I'm trying to sulk about my foster care frustrations today. It was such a perfect day for it. Cold, pouring rain. The day after both a holiday weekend AND my son's birthday when the let-down of all the celebration drops you into the gutter.
The good news is that good friends don't let you sulk. They are understanding of the challenges in my life, but don't let me wallow. Much encouragement, more prayer--that's what I get. And that's what I need!
Also, I turned on Pandora and Fernando Ortega started singing Praise to the Lord the Almighty:
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy
health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Sing now in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord, who o’er all
things so wondrously reigneth,
Who, as on wings of an eagle,
uplifteth, sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires all have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully,
wondrously, made thee!
Health hath vouchsafed and, when
heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief
Ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper
thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of
His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that
is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come
now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
Several lines of this song are just what I needed today:
- Hast thou not seen how thy desires all have been granted in what He ordaineth? This line always brings to mind Gladiator when Russell Crowe yells, "Are you not entertained?" (I'm not intending to be irreverent.) The fighter's question cuts off the "how could you possibly NOT be?" That's the tone of this excellent question from the hymn. HAVE YOU NOT SEEN WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU? HOW COULD YOU EVER DOUBT?
- What need or grief ever hath failed of relief? Same thing. Basically, "Name one failure. Oh, none? Didn't think so." He's always been there. Is there now. Always will be there.
- Ponder anew what the Almighty can do. I need to type that one again, bigger.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do!
Amazing how quickly I forget what He has done, what He can do. Ponder ANEW -- think on it again. Come back to it. Dwell on it. Think about it in new ways. Imagine it bigger, better, and more amazing each time you consider it.
This brings me back to my favorite verse (and frankly a much better mood than I started this in):
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
