The Presence of the Lord is Here

Today was a full day.  I worked 2 services at Redeemer, attended church, did 2 photography sessions, and hosted an apt full of people to make sandwiches for hurricane Sandy victims.  I sit down at the end of the day tired and completely overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed by what our city is going through and the pain that is all around me.  Overwhelmed by specific things in my life and all that the next 2 months bring.  In these moments I want to take control.  I want to run and try to help everyone, I want to tell myself it's ok if I don't sleep and I really can do everything in my life that i want to do.  and the worst part is in the mist of all this, I forget to stop and pray.  For some crazy reason I think the Lord is not in the middle of this and not completely in control.  But tonight at church as 800 of my fellow New Yorkers worshipped together  Rozz Morehead led us in a time of worship like nothing I have experienced.  The words of her song were so simplistic, "The Presence of the Lord is Here"  It was those words over and over again with dancing and clapping and beautiful voices. And after a week like many have experienced it was an incredible reminder that the Lord is HERE.  He is with us.  He is in the midst of all this pain and destruction.  He is HERE even when we do not feel him.  He is HERE when i feel completely overwhelmed and wonder to myself how I am going to do everything I have on my plate the next 2 months.  He is HERE with so much change happening in my life. HE is HERE. I need to be reminded of this truth.  I am so thankful for my church community and the worship we experienced today at Redeemer. I am thankful for a community around me that is coming together to help and serve in more ways that I can count.  

We turned our living room and foyer into a "operation PB&J" tonight making about 200 sandwiches to be donated to Sandy victims who are in still in need.  

Thankful for these friends who came over to help! 

The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.  The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  Psalm 145, 14, 17-18