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Monday, November 28, 2011

Visionary Monday ~ cisterns of counsel and teaching






“Get books into your houses, when you have not the spring near you, then get water into your cisterns; so when you have not that wholesome preaching that you desire, good books are cisterns that hold the water of life in them to refresh you.... So when you find a chillness upon your souls, and that your former heat begins to abate, ply yourselves with warm clothes, get those good books that may acquaint you with such truths as may warm and affect your hearts.”
—Thomas Watson (1662)

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~ Charles W. Eliot

To sit alone in the lamplight with a book spread out before you, and hold intimate converse with men of unseen generations – such is a pleasure beyond compare. ~ Kenko Yoshida


“Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”

Francis Bacon, 1561-1626

Friday, November 25, 2011

Eucharisteo

Excerpts from One Thousand Gifts that are carrying His light and joy into my soul:

All my eyes can seem to fixate on are the splatters of disappointment across here and me.
I don't need more time to breathe so that I may experience more locales, possess more, accomplish more. Because wonder really could be here - for the seeing eyes.
So - more time for more what?
The face of Jesus flashes. Jesus, the God-man with his own termination date. Jesus, the God-man who came to save me from prisons of fear and guilt and depression and sadness. With an expiration date of less than twelve hours, what does Jesus count as all most important?
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them..." (Luke 22:19)
In the original language, "he gave thanks" reads 'eucharisteo."
I underline it on the page. Can it lay a sure foundation under a life? Offer the fullest life?
The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning "grace." Jesus took the bread and saw it as a grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks.
But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning "joy." Joy. Ah...yes. I might be needing me some of that. That might be what the quest for more is all about - that which Augustine claimed, "Without exception...all try their hardest to reach the same goal, that is, joy."
I breathe deep, like a sojourner finally coming home. That has always been the goal of the fullest life - joy. And my life knew exactly how elusive that slippery three-letter word, joy, can be. I think of it then again, that night if nightmares, the flailing, frantic, moon-eyed lunge for more. More what? And this was it; I could tell how my whole being responded to that one word, I longed for more life, for more holy joy.
Deep chara joy is found only at the table of the euCHARisteo - the table of thanksgiving. I sit there long...wondering...is it that simple?
Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?
So then as long as thanks is possible...I think this through. As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible. The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now, joy might be - unbelievably - possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now.
I whisper it out loud, let the tongue feel these sounds, the ear hear their truth.
Charis. Grace.
Eucharisteo. Thanskgiving.
Chara. Joy.
A triplet of stars, a constellation in the black.
A threefold cold that might hold a life? Offer a way up into the fullest life?

...I open my Bible, the red pen in hand, hunt down the trail of eucharisteo through Scripture. Where it leads barbs, and I am suprised and I reel.
"On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces..." (1 Cor 11:23-24) Jesus, on the night before the driving hammer and iron piercing through ligament and sinew, receives what God offers as grace (charis), the germ of His thanksgiving (eucharisteo)? Oh. Facing the abandonment of God Himself (does it get any worse than this?), Jesus offers thanksgiving for even that which will break Him and crush Him and wound Him and yield a bounty of joy (chara). The mystery always contains more mysteries.
Do I really want this way?

"One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, and praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:15-16). Yes, thankfulness, I know. Next verse.
Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:17-19)
Wait. I trace back. Hadn't Jesus already completely healed him? Exactly like the other nine who were cured who hadn't bothered to return and thank Him. So what does Jesus mean, "Your faith has made you well"? Had I underinterpreted this passage, missing some hidden mystery? I slow down and dig. I read Jesus' words in Young's Literal Translation, "And {Jesus} said to him, 'Having risen, be going on, thy faith has saved thee.'" Saved thee? I dig deeper. It's sozo in Greek. Many translations render sozo as being made "well" or "whole," but its literal meaning, I read it - "to save." Sozo means salvation. It means true wellness, complete wholeness. To live sozo is to live the full life. Jesus came that we might live life to the full; He came to give us sozo. And when did the leper receive sozo - the saving to the full, whole life? When he returned and gave thanks. I lay down my pen.
(Voskamp, pg 31-33, 36, 38-39)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

My reflections on thanksgiving...

