Category: Music

It’s Hard Work – And It’s Worth It

Family.

You can’t live with ’em. You can’t shoot ’em.

When we are little, we dream of growing up and having a wonderful husband (wife), beautiful children, and a fantastic life as a family. We think it will all come together and will play out just like a fairy tale.

And then we grow up, get married, have kids, and reality sets in.

It’s hard to do life with other people, especially ones we live with under the same roof.

It’s hard not to lose it when you appreciate tidiness and cleanliness and the rest of your family doesn’t. But you have a choice: enjoy the people you live with, mess and all, or alienate them by expecting them to cater to your needs.

It’s hard not to hold a grudge when your husband (wife) does something that really hurts you. But you have a choice: forgive and move on, or build up a wall that puts a wedge between you.

It’s hard to deal with the fact that we don’t always get what we need, much less what we want, and yet the very language of living in community is one of give and take that ebbs and flows. Sometimes we give more, sometimes we take more.

It’s hard not to look out for number one when our culture tells us we have to do what is best for “me.” But, ultimately, what is best for “me” has to be what is best for “us,” and that is not always an easy choice.

Marriage is hard AND it is work. It isn’t something that we can just let slide. We have to be intentional in spending time with one another, sharing not just the contents of our days but of our hearts. We have to speak truth into one another and into our relationship.

Parenting is hard AND it is work. It isn’t something that we can just let slide. We have to be intentional in spending time with one another, teaching, loving, nurturing. We have to speak truth into our children.

Being a family is hard AND it is work. It isn’t something that we can just let slide. We have to be intentional in spending time with one another, laughing, talking, crying, learning. We have to speak truth into one another and our relationship as a family.

Today I am praying for families all over that are struggling. For husbands and wives that aren’t connecting like they should be. For parents and children whose lines of communication are failing. For families that are coming apart at the seams. My prayer for them is for reconciliation and healing. My challenge to them is to do the hard work that is necessary to hold your family together. That means prayer. That means selflessness. That means forgiveness. That means asking for help. That means offering grace where needed. That means looking at yourself and asking where you need to let God work. And none of that is easy. But it’s worth it.

I would love to hear your stories about family trials that have been hard, but worth it.

Worth It

Album: Hundred More Years

Artist: Francesca Battistelli

Love’s not a feeling
Love’s not convenient
But I know love will change your life
Love takes sacrifice
Love cuts like a knife
Sometimes love will make you cry
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

Love is a hunger
But love won’t leave you empty
See it’s the language of the heart
Love can steal your pride
But love won’t let you hide
It takes everything you’ve got
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

(Chorus)
What you gonna do when the bottom falls out
And you’re left with nothing but your fear and your doubt to hold to
Who will hold you?
Where you gonna run when it’s all on the line
And you’re looking for someone to save your life
To save your life

Love can hear you
Love can heal you
If you let it inside
Oh, remember now
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

(Chorus)
What you gonna do when the bottom falls out
And you’re left with nothing but your fear and your doubt to hold to
Who’s gonna hold you?
Oh, where you gonna run when it’s all on the line
And you’re looking for someone to save your life
To save your life

Love can hear you
I know love will heal you
If you let it inside
Oh, remember now
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

Words & Music By: Francesca Battistelli / Sam Mizell

Take Notice

It’s Thursday and thus it is blog day and because I have actually had opportunities to listen to music this week, it’s another blog inspired by a song!

Well not only by a song, but the song cemented this idea in my head as the one to post today.

Last week I challenged you all to find ways to purposely be thankful every day this month. I have been doing that, and if you follow me on Facebook, you have read about my husband, job, son, heated car seats and more. The interesting thing is, when you start looking for things to be thankful for throughout your day (rather than just picking something random from the top of your head), you really become aware of just how much you have to be thankful for, and you end up having to choose which of those to post each day.

Add to that a conversation in staff meeting this week and my weekly book discussion with my friend Tina, and my brain starts going.

I have a family and close friends for who I am so thankful. And I have many opportunities that come and that I make to spend time with them. I keep an eye out for them, and their well-being, and they are keeping an eye out for me.

