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This past week, I was reminded of the power of praise in the midst of valleys. It seems like when we’re feeling low, the last thing we want to do is praise God. Yet Scripture is full of commands to do just that.

“Rejoice evermore. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18)

This is probably the hardest passage to apply; yet if you are trying to discern God’s will for your life, start here. Praise has a way of lifting us up out of the valley so that we meet God and can hear His voice. Why stay in the valley of despair if you don’t have to?

I’ve been going through a very dark valley lately so I’m speaking from experience.  However, as I begin to thank God for the good things that He is continuing to do, my burden begins to feel lighter and I begin to see sunlight at the end of the tunnel. Although there are times when we fail to see God’s goodness, there’s never a time when He isn’t good. I think the greatest blessing in trials is that they force us to cling to God’s hand. It occurred to me the other day that if God were a man, I would be crushing His hand right now with how tightly I’m clinging. Slowly but surely, however, I’m lightening up and will once again get to the place where, instead of me fearfully clinging (even kicking and screaming), I’ll be walking beside Him allowing Him to lead me where He will and then that joy will return and I will have a deeper faith and trust in Him which this time is designated to produce.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

“Lately I’ve been longing for Home and my heart is already there.” I can so relate to this lately. I don’t have a death wish but I find that, the older I get, the more I desire to really see Jesus. I don’t doubt that He’s here now – I can feel His presence – but I know that even my imagination cannot begin to describe what our meeting will truly be like.

So many songs I listen to are about Heaven yet “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) I can’t imagine that much splendor and glory but it’s there just the same.

I look around at this beautiful earth sometimes and remind myself that I have a Home far greater than this. However, no matter how beautiful – no matter how big or small my mansion is – Jesus will be what makes it Heaven for me. How I long to see His face and to rest in His embrace. To know I’ve entered by His grace, that’s what makes it Heaven.

This past week, I have been thinking of how blessed I am. God never said, “Come to Me and you will never have a care.” He never said life would be all ease but He did say, “Come unto Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

It’s when I take my eyes off Him that I lose sight of just how blessed I am but the joy that floods my heart when I think of Him is stronger than I can begin to describe. It makes me understand why Jacob would cling to Him declaring, “I won’t let You go until You bless me” but my cry is, “I won’t let You go because I don’t want to walk through life without Your continual blessing!”

Are you depressed and discouraged, or do you have that “joy unspeakable and full of glory”? Let’s make sure we are being faithful to daily count our blessings. As we do, the joy will overflow.

“Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2)

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)

There are so many verses I could quote which mention singing but, as the Scriptures came to my mind this morning, I realized that singing is not a suggestion; it’s a command.

Battles have been won while people sang, folks have been encouraged, but most of all, God is glorified when His people lift their voices in song.

Praise is sometimes referred to as a sacrifice in Scripture, and I think singing is a sacrifice too at times but don’t we owe it to Him? I am thankful that, more often than not, God puts a song on my heart to sing. It’s at those times that the burdens feel lighter, the sky looks clearer, and His presence seems nearer. It’s those times when I want to praise Him with my whole heart because greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world. Satan may want to bring depression, discouragement, and defeat but he can’t because I have a Father who loves me and who won’t let satan touch me. Now THAT is something to sing about!

For those who have read my writings for a while, you may remember my struggle a year or so ago with accepting valleys as from the hand of God and determining to accept them if that’s what it takes to draw me closer to Him.

As I was praying this week, I’ve thought of how far God has brought me and how He continually shows me His goodness and gives me grace for each valley that I face. Sure, there are times I still end up in tears but I’m holding to His hand and I know He’s not going to let me sink to the depths. Somehow, He keeps me looking up and, when I do that, this valley doesn’t seem so large.

As I was praying the other day, I asked God that, when I’m on the mountain and I feel it start to crumble beneath me, if He would send angels to bear me up on their wings. I would love to be able to see the valley but to somehow stay above it and, with His grace, that’s how I would like to live. Sometimes it may be necessary to feel the pain of the valley to be able to better comfort others who are going through the same thing but I want to stay built up so I can encourage those people. Life may be hard but God is so good and I don’t ever want to communicate anything different.

I don’t yet have all the answers but I know everything is for a purpose and I want that purpose to be fulfilled. If it takes a valley in my life to draw others to Him, then I want to be willing to allow that. With Him carrying me I know I can.

I was sitting in Freedom Hall at the National Quartet Convention watching the Booth Brothers when Michael Booth began to sing “Look For Me at Jesus’ Feet.” I remember hearing Gary Sheppard sing that song years ago and I heard Michael sing it last year but this particular evening, I received a mental picture that I would like to share with you.

I picture myself in Heaven slowly strolling the streets, still somewhat dazed, wondering if I’m dreaming and not quite sure what to do with myself.

As I look up, I see Jesus up ahead, smiling at me as if maybe He is also wondering what I’m going to do once reality finally sinks in. As soon as my brain clears and I realize who He is, I run toward Him, throwing my arms around Him and clinging to Him in ecstasy. After a while, I let go and step back, looking into His face once more. The love pouring from His eyes is like none I’ve ever seen. Such an intensity that brings tears to mine.