There are two articles/blogs that I came across this week. They set words to this year for me. Words that I am often grasping for and mainly pouring forth in broken sentences of emotion. Thankfully, these ladies are much more eloquent than I in capturing eternal spiritual treasures. These came at such an appropriate time.

The Real First Thanksgiving by Ann Voskamp

God Do Something! by Anabel Gillham

I am learning how to live simply. To live thankfully. To live fully. To live full of Him.

And the life that counts blessings discovers its yielding more than it seems.Why don’t I keep an eye on the number of His graces? Why don’t I want to know that even though it doesn’t seem like there’s been enough rain, He reigns and He is enough and the bounty is greater than it appears? That the thin places might be the places closest to God and the skinny places might be fuller than they seem and who isn’t full with Christ? (Ann Voskamp)

More and more, through every new and deepening trial, I see His hand at work in my life. Set to strike in every place that is not bowed low before Him. Set to push. Set to inflict a pressure. All this only to then set His hand to heal, to bind up, and to hold. Everything in me wants to be done with this. To be through with the "winter" season. But He doesn't withdraw the harshness of this season. It remains. And in it, He wants to make a child of me. Ridiculous? Yes. Everything in His kingdom kind of seems absurd. He wants me to receive the harsness and not just the "sweet" stuff. Yet, I fail to do so....everyday. My patience wears thin into nothingness. But His doesn't. In the seemingly vast nothingness field of my life, I just want to cry and cry. I think that I probably cannot easily recognize the obvious blessings around me because I'm just so intent on crying all the time. The tears blurring my vision. And He counts the tears, reminding me that tears are good for the soil of my heart, and those prayers spoken for those hurting souls in need.
Concerning the passage John 13:15, Maria Von Trapp once wrote, "In His great understanding of human nature He uses the word "become"; unless you become as little children....He knows the way of the world is this: A little one is hardly out of the diapers when he is told approvingly: "But now you are a big boy." When he goes to kindergarten: "Now you are not a baby any more." When he is in the first grade: "Well, you are not in kindergarten any more; you are a big boy now." This goes on until in high school he doesn't have to be told that he is a big boy now. He knows it himself. Then one day sooner or later he will be banged on the head by those words of our Lord, and all the growing up and growing up will not seem like an achievement any longer, but like something which has to be undone. That is when the "becoming" starts. After we have grown up in the eyes of the world, we have to "grown down" in the eyes of the God. We have to. There is no way out as long as we want to go to heaven. Heaven is full of children; Our Lord Himself said so."

Today, I am thankful that He is undoing everything and growing me down.
Today, I'm thankful that I walk with a fully-sufficient Lord who brings life from total death.
Today, He is enough and I love the Lord, oh my Strength.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Visionary Monday ~ symphony


A perfect quotation to follow up my recent post.







To live content with small means,

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion,
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich,
to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly,
to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages,
with open heart,
to bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely,
await occasions,
hurry never,
in a word to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common,
this is to be my symphony.
- William Henry Channing

