This week I chose Leeland's Carried To The Table. It is absolutely georgous. The video I picked isn't the best quality but I wanted you guys to be able to see him singing it. I am so blown away by the depth of his passion and understanding, especially since he is so young (not that that matters).
I spent a lot of time listening to this song last week, and then we sang it in church Sunday, so I feel that it has a message that God really wants to get out. The image of God carrying me to his table, even though I have never been and will never be, good enough to go there, to belong there...how great is our God to WANT us there?
I hope this song truly blesses you as you enter into your weekend, and beyond.
For more great songs, click the link in my right hand column!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Romance
I don't know what is going on that God would choose to immerse me in such confirmation of his love.
But oh YES, I will take it.
it truly is a romance. I get so excited when I hear from him. He pursues me with passion and joy. Just hearing from him makes everything seem OK. He keeps popping up, just to tell me he loves me. He has sung to me, written me letters, and turned up in the strangest places. He is in songs, books, magazines, movies, TV shows, the people I meet, and in the very quiet of my heart.
If I could make you truly believe and accept one thing, it would be this. It doesn't matter how long you have known God, a day or a lifetime; God wants a passionate and intimate relationship with YOU, yes, YOU! From the first second, to the last breath, he will be pursuing your love.
You can walk away, run away, become indifferent or enraged. You can tell him no, tell him you hate him, tell him he no longer is allowed in your life. You can do all those things and he will still be there, pursuing with love, compassion and patience.
You see, God loves who we are underneath even what we know of ourselves. We see the now, but God sees what was, what is, what will be. Most importantly, he sees what HE intends. We each have a Divine and unique purpose and plan. His passion for us, placed inside of us, to fulfill his plan for our life. You see, WE are part of his plan.
And God's plan is perfect.
No matter how far away you think you are, or what you've done that you think is too bad, or too much; it's never too late.
You see, God's pursuit of you will never end. Not until the day that we see him face to face, and spend our eternity right where he wants us to be. With Him.
THAT is the most Divine of romances.
But oh YES, I will take it.
it truly is a romance. I get so excited when I hear from him. He pursues me with passion and joy. Just hearing from him makes everything seem OK. He keeps popping up, just to tell me he loves me. He has sung to me, written me letters, and turned up in the strangest places. He is in songs, books, magazines, movies, TV shows, the people I meet, and in the very quiet of my heart.
If I could make you truly believe and accept one thing, it would be this. It doesn't matter how long you have known God, a day or a lifetime; God wants a passionate and intimate relationship with YOU, yes, YOU! From the first second, to the last breath, he will be pursuing your love.
You can walk away, run away, become indifferent or enraged. You can tell him no, tell him you hate him, tell him he no longer is allowed in your life. You can do all those things and he will still be there, pursuing with love, compassion and patience.
You see, God loves who we are underneath even what we know of ourselves. We see the now, but God sees what was, what is, what will be. Most importantly, he sees what HE intends. We each have a Divine and unique purpose and plan. His passion for us, placed inside of us, to fulfill his plan for our life. You see, WE are part of his plan.
And God's plan is perfect.
No matter how far away you think you are, or what you've done that you think is too bad, or too much; it's never too late.
You see, God's pursuit of you will never end. Not until the day that we see him face to face, and spend our eternity right where he wants us to be. With Him.
THAT is the most Divine of romances.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday ~ Dollie
I have a great friend. She has been there for me with wisdom and reality when I was lost in my own world with no answers in sight. She is a friend that will always have a minute, even when she really doesn't have a minute.
Dollie is actually the first "sister" I met after I was saved. I walked out of the office door and there she was, with a big smile and a congrats.
I think the best word to descibe Dollie is real. She is just as willing to admit to her own faults and struggles as she is to call you out or lift you up in yours.
She has, not taught, but demonstrated, the importance of being real in your friendships. I know I can trust her to be truthful with me in our conversations and that is the most important thing to me when building a friendship.
It is not always comfortable or easy to admit to the real you, but she does it. She uses her life to help lead and guide many of the women in our church, and I count myself richly blessed to have her in my life.
She is the administrator of our church, and so I am generally confident where to find her. I try not to visit too often, but sometimes the only thing that I know to do is go spend some time in the chair in front of her desk. I have laughed, cried and learned so much from that chair.
I love my friend Dollie and I wouldn't trade our friendship for anything!
