Calling Us~

Paul Baloche's new song came out just yesterday

and I'm sure it's not a coincidence that it was Valentines Day!

Strategically planned, I'm sure!

 SAME LOVE

simple words, true words,

HE IS CALLING~

(go take a listen, I linked it above)

You take the faithless one aside and speak the words

YOU ARE MINE

You call the cynic and the proud and say

COME TO ME NOW

The same love that opened eyes to see

The same love that set the captives free

Is calling us by name!

The same God that spread the heavens wide

The same God that was crucified

Is calling us all by name!

The same love

You're calling

You're calling

You're calling

Calling us to the cross!

DCB

Have you heard David Crowder Band's new and last CD? :( :( I love this band and I am beyond sad they are breaking up! I've heard him several times in concert but my most favorite memory is hearing him a few years ago in a ballroom in Portland with my bff, Robin. It was standing room only and we made our way to the front and hung out with his wife by the sound. Mrs. DCB was doing sound that night. I've always loved his down to earth, crazy gotee face, his voice and the amazing worship songs! The DCB never made a bad cd! I have them all, by the way :)

This is one of my favorite songs that speaks to my soul right now~Give life to these dead bones and shine on us, Great God!


OH GREAT GOD, GIVE US REST~

We're all worn thin from all of this
At the end of our hope, with nothing left
Oh great God, give us rest

Oh great God, do your best
Have You seen this place, it's all a mess
And I've done my part too well I guess
Oh great God, do your best

Could You take a song and make it Thine?
From a crooked heart twisted up like mine
Would You open up Heaven's glory light?
Shine on in and give these dead bones life

Oh, shine on in and give these dead bones life

Let it shine, let it shine
On and on, on and on, come to life
Let it shine, let it shine
On and on, on and on, come alive
Let it shine, let in shine
On and on, on and on, come alive

You shine, oh shine
You shine, oh shine
You shine, oh shine

You shine, oh You shine

Sweetly Broken, Sweetly Held~

Whether you are into New Year's

resolutions or not,

I think it's pretty normal

to examine the last year,

look at your accomplishments,

think about it with

a joyful heart or a huge sigh of relief

that it is over~(or both :)

I'm working ever so slowly on

my 2011 post....and hope to have it done
soon. Alot happened in '11
although the  year brought some strange relief and

huge burden lifted, it did not go by without

some scary, long days of the unknown.
Someone asked me what worship song would sum
up where I am right now..I would say this sums up the year!

Sweetly Broken

would sum up 2011 for
my heart,

my soul,

my marriage,

our family~

At the cross You beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees, and I am

Lost for words, so lost in love,

I'm sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

 "In the Last Days," God says,
"I will pour out my Spirit
on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
I'll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me.....
         Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
to me, God, will be saved." 

Acts 2:17-21

Sweetly Broken

(Jeremy Riddle)

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling

Of its suffering I do drink

Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed

Showed that God is love

And God is just

At the cross You beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees, and I am

Lost for words, so lost in love,

I'm sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life

Have I been given

Through Christ crucified

You've called me out of death

You've called me into life

And I was under Your wrath

Now through the cross I'm reconciled

In awe of the cross I must confess

How wondrous Your redeeming love and

How great is Your faithfulness

here

Hello Christmas~

I saw this over at Girlfriends With a Purpose and just had to share! This song makes me happy and want to dance and sing with children, make cookies, decorate, wear a santa hat, go caroling and drink hot chocolate! I love Hillsong and this song is AMAZING! Listen, sing with me and get out the tinsel! ha!



HELLO CHRISTMAS SEASON~

Light and Shadow

photobucket

The love becomes stronger
but weakness still present
the Laugh becomes louder
when the JOY has been released
(daily thanks, in all things)
and freedom has been sought
and life begins again

Love deeply,
 like the soul next to you depends on it
 the hands are dropped
fists open
heart screaming
LIFE begins
Grace washes
we are covered!

thankful~
tb
------------------------------------------

When the shadows fall on us
we will not fear

When darkness falls on us
we will not fear

Yet will HE bring dark to light
We remember the cost and we rest in HIM
Resting in the shadow of the cross~
*David Crowder Band*
SHADOW

All we need is YOU~

Perfect Timing~Wordful Wednesday

We just got back from spending a few days

in Redding at Bethel Church.

