Your Hands

I realize that it's been a while since my last post.  I've been spending more of my time practicing my guitar and learning how to play Christian music myself.  I often try to write about songs here that are moving me at the time...sometimes it's because they are new songs, or perhaps it's one of those old ones that I draw on when times are tough.  There's a song that I've been returning to this last week because we have a close family member in the USA that is battling cancer right now.  It's breaking our hearts that we are not home to help her and comfort her.  But it is comforting for me to know that she is in God's hands during this crisis.  Here's "Your Hands," by JJ Heller.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still
Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave you
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave
I never leave your hands

I leave you today with a Psalm that has grabbed my attention upon reflection of this song.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  You hem me in behind and before, you lay your hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.  Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139: 1-10

Center of It

I heard this song on KLOVE today and I just had to share it.  Perhaps it's because here in England we are having the rainiest summer ever...some of the words caught my attention.  Many mornings I wake up to a dark, rainy day.  It's starting to get hard to keep my spirits up.  But songs like this can help lift me up.  God is in the center of it all, no matter what darkness is in your life, or what brightness you are experiencing....He is there! Her is "The Center of It" by Chris August.

in the dark, in the light

in the morning, in the night

in the good, in the hurt

in the places I hide

when I rise, when I fall

you'll be there through it all

at the start, at the end

in the center of it

I hope that you are having a great week!  And if not, maybe this song will turn your day around.  God Bless you all from the soggy UK.

You Never Let Go

Last Sunday the worship team at church led this song "You Never Let Go," by Matt Redman.  It had been several weeks since we had been to church, and I also had a few sad days in that time.  I still struggle at times with missing my old life in the United States.  I am struggling much less than I was months ago, but I still have days here and there when I am feeling a bit low.  So last Sunday, I was not singing as part of the worship team, I was standing and singing with my family.  When we began singing this song, by the time we got to the chorus I was overcome with emotion and could sing no more.  I just listened.

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
I think music is a way for God to speak to us.  I heard this song just at the right time.  This song provided me with great comfort that God is with me, holding me wherever I am, whether it be in one of my "highs" or "lows."  So I hope that this song is a comfort to you as well, wherever you are, whatever your life is like right now, God is with you and he won't let go.

God bless you all,
Gretchen