Dollie is actually the first "sister" I met after I was saved. I walked out of the office door and there she was, with a big smile and a congrats.
I think the best word to descibe Dollie is real. She is just as willing to admit to her own faults and struggles as she is to call you out or lift you up in yours.
She has, not taught, but demonstrated, the importance of being real in your friendships. I know I can trust her to be truthful with me in our conversations and that is the most important thing to me when building a friendship.
It is not always comfortable or easy to admit to the real you, but she does it. She uses her life to help lead and guide many of the women in our church, and I count myself richly blessed to have her in my life.
She is the administrator of our church, and so I am generally confident where to find her. I try not to visit too often, but sometimes the only thing that I know to do is go spend some time in the chair in front of her desk. I have laughed, cried and learned so much from that chair.
I love my friend Dollie and I wouldn't trade our friendship for anything!
Quit Stats
You most likely don't know that I used to be a smoker.
I was a pretty heavy one at that. When I quit I was smoking about 2 packs a day...down from the 3 a day I had gotten to while my Mom was ill.
I joined an on-line support group called QuitNet. When I joined I had to put all my stats in, such as how many cigarettes a day I smoked, how much I paid for a pack and so on.
It would update my stats automatically.
I haven't been on the site for about a year so I thought I would just check it out. This is what my new figures are:
QuitDate: October 8, 2004
Time Smoke-Free: 1598 days, 4 hours, 48 minutes and 8 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 55,937
Lifetime Saved: 14 months, 7 days, 7 hours
Money Saved: $13,459.58
WOOOO HOOOO!
I actually have nightmares now where I dream I am smoking and wake up crying because I think I have to quit again. I can pretty safely guarentee that I will NEVER pick up that gross little habit again.
And by the way...no, I don't know where all that money is. I wish I had saved it. I could have bought a new car! And just think, that was the cost four years ago, they have gone waaaay up since then, so I have actually saved even more money than that!
I was a pretty heavy one at that. When I quit I was smoking about 2 packs a day...down from the 3 a day I had gotten to while my Mom was ill.
I joined an on-line support group called QuitNet. When I joined I had to put all my stats in, such as how many cigarettes a day I smoked, how much I paid for a pack and so on.
It would update my stats automatically.
I haven't been on the site for about a year so I thought I would just check it out. This is what my new figures are:
QuitDate: October 8, 2004
Time Smoke-Free: 1598 days, 4 hours, 48 minutes and 8 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 55,937
Lifetime Saved: 14 months, 7 days, 7 hours
Money Saved: $13,459.58
WOOOO HOOOO!
I actually have nightmares now where I dream I am smoking and wake up crying because I think I have to quit again. I can pretty safely guarentee that I will NEVER pick up that gross little habit again.
And by the way...no, I don't know where all that money is. I wish I had saved it. I could have bought a new car! And just think, that was the cost four years ago, they have gone waaaay up since then, so I have actually saved even more money than that!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Being Prepared
This week, a teen in our youth group was hit by a car while crossing the street on foot. He is in extremely critical condition, his future very uncertain. We all are in shock. There was no way to foresee this. There are alot of should haves, would haves and wish Id's going around.
This terrible and tragic event has really brought to light something for me.
Things happen all around us and sometimes we miss just what it was that could have made it seem...bearable.
It seems that there are times when everything is great, and you don't have any problem answering the questions you come across or experiencing life the way God wants you to.
Then there are times that are quiet, where you aren't exactly growing, but it is also not a time of testing. Maybe we'll call it a time of resting and refreshing.
Sometimes we go through a time that I call "little things". Nothing major has happened, no big time of testing, but all those little things just seem to keep piling up, until you feel like you just might break under the load.
Then there are times of active distress and uncertainty. An event so unforeseen, so incomprehensible happens that you are just left stunned and unmoving, questioning where to go and how to begin again from here.
It is so human to look at those last two categories and just wish them away.
"Oh, if only it never had to be!"
In our desire to live a life that glorifies God, we focus so much on finding ways to praise and worship, that we forget to get down in the dirt and strengthen our foundations.
When life is good, who wants to think about growing our trust in God to carry us through the death of a loved one, material loss, betrayal by friends, disappointment in our family? When we are in a period of quiet, we never seem to hurry to get that one little thing under control. We like to think that we will get to it "later". After all, it's just a little thing.
