“Living by Faith” 🎶😲

I woke up this morning barely able to move. Lots of folks do that and have to slowly stretch out the kinks like I was doing. I decided to start praying and a favorite, old song came to mind, “Living by Faith.” I started singing the words in my mind because my voice certainly wasn’t ready to even hum along, and I thought of how much I’ve always loved not only singing this song but singing these lyrics, these words penned by James Wells and R.E. Winsett and published in the “Church Hymnal”, 1951. I just have to share it and a blessing …

Living by Faith

I care not today what the morrow may bring
If shadow or sunshine or rain
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything”
And all of my worry is vain.

The tempests may blow and the storm-clouds arise,
Obscuring the brightness of life,
I’m never alarmed at the overcast skies,
The Master looks on at the strife.

I know that He safely will carry me thru,
No matter what evils betide,
Why should I then care tho’ the tempest may blow,
If Jesus walks close to my side.

Our Lord will return to this earth some sweet day,
Our troubles will then all be o’er,
The Master so gently will lead us away,
Beyond that blest heavenly shore.

Chorus
Living by Faith (echo) Yes living by faith,
in Jesus above, (echo) in Jesus above,
Trusting confiding (echo) trusting confiding
in His great love (echo) yes, in His great love;
From all harm safe (echo) from all harm safe
in His sheltering arm, (echo) in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith (echo) I’m living by faith
and feel no alarm (echo) feel no alarm.

I am so very grateful for great songs of the Lord. This song has impressed me since childhood with it’s words and music. It’s one of the many songs my Mother used to teach me how to sing alto and how to play on the piano. I love it so much that the first verse and chorus are ingrained in my brain 😃 and they came back to mind quickly. In order to share all the lyrics, I grabbed my very old and worn “Church Hymnal” and of all things, it opened exactly to pages 162 and 163 which house this beloved hymn… I call that confirmation to share this song with you 🙂. I just love how the Lord does these things!!!! 🥰🙌

I just absolutely must share a lovely gift from the Lord that pertains to all of this. About 18 months ago, after looking at my vocal cords with a scope, my Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor told me that he thought my choir days were over. Now, I really like my ENT. We’ve been through years of sinus infections, some that even needed treatment with IV antibiotics (thank The Lord for those), and more spells of laryngitis than I can count. So when he said my choir days are over, instead of sadness, a thought passed through my mind, “We’ll see what the Lord has to say about that.”

That may sound a little like I was being sarcastic but I really wasn’t. It was just a thought affirming my faith in the Lord that these things are in His hands, no one else’s. My ENT was just being honest, as he should be. I commend his honesty. My choir days could be over. But God has shown me over and over that there is always HOPE when I trust HIM!

”And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8: 28 NKJ

I believe, and have faith, that God is working all things for my good. At that particular moment, I didn’t know if I would ever sing again because it certainly didn’t seem likely. And I didn’t sing, except in my heart, for a long time. Actually, I attended my last choir practice in March 2020 right before COVID hit and changed the world. But I always loved the Lord and trusted in Him whether He decided to let me sing or not… no matter what! Trust the Lord!!!

Here’s the awesome Goodness of God … Recently, He gave me my back my voice to sing! I’ve been able to sing with the choir some lately! I don’t know the how, and I still struggle, but I am so very grateful for this time, for an encouraging husband (who is also our great pianist but I’m chasing a rabbit now 🥰 ), an awesome music minister who encouraged me to come back and do what I can and change to tenor, for my awesome choir buddies that have welcomed me back, loved me and accepted me despite my flaws. I am most grateful to God for letting me sing again! My heart is overflowing with gratitude!

God doesn’t always restore but He always gives us what we need to make it through our trials and He gives us new ways to praise Him and serve Him (like this blog 🙂). I may have many singing days ahead. I may have few. Regardless, I rejoice in this gift from the Lord, in this time, and I will strive to give Him my best.

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.”
Psalm 96: 1 NKJ

I can’t wait to tell my ENT of the goodness of God!!! 😃🙌

Dear friends, thank you for reading this longer than usual post. I just had to share the goodness of God and encourage you to always Hope and Live by Faith!!!

Kim 💕🙏