Monday, December 31, 2012

a look at 2012...


If you are like me, today has been a day of thinking about this past year and thinking ahead of the new year.  

2012 has been a year of many lows and some triumphs.  God has walked me through many hard times - emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I can say I do not want to redo the times of heartache and sadness, but I will say that Jesus carried me through them and I hope that I am stronger from them.  

I was reading a blog post this afternoon and I found these questions to think about when reflecting 2012.  These questions will help me think about the good, fun, and joyful times of 2012.  Some of these of these questions will be so hard to answer truthfully because of some challenges this year.  Maybe I will share some of my answers in later posts...

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
5. Pick three words to describe 2012.
6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2012—don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you. (If you’re not married, have fun guessing the answers from other friends and family, or just skip this question.)
7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2012—again, without asking.
8. What were the best books you read this year?
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2013 for you

Friday, December 21, 2012

Never Once has He left me alone or on my own


This past week has been hard for our world. We feel the kind of sadness that we can’t shake with Christmas shopping. My soul yearns for His Kingdom.

I have scars from this struggle.

There are wounded, dark places in my heart where I’m tempted to believe I’m alone.

But standing in my kitchen last night and listening to the radio, I felt His presence. Emmanuel, God with me, us-in joy and sorrow. The gift He gave wasn’t so much about a tangible present (although it was), it was His Presence. He reminded me (again) that He is with me.

I went to my bedroom and knelt beside my bed and I sobbed. Happy, hard tears. I wept for good news happening and bad news in our world, joy and sorrow mixed and mostly, I cried because He was right there with me in both.

And I’m learning more the true meaning of Christmas: He is God on the mountaintop and God in the valley. The heartbeat of Christmas is God with us. All the time.

Here are the words to the song:
Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
-10,000 Reasons
I am overwhelmed with His abounding faithfulness, even when I don’t understand, carry unanswered questions, He is here. Never once has He left me alone or on my own.

I don’t know if you’re on the mountaintop this holy season or struggling on the battlefield, of like me and between both. But wherever you are, He is there. That is the essence of Christmas, unwrapping Jesus, God with us.



Thursday, December 20, 2012

words

I don't think I have ever been more aware of how short life is more than this year.  
I'm reminded constantly that we never know when our last day will be.

The video is about Andrew Pray who was killed right before Thanksgiving and is a worship pastor.  They showed this video at his funeral.  It was the things he had written on social media this year.  WOW.  Watch it. 

He was an encourager.  He shared Jesus every chance he got.

I was thinking about the words we all use.  In our daily lives and in our virtual lives.

Do they uplift or do they bring others down? Are they words of light or of darkness?

I love facebook and twitter.  I love just having daily chit chat with my friends about TV shows or being moms or just current events.  I also probably tend to daily complain about some experiences. 

But life is short.  I want to use my words to point others to Christ. I want to encourage my friends.  Nothing feels better than getting a kind email or an encouraging text from a friend.  Just the other day a  precious friend Janie   texted me to encourage me after a particularly tough situation she knows I have been dealing with.  It was just the lift I needed.

Life can feel like a competition.  Just at Christmas - I feel so inferior when I see all the amazing things moms are doing.  Co-workers can make you feel like you are competing to be the best in the office.  There is competition to be thinner, more fit, better dressed.  Competition to have the smartest kids. 

What if instead of competing - we encourage? What if we lift up our friends and those around us and help them reach their goals instead of wishing it was us? What if we were genuinely happy for the blessings that others get?

My prayer for myself is that in 2013 - I use every opportunity to encourage and uplift those around me. 

I pray that I share my faith daily and unashamed.  I won't ever apologize for trying to tell you about the hope we have in Christ.

Will you be challenged to use your words to lift others up? Can you imagine how much better our world would be if we were more kind and encouraging? Let's live our life with no regrets so when we are gone - we will be remembered for the words we said.

Psalm 19:14

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

sadness


It's been a time full of sadness.  
We wonder why so many terrible things happen.
We wonder where is the hope? When will it be our turn? Or maybe you have already had more of your share of turns this year. 

I thought this was good by Max Lucado:

Dear Jesus,
It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children
We are entering the week where Jesus came to this earth to live among us.  He came to share our sorrow and pain. And though He is in heaven now - He still sits on the right hand of God INTERCEDING for us. 