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
~ Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)
It's great to spend time in celebration of the wonderful things that God has done, and is doing in your life, but more importantly, we should be strengthening our spiritual foundation for those days when our world gets turned upside down.
If you are like me, too often instead of spending dedicated time with God, searching His word for guidance and instruction, you jump in with a quick five minute devotion sometime after coffee and getting the kids to school and starting the laundry, and scheduling a dentist appointment and, well, you get the idea! You really do plan to ponder what you read for the remainder of the day, but you quickly lose focus the first time something distracts you. Sure, we got our Bible time in, but what did we REALLY get out of it?
Instead of scrambling to understand and cope when the "little things" break us, or when the unimaginable deals us a blow to the heart, what if we spent our time building up trust and understanding of God's sovereignty every day? If we study the Bible to learn the character of God on the days that everything seems good, then on the days when we just don't have it in us to search, we will have that knowledge tucked away in our hearts and minds.
Below are some verses that might help you get started on planning for those days that strike with the unexpected.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
Isaiah 14:26-27
I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken - who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?
Romans 8:28
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Ephesians 1:9-10
God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: at the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth.
I have added a video to this posting. It is Kari Jobe singing The More I Seek You. I pray that we all find a little more of God this week.
This terrible and tragic event has really brought to light something for me.
Things happen all around us and sometimes we miss just what it was that could have made it seem...bearable.
It seems that there are times when everything is great, and you don't have any problem answering the questions you come across or experiencing life the way God wants you to.
Then there are times that are quiet, where you aren't exactly growing, but it is also not a time of testing. Maybe we'll call it a time of resting and refreshing.
Sometimes we go through a time that I call "little things". Nothing major has happened, no big time of testing, but all those little things just seem to keep piling up, until you feel like you just might break under the load.
Then there are times of active distress and uncertainty. An event so unforeseen, so incomprehensible happens that you are just left stunned and unmoving, questioning where to go and how to begin again from here.
It is so human to look at those last two categories and just wish them away.
"Oh, if only it never had to be!"
In our desire to live a life that glorifies God, we focus so much on finding ways to praise and worship, that we forget to get down in the dirt and strengthen our foundations.
When life is good, who wants to think about growing our trust in God to carry us through the death of a loved one, material loss, betrayal by friends, disappointment in our family? When we are in a period of quiet, we never seem to hurry to get that one little thing under control. We like to think that we will get to it "later". After all, it's just a little thing.
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
~ Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)
It's great to spend time in celebration of the wonderful things that God has done, and is doing in your life, but more importantly, we should be strengthening our spiritual foundation for those days when our world gets turned upside down.
If you are like me, too often instead of spending dedicated time with God, searching His word for guidance and instruction, you jump in with a quick five minute devotion sometime after coffee and getting the kids to school and starting the laundry, and scheduling a dentist appointment and, well, you get the idea! You really do plan to ponder what you read for the remainder of the day, but you quickly lose focus the first time something distracts you. Sure, we got our Bible time in, but what did we REALLY get out of it?
Instead of scrambling to understand and cope when the "little things" break us, or when the unimaginable deals us a blow to the heart, what if we spent our time building up trust and understanding of God's sovereignty every day? If we study the Bible to learn the character of God on the days that everything seems good, then on the days when we just don't have it in us to search, we will have that knowledge tucked away in our hearts and minds.
Below are some verses that might help you get started on planning for those days that strike with the unexpected.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
Isaiah 14:26-27
I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken - who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?
Romans 8:28
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Ephesians 1:9-10
God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: at the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth.
I have added a video to this posting. It is Kari Jobe singing The More I Seek You. I pray that we all find a little more of God this week.
The Climb
I love the lyrics to this song. We always focus on the end of our journey, but as this song so richly points out...it's about the climb.
I can almost see it
the dream I’m dreamin’
But Theres a voice
Inside my head sayin’
You’ll never reach it
Every step I’m taking
Every move I made feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
Chorus:
Theres always gonna
Be another mountain
I’m always gonna
Wanna make it move
Always gonna be
A up-hill battle
Sometimes i'm gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about whats waiting
On the other side
It’s the climb
The struggles I’m facing
The chances I’m taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no I’m not breaking
I may not know it
But this are the moments
that i'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep goin’
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing, on
Chorus:
Cause There’s always gonna
Be another mountain
I’m always gonna
Wanna make it move
Always gonna be
A up-hill battle
Sometimes i'm gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about whats waiting
On the other side
It’s the climb,
Yeah
There’s always gonna
Be another mountain
I’m always gonna
Wanna make it move
Always gonna be
A up-hill battle
Sometimes you're gonna have to lose
Ain’t about ho fast I get there
Ain’t about whats waiting
On the other side
It’s the climb
Keep on movin’
Keep climbin’
Keep the faith
Baby
Its all about
Its all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith
woah
For more great songs, visit the Then Sings My Soul Saturday blog (link button located in my right hand column).
