It has been a brutal winter.

with what seems like an eternal season of refining and waiting.

Ryan and I have found ourselves asking God countless times this winter 

                "what do you want us to learn through this..."

I have been reading through the Psalms of David.  He understood waiting in the unknown and continually sought to deepen his understanding of God.  I love how he rants, questions and then he RESTS. He rests in GODs UNFAILING LOVE. No matter the war that raged in his heart he came full circle.  RESTING in the ROCK, SHELTER, REFUGE of our LORD.

Psalm 27 he says "though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.  The one thing I ask of the Lord all the days of my life delighting in the Lords perfections...for HE will conceal me there when troubles come. HE will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high."

Confidence is restored in the love of God.  

Standing tall with your head held high is made possible by the power we claim in JESUS.

If we find ourselves in a season of waiting solely to gaze deeper into HIS face and trust HIM then the winter is worthy.  Worthy of the waiting. Worthy of enduring the cold to feel the warmth of HIS LOVE. Knowing our roots have burrowed deeper in the cold of the winter. AND what will spring forth in due season will declare the HOPE of a FAITHFUL, LOYAL HEAVENLY FATHER...

"SEASONS" by Hillsong has been my "power song" as my sister Gretchen calls them in her book "Wide Eyed". I will not look back on the winter of 2019 the same as I hear this song played in years to come. Read the lyrics and be thankful SPRING is coming BUT the waiting in WINTER was not to waste.

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"Like the frost on a rose
Winter comes for us all
Oh how nature acquaints us
With the nature of patience
Like a seed in the snow
I've been buried to grow
For Your promise is loyal
From seed to sequoia

Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come...

Lord I think of Your love
Like the low winter sun
As I gaze I am blinded
In the light of Your brightness
Like a fire to the snow
I'm renewed in Your warmth
Melt the ice of this wild soul
Till the barren is beautiful

I can see the promise
I can see the future
You're the God of seasons
I'm just in the winter
If all I know of harvest
Is that it's worth my patience
Then if You're not done working
God I'm not done waiting...

For all I know of seasons
Is that You take Your time
You could have saved us in a second
Instead You sent a child...

Like a seed You were sown
For the sake of us all
From Bethlehem's soil
Grew Calvary's sequoia..."

HILLSONG " SEASONS"