It was a sweet weekend away, God's perfect timing!

Our first weekend not in "official" ministry for over 20 years

and we were able to get away and SOAK up some

good time with GOD and an awesome group of college kids!

This is a picture of the prayer chapel. We spent quite a bit

of time there on Saturday. Good time with Jesus,

as well as some good family prayer time too!

(missed our boy, of course)

ANNNNNDDDD

Nothing better than Jesus Culture on Sunday morning!

This is the same band that sings

COME AWAY that I posted a few weeks ago :)

This was my 400th post and I was planning on doing something

really cool for this BIG post, but this is the BEST...an

awesome weekend away, in God's perfect time!

He's so good like that! I love HIM!

Needin me some BETHEL and Jesus Culture!

We are reeling from an emotional weekend

of saying goodbye to our church family.

Darren has described this weekend

as the "cold medicine" fog.

We are overwhelmed by so much love

from so many..soooo many!

God is so good like that..He brings the troops around

you when you most need it! This season, we have needed it!

Our home has been filled with friends, our email and text
messages filled with encouragement!

In no way do feel like we need the recognition of man,

but how nice to be LOVED!

These lyrics are so comforting to my heart!

I want to feel your embrace

feel your arms around me

feel your heart beating next to mine

It's telling me it's all gonna be okay

It's all gonna be okay

It's all gonna be okay

IT'S ALL GONNA BE OKAY!

I wanna see your face

wanna see who I can be

I wanna see who I can see

In the mirror of Your eyes

You are telling me

It's all gonna be okay!

JESUS CULTURE~ JAKE HAMILTON

Excited to be heading to Redding, CA this weekend to check
out Bethel Church and hopefully hear a little Jesus Culture!
Need a little family get away! Thank-you Jesus!

Come Away, Jesus Culture!

Cannot stop listening to this powerful song! The girls are at the mall and Darren went to do some work at the church for a bit, it's just me and my dog and this song..playing very loud!!  "COME AWAY WITH ME, IT'S GONNA BE WILD..." I'm ready Lord! :)  Listen!!


Jesus Culture - Come Away found on Pop
Come away with me

Come away with me
It's never too late
It's not too late  for you
I have a plan for you
It's gonna be wild it's gonna be great it's gonna be for me
Come away with me 
It's not too late for you
I have a plan for you 
It's gonna be wild it's gonna be great it's gonna be for me
Open up your hearts and let me in

Whom Shall I Fear

I don't know what you are facing right now, but whatever it may be, remember HE IS FOR YOU! He is powerful and true, HIS Word is true...
Ephesians 6:10 says "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
I want to encourage you to be strong in the Lord. He will empowering you to fight the good fight!

Because I know You live

I'll put my faith in this

That You hear my call

Lord You hear me calling

Because I know You live

I'll set my heart on this

You won't let me fall

When all else is falling

When all You are is glorious Oh God

Victorious and strong

Whom shall I fear

When all You are is powerful and true

And good in all You do

Whom shall I fear

Whom shall I fear

I KNOW YOU ARE FOR ME~

Worship Charades

Isaiah 1~ A Lesson on:

* "getting over yourself"

*letting go of narrow mindedness,

 *irrelevant talk, empty chatter,

*shallow thinking, graceless/merciless crowds,

 *senseless rules, pride-filled hearts,

 *blank, goaless leaders,

*visionless preachers, judgemental "friends" 

This letter is for ME, as much as for those who read it !

Please don't skim over this passage.
It's so good, powerful and right on
with what is happening around us in our
"christian circles," religious churches,
Bible Studies....etc.

Do you see yourself in these words?