He is a light and a hope for us in all of our struggles.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A song about God's Faithfulness

Today I was thinking about life and the ongoing challenges of each season in life and I thought, "I'm doing a pretty good job running from the Lord." Immediately and confidently I thought: " It doesn't matter.  God is faithful."

Can I just tell you all that I've pondered and meditated and prayed through and thought endlessly about that statement? 

GOD is faithful. 

God IS faithful. 

God is FAITHFUL

He is faithful. 

Whether we're running toward Him or away from Him or just sitting in our pity party, He is faithful. 

These words came to me when I needed to hear them. 


We don't need to have all our stuff together for God to show us His power and perfection and provision. He doesn't wait until we've worked through our issues. He meets us where we're at.


We know this because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

He is abounding in love and faithfulness

As the image above says, "You were faithful before, You'll be faithful again."

God has been faithful in my life before and I know that His faithfulness has no end. Not faithfulness in that He'll answer my prayers in the way that I want, but God is faithful to walk with me and cover me in His grace every day. He is faithful to receive me just as I am. He is faithful to meet me daily and He is faithful to show up because He is the Living God

Never Once
I suspect most people would reference a song such as this after a difficult season is over with. But I believe God calls us to proclaim that He is faithful in the midst of our trials and struggles. 

May we all walk our journeys with our mouths declaring God's faithfulness with every step. 

According to Matt Redman Never Once is a song he wrote about God's Faithfulness. It is a powerful, beautiful song with lyrics founded in truth. 

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful
God you are faithful



Listen to the song and Matt Redman's story here:
 



Saturday, December 8, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Came to My Rescue

The song Came to My Rescue by Hillsong has become a new favorite...and when I sing the words I can't help but make it a prayer:

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

and to that I would add...

In our sadness be lifted high
In our hope be lifted high
In our desperation be lifted high
In our confusion be lifted high
In our joy be lifted high
In our waiting be lifted high

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Teach Me How to Pray

Not my will or my plans or 
the way I want it
I’m so tired of my hands in the way
So reveal to these eyes the true heart of my Father, today
Lord teach me how to pray

So I’ll keep asking, for Your kingdom to come
Looking, for Your will to be done
For every nation, tribe,
and every tongue
Lord, teach me how to pray

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Saturday, September 22, 2012

How He Loves Us

May the depth of GOD'S LOVE for you fill you to overflowing today






Friday, September 21, 2012

out the door

I run from tough stuff. 

I do. 

I don't want to be the person that runs, but I am. 

I pray for brokenness, I pray for humility, I pray for growth, I pray for understanding...and yet I want it all sitting from the comfort of my home.

When the hard stuff comes, I grab my flip flops (because I am not a runner) and I head for the door.

The door is the easy way out. The door doesn't force me to do soul-searching or challenge me to change. The door allows me to run and hide from the hard. 


Beauty and growth and change and God's glory can't be found by hiding in my house or by running out the door. 

These things require me to fully embrace the story God is writing for my life. Sometimes that story is filled with great joy and abundant blessings. And other times that story is filled with change and trust and unknown...and hard. 

It's when we enter into the hard things and face the tough places
that God brings us to a greater awareness of Him and dependence on Him. 


I have been going through some hard stuff and this is what I learned: the hard does not minimize His goodness but allows us to experience His goodness in a whole new way. Do I believe this?  Do I trust that the hard will allow me to experience God's goodness in a whole new way?  If so, why do I run from the hard?

But it's in the tough places, that He teaches me. If life was always pretty and perfect, I wouldn't know how to search for the beauty. Beauty is often wedged between the hard and uncomfortable, adjacent to the difficult.  
Do I believe that it's in the tough places that God teaches me? Am I willing to face the hard and uncomfortable and difficult to find the beauty? 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Deeper in Love

Take me deeper
Deeper in love with You
Jesus hold me close in Your embrace
Take me deeper
Deeper than I've ever been before
I just want to love You more and more
How I long to be deeper in love

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The battle is not yours

There's no sadness Jesus can't feel
And there is no sorrow 
that He can not heal
For all things work 
according to the Master's Holy will
No matter what you're going through
Remember that God is only using You
For the battle is not yours
It's the Lord's

