I Will Rise...

I am not even sure where to begin this post. First off, though, if you haven't read the post just prior to this one, then scroll down and read it first or this one won't make as much sense.

I sit here with a smile on my face and joy overflowing in abundance from my heart, completely overwhelmed...again...at God's faithfulness and deep abiding love for us.

Four years ago today, I stood at a grave and said goodbye (for a little while) to my brother. Today, in my bible study, I stand alongside Mary and Martha at the grave of Lazarus. Jesus wept. He grieved because of the pain of this fallen world. He knows my hurts. He knows yours, too. He also said these words, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26 This is not a new concept for me, not a brand new revelation I never knew before, but words of Jesus Himself lifting me up, encouraging me, reminding me, strengthening me on this day, right where I am. Wow!!

Jesus is intimate in relationship, and He will sometimes go great lengths to reach out to us. He will even call you on the phone if need be. He called me this morning! You see, I am not a morning person; I am a night owl. But, I believe God is definitely a morning God so I am working very hard on rising early and meeting with Him. His mercies are new every MORNING, but I have to get out of bed and gather my manna. Yesterday, I was praying about this and telling God to please give me the strength and the will-power to crawl out of my warm, cozy bed into the cold morning, and please, God, do whatever you have to in order to get me up!! Trust me, if you pray this, He will come through!! This morning, as I was struggling to get myself out of bed, still lying there wanting to be warm and snuggly instead of cold and on my knees, all of a sudden I here this, "I will rise when He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain, I will rise..." I mean that I actually HEAR this!! You see, that is the ringtone on my cell phone that was blaring from the kitchen. It is a song by Chris Tomlin called "I Will Rise", and it is one of my faves from his new CD. I immeditately jump out of bed, grab my glasses and my bible (which I had strategically placed on my nightstand the night before) and sprint for the kitchen to see who is calling me so early in the morning. Although, I was laughing at the fact that whoever it was, it was really God calling me, and apparantly, I WILL RISE when He calls my name!!! It turns out that it was our superintendant calling to let us know that school had been delayed 2 hours because of the ice. SOOO...I decided that since the manna was frozen this morning, it would probably last a little longer, and I went back to bed for another half hour, then got up because Jesus obviously wanted to meet with me this morning at the tomb of Lazarus.

Do not overlook the words of the song here, either. They, too, have meaning here: "I will rise when He calls my name, No more sorrow, no more pain, I will rise on eagles' wings, Before my God, fall on my knees, and rise, I will rise."



Jesus, I stand amazed in your presence. I stand amazed at the depth of your love. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Thank you that I can sit here today with abundant joy because you are the resurrection and the life.