Magnolia Heart

Uncovering Beauty, Embracing Brokenness, Discovering Joy.

Faith

I Will Sing: Good Good Father

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“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Good Good Father Lyrics by Chris Tomlin

Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you’re pleased
And that I’m never alone

You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you provide
Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word

You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Cause you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Oh, it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think

As you call me deeper still [x3]
Into love, love, love

[x3:]
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a Good, Good Father
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It’s who I am, it’s who I am it’s who I am

[Part of the I Will Sing series.]

I Will Sing: God Of My Everything

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“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.”
Psalm 139:5 NIV

God Of My Everything Lyrics

Oh, God of heaven come and hem me in
Gather the pieces that are broken
Show me the wonder of You again
Oh, God of heaven

God of my hope, God of my need
God of my pain that no one else will ever see
God of my healing, God of my strength
God who has always and will forever reign
God of my everything

In all creation You call my name
In all the beauty that this world displays
Still I’m the one for whom Your heart aches
In all creation

God of my hope, God of my need
God of my pain that no one else will ever see
God of my healing, God of my strength
God who has always and will forever reign
God of my everything
God of my everything

And when the mountains shake
You are my God, You never change
And when the earth gives way
You are still God, You never change

God of my hope, God of my need
God of my pain that no one else will ever see
God of my healing, God of my strength
God who has always and will forever reign
God of my everything

God of my everything
God of my everything
God of my everything

[Part of the I Will Sing series.]

Tangible Presence

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“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5b NIV

I am a registered nurse on the pediatric oncology, hematology and bone marrow transplant unit. I have cared for those battling cancer for nearly half my life. I have literally grown up on the oncology unit. My perspective on life has been greatly impacted and my faith stretched by my experiences with my patients and their families.

Since having my first child ten years ago, I have worked every other weekend. Nursing is a pocket of my life that is small yet significant. It may take up only a small fraction of my days yet it holds my heart and it is where I see God most. I can feel His tangible presence.

For the last several years, I have had a running joke with God. I take the elevator several flights up to my unit each morning that I work. Each time the elevator is open before I push the button, I silently say to God, “Thank you for holding the door. You are such a gentleman”. I walk in, smile and I sigh, knowing He is with me.

Funny thing is, the last few months, EVERY SINGLE TIME I have arrived at the elevator it has been wide open. No one is anywhere around. I am alone. I walk in and I take a deep breath. The doors close and I close my eyes.

I pray, “You are with me, You go before me, You will never leave me.”

Again, I take a deep breath, smile to myself and I push the floor number. I take a few more deep breathes as the elevator goes up. The doors open and I step out onto my unit, ready for the unknown of my workday ahead.

You may say I am strong. Yet no, I am never strong on my own account. I am weak and God makes me strong.

You may call me brave. Yet no, I am mostly afraid. My patients and their families are the brave ones.

I am only humbled and honored to be a small part of their fight and their journey. I can only take the next step, continuing to walk through the doors that God opens, bringing the tangible presence of Jesus with me.

This short video testifies to the undeniable bravery and strength of all who have battled cancer. It also clearly points to the Creator and Sustainer of all life, our Hope and Healer, our Ever Present Help.

I am beginning to understand at a deeper level that God’s presence remains with me even at the end of my workday. As I step onto the elevator and the doors close, His tangible presence is still with me. He dwells in me.

He is with me in the unknown, the everyday and the mundane. In my home, my marriage, in raising and teaching my children. In and through our adoption journey and with our daughter in Bulgaria. He’s in my joy, my grief, my waiting.

He is with me in my brokenness and my struggles. In my relationships and in learning to love my neighbor better. He gives me all I need to take the next faith-filled step. He is my Ever Present Help. (Psalm 46:1 NIV)

I am called to open the doors of my heart, stepping out in faith. Bringing the tangible presence of Jesus into every nook and cranny, every pocket of my life.

God is with me.
He goes before me.
He will never leave me.

Are there any doors that God has opened for you? What is your next faith-filled step?

How are you bringing the tangible presence of Jesus into your everyday world?

Holding Hope

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My maternal grandmother came from a large hardworking Mennonite family. She knew how to live on little, yet she never complained. Always holding on to hope in the hardest of circumstances. She was continually grateful and had such a beautiful love for her Savior, Jesus.

As a little girl, I remember how much my grandma loved Easter. She took great delight in preparing an Easter egg hunt for her grandchildren. In being thrifty, she would save all her pantyhose containers for this purpose. In the late 70’s, early 80’s, pantyhose were packaged in large shiny gold and silver plastic eggs. To a small child, these eggs were magical, jewel toned treasures.

I can remember the sense of excitement and the flutter of hope I felt, searching for and finding each hidden gem. Afterwards, holding a basket brimming full, knowing that each one held an even sweeter treasure inside. Gently breaking open each egg to find candy treats in all shades of the pastel rainbow.

When I was 14 years old, my grandma went home to be with Jesus. She was the first person to die that I was close to and that I loved. In her last hours on this earth, I prayed fervently for her healing. Believing fully that God would heal her. When God chose eternal healing over earthly healing, I felt confused. Did God not hear me? Did he not care?

After that dark day, I spent many years living in brokenness. Holding hope at a distance. Not believing that God was the giver of good things. Seeking treasures in all the wrong places. It took coming to the end of myself, broken and beaten down by this world, to understand that Jesus was the only way to goodness and life.

In celebrating Easter this year, I watched the delight in my children’s faces as they hunted for jeweled treasures. Again remembering the hope I first held as a small child. Feeling the familiar flutter inside me once more.

This simple tradition that my mom joyfully continues with her grandchildren is a tangible reminder for me. This being, that the greatest treasure came at an even greater cost. Jesus’ body beaten and broken for me, for us all. Yet by God’s power, on the third day, Jesus conquered death and rose again. Restoring our hope and offering everlasting life to all who are willing to receive.

Today, I will continue holding hope close. A hope that is living and breathing, never to be taken from my embrace. I know with certainty that God is the giver of all that is lovely and good. He is taking that which is broken and bringing forth wholeness, healing and new life.

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:13-14‬ ‭NASB‬‬

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I Will Sing: Ten Thousand Angels

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Part of the I Will Sing series.

The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.”

Isaiah 58:11-12 NLT [Read more…] about I Will Sing: Ten Thousand Angels

I Will Sing: Restless

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Part of the I Will Sing series.

“So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.”

Psalm 143:4-6 NIV

About the song Restless by Switchfoot

“I was listening to the rain, hearing it fall, and realizing that all of these drops had an individual path to take to the ocean and they were relentless in their pursuit to get there. The each had a story to tell.” – Jon Foreman

I Will Sing: I Am Not Alone

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Part of the I Will Sing series.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:1-2, 5-6‬ ‭NIV