tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23539155398487726362024-03-06T02:51:11.591-06:00ellie and meHE GAVE ME SONGS TO SING. I'M ON A JOURNEY TO LIVE OUT A LIFE OF WORSHIPUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-29085786228355949672015-02-07T18:09:00.002-06:002015-02-07T18:09:29.916-06:00Recap Of God's Faithfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been awhile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past few months (ok, almost a <i>year</i>) have tried and tested our faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our family has seen the faithfulness of God in a hospital in Romania, where we rushed Ellie after a freak seizure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continued grace as we completed our 6 weeks in this beautiful country we came to understand and embrace, with beautiful souls we connected with and still pray over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clarity in the midst of frustration as I rushed Ellie through a thunderstorm 5 hours back to our hometown from a beach retreat with XMC students. She had had another seizure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guidance to the right doctor, the right neurologist, the right dosage of meds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God spoke to me through my amazing daughter's perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was scheduled to minister in Australia for a month following XMC graduation, June/July.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all the challenges our newfound diagnosis had brought, I seriously was considering canceling the trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talking my decision through with Ellie (because that's how we roll in our house), I began giving her my concerns of why I probably shouldn't go overseas when we were still navigating the waters of uncertainty following her diagnosis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ellie put her hand on my arm and leaned in to look me directly in the eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mom. Don't be dramatic."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Excuse me?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'll be <i>fine.</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, I'm sure. Daddy will be here, but I was just worried about leaving you. I don't want to leave you when we're still not sure about all this..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i>Mom.</i>" Ellie interrupted. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has a plan and a purpose for everyone. You </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">know</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> He has a purpose for my life, and even if I have another seizure, I know good will come out of it. The Bible says God works everything out for good."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, yes, I know that..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"...and Mom," she continued earnestly, "you shouldn't worry about me. Jesus will take care of me. You need to go lead worship. Go sing and tell people about Jesus. I'm <i>seriously fine</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Well.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did go to Australia for a month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ministered over 14 times in 4 cities, various smaller towns, and saw salvations, healings, and true worship birthed in the hearts of those who had been hurting, depressed and alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon my return, we geared up for another year of XMC to start, and welcomed 65 students.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had the privilege and honor of working not only with Pastors Shawn and Nichole Marcell again this year, but my wonderful husband, Biker Man joined the staff this year! How cool is God's goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've taken students to a few different churches, Teen Challenge, a weekly chapel at a small school, as well as our weekly classes and rehearsals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the midst of it all, I've seen Ellie grow both discouraged (after having another seizure) and then more determined to not accept the diagnosis as a permanent fixture in her life. The latter attitude came as a result of her going off by herself to think and pray about whether or not she should take ownership of said diagnosis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her decision?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The doctor said I can outgrow this. I have decided not to blame every time I'm tired or feeling weak on a diagnosis."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Biker Man, Drummer Boy and I are backing her decision.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She will continue to take her meds, and follow the guidelines from her neurologist, until his diagnosis is the same as hers. <i>Healed.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just took Ellie with me two weeks ago to speak at a camp in Sydney, Australia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She had a blast. The most rewarding part of the week there, for me, was seeing her receive the love of God in a deeper way. Pressing in to worship, sharing what Jesus means to her with other students, competing in squadron battles, and just hanging out with me in our off time was a gift to this mom's heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is still somewhat recovering from jet lag, but back to her sweet, caring-although-sometimes-sarcastic self.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I sit here, pondering the past few months and the immense changes they have wrought in all four of us, I know these changes are for the better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because they brought about a sharper awareness of God's presence and present mercies on our lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A firmer understanding of His love that shapes our hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fiercer trust in Jesus and His faithfulness to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I know these changes were brought about,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> not just by what happened to Ellie, but mostly, by our reaction to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has been giving me songs during this past year. Part of the "one more reason to worship" time in my life, I guess! I'll share one next blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-10315859485453669892014-03-30T10:53:00.000-05:002014-03-30T10:53:00.783-05:00The King's Daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNFkhbViDN7_qT5zmKnr0ssl0aQzL86pMvUlD3O2pRHQ-vAJ85R1RdPs5NbdTqIk4OXcdwZcr18TmWAfmfu5MU__TbSq7PHLxjF2F2Ur4f2J_OMYscfSRTjniQSDQ7ZexBZeXsARP7aTh/s1600/The+King's+Daughter-color1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNFkhbViDN7_qT5zmKnr0ssl0aQzL86pMvUlD3O2pRHQ-vAJ85R1RdPs5NbdTqIk4OXcdwZcr18TmWAfmfu5MU__TbSq7PHLxjF2F2Ur4f2J_OMYscfSRTjniQSDQ7ZexBZeXsARP7aTh/s1600/The+King's+Daughter-color1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been studying this subject for the past year and a half.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the last time I came to Romania.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When God completely <i>wrecked</i> me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had accompanied my friends <a href="http://amosaicofmoments.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nichole</a>, Teresa, and Autumn to help out at a women's conference here, and the second night of our stay, we were invited to a prayer meeting.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found a spot on the floor (the room was packed) and proceeded to start petitioning God for the people of Romania, women attending the conference, open doors during our stay... you know, what I thought God wanted me to pray.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boy, was I unprepared for what happened next.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God spoke to me in such a sweet, tender way.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I am so proud of you.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>So proud to call you Daughter.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>If you couldn't sing or play or write, I would still take pride in you.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I would delight in you.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I know God's love for me doesn't hinge on my abilities.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tell my students in worship institute to not judge God's use of their giftings on stage as criteria of His approval of them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it hit me in a new way, and rocked my world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What would have otherwise been a routine missions trip turned into every day seeing the world through the eyes of awe, humility, compassion, and newfound joy in being validated as a chosen Daughter of the King.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cried. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got back to the States, I talked to my friend, <a href="http://sarahbowling.me/" target="_blank">Sarah</a>, about my experiences in Romania.