tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73405044281420497692024-02-19T09:03:33.027-08:00Ninety8musicI am a proud wife and mom, but more importantly I am a child of God. Music has always been important to me, but I believe it was given to us as a way to honor and glorify our Savior above all else. So it's no surprise that praise and worship music is my favorite music. And I am grateful beyond words to my Savior for taking this crazy girl who makes more mistakes than you can shake a stick at and dusted her off, changed her life, and allowed me to find a place to praise Him publicly.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-91055795543124584642013-05-16T19:32:00.002-07:002013-05-16T19:32:57.726-07:00Gratitude-Day 3The challenge: Write about something you feel grateful for in your life today.<br />
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That's a tough one. Not because I have to work to find something to be grateful for, but because there are just so many things I could choose from. <br />
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I am grateful for friends who are quick to forgive and love me despite my shortcomings. My friend Bernice is one of those rare people. And I am grateful that once again she was gracious, forgiving, and kind, and didn't hold the issue against me. <br />
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I am grateful for Scotty Harris. Not only did he do an amazing job on our photo shoot today, and was so much fun to work with, but saved me from a social media headache and got us up and running like it was no big deal. Seriously...if you are ever looking for a talented guy with loads of integrity for your photography, website, or media needs, Scotty is the man. His company is CrossFade Media Group. Look him up and you'll see what I mean.<br />
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I am grateful for Dr. Bri. She is an amazing chiropractor and keeps me right in line. And that adjustment today was just awesome!<br />
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I am grateful for my husband. I mean seriously. He loves me unconditionally, and he "gets" me better than anyone else. And who else would run the errands, pick up kids from school, and hold down the fort so their wife could go out and have fun on a photo shoot for the morning? The man is even doing laundry tomorrow while I'm at work. He is the best and I love him deeply.<br />
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I am grateful for meaningful conversation with my daughter Natalie. I love that she trusts me enough to tell me what's going on in her life. Even though we don't always see eye to eye, I'm so grateful that she knows I love her despite it all and always will.<br />
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Lastly, I am grateful to have so many blessings to be grateful for. :) What are yours? ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-78942658709879468052013-05-15T19:35:00.002-07:002013-05-15T19:35:34.138-07:00Gratitude Challenge-Day 2So at the office where I work we are taking a 21 day gratitude challenge, and I thought it might be fun to share along the way. Day one was accepting the challenge. Today is Day 2. <br />
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The Challenge: Use the alphabet as a fun and quick format for making a list of the things for which you feel grateful. Share this list with your social media through email, a blog post, or a facebook or myspace page.<br />
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A-Amy Petty. I miss you every day. You are one of the coolest people I know and I am so grateful for all your love, support, and encouragement.<br />
B-Billy Petty. I still have yet to fully appreciate everything you taught me and all the kindness you poured into my life.<br />
C-Connor. He is my kind, caring, funny son. I love that boy!<br />
D-Dad; I have so loved playing and singing with you, and am way excited that you are coming with us to Nashville :)<br />
E-Erin; my spunky, vivacious, sweet girl. She makes me smile every day :)<br />
F-friends; good ones are hard to find and sometimes I take for granted that I have more than most. I love you all.<br />
G-grace; I need so much of it and deserve so little at the same time; makes me that much more grateful for it<br />
H-honesty; even when I don't want to hear it, I am grateful for every time true honesty is shared between friends and loved ones<br />
I-ice cream, especially if it's from Aggies<br />
J-joy<br />
K-kindness; both received and given; the smallest acts can make the biggest difference in a person's day-be kind on purpose!<br />
L-laughter<br />
M-music; my favorite way of expressing everything I'm feeling and thinking<br />
N-Natalie; my beautiful, head strong, intelligent oldest child; you bless my life every day<br />
O-occupation; I have a great job and I'm so blessed<br />
P-prayer; I have seen so many answers, even if they weren't the ones I wanted, that I will never be able to doubt the power of it<br />
Q-quiet; for moments of stillness before God where I listen more than I speak<br />
R-Rorry; you are the kindest, most generous person I know and I am more grateful than I could ever say<br />
S-Sarah; you are sunshine personified. You make your mama laugh I love you to the moon and back<br />
T-Tim; my love. You are the best part of my world and I am forever grateful that you not only put up with me but love me back unconditionally.<br />
U-unconditional love<br />
V-verses; I love when Scripture is right there and how there is always a great one for anything I face at any moment<br />
W-worship team; I love being part of the team at Bethany; leading people in praise is one of my favorite things ever<br />
X-xylophones-who doesn't smile when they see one?<br />
Y-yellow; I love how bright and happy it is even if I can't wear it :)<br />
Z-zest; as in the passion for life, not the soap. :)ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-194788054822427342013-05-14T19:23:00.001-07:002013-05-14T19:23:56.636-07:00Being QuietSo anybody that has known me a while is probably already laughing just reading the title of this blog. And I can't really blame them...quietness has never really been one of my strongest attributes, nor is it a word most people would use to describe me. <br />
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I like to talk. I'm good at it. Saying things out loud is one way that I think and process information really well. Unfortunately, that isn't always a good thing, especially if you end up talking to the wrong person (been there, done that). Or if you're like me, you could be especially good at opening your mouth and inserting a whole darn shoe store (not a little Payless either, more like a big old DSW).<br />
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But I've learned something this year. It came through some really hard things, and it's something that I'm sure God will be working out in my life for some time to come. But it's something I've come to see more often than not lately is true not just in general, but for my life.<br />
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Isaiah 30:15 says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength"<br />
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I have come to find that this verse in my life is completely true. God's promises for my life have never once let me down, and if there's one thing I have learned over the past year, I can trust Him completely in all things. <br />
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But here's the thing...I may find good, Godly advice in talking things through with a trusted, wise, Spirit-led friend or mentor. I have a couple and I am eternally grateful for them, because they have walked with me through some really difficult things the last several months, and they have both in word and example taught me this one thing: to be quiet. <br />
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To be quiet before the Lord. To come before HIM and let it all out. Even if it's messy, hard, and through tears or jagged sobs. Even when it hurts so much that I can't find the words to really say what's on my heart. But then to be quiet. Because if I do all the talking, I will never hear the response. I will miss when God whispers Scripture in my ear, like "I have loved you with an everlasting love", or "Come to me, and I will give you rest", or "I hold all things together". <br />
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It's in dwelling in His presence in quietness and stillness, after all is said and done, that I find my rest and my true healing. <br />
