Better than......

…. A hallelujah!  Amy Grant has a fairly new song that states to simply and perfectly how our God opens His arms to us:

We pour out our misery

God just hears a melody

Beautiful the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

I have new friends that demonstrated this so beautifully recently.  A brief history of my friends, some of which may be out of order or not exact time line as at the beginning of their story I knew only their names.

Imagine yourself being a wife, one step closer to being the mother you have dreamed of since being a little girl.  Imagine becoming pregnant with that first child and being thrilled beyond belief. Now jump forward 9 months to the birth of that sweet baby you have waited so long for and this is where the real story begins…

Miss Kayla was born October 28, 2008 This precious gift of God was perfect on the outside, but on the inside had a battle raging no one knew was coming.  Within a few short hours this precious angel was flown to another hospital separated from both mom and dad.  She graced our world only a few short days.

After the grief this mother and father shared they still proclaimed the name of Jesus and believed He still had a plan for their lives, but knew it did not include Kayla.

On August 12, 2010 a little monkey named Gage was born, to this very deserving mother and father.  He also was whisked away and began a fight that taught me so very much.  I, along with a host of friends, family, and strangers began praying immediately.

I watched this mother and father stand firm again!  I watched them share their lives with Gage, their friends and family, with strangers and with me.  They poured out their heartache, they shared their love and they demanded that NO ONE lose faith.  They know the ultimate healer and knew He could prove to be that.  This was not just words coming from their mouths but true belief and faith like I had never personally seen in a crisis.  All of this Better than a Hallelujah!

When I met Gage, I didn’t realize how much more personally invested I would come in his little life.  I already had been blessed with 2 monkeys of my own and didn’t understand how you could stand there and not question God’s intentions or lack of care for your situation.  It was this amazing FAITH!  Better than a Hallelujah!

You see God did not expect them to praise Him for taking their sweet angel or their little monkey.  But He did expect them to never lose faith.  He did expect them to continually lean on Him in the trenches.  He also, asked that they share His love and comfort with others.  They did so wonderfully and included so many of us!  Better than a Hallelujah!

What does all of this have to do with me?  Well this is another step in life changing.  A place in my life where I realize God is there waiting for us to pour out to Him.  No matter where we are, what we are doing or what might be happening in our lives at the time.  Even with children laughing, crying or screaming in the background.  Our feelings are not a surprise to God but He wants us to express them, the good and the bad.  Although things in our lives may change, God never does.  Nothing is too BIG for God, if you have it…. Just Bring It!!!