Author: Amy

In last month’s post, I described how this year has been filled with events that have rocked my world. Now, as I reflect on each of them, I find myself fumbling around in the aftermath. God’s glorious hand of protection has been proven and revealed in ways I will never deserve or fully comprehend. The respite I have waited for for seven months seems to be arriving, yet I am frustrated by the struggle to truly rest.

Battle must be waged against the lasting effects of recent trials. I will do so with the power of Scripture and Christ dwelling within me.

…Taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:16-17).

What do people without this knowledge do? How does an unbeliever get through a single day without the company of Christ? He is my Lord, my Comforter, my Rock, My Deliverer, and my All in All. His presence is an unrivaled treasure in my life. When I am communing with Him, I find myself at rest. So, there’s the answer to my fumbling, frustrations and struggles.

Just be with Jesus!

2012 is a year I will never forget. And it’s only June! These six months have been some of the most difficult of my life, and it is now tempting to live as if I am waiting for the next bomb to drop.

I believe the Lord works all things for my good. I believe He is sovereign. I believe He is bigger than any devastating moment in my life. In fact, I believe He’s ordained them and allowed them to happen.

The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

He has always been faithful to me. Kathy Troccoli sings a lyric that simply says, “You are Lord and all is well.”

Because He is Lord I can truly rest. During this earthly journey, more bombs will drop and I am actually okay with that. For His mercies are NEW every morning and He alone is my PORTION! He is growing me into His likeness with each passing day.

Because of Him, I have HOPE.

“How good can the good Lord be,”
My Pepaw used to say,
That He would even think of me
And spare me on that day?

I still can see the white of the truck before my eyes
I hear the scream of metal, feel the peace He supplies

His protection victorious
His hand ever present
His plan deemed glorious
His Word so pleasant

I’m overwhelmed, overjoyed, raptured at the thought
That though I be a sinful mess, my humble heart He sought

I learned how to water ski when I was a teenager. Surprisingly, I didn’t have any trouble getting up, but the coming down was much dreaded. I knew a fall was inevitable, and it would be only a matter of moments before I was face-first on the water. You would think that the fear of falling would have aided me in staying vertical longer, but my fall always came quickly and was usually painful. Strangely, there was relief in the fall, and I sighed knowing it was over. Because I knew I would fall, I premeditated it, anticipated it, waited for it, and then was relieved by it.

Unfortunately, as believers, we often view our earthly journey in a similar way. Everyone at some point deals with a nagging transgression that continues to rear its ugly head–that habitual sin that we just can’t seem to shake. We understand Christ is sufficient. We know to cling to Him in the moment of temptation. We believe no temptation has overtaken us but such as is common to man (1 Cor. 10:13). Yet we fall. Proverbs states a righteous man falls, but rises again (Prov. 24:16). This certainly is an encouragement to strive onward. But I have to wonder: does our premeditation of the fall help it to happen? Do we find relief once it has taken place, even though it is so very painful?

Victory over sin is ours through Christ. Romans 8:37 tells us we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. We CAN quit the sin cold turkey. We CAN be released from its grip and never look back. We CAN choose, through the power of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us, not to fall again. We are sinners and our nature lends itself to failure, but Christ is perfect. He has defeated the power of sin, death, and unbelief, and we are blessed to share in His triumph (1 Cor. 15:56-57). We need not look for the next fall. Let us consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11)!

On Wednesday, March 14, at 1:30 in the afternoon, I was stopped at a red light at a busy highway intersection. I will never understand what provoked me to move from that spot of safety. I collided with a semi that was traveling at full speed. The entire front end of our Jeep was stripped away. Had I accelerated one fraction of a second earlier, I would have been T-boned in my driver door. The truck came to a stop one hundred yards down the road, and I sat in the middle of the intersection in a broken-down heap of metal, yet I was completely whole and unscratched.

I have replayed the scene over and over in my mind. What amazes me most is how peaceful it was. Yes, it was violently loud and extremely messy; the stains remain on the road even after the rain. But my experience was not one of terror. In fact, I knew no fear. I didn’t scream or shut my eyes or even take my hands off of the wheel. Though items in the car were hurled, I don’t remember being jarred. There was a protective bubble all around me like I have never known and which I will never forget. It was the most awful and yet one of the most precious moments of my life.

I believe the truth of Scripture; it is the sure foundation on which I build all my days. So when I read . . .

I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself,
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23).

The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). 

Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way? (Proverbs 20:24)

Do I question the events of this earthly journey and ask why, or do I simply trust His plan? Do I see His providential hand and rejoice? Do I take hold of both the good and the bad and live them out according to His will because of His will?

Seeds have already been planted from this incident. It is a wonderful conclusion to know that my heavenly Father orchestrated this moment not only for my personal protection, but for its purpose in my life and witness for His kingdom. Why He spared me I do not know. But what I am absolutely sure of is that He is on His throne, sovereignly reigning over the details of my daily life. Oh, the riches and bounty of His grace and mercy!

