When we drive around town, I usually have the radio on and it is usually tuned to J103, the local CCM station. One rather popular song that keeps popping up in their playlist is Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns. The lyrics are very moving and calming- reminding me that where ever the storms are, God is there. Sometimes He is moving them away and other times, He is right there beside me as we rock and roll through the rapids.

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

The song has been used by the Holy Spirit for me recently. I’ve been exhaustingly sick (I joke, but coughing is physically tasking), I’ve been hugging my kids while they battle ailments, and in the past few days my husband has been recovering from a rather painful surgery.

While these things might not seem as bad to others, to me it has felt rather big and lonely. My temper has been short, my desire to shut out all things has been big. Interaction with even Fuller and Tebow has sometimes been forced out of Mommy-duty and not Mommy Love.

And yet, this song keeps coming to mind to remind me to praise God in all circumstances, even when hacking up a lung or wiping yet another snotty nose.

I’m thankful for the reminder, because on Tuesday the song mashed up with another song I have been hearing a lot of as well- City on our Knees by Toby Mac.

On Tuesday night, when Damon was trying to find the balance between resting and taking his pain medication, Twitter was exploding with one question “What happened to @anissamayhew?”

It took a little while for the news to trickle out, but it came out that Anissa had suffered a stroke and was in the ICU in an Atlanta area hospital. You can read more about it at one of Anissa’s blogs, Aiming Low.

I met Anissa briefly at Type A Mom Conference. Our interaction was pretty brief and centered around the fact that Tebow is one cute kid. And while it was a nice ice breaker, I didn’t suddenly drop the shy-shield and become her BFF. I just kind of saw her from the corner of my eye.

But when the twitterverse was only talking about Anissa and starting the hashtag #prayersforanissa, I was drawn in. For one thing, Anissa is a fellow blogger and I know (and learned more about) the struggles her family has endured in recent years. And for another, it was amazing how far the reach of the #prayersforanissa had gone out. Her community set up a Caring Bridge site, paypal donation buttons, and started keeping people in the loop immediately.

So, back to the mash up of songs.

Toby Mac sings

“Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints

Two worlds collide
in a beautiful display

It’s all up tonight
When we step across the line

We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king

A city on our knees”

On Tuesday night, the city was Twitter and there were people falling to their knees in prayer for Anissa. The #prayersforAnissa topic grows and grows. Maybe people are just curious now, maybe others just want updates, but I know there are people still on their knees for this blogger and her family. I know there are people who, when they type #prayersforanissa they are actually praying for Anissa.

And now, we watch and praise God through this storm. While we are on our knees we know God is working either pushing away the clouds while holding our hands or holding our hands while we keep on keeping on. God is going to heal my body, my husband’s body, my kid’s bodies. And I know God is healing Anissa too. Keep that city on it’s knees, twitter. #prayersforanissa

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