God's Amazing Presence.....

As a lover of Jesus, I am always looking for ways for HIM to show me HIS presence.  But, what happened yesterday......totally blew me away.....  Yesterday, September 13 was the day of my Grandmother's burial and memorial service.  When my Grandfather passed away nearly three years ago, both of my cousins said something at my Grandfather's memorial service.  So, I had prepared myself to say something this time at my Grandmother's memorial.  As the past week had gone by, I had tried numerous time to sit down and write something....but to no avail.....I could never find the right words.  So, as the day approached yesterday...I continued to ponder different things that I could share.  When I spoke with my cousin before the memorial service, she said she wanted to say something but hadn't been able to figure out what to write down either.  At that time, we decided we would go up together and trust that God would tell us what to say.

A short time ago, before my Grandmother passed away she had prepared the scriptures and the songs that she wanted to be used at her memorial service.  After we had sang a few hymns and heard a few different passages of scripture, we were asked to come forward.  Katelyn and I both knew it was time, but not having anything planned was a little frightening.  Moments before we were asked to go up there, something incredible happened.  Pastor had read the entire Psalm 46.  Earlier that morning as I sat and read my devotion, I read the bible verses that were associated with it.  Sometimes, none of the verses touch me and so I find a verse that is related that I feel works better.  That is exactly what happened yesterday morning.  I didn't like any of the verses and so as I ponder what my devotion was about....I heard God say, "Be still and know that I am God."  So, I looked the verse up and came up with Psalm 46:10a....which just happens to be the verse that I posted on Facebook.  Right before we were asked to come up front, Pastor read this and I began to weep.  I knew then what I would say.  I spoke of how amazing it was, that I had picked that verse today and so had my Grandmother just weeks previously.  What happened next surprised even me...my cousin Katelyn, who took my hand as we stood there together...spoke about a Psalm that she had used the past week to stay calm and get things taken care of that she needed to at college in order to come home to my Grandmother's burial and memorial.  The Psalm that she referred to was Psalm 121, which was the first passage of scriptures that Pastor had read to us as the service began.  We were both in awe.....God had used both of us...along with my Grandmother to show a connection to God and to give us comfort.  It was incredible enough that God had given me that verse yesterday morning, but to have given Katelyn the other scripture....just makes God so much more real.  I am blessed as I know many others were that God used at our Grandmother's memorial.  Thank you, Lord.....for amazing me yet again!

Blessings,
              Jenielle

 

Beautifully Broken

Last night, I finished the book, "Your Heart's Desire" by Sheri Rose Shepherd.  There is something about this book that touched my heart so deeply.  I would highly recommend this book to all women whether you are married, single, divorced, or widowed.  Sheri Rose Shepherd is also the author of the Princess Series and has daily devotions called His Princess Love Letters.  I receive His Princess Love Letters everyday by email and they absolutely speak to my heart most days.  If you have had struggles in your life and you have a hard time believing God's truth about you and your life....you really should check out and sign up to receive the His Princess Love Letters here. 

After I finished the book, I felt led to write a song.  Writing songs is one of the ways that I am able to find harmony in my life.  The song I wrote last night is called "Beautifully Broken", which basically talks about what God is doing in my life and the ways that he has changed and healed me.  Writing songs is something that I have done a lot of in the last few years, but this song is different.  Usually, I am able to find a tune that I think is fitting for my lyrics just by plucking around on my keyboard......but it just wasn't happening with this song.  So, tonight I did the one thing that I have never done or even tried to do.....I pulled out my guitar.  Well, actually it was my dad's guitar that I inherited in 1996.  So many times, I have tried over the years to teach myself to play and I am able to play a few chords here and there...but nothing spectacular.  I had pretty much given up on playing the guitar, because my hands are pretty small and it just didn't seem like a good fit.  And buying a smaller guitar...really isn't an option at this point.  Since, I had struggled so much with coming up with a tune for my new lyrics....I decided it couldn't hurt to break out the guitar.  And as I sat here, something amazing happened.  After ear tuning it to my keyboard (which I've never been able to do before)....I started messing around.  And the strangest thing happened.....I found a melody.  I honestly don't really even know what chords I was playing....but I was playing something....because my ears were pleased.  And then I started to cry, because God just amazes me.......how many times that I have pulled out the guitar and tried to play something....and nothing happened.  But, yet this time....I have it out for less than 5 minutes and there it is.....a melody.  I know this probably all seems really trivial. To be quite honest, I'm not even sure why I'm writing this down....except that I want my blog to document my life as it happens.  I especially want to look back and remember those amazing moments....when I am in complete AWE of this amazing God that we serve!