But not everyone has that. In fact, there are people all around us that are just wishing they would be noticed by someone, anyone. And this time of year exacerbates their loneliness. Most of us have places to go and people to see during the holidays and we get so caught up in that, we don’t even think about the people who don’t. And if we do think about them, we push down our guilt about not doing anything for or with them as we go on to the next party or gathering. At some point, that has to stop. At some point we have to start taking notice.

After all, we have been told that we are supposed to care for “the least of these.”

The Sheep and the Goats – From Matthew 25

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

I always cringe when I read this passage of scripture. It is just so harsh. And yet, we need to be reminded of the importance of caring for others. Especially at the holidays, but not only then.

So, now, the question isn’t will you do it, but HOW will you do it? (And, BTW, I have to answer that question to. It’s not just for you. :))

Take a listen to the song below. It is from one of my favorite bands, and has some of the most heart-piercing lyrics of any song I have heard. It will get you thinking, I promise!

(verse 1)
I’ve got a story now
One that you never will hear
I’ve got a light to shine
That you can’t see over there

But you don’t want to know
You keep on passing me by
And your true colors show
I see that look in your eye

(pre-chorus)
I am me, I am you
I am many known by few
Seldom seen, seldom cared
Seldom mentioned in your prayers

Outfit outdated
Birthday never celebrated
I’m the one that you ignore
I’m the least and I’m the poor

(chorus)
Oh what a shame,
Standing in the shadows
Cause I don’t have a name
But you can’t see we’re all the same
Someone shine the light on my way (yeah)

Wasn’t a choice
Standing in the shadows
Cause I don’t have a voice
But you can’t hear above the noise
Someone shine the light on my way (yeah)

(verse 2)
Now to the average man,
You may just think of me less
And to the richest man,
A tax deduction at best

And to the government
I’m just a check on the first
Or just a soul to save,
project for the local church

(pre-chorus)
I am me, I am you
I am many known by few
I’m the one that’s calling out
Can anybody hear me now?

Do you care who I am?
Will you ever understand?
I’m the one that you ignore
I’m the least and I’m the poor

(bridge)
See I’m the nameless
Yeah, I’m the loveless
And I’m the voiceless, fatherless and motherless

I’m the defenseless
Helpless and the hopeless
I am every one of us (I am every one of us)…
credits
from This Moment – EP, released 18 May 2010
Produced by Stephen Leiweke & Jorge Casas

Russ Mohr: vocals
Luke DeJaynes: drums, programming
Mark DeJaynes: bass
Dustin Burggraaf: keyboards, programming
Joe McGill: guitars

Hard Times

I have had a difficult week. Not that anything in particular happened, but just one of those weeks where life seems harder than necessary and that got me to thinking about why we encounter times like that. Many people believe when they become  Christians that it means the end of pain and suffering and it is going to be wonderful from that point on in their lives. So when life doesn’t change or it feels like the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, where the first 3/4 of the movie shows anything but wonderful stuff, they are disillusioned and say it’s not what they signed up for and want to quit before they get to the end, where, like in the movie, we’ll get to see just how much we are loved and how much we have learned and grown through the tough stuff.

But the reality is, God never promised us a life without trouble. He offered it to Adam and Eve, but they chose not to obey the one rule that said “don’t”, and since then, we’ve all had to live with the fact that we live in a fallen world. And on top of that, if we read the Bible, we hear Jesus tell us things like, “Blessed are the persecuted for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven;” and “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” It sounds to me as if Christ knew that life wouldn’t be all roses, and that He was telling us there would be hard times and that we should expect them.

So when these hard times come, regardless of why, we have to remember that we have a choice about our response. I heard a story once of a boy who grew up in more than 20 foster homes, and never knew his real parents, yet is incredibly healthy and successful. When asked why he said, “when something happens to you, you have two choices on how to deal with it. You an either get bitter, or better. I chose to get better. It’s made all the difference.”

I think that many times, our first response to hard times is like that of the Israelites. Many times over the 40 years between the Exodus and entering the promised land the Israelites groaned and murmured against Moses and the Lord. They groaned because there was not water, or no food, or not the kind of food they wanted, or Moses was taking too long on the mountain. Do you ever notice yourself going there as your first response? I know that if I’m not careful, it is easy to go there. To complain to a friend, or to feel sorry for myself because life is just so hard at times.

