Category: Music

Roots

We started a new three-week series in Kids’ Church this week using the story of The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Hunt and our memory verse is John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” At one point in the morning we sent the kids to their prayer closets (spread round in the LOFT) to pray with a bunch of grapes to remind them of how they need to stay connected to the Vine, and we played this song. I love the words. I love the overall message. I want to have roots like this so that I grow for His splendor!

New Time, New Week, New Challenges

Time change weekend always messes me up. I could barely get out of bed this morning because my body thought I should still be sleeping. Add to that it is Monday and another shift change week for our family.

But no matter how I feel, no matter what this day brings, no matter what challenges lie ahead this week, I know that I have much for which I am thankful.

And in that vein, I share with you one of my favorite worship songs of late, 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. Enjoy. And bless His name today. “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.”

[Chorus]
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

[Chorus]
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

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

[Chorus]
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

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

[Chorus x2]
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

Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
I’ll worship Your holy name

There’s Something About Giving

In Friday’s blog I shared that February was a rough month. And it was. I’m still working on how to make March better. But one thing that helped me through February was some projects that I worked on and completed.

You may or may not know that I love to knit and crochet projects for others who need prayer and encouragement. (You can read more about that here.) In the last few weeks, I was able to complete a few projects to give to people. One person I don’t know at all, I heard about her situation from a friend. Another person I am just acquainted with, but am good friends with one of her friends. A third person I know a little more, but it’s not like we’re terribly close. What ties all of these people together is this: when I heard about the situation that each one of them is facing, my heart went out to them and I was prompted to do something to show them that God loves them and is taking care of them, and as a way to physically show them that care, I made an item for each of them. As I made each item I prayed. As I finished the item and got it ready for them, I wrote them a note about how I specifically prayed for each of them. And then I handed the items off to someone else to deliver.

You see, it’s not about being recognized for what I have done, it’s simply about being obedient. I don’t need a thank you. I don’t need acknowledgement. I just need them to know that someone is thinking and praying for them, lifting them to the Lord as they go through a rough time.

The process of doing something for others, even when I am struggling through each day, helps me to take the  focus off myself and put it where it belongs – on loving the Lord and loving my neighbor.

It reminds me of this song, one of my favorite Fundamental Elements songs, that they just happened to play at their reunion show on Friday night. We all need to remember that we are not alone.

(verse 1)
Sister, I’ve been hearing things
That you’ve been going through
For such a long time
You wonder if you’re ever gonna see the clouds part
See the sunshineWoah I want you to know
That I’ve been praying for your soul, child
Hoping you see He’s never gonna leave
No matter what you’re feeling now

(chorus)
Cause when the rain starts to fall
And I know it surely will
And when the pain becomes all that you can feel
Just get down on your knees and pray
I know you’re gonna find your way
But you’ve gotta know
You’ve gotta know you’re not alone

(verse 2)
Brother, I’ve been noticing
The way you walk around
With your head down
Thinking that nobody even knows your name
That you don’t even matter now

Woah I want you to know
That I’ve been praying for your soul, child
Hoping you fight to make it through the night
And morning comes early now

(bridge)
I know you’re tired of hearing
Everything is cool, that you’ll be alright
Cause you just wanna know
That somebody’s here with you to be at your side
And when words can’t mend a heart breaking up
When the sun won’t shine, and you’ve had enough
And when hope just fades away
You can always count on me

(ending)
And when words can’t fix it
You can count on me
Oh, when all hope is gone
You can count on me
Oh, when the sun won’t shine
You can count on me
Oh, you’re not alone
Oh, you’re not alone
Just get down on your knees and pray
You can count on me
Oh, I know you’re gonna find your way
You can count on me
You can count on me
Oh, you’re not alone

When all hope is gone
You can count on me
When everybody leaves you
You can count on me
I’ll be right here for you
You can count on me
Oh, you’re not alone
Oh, you’re not alone

credits

from This Moment – EP, released 18 May 2010
Produced by Stephen LeiwekeRuss Mohr: vocals, bgvs, snaps, percussion
Luke DeJaynes: drums
Mark DeJaynes: bass, bgvs
Dustin Burggraaf: keyboards, bgvs
Joe McGill: guitars, bgvs
Stephen Leiweke: guitars, snaps, percussion

Sweet Silver Lining

Two verses that I held onto during my Goofy run last weekend were:

  • Philippians 4:13 (NIV) – I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power (strength in the KJV) is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Without these verses and the promises that go along with them, I would have been hopeless.

