness as being beautiful. It’s ingrained in our culture to seek out the best, most excellent, most desirable things. But the truth of the matter is this: God uses broken people (Psalm 51:17). And for this I am very grateful.

Why am I grateful? Because I am a broken person.

I struggle with depression, anxiety, and OCD on a daily basis – but God can use these struggles to help me reach out to others going through the same things.

I have many imperfections in my character that I am continually fighting against – but God somehow sees me whole in Jesus Christ.

I war against temptations every day, and often give in to sin – but God is faithful to forgive me and restore me as I cry out to Him for cleansing.

I frequently doubt God and choose not to trust Him – but God is right there waiting for me when I turn from my self-reliance and give myself to Him fully.

I many times refuse to obey God and to take that step of faith – but God, in His goodness, gives me gentle nudges and holds my hand to help me move forward.

The common thread in these statements is “but God.” It’s because of God that we are who we are and that we can do what we do. He is in the business of taking broken people like you and me and making us beautiful! Praise Him!

So what is your “but God”? What are the areas of your life where you struggle the most, but where God uses you the most? ❤

 

Photo by: Crystal Knauss