Another response that we might have is to question God. We see in Job lots of questions that Job, and his friends, have for God about why He would allow such hard times, and we read in Psalms many questions that David had for God about the troubles that he encountered. And while our attitude in questioning God makes all the difference in whether or not we are sinning in our response, I think that the most appropriate responses to suffering and hard times we find in scripture are: rejoice, be patient, endure, and pray.

As humans, we seek comfort and stability in our lives, but without these hard times that disrupt our comfort, we don’t grow and mature. Growth and maturity comes as we face struggles with joy and faith. Conflict comes back to bless us if we will endure through it.

We know that Christ suffered on this earth, that his disciples faced all kinds of trials and suffering, so we know that “in this world we will have trouble,” but we also know that we can take heart because Christ has overcome the world. We can face suffering with a joy that the world does not understand, and as we endure, we grow, and mature, and become complete, we are blessed and will receive a crown of life.

On the way to church yesterday, I heard this song. I have heard it and even sung it in church before, but I was really impacted by the lyrics as I listened and the inherent choice that is made to bring praise to the Lord, regardless of where we are and what we are going through. Take a listen. The lyrics are below.

How have you been blessed by giving praise to God during hard times?

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

All of my life in every season, You are still God
I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow

Hope Now

Hope: The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best; OR a person or thing in which expectations are centered.

Romans 5:1-5

 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame [does not disappoint us], because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Italics mine.)

Miscellaneous Musings 2

In the last two weeks it has been very evident that I haven’t had a lot of substantial ideas running around in my head because I haven’t been able to blog! I apologize to you, my readers, for being so inconsistent, and I promise to get better starting now. So, here comes another hodge podge of ideas that have been running around in my head.

  1. Giving truly is better than receiving. I have a wonderful husband who pretty much lets me have just about anything I want (within reason). He never asks for anything for himself, and says that he has all he needs. A number of years ago he traded in his truck so I could have a van. This week the Lord has provided an opportunity for me to bless him with a truck. Yes, it is old, it isn’t beautiful, but it is a truck (and it is a manual transmission – something he loved in his old truck), and he will be able to have it before deer season. I have had so much fun working out the details and figuring out ways that I can pay for the truck outside of our regular income, so that it truly can be a gift for him from me.
  2. When God opens the door to do something new and you walk through it willingly, He blesses it in multiple ways. When I started thinking about coaching the Jr. Comets cheerleaders, I knew it was a huge commitment but really felt like I was supposed to do it. Even in the midst of giving them every Tuesday and Thursday evening and 10-12 hours every Saturday for the last two months, not once have I felt overwhelmed. Not once have I wished I didn’t have to go. Not once have I wanted to quit. I have loved every minute of coaching, playing, cheering, and getting to know this wonderful group of girls. They have been eager learners, ready to try new things and listen to what I have to teach them. While I am looking forward to a little more free time after the next two weeks are over, I will miss spending time with these girls and will be counting down the days to next summer and fall when I get to do it all over again! Thanks to the Lord for His guidance, His help, and His blessing on this endeavor.
  3. I have been reading through Romans recently in my devotional time before bed. I’ve read it before, but I wanted to read it again. Wow. I have been bombarded by the richness of Paul’s words to the Romans over and over. The reminders of God’s faithfulness to us, His gift of grace, our responsibility to obey, and so much more. Last night it was chapter 6, verse 22 that really caught me, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” It reminded me of a sermon my pastor preached early on in his time here about ear piercing. He told us how, in Old Testament times, when a slave was freed they could make a choice to stay with their master and when they did, the master would pierce their ears to show that they chose to stay. Christy Nockels has a song that really talks about this. Here is what she writes about the song:

07. My Master
My dad has been a pastor for as long as I can remember. One of my favorite messages that he used to share was from Exodus 21: 1-6. It’s about Hebrew slaves and the process they would go through with their masters after they had served their time. Basically, upon the 7th year, they could go free, or choose to stay. He would tell about the process of the Hebrew slave choosing to stay with their master, even after they were free to go. The slave would publicly go before the community and declare, “I love my master, I will not go free”. Then, their ear would be pierced, and the blood would signify a lasting covenant with their master…one made by choice and for all to hear. He beautifully tied this to our relationship with Jesus, our Master, and reminded us that the disciples often would call themselves “bond slaves” of Christ. We have a will, but when we choose to align ours with His, this brings true freedom and love like we’ve never known. After he shared this message one night, he felt led to have our church respond in a very unique way… That night many of us lined the aisles of that old church and took the hand of one of the leaders and publicly confessed, “I love my Master, I will not go free”. As a teen, that had a great impact on me as those words came from my heart and my mouth, and it still does to this day… Serving and calling Jesus “Master” doesn’t’ seem to be a real popular thing in this world to have rolling around in your vocabulary and in your everyday life. However, I am compelled to tell of the joy and freedom I have experienced in serving my Master. I will tell of His mighty ways, drawing near to Him and remembering what He has saved me from! Of this, I will forever sing!

You can take a listen to the song here. I included the lyrics below.

The day You heard my plea,
You looked right through me
You saw the pit I was in
And You came and pulled me out…

You set my feet upon a rock
And put a new song in my mouth
Then You called me Your own
And I’m never turning back

I love my Master, I will not go free…
I take Your name and live in liberty
My life is Yours forever
I’ll serve You faithfully
I love my Master, I will not go free…

You’re a love I’ve never known
And Your faithfulness has shown
No matter what I’m about
You always find me out

And You lovingly remain
Age to age the same
And for all of my days
I will tell of Your ways..Your mighty ways…

Covenant Keeper
You are, You are
Merciful, Kindness
You are, You are
Passionate Father
You are, You are
Lifeblood redeemer
You are…

For us, it seems foreign to talk about living in freedom and yet choosing to serve a Master, but in the Kingdom, there are many paradoxes that don’t seem to our eyes and our minds (that are so influenced by the culture in which we live) to be “right.” But, we are called to live in this world, but not be of it. We are called to live lives that are counter-cultural. So really, this is where it starts. Choosing to serve the Master.

What do you think?

Bad Day, Good God

Yesterday, I felt a bit bi-polar. I woke up to find that my scale hit the number that was my first of two weight-loss goals. I was ecstatic!

Then, after I picked up my lunch and was on my way home to eat it, “BAM” (literally). I had a car accident. And it was my fault. They were in my blind spot on the van and I pulled out when I didn’t see them. Fortunately there were no injuries and the damage is minor, but that brought me crashing down and I cried (sobbed, bawled, etc.) off and on for hours. By myself. In front of an amazing friend who showed up without being asked (you know who you are – THANK YOU!). With my husband as I told him about it. And by myself some more.

As I continued through my day, it seemed like every little thing that could go wrong kind of did and because of the accident (and subsequent ticket – the first one for me EVER), everything felt bigger than it was. By bedtime I was just feeling like it was a terrible day.

And then I was reminded this morning that I did reach my first weight loss goal yesterday, and that is a great accomplishment. No one was hurt in the accident, and that was an amazing picture of God’s protection. I was reminded what amazing friends that God has given me who came when I needed someone, and also let me be when I needed to not talk about it. I got my house spotlessly clean in my effort to work off my frustration, and that is a weight off my shoulders.

I’m sure as the rest of the story unfolds with money, insurance, etc., there will be many more things for me to learn from this experience, but for now, I am just reminded that God uses all of life to teach us and mold us into the people he has created us to be. I sang this song in my head quite a bit yesterday – “This is the stuff You use.”

What is God using in your life lately to shape you, good or bad?

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please ‘Cuz I can’t find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that’s getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I’m blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I’m running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that’s getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I’m blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I’ve got a new appreciation
It’s not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I’m blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I’ve gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use

“Me” Time

A few months back I heard this song (the lyrics are below) when I got the new Kenny Chesney album. At first I really liked it, and then I started questioning of the theology of it (while still really liking it, but not sure if I should). I mean, I am not meant to live for myself, but for Christ. I am not meant to schedule my time solely for me, but for others, too. I am not supposed to bow to the ways of the culture and live in a “me” saturated world. That’s not Biblical. And it’s not nice.