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Faithful God

lyrics from Faithful God by Laura Story

May the grace that sought my heart on that first day
Be the grace that binds my heart to stay
May the truth that opened up my eyes on that first time
Be the thoughts on my mind that never go away

For You are a lamp to my feet
A light to my path
You're the hand that's holding me

Faithful God, every promise kept
Every need You've met, Faithful God
All I am and all I'll ever be
Is all because You love faithfully
Faithful God

May the love that caught my heart to set it free
Be the love that others see in me
And may this hope that's reaches to the depths of human need
Be the song that I sing in joy and suffering




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

a prayer

This is our prayer for our sweet baby "P" on her last day in our family

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

He'll Hold You

Somewhere Down the Road

Our family has some hard days ahead of us.  We do not understand why things are working out this way but we have the promise that "somewhere down the road we will find mighty arms reaching for us that will hold the answers..."

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

just a quote...

“Heartache forces us to embrace God out of desperate, urgent need. God is never closer than when your heart is aching.”―Joni Eareckson Tada 

You are good

I call it the 'you are good you are good' song. I listen to this song while I cook. I listen while I work. I listen to it at night. I listen to it face down on my porch floor while salty tears stream from my eyes. Because the words are the truth that my heart needs to hear: God is good. God is peace. God is light. God is hope. He's the reason my heart sings. I'm running to His arms...and it's in His presence that I'm made whole. He is God He is God of all else I'm letting go. 

Letting go is hard to do. Letting go of plans and hopes and dreams and expectations. Letting go of control is freeing...yet my flesh resists the letting go. It fights the letting go process as I daily surrender to the only One who is good.

That's why I listen. I hope you will too.

You are good
You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love You are love
On display for all to see
You are light
You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope
You are hope
You have covered all my sin

Oh I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are peace
You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true
You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy
You are joy
You're the reason that I sing 

You are life
You are life
In You death has lost its sting

Oh I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more
You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord
You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here 
You are here 
In Your presence I'm made whole 
You are God
You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Hallelujah forever
All the glory forever
All the praise to You

My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus Jesus





Monday, July 23, 2012

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

His Time

Hi anyone who might read my blog...

I know it's been a couple weeks since I have posted a blog.  I have a lot on my heart these days, but right now it's just between me and the Lord. He's teaching me. And speaking to my heart. And reminding me once again that He already has my life planned - all of it!!

Because I forget. My flesh forgets that His beauty looks different than mine. My flesh forgets that His timing is perfect. My flesh forgets that He is the creator of time and the sun sets and the moon rises on His call.

I would not trade His ways, His plans, His timing, His beauty.

For now, I will let you know I am broken and I have been reminded what it means to love Jesus and share the story He is writing in my life.  


Thank you for allowing me time. And if you would, pray that Jesus might help me to rest in His truth...that He does indeed make everything beautiful in its time.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Friday, May 11, 2012

long way home

I have a new favorite song right now.  I have added a video with the lyrics below.  I love the way this song reminds me that we are not home.  We are headed to our home.  The worries of today makes it seem that my eternal home is so far away.  I need to remember that even in the worries ( and happys ) of my day, God is preparing my forever home.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Will it ever end?

I read this on a friend's blog and thought I would share as well:


Worry creeps in as you look at the clock. The counting begins. “If I get her down in the next half hour, I can get to sleep by midnight and end up with six hours of shut eye.”
Hovering over your newborn’s cradle, you lower her tiny body down to the mattress. She stays asleep. You dare not draw breath. This is the umpteenth time you’ve tried to put her to bed tonight. She’s going to stay asleep this time. You are willing it to happen.
Tiptoe feet bring you to the master bathroom where you begin to brush your teeth, looking adoringly at your pillow simultaneously. You may be a tired new mama, but you haven’t lost your peripheral vision. As your cool cotton sheets, the cucumber colored ones you got on sale at Kmart back when they used to sell the Martha Stuart line, settle down around your tired body, you are almost already asleep.
And then.
The crackles on the baby monitor space out a bit. You hope against hope that you didn’t just hear your baby girl draw breath and then gurgle. Clamping your eyes shut and turning down the volume on the monitor, you pray it was just your imagination. It wasn’t, and before long your sweet pumpkin is wailing. Like it or not, it’s not your bedtime, Mama.
And you wonder to yourself, “Will it ever end?”
After darting from one bathroom to the next, hoping to find the commode with the smallest number of your children nearby to it, you find the hallway bathroom to be empty, not a soul around. Half of your children are watching Barney while the others are drawing with colored pencils, hopefully still only on paper. This is it. Your chance to use the toilet. Alone.
Popping in to the bathroom, hurrying a bit just in case, you switch on the light and start to pull the door shut behind you. But there’s a little resistance. The door seems to be stuck on something. You tug a bit more, but the door won’t come. Then you see them.
Pudgy, round fingers hold onto the door. A small voice from the other side of the door asks, “What are you doing, Mommy?” You made it to the bathroom alone today, but you couldn’t so much as close the door before the bloodhounds found you. You simply want to excrete in peace, but instead you are constantly bombarded by bathroom invaders.
“Will it ever end?”
It is bedtime for your brood, but not if they have anything to say about it. For the last hour and a half, you bathed them, brushed their hair, clipped their nails, lotioned their legs, diapered their bottoms and jammied their little bodies. They are perfectly ready for bed. And you cannot wait.
They, however, can. Once all the bedtime songs are sung and the lights are all out, things seem to be only just beginning. First, it’s “jus’ one more kiss.” You can’t say no to that, now can you? Then, “I’m firsty.” You point out where the cup of water is, reminding your son that it’s in the exact same place within reach on his bedside table as it’s been for years. No sooner can you exit firsty child’s room before his brother is having trouble locating his blanket and needs help. Then it’s, “I can’t fall asleep,” “I’m scared,” “Will you sing me another song?” “My legs don’t work,” and “Can I get up yet?”
“No, darling. Not until morning.” If your children don’t go to sleep soon, you may as well just get them up and feed them breakfast. You can’t help but wonder, “Will it ever end?”
The moon goes ’round the earth, the earth goes ’round the sun. Summer, fall, winter, spring.
Your daughter’s high school graduation open house is over. Her ceremony is on Saturday. Your minivan is packed to the hilt with her college stuff. She’s moving in early because she got a job on campus. That night as she is out for pizza late with her friends, you vacuum her bedroom and pack up a few sundry things for her in the extra boxes still leaning against her wall. A love letter from her boyfriend covers an old cassette player. Pushing play, you discover an old tape she must have made when she was about four is in the player. “Mommy!? Can I play wiff this?” Her tiny voice sings out, followed by made up tunes, poems and silly talk.
“Will it ever end?” Yes. It is starting to.
Your firstborn son lives far away now, with his beautiful wife. You couldn’t be more thrilled to have a grandbaby, though seeing the little guy more often would be wonderful. He has grown into a fine man, your oldest son has. His brother has, too. You are proud of them. So proud. Reaching this new level in your life has brought so much joy. You have long since painted over the fingerprints in your stairwell. And, oddly, you miss them as you remember the joy that was in that season as well. At Christmastime when your children are home, it isn’t until the last day of their visit that you stand in the kitchen and hear running, realizing they still sound like a herd of elephants, pounding down the stairs. Bigger elephants now but elephants just the same.
Years ago, you would have banged your head on the kitchen counter, asking, “Will it ever end?” when you heard them run down the stairs loudly, waking the baby. Again. But now, you don’t ask yourself that question anymore. Your children have chased their children out the door and are buckling them into carseats, freshly opened Christmas gifts smooshed into the cracks around them. The clamor, dirty fingers, sleepless nights, endless bathroom interruptions and banging on the stairs exit the door with your family, gone like a spring breeze between the curtains.
“Will it ever end?” Yes, friends. It will end. And we will miss it when it does. So as much as we can as meager human mothers, let’s savor it until it then.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A Might Fortress

I have been struggling with lots of things in the last few months.  Isn't it  wonderful on hard days in anything you are dealing with that God is not just our fortress and strength - he is a MIGHTY fortress.  


But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide. Psalm 94:22






Monday, April 23, 2012

Be Still

God's Presence

This was sent to me several days ago by a friend and I believe it is worth sharing:

I thought this was a good message.... its from the Jesus Calling devotional. The date is April13.

