Light in the Dark

I don't know if you noticed my lack of post for today. I apologize about that. Along with not blogging, I didn't run yesterday at all either. Nor did I run today. Hopefully I will pick that back up tomorrow night. Probably not tomorrow morning because of church! I'm excited for a Sunday blog though. I really like the sermons at my church, and I am really pumped to be able to share them here.

The last couple days, Twitter has been blowing up with news about Norway. I didn't take the initiative to actually look up what happened until tonight. It's terrible. In case you haven't heard or just haven't looked it up like me, here are a couple links so you can see what's happening.

Story 1

Story 2

Definitely be lifting up prayers for the victims, their families and friends, and all those affected by this tragedy.

Today instead of writing a long reflection about one specific verse, I kind of want to throw some verses out there that tell us a lot about God--His love, His faithfulness, His greatness, and His comfort. It's a nice reminder that God is in everything around us and everything that happens.

Lamentations 3:22-23

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (ESV)

Isaiah 66:13

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you will be comforted in Jerusalem." (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:11

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (NIV)

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

These verses never fail to remind me to lean on God in hard times. They make me stop, be still, and think in the midst of everything that may be happening to remember that God is with me, will always support me, and loves me the way no human ever could.

I've attached the music video to "How He Loves" by the David Crowder Band. Enjoy and feel His love.

How He Loves, DCB

prayers and praise

• Prayers for those affected in the bombing and shooting in Norway. Help them not to lose sight of God and lean on Him in his difficult time. God has not and will not abandon them--help them to remember.
  
• Grandma is walking! God is working wonders and it leaves me just about speechless. Praise God for His faithfulness and love and the miracle that He is working for her.
• Praise God for the relief we are starting to feel in this heat wave. It stormed!! A little more rain and we might be back to the normal-level of sweltering heat!
• Praise God for the support systems He blessed us with in the form of friends, family, and church family.
• Praise God for the contract my dad heard about that got accepted for his work!