Better than a Hallelujah- Amy Grant

God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves a drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody 
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out,singing out.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Count it all joy?

James 1:2-3 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."
Who wants to count it as joy when they fall into trials? It's certainly not something you want to do. And it is hard. Trials are conflicts, suffering, and troubles that can be really hard to deal with. Now depending on how you deal with the trials they can ether direct our attention to God or we can choose to turn away. Trials can also make us more useful to God and to help us trust Him more. 
Yes, suffering is very common among Christians. Just check out Hebrews 11:36-39. 
But also remember when you are afflicted with trials, God is ALWAYS there! God's peace is ALWAYS available and God's strength is ALWAYS available! NOTHING can separate you from God's love!
I'll leave you with this last final thought 
2 Corinthians 5:8-9 "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed"
In His Name,
Karis
P.S. This was a topic of a sermon I recently heard. So alot of these thoughts cam from that. Just thought I'd share them :)

The Ocean :)

Okay so I'm spending the weekend with my sister, my twin aunts, and my grandma at the beach. So far I love it!! I don't know how anyone can look, feel and see the ocean and think that it came about my random chance. I think that one of the reason's God created the ocean is to show His strength and power. 
One of my favorite quotes is: 
"Whether you like it or not, whether you know it or not, secretly all nature seeks God and works toward him". -- Meister Eckhart
I don't have much time to write about this right now, but I would appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
Genesis 1:10
In His Name,
~ Karis

Love, What is it???

About a month ago, I don't even remember what sparked it. But I was wondering exactly what is love. I went on a quest to find out. I mean sure I tell my friends I love them, I tell my family I love them, but really what is love? I went to the bible in search of answers. Here is what I found: 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Romans 12:9-10 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends."

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

All this information leads me to believe that love is a very, very powerful thing. And above all else if we truly love others with real Christ like love the reward will be great in heaven. 

I am still studying on this particular subject, so maybe there will be more in the future.

Other thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated! :)

1 Corinthians 13:13

In His Name,

<3 Karis