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She very matter of factly summed it up for me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Kari, I think God delights in freaking us out. Because it's all about relationship for Him. Everything is about His relationship with us. God had to get you out of your routine and environment to a place where you could hear Him speak to you in a new way."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I love that girl.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It started me on a journey of listening and learning WHOSE I am.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who He says I am.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above verse states that the daughter of the King is all glorious <i>within.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His glory resides within me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Within me He dwells.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I discover His glory, simply being in His presence, I cannot do anything other than receive all of Him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In His glory I am undone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In His glory I am moved to worship Him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I will be adding to this in the days to come, snippets of this teaching God is giving me.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a song that was sort of a theme song for my students last year. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay tuned! Thanks for reading.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-33873051907710042732014-01-02T17:22:00.002-06:002014-01-02T17:22:22.463-06:00No Substitute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHYae3wNAawC4f0EOKVLhoPXC3tX7yg35WISq7QuM5lnJF1cEeWyjp4NyjeaQ0glN6QMYblNymTY4ON4hqNFKjbI_Lrer70rYur1YcHK2JIyA5W95s1F6M9KYHPQ3WJelRqduDKEz-3pn/s1600/Campbell_61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHYae3wNAawC4f0EOKVLhoPXC3tX7yg35WISq7QuM5lnJF1cEeWyjp4NyjeaQ0glN6QMYblNymTY4ON4hqNFKjbI_Lrer70rYur1YcHK2JIyA5W95s1F6M9KYHPQ3WJelRqduDKEz-3pn/s320/Campbell_61.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no substitute for these amazing world changers surrounding me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My investment in them is immeasurable.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have laughed until we can't breathe at inside jokes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have cried as loss, casually and indiscriminately, takes someone from our lives.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have hurled words of anger in the heat of the moment, out loud, or under our breath.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have taken back those same words in repentant realization that we didn't mean it, that nothing is worth hurting those you are closest to.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have watched in wonder as one of us grows closer to Jesus through sacrifice and prayer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one can replace the fiercely loyal and joyously abandoned love we have for each other.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have traversed miles upon miles over mountains, deserts, snowy plains, and beaches....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around the globe, hearing various languages, seeing different nationalities.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have worshiped with brothers and sisters we didn't know we had, until we met...with only Christ as our common denominator.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm so very thankful to begin yet another year with my family at my side.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I'm on their side.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we are on the Lord's side.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing life together.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until God calls us Home.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-35634056054977316362013-03-22T17:02:00.001-05:002013-03-22T17:02:30.547-05:00Christ As Lord<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came across this as I was scrolling through my notes to teach my worship students.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a post I did for our women's ministry blog, <a href="http://joliblog.org/" target="_blank">Joli</a>, awhile back.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never posted it here, but when I read it today, I thought I should.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">Christ As Lord<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“But <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sanctify</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Lord God</b> in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense
to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness
and fear.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">(1 Peter 3:15)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">When I first read this verse in my
Bible, I figured, “I already sanctify God in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recognize Him as Lord, I want to tell
everyone the Good News of what Jesus did for me, I realize He is holy, He is
the One True God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then, recently, I came back to this
verse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sanctify.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">When I took that word apart, it
literally means <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“To Set Apart.”</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Set apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Separate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Isolate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Single Out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Lord God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">These three words were translated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Christ
As Lord.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">As King of all kings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">As Lord of all lords.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">As ruler above all rulers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The only One claiming the right of owning
my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The only One worthy of all my
worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">All.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Worship.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">How many other things in my little
world crowd Jesus out until I can’t differentiate His voice from the demands of
life pulling me towards the wider road?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Away from the Still Small Voice
calling me to come deeper?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">He doesn’t demand me to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">He bids me to come and lean my head
on His lap and receive strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Yet, as I come and fall at His feet,
I know He requires my all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Fully abandoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Completely surrendered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Surrendering everything.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Any hope of recognition by man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Every thought that wanders in its
desire for the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Any thought that makes Christ less
than He is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Every vain imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Without all of me, there cannot be
room for all of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Without Him, I am hopelessly undone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">And in that understanding, there is
freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Complete peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Because, as I empty out the needy
caverns of my heart, Jesus fills them with Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VMohO-Q_GyoNpshnZsbk-dFCQb2WOEEy2UOngcXeTOx3fpoo4S9mYPdFkJckKFiDBC2hNqXUVx8vfh6BWF7kRhDHi_2S8jXxWwmZcPl7BW-syX63aK6DE2RyO8nsp2inAcx5Y3oyQDQF/s1600/Jesus,blGirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VMohO-Q_GyoNpshnZsbk-dFCQb2WOEEy2UOngcXeTOx3fpoo4S9mYPdFkJckKFiDBC2hNqXUVx8vfh6BWF7kRhDHi_2S8jXxWwmZcPl7BW-syX63aK6DE2RyO8nsp2inAcx5Y3oyQDQF/s320/Jesus,blGirl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-74442832286845220232013-01-14T20:42:00.000-06:002013-01-14T20:46:31.351-06:00Drummer Boy Skills<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took this video a couple months ago at a friend's house.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Exhibit A}:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwm6I_REf0Ta7GZ3Or8lR6I3sSBaSXHEAjYhBrBbrHkBkw6Cu1lt0qE8cs-sdR_MU50Tdv0mzcq-ao3JRccKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We don't have a real drum set at our house, although a drummer friend of ours gave his old electric drum set to Drummer Boy for Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He plays drums constantly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With anything resembling drumsticks. Pencils, straws, sticks from the yard, his index fingers, you get the picture.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it came as quite a surprise when he suddenly showed a knack for the fiddle, upon hearing Charlie Daniels on the radio.