Dance For Joy!

Do you have those moments when you just want to dance and sing out loud to praise our Father? Do you ever have those urges in public? I have them many times a day when I am walking to class, listening to my iPod. I wonder how people would respond to my actions...it really shouldn't matter what people think of me or what they would do, because all that truly matters is that my Abba is being glorified! Even if those desires are played out in my quiet time with Him, Jesus knows my soul, but I pray that He could strip bare my heart for the whole world to see how awesome He is!

I Thank you God

Sitting in my Intro to American Politics class today, I was looking up world events on my phone before class started, when I came across the headlining news of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that demolished parts of Christchurch, New Zealand. My initial reaction was of complete dread and panic, for my brother is currently down in New Zealand studying abroad. He and his flatmate are taking their winter break in the south island for two weeks. Clicking on the link to get some more information, I was scared to think of what damage this Haiti-equivalent earthquake brought upon the people of the south island. Christchurch was where my brother and his friend flew into from Auckland, and I'm guessing where they would be flying out to get back to school. Thoughts flood my mind as to what could have happened to them and if they were okay or not. I text my mom and tell her about the news while I impatiently wait for class to begin. As time ticked, ticked, ticked slowly on the clock, I fought down tears as I struggled to comprehend anything that my professor was saying. I kept praying, "God, let them be okay, let them be okay." When he finally dismissed class, I rushed out of the building to contain my emotions and get ahold of my mom for support. She told me that sometimes "no news is good news." I hoped this was the case.

I relied upon the strength of one of my best Christian friends. As we were driving home for the long weekend, she took my hand and began to pray a prayer that my soul longed for God to answer. Upon arriving at home, I logged onto Facebook to see if he had written anything on his wall as to his whereabouts or his condition. Nothing. I called his New Zealand phone to see if there was any chance that I could possibly reach him, but I realized that all phone towers in that area might be down. Praying was literally the only thing that I could do to know in my heart that he was alright.

Hours later, we finally got word. He and his flatmate were on the train in the NORTH island, headed back to Auckland. They had no idea that there had been an earthquake. Talk about God's perfect timing and His wonderful grace.

When I was sitting in my class, I thought what it would be like to lose my best friend, my brother. That would be the worst possible thing, ever. God has huge plans for him. But I know that if he was taken from this earth, he have an eternity with our Creator in heaven, where things are perfectly splendid. And for now, the least I can say to my LORD in humble submission is, "I Thank you God."