And yet, there is something that calls to me about this song and the idea of having time for me. Time to do what I want. Time to not have to listen to the “noise” of my everyday life. Time when the only person I am responsible for is me.

This weekend, I took my kids school shopping on Friday night. We had a (mostly) fun evening together and got some work accomplished. But on Saturday, I wanted to be alone. Not in the “alone in the woods with my thoughts” kind of way, but the “alone in a crowded room” kind of way. So, with my husband’s blessing, I went to the mall. By myself. I tried on clothes. I looked at books. I walked through stores my kids wouldn’t like. I got a pedicure. I listened to the music I wanted to listen to all the way there and back. I didn’t have to worry about making sure the kids got lunch when I myself wasn’t hungry. I loved it. And when I got back, we took the kids to Mike’s dad’s and he and I went fishing for most of the night. It was lovely. We talked about lots of stuff and yet nothing in particular. We didn’t talk at all for long periods and just enjoyed the peace of the night. We slept in until 10:30 a.m. And then we went and picked the kids up and spent the afternoon with them. And I wasn’t stressed. And I wasn’t anxious. And I didn’t get frustrated. And I enjoyed it. In addition, I have a very full week this week and am feeling positive and confident that I can face it and finish it well.

Which brings me back to my quandary of finding the balance between living for Christ and others, while still allowing some time for myself so that I can be better at living for Christ and others, without falling into the trap of getting too focused on me and my needs.

I think the key word in the previous sentence is “balance.” We all know that concept, but figuring out exactly what balance is and putting it into practice is a whole other issue. I don’t think there is any doubt that we have to take time for ourselves sometimes. And I know there is no question that we are to live for Christ and others. Which means that we absolutely have to figure out what balance looks like for us. It may be a little different for each one of us, so we can’t rely on someone else’s way of structuring their lives. We have to find our own balance.

So that’s what I am going to work on this fall. As everything starts back up and my days fill up with many things to do, I need to figure out how much “me” time is necessary in order to make the “God and others” time more effective.

Have you found your balance? If you have, how does it work for you? If you haven’t, what would you need to do to find it?

Take a listen to the song here and read the lyrics below.

Kenny Chesney-Live A Little Lyrics

Stressed out, running late, racing down the interstate
Spilled hot coffee, down the front of my jeans
It’s work, work, pay the rent, money and my time’s spent
Not a minute left for me to be me

Been going like nothing can wait
I gotta get my priorities straight

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Find a girl that brings my whole world to a stop
Live a little, love a lot

Friday night, here we go, do a little do-si-do
Kick back, have a laugh, catch my breath
Tell the band slow it down, there she is, think I found
Maybe Ms. Wonderful, I haven’t met yet

It just hit me like a wrecking ball
She’s giving me a wake up call

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Find a girl that brings my whole world to a stop
Live a little, love a lot

Step back, smell the rose
Feel the sand between your toes
Unplug, unwind
Step out in the sunshine

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Find a girl that brings my whole world to a stop
Live a little

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Take the girl, get a map and pick any old dot
Live a little, we need to live a little, love a lot

Little Victories

Seven or eight years ago, I had to buy a bike. Anne was learning to ride her little one and I wanted to ride again. Now, I know they say you never forget how to ride a bike, but what you do forget is how HARD it is to ride a bike. Especially up hills. I remember trying to ride from my house up a particular street that happens to be a slight hill and having to get off the bike and walk it to the top of the hill. How embarrassing!

Fast forward to Sunday morning. I was out for what I am calling my “weekly Sunday morning ride” and just happened to head up that same road and pedaled to the top, no problem (this after successfully navigating a number of other, taller, longer hills on my ride that morning), and a line from one of my favorite Trisha Yearwood songs (For A While), ran through my head: “Little victories, I’ll take ’em.” And then I started to laugh. I have ridden up that hill a number of times since that first try. I have run six half-marathons since then. I have proved that I can do so much more than I ever expected. And yet, just being able to ride my bike up the hill that beat me years ago gives me a sense of victory.

