Sonship

                           

“For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs- heirs of God and coheirs with Christ- if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:14-17

What does the name of Jesus mean for you?

I loved when I taught preschoolers, and it was kids who didn’t worship God and that name was mentioned and their eyes would light up. Just the mention of the name brought a smile to their faces, an radiant joy that we would always sing about. The simple song, “Jesus Loves Me” would be one I would teach them. But the greater joy would be teaching them about what that meant for their individual lives. Never being alone. Always having access to God. Having his Holy Spirit to guide them and direct their little hearts. Even when they had a hard time listening or being kind to their siblings. The ability to stop and ask Jesus for help because He loved them and wanted that kind of relationship with them. In a way it was such a simple way to teach the truth because we as we get older complicate it so much.

At least I seem to do that, but I would bet I am not the only one. The enemy is just waiting for myself to step in when Jesus says, “Come to me.” Jesus desires to lead me in every way and I choose some of that leading. And I can’t count the times I allow fear to step in. He allows me to be led by His Spirit and sometimes I would rather just lead myself. 

I am in relationship with Jesus and that requires me continuing to listen and allow him to guide me and direct me. I must continue to see myself with IN Christ Jesus. I will create the barriers when I don’t allow Him to do the leading. When I surrender there are NO barriers to what He wants to do within my heart and mind. He is teaching me daily what that means to worship Him alone. A daily surrender. 

But what better teacher? Why would I follow anyone else?

I GET to partner with Jesus. I am a coheir with Christ and share all the spiritual blessings because I am a child of God. I get to receive direction on how to live here down on earth. I GET to be led by the Holy Spirit and some days I just settle for myself.  

What is getting in the way of what He desires? Tell Him. 

Father,

Don’t let us settle for a faith that doesn’t have a passion for you. Help us to linger and learn the deeper meaning of living in relationship with you Jesus. You love us despite our ourselves. This we know. We know this because you love us as a father with unconditional love. Our struggles are because they too can glorify you Jesus. We bear your name Jesus. That is the name above all other names. We belong to you only. Lead us and guide us every day. 

Amen

Live Fully Where You Are

    

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8: 1-2

Sometimes we read the word, and it is that nodding in agreement and other times we allow that Word to soak and wash over us. That is what the Bible was intended to do for us. To show us how to live and help us understand the heart of God. To be in relationship with a Living God that chooses us over and over. A God that chose to come live among us, despised by us, and still chose to come as a man to show us how to live. To show us how to surrender self-life daily.

We have to keep choosing God. Every single day will be that choice to choose my way or His. 

“Keep me safe, my God for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have not good thing.” Psalm 16:1-2

“We are not candles that need to be protected from the wind less be snuffed out. We are fires that the wind should heat up and make hotter.” Matt Chandler

The enemy would love for us to take our testimonies and hide them. He would love for us to stop spending time with the Lord and begin to get distracted and forget. He would love for us to forget that God is with us in the mess. God tells us that nothing is wasted. He says anything apart from that is choosing to listen to the lies of the enemy. “Father, help us recognize that when we choose to believe those lies.” 

That resurrecting power is available every single day we rise. I used to think it was a one time thing. But the truth is it is a continual washing because of the Blood available all the time. Choosing to believe God is in it all and the Holy Spirit will guide us and be with us.

So, what would happen if I believed I was planted in Christ exactly where He wanted me? 

Father,

The enemy wants us feeling condemnation. He wants us living a life of being a slave to our sin. He wants us weak and unmovable. But Father you sent Jesus for each of us so that we could live in the freedom of ourselves. 

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all the wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7

Sometimes Lord we can’t even fathom the sacrifice you made so we can have redemption and forgiveness and the grace you continue to pour out on us. Father we are Living proof of your mercy and the power of the Blood. Jesus with us. 

Mercy of God

             

“For this is what the LORD says: “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you”-this is the LORD’s declaration- “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.” Jeremiah 29:10-11

God continued to shower mercy upon His people despite their unfaithfulness. In their self-inflicted disaster He promised a hope and future and that restoration could occur. The same is true in my life. I deserved so much more but God spared me mercy time and time again. He kept showing up. And what I should have deserved I was spared because He chose that. The discipline I received could have been so much worse. Thank you, Jesus.

How many times has Jesus shown up in your life? 

Jesus showed up in the flesh to display mercy time and time again. Jesus was God’s plan all along even as He continued to rescue His people from themselves. Mercy was present before it was Present. Looking back at the Old Testament has been this reminder of how people turned away from God and God continued to remind them to turn and repent back to Him. The endless cycle of them following other gods is what they shared. They thought they could just add to Yahweh when Yahweh claimed them as His own from the beginning. Instead of delighting in the One true God they chose the empty gods that never satisfied. Nothing was going to fix the sin problem once and for all until Jesus came. Jesus came as Yahweh in the flesh.

