Your Love

The more I ask God to break me down the more He does. As I find more and more that I need to give over to him, the more this song makes sense. And the more that I tell God all I need is His love, the more I truly believe it.

Enjoy this song. It is shaping up to be my theme song for 2011.

Head over to Amy's when you are done and check out some more great songs to start your year off right!

Happy New Year!

The Shepherds and the Magi

Each played a part.
One "spread the word concerning all they had been told about this child... glorifying God for all the things they had heard and seen."

The other "bowed down and worshipped him."

THE SHEPHERDS

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”



Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,


“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
Luke 2:8-20 (NIV)




THE MAGI

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”



When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:


‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’


Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”


After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."
Matthew 2:1-11 (NIV)



We are to be like both, bowing down in worship of him, as well as spreading the word and glorifying him for all the things we have heard and seen.
 
Merry Christmas

Unspeakable Joy!

I have always liked Joy To The World but once again, Chris Tomlin takes something beautiful and then takes it to the next level. My favorite new song of the season!

Have a wonderful week before Christmas by finding time to be alone with Jesus and worship with everything you have. His favorite gift is YOU!



Head over to Amy's for a great Christmas music offering!

God is With Us

This is one of my favorite worship Christmas songs. Just beautiful.



Don't forget to visit Amy!

SNOW!

I am kicking off December with a scene from my favorite Christmas movie: White Christmas. This is one of my favorite songs from the movie and it seems fitting since we have had teeny tiny flurries over the past couple of days. I am praying that we get a good layering of snow in the next few weeks. It is my favorite thing to do to go Christmas shopping when the snow is falling.

Enjoy! (Then go visit AMY for more songs!)

Thanksgiving

Before the holiday season is off and running away from us, I thought it would be nice to just sit quietly for a few minutes and think about what we have to be thankful for.  To look at God and just say, "thank you" in the quiet of our thoughts and hearts. 


I found this song and it was the perfect background for this activity. I hope you are blessed by it.


"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."


Colossians 2:6-7


"I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you."


Psalm 35:18


"But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content."


Psalm 131:2



For more things to be thankful for, head over to Signs, Miracles and Wonders for her Thanksgiving week offerings.

Where We Belong

There have been so many flash moments for me this week...

Wednesday morning on the way to work the sky was the richest blue with not a cloud to find. I am driving along looking at the trees and how they seem to reach up to the sky, to God, and I suddenly realized, I am living the exact same Wednesday Christ did before he was crucified.

 I had a hectic morning getting the kids ready for the sitter and for school, getting ready for work, hurrying out the door with less compassion than I should have shown. I was focused on the clock and getting my daughter to the sitter and getting to work on time. As I was driving and looking I realized, 

Christ was focused on tying up the loose ends of His earthly ministry in preparation for the coming days and the completion of God's perfect plan.

Thursday morning I woke up to live the same Thursday morning that Christ did.

My morning was slow and lazy knowing I didn't have a lot on my plate for the day. I was off work, planning to go to the park with the kids, take my son to the doctor for a cough, meet a friend to walk in the afternoon and then Bible study with my women's group that night. 

Jesus was preparing to be the ultimate servant as he washed his disciples feet, shared his last meal with them, and ultimately, face the fact that they would all abandon him in just a few hours. he was entering into the most passionate, grueling, heart-wrenching and desperate time of prayer in all of His ministry. He would be kissed with betrayal and denied again and again. 

Friday morning I again woke up to the same Friday morning that Christ did.

We went shopping as a family and picked up some odds and ends for the kids and the home, dropped them off at Nana and Papas, I got a haircut while the hubby took a nap, shopped a little, ate dinner out, and then picked the kids up to relax at home.

My Savior was abandoned, beaten, whipped, ridiculed, abused, tortured, paraded, crucified, mocked, forsaken and pierced so that his blood poured out. His death was not swift, or private, or peaceful. His body was carried to a tomb, wrapped in cloth and sealed away.

We lived the same three days. The same twenty-four hours. But look what He did.

For me.

For you. 

For us all. The World. 

I keep having these flash moments during my very, very ordinary days. These little moments where my chest clenches for what seems to be no reason. But all of a sudden, I feel this flood of Love for Jesus so strong, so intense, that I want to just sit and sob from the emotions I feel. I feel so much joy that I don't know what to do with it all. 

