A Spring of Joy

This past week I heard of the passing of two women with cancer. Neither one of them were my friends. In fact, I had never met them. I knew one of them because of her blog, and I had been following her cancer story almost as long as I had mine. The other one was a friend of a friend. Both of them were young. Both of them left behind children. One had five, the other seven. Both have husbands and parents who are grieving right now and trying to explain to young ones how Mommy won’t come home again. I am tired and sad and broken. I have wept over these women and their stories and their pain. I have prayed for them. I have identified with them.

I think that’s the hardest part… identifying with them. That could have been me. But God, in His providence, chose otherwise for me and for them. I’m struggling tonight to understand God’s plan, but I also know that He will do right and good. I’ve needed the whispers of His presence this week. In my own struggles… a lupus flare-up… a treatment on Thursday… lymphedema causing pain in my arm. I’ve spent a good part of the week in bed, and I’ve listened to this song, Captivate Us, over and over as a way to speak my need for Him when I can’t find the words to even pray. These words have been a way for me to hear His voice and know that I can abide in Him.

Written by Charlie Hall and sung by Watermark, Captivate Us sings of our need to draw near to God and how when we do, we will experience Him. His healing. His peace. My favorite line, is “devastate us with Your presence”. Oh how I long to be so devastated with His love that nothing else is enough for me!

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Your face is beautiful
And Your eyes are like the stars
Your gentle hands have healing
There inside the scars
Your loving arms they draw me near
And Your smile it brings me peace
Draw me closer oh my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to Thee

(chorus)
Captivate us, Lord Jesus
Set our eyes on You
Devastate us with Your presence
Falling down
And rushing river, draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus, with You

Your voice is powerful
And Your words are radiant bright
In Your breath and shadow
I will come close and abide
You whisper love and life divine
And Your fellowship is free
Draw me closer O my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to Thee

(chorus)

Let everything be lost in the shadows
Of the light of Your face
Let every chain be broken from me
As I’m bound in Your grace
For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light
You’re full of wisdom, power and might
And every eye will see You

(chorus)

As I’ve sung these words this week, I’ve thought a lot about Andrea and Crystal. And I also know that right now, both of those women are seeing the face of their bridegroom. They are seeing the beauty of His face, and everything is lost in the shadows cast by His light.

May I be so captivated by Him that I can only see Him in everything!

What is captivating your hearts this week?