One of the biggest things I have seen through all the mess was the promised Messiah to come and save them all.

Mercy was the plan and His name was Jesus. We became redeemed so that we could fully live in the freedom God intended us to live in. We stand redeemed because of the mercy of God.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:22

I love how Jeremiah spoke with the Lord. Even as he witnessed what was happening around him was evil, he couldn’t comprehend his gaze was fixed on God. Jeremiah had hope and remembered. Even as evil was all around him deep down in his soul, he remembered who God was. He had every reason to quit but Jeremiah remained faithful no matter what the cost was.

Satan wants us to fail. I heard a sermon recently that explained how he fights like a boxer. He never fights the same. You can’t expect to know when he is going to come after our minds.  So, expect it. Pray anticipatory prayers that get the soul ready. Jeremiah did that so when the trouble came, he remembered mercy. 

Sit for a minute with Lord and ask Him how He has showed you mercy in your life. 

Father,

You didn’t give us a spirit of fear, and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. Lord, thank you for the freedom we get to receive daily because of Jesus. None of that was deserved we deserved the opposite, but you chose the cross Jesus. Thank you for the mercy, Jesus. Remind us of that same mercy that was shown to us when we become weary and our hearts become troubled. You are a God of Mercy so let our lives live that out. 

Amen

Let It Be So

                

“Yet my people have forgotten me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble in their ways on the ancient roads and make them walk on new paths not the highway.” Jeremiah 18:15 

Spiritual growth is a fight. It will always be a fight not to forget. It will always be a fight to forget who fights for me. It will be a fight to continue to turn my mind to Christ. My mind will always desire to go before God, it will tell me fear and anxiety are normal and to stay there. It will tell me that surrender isn’t what is needed it will want me to fix it myself. And I will always fall short. God never one time asked me to be God. 

He offers me personal submission to His rule. The choice is mine. He offered it back to the Israelites and sent so many others with the same message. It was because they just like I do abandon the belief that He was always what they needed alone and just decided to add Him to the mix. We do it all the time. We might not recognize it, but it looks like trust God and trusting in my anxious thoughts. Or trying to go before God when He clearly tells us to lead. Lord, forgive my waywardness help me rely on you alone.

“Yet LORD, you are the Father; we are the clay, and you are the potter, we are the works of your hands.” Isaiah 64:8

A slow walk through Jeremiah has been a constant reminder of when we put other things above God. They not only fell away from God but from one another. They burned incense to all the other useless gods and the final straw was God releasing them to their sin. Disciplining them in a way that showed Him love. Judgement came and now they were going to see the results of not listening and continuing to turn away. I thought about my discipline I have received from my sin. Or how the Lord continues to work within me now to continue to teach me how to live. He disciplines us because He loves us.

Faithfulness can bring fruitfulness. All along He was teaching the Israelites to live in a way that allowed Him to guide and direct their EVERY step. He does the same for us. He desires that we choose to be faithful to Him alone. But the choice is ours. I can’t be removed from His Hand, but I can choose to allow Him to mold me and make me more like Jesus. We are the works of His Hands. 

Father,

You desire to be near us. You have and always been about giving us that access to be near you and did that through Jesus. Spiritual growth is a fight but knowing that you fight for us gives us permission to submit and allow surrender to happen. Surrender brings peace. Surrender brings you Reign and Rule within our hearts and minds. The choice is ours Lord. Each and every day is opportunity to start again. Let it be so Lord that you would be known so that others can know you Jesus.

Amen

The Unseen

                 

“For my people are fools; they do not know me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good.” Jeremiah 4:22

They called Jeremiah the weeping prophet. I am beginning to understand what that means as I learn about what he saw and experienced. This was during the time that the many kings ruled and around him grew eviler with each king. Some kings offered glimpses of a turnaround but then the people went back to what they knew. It had reached their hearts. It was spilling over from their hearts into every area of their lives. They were called to be devoted to the Lord only, but they thought adding to Yahweh would be ok when the truth was it kept them in captivity. 

Why do you think the Lord talks about the heart so much? We can’t see it. 

That is where it started for me. It was not guarding my heart that led to my slippery slope of sin. It wasn’t something others could see early on just allowing those little lies to begin within my heart. “Just this one time.” No one can see me making this choice and then I just stopped listening to God and started to allow my actions to flow from my heart. I thought just like the Israelites I could serve both. We cannot live a double life. We can’t just dabble with a little sin. The heart that the Lord places within us is designed to worship Him alone. And every day will be the battle to choose what we allow in our hearts. And just like the Israelites didn’t know God because they didn’t know the heart of God, I was the same.

