On our Side

Country music is alive and well in our home.  From the early songs that some call true country to the newest that attract a huge base of young fans.  Country music videos are T.V. of choice for my dear husband.  Myself, I like a variety of music.  My IPOD contains Mandisa, Travis Cottrell, Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Jr. among other things.   While in my car, pondering my thoughts (I get that from my mom) is how you would usually find me.  Although I must confess, sometimes I just feel the need to pop in Lynyrd Skynyrd and belt out “Sweet Home Alabama” with Ronnie Van Zant. 

The other night, my honey and I were relaxing and, you guessed it, watching country music videos.  On came Rascal Flatts’ video “I Won’t Let Go.”  As I began to take in those words, my heart stirred.  So many of the lyrics remind me of Jesus.

“It hurts my heart to see you cry”  Psalm 56:8 records one of the sweetest verses, “You keep track of all my tears in Your bottle.  You have recorded each one in Your book”.
“I will fight your fight” Are you in a hard fight?  God will fight for you.  Joshua 23:10 says, “Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as He promised.”

Can’t you just hear our sweet Jesus saying those words?  Sometimes it’s hard to understand the depths of God’s love.  Paul talks of that in Ephesians 3:18-19.  It can be especially hard if you have struggled with feeling the love of your earthly father as I have.  Jesus understood.  He left us many verses to assure us of His love.  Matthew 10:-29-31 tells us that nothing happens to us that He doesn’t know and that even the hairs on our head are numbered. 

Have you cried buckets of tears?   Do you feel unloved and unnoticed?  Are you in the fight of your life?  Jesus really does care.  How do I know?  From experience!!!  The more I get to know Him, the more I see and feel His love.  Start asking God to let you “see” Him at work in your life.  Beth Moore, my favorite Bible teacher, calls these “God stops”.  Begin looking back on your day and recording one “stop” from that day.  Don’t get discouraged if all you can think of in the beginning is “a good parking space” like I did!  Keep at it and you will begin to become more and more aware of His presence.  Growing in your relationship with God is a process.  Why not get started today?  He’s waiting.

Well, I’ve talked your eyes off today.  Until we visit again…

Live blessed,
Carmen