The Hurt and the Healer

So, I used to think it was so weird, when I would follow a blog, and the blogger would hardly ever update it.  I mean, what was the point?  Seriously.

*ahem*

I am hoping that I will find myself back here again to update on all that's going on (even though I feel like I can't even remember what happened earlier today).  However, it's just too much to have two "Catch Up" posts back to back.  Right?

Instead, I am going to share a newer song that has totally touched my heart in a way I can't quite describe.  Mostly, I cry when I hear it.  Not just sad tears (although, that has happened too), but also tears of joy and hope.  I wanted to share it because it is so "us" right now.  It's all I've wanted to say, but couldn't find the right words.  In fact, I've prayed through some of the lyrics, as well as used the lyrics as a springboard for my own prayers.

It's call The Hurt and the Healer and it's by Mercy Me.  Here are the lyrics: (Italicized words are my own)

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn't come from the explained
Jesus please don't let this go in vain (Lord, use this to bring glory to your name.)
You're all I have
All that remains (You are my sustenance.)

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I've fallen into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

Breathe
Sometimes I feel it's all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You (Keep me from looking elsewhere for relief.)
Lord take hold and pull me through

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I've fallen into your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all the scars are understood
When mercy takes its rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say "It's over now" (Come, Lord Jesus, come.) (Do I even need to tell you that this is the part that brings me to tears almost every time?)

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I've fallen into your arms open wide
When The hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here (Even in the ugliest of circumstances you can bring beauty.  You are worthy of all praise and glory.)

  Here's a video from YouTube (gotta love it!)

While we continue to walk through this trial, God has been so faithful to us. He has never left our sides, not for a split second.  While it's difficult to not have answers or complete healing, I know God is using this time in our lives for some pretty radical transformation and growth.  I feel like the old "me" and "us" has died, but God is breathing to life a new creation.  There is still more work to be done, and frankly, we may never get out of this "trial" on this side of Heaven.  But this I am sure of: Heaven awaits.  This place we are in, this life here, is a mere breath.   Then, oh THEN!

"It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all the scars are understood
When mercy takes its rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say 'It's over now'"

This is where my hope comes from.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Thankflully, It's Not the Same Thing

The Girl had been wanting a mood ring for quite some time.  However, she had used all her hard earned cash (read: one third of the cash earned by doing chores and two thirds earned through birthday and Christmas gifts) to buy herself a DSi (I seriously thought I would never see the day).  Finally, she scrounged up enough to pick herself up a cheap mood necklace instead. 

Both kids sat fascinated for a few hours.  They tried to get the necklace to change colors by acting like they were in  a certain mood.   When the necklace would finally change colors in their sweaty little hands, they would run and get the decoding card that told them they were either happy, frustrated, scared, sad, or flirty.  Here's one conversation I got to listen in on:

d: Oh!  Look!  Quick!  I got it to change colors!  Now it's like blue-ish green. 
p: What does that mean?
d: Get the card so we can figure it out.
p: OH!  It means your farty.
d: What?
p: It says you're farty.
d: Dude!  That's not an option.
p: Yup, right here is says, "Blue-green equals farty."
d: Dude!  That's FLIRTY.  Not farty.  A mood ring can't tell you if you have gas.

Laughter ensued.