Forever

Being a person who is musically inclined, I often find myself being encouraged by music, by the lyrics and find my spirit lifted. In fact, all along our journey to move to Poland, I can pin point certain songs from different phases of the process and what each song meant to us in those moments…music is powerful! Steve also enjoys music and as a family we like to play certain songs (rather loudly) in the car and sing at the top of our lungs. In turn, our children (even little Olivia) will clap and sing to the songs. It has become a normal family tradition when we ride in the van. One of those songs lately that we will crank up is called Forever. We had been given the latest Passion CD from a sweet friend (along with some fun busy games for kiddos) as a gift before we left on our month long trip last month. We are grateful for this sweet friend and her thoughtfulness in giving us this gift before we left, because we found ourselves blessed (during our travels) by the music on the cd day after day. The song, Forever, is on that CD and it quickly became a favorite. We would turn it on every morning on our way to Missionary Training, crank it up and listen and worship God in our van ride over to the training. It is a song that helped us prepare our hearts for what would take place during our day ahead at training. There is something amazing and surreal to worship together as a family and to see (and hear) our children sing this song with all the gusto they can muster…I just can’t put into words how powerful we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in those moments in our rental van! After returning to Orlando this past week and finding ourselves weary...not only from our travels but also by the week’s events (our car breaking down, moving things to a new location, adjusting to a new schedule, etc.) we walked into worship yesterday a little downtrodden. During the music portion of worship yesterday morning, Steve and I stood next to each other, our kids in arms, and the word “Forever” popped up on the screen. We looked at each other and smiled. We know the Lord encourages us in many ways, and we knew in that moment, that He was reminding us not only that he is with us but that He is for us and His name will be glorified no matter what may happen. So we sang, as a family, along with the other believers that were standing in the room, declaring that God is alive, He is to be Glorified, lifted high and He has overcome. We daily trust God and by His grace we are able to walk in the knowledge that we belong to Him and nothing or no one can separate us from His love. And this is why we are so convinced to move to Poland...so tell others there that they may know about His life altering Love.

I’ve included the lyrics to the song below, but honestly, you should click HERE to listen. Reading the words alone just doesn’t do the song justice! May you be encouraged today and find strength in Christ.

"Forever"

The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Saviour of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon him

One final breath he gave
As heaven looked away
The son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
his perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting?
Our resurrected King
Has rendered you defeated

Forever he is glorified
Forever he is lifted high
Forever he is risen
He is alive, He is alive!

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
his perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting?
Our resurrected King
Has rendered you defeated

Forever he is glorified
Forever he is lifted high
Forever he is risen
He is alive, He is alive!

We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome

Forever he is glorified
Forever he is lifted high
Forever he is risen
He is alive, He is alive!

You have overcome
You have overcome
You have overcome
You have overcome

xoxo, Jenny