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I learned that again this week. I had misjudged a situation solely because I was so busy talking it through on my own that I missed out on what God was trying to show me. And it's not that I didn't hear Him speaking at all...on the contrary, I knew He was deep down, but I was so busy trying to figure it out and analyze it for myself that I cost myself a big measure of peace, and ultimately could have really hurt someone I care for deeply. <br />
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In this world, we will always have trouble. Sometimes that is discouraging to think about, and sometimes you just want to roll your eyes and be like, "Oh, come ON, really???". But those are the moments to draw near. To see for yourself that His Word is true, and that there is a strength and a peace that comes in quietness.<br />
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<em>I find my shelter in Your wings, You are my breath, the song I sing. You are my rock, my everything, and I find my healing in Your arms.</em><br />
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ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-77234199850592488782013-05-09T08:32:00.000-07:002013-05-09T08:32:10.218-07:00Thank you, Mr. AbercrombieI pretty much don't ever use my blog to address whatever story is swirling about in the news or on social media. But there is one that has caught my attention as the parent of teenager daughter, heck as a parent and as a human being, that I believe deserves a moment.<br />
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In case you missed it, the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, had some, shall we say, "interesting" things to say about who his stores do and do not cater to. His comments are as follows:<br />
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"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids," he says. "Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don't alienate anybody, but you don't excite anybody, either." <br />
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I am pretty sure I am not the only person or parent whose reaction to these comments were outright anger, indignation, and disgust. Who does he think he is anyway? <br />
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Well, for starters, you only have to look back to the 2002 Asian-insulting tee shirt controversy to see that Mr. Jeffries is a racist. There is really no other explanation for printing and selling any item that is intended to be insulting toward an entire human race and culture.<br />
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But by his own comments (and there are many other equally inflammatory ones out there, none of which I will publish here because quite frankly, they are garbage), Mr. Jeffries is a mean girl.<br />
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We've all encountered them. The girls who build their self-image and position off the backs of others, who consider themselves to be beautiful solely because someone else, in their opinion, is not. Who make fun of others to build themselves up, and exclude anyone that they do not deem to be as pretty, fun, popular, or cool as themselves. Their whole worth lies exclusively in demeaning other people, and like Mr. Jeffries, they think that is "cool". Even if you've never personally encountered one, you've likely seen the movie "Mean Girls" and know exactly what I'm talking about. <br />
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Mr. Jeffries is the Regina George of clothing CEO's. He has built an entire clothing brand based on the same model....building up himself, his store, and sadly his clientele up solely by belittling others.<br />
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But what they really are, are bullies. Sad bullies at that, because take all the "uncool" people away and their self-worth becomes completely baseless, and that is sad. <br />
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Instead of being angry, however, I'd like to thank Mr. Jeffries. Yup, I said it. Why? Because he just handed me a fantastic reason for my teenager to never shop there. <br />
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I've never particularly cared for stores like his (or Hollister), that use sex as a selling point and that cost way to much for way too little material. But my daughter wants to fit in, and other people wear them. <br />
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However, my daughter, while definitely not a saint, DOES understand the concept of mean girls. She has been on the receiving end, and we have frequent discussions about not becoming one. She also understands the concept of being a bully. She doesn't like them, and neither do I. So now that I am done being a bit indignant and angry, I'd like to thank you, Mr. Jeffries, for making my job as a parent that much easier, and for exposing yourself for what you truly are, which is anything but cool.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-89645028009523015212013-05-09T07:23:00.002-07:002013-05-09T07:23:23.428-07:00He is Still GodIf you read my blog last night, you know I went to bed with some stuff on my mind. I just had to share that God woke me up this morning with a fresh revelation of who HE is, and that all the rest pales in comparison, and in the end, even though it may hurt in this present moment, will not matter.<br />
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HE IS gracious.<br />
HE IS loving.<br />
HE IS patient and kind<br />
HE IS everlasting, and I can claim HIM as mine<br />
HE IS the friend who never, ever leaves us<br />
HE IS our shield and our defense when accusations come against us<br />
HE IS faithful to the end<br />
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And because HE IS faithful to His promises, and I can rest peacefully there in His arms, knowing that even when all hell breaks loose, HE IS still God, and HE IS and always will be, good.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-18051495536116829982013-05-08T20:19:00.001-07:002013-05-08T20:19:09.987-07:00True StoryOne of my favorite songs is by an artist named Ginny Owens, and it's called "True Story". The chorus goes something like this:<br />
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You see my imperfections, still You say I'm a masterpiece<br />
A marvelous reflection, the image of Yourself in me<br />
You paint with strokes of grace, undoing my disguise<br />
You say beauty lies in the true story<br />
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Of where I've been, of where You've brought me to<br />
Of who I am, all because of You<br />
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There are situations in my life right now that are unresolved. There's nothing that makes me more nutty or uncomfortable than an unresolved situation. I can't stand living in limbo. Even worse when you aren't really sure why things still are they way they are. My best efforts weren't enough, and to this day I still don't understand it all. <br />
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I've been called a lot of things by some people, completely ignored by others. And that's okay. They hurt at the time. Truth be told, they still hurt sometimes. I'm human. But I can take comfort that not only does God see and know the whole picture, He holds the whole world in His hand, and is more than capable to see to that which concerns me.<br />
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More importantly, God knows me. He alone knows my heart, and the intents and motivations of it. I want so much to be holy, to be like Him as much as possible, but the amazing thing is I am learning I don't have to be good enough. I'm never going to be. That takes so much pressure off. Cause He knows that. He loves me anyway. He paints my life in strokes of grace, undoing my disguise. And He says beauty lies in the true story...of where I've been. What He's brought me through. Of who I am, and it's all because of Him. <br />
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No more pressure. No more stress or striving. Resting, even when the memories of what used to be try to come around and haunt me. He sees the true story.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-40704098988810506132013-05-07T08:43:00.000-07:002013-05-07T08:43:02.038-07:00ember<strong>Ember</strong>. A small, glowing piece of coal or wood, as in a dying fire. A hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or
smoldering.<br />