Saturday, November 19, 2011

A pause

A dear sister of mine wrote something quite significant to me last month. In seeking to glean further fruit from recent blessings in her life, she wrote, "I am still trying to process all that took place...and now I have some more layers of processing to do. I’m really trying to pause (as hard as that is in this season of life) to think deeply and integrate what I have read, experienced, etc. I think that this helps it to “stick” to my mind and heart. It’s so easy to just be moving from one thing to the next (whether books, conferences, conversations, etc.) and not really think deeply about it or to hear/respond to what God is saying in it all."
This made a deep impression me. How many times have I sought to live more slowly, not allowing the flow of everyday life to snatch away my times of reflection and meditation? How many times have I been intentional about thinking over conversations that I had in the past week? How often do I press in to learn more from recent encounters or experiences? While I often do find my mind reflecting on these things, it's usually within the flow of the day, when I'm easily distracted by needs at homes. In addition to abiding with Christ in private, I am learning of the necessity to pause in life. I want to embrace the simple moments and think upon the various circumstances, conversations, and lessons that the LORD is weaving in and out of my life. I look back on my life and feel that I have tried to live too fast. In almost every facet of my life I have pressed too boldly: education, experiences, relationships, and various creative pursuits. The result of such strong pursuits have been wasted energy, time, and emotions, which have all brought a negative impact on my physical health. I remember clearly how, as a young girl, I would plow through everyone and everything that stood in the way of something I wanted. My father would often remark, "Here comes Erika! Don't stand in her way!" While this often carries funny memories, I look back with a bit of sadness on the amount of heart and soul that I poured into everything I sought after. This wasn't always terrible, if that thing was necessary for growth and learning, but in other areas it was quite damaging. It has been to my own detriment and shame that I never sought to glean true gems from merely living, which is, in itself, a divine gift! It comes to no surprise that I am still the same way. The careful, intentional discipline of slowing down to reflect doesn't come easily. But as I begin to see, with more clarity, its affects and influences upon my spiritual/emotional/physical health and relations to others (and how effectively I can pour out to them), I begin to place more value on it.
This past week, I have been doing some reading on holistic lifestyles, mostly in regards to health from a Christian approach. However, in application to every aspect of life, these articles/blogs were inspiring to me. To summarize a definition of holistic living, I found these:

A holistic approach to faith, life, and wellness sees interconnection and integration everywhere—because factors are not fragmented, but are intended to work together and influence each other.

A holistic way of life means that every part of life complements the others instead of competing against them. Rather than one part vying for attention at a given time (though sometimes extra attention is needed), all parts are helped to move in the same direction with interdependence and integration.

As a point of reflection near the end of one of the articles I read, the author concludes: "Ask yourself if your long term desires for good health, for multi-generational relationships, for strength and ability, and for peaceful emotions are being encouraged by your lifestyle habits today."
I sense how very much in the beginning stage I am of gaining God's vision for my future and how He intends to use me, all during a presently busy and, sometimes, intense season of my life. The Lord seems to be slowly pressing in a lot during this season, but it's clear that this time might bring forth some of the richest fruit, through the Spirit, as long as I continue to walk this path of surrender to Him.
There has been array of thoughts that have burst forth from some moments of pause. The musician-artist in me wants to express them in tones or prose, but I feel pressed to sift through them some more. I resolve, in my innermost being, to be Christ-exalting, turning to look for traces of His hand-prints upon the smallest details of my days. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD (Psalm 104:34).

Thursday, November 10, 2011

My recent readings...

I'm so behind on trying to keep up with my recent reading material. However, I decided to pick the three that stood out to me and summarize their main points, as well as my own opinion. I have found it healthy, both for my memory and spiritual/mental cultivation, to review books that I have read. It allows for the wisdom to penetrate deeper, I think.


