It Is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way...

Peace. How long has it been since this word has truely coarsed through my veins? Too long.

Becoming an r12 (Romans 12) Christian. This is what I am officially. Living On The Edge is a book by Chip Ingram that my dad suggested I read. Started reading it and now I cannot put it down. Chip describes how to become an r12 Christian; how to sacrifically give your life to the one who gave his life for us. I have been a Christian since I was three, but never before have I truely understood how to give my life out of complete and utter devotion to Him. But that's what I did. When sorrow like sea billows roll... God's been telling me a lot of things lately. Actually he's always been telling me these things, I just recently started listening. I struggle a lot with doubts and fears...worry more than I should. Surprised that I don't have a stomach ulcer from all the fretting I do. But what God has told me is that "I don't worry about my life, what I will eat or drink, or about my body what I will." (Matthew 6). I struggle a lot with feeling guilty over certain things that I believe God has blessed me with. Sometimes I feel like I should not be receiving such profound blessings in my life, that I don't deserve his grace. But Jesus died for that very reason: out of mercy and love for something we don't reserve. I can never thank Him enough.

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say...

I think that if instead of trying to focus on making ourselves happy and instead we focused on pleasing God, our lives would be so much better. Going back to the r12 thing, I just recently made that commitment. Today I went to the Vintage Fair at Fresno State where I was going to hang out with certain friends. Well, one of these friends I was super nervous about seeing...but I gave it to God. I gave it in His hands and said "Lord, whatever be your will. If you want such and such to happen then so be it. But I'm not going to worry. I'm going to trust you." And I did. That is HUGE for me. Sometimes I have serious trust issues and when they revolve around God and not trusting Him, things just don't go well. But I trusted Him and leapt out in faith. And that made all the difference. I havn't had such a marvelous, wonderful day in a very, very long time. It might seem like something really simple...but the fact that I chose to trust God over my fears...I'm still in awe at how great things turned out to be with that certain friend.

It is well, it is well, with my soul...

Do you know the story behind this song?? Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day. At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife Anna suffered the tragic loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had. In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also went to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some unexpected last minute business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had encountered a collision. All four of his daughters drowned; only his wife had survived. With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. It was on this trip that he penned those now famous words, When sorrow like sea billows roll; it is well, it is well with my soul.. Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Burning, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn that he composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the lyrics. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876. For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul. (http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/it-is-well-with-my-soul-the-song-and-the-story.html )

Certain events in our lives are what shape us for who we are now. Don't let the bad events make you into someone you don't wish to be. Instead, glorify God in all situations, and always give Him honor and praise regardless of your circumstances. That is what I am learning to do...and now I can say

It is well, it is well...
with my soul, with my soul...
it is well, it is well, with my soul.

Love,
Becca =)