What a night/morning!

so, it's early...but i can't sleep, well, i probably could, but i feel like blogging...i just finished up with my time for the 24 hr. prayer chain for Teresa. Teresa has Stage 4 breast cancer in the liver. She has had breast cancer a couple years ago, but was able to get it removed...unfortunately, it has come back in the past few weeks. now, i've never actually met Teresa, but she's a friend of friends...and i'll tell you what, she's got some pretty good friends out there! they've created Facebook groups and blogs to tell her story and get people to pray, and then created this 24 hr prayer chain!! you know you have good friends when they're willing to wake up at 3:00 am, or whenever, stop what they were doing, and focus on lifting you up in prayer.

my time came, and i wasn't 100% sure how i was going to spend 30 minutes praying for someone i had never met, and only seen in a picture...so i followed an outline of things which were needing prayer, and, sure enough, time flew by! 30 minutes wasn't even enough time to get it all in!

I had K-LOVE (which is probably my favorite radio station) on during my time of prayer, and it was like all the songs being played were perfect for the things Teresa and her family, and friends, are going through. The song playing when i turned it on was "God You Reign" by Lincoln Brewster. Here are some cool lines:

You part the seas
You move the mountains with the words that You say
My song remains
God You reign
You hold my life
You know my heart and You call me by name
I live to say God You reign

The same God that can part seas, and move mountains just by telling them to move, holds MY life! He holds Teresa's life! He knows what He has in store for her and her family! As I read during my prayer time in Isaiah 41:10, it says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Teresa, family, and friends: yea, it's gonna be tough, there's no doubt, but rest assured that God is with you, HE will give you the strength to get through it, HE will help you when you are weak!

Then, Casting Crowns came on with "Praise You in this Storm".

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.

God knows every hurt you've had, and He has ALWAYS remained there for you, and guess what, He doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon...or ever! Praise Him, even though it's a hard time...He will use you somehow through this!

Then, the next song didn't play on the radio, but did come to mind, "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller...not in order, but here are some lines:

I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

There are many Bible verses about waiting, one that comes to mind is Psalm 46:10a, "Be still, and know that I am God". It's hard to wait, because we live in such a fast paced society and it seems everything is geared towards instant satisfaction...but we must believe that God's timing is perfect, and wait for Him.

And I'll finish with one more song. "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman.

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

Just like the Casting Crowns song says He never left us, He will never let go of us either! He's always going to be there to carry us along when times get tough. And right now, times are tough, especially for Teresa and her friends and family, but God has assured us that he'll be there to help get you through. One thing for sure is that He has blessed you, Teresa, with some GREAT friends who want to be there to help you get through this!