“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.”Lamentations 3:22-24
WOW! This has been a week. An unusual week. Everything from late nights, no sleep, coughing children, a son wheezing and gasping for air, a doctor visit, a scratched nose and blood everywhere, a burdened heart, etc, etc. It seems like the list goes on. The children who usually get along so well, seemed to fight like crazy. The oldest son is asking more questions than I have answers or strength for. The oldest daughter is constantly wanting to eat and struggling with a bad attitude (She kept saying things like, “Mom you are ugly.” “I hate my mom.” “I only love you because God says I have to.” “My mom is stupid.”). The toddler is into EVERYTHING, tearing things off shelves, out of the hands of older siblings, pulling hair and generally just making a mess. The baby has been fussy and starts screaming whenever she hears anyone else screaming. On top of it all my husband has been working out of town almost all week. Thankfully he’s home in time for supper and the kids bed time. Whew – what a week.
Last week had gone so well (relatively speaking. There were still problems but over all we made it). We followed the schedule. We got a lot accomplished. But this week. The schedule never even had a chance to start. I didn’t get anything done. Or did I?
All of the children were dressed in clean clothes each day. They all ate 3 meals a day, plus snacks. They got to play outside. They took naps and slept at least 10 hours each night. Each day we spent time reading the Word of God, singing hymns, and memorizing Scripture. The house is clean. The dishes are done. Laundry is clean.
On top of all of that God stretched my faith and I saw Him answer prayer. And so, even though we didn’t follow the schedule and I didn’t get school done like I had planned. Even though things didn’t happen the way I had planned, God was good.
In the message, Chained to the Chariot, Pastor Ron Dunn says, “Faith is the victory.” It’s not that everything happened perfect, because it rarely ever will. It’s that at the end of all of it, I still believe (in God). I still have faith.
“and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
1 John 5:4
And so I end this week saying, “Faith is the victory and I still believe. God is Good. Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
Faith Is The Victory
Lyrics: John H. Yates
Music: Ira D. Sankey
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Refrain:
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ‘neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n.
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in Heav’n.
Then onward from the hill of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring Name.
