Serving The Lord With Gladness

The title of my blog is “serving the Lord with gladness”. If I was honest with you I would have to admit that my service the past year has been more grumbling than gladness. Our family has spent most of the winter being sick. We’ve had several strains of the flu, strep throat, tonsilitis, bronchitis, sinus infections, colds, ear infections, and pink eye. I’ve never seen anything like it. This year I was also diagnosed with Grave’s Disease (overactive thyroid). I see an endocrinologist on the 30th of this month. I’m hoping I can get it taken care of quickly so I can have the energy to raise my 3 children. I’m not sure if God is trying to teach me a valuable lesson or if satan is trying to destroy our home and steal my joy.
I believe it’s probably both. I do know that God always works for the good of those who love Him who are called according to His purpose. I also know that my situation in life could always be worse, a lot worse. I could be suffering from an incurable disease, cancer, or death of a child or spouse. I am blessed beyond words; way more than I ever deserve. Needless to say, illness, a colicky baby, and a toddler who still doesn’t sleep through the night has really taken a toll on my life (sanity) this past year. I truly believe in the power of prayer so I have brought all my requests to God both BIG and small. I have seen God answer prayers of mine in the past that were HUGE so when God didn’t answer my “little” prayer to help my baby to sleep through the night I was a little confused. I would politely remind God that He parted the Red Sea and raised the dead so He could easily make my daughter a better sleeper. I know this may seem silly to pray a prayer about sleep, but I’m just not a very happy homemaker when I can’t manage to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. My daughter is now 13 months and has only slept through the night a handful of times. God has bigger plans for me than a good night’s sleep I guess and I trust Him. I believe that God is sovereign. He is in control of every circumstance, both big and small.
In the past I have gone years with the sun shining with no storms to make me want to run for shelter. But I think that’s just it. Storms make us want to run to shelter. Storms for the most part bring us closer to Christ. When my life is nothing but sunshine I sometimes start thinking that I’m doing a pretty good job raising my children and being a Godly wife. But this is pride and God hates pride. He loves us to much to ignore our pride. Almost always pride comes before a fall. Jesus Christ is the ONLY reason that anything good whatsoever comes from me. Without Him, I can try in my own strength to be “good”. I can do all the right things and appear to be a good mother, good wife, and fool myself into thinking I have it all together, but the storms will reveal our true character. Only through and in Christ can we endure storms and continue to have joy and peace. I don’t want to build my life on shifting sand, but on the solid Rock of Christ. A house built on sinking sand has no substance and will crumble as soon as the rain starts pouring down. I don’t want my joy and gladness to be based only on my circumstances because my circumstances will always change. Lord, you are my joy and my gladness. Help me to look to You instead of looking at the storms. Help me to listen to your voice and not the voice of the enemy. Help me to stand on your promises and not try to stand on my own two feet. As the lyrics of song below goes: Refine me Lord through the flames.


Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.





On Christ the Solid Rock lyrics:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

When darkness seems to hide His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.





The Desert Song
By: Hillsong

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow