Just Believe, Just Have Faith

Just Believe, Just Have Faith was written on June 26, and July 12, 2009.  One day, during my bible reading in Mark 5 22-24, 36-42, I was just struck by a statement that Jesus said to a distraught father.

Here's the story:

Jairus, a ruler in a synagogue was very troubled. He approached Jesus and literally fell at his feet begging him to come to his home and heal his precious daughter. Jairus daughter was so ill that he fear she would die if she didn't have some kind of help-and soon.

Well, Jesus was very popular, and everywhere he want multitudes of people followed him seeking the miracles that he did. On his way to Jairus house, he was stopped by a woman who needed healing and the people thronged him so much it was hard to even move!

It wasn't long before someone came from the house and told Jairus: "Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"

When Jesus heard what was said he told Jairus to:  "Be not afraid, only believe."

They then arrived at the house, people were crying and mourning the lose of such a young girl-she was only 12 years old, but nothing is too hard for God. Jesus basically told them so and they laughed at him. Because of their unbelief Jesus had those people removed from the house and then preformed his miracle.


He girl back from the dead and I'm sure that after an experience like that Jairus's family faithfully testified to all of God's mercy and grace. I wonder at the people who were told to leave-they missed out on a once in a lifetime miracle.

When we have a time in our lives where we are distraught we will often turn to the Lord. Then our hopes or dreams or desires seem to fizzle out and die. We begin to sadly and dejectedly, walk away and figure, "Oh, well. It wasn't meant to be."

I imagine that in those moments the Lord turns and looks at us and says, "Just believe, just have faith. It's coming. It's just not in your time that it will happen."

It's so easy for our discouraged response to then be, "But Lord, it's too late! You can't bring something back once the moment has passed. My greatest desire has died!"

God then still looks at us and gently reminds us, "Is anything too hard for God? I created all you see around you. I've brought the dead back to life. Given the blind their sight back. I've even brought water out of a rock. If I can do that, then I can come through for you."

There may even be times where people laugh at your faith and belief that God will come through for us, but sadly they will be the ones to miss out on how God is going to work for you.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1 

 God is still the God of the bible.  He's still the God who came through for you the last time you needed it and He loves you so much He'll do it again!  Just hang in there a little longer and keep on believing!

Ps. There are two spots where you may hear a little jingling-my dog had an itch that couldn't wait until after recording the song-I tried recording a few other times, but she still kept jingling-so she added her little bit to this song!

I Stand Amazed

Choosing a favorite song is very difficult.  Just like choosing a favorite color, or a favorite food or even a favorite Bible verse.  Why do I have to only pick one?!?!?!?!?  (Yes, that is said with a frustrated cry!) 

I love a all kinds of colors, too many Bible verses to put a number on it, songs and music-lets just go with the flow and sing!  And of course food...oh, I. Love. Food.

Choosing a favorite of anything depends on my mood...today I am feeling amazed.  The song going through my head is one that my mom considers one of her favorites and I have to agree.  Sometimes with a song you should just read the words.  It gives a deeper meaning to the words and you'll begin to see that song in a new light.

I Stand Amazed

I stand amazed in the presence

of Jesus the Nazarene,

and wonder how he could love me,

a sinner, condemned, unclean. 

For me it was in the garden

he prayed: "Not my will, but thine."

He had no tears for his own griefs,

but sweat-drops of blood for mine.

           

In pity angels beheld him,

and came from the world of light

to comfort him in the sorrows

he bore for my soul that night.

              

He took my sins and my sorrows,

he made them his very own;

he bore the burden to Calvary,

and suffered and died alone.

              

When with the ransomed in glory

his face I at last shall see,

'twill be my joy through the ages

to sing of his love for me.

Chorus:

How marvelous! How wonderful!

And my song shall ever be:

How marvelous! How wonderful

is my Savior's love for me!  

This song just puts it so wonderfully and I am so overwhelmed by the Lord's love and care for someone like me.  