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Exhibit B}:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZf5hk6g85i-V50Ru9250Wnbaz523kHMveb3uqB3yq45cacWoqz1DU849ksX_m3U-Fk6sordINxrgfUebzbA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's definitely got the music (in him).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-25528965614477635512013-01-01T13:55:00.001-06:002013-01-01T13:55:28.559-06:00Living Life....and not posting about it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5dz1rOm_AhwBuAHLNImB87yYFYA_QWkJ0Jerzwm2h_hbGRPMOGQTfVUwNntv4CrcusgPorJ3y_9INzxtXEEOYM0srmrsardjUSSRYXuqRWGtJdI7YFF7XdnOmEKiPLMqt3VuOK2GbnWT/s1600/IMG_2365.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5dz1rOm_AhwBuAHLNImB87yYFYA_QWkJ0Jerzwm2h_hbGRPMOGQTfVUwNntv4CrcusgPorJ3y_9INzxtXEEOYM0srmrsardjUSSRYXuqRWGtJdI7YFF7XdnOmEKiPLMqt3VuOK2GbnWT/s320/IMG_2365.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been hanging out with these two lovelies.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's one of the main reasons for my not posting since May.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I'm not regretful of my decision to use my off-time not to blog, but to read, play, talk, etc. WITH my children.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How else would I learn that Ranch Oyster Crackers dipped in hot chocolate is a delicacy? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(As I sit here watching them eat said crackers, an unexpected shiver goes up my spine, but I want to try it myself.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What other 10 year old girl could make me proud by saving her hard earned babysitting money <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(don't freak out and label me an absent mom, she had adult supervision.)</span> and buying Christmas gifts for her brother, younger cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What other 8 year old boy would challenge me to read my Bible, pray, trust wholeheartedly in God for anything, by his example in daily life? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Just now, his sister burned her finger making hot chocolate, and his immediate response was, "I prayed for your finger to feel better, Ellie.")</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u1GTX2JpmWbZUusLjhRXN7BkVa-sZz4mj7RM5Dqnn1-lD0Lb2eWczrBqSXq5Vmrx3geR65kcB_mmeM72DpkK4zT8JuJZFt-d6NZ7X7TdZMsm2tY0rgWxptcC1hG4QRUwIw_jZzc-wdtj/s1600/DSC_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u1GTX2JpmWbZUusLjhRXN7BkVa-sZz4mj7RM5Dqnn1-lD0Lb2eWczrBqSXq5Vmrx3geR65kcB_mmeM72DpkK4zT8JuJZFt-d6NZ7X7TdZMsm2tY0rgWxptcC1hG4QRUwIw_jZzc-wdtj/s320/DSC_0570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We are beyond blessed to have had my parents spend Christmas with us. We get another whole week of grandparent fun before they have to head back to Oklahoma, and then back home to Australia.</div>
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Can I even begin to express how grateful I am for these amazing parents of mine?</div>
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I've been trying to glean as much wisdom and Biblical truth from them as I can.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lots of late night talks, afternoon talks, morning talks, in-between talks.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The presence of Christ surrounds them wherever they go, and our house has felt the effects.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm seriously going to try to share them later on this week with some friends, but for now I'm content to be considered selfish in my time with them. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(See? Sometimes selfishness isn't all bad. Like that counter with the sink in it you use in the bathroom. It's a vanity. But that doesn't make it a sin.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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I look forward to many many more memory-making moments with my extraordinary family.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And I shall endeavor to be more consistent in posting on my blog.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-75672836362199963992012-05-19T16:32:00.000-05:002012-05-19T17:47:09.396-05:00Summary.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KNean8gKsuxZvegkJEMbKj2XhP7pNtX-lt-1sKnk6RU3P7-J8j-An_7x3qqa4pXhifMw6ZjE4Alz3CUbOXQySUs6_qH0GV9eLF1tyRVhtWyFjt7DfwU9Tgnu_32QQdnTR-Sc4DzvGsWt/s1600/DSC_0627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KNean8gKsuxZvegkJEMbKj2XhP7pNtX-lt-1sKnk6RU3P7-J8j-An_7x3qqa4pXhifMw6ZjE4Alz3CUbOXQySUs6_qH0GV9eLF1tyRVhtWyFjt7DfwU9Tgnu_32QQdnTR-Sc4DzvGsWt/s320/DSC_0627.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Okay, so we were in
Australia for five, yes, five weeks. It
was an amazing, exhilarating, fulfilling and somewhat life altering
experience. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RWV_semVGpH2myJa5ldbRnhawarXXAOpycdfZ-ol98_qvtg4_il2dTfjzTqt6aOP6X_Nj2Pl1Wa92LWDPi8ZHPIjfyKVU4AFMRCOb4UUwtckmMZtM0iFp-03UDvtsdHVBJgi3huUnci7/s1600/DSC_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RWV_semVGpH2myJa5ldbRnhawarXXAOpycdfZ-ol98_qvtg4_il2dTfjzTqt6aOP6X_Nj2Pl1Wa92LWDPi8ZHPIjfyKVU4AFMRCOb4UUwtckmMZtM0iFp-03UDvtsdHVBJgi3huUnci7/s320/DSC_0623.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">We
were privileged to see lives restored to their original purpose in Christ,
hearts mended, minds renewed, and people brought into right relationship with
Jesus. </span>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtK_kWd85H5vlC3plCMqEdvnOqxoqz7v0h-Va-906FalXyH-Z92B3_olmwskMpc4ApJW4il9SvMwBGv1AhC3ZJDoM218oqMYb6zzyIoXgethhzQNmyS07QgGSiWrrwsAPhyaxPdRWe29R/s1600/DSC_0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtK_kWd85H5vlC3plCMqEdvnOqxoqz7v0h-Va-906FalXyH-Z92B3_olmwskMpc4ApJW4il9SvMwBGv1AhC3ZJDoM218oqMYb6zzyIoXgethhzQNmyS07QgGSiWrrwsAPhyaxPdRWe29R/s320/DSC_0707.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9IoYbK3-O_9Qvpthbbpvpeb3TNgPMJE05EHKJhl7syj6DEJ5jR4D7F_8LlDo-_uXykfqQyE3zgHdMo3b38zWjtsUHYHcMc9oE-g62j7WomxIv9c_BBoMRXYrjURiOrocp0WJm5apikWb/s1600/543279_10150636373845036_666385035_9251144_251422574_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9IoYbK3-O_9Qvpthbbpvpeb3TNgPMJE05EHKJhl7syj6DEJ5jR4D7F_8LlDo-_uXykfqQyE3zgHdMo3b38zWjtsUHYHcMc9oE-g62j7WomxIv9c_BBoMRXYrjURiOrocp0WJm5apikWb/s320/543279_10150636373845036_666385035_9251144_251422574_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_aD7feI1l08cFw0wu3N0xf2_uFqUhKYYfA7qm9-3X1B0mhUaxs-mhWglifNZ2Xkz8rqI9MC6TJQ-rMoA2t8nB6KrLu0XqJG9RQlkShgEuhsqCRGVJkSmSWKribPomL11lS3OYLSMj78p/s1600/DSC_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_aD7feI1l08cFw0wu3N0xf2_uFqUhKYYfA7qm9-3X1B0mhUaxs-mhWglifNZ2Xkz8rqI9MC6TJQ-rMoA2t8nB6KrLu0XqJG9RQlkShgEuhsqCRGVJkSmSWKribPomL11lS3OYLSMj78p/s320/DSC_0799.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtF5L79FB_aR6lwL6kXyRS5r7KpO-4DKLwoeFGZKsEe8W-oaEOz3W8kgr5hmJIFs_T1ynaDoBCjgmN-yrSxO-97vMEgCNtLzY7Em43N8duW3ZV6_5fwQe6lKR2lfnkWv5419GambL1j-X/s1600/DSC_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtF5L79FB_aR6lwL6kXyRS5r7KpO-4DKLwoeFGZKsEe8W-oaEOz3W8kgr5hmJIFs_T1ynaDoBCjgmN-yrSxO-97vMEgCNtLzY7Em43N8duW3ZV6_5fwQe6lKR2lfnkWv5419GambL1j-X/s320/DSC_0681.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydUw1r3vGFEbxuPZfYJtYiVHvfJErRBwZOl3nmq6O72jqxSTOJQxqq_iFcb83uJj6pYZ_hgJw81emeAkvOIoMl0j1eWwoe6rLg_8Iw3gI3_HDC5e-7iV_8J75hw1hZldBhedU69pUBWex/s1600/DSC_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydUw1r3vGFEbxuPZfYJtYiVHvfJErRBwZOl3nmq6O72jqxSTOJQxqq_iFcb83uJj6pYZ_hgJw81emeAkvOIoMl0j1eWwoe6rLg_8Iw3gI3_HDC5e-7iV_8J75hw1hZldBhedU69pUBWex/s320/DSC_0727.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Biker Man preached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He brought the Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was awesome.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrf4vxTry-1EkmhoiWzbcJXp94xLSUTNdS2QJPabfWRdV2iNI0xr7s1o4ZyJezmC6Po7o3qIyCJpd4OVincIrvAeGGdriamfMCvAZiWZSGzd0TnhYp91tJZRW3KO82jCgePbhQZcIsWwb/s1600/DSC_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrf4vxTry-1EkmhoiWzbcJXp94xLSUTNdS2QJPabfWRdV2iNI0xr7s1o4ZyJezmC6Po7o3qIyCJpd4OVincIrvAeGGdriamfMCvAZiWZSGzd0TnhYp91tJZRW3KO82jCgePbhQZcIsWwb/s320/DSC_0692.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One message he gave was called
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“How
To Be A Failure In Ministry.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I could see some individuals
scratching their heads, until he explained that to most Christians and the
Church today, Jesus’ ministry would not be considered successful. He picked His disciples in their
workplace. None of them were chosen by
their local rabbi to pursue further ministry study at the synagogue, they were
told to go back home and pursue their father’s trade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jesus had to, on more than
one occasion, bring correction to his followers for lack of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jesus’ disciples all forsook
Him in His deepest hour of need, one betrayed Him, another denied Him, and they
all went into hiding after His death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yet, He is the Model we are
to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After His resurrection and
ascension, Jesus sent them the Holy Spirit, and His disciples became the world
changers He called them to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">True discipleship. Living out our faith for others to
follow. Lovingly bringing correction
where it’s needed. Giving of ourselves
again and again, willingly and freely.
