"Why So Downcast Oh My Soul?"

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I believe that I started blogging over 12 years ago. A lot has happened in that time. I have graduated 3 children, had one to marry and have a baby!!!, and the other two to get jobs and attend some college. One of ours will leave in fall, Lord willing, to attend college in West Virginia. The other two are still in school. Seth has 4 years left after this year and Sully 5. 

I am currently 52 and about to celebrate 28 years of wedded bliss to my sweetheart, Mr. Benson. I am definitely in the middle of my life, or more likely, past the middle. If I get to live as long as my Grandma, I will have approximately 34 more years. What will I do with these remaining years, so as the good Lord tarries? Teach, for sure! I go back in forth in my mind of how I want to do that. I want to help homeschoolers - I had that in my toolkit and was, and still am, blessed by that. We have a granddaughter now, so we are anticipating life as grandparents. Our family had so much fun as the children grew up, so I look forward to that. 

But, what does the Lord want for me in this next chapter? I still have a lot of life left and want to use it as He sees fit. I don't know about you, but I find that I am a little scatterbrained - so many spinning plates. But I love my plates! I think that the Lord wants me to spread joy and love. Encourage this next generation! This exciting, energetic, innovative generation of families coming up. Just as I was typing, the song, "Why So Downcast Oh My Soul," popped into my head! Read these verses from Psalm 42--

 42 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

I think that I will write these down in my journal and meditate on them. I believe I will also write them on a paper and post them in my laundry room. Boy! I have grown so much as a housewife! I used to get so angry about the house. But, I believe my family and their friends have helped me with this! Winston Churchill said this as a rallying cry during WWII -- "Never give in, never, give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in..." So, I admonish you, too! If you are in a rut or scatterbrained as I, don't give in! Don't give in to that attitude that is defeating. Instead, put your hope in God! I know that He is the one, the only one, that can help me! He is our hope and stay! Come what may, God is there, and on my side! Whatever may come and whatever may go, the Lord goes before, beside, behind, below, and above us! So, if you are in the middle of a muddle, take hope! God is right there with you. 

My prayer for you is that you will look to Him -the Great I Am! Seek Him and see what He wants for you to do. Ask Him for your help and advice. Praise Him in your good and bad times. You will be amazed at what He can help you do!

Speaking of that...I am going to go fix some breakfast! Listen to this song from 1994 and let the words speak to your heart! "Why So Downcast Oh My Soul"

As always, I love you and am praying Jesus over you!

Love, {{hugs}}, and heaps of blessings!

Chandra

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