I Dedicate this Song to...

I enjoy blogging. I love the fact that I have made many new friends, as well as being able to connect with old ones. I love seeing what my sister and dad are up to and commenting back and forth with them. I love the funny stories, the inspirational posts that pull at the heartstrings, the pictures and especially all the encouraging comments that brighten my day. However, most of all, I like the fact that I have a connection outside my small group of local friends. I have what I believe is a "bonus" blessing from God, in that I have a bloggy world of friends that are just as encouraging, loving and big time prayer warriors when needed.

Here lately I've been burdened. So many times in day to day life, people will ask for prayer, and sometimes I do what I know many do... I say "I will pray for you." How many requests actually make it past my own lips when I am conversing with my Lord? Some. Unfortunately not as many as should. So, to help me out, I bought a new notebook. It sits with my Bible while I am visiting my friends in Blogland, so that when I say "I will pray," it will be written down and remembered. For I believe heavily in the power of prayer, and I certainly never want to be flippant with it.

That being said, I have read many blogs lately, that have asked for prayer. Whether it is friends dealing with death, illnesses, stress or just raising Godly families, the list never ends. Shoot! I've had to deal with them all in the last few years and still do. That is unfortunately the hard part of life.

I was reading a friend's blog this afternoon. It brought tears to my eyes, for she loves her Heavenly Father, but she loves her earthly daddy a whole bunch too. It is hard not to be angry at the Heavenly Father, the great healer, when earthly daddy is very sick. It is hard not knowing the "plan." It is hard keeping the faith. It is hard to praise the Lord anyhow.

I recently read a blog of a woman who has a very sick child. A woman who just literally has to say her baby is "in God's hands." She is trying to be strong. She is trying to believe. She is trying to hold on to her hope. It can be so very hard sometimes...

I recently have read several blogs of people who have had a death in their family. Death, no matter the individuals age, is never easy. My Nanny two years ago, was ready to see her Savior, yet as she drew her last breath I experienced intense grief. I still want to pick up the phone and call her... saying goodbye is never easy. Asking God "why?" can be all too easy at times.

My favorite CD right now is "Freedom" by Mandisa. It is in my car stereo. It encourages me everyday as I go to work and as I come home. Today, as I was driving around, running my many errands, I was thinking about the whole "prayer request" situation and on popped this song called "Broken Hallelujah." It totally spoke to my heart in that moment.

I don't have all the answers. I can't even begin to tell everyone "I know how you feel," for although I have experienced many painful things in my own life and have asked God plenty of "Whys?" myself, no two people handle situations the same way. What I do know, is that I believe in a loving God, who knows best and has a plan for all things. As hard as it is to praise Him for all things, I am going to try. And if I fall short at times, well, I know He is there to put the pieces back together too.

So, I would like to dedicate the words to this song to my friends that are hurting today. If you don't feel like "praising" today, My God understands... just give Him what you got. Even if it is in pieces.

And I will be praying for you...promise.

Broken Hallelujah by Mandisa

With my love and my sadness

I come before You Lord

My heart’s in a thousand pieces

Maybe even more

Yet I trust in this moment

You’re with me somehow

And You’ve always been faithful

So Lord even now

When all that I can sing

Is a broken hallelujah

When my only offering

Is shattered praise

Still a song of adoration

Will rise up from these ruins

I will worship You and give You thanks

Even when my only praise

Is a broken hallelujah

Oh Father, You have given

Much more than I deserve

And I have felt Your hand of blessing

On me at every turn

How could I doubt Your goodness

Your wisdom, Your grace

So Lord hear my heart

In this painful place

Chorus

Hallelujah

I lift my voice

Your Spirit moves

I raise my hands

I reach for You

(Psalm 42:1-5, Acts 16:22-25a) Behind the Song:“Broken Hallelujah” is one of the most moving songs I have ever heard. I believe that there is a presence of the Lord that comes when we as believers offer up a sacrifice of praise and I think that when things are not going the best, when our circumstances could not look worse, I think that when we offer up a Hallelujah to the Lord that that honors him more than any other thing. And so “Broken Hallelujah” is a song that mirrors the power that can happen when we as believers lift up that sacrifice of worship to His name." - Mandisa

Happy Weekend Everyone!