I see the clear skies and feel the warm sun and winds that blow me away and I am so aware of the breathe of God and the warmth that comes from the Light of Christ. I see the buds on the trees, the daffodils in bloom and the hastas shoots breaking free of the ground and all I can think is, "Oh, Sunday, I can't wait for you to come! Christ is risen, yes, He is risen indeed!" 

Our choir will be singing, I know our worship will be amazing, we will be talking about the final prayers of Jesus in my youth group class, our Pastor will be speaking about our risen Savior, and I just can't wait for it to get here! It is better than any birthday celebration, it is our salvation celebration! 

Would you like to join me a little early in celebrating our precious, passionate RISEN Savior? 

Happy Easter!

For more opportunities to share in the joy of the season, go see Amy.

Here With Us

It's so important to remember WHO Jesus is...




It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God could be so small,
How tiny fingers reaching in the night
Were the very hands that measured the sky

Chorus
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King,
You're here with us
You're here with us

Verse 2
It's still a mystery to me, oh,
How His infant eyes have seen the dawn of time
How His ears have heard an angel's symphony,
But still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep

Chorus
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King
Here with us
You're here with us
(Ohh, mmm, here with us)

Bridge
Jesus the Christ, born in Bethlehem
A baby born to save, to save the souls of man

Chorus
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King
You're here with us
You're here with us

Silver Bells

I love this song. We finally got to do some Christmas shopping this weekend and the only thing missing was snow falling. I absolutely love this time of year. I pray you hear some silver bells this week!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X4o73ETgsc&feature=share

First Gift of the Season

I got my first gift of the season today. It wasn't even my gift to give or recieve, but I was still blessed by it.

One of our dear, dear friends got married today.  The church was full of twinkling Christmas lights and stained glass shining in the setting sun.  The isle was lined with white bows and candles. The groom (our friend) walked out with the biggest goofy grin on his face, and it didn't leave until he got his first glimpse of his lady in her gown. Then he just kinda melted.

All the ladies were in draped black strapless dresses carrying white flowers with a red flower in the center. The first attendant down the isle carried my friend's son (who was totally adorable in his little tuxedo suit with no shoes on :), and then finally his lady. She was in a strapless draped dress carrying red roses and looked like a fairy tale bride. The entire ceremony was filled with giggles and happy tears.

This was our dear friend who swore he would never marry.  He was a big 'ol goofy grinnin' gettin' married fool today.

It was such a blessing and gift to watch him marry such a beautiful and wonderful woman, and to hear prayer and scripture put over their marriage.

We have known him since he was fourteen. He was an usher in our wedding.  We helped him get his business off the ground. We were there when his dad past on. We were there for the birth of his son. We were there tonight. Walking through life with someone is the greatest treasure.

I love the gifts that God grants. They are almost never in shiny paper and topped with a bow. But they refresh your heart and bring joy to your soul.

I will leave you with the scriptures that were read during the ceremony today.

I saw today a glimmer of love that will only know full brightness in Heaven.

But what a preview.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Ding Dong Merrily On High

I had to post this song to kick off the Christmas season on my blog. It was always my absolute favorite song to sing in a choir setting. So fun!



Head over to Signs Miracles and Wonders for more!

Here I go/ There I go

I think I just passed myself walking down the hall.

Have you ever felt like that?  There is the Mom-me, Wife-me, Employee-me, Home CEO-me, Ministry worker-me, Trying to do some type of Bible study-me, Friend-me; Can I just say all of us are a little tired?

I miss blogging so much! I love to just open my computer, pull up a blank screen and see what I get. Sometimes it makes no sense and I just delete it once I get it all out. Other times I feel like God really had something great for me to share, so I stick it on here. And sometimes, I just like to ramble, have fun, or post a song or video that I am loving at the moment. It's my brain dump.

Well, I haven't gotten to visit the blank-page therapy room lately.  Between work, being a mom and wife and trying to be better about spending time in the Word (still not consistant on that one), and trying to be a friend, I have been feeling spread a little thin. Oh, and did I mention I am apparently trying to single-handedly lead half the ministries in my church (not really, but some days it feels that way!)

