How Firm A Foundation

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

“...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”   Hebrews 13:5b

I especially love to hear Fernando Ortega sing this hymn.  He sings it in a heartfelt, worshipful manner.  I can almost hear him comforting me and others like me who simply need to be reminded of the powerful Presence of the Lord in the lives of His children.  This is a strengthening hymn to me as I recall the faithfulness of my Lord.  There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can happen that can come between my Lord and me.  He is my firm Foundation and I will build my house upon the Rock.  

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

May this hymn encourage the children of God and shower them with His peace and grace always.  

Be Still And Know

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  Psalm 46:10-11

Another one of my favorite hymns... and especially appropriate for this time in my life. 

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

May I forever sit at His feet and wait for His perfect ways and timing.  It is so humbling to be His child.  Makes me speechless when I think about Him and His gift of salvation in my life.  I am in such awe of Him.  I love Him...  

Be Thou My Vision

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”  

Psalm 105:4

“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.”

This song means so much to me.  It is my plea to my Lord to keep my face turned toward Him and be all that He wants me to be so that He may be glorified in all that I am and do.  Each time that I hear it, I renew my vow to Him to serve Him always.  May it forever be so.  

The Next Step

Well, I finally heard back from my neurologist’s office.  The next step is going to UAB in Birmingham to consult with a vascular neurologist there.  I was told that my neurologist here thinks that botox injections will give me relief from my constant headache.  First will come a consultation with the new neurologist, then, if it is decided that they would help, a series of three botox injections over time.  Not crazy about this idea... but the Lord has told me otherwise.  He has spoken to me in His Word.

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”  Lamentations 3:24

“... I will never leave you or forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5

“Shall I not drink the cup which my Father has given me?”  John 18:11

“For I have come down from Heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him Who sent me.”  John 6:38

“Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to Whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”  Jeremiah 42:6

“My grace is sufficient for you.  When you are weak, My power is made perfect in you.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

“Peace I leave you; My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  John 14:27

Am I scared?  At first I was extremely upset and frustrated about the lack of answers yet.  Now, after hearing from the Lord, I am more settled and I know He will see me through no matter what comes in all of this.  Yes, I’m surrendering it all to the Lord.  I don’t know what is to come, yet He has placed my feet on solid ground... on Him and His promises.  May His will be done.