Let Everything that Has Breath Praise the Lord

The past few weeks away from an 8-5 job have provided me the opportunity to feel like ME again. The beautiful ache for beauty, the empathy that I share with music, my desire to be bathed in the Word of God, and my desire to write again. Maybe these are mundane things to most people, but those are deep, real things that make me who I am. Since I have worked in a call center, for whatever reason, I have felt loss because these things seemed to be missing. Music wasn't quite penetrating me the way that it used to, my hunger for God seemed jaded, and I had writers block like never before. But even with the busy-ness of maternity, I feel more like myself than I have in a very long time.

I wish I had my piano here. I miss playing, and I ache for the release that it was for me. Those deep parts of me that are so difficult to express verbally found their way out through my fingers on 88 keys. I heard someone talking about modulations and music theory today, and remembered that I actually know a lot of music theory, after all, I studied it for 12 years. I would still love for the Lord to use music in some way through me.

I have also been missing involvement in global missions. I have been recalling my cross-cultural experiences---the faces, the places, the purpose...and long to be involved again. I pray that Adam and I are able to go together and serve somewhere.

I long to know Jesus and to be conformed to His image. I long to love deeply, richly, and selflessly, and I long to desire the things that He desires. I fall so short, but am learning to lean on grace.

This entry has been scatter brained--much more a personal journal entry than a public blog, but thank you, reader, for bearing with me. I close with the lyrics to a song that has been on repeat in my home lately:

Hallelujah from the heavens
Hallelujah in the heights above the earth
Hallelujah all His angels
Hallelujah for the last will be first
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

Hallelujah in the morning
Hallelujah for the beauty of His scars
Hallelujah in the twilight
Hallelujah sun and moon and shining stars
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
when you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside

For all your times of laughter
In every hopeful prayer
When the world weighs on your shoulders
Through sorrow and your despair
With everything, with every breath, praise the Lord
Let everything, that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Let everything, that has breath praise the Lord

When the night seems so long (throw your hands to the sky)
You can sing a new song (wipe the tears from your eyes)
When you're weak, He is strong
He can heal your wounded soul
And calm the storm inside