Pouring out the water on dusty feet, even the ones who will leave and
betray us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because it was never about
Him. Jesus told the ones He healed,
“Tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why? Most ministries today would proclaim, “Check
it out!! Healing ministry taking
place!! Come and get it!!” (Okay, maybe not exactly like that, but you
get what I’m saying.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because..... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(and this was the part Biker Man drove home)</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jesus’ ministry on earth was
never about bringing glory to Himself. Jesus
was always pointing the people to His Father.
Jesus wasn’t glorified until <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i>
He was raised from the dead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And it’s not until we are
crucified with Christ and raised to new life in Him that our lives can in any
way bring glory to the Father. We live
for Christ, to bring others into relationship with Him, and build His
kingdom. Not to build a “mini kingdom”
of our own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That’s not the entire
message, but it’s in a nutshell what was preached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Really good, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I loved it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So now we’re back in the
good ol’ US of A. It’s great to be home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Except it has taken <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">over a week</i> to get our clocks back on
USA time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Australia is 16 hours
ahead. Sixteen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For a few nights, Ellie and
Drummer Boy would be wide awake at three am.
Hungry. Really. Hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because it was six pm in
Australia. Dinner time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Well, it’s not dinner time
right now,” I would calmly and deliriously explain, with one eye peering at
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“But mom! We can’t
sleep! It could be a bedtime
snack!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“GO. TO.
SLEEP. NOW.” (Waaaayyyy easier said than done.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Those nights are behind us
now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you so much for
praying for us as we traveled. We are so
grateful to be part of such a wonderful family like Crossroads, and an even bigger family of believers like you! Thank you for keeping us held up in prayer! More testimonies to come, sooner than later, I promise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XuPZvbmxRAxAeO35eQq8BRbcqlj0irNLA4BOk9pBJEaYPoBkecXp1VLvejh2veNAG-eixQJaIxJCI8BPgNClMkc3C12XRbsaQD6PrhqS_MJbH_Mm5S6JAcqhTDA1xK-3FZAhHyG6Ka-F/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XuPZvbmxRAxAeO35eQq8BRbcqlj0irNLA4BOk9pBJEaYPoBkecXp1VLvejh2veNAG-eixQJaIxJCI8BPgNClMkc3C12XRbsaQD6PrhqS_MJbH_Mm5S6JAcqhTDA1xK-3FZAhHyG6Ka-F/s320/DSC_0659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-14827196166770086272012-03-28T10:36:00.004-05:002012-03-28T11:31:12.928-05:00And we're off!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpvhGr9zcsB3K62sViWucJ2k2vSHrHRgbp7D4iNpmodcQNHxB9c9Y64k-CzBHV3DpRMhmQ_HlbHXw7jGZT93wwqlJSfyGULjWWMZxHKnS53TBi736T0_ef5YNDrAdB92bqI9FyGGxFqgl/s1600/plane.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpvhGr9zcsB3K62sViWucJ2k2vSHrHRgbp7D4iNpmodcQNHxB9c9Y64k-CzBHV3DpRMhmQ_HlbHXw7jGZT93wwqlJSfyGULjWWMZxHKnS53TBi736T0_ef5YNDrAdB92bqI9FyGGxFqgl/s320/plane.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724973589992061042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">After months of phone calls, fundraising, and prayer, we are leaving.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In one hour.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For Australia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We are so excited!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We will be partnering with pastors and ministers over there, traveling, leading worship, and teaching.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">The pastors' conference in New Guinea was cancelled, due to two earthquakes, and some unrest in the country. Pray for the Bible college and churches there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We thought that cancellation would give us some downtime during which we could hang out with my parents (whom we haven't seen in two years!).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But, almost immediately, those slots were filled within Australia. The wonderful news is that those services are in Toowoomba, where my parents are! God definitely has a plan in us going at this time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ellie and Drummer Boy wanted to start a <a href="http://travelingkidsclub.blogspot.com/">blog/club</a>, as they cannot have a clubhouse at home. They just aren't here that much. Please go check it out and leave an encouraging message for them. There are games for you (or your kids) to play, and they will be posting pictures from the road (or foreign country). Check it out <a href="http://travelingkidsclub.blogspot.com/">here.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Also, our <a href="http://www.nocompromiseintl.com/index.php/calendar">itinerary</a> is up. It's still missing some details, but you can see when where we will be in your area, so come see us! And please visit our website, <a href="http://www.nocompromiseintl.com/">nocompromiseintl.com</a> and pray for us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I will post pictures and news as I can.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here we go!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-2849936984656497472012-03-07T10:27:00.006-06:002012-03-10T11:42:01.964-06:00Sssshhh....it's a secret.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1xt70hiCQvx9n5vmhMGxVW5CZ24uA6czELG34S2coixz4qPa6uSoTSYhO_qv7paQRLwNXJDCk8dZzfl_lI3PBz_jzWy5yZd2rpitrzM9PS4wgOWowe2vdROyQstKuws_pO9T1_ZT5R6X/s1600/secret2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1xt70hiCQvx9n5vmhMGxVW5CZ24uA6czELG34S2coixz4qPa6uSoTSYhO_qv7paQRLwNXJDCk8dZzfl_lI3PBz_jzWy5yZd2rpitrzM9PS4wgOWowe2vdROyQstKuws_pO9T1_ZT5R6X/s320/secret2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717195322151776130" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><i>(I also posted this for the <a href="http://www.joliblog.org/">Joli blog</a> today, so if you've already visited there and read this, my apologies.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> <!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} 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class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><b><br /></b></span></p> </i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">The other day, my son, Drummer Boy, told me something funny.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You know, the cute stuff kids say when they’re the ripe old age of seven-almost-eight.</span></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">“Wait, repeat that!” I told him while grabbing my phone to capture this moment for posterity.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">“No,” he replied nonchalantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">“What? Why not?” I asked, phone in my hand, ready to win this round.</span></span></p></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></p></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">“Because, you’re going to put it on Facebook or something, and I don’t want it to be where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">everyone</i> can see it,” he stated, bluntly, and innocently forcing me to re-think my integrity as a parent.