I can almost see it
the dream I’m dreamin’
But Theres a voice
Inside my head sayin’
You’ll never reach it
Every step I’m taking
Every move I made feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
Chorus:
Theres always gonna
Be another mountain
I’m always gonna
Wanna make it move
Always gonna be
A up-hill battle
Sometimes i'm gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about whats waiting
On the other side
It’s the climb
The struggles I’m facing
The chances I’m taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no I’m not breaking
I may not know it
But this are the moments
that i'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep goin’
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing, on
Chorus:
Cause There’s always gonna
Be another mountain
I’m always gonna
Wanna make it move
Always gonna be
A up-hill battle
Sometimes i'm gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about whats waiting
On the other side
It’s the climb,
Yeah
There’s always gonna
Be another mountain
I’m always gonna
Wanna make it move
Always gonna be
A up-hill battle
Sometimes you're gonna have to lose
Ain’t about ho fast I get there
Ain’t about whats waiting
On the other side
It’s the climb
Keep on movin’
Keep climbin’
Keep the faith
Baby
Its all about
Its all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith
woah
For more great songs, visit the Then Sings My Soul Saturday blog (link button located in my right hand column).
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
New memory verse for the month~ becoming a servant
Well, I have found my new memory verse for the month. It is really short, but really sweet.
"He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30, NIV).
If you are wondering, no, I don't have my last two verses memorized word for word. I think I got a little ambitious, they were kinda long. At least for me. But that doesn't mean I am giving up on learning them. I am just staying on my schedule, which is a new verse on the 1st and 15th of each month. My verse this month is short, so I hope to make a little more headway on the other two.
Now, will I feel like a failure if I can never get them memorized word for word? No, because I will know what they mean and know exactly where to find them, the word for word recall would just be a bonus.
This year long practice isn't so much so that I can say that I have memorized 24 verses, it is to know that I have 24 more examples of God's love and guidence not only at my fingertips, but in my heart and memory as well. We can't use scripture as a sword (Ephesians 6:17) if we don't know what it says and how God wants us to apply it.
So, why did I choose this one for my new memory verse? Well, because I tend to forget that I am not the most important person in the room. Not all of the time, but a lot of the time. I tend to focus more on what outcome I want, what would make me happy, who I want to spend time with.
For me to truly reach people with the love and forgiveness of Christ, I have to look at the world as HE does, not as I do. I have to allow Him to become the greatest thing in my life and start to see myself as more a servant, then someone to be served.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
~ Phillipians 2:5-8
"He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30, NIV).
If you are wondering, no, I don't have my last two verses memorized word for word. I think I got a little ambitious, they were kinda long. At least for me. But that doesn't mean I am giving up on learning them. I am just staying on my schedule, which is a new verse on the 1st and 15th of each month. My verse this month is short, so I hope to make a little more headway on the other two.
Now, will I feel like a failure if I can never get them memorized word for word? No, because I will know what they mean and know exactly where to find them, the word for word recall would just be a bonus.
This year long practice isn't so much so that I can say that I have memorized 24 verses, it is to know that I have 24 more examples of God's love and guidence not only at my fingertips, but in my heart and memory as well. We can't use scripture as a sword (Ephesians 6:17) if we don't know what it says and how God wants us to apply it.
So, why did I choose this one for my new memory verse? Well, because I tend to forget that I am not the most important person in the room. Not all of the time, but a lot of the time. I tend to focus more on what outcome I want, what would make me happy, who I want to spend time with.
For me to truly reach people with the love and forgiveness of Christ, I have to look at the world as HE does, not as I do. I have to allow Him to become the greatest thing in my life and start to see myself as more a servant, then someone to be served.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
~ Phillipians 2:5-8
Stomach flu is so fun
I haven't been around the last few days. I have been mostly in the bathroom. Good thing I just redecorated it this fall.