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Have you ever felt so burnt out by a situation, or just by life in general? Or maybe you are the person that has been burnt by another person. Life has knocked you around and you just don't see it getting any better. Perhaps you just want to give up because it hurts to much to care, and hope is not a promise but instead a painful reminder of all that hasn't happened, or all that has been taken from you, and all that remains are the smoldering ashes of a life that once was, or one that you have come to believe never will be. What will you do?<br />
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Notice that an ember glows, even when it's dying. There's something of a spark that burns brightly amidst the gray dullness of the ashes. If you're still breathing, there's still hope. <br />
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I Timothy 1: 5-7 says, "I am reminded of your sincere faith,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29815A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29815B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. <span class="text 2Tim-1-6">For this reason I remind you to <strong>fan into flame</strong> the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29816C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text 2Tim-1-7" id="en-NIV-29817">For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29817D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> but gives us power,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29817E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> love and self-discipline."</span><br />
<span class="text 2Tim-1-7"></span><br />
<span class="text 2Tim-1-7">Inside an ember lies the choice of life or death. You can step on it, and kill the fire forever. Or you can fan it into a flame, and let your light shine. That thing that maybe you thought would kill you may be the very thing that sparks your life into the brightest flame anyone has ever seen. </span><br />
<span class="text 2Tim-1-7"></span><br />
<span class="text 2Tim-1-7">It's amazing what God can do with a broken, burnt out shell of a life. I know, because He's done it to mine. And I am living proof that even if you are the one responsible for the wreckage, there's no person that does not have that little spark of hope, that is too far gone for God to breath life into the ashes and spark a flame that will never die. </span><br />
<span class="text 2Tim-1-7"></span><br />
<span class="text 2Tim-1-7">Don't you give up. Allow God to fan into flame the gifts, the passion, the spark that He placed in your life. You know, that thing that refuses to die even when the rest of your life is in ruin and all you want to do is quit. Don't. Allow God to breathe life into your ember, that small glowing piece in the midst of your dying fire. Because your life matters, even if all that's left is an ember.</span>ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-88995868244607108642013-05-02T17:04:00.001-07:002013-05-02T17:04:19.184-07:00When I Can't SeeToday I got my very own Skype account. I know, I know, welcome to the 21st century I guess. I got it to communicate with a friend who is far away traveling. And I've been thinking about how much my perspective changed from when I could not see their face until the moment I could. It's amazing the difference that seeing can make.<br />
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I mentioned before that there have been a lot of big things that have happened in my life this year. There have been many wonderful and amazing things, but also some tough things that in the moment I have not understood, and a few that I still don't understand now.<br />
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One of the major things that has happened is the loss of people that I cared deeply about. Some, gone from this life. Some, walked out of my life, either for a season or for real. There have been many times that I have felt forgotten. Alone. Abandoned. And for the life of me, I really did not understand what possible purpose God could have, or why He would allow the things He did. <br />
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In those moments, sometimes many times over, faith was a hard choice. I had to believe, even when I could not see, that I was still loved and wanted by God. But it was the only choice...trust or shrivel up and die. <br />
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Truthfully, I can't complain...even through the darkest moments, there were and are people near and dear to me who walked with me. Who comforted me, listened to me cry and sometimes vent, who loved me unconditionally and still do. They were Jesus with skin on and I will be forever grateful.<br />
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But I remember a point when things when one situation came to a head. I remember getting off the phone after the most shocking conversation I'd ever had in my life, and having to go back to work without being able to put one thought together in my mind. <br />
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As I sat there begging God to help me focus, even better to make sense of what I had heard, I will never forget hearing His still, small voice. "Do you see now? I wasn't doing this to HURT you, I was doing it to SAVE you. Because this would have consumed you." <br />
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And as I looked back over the situation in my mind, for the first time, I SAW. It's amazing what seeing can do to your perspective. But I realize now it's in choosing to believe, trust, and obey when I CAN'T see, in the moments when I don't understand, that make my faith, faith. Without it, I'd never be able to see at all. And I am grateful.<br />
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"<em>When I can't see where You're leading me, still my heart. Help me to believe that You love me, all of me"</em>ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-3618536715787574592013-04-24T19:05:00.002-07:002013-04-24T19:05:18.828-07:00A Heart FullI started this blog with the best of intentions, and with intention I have erred, because I for a while really did not keep up with it. Not necessarily on purpose, but mainly because there was life to be lived and the joys and the struggles have been more than enough to keep a person occupied.<br />
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The past year has brought some really tough stuff my way, stuff that I'm not really going to talk about now, and I don't know when I will. But it brought me to my knees in new ways, and shook loose the things that needed to be shaken. Some by choice, some by circumstance, and some by merely saying, "Okay God, break me. Just break me. You're gonna do it anyway, so here I am willing. Just break me."<br />
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I'm not entirely sure WHAT I was thinking when those words actually came out of my mouth, but let me forewarn you now, when you say something like that to God, He takes you seriously. And by the end of the year, I had given up. On my dreams, on music, on anything ever being better than it is right now. And even though the circumstances in the "right now" were gut-wrenching, I also realized in a whole new way just how lucky I was (and am) to have the love of a good man, four beautiful kids, a good job, and a roof over our head. Life had proven itself to be wholly uncertain, and I decided that perhaps I should just learn to be content with what I had.<br />
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I have to say, being content with what you have is always a good thing, but in this case, I felt as though I was "settling" to be content. I've always been a dreamer, and dreaming small has never been a problem of mine. But I was hurting, and tired, and tired of waiting for something good to happen. <br />
And I was just done. <br />
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I'm grateful for a few things. Number one, a husband who is too stubborn to let me quit. Seriously. How he puts up with me, I'll never know. Secondly, for friends who let me call them any time just to cry even if they really didn't understand all that was going on (Nanci, Lindsey, Heidi, Mrs. P, Candace...I love you all way more than you'll ever know, and can't say enough thank you's for those conversations), and put up with me and encouraged me when I was a complete and utter mess. But I'm mostly thankful that even in the middle of being broken, God works ALL things for my good, and is faithful even when I am faithless to the point of giving in.<br />