About a year ago, I really felt pulled to start a First Place group at my church. I didn't want to lead it alone (it looked really intense work-wise) so I thought I would join one and go through a session before bringing it to my home church. Well, it fell through and I didn't get to go, but I did find out one of my friends in my church had felt led to start a First Place group as well. So, starting about three months ago, we began the process of developing this ministry for the women in our church. We are scheduled to begin in January 2010.  This has been hard for me. I get an idea, flesh it out, and then am ready to implement it and move on quickly. All this planning and such has been driving me crazy...but I am pretty sure God is using this to refine me and teach me patience and the blessing of being prepared.

Then, about 6 weeks ago, our youth pastor announced he was leaving the church. Bob and I have been the only other adults that have served faithfully for the last 3 years, so the leadership of the youth group just sort of transfered to us.  We have spent the last weeks getting speakers, setting curriculum, planning activities and starting the process for camp in the summer. We also lead small groups for Sunday school, so we study for that, as well as making sure that we have people lined up and prepared to use our curriculum for Wednesday night youth group. Adminstrating a youth ministry is a full time job. I am driving to the church on my lunch hour. I am not complaining. Just stating what my day is like.

Finally, I am a full time volunteer in our women's ministry. Because of the other things going right now, I don't have time to serve as I feel called to serve, but I know God is patient and preparing the way for me to step into that role later, when staff is in place in our church. I know I will be leading a women's Sunday morning Bible study group, but not right now. I really enjoy planning and executing events for the women in our church, and love knowing that women will have a chance to get to know Jesus just a little (or a lot) better through our ministry.

Bob and I have made a priority of spending a night together every week, so we signed up for ballroom dance classes with some friends of ours. We just finished our first session and have a break until January. It is so much fun and it is a dedicated "us" night every week.

I have also been horribly neglecting my own personal growth through Scripture. I have spent all my time studying to be prepared to lead/teach, and not spending any time growing myself. I have signed up for a Beth Moore Bible study to begin in December and run through until January. It is good to study the Bible in order to help someone else grow, we should all do it, but not at the cost of allowing God time to communicate with us in our own intimate relationship with Him.

Abby is in full-on crazy 2's. She isn't terrible, just uh.... fickle. I have never been so entertained or enraptured with the wonder of life as I am when I am with her and I get to try to see the world through her 2 year old eyes.

Kevin is going through a rough period now as well. With so much change and unpredictable-ness around him, he has really been struggling. We are dedicating more time to helping him with and through all that is going on around him. At the age of 10, boys are in a sticky spot. They are feeling more of the protector, fix-it, handle-it drive of man-hood, but still struggling with the knowledge that there isn't alot in their power that they can do about it. It is horrible frustrating for him. I am starting to get a glimpse of some of the things we will deal with as he is a tween, things I had no idea would be coming. I have to admit I feel a little like a duck-out-of-water with him. I just don't GET most of it. I want to, it just isn't something that makes sense to me. Thank God for my dear sweet husband, who I know will lead him well through this time.

We also are trying to have friends! In all the busy-ness of life, the blessing of friends often gets shoved to second, third, or even further down the priorty list. We are making an effort to pour into those we love, and those we want to know better.

Finally, the holidays are here!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas. It is my favorite season of all, and I try to soak up every drop of it before the new year gets here. I have moments of sadness. This was my mom's favorite time of year as well, and we shared so much every year. It is the time I miss her most, especially now that we have Abby, whom she never got to see.

As if that all isn't enough, I still have things that I am struggling to get through, things that I refuse to let go of, and things that God has firmly stamped "wait and see". All of these things adds up to blogging on the back burner. I wish it wasn't what I have to do, but it is. For this season. I am praying that it is a SHORT season. I pray with 100% confidence that our church will have an amazing pastor placed there soon, and that he will put into place amazing staff that will love and serve our community with a heart, hands and feet of Jesus.

I have titled this season of my life "Here I go/There I go" for obvious reasons. The easy thing about it is, I am at peace knowing it is just a season.  I have faith that God will bless all the calendar checking, life balancing and saying no to things that I really want to do. I have faith that this is a very short time in the span of God's plan, and if the Isrealites made it through 40 years in the desert, I should handle this season with grace and trust.

I am not doing too bad, either.

Most days.

;)

Happy Father's Day!