The Beauty of Modesty {Cultivating Virtue in the Face of a Vulgar Culture} by David and Diane Vaughan
It seems that there are a million books touching upon the subject of modesty. I wasn't particularly in the mood to pick up another one; however, since this title has been on my to-read list since I saw it in the Vision Forum catalogue, I thought I should pick it up. I have never been disappointed by the selections from VF, so it shouldn't have surprised me that I would love the depth of research put into this book! Books on modesty, especially when targeted towards young women, are usually a bit cliche, cheesy, and predictable. While the message is Biblical and encouraging, I tend to find them somewhat repetitive. Though I have a couple of favorites outside of this one, I would definitely place this first in the hands of anyone seeking for a more Biblical view of modesty and the body. I would even recommend it to young men because this book is more of a cultural and Biblical argument for the cultivation of modesty {first in heart and attitude, secondly through dress and demeanor} in a very sensuous culture. Due to the mainstreaming of sexual deviancy today, the authors began to build, chapter by chapter, how the way "we dress reflects our worldview, our spirituality, and our virtue." They began to peel off the layers of certain secular worldviews and thought processes that have overtaken the Church, leniency followed closely by sheer deviancy. In truth, we truly are experiencing the cultural captivity of the church. As John Whitehead noted more than a decade ago: "As a thinking being, the modern Christian has succumbed to secularization. He accepts religion -its morality, its worship, its spiritual culture." And, yet, the modern Christian rejects "the total view of life which sees all earthly issues within the context of the eternal; that relates all human problems - social, political, cultural - to the doctrinal foundations of the Christian faith. As a consequence, the faith ineffectively fails even to minimally raise the ethical standards of the American population." While extreme intellectualism is often a hindrance, it is still to be emphasized that we, Christians, are "thinking beings" and should, through intensive study of the worldviews, be able to recognize and target false mindsets and practices through a logical and Biblically renewed standing. In quoting Gertrude Himmelfarb, the authors aren't afraid to label the succession of intellectual downfall within western culture, and thus been allowed to take root within the Church: "The beasts of modernism have mutated into the beasts of postmodernism -relativism into nihilism, amorality into immorality, irrationality into insanity, sexual deviancy into polymorphous perversity." This "polymorphous perversity" is nice phrase for the utter sexualization of our culture." And this "sexualization of our culture" is forcibly finding its way into the Church, homes, and families, whether it's invited there or not. Through the beginning chapters, they address not only the influence of porn in our society, but also the high crime of adultery seen within the Church. At the same time, they are also sure to address objections and errors to mindsets found within the Body, such as legalism, pietism or subjectivism, Christian relativism, parochialism (all very intriguing - I highly recommend a study on each subject).
After discussing the need for modesty, they begin to provide basis on the nature of modesty. They delve quite deeply into the Word in this section of their book, as well as research from some old Church Fathers. One of my favorite chapters of their book provided a great study into acquiring a Biblical view of the Body, knitting together passages from the Old and New Testaments. Most of this material was a bit repetitive to me, since most of it addressed the reason for the Law, the Gospel, as well as our basic beliefs on man's nature, sin, the flesh, and the Spirit. Nevertheless, it was beautifully laid out and, without a true spiritual awakening and mind renewal of our Creator, ourselves, and the the purpose for which we were created, one cannot move on in the subject of modesty.
Modesty was once defined as "that lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one's own worth and importance. In females, modesty has the like character as in males; but the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor." This definition is truly authentic! However, modesty is really a virtue of our Father's heart, expressed through us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Modesty is that divine loveliness and reserve of a God-fearing, God-honoring, God-dependent heart, which willingly rests in the happy lordship of the One who rules and governs that life to reflect its Maker. I must emphasize "happy lordship" in relation to the governing of our lives by Christ our Lord. It's easy to be super-spiritually pumped about Christ's supreme lordship over our lives, that we're rigid about everything. And, it's also easy to super lenient because His lavish grace. Thus, causing us to be lax in our representation of Him here on earth. I have erred in both, but have, more recently, found much freedom in the "happy lordship" of my Father over my life. His lordship is not a prison, but it's also not like He's letting us loose in a candy shop to pick as we please. In searching out the love of the Father through Christ Jesus, I think we can truly begin to relish His sweet lordship. This is something that the Vaughans carefully devote time to in their writings: growing in a genuine, Spirit-filled relationship with Christ and seeking for Him to be first in our hearts. Out of this flows the delicate virtue of modesty in our hearts and lives. After all, it is only in knowing this Love that "the soul eagerly cleaves to, affectionately admires, and constantly rests in God, supremely pleased and satisfied with him as its portion; that it acts from him, as its author; for him, as its master; and to him, as its end. That, by it, all the powers and faculties of the mind are concentrated in the Lord of the universe. That, by it, the whole man is willingly surrendered to the Most High: and that, through it, an identity, or sameness of spirit with the Lord is acquired -the man being made a partaker of the divine nature, having the mind in him which was in Christ, and thus dwelling God, and God in him." {Adam Clarke}
Lastly, the Vaughans devote the final three chapters in their book to nurturing modesty in homes {not only through dress, but through media, i.e. internet, movies, etc} and the corporate body. As always, application is a great challenge. And yet, the Vaughans aren't afraid to lay down the Biblical overview and guidelines, as well as giving specifics for women. Specifics are important for us as women. We simply should not be allowed to make up excuses or justify this or that. Also, there are many subtleties in dress that many young woman cannot easily discern, but through proper training and discipleship will be able to distinguish. This also pertains to young men as well, but a special emphasis is placed upon the young women in these chapters. I see this also as great material for fathers who need assistance and training in how to properly raise their daughters. The Vaughans are definitely not supporting the super-Puritan and plain-Jane mindset. They make a good argument for a balanced approach to dressing. But, as many young women know today, it does take some extra effort to find modern, comfortable clothing that is pretty and appealing, without it being ostentatious, androgynistic, sensual, or even associated with certain, questionable name brands.
In conclusion, modesty matters. We suffer too greatly without it being cultivated from generation to generation.
It matters to men. It matters to women. It matters to children. And last but not least, it matters to God. Though tossed aside as an ugly old rag of distant culture, modesty is really a beautiful virtue of the finest fabric that never does go out of style. We have only forgotten how beautiful modesty really is. Or perhaps, we have never had the opportunity to look at modest for what it is really worth {pg 11}.