When I give you no special guidance, stay where you are. Concentrate on doing your everyday tasks in awareness of My Presence with you. The Joy of My Presence will shine on you, as you do everything for Me. Thus you invite Me into every aspect of your life. Through collaborating with Me in all things, you allow My Life to merge with yours. This is the secret not only of joyful living but also of victorious living. I designed you to depend on Me moment by moment, recognizing that apart from Me you can do nothing.

Be thankful for quiet days, when nothing special seems to be happening. Instead of being bored by the lack of action, use times of routine to seek My Face. Although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in spiritual realms. Moreover, you are richly blessed when you walk trustingly with Me through the routines of your day.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.—Colossians 3:23

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”—John 15:5

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.—Psalm 105:4

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Friday, April 13, 2012

Mercy

Psalm 103:10-12 He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

This song has a line I just love. It says “in the arms of your mercy I find rest.” It’s in Christ’s mercy that I have found rest in this difficult world.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

My most favorite part of the song that I need to remember the most at this time is
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

It is such a blessing to know that know matter what is going on in my life, God already knows about it and it is part of His plan. Even when it is something that I do not want as a part of my life- I must never forget that God is with me and He is on my side and helping and loving me.


Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Thursday, April 5, 2012

All I Have Is Christ

All I Have is Christ

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

Monday, March 26, 2012

At the Cross

You go before me.
You shield my way.
Your hand upholds me
and I know you love me

Friday, March 23, 2012

broken...

"Each of us has something broken in our lives:
a broken promise, a broken dream, a broken marriage,
a broken heart . . . and we must decide how we’re
going to deal with our brokenness."

—Luci Swindoll

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
`Psalm 147:3

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

old things new

While riding in the truck today I saw green grass sprouting up everywhere. That fresh grass spoke powerfully to me about the God I serve - the God who makes all things new.

As we turn the page on the calendar and
the winter season comes to an end, we welcome spring and with it the promise of new life and that we are a new creation in Christ. Spring is a time that bursts forth with new life.

Fresh, vibrant blades of grass confirm this:


He takes our old and makes it new.


Spring is the perfect time to go before God and readily give him our old: old habits, patterns, thoughts....and we can believe and claim the truth of His Word that He will take our old and make it into something beautiful. Something full of fresh, vibrant life. Something new.

Only God has the ability to do that. Only God can bring forth new life. No one else can make the grass grow, the flowers bloom, the sun shine, the rain pour down.

Today is the first day of spring and I am choosing to believe God's promises about making all things new:

2 Corinthians 5:17--Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

Revelation 21:5--And he that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And he said unto me, "Write: for these words are truth and faithful."


The old has gone, the new has come! What a precious and powerful promise to claim on this spring day. Don't just read those words, but live. them. out. Believe them and let that belief lead to life change.

I love the song below and the lyrics continue to speak truth about our God who makes all things new:

"you redeem and transform, you renew and restore..."

We serve a God who redeems and transforms, who renews and restores. Amen!


So on this spring day, crank the music up loud. Dance around your home, or put the headphones on where you are and praise our God who makes all things new. Worship the One who takes our old and replaces it with new. Praise the One who brings forth new life. Give thanks to the One who doesn't leave us holding onto our old, but gently unfolds each day and the promise of new life in Him.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Happy Anniversary

Happy 19th Anniversary Jody.

It has been a difficult, challenging, and memory making year... thankful for the lessons learned and for the reminder to depend on God's love everyday.

I have listed below a passage of Bible verses that were read in our wedding and a song that was also in our wedding that still describes the way I feel.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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.


Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Lent

I'm Southern Baptist. We don't really do Lent.

In fact I only loosely get the idea of what lent is all about. (So all of you reading this who are catholic or methodist - I'm warning you - I'm probably not getting it right).

I've never done Lent but I've been thinking about it for the last couple of weeks and I like the idea of it. I don't feel like I need to give up a luxury as penitence. Jesus already paid the price for my sins and His grace has covered me. BUT I thought it would neat to maybe give up something that would enable me to put more focus on God for the 40 days leading up to Easter.

I could give up Pepsi or television but honestly - I don't see how that would bring my any closer to Jesus. It would just make me grumpy.