</span></span></p></i><i></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i> </i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Long story short, I didn’t post it to Facebook, the internet, or my blog.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">It was left between Drummer Boy and myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">A moment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">One of a series of moments that make up the story of our life together.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">A moment that will be shared with his dad, his sister, his grandparents.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">But not with random strangers he doesn’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">There is an entire blog I could devote to the subject of how fine a line there really is between sharing cute stuff your children do, and exploiting them for entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But this is not that blog.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I saw something in what my son said that spoke to the very heart of why I do ministry, and what motivates my teaching.</span></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">How often do I take something God told me in the Secret Place and use it in a teaching or a song?</span></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Too many to count, really.</span></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Nothing wrong with that, right?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Usually....no.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Unless, God wanted to speak to my heart a secret for only me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">A secret no one else should know right now.</span></span></p></i><i> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Many times in Jesus’ ministry He did a miracle, or revealed a secret about Himself, and then would say, “Tell no one.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">The shepherds ran to the manger and saw the Baby Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They knew He was the Messiah, they heard the angels’ song, heard the angelic proclamation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They left the stable to tell everyone that Jesus was born.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">What did Mary do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)</span></span></p></i></span><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Sometimes, God gives us secret things to treasure and ponder in our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">God promised me my husband would come back to his first Love again.</span></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Biker Man was angry at God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After the death of our son, he wanted nothing to do with ministry, or even deeper relationship with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He didn’t even know he was mad at God, actually.</span></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I knew.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And so many times over the next several years, I wanted to tell him, to show him how wrong he was in his response.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">But the Holy Spirit said, “Be quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Say nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stay out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is his wrestling match with the Almighty.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Before it’s over, I will touch him and his walk will never be the same.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">(for another story like this, read Genesis 32:22-32.)</span></span></i></p></i></span><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">So I bit my tongue, prayed more, and in the process of pondering, learned my husband’s love language in a way I never would have, had I blabbed my word from the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">And now, he walks with a limp.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span></p></i><i></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I’m in awe of the overwhelming power of the love of our Heavenly Father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">He will keep His promises.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">He will fulfill His Word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">He is faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">And sometimes, we have to keep it a secret.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Ponder it, pray over it, and wait in patience for the promise to be fulfilled.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><i><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; "><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><i><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; "><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p></i></span></div>It is so worth the wait.</i></span><p></p><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></i><i><p class="MsoNormal" style=" display: inline !important; font-family:arial;"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></i></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i> </i></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-55359424947996542912012-02-26T12:39:00.009-06:002012-02-26T13:50:59.108-06:00Ellie's Birthday<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Gb_9_zQzSl0FfNXenBCiArgce3j4rHNePrtsAA0Ha3w6MoHeUyyF9eABnpDWZqW5KjBbQ5q9eO-cSe-UdxRIq9F8AlJMUJIe1GoZX0wJ3njxNMFXgQ3ZX4JOS3BEs1ywmraCZ1qTJ07t/s1600/DSC_0464+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvC43qLOJ5DTdlyJsqMFw3rWUT5TOzksQSRo0Y-dZZy63UiWENTnB_YMzi99EZr42Ef2OpuQi_phlCJeMt_0il5h5flhUZHzGfVR27WH0X0-nSu0y4teabCke7I7KPcZPTezVW08c5WKv/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9Y4sM10wspYpm5YU83_H8i4ZfOv5X64_T-AAbQaHxWAVtnIvgvvoDpuXdGuTQTHPygKdVHEqmKIJ3yhCnycuM2ILBuAM4seg24BVKigmBh1DUXmiy7cKGAnfNE3vlNyerN6suGp7pdMV/s1600/DSC_0409+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here are some pictures from Ellie's birthday party a couple weeks ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I know, I know, long time between posts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well, we are currently in Dallas, Texas, at Christ For the Nations.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Busy busy. So I think I'm doing pretty well, considering.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">As guests arrived, they wrote in a small book some advice or encouragement for Ellie's tenth year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9Y4sM10wspYpm5YU83_H8i4ZfOv5X64_T-AAbQaHxWAVtnIvgvvoDpuXdGuTQTHPygKdVHEqmKIJ3yhCnycuM2ILBuAM4seg24BVKigmBh1DUXmiy7cKGAnfNE3vlNyerN6suGp7pdMV/s1600/DSC_0409+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9Y4sM10wspYpm5YU83_H8i4ZfOv5X64_T-AAbQaHxWAVtnIvgvvoDpuXdGuTQTHPygKdVHEqmKIJ3yhCnycuM2ILBuAM4seg24BVKigmBh1DUXmiy7cKGAnfNE3vlNyerN6suGp7pdMV/s320/DSC_0409+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713517125680938562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></span>I put the book in a small suitcase with a note,<br /><i>"Please write a note to the birthday girl. Thank you!"</i></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMea0dJSk-J017Mj2OEXqNt2QORCs2ZBPwH2k-_stJ42tnUjmwYA5GVtIiKBP4BNMsExSZPzRSMG8rOIBJ9i6h3EKPVrwhOVSmnPHEYlMLj0qXEE9rpszxbt2C-kIVCiDvGRgfPPSJox4/s1600/DSC_0373+3.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMea0dJSk-J017Mj2OEXqNt2QORCs2ZBPwH2k-_stJ42tnUjmwYA5GVtIiKBP4BNMsExSZPzRSMG8rOIBJ9i6h3EKPVrwhOVSmnPHEYlMLj0qXEE9rpszxbt2C-kIVCiDvGRgfPPSJox4/s320/DSC_0373+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713517121489556754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Guests served themselves from the snack table using these cones I made from scrapbook paper, twine, and hot glue.