Jesus Is With Thee

This is the first summer in four years that I haven't been at His Thousand Hills for summer camp.  I have to admit, I feel like something is missing from the start of my summer months!  Although I haven't been at HTH, the Lord has kept me busy!

Last week, I was able to settle down and get some recording done AND I was able to make some massive progress on my book-even if it was at ten o'clock at night!  (Literally, I was so tired I thought I'd fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.  Instead, I ended up writing...next thing I knew the clock said 12:30 am.  When God is moving I've learned to go with the flow, but my sleeping schedule has not quite balanced out yet.....)

 Anyways, here is one of the songs that was completed entitled: Jesus Is With Thee.  

Here is the behind the scenes look at how the Lord brought this song to life!

Behind The Scenes

For this song we have to go back to February 16, 2008, as that is the day God used this song in my life.  Sometimes when writing a new song I write some of the words and then the rest come during the next few days, weeks, month or even years.  Other times a song just flows and is written in one day-this song is one that took only one day.  In fact, I believe it was completed in just a few hours.

About a week before Jesus Is With Thee came into existence, something had happened that caused me to become very discouraged and want to give up completely on people in Christianity.  I was so down and literally felt like I had no one to talk to or be there for me during this difficult situation.  My mom and sister were in another state taking care of my grandmother, and there was even a family member who was in a disagreement with me about the situation going on at that time; both of which really added to the feeling of no one being there to talk to or stand by me.

Nothing during that time seemed to go right, I'm sure you can related to that feeling!  So I did what I usually do when I'm feeling lost, I started playing the keyboard in my room.  As I played words-and tears- began to flow as I poured my heart out to the Lord.

Verse One

Lord, I’m feeling down again, it seems like I can never win

These words came from a place where I couldn't believe that once again I was facing a situation that was similar to what I'd faced many times before.  It felt like I couldn't win.  I'd stand up and get going only to be slapped down again.  You'd think I would have learned and done something different, but you can't always control situations around you.  It can be so frustrating!  

I just feel so all alone

When we go through a situation where people we thought were our friends and where family seem to disappear and not be as supportive as we'd like them to be, it's easy to feel alone and like no one is standing by us.  Even when you are calling out to God, it seems like He doesn't answer and has also disappeared on you.  

Hence the reason why the questions were asked:

Where are You?

Can’t you hear me calling out Your name?

Verse Two

Lord, it seems like all I do is stumble and fall,

But You’re always there to lift up,

Why should I fear? When I know You’re always so near.

I'm so grateful that the Lord knows that in our flesh we are going to stumble and fall...in fact sometimes I wonder if I'm ever going to stand upright again, but He never fails. 

Just as you would stand over a small child learning to walk-so He stands over us.  You see the child stumble and fall, they look at you with big crocodile tears welling up in their eyes.  You don't even think, your arms stretch out reaching for the small one who needs the help to stand and then you desire to help that little one so much, that you hold them up as they take the tiniest of steps on their journey of learning to walk.  

God does the same for us.  He hurts when we hurt.  He sees the tears and desires to wipe them away and show us that there is nothing to fear.  He is standing besides us and we continue on our life's journey, holding us up, and never leaving our side.

Chorus

While writing the chorus I remember that I lost it and couldn't contain the tears that flowed.  It felt as if God was right in the room holding me and speaking His response to the crying out that was done during the verses.

My child, I am here, you have nothing to fear,

I never left you, but I carried you through,

So when feeling down,

Remember to look around and see,

That Jesus is with thee.

On a side note: When I was looking for pictures to add to the video, I found two pictures that had a rainbow in them.  So when the chorus was sung I inserted those pictures as the first rainbow was given for a reminder to Noah.  Whenever I see a rainbow, it reminds me that God is watching over me and that I can trust in His promises.

Tag 

He’ll never leave you all alone,

He’ll always lead you right….right back home.

 

Just the reminder that God is leading in our lives-especially, if your desire is to have Him lead you.

Just keep walking with Jesus!