Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry….He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God.”       
Psalm 40: 1, 3 (TLB) 

“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”             
Psalm 34: 17 (NLT)   

“The Lord is my shepherd….”       
Psalm 23: 1a (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”       
Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV)

What do we do when our world seems gone?       

I suspect we have all felt as though that has happened in our lives. Or have seen others go through those moments.  

Or maybe we will feel that may happen to us, someday.

When that person who was always the light of your life is gone.

When the calling, career, and purpose of your life seem gone.

While the spring in your step loses its spring.  

The sparkle in your eyes grows dim, and the smile on your face turns upside-down.

And the fire in your heart is drowned out in a flood of uncertainty, missteps and regrets, disappointments, and failures.   

And as a result, you discover that the song you hold in your heart is out of tune.  

And the joy and hope of the vision you embraced for your todays and all your tomorrows—now seems empty. 

Or put this on your plate for a moment—all of that has invaded the world of someone else you know, or who has “coincidentally” come before you.

What do we do when our world is gone? When it seems that all the joy, hope, and light of our lives are gone.

Stay lost, empty, joyless and without hope of the vision for our future.  

And in the case of someone else—allow them to stay lost, without joy, hope or a vision for their future?

Or maybe we can—look to God. Both personally, or on behalf of others who God brings before us, as we focus on these scriptural promises, and— 

Claim God’s assurance of His presence— “I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry….He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God.”  Psalm 40: 1, 3 (TLB)  

Take comfort in the reminder that— “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”  Psalm 34: 17 (NLT)

Lift your head to see that— “The Lord is my shepherd….”  Psalm 23: 1a (NIV)

Look up to hear the Lord remind you of the life still before you— “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV)

And as Whitney Houston reminds us to do in the song “I Look to You” with these words of reminder—

“As I lay me down, Heaven hear me now.
I’m lost without a cause after giving it my all.
Winter storms have come, and darkened my sun.
After all that I’ve been through, who on earth can I turn to?…
About to lose my breath, there’s no more fighting left.
Sinking to rise no more, searching for that open door
And every road that I’ve taken led to my regret.
And I don’t know if I’m gonna make it.
Nothing to do but lift my head.
I look to You, I look to You.
After all my strength is gone, In You I can be strong.
I look to You, I look to You.
And when melodies are gone,
In You I hear a song, I look to You.”

When our world seems gone, look up.

When joy and hope seem gone.

Look to Him. Now, always, and forever. 

In His Name–Scott

You will be blessed by this video of Whitney Houston as she sings “I Look to You.”