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5jp0FBcU2J8X9DIsCO_r-M2pQuBNGKvtBYD1m4Jlh98D6cCUZ9H1xSCr6Avuh443sDq1_tfP3lb4rr78-Qmq_HN-__a-VYLr_Wj58Em6PZ3sBK_h5ixgPpg9ddNQJQXj46mqLc_wP72N/s1600/DSC_0369+3.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5jp0FBcU2J8X9DIsCO_r-M2pQuBNGKvtBYD1m4Jlh98D6cCUZ9H1xSCr6Avuh443sDq1_tfP3lb4rr78-Qmq_HN-__a-VYLr_Wj58Em6PZ3sBK_h5ixgPpg9ddNQJQXj46mqLc_wP72N/s320/DSC_0369+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713517110974627442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Drinks were served from a BIG Mason jar in little Mason jars.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnyrHWqhCp3lBvM-Y_GzHIYzjDbe__eQaYfrzu0FUZdRfZzUW3w1Ece92k-0XrjfnMboqjoverBzaugklhAMlKbOqruxT5UkTOPWLqQ_MFBzgHNiavyhtQxh6m_iQLwKR22Kl0ZyEkASf/s1600/DSC_0370+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnyrHWqhCp3lBvM-Y_GzHIYzjDbe__eQaYfrzu0FUZdRfZzUW3w1Ece92k-0XrjfnMboqjoverBzaugklhAMlKbOqruxT5UkTOPWLqQ_MFBzgHNiavyhtQxh6m_iQLwKR22Kl0ZyEkASf/s320/DSC_0370+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713519558453626498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVS_EVqKfepuLtIbpsfZdAvyrFwY7uEYibAySsFB1odn8348kylQvW99Sw69Xa0H2lAqMmGwko7YkfNehpPCuTYI3zpp-VBjU5DEbSQ7m66ZuuT8YKGEs07nvXnegAR_B0jKNrQzcInG0/s1600/DSC_0353+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVS_EVqKfepuLtIbpsfZdAvyrFwY7uEYibAySsFB1odn8348kylQvW99Sw69Xa0H2lAqMmGwko7YkfNehpPCuTYI3zpp-VBjU5DEbSQ7m66ZuuT8YKGEs07nvXnegAR_B0jKNrQzcInG0/s320/DSC_0353+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713519544847898306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I set up a photo booth on on end of the playroom.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I got these blackboard birds on a string at World Market, and wrote "P H O T O" on them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Cute, right?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAfdr8WDoPEfIO3TrKucpbKNErFtVpNSAfSCccAIfhH0sPq_RtKxCnTxy2ua6_Ign0hjw3ADk9CpmQNkLv2-WMQ7bFfCgnmZHRhWOSxjFqv7QG3gxGObiL20NNWePXpL8hLjrBj2zY75O/s320/DSC_0364+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713519565172385954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Some of the photobooth backdrop. Paper flowers with buttons, paper birds, and hearts strung on twine.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU-mV-zGXr3hmUt5_U07dDB8oja40kedifXtGCJ4pJd08c5lscvWmfBJinM0zRiBej-uxYojWPReeeT8mJ74ZZV_evsD0KNhHUo2P4hXiaVWp7nKDnTZqTecfGvmFA6J2k2_UbOyoT9ce/s320/DSC_0366+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713523550007868530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">With the girls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(They had an old trunk with boas, aprons, beads and dresses to choose from, and an old hat box with hats I've collected from the 30's 40's, etc.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9hmBQqns9bxDAiEOv-X08ht0gBADZICIdnlFiv0F-RPnzB1TOYnta8ukpXcgHl41DvmT_ge4tVyArjMM1x8FxIT-W72CFvQxVPqbThyphenhyphenHJhaKzNVly7xtrnXS7XcJpikn4aPdHJKPuAR7/s320/DSC_0389+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713523556898995922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Silly pose.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsiGb8fdgVD8QSruWf6_mDfo6m6elYWlpwpaUCqxJl6UkrroRk-_1UQFH_sPr-5Fn9XExwPyqvzoAikA7IeoqkcWfFoqWhqZ4UeE9pKomrjiqg2_Cs6zPDPveavHcoz_dl_4Z682OKsUl/s1600/DSC_0395+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsiGb8fdgVD8QSruWf6_mDfo6m6elYWlpwpaUCqxJl6UkrroRk-_1UQFH_sPr-5Fn9XExwPyqvzoAikA7IeoqkcWfFoqWhqZ4UeE9pKomrjiqg2_Cs6zPDPveavHcoz_dl_4Z682OKsUl/s320/DSC_0395+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713523561661481682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Me, Nichole, & Teresa. I love these ladies!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdgSSZf0GA9nOYKF-Su18AAox0YtwsF3FO9eOEHbZzhMK5eR8kg6CZrdj0zIe98k2X6piaxHvk-zwigu23PZMhyphenhyphenAHfLNbQRjes6UG5CmF3nl0SsMpadUAdKFtKGAJlwmZkbSVo_eV-YCj/s320/DSC_0403+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713523565342757746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ellie's little cousins.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4uK1PmrYOlaSpfSmGPIndue-Gcdk_jgvZUZbNXUecQkkhd1zqhFAe8If8D29I8H3q2DdnPPbCH2G7udSPYB1-sSoyWaYEp_eh_QApmrJPPCbz90Zm-fkcLwSDbE6xshyphenhyphenf8cd9NtBOu48/s320/DSC_0447+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713526559023650418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Each girl made her own flower headband using fabric scraps, lace, buttons, and a hot glue gun (which I operated, I'm aware burnt fingers are a sure fire way to get branded worst birthday party ever!).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0296haNf65l5IOFFXW6JZgGAIPC-WhhTejYMJmPmqYIX2ldL8Njwx0XxReMGsvls6URI-RInyHkRBq3lZ5ZjQFwDUz3b9mMDTb0RNFEHwaTKln6-sQxJ05dKvykzyzRr5LLTVBPrqTabu/s320/DSC_0432+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713526557798741090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ellie's Papa (Biker Man's dad) placed a prayer shawl over her and prayed a blessing for her birthday, as we all gathered around in agreement.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEKmvqNHPOjMgJb0hkaBYcE2DPGRbwr89ehyYtqgU6jhg7-rK3IVR5QLHCtsspCucS9R5VDWEsr3DMwZpAa3wYojInGDbxYEmjy6CQBSAuCte2s7n_loK-zM95ZAGtsRlT2Q6H5sfjiNZ/s320/DSC_0422+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713526579472258978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Then we released balloons with glow bracelets inside them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It's really hard to see here, but they looked pretty cool.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I think next time, we'll use fatter glow <i style="font-weight: bold; ">sticks</i>, rather than the skinny bracelets.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWmWxKyt0Om8vq-UYKwS69HWNUZaCH8RxbFmPL06KUa1cx2wHta5EwG8V4hxUlkgkEXedV1fjXia9G3hCFpxvusZ7X3TFtb7qcmVu4hW4PQMBj2Mp5nyeAQCpEUcVgglXVV7XOFkrtaot/s320/DSC_0413+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713527966604630546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Drummer Boy helped her open gifts.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Even when she wasn't asking for his help.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">He's sweet that way.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMDt6nD0hxnVEEjZfaNmd3lB2rD02j6jw7pK8GNb-DBwDdLgTWIjM5DGAdpEWReKU_rBCwi-2dzpNNjBDN-4XGKzZdsWde8DR-gP1u5ekvu8ypJUYNitJUAYYTUFns8pDrs_5ZyGBKfG2/s320/DSC_0434+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713526572456878770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And that's pretty much it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ellie's friend, Katy, stayed the night because as a fellow homeschooler, she was the only one who could take off Monday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I set up a tent in the living room with twinkle lights, and they camped out there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvC43qLOJ5DTdlyJsqMFw3rWUT5TOzksQSRo0Y-dZZy63UiWENTnB_YMzi99EZr42Ef2OpuQi_phlCJeMt_0il5h5flhUZHzGfVR27WH0X0-nSu0y4teabCke7I7KPcZPTezVW08c5WKv/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvC43qLOJ5DTdlyJsqMFw3rWUT5TOzksQSRo0Y-dZZy63UiWENTnB_YMzi99EZr42Ef2OpuQi_phlCJeMt_0il5h5flhUZHzGfVR27WH0X0-nSu0y4teabCke7I7KPcZPTezVW08c5WKv/s320/IMG_0996.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713532804621829490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i>obviously, I had the flash on, but, you get the idea.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Happy Birthday, Ellie girl!!!</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Gb_9_zQzSl0FfNXenBCiArgce3j4rHNePrtsAA0Ha3w6MoHeUyyF9eABnpDWZqW5KjBbQ5q9eO-cSe-UdxRIq9F8AlJMUJIe1GoZX0wJ3njxNMFXgQ3ZX4JOS3BEs1ywmraCZ1qTJ07t/s320/DSC_0464+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713533724854792706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsua3IKS-dNPLtwIn7HvZWBYX9XWmOaABOCU0vJYUpz3PALo2t-3AICp1ru-3dihMkZObwQ4gB5FC2aRHpJchozPqJXjm_7h2jDylascuDppGaSRBCBcXLsqQ-YLDS2qcoS5e2PX-8S09-/s1600/DSC_0464+3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-24319995762242253982012-02-01T13:34:00.002-06:002012-02-01T13:38:44.867-06:00I'm not going to lie, I've got butterflies.