Christians come to church to worship a glorious God, to humble themselves before his holy presence, and to hear his Word, not for display, not to attract notice, not for vain-glory or worldly vanity. It is, therefore, quite out of place for either men or women to make a parade of finery in church. The ornaments best suited for persons professing godliness at all times, but especially when they approach the throne of God, are those of a pure heart and a meek spirit, and an abundance of good works. It is the hidden man of the heart which needs adorning for its access to the court of heaven. ~ A.C. Hervey


Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

I'll admit that I was quite hesitant about picking this one up. I am often wary of popular Christian titles, particularly ones addressed to women. To be frank, I find a lot of them are written in a rather babyish, irritating tone. Maybe I have snobbish tendencies in this regard, but I have an aversion to goofy, Christian self-help books with silly stories to illustrate spiritual principles. Yuck. Okay, I got that out. haha! Thankfully, with my cousin's prodding, I decided to give it a chance. And, I am quite thankful for this book!
The title really says it all. This book is a must-have for ladies who are struggling within their relationship with Christ. Also, it's for that stubborn perfectionist who is constantly on the go, with ten million goals to reach before the end of the week. Joanna gets very practical and, I feel, she covered all bases in seeking to disciple young ladies. She helps her readers to see how unrealistic our expectations are that lead to "servant burnout," as she calls it. In addition, she addresses those fleshly disturbances that come about due to "servant burnout" and lack of abiding in the Vine. Upon defining "kitchen service" and "living room intimacy," she opens up the lessons found in all the passages containing Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, drawing out a deep, steadfast, theological basis for young women struggling through trials, lack of discipline, lack of direction, continual spiritual exhaustion, etc. She captures the spirits of Mary and Martha so well in relating them to the issues that arise for the 21st century woman. For those longing to experience true communion with the Lord in their lives, I would most definitely suggest this book!
Oh, and yes, Joanna had some silly stories....haha! Nevertheless, she balanced them with lots of simple, but profound wisdom. Although the lessons in her book weren't anything new to me, I still found it immensely helpful and encouraging. Sometimes, it's good to have a different voice share the same basic, Gospel truths. There were so many chapters that stood out to me, addressing specific fruits of the flesh that I often find myself wrestling with time and again. Her words are comforting for those who find themselves in seasons or spiritual drought, when the darkness will not lift.
Lastly, I read a review on amazon that stated: "This book takes you from churchianity to Christianity..." I couldn't have summarized it better!

