Mr. Jim Holbrook tastefully plays for us one of his favorites: "It is Well."
Highland,
This week, Mr. Jim Holbrook skillfully plays for us “It is Well.” This is a hymn that speaks to an unwavering faithfulness in a God who is steadfast in love throughout every season we may encounter. I hope you enjoy listening to Jim, along with the chorus of birds that joins him, as much as I do.
Over this time of being home-bound, our family is reading and praying through Psalm 20 each night at our dinner table. We are using this Psalm to draw our family closer, through God’s Word and to pray for our church throughout these unusual times. Here is the Psalm:
“May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble;
may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.
May He send you help from the sanctuary
and sustain you from Zion.
May He remember all your offerings
and accept your burnt offering.
May He give you what your heart desires
and fulfill your whole purpose.
Let us shout for joy at your victory
and lift the banner in the name of our God.
May Yahweh fulfill all your requests.
Now I know that the Lord gives victory to His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
with mighty victories from His right hand.
Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses,
but we take pride in the name of Yahweh our God.
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand firm.
Lord, give victory to the king!
May He answer us on the day that we call.”
“May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.”
Using this verse from the Psalm, Carrie asked each of us to write down our heart’s desire and what we sense as our ‘whole purpose’ throughout this season, and beyond. Following our meals, we read Psalm 20 together, then revisit our cards and pray. As we have discussed and prayed, what has become more and more evident is that you, Highland, are part of our ‘whole purpose.’ Your well-being, your joy, your safety are directly connected to our hearts’ desires. Carrie and I both wrote that our heart’s desire was for an overflow of the Holy Spirit so that His joy and power would abound in and through our lives. All of this for His glory and our good!
We invite you to join in this prayer alongside our family. Ask yourself, “what is my heart’s desire?”. And if you could summarize what your “whole purpose” is in this season of quarantine, what would that be? Let me remind you of the beautiful parable found in Luke 11. Jesus speaks of an earthly father and his desire to give his child good gifts. Then Jesus moves from an earthy example and begins speaking about His Father. In referring to our Heavenly Father, Jesus says, “how MUCH MORE will your heavenly Father be delighted to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?”.
Remember, it is the delight of our Father to give us our request for an overflow of the work, power, and joy of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives. So may we unite our voices as one and pray with confidence, “Lord, may You give Highland what our heart desires and fulfill our whole purpose for more of the Holy Spirit. Lord, give great victory to the Highland family! May You answer us on the day that we call” (Psalm 20:4,9). Throughout this time, know that from our dining room table, the Strickland family is praying for you, Highland. Our family truly loves each of you!
Rob & Carrie