Only one artist...like this!

Okay, all who have ever met me probably know that I really, REALLY like Steven Curtis Chapman! I am a huge respector of the gifts God has given him, and I believe even more important than the music is the way he consistently lives out his life to the Glory of God the Father!

Way to receive ARTIST OF THE YEAR Mr. Chapman!!! Well deserved!

Strayed Away

Isaiah 53:5-6
~He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

It's been a few hours now since our Good Friday Service ended. It was a nice service, the music flowed well, the message was good...but as I drove home I wondered if we have strayed away from the seriousness of what Good Friday really means.
Now I get excited about Easter Morning, the Celebration of Jesus and His Resurrection, the Power of our King conquering sin and death... but I wonder if my generation lacks a soberness, even a somberness for what our Savior went through before the resurrection- I felt tonight like we don't know how to handle Good Friday...should we be sad?, is it tradition?, is it wrong to be happy?...

As people were planning their meal plans for after the service, or weekend activities, it just left me wondering~wondering why we don't tear up when we read the verses describing what Jesus went through. He was beaten beyond recognition...He died a HORRIBLE death...I want to remember, I want to take it serious, I don't want to keep up the same pace the world has set for me, I want to take it all in...for what joy can there be on Easter if we don't take a moment to remember, to be silent, and somber...in realizing just what our Savior endured for each of us, that we might have life everlasting.

MONSTER OR ALIEN

So...just got back from seeing the new moving "MONSTERS VS ALIENS" with my kids. It was a movie that had us all laughing out loud! As I watched the movie it dawned on me that there was a spiritual analogy...if you will...
You see, the main character discovers that what is on the outside does not make up who you are...yes, it's the physical characteristics that people see...but it's not who you really are...but the heart of a person...now you're talking. I love how God tells us that He looks at the heart of a person (...The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the HEART. 1 Samuel 16:7~ emphasis mine) and not the outside...it all boils down to our heart...who are we really? The outside can tell many lies, can it not?
Oh, how I long to see the heart of people AND to live as a person who is authentic outwardly and inwardly...who you see if who you get! God talks alot about our hearts in His word...I'm in need of "Heart Surgery" daily I'm afraid...but Praise God He is the Great Physician!!!
Okay, so "MONSTERS VS ALIENS" a fun movie...laugh out loud funny...and maybe, just maybe a nugget of Truth for all of us to ponder~

Weeping

I just got done reading through our prayer requests from Church and find myself overwhelmed with what people are walking through. I have no great answers as to why we go through painful moments in life...but I know that we don't have to go through it alone.
I'll never forget a wonderful lady who influenced my walk with Jesus in profound ways. Her name was Marion Sorely. She is what I consider a "saint"! To look at her was to see Jesus! She was diagnosed with cancer and the kind of cancer she had ate away her face. She would come to Church and little by little the disease destroyed her very skin and cells...leaving gaping holes. Marion NEVER stopped praising Jesus...NEVER. I cannot begin to image the physical pain that she experienced...but I am forever changed by witnessing her unwavering love and trust for and in her Savior!
Jesus knows pain, He knows sorrow...He wept when there was loss. He tells us that in this world WE WILL have trouble, but to be of GOOD CHEER for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). I love what Isaiah says in chapter 43:2-3...when we pass through the waters He will be with us, when we pass through the rivers they will not sweep over us, when we walk through the fire we will not be burned...For He is the Lord our God...He is with us...always!!!!
Well, okay...those are the thoughts rolling around in this tiny brain tonight~I pray that you know the Love and Strength and Grace and Peace and Faithfulness of Jesus...if you don't...well the Word of God tells us that to any of us who will put our trust in Jesus...believe who He says He is...turn from our wicked ways and surrender our hearts to follow Him...we can KNOW these things about our Savior with CONFIDENCE!!! So what's holding you back?

Okay, so we were just praying with our Abbie Joy, she is 4 and FULL of life! We sometimes do an "echo prayer" this is where I pray and she echo's what I say...well she was being just a "wee" bit stubborn and so I said "Lord, please break my stubborn will" (you won't find this in parenting 101) she paused and said "what does that mean" to which I replied "it means you want to be obedient" she said confidently "No I don't!" than smiled...

Whoa Nelly...I laughed and thought how is that not like me...Paul reminds us that we struggle with what is right and wrong, the things we KNOW we should do we don't and the things we know we SHOULDN'T do we do...

This year more than ever, I long to grow in holiness, to be more like Jesus, to allow my children to see choices made that are pleasing to God, not choices that are full of questions as to why....simple things like what movies I see, what television we watch...alcohol is not in our home...but helping my kids see the reason why it is not...
I really want to hear my Savior say to me WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT...I fear I have many bruises to show for all of the times I fall flat on my face in this day to day life...I want my children to know that when the make the decision to follow Jesus, it's serious! Matthew 7:13-14 says: (and this is Jesus talking)..."Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
I don't know about you, but as we live out this walk with Jesus, I pray that people see a very "human" being full of flaws but a "human" who is saved by grace and not content to live a tolerant life or walk...I don't want to be stagnant...I really do want people to see something different..(okay, we ALL know I'm different :0)...but I don't want to go with the flow just to go...

Wow, who knew such a simple bed time prayer would stir up so many thoughts ;D

Giving Thanks

When was I thankful today? Was it when my 7 year old started crying every 5 minutes because nothing was going his way? Was it when I took out my Turkey and couldn't find the "bag of contents" and discovered it was still partially frozen? It might have been when my 4.75 year old joined her 7 year old brother in the tears, just so he wouldn't feel alone. Was it when my 9 year old said, "mom, I've been good today right?" Then of course there was the moment my 10 year old decided that he had parental qualities and decided what was best for all of us. I was sure I had "thankfulness" written all over my face when I heard my husband ask..."hey, hon? When will the Turkey be done?"...Oh, yes for all these moments and more I was thankful.

It was a crazy day for the GORDY GANG...but when everything is stripped away and the noise of the day faded...I realized that we are all sinners that have the choice to be saved by grace. I love the verse found in Thessalonians...it says:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I don't know where the day finds you...I pray that at some point you are able to pause and Give Thanks to Jesus Christ for who He is...for His Grace and Redemption, because really, when we realize who we are without a Savior...we cannot help but GIVE THANKS every moment of every day.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

Wow! What an amazing time in our Country! As a Born Again Believer, I know with all confidence that God is in control of all my tomorrows...He has not changed, nor will He ever change, He does not sleep nor does He slumber. I have friends who call themselves "Liberal Christians" and friends who are "die hard conservatives" I myself was praying for a candidate who would protect life from conception...I just can't wrap my head around women who would chose to kill their children? It bewilders my mind.

I know this, God has established the Governing Authorities, He has called us to submit...Romans 13! I will be praying that our new President Elect is obedient to God's leading...that He acknowledges His Creator and humbles himself to walk in His ways, and that as God's people we will continue to live out loud for THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE and shine brightly for all to see, that they would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior...Redeemer and Restorer.