Japanese Version of Psalm 23:
The Lord is my pace setter...I shall not rush.
He makes me stop at quiet intervals.
He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity.
He leads me in the way of efficiency through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day, I will not fret, for his presence is here.
His timelessness, his all importance, will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility.
My cup of joyous energy overflows.
Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours for I shall walk the pace of my Lord and dwell in his house forever.
~Toki Miyashina



Memories Before & After the Sound of Music: An Autobiography

I have a lot of seemingly random selections on my to-read list. This was one of them. However, it's really not so random as I contemplate my renewed love for biographies.
In her book, Agathe Von Trapp chronicles her life from beginning to end, giving the reader a detailed look into the daily lives of the Von Trapp household and adventures throughout the years. All I could think upon completing this book was, "Wow, what a full life!" The Von Trapp family were visionary pioneers. They lived through some rough periods of the 20th century, but their faith in the Lord and character are astounding! And, to top it off, they had some incredible skill sets to to share, which took them all across the world. From sewing, to painting and various art mediums, to singing, weaving, calligraphy, photography, etc, the Von Trapps were artistically-inclined in almost every sphere. Their family is truly inspirational and their story is even far more epic than the story shown in film. You can seek the mark of the hand of God upon their lives in every little detail! And, Agathe's wonderful narrative provides such an intimate look in their lives at home in Austria, as well as during many years of traveling and the challenges that arose from living on the road.
I grew up on The Sound Of Music, thus it's only natural that I should read the true story. Little did I expect it to be so vastly different from the film! I found it interesting to read Agathe's reaction to the film and Broadway musical. It appears that the Von Trapp family were quite appalled by both of them. But while it is disappointing to find out that great liberties were taken in the adaption of their story, it still doesn't change the fact that the film is a classic! Near the end of her life, Agathe describes how she overcame her bitterness and began to accept the film and show due to the genuine fans, whom she greatly adored.
In conclusion, I discovered an intriguing article listing details of the movie and reality that differed: Movie vs Reality: The Real Story of the Von Trapp Family by Joan Gearin
Also, one website that is worth checking out is the Trapp Family Lodge (a mountain resort in the European tradition) that they established decades ago in Vermont. I never even knew such a place existed until reading how they founded it in Agathe's autobiography! Their webpage is filled with information about their resort lodge, as well as details on their family. It seems quite pricey, but the lodge and the surrounding view takes your breath away! I'm sure it's a refreshing resort in which one can learn lots of history.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Still



There is no doubt about it. November is my favorite month out of the entire year. I love the way the sun falls at this time of year and the chill that overtakes you when you step outside. It's not just because it's the holiday season (although, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday). It has to be the feeling of anticipation one gets when looking forward to the new year, coupled with a sense of humbling fulfillment as the present year draws to a close. So much learned and still more to be sought out and experienced! Life is so vastly interesting, trials, struggles, and all! Especially when you're living it through the eyes of Yeshua. I may have a "bad" day every now and then and choose, in my stubbornness, to allow little things to vex me. However, the truth is that, within the next day, God will have enlightened my mind with something wonderfully comforting about that silly struggle or that worrisome burden.
Last weekend, during a short get-away trip to Payson, I was blessed to hear my uncle's amazing worship leading. I sensed the Spirit speaking comfort to my heart through the lyrics of a song, You're Still God. It was written by a British worship leader, Godfrey Birtill. I wasn't particularly wrestling with anything in that moment, but the words certainly calmed my soul. Also, I found that I was able to sing it with hope and confidence, which is something I want to seek to do every day in Him!


Where O where's Your presence O God?
In this dry and weary land
So many people drifting away
How we need to understand...
You're still God
Even when we're unbelieving
Still God
When we're desperate for our healing
Still God, still God, still God.
You're still God
Even when our friends desert us
Still God
Even through the things that hurt us
Still God, still God
So I will be still, and know You are God.

Where O where's Your kingdom O God?
We have let holiness go
So many idols litter our land
We've got to let this nation know...
You're Still God
When the government has no answers
Still God
When the media lowers the standard
Still God, still God, still God
You're still God
When the plans we make are worthless
Still God
When we lose our sense of purpose
Still God, You're still God,
So I will be still, and know You are God.
When will Jesus really be seen
Through the church that bears his name
Agents of his kingdom, his peace
In the world for which he came
You're still God
Even though You were rejected
Still God
Though You were ridiculed, deserted
Still God, still God, still God
You're still God
Though You suffered execution
Still God
You’re alive and Christ our champion
Still God, still God
So I will be still, and know You are God