Praise You through the storm

These are lyrics to how I am feeling! Matches my blog from yesterday. I love when there is a song to match my life!

Praise You in the Storm
Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
That 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 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

Chorus:I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
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
You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy fallsI
raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

Chorus
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

HOPE REIGNS

My friend Lauren Chandler co-wrote the following song, and this song follows me everywhere!!

When I am down and sad, which I have been a lot lately, the TRUTH of this song comes to me. Sometimes it is the 1st verse, that just reminds me that HE is the Healer of my broken heart. Most of the time it is the last verse which I belt out as I cling to the TRUTH that to Righteousness I am enslaved, and in so being, FREEDOM is now my song!! To my Lover I now belong!!

Today, is the second verse that speaks to me. "BLAMELESS ONE who took MY place." I am overwhelmed with that fact today. I am unworthy, yet my price has been paid for!
HOPE REIGNS!!

GLORY TO OUR KING
Hallelujah Glory to Our King
Hallelujah You are everything
Hallelujah Now the Blind can see
Hallelujah Glory to our King.

Glory to our King, Glory to our King

Healer of our broken hearts,
Forgiver of our path so dark,
You opened eyes that once were blind
On my darkness you shed light

Blameless ONE who took my place
Redeeming LOVE sweeps me away
Spotless bride I have become
Because of your redeeming blood

Hallelujah Glory to Our King
Hallelujah You are everything
Hallelujah I have been Redeemed
Hallelujah Glory to our King.

Worthy You are Worthy

Master taking off my chains
Now to Righteousness enslaved
Freedom has become my song
To my LOVER I belong

Hallelujah Glory to Our King
Hallelujah You are everything
Hallelujah now this Slaves set free!
Hallelujah Glory to our King.

The Real Me

words and music by Natalie Grant
Photo by me


foolish heart looks like we're here again
same old game of plastic smile
don't let anybody in
hiding my heartache,
will this glass house break
how much will they take before i'm EMPTY
do i even let it show, does anybody know?

but YOU see the real me
hiding in my skin,
broken from within
unveil me completely
i'm loosening my grasp
there's no need to mask my frailty
cause you see the real me

painted on,
life is behind the mask
self-inflicted circus clown
i'm tired of the song and dance
living a charade,
always on parade
what a mess i've made of my existence
but you love me even now
and still i see somehow

that YOU see the real me
hiding in my skin,
broken from within
unveil me completely
i'm loosening my grasp
there's no need to mask my frailty
cause you see the real me

wonderful,
beautiful
is what YOU see
when YOU look at me
YOU're turning the tattered fabric of my life
into a perfect tapestry
i just wanna be me

and you love me just as i am

Valley's and Promises

I have just come out of a wonderful weekend! A weekend of getting away! Here is what I came away with.....
The Lord promises us Mountaintops....where we will commune with Him and life could not be better....and He promises that we will have valleys....days when we feel we cannot go on one more step....
However....PRAISE THE LORD! It takes two mountain tops to make a valley....the PROMISE....with God there will always be more Mountain tops than valleys.
I was able to spend some sweet reunion time with several of my friends. Three of them where my dear friends The Martins (http://www.the-martins.com/). They were in concert this weekend...and sang one of my favorites...here are the lyrics.


THE PROMISE
I never said that I would give you silver or gold.
Or that you would never feel the fire or shiver in cold…
But I did say "You would never walk through this world alone."
And I did say." Don't make this world your home"

I never said that fear wouldn't find you in the night,
Or that loneliness was something you'd never have to fight
But I did say "I'd be right there by your side"
And I did say "I'll always help you fight."

Cause you know I made a Promise that I intend to keep
My Grace will be sufficient in every time of need…
My love will be the anchor that you can hold on to…
This is the Promise I've made to you.

I never said that friends would never turn their backs on you
Or that the world around you wouldn't see you as fool
But I did say "Like me, you'll surely be despised"
And I did say "My ways confound the wise."

I didn't say that you'd never taste the bitter kiss of death
Or have to walk through chilly Jordan to enter into rest
But I did say I'd be waiting right on the other side.
And I did say I'll dry every tear you've cried.

Cause you know I made Promise that I've prepared a place
And someday sooner than you think you'll see me face to face
And you'll sing with the angels and a countless multitude.
This is the Promise, this is the Promise I've made to you.

So just keep on walking, don't turn to the left or right
And in the midst of darkness, let this be your light
That hell can't separate us and your gonna make it through
This is the Promise, this is the Promise....I've made to you.