Rise Up

Everyone's life is a unique journey, with ups and downs, trials and blessings. When life gets tough we need to raise ourselves up by our boot straps. We need to buckle up and be ready for the ride. We don't know where we are going all the time, but we need to pray for direction and God's will to be revealed. When things are difficult we can pray for peace, pray for grace, pray for wisdom. When we are completely overwhelmed we can literally get down on our knees and just pray, with tears streaming down our face.

The main thing I have learned is God is always good and faithful. We don't like it, but sometimes the answers to our prayers is "No", "Not right now", or He may be silent. God is right there with us giving us grace to deal with our situation, though. His grace will carry us through when we are not sure if we could do it on our own!

He cries with us and his heart breaks, when our heart breaks. He loves us and just like any good Father he would rather us yell and scream at Him, instead of becoming distant, give up on our faith, and/ or our relationship with Him. This verse below, shows how compassionate and empathetic God is towards us when we are upset.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56:8 NLT

You can never be a failure in the Lord's eyes. Remember he created us in His image and sent His one and only Son to earth to die as an atoning sacrifice for you and me. We are already good enough and worthy of His love because we didn't deserve the salvation as we are yet still sinners.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Rise Up" by Andra Day is one of my favorite songs right now. Sections of the lyrics and link to the full music video are below. This song is about unconditional love and compassion towards a loved one, even when it is inconvenient or difficult- helping them in a great time of need, being there for them no matter what and showing love for one another. This is what Jesus calls us to do.

Andra Day in "Rise Up" music video

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12:30-31‬ ‭NIV

When we do this we are the closest to God that we can possibly be. This is what the Lord wants for us because this is what matters the most. So when life is tough for you or a loved one... Rise Up!!

"Rise Up" by Andra Day

"Rise Up" by Andra Day Music Video (Click Here)

You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains...
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousands times again
When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
We'll take it to its feet
And move mountains...
All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
...We will rise...
I'll rise up
Rise like the day
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousands times again
...For you...

Fighting for her Life

I haven't known too many people that were in intensive care and do not know any that have been there for about four months... I am inspired and awed that Kyle's Grandmother Una has been fighting for her her life for 6 months now.  It seems like she is getting better from prayers because she hasn't had very good care.  I was talking to Kyle's Grandad today and he said she can feel the prayers and is finally improving.  The recovery has been slow but she is a fighter and has a great support system of people who would do anything for her.

Grandma Una and Grandad have three amazing daughters, and he said that they are all very strong willed [stubborn] women.  In a case like this when she desperately wants to live, it has turned out to be a very, very, good thing to be.  He tells me every time he sees her she begs him to take her home.  At first she wasn't getting out of bed and that wasn't helping the recovery.  It was hard on everyone.  Especially her husband of 60 wonderful years!!

Then he told her something I think was a great thing to tell Grandma Una in this situation. "As soon as you can walk out of here I will take you home."  So, then she asked the physical therapist to help her walk.  And today he told me that she has walked about 100 ft today, and then 75 ft.  This is huge progress.  She also had a trachea breathing tube getting oxygen and was also getting food through a tube.  Now today I heard she is eating real food and is breathing on her own.  We are all extremely proud of her!!

Grandma Una on her way to a full recovery!!

For those of you who have been praying for her recovery, it is picking up speed.  I think she is looking forward to our pending trip to see them there in Texas this Thanksgiving.  She is working towards being home by then, which will be a miracle.  We are trusting God that his will be done.  If Grandma Una has anything to do with it her persistence will keep her spirits up and she will continue to persevere!  She has a lot to live for: a husband that would do anything for her, 3 daughters that love her to pieces, and 1 grandson (my husband) who is benefiting from her legacy and loves her so much.  I think she is also waiting to have a grandchild... one day!