A night to Remember...

Have felt so uninspired lately. It never ceases to amaze me that right when I choose to say "Bring it on, Lord- I want to grow!" He actually does, and I curl up in a ball and whine about it. My last post was about "choosing the town", walking alongside hurting people through a fallen world- and I have now spent the last 3 weeks wishing I was in the meadows...alone...and peaceful. What a dork.

Eventually I will finish the 5 posts I have started over the last few weeks, when I can be sure I won't sound so depressed you institutionalize me or so jaded you excommunicate me. In the mean time, tonight was a night I want to remember, because God reminded me so clearly of the assurance I have, and it felt good.

I read the other day a story about a blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, in the 1800's who wrote one of my favorites, and I remember thinking at the time how amazing it was to hear her say "when I see His face". How much more meaning does the word "see" carry for a woman who has never "seen" a face? In the same way, how much better do we see the blue sky after a week of clouds? Or enjoy the coolness of a lake after a day of sweating and manual labor? I know in my head that we see our blessings best through struggle, but my humanness would prefer not to struggle.

Tonight, thinking about the uphill battle so many have- God reminded me that the only way to get that amazing "mountain top view" is by hiking the hill, through sweat and tears sometimes. Fighting hard, and never quitting or turning back. And I know it will be so worth it.

If you have time, go check out the full verse of this hymn, Fanny was kind of a genius. Below I posted my favorite part though, "But purer, and higher, and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see." I hope whatever battle you are facing, you remember that Jesus has assured you a glorious, bright future if you trust Him.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see." Fanny Crosby Blessed Assurance

"Our light and momentary troubles are ACHIEVING for us an eternal glory that FAR outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17
(Pics are from our Christmas tree hunt. We were really roughing it. Walked about 10 feet from the car, made the kids do all the work, drank hot cocoa. My kind of Christmas tree.)