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I'll write more details later, but here's the skinny...since the beginning of this year, the changes that God has brought have been amazing, scary, and hard to grasp. He has restored relationships with both my best friend and my dad, and out of that has come an opportunity to record a project in Nashville (squee!) in just under three months from now. My heart is full, and my cup overflows. <br />
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My goal is to start chronicling how we got here and where we are going. But I ask that you pray for all three of us and our families. The challenges along the way are numerous, but we know and have seen time and again that God is FAITHFUL. Even on my worst days, I cannot ever go back and say that He is not. And I can't wait to share this journey with all of you. ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-84570950464046991602011-11-09T16:33:00.000-08:002011-11-09T16:33:13.497-08:00From A Thankful HeartSo, I realize it's been a while since I updated this here blog. So much has happened that I am not entirely sure where to start. So I'm thinking it's time to make a list of things that have happened that I am beyond excited and grateful over.<br />
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*I was asked (and able) to "pinch hit" on background vocals at a gig with the incomparable and always wonderful Tenley Westbrook (you think I'm just saying that...totally not, she is tops). <br />
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*I found out that I will be an auntie again this spring...twice! Yea for nieces and nephews!!<br />
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*The kids and I were able to go with my mom to visit relatives from The County...it has literally been years since I have been able to go up there for a real visit and it was absolute heaven. I loved seeing the family, and I can't tell you adequately the feeling of awe you get when you come the top of a hill and all you can see is field and trees and big, big sky...it seems like you can see forever. Especially at sunset. Oh, the sunsets!!!! <br />
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*I was invited to sing at a concert with Justin Havu, musical genius (again, you may think I'm kidding...not even close. Totally brilliant) for a live (and I hear recorded for DVD) concert. Way cool and way fun. If and when it is released I will totally post the details.<br />
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*I got a new job!!!! This one is HUGE. Totally wasn't looking for it, but once again God is just beyond good. It is four days a week, better pay and hours, at Great Works Chiropractic and Wellness. Look us up on facebook or better yet if you live in Seacoast ME/NH come on in and say hi and check it out. I love it, and it is affording me the opportunity to spend more time with the kids and also the time to (finally) get serious about writing and singing and all that. <br />
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I have one other big thing in the pipeline that I can't quite share yet...but since the other ones are so good, I just know you'll be keeping those eyes peeled for it! :)ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-2116947210657860252011-07-18T12:40:00.000-07:002011-07-18T12:40:29.346-07:00A Beacon or a BattlefieldI was driving to church yesterday morning, and as I rounded the corner I could see, like I can on most clear days, the top of the steeple over the tree line as I came around the bend, still a good half mile from the church itself. And for some bizarre reason, it struck me...I get excited when I see the steeple. I know what I will find when I get there. A place to rest at Jesus' feet, to gather with others who also live busy lives but like me have found it important, necessary even, to spend the time away from all the hustle, bustle, and noise of life and to climb under the feathers of the wings of our God and just rest. Now, I could find a way to do that alone at any time, but I relish doing it in a community of believers because somehow it helps to know I am not the only one, and that I am surrounded by others who need the refreshment and rest as much as I do.<br />
But I started to wonder...what do other people who maybe haven't stepped foot in a church (other than for a wedding or funeral) for a long time or maybe ever, think of when they see the steeple. Do they see a beacon, like that of a lighthouse, calling out to all the hearts adrift on the often stormy seas of life? Or do they see a battleground, a gathering of people who are judgmental and cold and out to ruin all their fun or take away their "rights", or perhaps even worse a gathering of people who are so stuck in their rules and regulations that they are willing to fight each other too just to be right. I wonder if the people who see the steeple see it as the symbol of a beacon or a battlefield?<br />
At our church we recently finished a series called "The Hole in our Gospel". It really challenged me along with everyone else that if we really believe what we say we do, then we are called to be God's hands and feet in very practical ways not only inside the walls of our church but in our communities and homes. The message of the gospel was not meant just to be talked about in our sanctuaries, but to be lived out in reality in a world that is often desperate for the smallest piece of hope to cling to. <br />
James 1:26-27 (msg translation) has this to say about the matter: <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. </span><br />
I wonder what people see when they see us too. If we are the body of Christ on earth, His living, breathing, "churches", then what do people think when they see our "steeples"? It's a very sobering, though-provoking thing to consider. But it's worth the effort. The people we run across on a daily basis or even once in a lifetime do not need another person they have to battle with, be it intellectually or otherwise. They, too, need a place of rest, a haven and a help in a world that offers far more questions than answers, conflict rather than piece, that can chew up even the best of us and spit us out. So here's the question for today: Are we a beacon, or a battlefield?ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-47431521227920702252011-06-03T15:21:00.000-07:002011-06-03T15:21:27.285-07:00Light it UpSo lately I just cannot ignore the way God is moving. I don't know about the rest of you, but there is a sense of excitement, like little bits of electricity in the air lately. And I have never felt more compelled or desired more to "light it up" everywhere and anywhere. <br />
Scripture tells us to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). The thing is, I am pretty ordinary. Take God out of the equation, and I'm pretty much your average girl. Husband, four kids, nice apartment, jobs, etc. Nothing all that special. But I am seeing and experiencing what it means to hand over my life, everything I have, to God, no strings attached, and just say, "Here I am, use me. Don't know what you can do with me, or why you would want me, but You've got me, all of me." Letting your light shine is not about you. You cannot produce the light on your own, and it's not about getting glory. It's about walking daily with Jesus, letting Him take control, and shine through You. He is the light...we are merely the lanterns. <br />
Lately, there have been so many things going on that just break the heart, around me, locally, and you don't have to look far to see the kinds of devastation that are being caused by weather alone. Recently, a young boy's body was found in my town on a remote dirt road. I live in a small town...these things aren't supposed to happen anywhere, but they definitely aren't "supposed" to happen here. And for four trying and nerve wracking days, we didn't know who he was, what had happened, and who the perpetrator was or where they were. Scary, heartbreaking stuff. But what the devil means for evil....<br />
There was a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night. I was kindly volunteered (by someone else) to sing Amazing Grace. So I did. Impromptu. In front of a few hundred people. And sat back in amazement as that song was played over and over as the backdrop to the news story surrounding the event. Amazing Grace on the news. To God be the glory.<br />
This remote road is not exactly easy to find if you don't know where you are going. And yet this (as it turns out) out of town woman left her son there. While what happened is totally heartbreaking, God is amazing. The people who found him are Christians. I was able to witness firsthand as they testified to the love of Christ in front of hundreds of people and at the service the following night. And the wife also co-officiated this little boy's funeral in Texas. To God be the glory.<br />