And really, that is true about most of life. I am constantly holding on to the promises of God that say He is my strength, He is my provider, He is my protector, and so much more.

I have loved this song since the first time I heard it, but I listened to it a little differently this week. It is spot on about me, about my life. I have many people who are looking to me to be their strength, to be their support, and I often feel inadequate for that – whether it be my kids, husband, other family, or friends. But thanks to the strength of God, I won’t give up. I will keep pressing on and doing my best with His help.

Waiting

I am not a fan of waiting.

I don’t like waiting in line. I get frustrated waiting for my kids and husband to move. And waiting on someone else to finish what they are supposed to do so I can do my job, well, don’t get me started.

I am a go-getter. If I see that it needs to be done, I do it. If I know I am supposed to do something, I want to get it done.

So, waiting for something that I know is supposed to happen bugs me.

But I also am aware that when it comes to God’s call and timing, I am not the one in charge. And it has become a learning point for me over the last several years to wait on Him.

As I was reading from Love Does by Bob Goff last night, I ran across this paragraph that does a pretty good job of describing me.

I think God passes by me a lot, and it serves to show me the direction He’s going. We don’t always know where He’s headed or what to expect along the way. But I think direction is the point, the part, and whole of it. He wants followers, not just onlookers or people taking notes. Plus, I think God knows that if I found out more than just the direction He was going, I’d probably try to beat Him there. And if He spoke to me with something audible, I’d probably mess it up and mishear Him.

So I continue to wait for His next move. His next direction-giving moment in my life. Even though I get tired of waiting.

Is waiting easy for you?

Merry Christmas!

I am spending this week with my parents and missing my sisters and their families. That is because they are important people in my life and after spending most of our Christmas Eve’s together, it is still weird that we don’t anymore because we are spread so far apart.

But thanks to technology, we do get to see each other and talk to one another and of course text, so we don’t feel so far apart.

I used to sing this song with my middle sister, Stephanie, and it is a very precious Christmas song to me.

I pray that you will hold your family close – even if you are far apart – this Christmas, and hold your Savior even closer.

Merry Christmas!

Monday Music and Merry Christmas!

On this Monday morning, when we are all trying to figure out how to make it through this next week leading up to Christmas, when we are all thinking about our kids at school today and praying that they are safe from harm, when we are all thinking about how to make this Christmas more meaningful to our families, I just want to share another of my favorite Christmas songs with you. Every time I listen to this song, I have a flood of memories – from Madrigal Dinners in high school, to the anticipation of being home with my family on Christmas Eve while in college, to quiet nights alone leading up to the holiday. The story he tells in the middle of the song always brings tears to my eyes. I also want to wish you, my readers, a very Merry Christmas, and share our family Christmas card (christmas letter 2012) with you.

 

Monday Music: A Dream Come True!

I have a confession to make. I love Amy Grant. To those of you who know me, that’s not a confession, it’s just an assumed part of my DNA.

And part of the reason I love her so much is her first Christmas album, A Christmas Album. I know that album inside out. I love every song. I sang Emmanuel with a group of friends at the church I grew up in. My sister Steph and I sang Heirlooms more times than I can count. I wanted to move to Tennessee so I could really have a Tennessee Christmas. It was the first Christmas album played every year. There is just something about it  that I love.

One of my favorite songs has always been Emmanuel/Little Town. And I have always wanted to sing it.

And last night at the Yuletide Celebration, my friend Tina and I got the chance! The song is so 80’s. The track held that true 80’s sound. And I loved every minute of it. It was so fun to sing. It was so fun to remember my “first love” of Christmas albums (and Amy Grant). I just have one regret. Cardboard Amy didn’t sing with us. Because we didn’t think of it. (Yes, there is a cardboard cut-out of Amy that circulates around the office at various times.)

So, here they are, two of my all-time favorite songs (I can’t find a video that houses them both). Enjoy! And why don’t you share some of your favorite, memory-laden, Christmas songs with me?

Monday Music: Christmas!

It’s December! This month, I thought I would share some of my favorite songs with you each Monday.

Last Christmas Eve, I was running in Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, Alabama listening to this album. It was a wonderful time of worship and this is just one of the songs that really blessed my soul.

Last week, I was listening to this album again on a run, and guess what? It blessed me again!

And then yesterday, we sang this song in worship and my favorite part was listening to my son sing it loudly.

Take a listen. I hope you are blessed by it as well. And I pray that your soul magnifies the Lord like Mary’s did as she carried our Savior!