Lately, it seems that at every turn I am being challenged in some way, whether spiritually, socially or emotionally. But I know the Lord is ever working things out for my good and for His glory. I trust this is the case with all of my being. I am thankful for these growing pains, for it is with joy I see the fruit they bear.

But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name’s sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me (Psalm 109:21). He is good. When feeling overwhelmed, it is a blessing to understand His goodness, to be held in His arms, and to believe His plan is filled with wonderful purpose. I praise Him for this, and I am humbled by it.

Here are the lyrics to a new song. Though it was written to encourage a dear friend, its truths ring deep within my own heart.

YOUR ARMS
For PJ
Amy Branson Fata
© 2012 Portion Music

I’m finding myself in that place again
Of fear and doubt
I’m finding myself in that place again
Where sorrow abounds
You know my heart
You are never far
I’m finding myself in that place again
Your arms
Oh, Your arms

You cover my life with Your wings of love
When the cold winds blow
You quiet my mind with Your soothing Word
When the teardrops flow
You shelter me
You never leave
I’m finding myself in that place again
Your arms
Oh, Your arms

All glory belongs
To Your name alone
Whether I win or I lose
You are on Your throne

I’m finding myself in that place again
Where the world melts away
I’m finding myself bowing at Your feet
Kneeling in grace
You wore my shame
You bore the blame
When laying down Your life, stretched out on a cross
With Your arms
Oh, Your arms

Some time ago, a friend asked me to write a song that speaks of our eagerness to grow in God’s Word. To absorb its truths and to prosper in its wisdom should be the desires of every believer. It is both a privilege and a blessing to open it with our hands, speak it with our lips, and let it dwell within our hearts.

GROW YOUR WORDS IN ME
For Leslie Miller
Amy Branson Fata
© 2011 Portion Music (ASCAP)

Make of me Your humble servant
Draw me to Your precious Word
Teach me knowledge, good discernment
I delight to know and learn
Your holy Word
My heart’s desire
Let me be a faithful steward
Grow Your Word in me

Like a fountain flowing freely
Wash my tender heart with truth
With a passion growing deeply
Your commands, my life, my food
Your holy Word
My heart’s desire
Like a stream that never ceases
Grow Your Word in me

In Your law my life is founded
In its comfort I find rest
In its path my feet are grounded
In its goodness I am blessed
Your holy Word
My heart’s desire
In its wisdom let me prosper
Grow Your Word in me

Such reward I find in Your ways
Righteousness is now my own
Such a treasure for all my days
Till I bend before the throne
Your holy Word
My heart’s desire
On this earth and for Your kingdom
Grow Your Word in me

If man is going to know anything about God, God has to do the speaking. Thankfully, He is not silent. He has spoken in two phases: before the coming of His Son into the world, and through the coming of His Son into the world.

The Old Testament was God’s message to men, announcing the future coming of His Son. Hebrews 1:1 says, “He spoke long ago,” referring to the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews was written A.D. 60-70, so it was approaching 500 years since God had spoken through the Old Testament writers. But then verse 2 states, “In these last days [God] has spoken to us in His Son . . .” When Christ was born, the flurry of activity with angels and miracles was astonishing. The pace at which these supernatural phenomena occurred around the life and ministry of Jesus was unparalleled. These were beautiful signs and wonders proclaiming the majesty and glory of the Almighty, Who had spoken to us again, this time through His beloved Son.

Though His people await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, how privileged we are to know our Messiah has come. With the sound of a baby’s cry in Bethlehem, God revealed His plan of redemption in a unique and wondrous way. Silence was broken and we were set free.

The young boy in John 6 was willing to part with his loaves and fishes. Maybe there were others present that day who had food hidden away and didn’t offer to share it. Who knows? Maybe one of the disciples had a Snickers bar tucked in his cloak! So afterwards he thought, “Shoot! We could have had dessert for everyone, too!”

In giving his food into the hands of the Master, the boy not only participated in feeding thousands of hungry people but also shared in the bounty till his own stomach was “made full.” Spurgeon said, “Anything that you take away from self and give to Christ is well invested.”

Jesus accepted the little barley cakes and tiny sardines. In taking them up, He was saying, “These will do for me. These are enough for me.” Though there was just a small amount, He knew He could use it and even do mighty things with it. The boy gave all he had to the Master, and Christ proved it was enough for Him.

I thought I owned million-a-thing, the thoughts I think, the songs I sing;
I thought I claimed each moment mine, the lyric, the poem, even the rhyme.
I thought I had a way with life, that peace was mine, and even strife;
I thought I could hold it in my hand, be queen for a day-now that’d be grand!
But then I thought, “These thoughts won’t do.” Something in them refused to ring true.
For even my mind which built such notions, and also my deepest heartfelt emotions,
Were created by Him Who possesses the stars, the Earth, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars,
All creatures, all plants, things present and past, all that is gone and that which will last.
You see, nothing is mine, not even this breath; all is His: my days, my death.
So I will live as I am: truly His own, from kneeling on this Earth ’til before His throne.
And when they ask, “What did she possess?” The love of a King and His happiness.