This world is not our home. It can be and many times is a scary place. But we are called to be light, that our lives would shine so brightly that we light up the darkness around us in a way that attracts others to our Savior, who says if He be lifted up, He will draw all men. Light it up people. It's amazing!!ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-74061990309900816042011-05-03T11:02:00.000-07:002011-05-03T11:02:50.750-07:00God Here, I Have Something to SayHave you ever had a moment where you knew, straight up beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God was talking and confirming all the whispers you knew you were hearing all along, just to let you know that YES, you are on the right path, YES, that was me whispering, NO you are not forgotten! <br />
If you are reading this you likely read my last post, Bloom Where You Are Planted. Well, today I'd like to share something that was total confirmation in a way that gave me goosebumps. It comes from the blog of Meredith Andrews, one of my favorite Christian worship artists. She was writing about her experience of winning her first (two) Dove Awards this year...and finding out while in her pajamas at home feeding her baby. This is what she wrote at the end of her post:<br />
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<div style="color: #626260; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.7em; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I share this with you not because I seek congratulations or accolades, for God has used this honor to bring about in me a renewed humility and gratitude, and I am again reminded that my only boast is in the cross. I say all this to encourage YOU, wherever you may be in your life. God has not forgotten you. He hasn't changed His mind concerning you. Romans 11:29 says, "God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." Philippians 1:6 says that we can be confident of this: "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." He will see you through. He will finish what He started in you. And in me. We can be sure of it.</div><div style="color: #626260; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.7em; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">So let's continue to bloom where we're planted and be faithful in small things. Let us press in to know Him, to seek out His heart and pursue His presence. May our complete and every day surrender be the natural response to His life laid down for us. For as I was reminded by a good friend recently, we can never out-give the Giver. We can never out-do God. He is always standing by, ready to teach us, ready to bless us, ready to lavish His love upon us as a Father lavishes love on His children, not because we are deserving, but simply because He is good.</div><div style="color: #626260; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.7em; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-17147327525617418982011-05-02T08:33:00.000-07:002011-05-02T08:33:58.048-07:00Bloom Where You AreSo lately I've kind of felt like I've been in a holding pattern in a lot of areas in life...lots of possibilities, but no real actualities. Anybody who knows me knows it makes me nuts to "live in limbo". I like decisions, realities, even if they are not decisions or realities that I particularly like. <br />
One of the things that I've been pondering is this feeling like I need to stretch, like I've somehow outgrown my little corner or something. Wondering what the next thing is. But in the process, I forgot something important...everything God does is on purpose. Where ever we are in life or even in actuality (right now I am in my living room), is on purpose. <br />
We are not called to merely sit here and just kill time waiting for the "next big thing" or adventure. No. I saw a sign today driving home from my daughter's dentist appointment. Like I said, there is nothing coincidental. It simply said "Bloom Where You Are". It caught my attention in a big way. Whenever we start to think we have grown to small for the space we're in, and get caught up in what ISN'T happening in our lives, we are merely taking up space and wilting where God called us to bloom. He is the gardener. He is going to place us in the perfect space to do the blooming and growing. He is not going to place us somewhere where we don't have enough room to do the amount of growing we need; on the contrary, He will put us in the perfect place. If we are willing, He has called us to bloom where we are. <br />
And if you are thinking, "Yeah, but..", consider this...have you ever considered picking a seed? Or a sprout? Or a wilted flower? I'm guessing not. But how often has a beautiful rose in bloom caught your eye? Or that adorable daisy patch made you want to pick one? They all bloom in different places. But yet it's the full grown ones that catch our eye, that we want to pick. If you don't bloom where you are, how are you going to catch anyone's attention? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6nGVGswima6LXwXYHMFyEv4yisy5x29YWU_M5TQC-ciLUpN2LVlE-ofmerwVfj6kE6xiFvI03jkaF0Z_lX6BSqWKEcMrQWHMKvFX4QO6384z7qR-N0onnmlO5CICS0FXngo-FrQY0frJ/s1600/Tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6nGVGswima6LXwXYHMFyEv4yisy5x29YWU_M5TQC-ciLUpN2LVlE-ofmerwVfj6kE6xiFvI03jkaF0Z_lX6BSqWKEcMrQWHMKvFX4QO6384z7qR-N0onnmlO5CICS0FXngo-FrQY0frJ/s320/Tulips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And the attention we should be after, by the way, is that of the Gardener. Oh how He longs to revel in us; oh, how we long to be reveled over, to be noticed and admired. The only way to accomplish all of this is to bloom where you are. :)ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-23255016380127746592011-04-20T16:26:00.000-07:002011-04-20T16:26:38.257-07:00Heavy LiftingSo, any of you who follow me online, particularly on facebook, will know that I started a new workout routine a little over two weeks ago (the power 90 series for those who are interested). I love it, I'm doing great, and I'm already looking and feeling a whole lot better.<br />
Now, interestingly enough, my pastor told a story on Sunday that not only caught my attention and really got me to thinking. He was talking about lifting weights in correlation with the the burdens we face in life that seem to get increasingly heavy with each subsequent trial we face.<br />
Matthew 11:28 says "Come to me, you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest". The next couple of verses go on to say that we instead take on Christ's yolk, which is light. <br />
But here's the point the pastor made, and that we often don't think about...in order for us to come and trade our burdens for Christ's yolk, we must first pick them up and give them to Him. <br />
Now, if you are like me, chances are you have in the past or are currently looking at a situation or burden in life and feeling rather discouraged right now, because there is no way that you can imagine picking up this thing at all, much less picking it up and putting it down at Jesus' feet. And if you are like me at all, you have or maybe still are asking why the burden was given to you in the first place.<br />
Well, let's go back to exercising. Part of my "routine" two nights a week involves strength training. And one of the exercises involved is called a bicep curl. I have to pick up the weights, then bring them back down. Repeatedly. But along the way, I got good at picking up and putting down those cute little two pound weights I bought for myself. It was no big thing anymore, and I was stronger than the weights I was using. So this week I had to switch to my husband's ugly (sorry babe) five pound weights. They are big, black, and mean looking. I can add more weight to them as I go. And this week, I curled a bigger weight. Yup, that hurt a bit. <br />
The same is true with our trials. There is a reason they seem to get easier, and then WHAM! The next one looks ridiculously hard. Guess what? Those trials are not there out of meanness. God is not punishing you. But in the process of picking them up to lay them down at His feet, guess what they are doing? Yup, those mean old trials are making you stronger! Stronger in faith, stronger in confidence, stronger in conviction.<br />
I Peter 5:10 says: "And the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast". <br />
The thing is though, the trick is to pick them up, then lay them down (at His feet). If I were to pick up that 5lb weight, curl it up, and then never lay it back down, I could and likely would hurt myself. The same is true with our trials. We were never meant to pick them up and hang onto them. We were meant to pick them up, to lay them down, and in the process be made stronger, firmer, steadfast. And the best part is if we obey in the lifting and laying, we don't even have to worry about choosing the wrong size weight, because God promises that He will not give us more than we can bear. (I Cor. 10:13).<br />