So I started thinking about it and decided I would give up something that I LOVE a LOT.

I'm giving up Facebook for Lent, starting today (I know I am behind in starting). I love me some Facebook. I get all my news from Facebook. So many of my friends are on Facebook- it helps me have adult interaction throughout the day especially when husband travels for work all the time!!

But it also zaps so much of my time. So instead of constantly checking Facebook ......I'm going to check in with Jesus. I'm going to do a LOT more praying in that time. I'm also going to just be more present with my girls. Not with my phone in my hand.

I also love that in Lent some choose to add something - to do something good each day of Lent so I've decided I'm going to do that also. I know it has already started but I'm still adding something. I'm thinking I might send an encouraging card or note to 40 people during this time.

So if you are my Facebook friend - I'll see you after Easter! And I will miss you!!!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Faithful God

Faithful God by Laura Story

May the grace that sought my heart on that first day
Be the grace that binds my heart to stay
May the truth that opened up my eyes on that first time
Be the thoughts on my mind that never go away
For You are a lamp to my feet
A light to my path
You're the hand that's holding me
Faithful God, every promise kept
Every need You've met, faithful God
May the love that caught my heart to set it free
Be the love that others see in me
And may this hope that reaches to the depths of human need
Be the song that I sing in joy and suffering
For You are the love that never leaves
The friend that won't deceive
You're the one sure thing Faithful God, every promise kept
Every need You've met, faithful God
All I am and all I'll ever be Is all because You love faithfully

Faithful God How deep, how wide the love
That pierced His side, the love Redemption's mine, oh love
That will not let me go How deep Your love How deep, how wide the love
That pierced His side, the love Redemption's mine, oh love
That will not let me go How deep, how wide the love
That pierced His side, the love Redemption's mine, oh love
That will not let me go Faithful God, every promise kept Every need You've met, faithful God
All I am and all I'll ever be Is all because You love faithfully Faithful God, faithful God

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tomorrow

Here is my devotion I read today...

I didn’t want to do or think about what needed to be done today, so I put it off until tomorrow. Then tomorrow got pushed back until the next tomorrow. When I finally did what I’d put off, I was stressed out, rushed, in a bad mood or convinced I didn’t need to do my task at all. Here are a few of my I’ll do it tomorrow’s:

I’ll start my diet…tomorrow.
I’ll read my Bible and pray…tomorrow.
I’ll clean my house…tomorrow.
I’ll call my friend…tomorrow.
I’ll have lunch with my son…tomorrow.
I’ll take brownies to my neighbor…tomorrow.
I’ll spend quality time with my husband…tomorrow.

God gave us 24 hours in each day. How I use them is up to me. I may not be able to complete every task assigned to me in a single day. But to continue to put off important things that need doing is not being a good steward of the time and tasks God has given me.

There was a season of my life I was so bad about putting goals and tasks off until another day that I got behind in everything. I wanted things to change, but my choices didn’t reflect that. Sleeping took precedence over getting up for quiet time. Burgers and fries filled my plate instead of healthy soup and salad. Magazines occupied my hands instead of laundry. Television was preferable to exercise. And time with friends was chosen over time with my husband.

Day after day, I had good intentions to make changes.
Day after day, I put them off until tomorrow.
Eventually, I felt like a failure.

It took a simple sentence from my then three-year-old daughter to move me from apathy to action. A few years ago we planned a family trip to Walt Disney World. I made the mistake of telling Haley Grace months in advance. Each day she’d ask, “Are we going to Disney World today?”

Repeatedly, I’d answer, “Not today. We aren’t going for three more months… five more weeks… eight more days…” The night before we left, I announced the news she’d been waiting for. “Hayley Grace, we are going to Disney World tomorrow!”

The next morning she woke early and ran into my room before I was out of bed. “Mommy, Mommy, is today tomorrow?” I was thrilled to reply, “Yes! Today is tomorrow!”

Things clicked for me and I decided then that I was going to start making today my tomorrow.

Instead of wasting precious time, I started spending it in prayer, asking God to show me what tasks He’d like me to complete that day. I prayed for strength and perseverance to accomplish what He’d given me. And I brought a few friends along with me to be encouraged and to be an encouragement to them in finishing their goals.

I put into action today what I’d been putting off till tomorrow.