I read today that Satan wants me oblivious and God wants me vigilant. Oblivious leaves me wandering just waiting to be swept up in my own desires. Not really looking for something to catch me off guard just looking all around at the pleasures of the world. Vigilant makes me remember to stand guard. One of the definitions I found was being watchful and attentive to potential danger or trouble. There is so much danger around the corner. 

“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” Proverbs 4:23

This is one of my favorite verses. I used it as a young mom with my girls and still hold it close today as a reminder. My heart is something that you can’t see but allowing things to take root can be seen in my actions and words. All of my prideful and unrighteous thoughts that come into my mind. Am I going to allow them to take root? Am I going to entertain them? Or am I going to remember to remove them and cast them at the feet of Jesus? “Father take this anger and replace it with love.” Father take my prideful heart and help me to remember what you brought me from.” 

What could the Lord be placing upon your heart that doesn’t belong there? Give it to Him. 

The Lord wants to know what is in our hearts. It is perfectly fine with Him when we are honest about our feelings. He created us with them and expects us to be honest with Him. It is only when I begin to acknowledge them that He can begin to work. 

Master,

Be Master over our thoughts and actions. When something is put before you Lord call that out in our hearts and minds. Jesus help us stay rooted and grounded in you. Give us a steadfast mind and spirit to walk in your ways. Demolish strongholds that stand in our way of allowing you all of it. 

Guard our hearts, Lord. The unseen is where you love to work. So that you may be glorified in all we say and do King Jesus.

Amen

Love Lifted Me

              

“Now if you will continually listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:5-6

God’s plan all along was Redemption.

Someone on the app I join every morning started writing the lyrics to the song, “Love Lifted Me.” An old hymn that began to spark memories of my grandparents. Some of the lyrics are, “Love lifted me when nothing else could help love lifted me. I was sinking deep in sin. Very deeply stained within. But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry from the waters lifted me now safe am I.” My grandparents are in Heaven with Jesus but the memory of them lives on. Their lives were lifted out of despair, addictions and emptiness only because of Jesus. The Love of the Father that carries on through generations because of the lives they lived. Nothing they could deliver themselves from but only by the Power of the Living God. They lived their lives in obedience to God and because of that I was changed. And my dad was changed, and his siblings were changed and the grandchildren. Jesus gave them a new heart and new spirit to live in a way that changed generations after them. Their legacy carries on.

He was their Prosperity. That word often brings to mind wealth and financial stability. That I know of they didn’t have that they had something much greater. They thrived and were successful because they chose to live for Jesus. I hear their life before Christ was one full of pleasures that didn’t satisfy and if it had continued on that way things could have turned out much different. I am sure the enemy would have loved that. Yet, God kept showing up IN the heartbreak like He did with the Israelites. He kept showing up in their lives and I would love to hear that story of redemption one day when I see them again. 

The choice was there for them just like it is for us. Choosing a relationship with Jesus to rule and reign our hearts or choosing to keep following our own desires. Thank you, Jesus, they chose you.

“WHO you worship determines HOW you act. And HOW you act reveals WHO you worship.” (Kyle Ranson)

As I read this following statement this morning it immediately stood out. Maybe those words in bold began to speak to my heart but it was especially that word reveal. The Lord reveals so much in and through His word alongside others that He places in our lives. And in the middle of my grandparents struggles I know that God was continuing to reveal His heart and their need for a personal Savior. I don’t remember a whole lot about my grandparents, but I do remember their love for Jesus. I knew they lived for Jesus. Now they live WITH him. 

Father,

You are full of compassion and unfailing love. Worship is one of those words that is starting to bring to mind a heart posture. Our lives were made to worship you alone. We are you Treasured Possessions living here in this world sent to teach others how to worship you Jesus. Just as the Israelites we are putting things before you every day. Remove those things. We are living for you King Jesus. Lead us Holy Spirit in all we say and do. Let our actions flow from hearts that are completely devoted to you alone.

Amen

More Than Conquers

        

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11

Someone asked me the other day how I got to a point of being transparent. I know God has always given me a gift of encouragement, but something happened when I began to realize the power of His Word and how it transforms our minds and hearts. Maybe that is the love to write. Seeing His written word and the powerful truths behind it and how He backs it all up is something is something I can’t escape. Everywhere I look and spend time in His word is the reminder of His great love for us. How we continue to dismiss it and choose to listen to the voice of the enemy instead of the voice of the Lord is seen all throughout the Bible and my life. Jesus led a transparent life. He always pointed them back to the Father. And regardless of how he was treated He chose to live his life sinless and blameless.  The plan God chose for all mankind was for Jesus to show us how to live. 

