The Never Ending Happy New Year!

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? Oh dear Jesus, I can only imagine. 

This song captivated my heart in such a way that it has highlighted my life at random since the first time I heard it. Would you believe it if I told you the first time I heard this song was on New York City’s #1 Hit Music Station Z100? Well you better believe it, because I was sitting in a little car outside of a shabby shop somewhere in Jersey City when this sweet hymn graced my ears. 

I remember the radio station remarking that so many requests had come through for this song that it had made a crossover from the Christian Music Station to Z100’s Secular Station, and that they had been playing it at the top of the hour, every hour, due to the overflow of requests that had been coming through. 

If you haven’t heard the song (MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine”), take a few minutes and you’ll understand why. It’s definitely one of those “more about Him and less about you” songs. The type of song that reminds you of who He is and who you are only in Him. It’s the kind of song that puts you in your place and sands down the rough edges to soften your spirit to the greatness that is God the Father. 

“Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?!”

“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointment in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created: how I rejoiced with the human family! “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8: 22-36 

The greatness of God is bewildering to an empty spirit. But, to a spirit surrendered to a complete understanding of His wonders, it is what makes it complete. How could we not collapse at the Glory that is in Christ Jesus? It’s the words before and surrounded that adds fuel to the fire in my heart. Even the effervescent and speedily racing heart I have been handling over the last few weeks is in awe of the greatness of God. 

Its moments like these that God allows in our lives to remind us who we are without the precious love of Jesus. I started writing my New Years Blog prior to the New Year, with so much joy and excitement for what I knew God had in store for 2021. With a hopeful spirit, I began piecing together  my anticipation of greatness for this up and coming year as I prayed love, joy, hope, health and restoration over my family. Little did I know that before February, God would grant my basket of hope and allow me to experience a greatness of His love and power that could not be wavered nor moved. 

Did it happen in the way I had hoped? Of course not! As I write this to you, I still can’t breath on my own and need help walking from my bed to my bathroom but my heart is overflowing with so much joy I just can’t contain myself. My heart has been transitioning back and forth from dreaming about what it would be like to see His face to what a mighty God He is as my heart bursts into singing “What a Mighty God we Serve!” 

“The earth is the LORDS, and EVERYTHING in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His Holy Place? 

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savor. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek Your face, God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 

Who is the King of glory? The Lord STRONG and MIGHTY, the Lord MIGHTY in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – HE IS THE KING OF GLORY.”  Psalm 24: 1-10 

I cry out Hallelujah as tears flow down my eyes. I am sincerely laying here writing to you and rolling with the punches waiting for our prayers to be answered and for the goodness and grace of our Father to prevail. Why? Because I can, and because I have the authority through Christ Jesus, and that is where my joy and my hope stems to overcome. I have no answers. I don’t know what God’s ultimate plan is. I have no idea what is to come just a breath away, but there are things I do know and those are the things I need to stand firm on. 

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed” 

2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8

Life may throw us curve balls and bring us through intense obstacle courses, but God has already won the war and our fates are sealed in Christ Jesus so we have NOTHING to fear because we will never be abandoned, struck down or destroyed. So, we can fixate on all things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable because God already handled it all for us. 

“For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33.4 

It always has been Him and it always will be Him. The one who gives me life and breaths breath into my lungs no matter what the circumstances. So until the day he calls me home I will use them to their full capacity for His Glory and His Honor. So sit down COVID-19 in your place, and let my God of wonders do His thing in this place for His Glory. 

How I wish I didn’t spend so much time worrying about things that have always been outside of my control and placed all of that time into my life in Christ Jesus?! You know I am a dreamer, but when did I forget that my dream is to meet my Savior and for Him to open that gate and look upon me with proud eyes of the life I lived for Him with grace and honor for who He is? 

Oh Lord, if I had my choice God, I would choose You every time. Thank you so much for allowing me to endure, but never leaving my side and the way you’re working through me and my loved ones through it. My heart is at peace and it is through you I am here. 

I am expecting great things but will love you no matter what the outcome, because You are Worthy. Abba Father. All praise, honor and glory be to you! This has been a post in the making to my never ending New Year.