Your Faithfulness

Through the trials we've experienced the last few years, we naturally have many questions as we go through them. We don't like the trials and tribulations because they can bring us pain physically, mentally, emotionally.....

But in going through these difficult times, I have learned what others have said about going through trials... that you come out stronger and closer to God. And when I say stronger, I refer to relying on God's strength. You sure don't feel strong in the middle of your trial, but if you continue to reach out to God and rely on Him to help sustain you through those tough times, He gives you the strength to get through them and you come out stronger in the end.

The battles that we face don't just usually have an affect on one person, but on anyone surrounding the one(s) going through their war. Take Blake, for example. He is the one battling the Crohn's Disease. It's his body that hurts and aches and suffers in a physical sense. It also wreaks havoc on him mentally and emotionally as well. But his battle with Crohn's also affects others: me, his Mom; and Jon, his Dad. It affects his brothers, Jake & Jared. It affects our homelife and the way we try and lead our lives. It affects the grandparents and the aunts and uncles and cousins. It has reached out it's long arms and affected Blake's friends, co-workers, church family, school mates, teachers, community folk.........

The one thing that remains constant through the trials is God's faithfulness. He is always with Blake.... always..... even times when the rest of us can't be there for him. God has His plan for Blake's life, and for our lives. We don't know what tomorrow brings for us. Realistically, we don't know what is going to happen an hour from now.

But God does.

And it is up to us to reach out to Him and fully rely on Him whole-heartedly.... to know that HE.IS.FAITHFUL no matter what tomorrow holds.

On August 22, 2010 Blake took his spindly little body up to the platform at church, grabbed his guitar, and played and sang a song as a testimony that is possibly one of the most beautiful songs I've heard.

I want to share that song with you.

Unfortunately, I do not have a video camera that I could tape Blake singing it. But I did get some photos of him. In the video below, you will hear the voice of Brian Doerksen singing the song "Your Faithfulness". I have posted the words under the video, which I encourage you to follow along while Brian sings. There are no pictures in the video, only sound.

Blake.... you don't think you can play the guitar very well, and you don't think that you can sing very well (and we all disagree with you!); but I will tell you that the Holy Spirit moved in you that morning and blessed many many people. I can't listen to this song without shedding tears as I think about the struggles you have been through. I am thankful that at such a young age you are able to rely on Jesus to help you through your battles. I've said this before, and you've heard it in The Isaacs' lyrics: "there's not a battle that I cannot win, we've already won the war". Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. We're so proud of you.







[Please scroll to the bottom of the blog page and hit PAUSE on the blog music before starting the video.]










YOUR FAITHFULNESS
Sung by Brian Doerksen


I don't know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing or filled with longed for things?
I don't know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness



I don't know if these clouds mean rain
If they do, will they pour down blessing or pain?
I don't know what the future holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness



Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother's tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness



I don't know how or when I'll die
Will it be a thief, or will I have a chance to say goodbye?
No, I don't know how much time is left
But in the end, I will know your faithfulness



When darkness overwhelms my soul
When thoughts and storms of doubt
Still I trust You are always faithful, always faithful



Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother's tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness



I don't know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing, filled with longed for things?
I don't know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness

Psalm 8 - How Majestic!

Psalm 8



(New International Version)
A psalm of David.








O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.









From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.








When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,







what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?






You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.







You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:








all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,









the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.








O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!






(all photos from Google Images)

One Minute Sermon

My cousin Brenda (Hey Cuz!) posted this video called One Minute Sermon on Facebook this evening, and I just had to share it with you.



Tamara Lowe - Christ Fellowship - One Minute Sermon



You might want to watch it again! There's a lot of information packed into a very short time period.

I don't know anything about this lady or anything about the church where she is speaking...... I just liked what she had to say and thought I'd share it since Cuz'n Brenda was kind enough to share it with me.

So enjoy. And pass it on.

And that's all I've got to say for tonight. Shocking, I know!


(More updates on Blake's health on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.)

What Faith Can Do - Kutless

You don't need to read any words from me; the lyrics say it all.
(Lyrics are posted below video.)

Enjoy.




What Faith Can Do - Kutless
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7elxC8LXfzE )


What Faith Can Do
Everybody falls sometimes
You gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think its more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know

And don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
But it'll be all right

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing


Overcome the odds
When you don't have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It will tell you that you can