Why is it that the stomach flu hits so suddenly? If you get a cold you get a hint it's coming. Some sniffling. Some sneezing. You can start to be proactive!
Stomach flu is pretty rude. It just shoves right on in and takes over your whole life, not allowing time to plan. To, say, get someone to watch your 16 month old for the day while you spend quality time with the porcalin throne. It was so much fun yesterday...
Today...I am not feeling the need to sprint, but I do have this most amazing fever going on. I'm cold. No, wait, I'm hot. No, that's chills. Wait, I'm sweating. I also have this slightly dizzy feeling. I like that part.
Today Abby is with her regular Wednesday babysitter, Stephanie. She is my peachy keen jelly bean favorite person right now. Just the thought of not having to change a diaper for a few hours while I work through this is soooo wonderful.
Now my only problem is, should I try to eat something? I am hungry and I don't FEEL like trying to get rid of the rest of my stomach lining, but you never know.
I guess we will see.
Thanks for spending time with me and my stomach flu this morning.
Why is it that the stomach flu hits so suddenly? If you get a cold you get a hint it's coming. Some sniffling. Some sneezing. You can start to be proactive!
Stomach flu is pretty rude. It just shoves right on in and takes over your whole life, not allowing time to plan. To, say, get someone to watch your 16 month old for the day while you spend quality time with the porcalin throne. It was so much fun yesterday...
Today...I am not feeling the need to sprint, but I do have this most amazing fever going on. I'm cold. No, wait, I'm hot. No, that's chills. Wait, I'm sweating. I also have this slightly dizzy feeling. I like that part.
Today Abby is with her regular Wednesday babysitter, Stephanie. She is my peachy keen jelly bean favorite person right now. Just the thought of not having to change a diaper for a few hours while I work through this is soooo wonderful.
Now my only problem is, should I try to eat something? I am hungry and I don't FEEL like trying to get rid of the rest of my stomach lining, but you never know.
I guess we will see.
Thanks for spending time with me and my stomach flu this morning.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
How disappointing...but not really
I have not dropped three dress sizes and have a flat stomach.
I worked out 5 times this week, what else can I do?
Nah... I'm ok. I didn't get to get the bathroom scales this week but I have done my five workouts (ok, technically 4, but that 5th one will be completed before bed so I am counting it). I have no idea if I lost any weight, or inches, but I feel better. I have slept better and have really cut down on the sweets. I just don't want to be doing all this work for nothing, so I am trying to keep from putting as much junk in my body.
Portion control is much harder than you would think. I mean, seriously! Have you ever actually stuck to portions? I am a taste eater, if it tastes good, I WANT it! So this has been a difficult week for me. I am sticking it out for the most part though.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
~ Matthew 6:25
I am so very happy that my friends are helping me. We met twice this week to workout together and it is a great motivator to know that you are going through the same things together. Of course, they are both pretty fit anyway, but I am concentrating on the fact that I will one day be that way too.
I do wish I had some scales though. It would be nice to have either that reward, or kick in the butt, but either way it is a great motivator. Hopefully this week I can get one!
I worked out 5 times this week, what else can I do?
Nah... I'm ok. I didn't get to get the bathroom scales this week but I have done my five workouts (ok, technically 4, but that 5th one will be completed before bed so I am counting it). I have no idea if I lost any weight, or inches, but I feel better. I have slept better and have really cut down on the sweets. I just don't want to be doing all this work for nothing, so I am trying to keep from putting as much junk in my body.
Portion control is much harder than you would think. I mean, seriously! Have you ever actually stuck to portions? I am a taste eater, if it tastes good, I WANT it! So this has been a difficult week for me. I am sticking it out for the most part though.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
~ Matthew 6:25
I am so very happy that my friends are helping me. We met twice this week to workout together and it is a great motivator to know that you are going through the same things together. Of course, they are both pretty fit anyway, but I am concentrating on the fact that I will one day be that way too.
I do wish I had some scales though. It would be nice to have either that reward, or kick in the butt, but either way it is a great motivator. Hopefully this week I can get one!
My Jesus
My choice for this week is My Jesus by Todd Agnew. The video is scenes from The Passion of the Christ.
I can't think of a better love story for Valentine's Day.
For more songs follow the link in my right hand column to Then Sings My Soul Saturday.
I can't think of a better love story for Valentine's Day.
For more songs follow the link in my right hand column to Then Sings My Soul Saturday.
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