Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down 
and wiped our tears away, 
stepped in and saved the day. 
But once again, I say amen 
and it's still raining 
as the thunder rolls 
I barely hear You whisper through the rain, 
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls 
I raise my hands and praise 
the God who gives and takes away. 

Chorus: 
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 

I remember when I stumbled in the wind 
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again 
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on 
if I can't find You 
and as the thunder rolls 
I barely hear You whisper through the rain 
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls 
I raise my hands and praise 
the God who gives and takes away 

Chorus 

I lift my eyes onto the hills 
where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth 
I lift my eyes onto the hills 
where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth 

Chorus 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The words to this song have been playing over and over in my head all day. 

Saying today was a bad day would not really touch the surface.

It is almost laughable actually... because just when I think surely this is it! Something else happens.

But at the end of the day... no matter what else happens in the 8 or so hours before I go to bed tonight... I know a few things will still be true.

I know my God will be holding me when I can't go on.

I know that He will not give me more than I can handle.

I know I have amazing friends... I know that if my best friend could magically leave AZ and be in TX right now, she would be by my side, laughing and trying to steal my favorite blanket while we watch movies.

I know that no matter how bad today is, it is still a gift. It is still a chance to learn, a chance to enhance the lives around me, a chance to be a witness to the power of God.

It is one more day I have to live to the max... every second... even when that means just breaking down and crying over a spilt TV dinner. But its a day to feel and experience and touch and smell. 

A day to remember no matter how hard today is... there are so many people who are so much worse off than I am, and that I am incredibly blessed that my problems are not far worse.

... war was just a game we played when we were kids...

For those of you who have heard this song, you know that taking that line out of context does not do the song justice. But how many Americans feel that war is just a game they played in their backyard with a water gun and their best friend?
This weekend, as I was driving back home, I passed through a small town that could not have had a population of more than a few hundred at most. As I glanced out my window, I noticed a large crowd in a yard. There were dozens of people in lawn chairs and milling around, watching the small country highway anxiously. A large banner in red, white, and blue proudly proclaimed "WELCOME HOME MITCH!", and was surrounded by balloons. There were yellow ribbons on the trees, and food laid out on tables. Someone was coming home from war. I felt my heart swell with pride for this soldier I had never met, and my eyes feel with tears. I prayed for Mitch, and for his friends and family, although I had no idea who they were.
You see, to me war is much more than a game that children play in their backyards. War is the reason that during my freshman year of college I was awakened at 4am with a crying phone call that my friend's brother in law had died. War is the reason that my former room mate has spent most of the last year sleeping in her bed alone, as her husband is deployed. War is the reason that I have learned to write letters and cards, and stuff flat rate boxes with random items.
What will it take for our generation to realize that there are men and women dying every day for their country? And not "old" people... people my age. People younger than me. People who are too young to drink or rent a car, they are over there fighting. Where I come from, most people understand war is real. I come from a patriotic state, where it is very common for a large percentage of a high school graduating class to enlist. My university is also quite aware of the costs of war- there are lamp posts across campus in memory of those students who have lost their lives fighting for our country. I'm not sure if it is possible to graduate from here and not have friends who are Air Force officers, most of whom will eventually end up fighting overseas in some capacity. But so many people have had different backgrounds... they don't really know someone going off to war. Or if they do, its a simple "Be safe buddy, lets grab a drink and catch up when you get back." But sometimes they don't return. And some of us deal with that reality on a regular basis.
The next time you are tempted to blow off something about the war and think it doesn't really affect you... please remember that even though that soldier isn't YOUR brother/son/boyfriend/husband/father... he is somebody's everything.
And please do not ever be like the guy I sat behind at a football game my sophomore year. He was loudly carrying on about the other team during the National Anthem, and I quietly asked him to please stop talking for a moment and show respect for our country and the men and women who protect it. He turned around and loudly told me that he could care less about those people. (My friend, an Army brat, and I had to be held back because we were about 2 seconds from attempting to hurt him... the guy ended up walking out of the game because of the response he got from our group over THAT comment... once the anthem was over of course.) If you are that apathetic, please learn some manners and keep your mouth closed. Or move to another country, I could care less which you choose.