So the next time you face a trial, and it seems like to much for you, remember, He chooses the weight; He always chooses the right weight for where we are at in our journey. You were made for this; pick it up, lay it down, and just see what God will do!ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-64952539085147296732011-04-13T16:49:00.000-07:002011-04-13T16:49:49.419-07:00New Song teaser...and a quick updateOkay, so some of you know I've been working on a new song that has taken me a while to get together. Not so much because I didn't know exactly how I wanted it to sound, but BECAUSE I knew exactly how I wanted it to sound and it has taken some serious work on the keyboard skills to get it close enough to share. I'm still learning as I go on the keys, and while I've definitely gotten better, I still sometimes hit that hump where what I hear in my head and my actual skill set don't exactly match up. It's taken lots of work and practice to get to this point (here's hoping my family isn't sick of this song yet lol). <br />
This song is also deeply personal to me. Out of everything I have written thus far, it's the one where I've dug deepest into something that will not let me go and really laid it out there, so it's a little intimidating to share it with the world in that regard. The story is that of a girl, comes around to my understanding of the situation, and goes back to the story; however, I could be and have been that girl. Most days I still am. I have my struggles, and being accepted, loved, and supported by people who should hasn't always come naturally to me. (sidenote...sooooo not talking about my husband and kids here...they have been ridiculously supportive of me).<br />
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Soooo....check it out on the music page ( www.myspace.com/elitagalvinmusic ) <br />
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In other news, I just had an awesome afternoon singing the National Anthem at the Sea Dogs game. Beautiful day for baseball (or any other outdoor activity), and did the best I've done ever on the Star Spangled Banner. Wahoo! Many thanks to my husband, kids, Shallon, Beth, Candace, Dave, and Bradyn for coming out to hear me sing and hanging out to watch the game after. The Sea Dogs won...I'm thinking that maybe they should switch places with the Red Sox, they are certainly playing better! Some day dreaming and hoping to sing at Fenway. Who knows, dreams can come true ya know! ;) <br />
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For those who missed it, I sadly do not have the Anthem recorded from this past Sunday's game BUT you still have a chance to hear me sing it live at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Thursday, April 28 at 6:30pm...would love to see you there!<br />
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<3 Elita<br />
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PS feedback on the teaser definitely encouraged :)ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-33027034234039059112011-03-28T13:46:00.000-07:002011-03-28T13:46:38.098-07:00For I Know the PlansJeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "<br />
That verse has become very true to me in a very real way in the past week. Six days ago, I was driving my van on the Spaulding Turnpike headed to drop off some keys to my boss at work and pick the kids up from school. Out of nowhere, my van started shaking rather violently, so I pulled off the road (thankfully I was already in the right hand lane, as traffic was fairly heavy). After calling my husband at work and trying to help him figure out what was wrong (I am pretty car illiterate), I sat in my car waiting on AAA and crying out of sheer frustration. We just spent money fixing this thing in January to get it to pass inspection, plus having to pay for a new battery a few weeks before. And here I was, on the side of a busy highway, with my van broken down. Again. So I sat and prayed and asked the question, "Seriously God, why?". <br />
Well, now I know why...and that not only had God not left my side, but He had protected me in a huge way. What I didn't realize at the time was that the back rear axle of my van had cracked almost clear through right down the middle. By all rights, my tires should have popped off and I should have rolled, going approx. 65 mph, into oncoming traffic. I should not have been able to steer the van off the road, and by all accounts (AAA, car dealership, etc.), I should have been killed. Then add in that I was less than a mile from being up on the bridge over the ocean, where I would have had no place to go even being able to pull over. You get the picture...my guardian angels were definitely on duty with extra coverage.<br />
Now, my van is beyond repair, and because the axle was under recall (side note: if you know anyone with a 98-03 Ford Windstar in a cold weather state, PLEASE make them go get their vehicle checked at their nearest Ford dealership), and we are now looking for a new, safe van for a low price, as we can't afford much.<br />
But here's the thing...I know, that I know, that I KNOW, that I was spared for a purpose. But it is a hugely weird feeling to reconcile being told you shouldn't be alive, knowing that you are beyond blessed to even be breathing, or hugging your kids, or kissing your spouse, with KNOWING that I am here because I am supposed to be. I'm not exactly sure why I am supposed to be here, but I trust God to reveal that to me. After all, He has already more than proven this week that His plans are for my PROTECTION from harm, to prosper me and give me a FUTURE that nothing, not even a broken axle, can take away. ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-58228806739338447622011-02-23T07:46:00.000-08:002011-02-23T07:46:45.741-08:00Not Myself LatelySo recently I had the experience of spending time around an invidual who I just for whatever reason am not myself around. I think we all have people in our lives who for whatever reason seem to draw the worst out of us, and I believe the majority of the time it has much more to do with us than it does them. But the point is, I was not feeling like myself at all, instead I was feeling like the worst version of myself and couldn't seem to snap out of it. And that alone drove me crazy. What the heck was wrong with me? Why couldn't I just be my normal, generally happy self? <br />
This question was still niggling at me Sunday morning as I arrived at church for our pre-service rehearsal at the crack of 7 am, bleary-eyed and struggling a bit to wake up (side note: thank heavens for DD's ice coffee!!). And I was still feeling somewhat out of sorts from wrestling with the question and being irritated with myself. <br />
One of the songs we were singing that day was "Lead Me to the Cross". As I was listening to Caroline lead us in the song, one of the phrases hit me like a lightning bolt...."rid me of myself, I belong to You". Whoa. Right then and there it occured to me that my problem was not that I was not feeling or acting like myself. Quite the opposite. I was feeling and acting EXACTLY like myself. The self that exists outside of allowing God to fill me and lead me. <br />
I don't need to be more like me. Left to my own devices, I am not naturally gracious or kind or patient. I am, to be honest, a miserable person to be and to be around. I don't need to be more like me. I need to be more like Him. John 3:30 says "He must become greater; I must become less". And the more I pondered it, the more it occured to me how backwards I had it. I am fallen, a sinner, and on my own not a lovely person. But every time I allow God to fill me, to "clean house" on any area of my life He chooses, I become more like Him. He is gracious. He is kind and merciful, patient and forgiving. If I want to be those things, I don't need to be more like myself. I want to be more like Him.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-57601107923969165292011-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:002011-02-01T07:52:42.022-08:00Playing in the MiddleI was driving my car to church Sunday morning, listening to Air1 on the radio (now that I've figured out what it is) and I heard this little snippet that's been rumbling around in my brain the last 48 or so hours. It has to do with playing in the middle of the road.<br />