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK5KuLI5BRPF2WIlL8Wrg5zDooeTmT7vtX-AqRW-22Q_Zp6XlpBH6cp92Hbma1Xw4Bxs6YYURoMzPfADkubbwvbuzZEPcn5GJZCZ1UvY0psv-6iabWBi3YrgYDIfW3O8K3PWpco-waAh5/s1600/38584_468064181080_569011080_6679052_4908171_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Okay. Most of you know we started a non-profit, <a href="http://www.nocompromiseintl.com/">No Compromise International</a>, back in September.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We are overwhelmed by the support and encouragement we have received in our start up process.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For real. Overwhelmed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Back in September, our worship pastor, Coy Watson (prolific and insanely gifted songwriter) approached me about doing a night of worship to raise awareness about <a href="http://www.nocompromiseintl.com/">NCI</a>, and take up a love offering during the event.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well, that night is tonight.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK5KuLI5BRPF2WIlL8Wrg5zDooeTmT7vtX-AqRW-22Q_Zp6XlpBH6cp92Hbma1Xw4Bxs6YYURoMzPfADkubbwvbuzZEPcn5GJZCZ1UvY0psv-6iabWBi3YrgYDIfW3O8K3PWpco-waAh5/s320/38584_468064181080_569011080_6679052_4908171_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704253671259170002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I've led multiple times. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I've taught on worship, and the heart of a worshiper.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But tonight Biker Man and I are presenting to our <a href="http://mycrossroads.org/">home church</a> the vision God has given us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(Well, Biker Man is. He's the one speaking before the love offering. I'm just worshiping and inviting others to do the same.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is the call God laid on my husband's heart when we got home last summer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He had a burning bush experience with the Almighty.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And our family will never be the same.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Did I mention he just got back Saturday night from Kenya?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">He was there for 10 days with the team from <a href="http://mycrossroads.org/">Crossroads</a> and our wonderful pastor, Jeff Ables.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I will be posting pictures of that trip soon.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But back to this evening...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Pray for us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Pray for the Holy Spirit to grip hearts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For the conviction and love of God to change lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For us to only say what God wants us to say.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-91129743075860787142012-01-18T12:14:00.009-06:002012-01-18T23:57:47.966-06:00Wake Up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5VcAo-Qd0AjSlnExOrWscqFnzQ-1UFHVqoETJPtlhrs0ZwRSbGb3zVTmxc-kWkm-R17tSCjc8NFt-gc5WJ3aUskuPq0do_brqZEVOv0qjI4OiLWgZjzAhRrjAiK8JKULUwRDPMGSObkH/s1600/Bedrock_Garden%2527s_Misty_View.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5VcAo-Qd0AjSlnExOrWscqFnzQ-1UFHVqoETJPtlhrs0ZwRSbGb3zVTmxc-kWkm-R17tSCjc8NFt-gc5WJ3aUskuPq0do_brqZEVOv0qjI4OiLWgZjzAhRrjAiK8JKULUwRDPMGSObkH/s320/Bedrock_Garden%2527s_Misty_View.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699058865104976706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihquy0tgx1uVwZYlXpzQDG4fuMdSdghDMd9m5zOaUfzVo701YwHX_X-exNIFFbDiFdcfRPeMkdIMlnhlhcfIX210tNZcTD-aQpt-NyZYAR1YbmR5CAdzlix4mWF2B31Muc8oy7kSdlyP9n/s1600/DSC_0408.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have come to my garden, my sister my spouse;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have gathered my myrrh with my spice....</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I sleep, but my heart is awake;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It is the voice of my beloved!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He knocks, saying,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Open for me, my sister, my love,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My dove, my perfect one;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For my head is covered with dew,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My locks with the drops of the night."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have taken off my robe;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>How can I put it on again?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have washed my feet;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>How can I defile them?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My beloved put his hand</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By the latch of the door,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And my heart yearned for him.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I arose to open for my beloved,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And my hands dripped with myrrh,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My fingers with liquid myrrh,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>On the handles of the lock.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I opened for my beloved,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But my beloved had turned away and was gone.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My heart leaped up when he spoke.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I sought him, but I could not find him;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I called him, but he gave me no answer.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Song of Solomon 5:1-6)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I was reading this a few weeks ago, and the Holy Spirit spoke to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">How many times does God ask me to do something for Him, and the timing seems off to me?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I sleep, but my heart is awake....</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm settled.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Comfortable.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My prayer life is lacking in fervor.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I know God is speaking, but it seems distant, far away.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXkfdhFbSuWPfJckFolzd_u6f4KWhPCHXQFhuPVkRNHFRvu_ICuSX7jq-i7d6QiJYMLosU7G3dGpXSgZritw2ogok0dttfV4yEmddkoc7vCvySr3CvyxWvYs3ipgyofGtaIeouzFS0mKJ/s320/DSC_0334+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699055276953334434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have delegated out what God told me to do.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It's getting done, but I'm on auto pilot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm tired of the responsibility of leading.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have lost passion, and am no longer walking in God's authority.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>I have washed my feet, how can I defile them?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm in the groove of doing ministry on my own terms, and what God is asking doesn't seem ideal.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'll have to get my feet dirty to walk where He walked.