Thankful Thursday

Ever have a day in your life where it was hard to "feel" joyful? The ease to just fly or glide through a day is hampered by the tyranny of the present and whatever circumstances are pounding on you endeavoring to keep you grounded...

I think all of us have those days. Some days we just tire of the constant battle to keep our mindset looking up and outward, instead of down and inward. Today I am posting or shall I say RE-posting a previous post written last Spring. It says once again what I want to share for these days we walk in the present.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

This is one of my favorite songs. It speaks of a reality that comes with an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ my Savior. I am grateful for people who are gifted to write words that hold meaning, and musicians who are gifted to set those words to melody. Together they create songs that can express what our hearts feel, but sometimes our own minds cannot find the words to say it well...

I won't ask "Have you ever...?" because I know everybody has. We feel like throwing in the towel, we feel like giving in, we feel defeated by our very own emotions repeatedly beating us up, pushing us back down, saying "You'll NEVER win...what you wish for will NEVER arrive, life will NEVER be what you long for."

And then, when we step away, go and sit in the silence, far from the madding crowd of those inner voices, there is THE ONE who comes, and sits with us, and HIS words begin to soothe us. HE knows all that we fight inside ourselves. HE knows all of the self-imposed words that come from our own fears, and doubts, and disappointments. HE comforts us like no other. HIS words are salve to the wounds and scars left by life and all its battles.

It is the times spent with our Lord that give us the renewed energy to get back up and go back out, revived once again with a passion to say, I will NEVER, EVER give in. We realize afresh that it is HE that lifts us up.

The best line of this song is the truth of this statement.

I am strong when I am on HIS shoulders.
HE raises me up to more than I can be.

In Christ I stand. I am not beaten down.

In Christ I am given the strength and power to be MORE than I could possibly be in this life on my own. It is because of my Savior and Comforter that I am anything good and worthy today. He sets me in that place. And once again I find myself on His shoulders, and it is exhilarating!!

This is life in Christ and with Christ. Yes, life is hard; sometimes it is downright depressing.
But there is more... much more to life than what we see with our eyes, what we hear with our ears, what we perceive from our own inner voices.


Today...make time. Get away. Be still in the quiet places you can find. Sit with your Lord and be filled again with wonder at His holy compassion for you, His presence that moves you to reset your eyes on eternity, not the here and now.

Jesus Christ, your best comforter in this age, and the ages to come, will give you all you need and more. He will raise you up today.

Blessings and Encouragement and a Hug!

Julie :-)