Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“’No, we don’t,’ Thomas said. ‘We haven’t any idea where You are going, so how can we know the Way?’ Jesus told him, ‘I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of Me.’”
John 14: 5-6 (TLB)“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
II Chronicles 7: 14 (NLT)“There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’…[and] the younger son…squandered his property in reckless living. And…he began to be in need…so he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
But when he came to himself…he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him…”
Luke 15: 11-15, 17, 20 (ESV)“Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.”
Isaiah 30: 21 (NLT)“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
Psalm 121 (ESV)
What are you going through? With no end in sight. Right?
There are those days. There are those times.
Days and times which unexpectedly hit and hurt.
Things happen. Decisions do not work out.
Confused. Anxious. Desperate. Despairing. Looking for answers. But none come.
There are those days and those times where our journey seems like we are going through a dark tunnel, with no end in sight, and darkness is all we see.
Days and times which often turn into seasons, with no light in sight.
And no help at hand, or a hand willing to help.
Times where we may begin to identify with the younger brother in the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.
Where we feel like we are in a pigpen, or may be there soon.
With no way out.
Alone, empty, and without direction.
Richard Smallwood wrote the song “Total Praise” during a dark, exhausting, no-light-in-sight period in his life. He was overwhelmed with grief, stress, anger, and hopelessness caring for his Mother and a dear friend, both terminally ill with cancer.
He began to compose it seeking Divine aid in his despair, but as he began, his heart shifted to complete praise, thanksgiving, and adoration of God, despite the overwhelming period of heartache he was walking through.
Sharing in his song the peace, strength, and reminder of God’s presence and love, always there for us, no matter what we walk through.
Here are the simple, yet profound words of truth he shared—
“Lord, I will lift my eyes to the hills,
Knowing my help is coming from You.
Your peace You give me in time of the storm.
You are the source of my strength.
You are the strength of my life,
I lift my hands in total praise to You…
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen…”
There are those days. There are those times. There are those seasons.
And then like the Father in the story of the Prodigal Son, there is our God.
Praise the Lord. Always and forever.
In His Name–Scott
Be blessed by the wonderful Choir and Orchestra of First Baptist Dallas Church as they encourage us all with their presentation of “Total Praise.” I encourage you to listen as often as you like, the song is a beautiful gift from God, just for you.
