Ever notice how each year seems to carry its own “theme” that summarizes opportunities or lessons learned for that year?  We seldom notice it while we’re living it out – it’s usually in reflection that we see the “bigger picture”, and that’s surely been true of my life.  Our family has faced unbearably hard times these past few years, and the “themes” have been mostly of struggle, loss and sheer survival!  But 2016 has a different feel to it, and while we Warrens are still healing from wounds that will always bear deep scars, I am beginning to feel the slightest hope for renewal – for God’s goodness to once again reign in my grief-weary heart….

So it seems fitting to begin this Lenten season with a new journey – a new opportunity to dive even deeper into the theme of grace, of redemption…..of sacrificial love.

Though this isn’t the first time I’ve shared daily reflections through Lent, it will be by far the most personal (and for those who know me or have followed other blogs, you’re probably asking yourself just how much MORE personal I can get!) but let me explain why….

For the past year, I’ve been repairing the walls of my faith.  Walls that were once miles high and strong as steel crumbled nearly to the ground as we faced the loss of our only son – our daughter’s only sibling – and the “Warren Four” became three….

Faith……a word that so easily spilled from my lips for as long as I can remember now came with a higher price than I could have ever imagined.  I honestly didn’t know what to do with all the questions and confusion that crowded my heart and mind.  So I waited…..

Waited to breathe….waited to feel….waited to heal….waited to believe again.

I’ve learned so, so many things the past year about God’s relentless love that waits for us, pursues us and holds us through each and every storm, and these truths have come bursting through the fog and rain of a broken heart through the many hours I’ve spent alone with God- hours spent in honest prayer, in painful lament and when words wouldn’t come, filled with music to speak my heart’s cry.  In the early days of loss, when I felt so far from worship, all I could do was listen to others sing their own songs until ever so slowly I reclaimed my own expressions.

So, while I fully understand fewer of you will probably connect with this year’s Lenten blog (and there are so many other wonderful things to read and experience – it’s OK….really!) I feel strongly that there are a few of you who are perhaps where I have been, maybe not due to grief at the loss of a loved one, but perhaps grief of another kind.  Maybe it’s a broken relationship….fear of failure….a past that continues to push its way into the present….maybe even your own crisis of faith.

So these next forty days are dedicated especially to my heart-weary companions.  I will be sharing a daily (more likely nightly) song to minister to the hurting places and hopefully bring healing and restoration as God leads.  I’ll share lyrics (sometimes with commentary – always in parenthesis) and encourage you to trust….yes, trust….that the God who sings over me sings over you, too!

40 Days – 40 Songs…..Let’s be brave and begin the journey of healing together. <3

https://discoverlentwithme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/03_-_while_im_waiting.mp3?_=1

Day 1

While I’m Waiting

John Waller

Published by
TRAVELIN’ ZOO MUSIC

I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint
I’ll be running the race even while I wait

I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it’s not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint
I’ll be running the race even while I wait

I will move ahead bold and confident
I’ll be taking every step in obedience, yeah

While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint

And I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You Lord

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting