The wheel is spinning and I can't get off-or so it seems. I must confess that my life is more frantically paced than I ever imagined it would be. Do you find yourself in the same boat?
Well there is hope for you and hope for me...I love that God tells us to "Be still" and know that HE is God..."Be Still" means to let go! That is so AWESOME that God tells us to let go...I confess, it is hard to do, especially if you are a control freak like me (shocking I know).
But I want to encourage those of us who just can't stop the hamster wheel of life with these words from God's Life Giving Scripture...
Psalm 46~
God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though it's waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging...The LORD Almighty is with us...Be still and know that I AM God.
Such good stuff-Maybe today is the day where a decision is made to slow the pace, set the priorites and value what God has given us charge over...I'm willing to be human again how about you :D
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Wonder
Right now I am listening to 2 guys from my worship team jam...just jam! Now these guys are both under the age of 21 and are crazy good musicians, who not only have been gifted but use their gifts for their Creator! How awesome is that!!!
I love music!!!!!!!
I love the creativity, the melodies with complex harmonies, the dissonance, the majors and the minors...it's alot like life isn't it? We go on-day by day-some days the melody is beautiful and those who walk along side us join in as if they are the complementary harmony. Some days have dissonance that we wish would resolve into a clear major chord. Music moves us...compels us...I'll bet there are songs in your life that bring you right back to a moment in time. What a tremendous, Artistic God who sings over us and breathes His very life into us...enjoy the song of your day-whatever song it may be
I love music!!!!!!!
I love the creativity, the melodies with complex harmonies, the dissonance, the majors and the minors...it's alot like life isn't it? We go on-day by day-some days the melody is beautiful and those who walk along side us join in as if they are the complementary harmony. Some days have dissonance that we wish would resolve into a clear major chord. Music moves us...compels us...I'll bet there are songs in your life that bring you right back to a moment in time. What a tremendous, Artistic God who sings over us and breathes His very life into us...enjoy the song of your day-whatever song it may be
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Be A Man
Last night I had the opportunity to join a "live chat" with Worship Leaders/Pastors from around the country. The topic of the night was Manly Worship...what is is and does it matter.
It was quite the conversation, out of 69 worship leaders only 3 of us were female, which as you know gives a whole other twist to the conversation. Some guys wanted more songs about "war" and "battles" others thought it was great that guys could learn to be more compassionate and tender. It's ironic that most of the worship songs written today are written by men, in fact over 90 % of the songs we sings at Willow are authored by guys. I found a verse in Luke where Jesus is saying to Jerusalem that he has longed to gather their children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34); now that image does not seem very "manly" and yet I think there is a quite a strength to them.
I have often wondered if our definition of "manly" is skewed by the culture in which we live? When reading the scriptures it's clear that men had physical strength along with kindness, power along with compassion~To me a man who can verbally say he loves His savior is not weak. Some of the Worship Leaders called out for men to stand up and sing out...live out loud by example...We all thought that was great!
I do think that there are way too many "sappy" worship songs out there, however, it's great to voice our love and gratefulness~remembering that God is Holy and Just and Jealous, full of Mercy and Grace and compassion for His creation. Regardless of being male of female we are called to become more like Jesus, pursue His heart and bringing Him glory in what we say and in what we do.
Would love to know what you think?
It was quite the conversation, out of 69 worship leaders only 3 of us were female, which as you know gives a whole other twist to the conversation. Some guys wanted more songs about "war" and "battles" others thought it was great that guys could learn to be more compassionate and tender. It's ironic that most of the worship songs written today are written by men, in fact over 90 % of the songs we sings at Willow are authored by guys. I found a verse in Luke where Jesus is saying to Jerusalem that he has longed to gather their children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34); now that image does not seem very "manly" and yet I think there is a quite a strength to them.
I have often wondered if our definition of "manly" is skewed by the culture in which we live? When reading the scriptures it's clear that men had physical strength along with kindness, power along with compassion~To me a man who can verbally say he loves His savior is not weak. Some of the Worship Leaders called out for men to stand up and sing out...live out loud by example...We all thought that was great!
I do think that there are way too many "sappy" worship songs out there, however, it's great to voice our love and gratefulness~remembering that God is Holy and Just and Jealous, full of Mercy and Grace and compassion for His creation. Regardless of being male of female we are called to become more like Jesus, pursue His heart and bringing Him glory in what we say and in what we do.
Would love to know what you think?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Words to Live by
"Sing them over again to me, Wonderful Words of Life..."
I love that old Hymn or this one: "Standing, standing, standing on the Promises of God my Savior.."
One of my favorite verses comes from a very tiny book called Zephaniah. The verse in found in Chapter 3 starting at 17...it says this-
THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU, HE WILL QUIET YOU WITH HIS LOVE, HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING.
I love that!!! This world just keeps getting crazier and crazier and there are days, I must confess, that I find myself caught in the "whirlwind" of the chaos...BUT...when I go to the very WORDS OF LIFE, I see that I have nothing to fear...God is on the throne, He is in CONTROL...I really want to be a person who does not just know about the Word but one who knows the Word and applies it to my every day life...every moment...
I love that old Hymn or this one: "Standing, standing, standing on the Promises of God my Savior.."
One of my favorite verses comes from a very tiny book called Zephaniah. The verse in found in Chapter 3 starting at 17...it says this-
THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU, HE WILL QUIET YOU WITH HIS LOVE, HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING.
I love that!!! This world just keeps getting crazier and crazier and there are days, I must confess, that I find myself caught in the "whirlwind" of the chaos...BUT...when I go to the very WORDS OF LIFE, I see that I have nothing to fear...God is on the throne, He is in CONTROL...I really want to be a person who does not just know about the Word but one who knows the Word and applies it to my every day life...every moment...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Bowling 101
It was my Birthday today, and we thought we would celebrate by going bowling with the kids! Our church has bowling night every Monday, and tonight was the end celebration with Pizza and Pop...I tell ya, what could be better!
Well, our 9 yr old daughter released her bowling ball and then turned her back, she didn't watch to see what the result would be...she got a STRIKE~but she didn't believe us when we told her. It was all we could do to convince her that the X on the score board was right.
I think that my walk with Jesus is sometimes like Hannah's bowling experience. I often feel as though I take a step, do what I think is "my part", taking my eyes off of my Savior, ...turn and walk the other way going on with the "chores of life"
I want so much less of me and MORE OF JESUS...every day! The older I get the more I am seeing that the pursuit of Jesus is everything...I want my kids to see a Godly woman who's eyes are fixed on Jesus, a Godly wife who is biblically submissive to her husband, A Godly mom who is teaching and training what it means to live a life of integrity.... Most days, I'm afraid I throw the "bowling ball and turn away" but by the grace of God...I will start seeing the completion of the strike!
Well, our 9 yr old daughter released her bowling ball and then turned her back, she didn't watch to see what the result would be...she got a STRIKE~but she didn't believe us when we told her. It was all we could do to convince her that the X on the score board was right.
I think that my walk with Jesus is sometimes like Hannah's bowling experience. I often feel as though I take a step, do what I think is "my part", taking my eyes off of my Savior, ...turn and walk the other way going on with the "chores of life"
I want so much less of me and MORE OF JESUS...every day! The older I get the more I am seeing that the pursuit of Jesus is everything...I want my kids to see a Godly woman who's eyes are fixed on Jesus, a Godly wife who is biblically submissive to her husband, A Godly mom who is teaching and training what it means to live a life of integrity.... Most days, I'm afraid I throw the "bowling ball and turn away" but by the grace of God...I will start seeing the completion of the strike!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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!
Friday, April 10, 2009
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.
~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.
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