We all know it is a dangerous thing to play in the middle of the road. Especially in a busy street. Take downtown where I live....busy almost all the time, and fairly narrow for a road that sees as much traffic as it does. Add in several downtown shops, a couple restaurants, a school, couple of churches, etc. Now add in all the people who walk up and down the sidewalk all day...taking kids to school, running errands, paying their oil bill, whatever their errand might be. Nobody in their right mind would ever think to walk down the yellow line of Main Street to get to their destination. Frankly, they wouldn't reach their destination because the odds are extremely high that they would be hit by any manner of vehicle...car, van, even a tractor trailer truck. And even if they were fortunate enough to get missed, the fear of being hit alone can be crippling. Nobody would purposely choose to do that (unless they were certifiably insane).<br />
But what of our spiritual life? In Revelation 3:15, Jesus says "I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other". In our spiritual life, how often do we play in the middle of the road? Sure we believe in God, but we're not really so sure we can trust Him, and we still aren't convinced that walking His way is the only way. We know we aren't supposed to walk with the world, but we aren't 100% walking with God either. So we play in the middle of the road, thinking that we are smart enough to see or hear the car bearing down on us and surely we can get out of the way on time. And God is gracious, of course He will take us back and heal our wounds. So off we go, playing in the middle of the road even though we know it's a dangerous place to play. Our parents taught us to pick a side to walk on. God told us He'd rather we be hot or cold than lukewarm. Yet we go on playing in the middle of the road.<br />
The saddest thing to me is how we have it all worked out in our head how God is gracious and we'll turn back to Him and He'll heal us and it will be fine. But if we are honest most of the time when we inevitably find ourselves either grazed or hit smack dab with disaster, that plan goes out the window and we blame God and ask Him where He was, like He was the one Who let us down and didn't protect us, when we were the ones who chose to play in the middle of the road. He told us not too. We didn't listen. Yet we blame Him like it's His fault. Sure, He could have stopped us from playing in the middle of the road. He could have forced us to walk in His paths. But then again, if He forced us, He would no longer be a gracious God but a dictator. He is kind enough to give us the choice. And we blame Him when the consequences of not obeying strike us. Even though we were right where we were told and warned repeatedly not to be...playing in the middle of the road.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-50933693963303085612011-01-24T12:20:00.000-08:002011-01-24T12:20:26.250-08:00The tough stuffFor those of you who might have been wondering, I have not been neglecting the blog. God is really dealing with a huge area of hurt in my life, and I have struggled with this one for a long time. Pretty much all my life. And it is incredibly intimidating to share with whoever cares to read this blog, because I know that I am leaving myself open to criticism here. I am about to be incredibly vulnerable...not easy for me at all, and I think that to be open, honest, and vulnerable is going to a step in the right direction. <br />
For all thirty years of my life, I have always wanted to know that my father loved me. Not my Heavenly Father...I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that He does. But my earthly father. Growing up where and how I did, it was easy for a lot of people looking on from the outside to assume that our life was pretty great, and that we had the best dad on planet earth. Now, I have to say here I am not writing this to out my dad or openly criticize him, but to explain how I got here, and how God is dealing with me. I very much love my dad and always will, and I realize that no parent is perfect. <br />
I understand to a point how they came to that conclusion, because on the outside things were great. Very few people actually saw beyond the exterior of appearances to how they really were. And I'm going to be very honest...my dad was married to his piano and the church we attended. Again, nothing wrong with either thing...I happen to love playing the piano and I love God deeply and very much enjoy our times of fellowship and learning at the church I now attend. But I also believe God does things decently and in order, and my first commitment is to my family....God gave them to me first for a reason. <br />
But to the topic at hand...for a long time my dad has loved other things more than he has loved me, my mom, or my sisters. It has affected us all differently. I have come to discover that I am a daddy's girl at heart, and I have always longed for his approval, hoping it would bring with it his affection and attention. And for a little while in my adult years, I enjoyed a taste of it. I very much enjoyed it. And I very much miss it. <br />
Yes, I have talked to my dad about this more times than I care to count. It's never made a difference. And I have come to the realization that short of a miracle, which I very much believe could happen, it probably never will. Not being pessimistic or boo-hoo, just being honest. <br />
Soooo....God is really digging this one out. And it hurts. A lot. It has taken a long time for me to let go of my hurt and let God really deal, because I have never wanted to face the reality or deal with all the pain. And yet that is exactly where I find myself now. I have wrestled with even writing this openly, but for a long time in my life I have had to pretend things were fine when they weren't. And I would be lying if I only wrote about the things in life that are wonderful and hunky dory if I was not also real about the pain and struggle. Cause we all have them. Life hurts sometimes. I came across a wonderful quote by CS Lewis this weekend that in a nutshell says that God never promised that we would not have hurt or pain...He actually promised that we would when He said "Blessed are those who mourn."<br />
This is where I am at. It is a deeply painful process, but it is also wonderful because I know it is for my good and my healing. One of my favorite song lines says "I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus bring the rain." I am here to say I am freely letting God do His thing here and dig this one out. It's rather deeply routed, and your prayers would be coveted. For me and my dad. I do not want anyone to read this and make it critical of me or my dad, but rather to cause you to pray for us both. For tender hearts, open eyes, deep healing, and even reconciliation and a restored relationship. ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-30245827656339924332011-01-01T16:32:00.000-08:002011-01-02T17:01:35.267-08:00Verse for the YearSoooo, this is the time of year when a lot of people make resolutions, many of which will be forgotten, broken, and/or abandoned within a few weeks to a few months. It happens, we're humans. The only lasting covenants that I have found are the covenants of God. I don't do the resolution thing...I'm terrible at keeping them, and I really loathe making a promise that I am unsure I can keep. <br />
I thought I knew what my verses for the year would be this year, but God gave me a resounding answer today that left no doubt that I had been a little off track and like always, His thoughts for me are not what I can expect or predict.<br />
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So here it is:<br />
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God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is He who says, "I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate My righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons. I am the Lord; that is My name! I will not give My glory to anyone else, nor share My praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens. I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them."<br />
~ Isaiah 42:5-9, 16<br />
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I cannot tell you how excited I am for this new year!! God has confirmed some things in my heart and I will joyfully follow my Savior wherever and however He chooses to lead. :)ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-17154235186645987432010-12-15T09:59:00.000-08:002010-12-15T09:59:03.382-08:00What if Jesus Comes Back Like That?I sing on the worship team at Bethany Church in Greenland. I am scheduled to sing this Sunday, and we have been asked to learn a special song for the service. It is one I have heard many times before, but never really gave much thought to till the last week or so. It's called "What if Jesus Comes Back Like That".<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7At75kN_YsI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7At75kN_YsI</a><br />
