I Raise A Hallelujah

For the past few weeks I’ve been feeling weak in my body more than usual. With age comes a certain amount of change, to say the least, lol! The changes in my body are to be expected. It’s just part of the life cycle. Yes we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who overcame the world. We don’t have to give into the flesh. I understand all that. But I also understand that this body is not meant to live on forever. Our spirit, yes will live forever and one day we will have a new body…but this one, God says, will return back to dust.

We exercise and take vitamins and strive to eat healthy so that we can have a quality of life as much, and for as long as we can, but, in the end we are all going to die. I’ve accepted that because, well there’s nothing else to do, but, accept it. Any hoo…

Our days are in the hands of the Lord and when he says it’s time to come home, we will go home. The thing is, is not to dwell on it. We are sent, here, for His purpose and some discover that purpose sooner than others…we have a choice, to embrace it and live for Him, or, walk our own way. I chose a long time ago to embrace Him. There is no better way than His way!

Sunday morning I got up and was having an extremely difficult time, weak in my body. I went from the bed to the couch and waited to the last-minute to get my shower and get ready to go to Church.

Bob let me off at the front of the church and went to park the car. I went into the lobby and I felt like I was going to pass out…so I found a chair in our reception area and sat down. I caught the beginning of the last song, I Raise a Hallelujah, here are the words…

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

Sing a…

Sing a little louder (Sing a little louder)
Sing a little louder (Sing a little louder)
Sing a little louder (Sing a little louder)
Let’s sing a little louder (Let’s sing a little louder)
Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)
Let’s sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
Oh, I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah!

Just begin to raise your own hallelujah
I can’t do it for you
There’s a song written on your heart only you can sing
And when you sing enemies flee
When you sing prison walls come falling down
When you sing heaven invades the earth
So just begin to lift up your hallelujah
Raise it like a banner
Raise it like a flag
Raise it in the middle of the storm
Let it rise, let it rise
Like a symphony to the King
Everything needs Jesus
We raise it all up
Sing a little louder

I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
(In the presence of my enemies)
I raise a hallelujah
(Louder than the unbelief)
I raise a hallelujah
(My weapon is a melody)
I raise a hallelujah
(Heaven comes to fight for me)

I began to sing and worship my God and King…when I sang the words…

“I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!”

I literally felt something release me…and it was like it flew out of the room…all I could do was worship and cry before the Lord…when the song was over I stood up and there was one lady praising God silently with me…we smiled and said Hallelujah…

I went to the hallway and saw my dear sister Sheila walking towards me, I was still a little weak but I was 100 percent stronger than I was when I walked in. She said she had to go into the sanctuary to hear that song, it meant something very special to her.

We attend the 12:30 service at our church and are on the prayer team to pray before the service. We had no idea what the message was going to be. God is faithful…

At the end of the service Pastor Scott shared what this song meant to him…I had no idea how powerful or why this song was so powerful until after this experience. But… Jesus knows all things! Praise God! And he uses all things for His glory!

The pastor spoke on how we are going to have battles…but on the other side of the battle is the blessing…if we don’t give up…if we don’t get so caught up in thinking that just because you are a Christian that you’ll never face hardship or trials. Trails are going to come, sickness, all kinds of storms…but in the beginning of the storm, in the middle of the storm and through the storm…if we remain faithful to the Lord, even in death, we will receive the blessing of the Lord.

I had a CT scan last week of my lungs. Today I received a call from the doctor’s office. The nurse said they didn’t see any mass, which I was relieved to hear but she said the dr. wants me to come in the office to discuss some other findings.

If I let it the enemy could have a field day with me on this but because of yesterday I will stand in faith…in the battle and believe for the blessing on the other side. I do appreciate your prayers though…and I will be singing in the storm…I raise a hallelujah!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill February 11, 2019;

Journey Church Lake Worth, FL

Acts 16:25-34 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.