Isaiah 1:13-17 (The Message)

Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:

Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—

meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!

Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!

You've worn me out!

I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,

while you go right on sinning.

When you put on your next prayer-performance,

I'll be looking the other way.

No matter how long or loud or often you pray,

I'll not be listening.

And do you know why? Because you've been tearing

people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.

Go home and wash up.

Clean up your act.

Sweep your lives clean of your evil doings

so I don't have to look at them any longer.

Say no to wrong.

Learn to do good.

Work for justice.

Help the down-and-out.

Stand up for the homeless.

Go to bat for the defenseless!!!!!

Jesus come, make us like YOU, let our hearts and minds be clay in Your hands..nothing else but YOU MY JESUS! Make us shake in our boots until we are changed..stripped of everything...because We Need a Savior, His name is JESUS~

HERE

When I Am..... Your Love Remains~

When I am:

lazy

tired

broken

 resistent

tainted

lonely

wrong

uncertain

doubting

fighting

worrying

sinful

tempted

waiting

restless

indifferent

unfocused

waking

working

resting

YOU:

move me

restore me

redeem me

save me

When life is over....YOUR LOVE REMAINS!

thank-you, Jesus~

here

Be My Everything

A beautiful tree

right outside my office at school!

Perfect~

God in my living

There in my breathing

God in my waking

God in my sleeping

God in my resting

There in my working

God in my thinking

God in my speaking

God in my hoping

There in my dreaming

God in my watching

God in my waiting

Be my everything...

Can't Live Without You~

It's been a fun, busy week!
(do I always say that? I think so)
Mostly because it's the last week of
volleyball for one daughter and
playoffs next week for the oldest daughter!
Don't get me wrong, I love watching my girls
play sports, but I am also very excited
to have a few evenings at home each week,
to maybe do laundry or something like that..ha!
This has also been homecoming week at school and
it has been the best wearing my PJ's, mix and match clothes,
Blast to the Past.(80's :) and today, Spirit Day,
ending in a fun school assembly. Pics to come SOON!
Here is my Friday song I have had playing in my office all day!
HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY!

MY FAVORITE LINES..

"You're the ocean deep

I'm in up to my knees

Wanting desperately to drown

You're the one bright part

Of my languid heart

You're the love

I cannot live without

I can't live without You

I can't live without You

You found me here

I'm barely breathing

You picked me up"

When I See Jesus~

There is nothing quite like total surrender, completely letting go, hands open wide, stripped bare, having nothing left to offer but your tired, broken self!

I love this line from David Crowder's song "STARS"

"I have nothing left to give, except the Light you shine you shine on me, shines on You and makes everything BEAUTIFUL again"

There comes a time somewhere along the way when our weakness either makes us fold or  draws us into the arms of a Savior that has been pursuing us.. unfailing, unwavering! 



When I see God:

* In the fall, crisp air, in the early morning, thankful for a new day
* In a phone call, an encourager, a sister, telling me that God put ME on their mind
* In my children
* In my students
* In HIS grace, the raw, pure love HE pours on me!
* Praying with His people
* Seeing Him in the face of my friends baby
* Worshiping with 300 high school students
* Worshiping in my face, in my bedroom
* I see GOD in every breath I breath! For I am nothing without HIM!








 "The skies proclaim the glory of God. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard."
Psalm 19:1

Strength and Peace

~God is STRONG and God gives PEACE~

Psalm 29:11

When we hold onto these words, what else do we need to know!

He is strong

He will give us peace

The end...

-off to church

-I love Sundays

-I love worship HIM

*The sun setting, taken from my backyard

Restores my Life!

HUNGRY (Falling on my knees)

Vineyard

Hungry I come to You

For I know You satisfy

I am empty but I know

Your love does not run dry

So I wait for You

So I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees

Offering all of me

Jesus You're all

This heart is living for

Broken I run to You

For Your arms are open wide

I am weary but I know Your touch

Restores my life

Off to church! The sabbath is my favorite day!