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As I have been learning the words to this song, it has me thinking. Do I really treat the people around me, even the people I don't know who come across my path, like I would treat Jesus? If we were to all examine our lives honestly, we don't even come close a majority of the time. <br />
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What if Jesus came back like the guy who is down on his luck and cries out in frustration and nobody takes him seriously. He's made his bed, he should lay in it. He should man up and help himself. Well, what if Jesus came back like that? We would be stunned and horrified to find we had treated Him that way.<br />
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What if Jesus came back like the girl who has seemingly thrown her life away for whatever physical pleasure or high she could find? Do we turn up our nose and turn our back on her? Or do we see her need for love, for real relationship? What if Jesus came back like her? We would be mortified to see Him revealed in her, ashamed of the way we have treated Him.<br />
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What if Jesus came back like that politician we can't stand, the one who is a crook and wicked and doesn't deserve grace or forgiveness in our minds? God says we all have a chance as a long as we are breathing. Yet we act like there is no hope for them. And maybe it seems that is true. But what if Jesus came back like that? Would we pray for Him and plead with God to change His heart, or would we get angry and pretend like the forgiveness that is extended to all does not apply to Him? <br />
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This Christmas I think is a very good time to examine where our hearts are at. Cause if Jesus came back like that, would He cry when He sees where our hearts are at? Or would He be pleased to find us treating others as we would treat Him? What if Jesus came back today like that?ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-63357797415882386262010-12-11T18:28:00.000-08:002010-12-11T18:28:57.304-08:00You MatterAs I write this post I am in total awe of what God has done. I can't get into details quite yet, but I just want to say that if you ever think that prayer doesn't matter, that what you have to offer doesn't matter, you are wrong.<br />
I have wondered lately if what I do matters. I have felt like I have not been making an impact, and while I love writing and singing, I was wondering if what I had to say mattered to anyone other than me. I have been proven so unbelievably wrong. <br />
For those of you who wonder if you matter, you do. If you wonder if God sees you, He does. If you wonder if He hears and answers your prayers, He does and He will. Hold on. <br />
You may think that nobody would care if you were here...they do. You may think you have nothing to offer that would matter to anyone...you do. The same God who took five loaves and two fishes to feed the multitudes is the same God who will take our gifts, no matter how meager or small they look or feel, and will use them in mighty ways. Just watch. I promise, you will be amazed. I KNOW I am.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-13438118784076880842010-12-10T11:05:00.000-08:002010-12-10T11:05:23.902-08:00God Is With UsGod Is With Us.<br />
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Those four words have opened my eyes in a whole new way. I have been struggling with some things in life lately. Some of those things are personal to me, but I have also been struggling with the hurt and need around me. I have a couple friends in particular who are not doing well financially and who are hurting. Being Christmas and all, it has really bothered me, feeling like there is not much I can do beyond praying for them and listening when they just need to talk. I have no money to give, and I would gladly give it if I did. And sometimes I wonder why is it the people who would give have no money to give and there are people with money who are entirely selfish (not all people with money...I know there are very generous wealthy people out there). And I have found myself over and over saying, "Gosh, I wish I could just understand it. I just don't understand".<br />
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Last week I attended a Christmas gathering where Kim Bolton was the speaker. She said something that really caught my attention. She said we are not called to understand, we are called to obey. And I think that applies especially when we don't understand. But I'll get into that another time.<br />
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Last night I was at the Candlelight Christmas Concert at Bethany Church. Two of my girls were singing in the children's choir, and I couldn't wait to go. And let me tell you, I was blown away!!!! The talent was unbelievable, and the night is one I will not forget. But it was more than just the music, although believe you me that would have been enough. Four words caught my attention.<br />
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God is with us.<br />
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He is with us always. He did not leave us when He left the stable. When He died on a cross. When He went back to heaven. He is with us. The God who knew total abandonment on a cross will never abandon us. The gift of Christmas is not just that God came to earth. It's that He is with us still. <br />
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God is with us. <br />
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When life is hard and seems unfair. When no matter what you do you can't seem to get ahead and it feels like nobody understands or cares. Yet He understands even better than we do and cares more deeply than we can ever fathom.<br />
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God is with us. <br />
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When the money is gone and we don't know where our next meal or rent check will come from. When we miss those loved ones that we cannot see because they have passed on or because of the selfishness of others. When we feel so lonely we could just curl up and die.<br />
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God is with us.<br />
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And because He is always with us, we always have hope. We always have love. We always have life. Life does not depend on little green pieces of paper or people. Life is a gift from the ultimate source of love and life. <br />
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God is with us. Hope is not lost, love will live on. God is with us.ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7340504428142049769.post-63984000612776150362010-12-01T14:33:00.000-08:002010-12-01T14:33:01.826-08:00The layringitisOh me, oh my, I have not been very good with this blog thing. Must improve that!<br />
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The vocal music has been a temporary hiatus due to the laryngitis. I caught a cold that's been going around and man getting the voice back has been sloooooow. Man, it is hard to be patient when you have so many melodies and lyrics in your head and you cannot give them a voice. Talk about a lesson in patience!<br />
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All this laryngitis has meant extra time at the keyboard. OOOOOH, that has been fun! And much needed...the keys are sounding much better, especially on "When We Don't Believe". Hooray!! <br />
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Anyway, I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving....mine was spent with my mom, two of my sisters, one brother in law, a niece, a nephew, and my four children. Yep, we are a rowdy crowd, and we wouldn't have it any other way!<br />
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I have been increasingly aware of just how much we have to be grateful for. Life is hard, and sometimes it doesn't make sense; yet there are little blessings that we tend to so often miss because we are focused on the bigger issues of life. I think God sends them our way to remind us that He is a gracious God even in the worst of circumstances. So today I am reminded to count my blessings...yes, in this world there have been troubles, but the blessings far outweigh the sorrows that this life can bring. Hmmm...sounds like a song....maybe I'll have to work on that :)ninety8musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318485995095039512noreply@blogger.com0