In this place of waiting,
In these days of God’s own leading,
In this season when pain tries to direct,
My Lord asks me to look up,
and to remember.
After a year of waiting on the decision about my thyroid, and after the summer of aFib, my cardiologist gave cardiac clearance last month, and I am finally scheduled for a partial thyroid removal surgery on November 13. So the waiting continues for a little longer, even as my RA continues to rage.
Yet, it is in this very place where my Lord asks me to look up. He is filling my mouth with praise for this day, this 48th wedding anniversary with my husband. He is filling my mouth with praise for this month that held my 66th Birthday. In every path where He has led us, in every trial and every pain, He has been our sure and solid rock. Every breath has been His gift.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
Today, I feel stirred to share an old post from 2019 with you. The main verse and song from that post, Psalm 81:10, was in my reading this year on my birthdate. I could only feel God’s grace as I remembered and looked up. So I pray for you that same grace as you read and listen today:
~~~~~~
The Lord asked me to take a brave step this week, and sing for you the song He gave me many years ago. It was a private gift, given for my own hurting heart. But maybe your hurting heart feels too lonely and raw to think about a song of your own. Could you pause and let Him sing His words, gathered from His Scriptures, for you now?
“Open wide your mouth and I will fill it,
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
Seek and you will find,
Knock and the door will be opened unto you.
Never stop praying,
Never stop praying,
And I will come to you.
Ask for wisdom
Ask for mercy
Ask for the riches of My grace,
And I will come to you.”
This Spirit Song was given to me during a time of prayer and Scripture reading in the spring of 2000. The days were long and lonely walking through a deep soul surrender and breaking of relationship. I had obeyed God, but the relationship still ended, and bitter soul pain brought a darkness to my days. Into the midst of that very darkness, God sent His Holy Spirit to write these words of hope into my soul.
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.
He brought me back to these intimate words of hope last month, on the day before my last RA infusion, when this time it would be my body that was plunged into an overwhelming darkness. I had asked for enough strength and time to make an art journal page that night, not knowing how the next few days might look. I wasn’t expecting this word of hope, from John 14:26, but He knew the Scriptures that my heart would need to cling to.
Oh, Beloved, God’s timing is not like ours. No, HIS timing is perfect. He knows when the hope within us is almost ready to die, and He calls us to live again in Him!
Are you in a place of bitter pain? Perhaps He would sing to you through the words of His Scripture. Could you pause once again before Him now, and let Him give voice to the Words that He is planting in your own heart today?
Dear Father of our hearts,
Thank You for the Living Hope that You have granted to us through Your son, Jesus Christ, who died and rose again so that we could have new life. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for sending us Your Holy Spirit to be the Comforter that You knew we would need. Would You help us to pause and listen to Him now? You see our hearts, and the pain that threatens to swallow us whole some days. You see the burdens that have tried to crush our spirits. We ask You to help us hear Your own voice singing over us now. We long to be filled with the gift of YOUR new life within us again. Wash away our heaviness, and lift us up to Heavenly places with You.
In the sweet name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.
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There is something so special about the song the Lord gives us in the darkness and in our pain. Your song is beautiful and it speaks of waiting on the Lord, an encouraging thought in the time of trouble! While we may not understand his timing, it is always perfect! I love your art journal, it feels wonderful to create something beautiful as part of our worship to the Lord!
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Amen, dear Marilyn. Our God is so merciful to meet us in the darkest of places. Thank you for your encouragement and support through these days dear friend. May the Lord keep meeting you in these places of trial also. Blessings and love to you.
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Thank you my dear sister of strength. Happy Anniversary to you and Barry. Please know God uses you. With my aging feet and bunions, I think of how God has continued to bring you through and use you in your chronic illness. May He continue to pour out His Spirit upon you and use this surgery to give you new health for His glory! Love, Julie
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Dear Julie, thank you for all your prayers over the years! Your support and encouragement in the Lord and His Word have meant so much! I sure understand those painful bunions. Owie! But I’m so thankful our faithful Lord is with us to help even there. Blessings and love to you tonight dear sister.
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Dear Bettie ~
What a sweet and pretty voice you have! I am so sorry for all that you struggle with. You are dealing with so much and yet such a sweetness flows out of you. What joy you must bring our God, and also comfort for us! Thank you for your efforts though in pain and sometimes darkness, you still think of us and want to share your heart, even the very goodness and hope of Jesus amid storms. Personally, your words also help to build courage in me. Often I feel so alone (not from God) but from those who don’t know this life of difficulty. I have wonderful believing friends but those who struggle greatly either don’t talk about it or believe it’s something to “name and claim” it away. You have a very honest heart likened to David in the Psalms.
May our LORD hold you and your dear husband up in continued divine courage and comfort.
With my love,
*Melody Bollinger ~ *
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Dear Melody, I am so thankful the Lord brought encouragement and comfort to you here. And I understand that feeling of loneliness that comes over us when the pain hits so harshly. There is no way to describe the depth sometimes, but our Jesus knows. And isn’t He so gracious to join us together in His comfort? Your words have blessed me so often too. May He hold you in His strong, sufficient arms tonight, my friend.
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I love your tender, sweet voice and your song, Bettie. Also your loving witness of God’s faithful love and grace in the midst of all your trials. Happy Birthday! Also Happy Anniversary to you and Barry! May God fill you with His peace in the midst of the storms of this life and light through the darkness! Love and blessings to you!
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Deae Trudy, thank you for always being such an encouragement to me through so many years! This repost here just reminded me of how God has been so faithful in the hardest of places. And I am grateful that we have shared so much of that faithfulness together. Blessing, love and hugs to you.
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Happy Anniversary! Thank you for sharing the song. God bless you and your husband.
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Thank you so much Melissa! God’s blessings on you and your family too! 💕
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Dear Bettie, what love and peace ooze from your post, your collage and your voice. Each one of the Scriptures you share are so precious and encouraging too. It was so good to hear your voice again. Bless you for your generous heart- giving so richly, withholding nothing. Much love from afar, Anna
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Dear Anna, thank you so much for all of the years of joining in prayer with me. Do you know this original post here was from 2019, right after the really hard infusion that changed my life? But look how God has used it for His good changes. Only He could have brought the surrenders and walking forward that you and I have gone through since then.
Oh Lord keep us looking up, and keep us open to You. And keep our hearts open to see the repentance You call us to.
Blessings and love across the ocean dear sister!
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A beautiful song Bettie, may your surgery go well & may you feel the Lord’s loving arms of comfort & grace around you in this season of your life my friend. Praying for His strength & peace for you.
Blessings, Jennifer
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Thank you so much for your beautiful prayers dear Jennifer. I appreciate them so much. I am continuing to lift you in prayer as well. Blessings to you and your family!
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Thank you Bettie 💕
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Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! Your art journal is beautiful. He hears everyone of our prayers and, more than that, He listens. I pray you feel His loving presence with you, Bettie, always.
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Thank you so much Lynn. I appreciate your prayers to feel his presence with me. It is a prayer I lift up also. So your prayers are such a comfort. Blessings to you!
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