He smiles as He says, “My beloved child, welcome Home.” He takes my hand and begins to walk back where He had come from. I don’t even think about where we’re headed; I’m just happy to be with Him. He leads me to His throne where He releases my hand and takes His rightful place. In awe, I sit at His feet staring up at Him in amazement that I’m finally there … in Heaven … with Jesus. Wow! Can this really be happening? Suddenly, all my worldly cares are forgotten for all I can see is His face!

I don’t notice the streets of gold; I don’t notice the walls of jasper; I don’t notice anything but Him and I am convinced that if I sit there looking at Him and listening to Him for all eternity, it would not be long enough.

“Sometimes when I’m weary, satan wars with my soul to get my mind off of the cross. Then I start fighting battles Christ has already won in a war satan’s already lost.”

It amazes me how many people are plagued by depression. We have so much to be thankful for, yet we quickly allow ourselves to be drawn down to the depths of despair which, in the words of Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables “is to turn one’s back on God.”

Thankfully, I do not often struggle with depression but I do know the feeling of being low and having to fight to get back into the spiritual place I need to be. Sometimes I feel like I spend a large portion of my life fighting that battle but thankfully I have the best Captain any war’s ever had and He has never lost! In fact, in Christ’s army, the only way to lose is to lay down your armor and not fight.

Regardless of why you are discouraged or depressed, I just want to encourage you to keep crying out to God. He loves you and He hears you. You are in a battle but, with God on your side, you will win this war!

(Song quoted at beginning: “He’d Have to Walk Through the Blood” written by Beverly and Kenny Sexton. Sung by the Freemans.)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

I’ve wondered at times why we don’t see more souls coming to know God. With everything Christ has done for us and everything He has to offer, why aren’t more people willing to embrace and receive Him? I feel like it is largely due to our lack of witness. Sure, we may give out tracts and explain what they need to be saved but are we really living a life that the world would like to live? Is it obvious that we have something that they can’t live without?

Jesus told us to let our light shine. Are we doing that? I picture a city that doesn’t know sunshine. It is pitch black and everyone gropes around aimlessly. Finally a light appears in the middle of town and people become drawn to it. They begin to see how dirty and bruised they are from running into things and beating each other up. Now that they can see, they notice a stream nearby where they begin to clean up. Sure it will take a while for their bodies to be totally healed and for every bit of dirt to come off but at least they have a start.  That is the affect that Christians should have on unbelievers. We should radiate with Christ’s joy and His peace and love so that others desire what we have, that they know their life is worth nothing but they desire what Jesus has to offer.

Yes, satan is alive and well, but I don’t see him as the biggest deterrent. Are we truly letting our light shine so that others can see Jesus and know what they are missing if they don’t accept Him?

For those who have figured out that I often write on the same theme over and over, I tend to write on what God is doing in my life and, right now, love and care for others seems to be a major part of what God is speaking.

I was reading First Corinthians 13 yesterday morning and was struck again by the importance of loving others. People are the only “thing” we take with us to eternity and it seems like we so often take them for granted.

How can we begin to see people not as problems, but as souls who Jesus died for? It begins with allowing God to change our heart. He is the only One who truly knows how to love others but He’s happy to show us if we would surrender our feelings and emotions to Him.

Relationships are work but they are worth it. How hard it is to stand alone during a crisis; yet, how wonderful when we have others to help lift us up and stand in the gap. How nice to have an arm around my shoulder and to hear a kind word when I’m going through a difficult time. Yet, how many don’t have that!

I just returned from a two-week road trip and, although really tired, I feel rejuvenated by the love God poured out on us through various Brothers and Sisters we had the opportunity to fellowship with. My prayer is that I would not hoard that love but that I will give the love that I have received out to others so that I have room in my heart to receive more. His love is never ending, and I pray we never stop allowing His love to flow through us.

Do you ever feel unloved? I have to admit that, although God has blessed me with a wonderful family and some great friends, there are days satan begins to mess with my mind to question whether or not I really am loved. It amazes me that, during those times of self-focus and self-pity, God often takes the time to remind me that He loves me and He has never left me, and I realize that, if God is for me, who can be against me? No weapon formed against me will prosper because I am loved by a KING!

As I ponder how easy it is to feel lonely and unloved and how rampant, therefore, depression and discouragement are, I begin to think that part of the reason so many people feel that way is due to how hectic our lives have become. It’s easy to become too busy to let people know how much they mean to us. Brothers and Sisters, this should not be. What happened to lifting up the hands that hang down and strengthening the feeble knees?

The Downings sang a song which said, “Lord, I Just Want to Know That You Still Love Me.”  I think that is what so many long for but, often, the way they feel that love is through you and me who know Him. Even our churches are filled with unhappy, depressed people. How can we spread His love if we’re not feeling it ourselves?!

No matter how much a human tries, he or she cannot fill a void that is there because of the absence of Christ. However, if you are a  Christian who feels empty and alone, I would encourage you to focus on drawing near to Him who loved you enough to suffer a horrendous death for you. Until you feel His love, nothing else will satisfy. Then ask God to show you who you can encourage and who you can show that you love them. As you express love, you will feel even more of His love.

If you are not one who struggles with feeling unloved, it may be harder for you to understand the loneliness others feel but ask God to give you compassion and to show you who may need a kind word or a smile. You may just be the person God chooses to use to spread His love.