Voyages: August 2013

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

What do you do when your heart's pierced through

And you thought you had no more tears to cry?

What do you do when the ache is so strong

And you thought the longing was over?

What do you do when there's no one to help you

And you feel alone in this life?

When the sorrow's so great.

When the devil's breathing down your neck.

What then.

Hold strong through the fire,

Don't melt in the flame.

Jehovah God is with you.

In the fiery furnace three Hebrews He saved

Because they called on His Name.

Call on Jesus.

He'll carry you through

When you don't know what to do.

Call on Jesus.

He's the anchor in the storm.

What do you do when all hell is against you

Because of the stand you have made?

What do you do when friends forsake

And your family thinks you are insane for believing?

What do you do when it seems all hope is gone

And you'll never live in the light again?

When darkness is calling.

When the sky is falling in your world.

What then.

Hold strong through the fire,

Don't melt in the flame.

Jehovah God is with you.

In the fiery furnace three Hebrews He saved

Because they believed on His Name.

Believe in Jesus.

When you don't know what to do.

Believe in Jesus.

He's the anchor in the storm.

Oh, when the tide is rising.

When the waves are covering you.

When the wind seeks to sway your stance,

Don't let fear overcome you.

Jesus isn't sleeping,

He is waiting for your call.

Let your cry arise

Above it all.

And...

Hold strong through the fire,

Don't melt in the flame.

Jehovah God is with you.

In the fiery furnace three Hebrews He saved

Because they called on His Name.

Call on Jesus.

When you don't know what to do.

Call on Jesus.

He's the anchor.

The anchor in your storm.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Blessings

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the achings of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise

Mmm. Isn't that the truth. The last few lines are words that have been going through my head this morning as I have been seeking the Lord for an answer to a trial. ' The achings of this life is a revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy. ' That resounds within me so strongly because that is exactly what I have felt God telling me throughout the last few weeks. No matter what longings, what trials, what heartaches I have, always lean on Him and serve Him with all my heart. If I serve Him with all my heart, soul, and mind without reservation or limitation, all things will become clear and beautiful in His time. Waiting on Him is the most important thing a follower of Christ can do. You cannot rush God, so why be in a hurry? I honestly don't even feel anxious hardly at all this time. Which is good, because He doesn't want us to be anxious. I only have a deep yearning for truth and answers. I know that every trial and test is for reason. I don't know the purpose right now - I may never know the purpose -, but knowing that there is a definite purpose and that it was scripted to happen before my life ever began gives me such a comfort and rest that only God can bring. It truly is His mercy. Why? Because without trials, we would not become the people He wants us to. Hardships refine us, just as the constant buffering of the waves make a sharp rock into a smooth one that is much more desirable. Hold strong. God is behind, before, beside, and inside each one of His own.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Vancouver Island!

I am finally getting around to posting about my " last day " in Canada! ( Last day is almost correct, as I left just past 6 the following morning. ) I almost didn't get to join in on this amazing experience because I was due to leave around noon that day. BUT when I got wind of what was being planned and how many people were going, I couldn't resist changing my tickets. :D It was SO worth it! We had a really full day. We had all hung out at McDonald's Monday night until really late and then when I went home with one of the girls we were up talking until 2:30ish. Fun, but crazy when you have to get up at five. :D We made it though. Hopped on the ferry sometime around 8ish and got to the island at 10:30ish. Took a doubledecker bus to the city center, walked over to Parliament to have lunch, then whipped over to rent mopeds for the afternoon. !!! :D Almost everyone had their own moped, but there were a few of us that had to double for various reasons. ( Did I mention there was seventeen of us that went?! That meant we rented fourteen mopeds! We caused quite a stir...especially since we girls were doing it in skirts. :P ) It was the most awesome experience ever! We used the mopeds as our transport to different stops on the island. We went to a look-out point, stopped for drinks at a marina place, took a gander at a little lighthouse on the end of a pier, and so much more. 35mph feels so much faster on a little thing like that verses a car. :D
After we turned in our mopeds ( 5pm ), we headed out for dinner. I have no idea who picked the place, but it was a really swanky restaurant! Kinda fun, kinda expensive, but hey, it was good and worth it. ;) Gelato was grabbed as we hot-footed it to the bus that would take us to the ferry. The ferry ride home was the cherry on top. It was so dazzlingly gorgeous that morning as we headed out to the island, but on our way home, the sun was setting and it was the most relaxing, blissful thing ever to be gliding smoothly along in the twilight. :)
I didn't get back to my host family's house until 12:30ish in the morning and I needed to be up at 4am to get ready to head out to catch my bus, so after showering and packing it is needless to say I got much sleep yet again, but I would do it all over again just to be able to be a part of something so unique and exciting. :) :)
And now, the moment you have all been waiting for. Hehehehe. Pictures! I took almost 400 pictures, so there are going to be quite a few to go through below, although I will try to be as selective as I possibly can. :)