Hey friends!

What a strange time we find ourselves in. If I’m honest, it hasn’t been particularly easy for me, but I’m sure I’m not alone in that!

Four years ago, I found myself in the midst of the worst panic attacks and anxiety I’d ever experienced. By the kindness of God, and through prayer, reading, a lot of talking to Chris and caring friends, and the help of my doctor, it was under control and medication was no longer required. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago and what I thought was the worst season of my life, paled in comparison to where I now found myself. You see, I had begun to fixate on the news, the doom and gloom, and was looking for hope in the wrong places and the anxiety reared its head again. I fooled myself into believing that if I just checked one more news site, or one more person’s instagram profile, I would find some good news.

Obviously, that didn’t happen as our world changed significantly from day to day. In the throes of a particularly nasty panic attack, I
went for a walk and cried out to God for His help and His mercy. True to His faithful nature, He answered me ~ I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all fears. Ps 34:4 ~ He showed me that my hope is not in this world, in man or in governments, in doctors or in cures. My hope is in the One who formed the heavens and the earth, and who cares for me. I needed to get my eyes off of myself, off of this world, and back onto Him. It doesn’t mean ignoring the needs or the news, and it doesn’t mean behaving ignorantly or foolishly. It does,
however, mean looking to Him as my source of comfort and hope, and giving Him glory, honour, and praise because He is altogether worthy. I came home from that walk and opened one of my devotional books - Paul Tripp’s New Morning Mercies, and that day’s reading was a
gift from the Lord Himself, speaking directly to me, like a balm to my heart and soul.

“Honestly facing your lack of sovereignty over your own life produces either anxiety or relief. Anxiety is God-forgetting…If you fall into this way of thinking, your life will be burdened with worry and your heart will be filled with dread. But there is a much better way. It is God-remembering.
It rests in the relief that although it may not look like it, your life is under the careful control of One who defines wisdom, power, and love. In all those moments when life is out of your control, it is not out of his control.” (Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies, March 13)

This is now a daily, hourly task of disciplining my thoughts, and turning to my Saviour, but He has brought peace and performed miracles in my life. I have found doing word studies on peace helpful in harnessing my fitful thoughts. Some that I have been meditating on lately have
been John 14:27, Romans 8:6, Philippians 4:6-7, and Hebrews 13:20. 

One of my favourite songs lately, and for some time, has been Praise to the Lord the Almighty, that wonderful hymn. My most-loved version is by Shane & Shane, who are a favourite of many of our music leaders. They’ve updated the language a little bit, and that has helped me to
appreciate the lyrics with fresh eyes and ears. Two verses have been particularly meaningful in this season:

Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning
Sheltering you under His wings, and so gently sustaining
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him
Let the Amen sound from His people again
Gladly forever adore Him

I want to look to our Father in heaven as Sustainer, Provider, Protector, Hope-giver. And I will come, along with all of you, with praises before Him. We will sing our Amen again and again. I absolutely cannot wait to worship with all of you again. I pray these uncertain times would see
all of us certain of Him; adoring Him more, fixing our eyes on Him, that great Shepherd of the sheep, and we would experience His love and mercy, and glory, as never before.

Lots of love to you all - I miss you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRdB93JaHLo


Here's a playlist of some of my favourite songs.