Yahweh’s instructions were embedded in a loving relationship. It was always about the relationship. Jesus taught his disciples how to live by living a life that was authentic, but he did it without sinning. My life is lived in a transparent authentic way because of that example of a love that I will never fully understand. 

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1

 Jesus was led. The devil didn’t lead him, God led him. Nothing the enemy does is done without the permission of God. Nothing. God always goes before us and is with us in EVERY single battle we face. Day in and day out. 

“You have one life, live it.” Brian Tome

This was at the end of a longer quote but it went down in my notebook. As I was getting ready to leave to go be with some middle schoolers I left with a reminder of what this is all about. Nothing that I do and everything that the Lord does within me. Putting on the FULL armor so that when the enemy comes, I am ready. Remembering because of Christ I am fully equipped with the Living Spirit to empower me. A reminder that I called to live in One Spirit with Christ. 

Father,

You will take us through places that are hard. We don’t have a spirit of fear, we have a spirit that produces joy, and peace even in those places we want to run and escape from. Your word encourages our hearts and minds to keep believing and praying because we have received Sonship and we are more than conquers because of Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for the cross. The cross is what paid our freedom to lives our lives as One with you Jesus. We are more than because of your Spirit Jesus that lives in us. In what is your life and death that we can continue to live together knowing our purpose is to glorify you in everything we do and speak. Thank you, Jesus. 

Whole Healing

           Whole Healing

“Go proclaim these words to the north, and say, ‘Return, unfaithful Israel, this is the LORD’s declaration. I will not look on you with anger, for I am unfailing in my love. This is the LORD’s declaration. I will not be angry forever.” Jeremiah 3:12

The words were once again placed on Jeremiah’s heart to proclaim to people that had turned their back on God. This chapter is told in a way that of a covenant marriage. As I have seen throughout God’s word what a marriage is supposed to be, this was a reminder of broken vows. The faithful became unfaithful because of broken vows. It has always been about the relationship. God desires a unbroken relationship with us. The words return to me continued to jump out today. To return to the Lord.

It is one thing to turn and not turn towards God. For years I spent time telling the Lord, “This time I will do better.” only to go back to what was familiar. Trying to fix myself instead of allowing the Lord all of it. Allowing Him to be the Healer.

“Healing requires humility and a change of your normal operating procedures. But it’s worth it.” Caleb Mathis

As this was shared as a scripture reflection today the words humility AND change once again leaped off the page. In order for true healing to occur it is that exchange that must be made. I could continue to muster up all my strength and try harder to live for the Lord OR I could allow Him to meet me in my mess. I could continue my old ways OR I could begin to surrender it all to Him. I eventually allowed Him to meet me in all  it and God wasn’t surprised. I believed the lie for many years that I had to have it cleaned up before I came to Him but the truth is that complete healing occurs when I meet Him in my mess. That is when He showed me grace and mercy.

“This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13

God is not surprised by our lack of faithfulness, He wasn’t back in the Old Testament and He isn’t surprised by anything He sees today. But God will always remain faithful! We can deny His faithfulness but that isn’t a possibility for God He is faithful until the end. He is faithful despite our unfaithfulness. But just as Caleb said this morning, It is so much better living for Jesus who completes us. The whole healing is because of the life Jesus gave for us. Every. Single. Day.

Father,

You are faithful. You are trustworthy. Remind us when we start putting things before you that don’t give you that full reign in our hearts and minds. Thank you that we get to SEE when you take unfaithful and make it faithful around us! Humble our hearts and minds daily. We return and acknowledge we are nothing without you Jesus. Thank you for the reminder as we live in this world that you still reign. Thank you for living among us so that we can experience joy and live for you only. Thank you Jesus.

Amen

God is our Rescuer

              God Is Our Rescuer

“Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.” Daniel 6: 21

For the second time in Daniel God shows up in a powerful way that others witness. Even as the enemy continued to threaten Daniel the Bible says he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted God. “He rescues and delivers; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for he has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:27

I was walking today. I have shared before walking will always be one of those things having MS that will challenge me in so many ways. The goal this time is to be able to walk around campus with a bunch of middle schoolers in the middle of summer and remain steady.  One of the things I have repeatedly experienced so far is walking and MS in the heat don’t mix well. It will get harder the longer the distance and the heat can intensify all reactions that occur. Kind of like my brain and body will  forget how to cooperate. So it is once again time to build endurance and teach my brain and body to cooperate. Here is what I have recognized about the enemy. Anytime we are growing closer to the Lord he will try and distance us from that. And walking is time I spend leaning into the Lord. God gets ALL the glory and he doesn’t like that. I want to go to this camp because of an opportunity to be with middle schoolers. This is the hardest way I have served the Lord but I know because of that He is growing me to trust Him more. Middle schoolhoolers have a whole different language and a way of seeing things. I want to go so I can encourage, pray, and be a part of their lives. I know what that feels like to be that kid who thinks that no one understands and I want to help them to know the One True God and what that means to live for Jesus. 