So I have been thinking about that the last couple of days. There are tons of things that I could look at as “little victories.” I got out of bed this morning – that’s a little victory for my tired self today. I ate fruit and veggies instead of cookies and cake at a get-together with my friends over the weekend. I didn’t (completely) freak out when a wasp landed on me during my walk yesterday. I have managed to stay on top of my laundry for three months now. (That one might be a more than a “little” victory.)

I think we need to give ourselves a bigger pat on the back for the little victories in our days, instead of waiting for the big victories that don’t come nearly as often. When the kids clean the bathroom and it is almost “mom-clean,” that’s a little victory – they are getting there! When we leave the house in 90 degree weather to take a walk instead of staying on our couch in the nice cool AC, that’s a little victory! When we manage to get our quiet time with the Lord in at least one day in this crazy week, that’s a little victory!

When we celebrate these little victories, we are more likely to have more of them because we like how that feels.

So, what little victories will you celebrate today?

Arms of Grace

I spent this past weekend at the Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy conference, Come to the Water, where we explored the theme, “Rhythms of Grace.” There was so much good stuff that came out of the weekend in various forms – main sessions, workshops, discussions with friends, times of prayer – that I haven’t even really had a chance to process it all and come to what my “take-aways” are. But yesterday as I was listening to some music, a new song caught my ear that kind of fit with the weekend so I thought I’d share it with you today.

Click here to listen.

Good to Know
Francesca Battistelli – Hundred More Years

Hello, old friend
I know it’s been a while
I’m here again
And it won’t be the last time
I fall apart
But You won’t let me get too far
You’re speaking to my heart

(Chorus)
It’s good to know
It’s good to feel the arms of grace
To know that my mistakes are covered by Your love
It’s good to know
It’s good to see that You won’t change
When it’s said and done
You’ll always be enough
To know that I can always come back home
It’s good to know
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
It’s good to know
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh

Goodbye, old me
Yeah there’s so much more that I
Know I could be
So take my worries with
You when you leave
There’s hope that I am counting on
‘Cause I’m never too far gone

(Chorus)

It’s good to know
That there’s a second chance
Know that it’s all in Your hands
Even if I just don’t understand
‘Cause I know that I will be alright
I finally see the other side
It takes the darkness to open up your eyes
Sometimes

It’s good to know
It’s good to know
I’m covered by Your love

It’s good to know
It’s good to see that You won’t change
When it’s said and done You’ll always be enough
To know that I can always come back home
To know that You will never let me go
It’s good to know
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
It’s good to know
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh

Words & Music By: Francesca Battistelli / Jason Walker

Spring Cleaning – Getting Started

Most of us like to keep things tidy. We have a sense of what it means to have our lives “in order,” or at least in order enough for public viewing. When people come into our homes, we want them to see that we have things picked up and our floors are clean. But how often to you invite someone into your closet? Or your basement? Or your attic? For most of us, keeping things tidy on a regular basis is enough most of the time. But one time of the year, more than any other we often find ourselves going a bit deeper. Something about the smell of spring in the air, the new buds on the trees and new flowers in the yard make us want to start fresh in our homes as well. We want to clean out the junk, get the dust bunnies out from under the bed, and do the hard work of a deep spring cleaning. Some spring cleaning requires purging and pitching, some organizing and putting things into their place, and some simply requires dusting off and washing down.

Over the next few weeks we are going to look at some of the areas in our homes that probably need some spring cleaning and how they parallel areas in our hearts that could use some spring cleaning as well.

As we prepare to walk through the rooms of our houses and our hearts, here is a song that I love (the video isn’t a great one, but you can at least hear the song this way) that invites Christ to make his home in our hearts. Listen to it, meditate on the words, and next time we’ll begin “Spring Cleaning.”


Come and make my heart Your home
Come and be everything I am and all I know
Search me through and through
‘Till my heart becomes a home for You

A home for You, Lord
A home for You, Lord
Let everything I do open up
A door for You to come through
And that my heart would be a place
Where You want to be…

You are my portion, filling up everything
You are the fortune, that’s causing my heart to sing
That it’s amazing…
That You could make Yourself at home with me