This week I of course want to honor my husband.

I love that the following video is something that my man takes seriously. He knows that Kevin wants to be just like him, good or bad. I am so proud when my hubby sits down and helps him with him homework, shows him how to mow the yard and how to treat girls, but more importantly, I love that Kevin is learning how to treat women from watching the loving way his dad treats me in the little day-in-day-out ways, that God comes first by seeing his dad on the couch reading the Bible, listening to him pray at night and wanting to serve because he sees his dad serving the people in his life with a humble heart.







My heart just breaks with love to watch Bob with his little princess. It makes me so happy to see her wrap him around her little finger and how he is already teaching her how she should be loved by all those evil boys to come. I love to see his face light up when she comes running up to him when he comes in the door, how he thinks there has never been anything funnier/cuter/more precious/more blessed than the gift of our little girl. I can't wait to see their relationship grow as she becomes a little girl, a young lady, a teen and finally, a woman. We pray that God will do amazing things with her life, and with her Dad setting the standard, I know she will make God proud!



Happy Father's Day honey. I Love You!




Verse 1:
Gotta hold on easy as I let you go.
Gonna tell you how much I love you,
though you think you already know.
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born.

Chorus:
Your beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl.

Verse 2:
When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone.
Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown.
Sometimes you're asleep I whisper "I Love You!" in the moonlight at your door.
As I walk away, I hear you say, "Daddy Love You More!".

(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 3:
Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand.
But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know, he's the half
that makes you whole, he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man.
I know he'll say that he's in love.
But between you and me. He won't be good enough!

TSMS Saturday

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!





For more great songs follow the link to TSMS Saturday in my right hand column.

Easter

Happy Easter evening to all my bloggy friends.

Today was a nice, quiet day in the Brandon home.

We haven't really gotten the whole "day of rest" thing down, but today we were pretty darned close.

We had a wonderful morning at church, including lots of hugs and smiles, a continential breakfast, communion that was very meaningful for me, and a wonderful message from Pastor that was kicked off with a video from the Passion of the Christ set to the song "Why" by Nicole Nordeman. It just shows that the joy is so much more profound and sweet when you remember the bitterness that had to be reaped to find it.

When we got home we had a quiet time of Easter gifts for the kids. Abby got a little tykes tricycle (disney princess edition, of course!) and a lift the flap book. Kevin was a little more spoiled. He got a new nerf gun and refill cartridges and a go phone.

The phone was more of a neccessity than a gift, although he doesn't see it that way. We want to make sure that we can get ahold of him when he is out running around with his friends.

My chocolate fast is finally over so I enjoyed a few M&M fun packages! Oh, soooo good!

After lunch we all took a nice long nap (except for Kevin, he spent the afternoon watching movies).

All in all, not a bad go at "rest".

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter Sunday and that you have been renewed in your passion and joy, your rest and love of family.

Old vs.New

Old...

Laying on the floor in my jammies watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

New...

Watching the kids lay on the floor, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Old...

making haystacks with my mom

New...

Making haystacks with my kids

Old...

Having leftover dark meat turkey sandwiches and cranberry sauce for dinner.

New...

Having leftover dark meat turkey sandwiches and cranberry sauce for dinner.

Old...

Decorating for the Christmas holiday and watching my dad put the star on top

New...

Decorating for the Christmas holiday and watching my husband help my son put the angel on top.

I don't know about you, but it is fun to look back at the old traditions of my childhood and compare to see how they have shaped the traditions of today.

One tradition that I didn't carry on was my mom's cornbread dressing and giblet gravy. It was always my favorite dish and I would eat a ton of it. I can still taste it. I didn't have her teach me how to make either one, so now, I just make stove top cornbread dressing and enjoy the fact that I have great memories of watching my mom in the kitchen working to make our Thanksgiving great. This Thanksgiving I am very thankful for my family and friends, but I keep returning to the fact that I had such love and security growing up. It makes me look at how I am raising my kids and really think about what memories and traditions I am passing along. Are they good memories and enduring traditions? My mom has been gone for awhile now, but it is still really hard for me around the holidays. She was great at making the holidays a big deal and making them fun. I hope that I can bring that same excitement and enjoyment to my kids as the years pass by.

Have a great holiday everyone.