What do you think the enemy thinks about all that? Will it be an easy road? NO way. He is going to attempt to distract me, wear me down, discourage me, and tell me lies. I sat in training for camp this last week and had the opportunity to receive prayer so, I took it. Anytime we are doing something that isn’t about us we will begin to hear the lies. Mine were “People will think you are so weak” and “What happens when you can’t do things and have to sit down?” No doubt I was hearing all these lies as I was walking when it started to get challenging. I felt the Lord say, “Where do you need me to shut the lions’ mouth?” And I just started telling Him all of it.  I know that the Lord isn’t asking me to do all that He is asking me to show up and be Present. But sometimes that doesn’t stop the lies.

Daniel distinguished himself because he had an extraordinary spirit. He refused to worship anyone other than the One True God.  The Bible says Daniel,  “went into his house and opened the windows in the upstairs room and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Before the outcome. He kept on going. I wonder what he felt as the ordinance had been signed to be killed? Evil thought it had won but Daniel kept praying and giving thanks.

Where do you need the Lord to shut the lions mouth? Get on your knees and tell Him and give thanks. 

Father,

There is something that happens when we kneel down before you. It is a heart posture that becomes a reminder to lower ourselves above your Authority. When we bow we allow you to take up what is rightfully yours. You rescue and deliver. You redeem and restore. You rescue us from the power of the lions. Forgive our waywardness restore our hope to you alone Jesus. 

Amen

Ordinary Faithfulness

     Ordinary Faithfulness

“He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.” Ephesians 1:5-6

Sometimes the Lord seems so silent and the noise increases. 

There is something that has seemed to take over at this time. The cicadas have returned and they are everywhere! When you walk you step on them or they might fall on you. We live with lots of trees in our backyard and all you have to do is step outside and you hear the constant noise. This morning I was grocery shopping, I got into the car and had one on my leg. The unexpected bug seems to be everywhere you look.  I have a neighbor that isn’t a fan and even as she tries to avoid them she will encounter them just doing her everyday ordinary things. I’ve see pictures on Social Media of people wearing them, holding them, and even heard of people who have dogs that love to eat them. There is no avoiding them at this time. Sometimes that is how I feel about the war within my heart and mind. Some days it is a quieter hum and other days it is so loud.  As much as I don’t care for cicadas it has me thinking about how the Created created them and as much as He values all creation His most prized possession is us. 

It is pretty crazy thing to think that the same God who made those cicadas is the same God that created heaven and earth. And that same God decided to adopt us as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. Knowing our character He still chose that. He still chooses that. Even when we forget and He knows that we forget. Nothing surprises Him.

The cicadas will soon be gone but the constant mercy of God never ends. I love that word Beloved. Beloved speaks of chosen ones. A deep affection, we receive special status because of Jesus. Children of the Most High God. And the constant mercy is received from Jesus the Savior of the world. His Holy Spirit lives within us to remind us we aren’t alone. We are unconditionally loved by God through Jesus.

As strange as the cicadas have been to come from nowhere it has been a reminder of the distraction they bring and the noise I can choose to praise in the noise.  And when it is silent it is a choice to believe. Because the silence is building my faithfulness. The noise is building my resilience to withstand what comes at me. Eventually it will get quiet again and those are times I will probably forget or become undisciplined. The Creator created us to worship Him IN noise and IN the chaos because He is IN it all. 

Father,

You created us to worship you alone. We are your Beloved chosen in Christ. When it gets really noisy remind us that your Presence is in the noise. It is because of your glorious grace that has been lavished on us that we can live in the freedom of knowing no matter what you are with us. Turn our eyes towards you Jesus. Keep our focus on eternal things. We praise you for the difficult things because we know that produces your strength within us. You are Worthy of all our praise. You are Holy, Righteous, and Good beyond belief.  Renew our faith when doubt is crippling. 

“I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelations 5:13

One day we will praise you forever in Heaven but until then we will choose to keep praising you in the unknowns. We will choose to praise you the struggles. We choose to praise you in the quiet. 

Amen