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">To touch the untouchable.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>My beloved put His hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him...</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I see evidence of God's power.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm finally moved to action.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm ready to go where He wants me to.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnCN7sPKFYMx7JiAMsY842yy6Bh-9o0ud899vVv_xHe_cghKzuhtVCbRV2Aha6MqFtRTd7Ehyphenhyphen-MYx7k2hxBGQ46TvdIV5dz5dn-40LmCWFee9bSnJw665J-0zrdZZ8dDb0ojZwqbUukvW/s320/Digital_Painting_Portfolio_001_-_Resized_op_398x600%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699052539048148994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>My hands dripped with myrrh...on the handles of the lock.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i>I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I miss God's timing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I miss receiving His myrrh, His anointing on my life, which He already has waiting for me to walk in once I open the door.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I want to bring along all the stuff I was already doing for Him when He called.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">All the works I had "anointed" myself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I can't open the door He's wanting me to, because my hands are slippery with works of my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have to drop everything He hasn't called me to do, in order to go where He calls me to go.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And I must fall in love with Him daily.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm ready for His myrrh, His anointing oil to flow over me as I sit at His feet and listen to His voice calling me His beloved.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z34ue3Vx2CPU6oJ5RYMZAbKxQVi9X1d_SVu6p4kDZVP3sqwIZhNbE3RmlfRa1yklcMNL3Wy-QFrk-911iFaFROZNh7JbW-MqsgzKBJ-L6eSXAPggNs1T353RX4kQxfGENTVWa1oNaksP/s320/zjesus-standing-at-the-door-painting-575x451.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699052532054917938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-25666181147449189832012-01-02T16:45:00.004-06:002012-01-02T16:57:06.712-06:00Focusing On What Matters<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I have been listening and listening to new songs lately.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Mostly because I'm getting ready to launch into January, the month of practice practice practice.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">With XMC students.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Preparing them for Tour.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, I have been immersing myself in new worship music.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">My friend Kristin, from CFNI, has been very helpful.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So have my students.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">This is my favorite song of the moment.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">One of them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I have quite a few right now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">But this song is <i>incredible.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">It focuses on what matters most in our lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The blood of Christ.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Without it, there would be no salvation. No hope for eternity.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><i>God is faithful, by Whom you were called</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><i>into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><i>(1 Corinthians 1:9)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Jesus is the only PROOF we need that God is faithful!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Enjoy "Blood So Beautiful" written by Jonathan Lewis.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sScJDlPHIAk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-28836399249101887882011-11-08T09:44:00.004-06:002011-11-08T10:03:11.055-06:00Back In Town<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23OOTl7CrJD1F2bza2Eq9xJb_NPz4kV1IlqEdZLWmu1MNTRNfYWJtR4LnsIEvtNSwWSB8200VbNB4PLw173dbyHVAxpL4Bl8bb0qX_J3zSNxzHbmYS-X-TF65dchJ9itK356Kjf1WQSOC/s1600/381824_10150389251167888_727432887_8373311_2088252579_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfBgtyRDhySnJA0-QkPGSk0sbqFU_vATUH_NwuxNKoFsIlyKokxiTlbw-okyHdwHbLy58AR_lfhoEjBw97dO6-3iATWBoZb7K-KeVZwXRFCu-7YlP6x7N6YQ42vMH_Xo9KUc9_uMSju0A/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFncn5Fd506CzUuDaXfqIzgur0tzjObRs2xr2TlhC8pJdC8rPogK7Ki3b9y3E1BBBzUqvHR3xvRyYWqt6b1vjxeY6YI-tBA-bDT68cM7gxc9WEALoILpFLrj4cyK0nz3PiOaBM1BultmI/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFncn5Fd506CzUuDaXfqIzgur0tzjObRs2xr2TlhC8pJdC8rPogK7Ki3b9y3E1BBBzUqvHR3xvRyYWqt6b1vjxeY6YI-tBA-bDT68cM7gxc9WEALoILpFLrj4cyK0nz3PiOaBM1BultmI/s320/IMG_0275.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672651806846749794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ellie took this picture with her ipod.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Her ipod.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I remember when I got my first camera, at the ripe old age of 13.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It didn't take pictures this clear.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Or this:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfBgtyRDhySnJA0-QkPGSk0sbqFU_vATUH_NwuxNKoFsIlyKokxiTlbw-okyHdwHbLy58AR_lfhoEjBw97dO6-3iATWBoZb7K-KeVZwXRFCu-7YlP6x7N6YQ42vMH_Xo9KUc9_uMSju0A/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672652349684153010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">She took this over the summer in Colorado.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My daughter amazes me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We have been constantly ministering, being gone on the road, in a different town every day, sleeping in a different bed every night.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">She never complains.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I guess it's an adventure for both Ellie and Drummer Boy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">They get to meet new people, and see God transform lives, while experiencing all sorts of new sights, sounds, smells and cultures.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And that's just going to other States in the U.S.A.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Wait until they get out of the country.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It's going to be awesome.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We are carriers of God's glory, to cover the earth with His presence.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23OOTl7CrJD1F2bza2Eq9xJb_NPz4kV1IlqEdZLWmu1MNTRNfYWJtR4LnsIEvtNSwWSB8200VbNB4PLw173dbyHVAxpL4Bl8bb0qX_J3zSNxzHbmYS-X-TF65dchJ9itK356Kjf1WQSOC/s320/381824_10150389251167888_727432887_8373311_2088252579_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672652353062991698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Keep us in your prayers. We have a fundraiser this Saturday to raise money for No Compromise International, our new God-planned ministry. Vance will be going to Kenya in January, Mexico and Guatemala in March, and all four of us will be going to Papua New Guinea and Australia in April.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">I can't wait to see what pictures Ellie decides to take then.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">It's so exciting!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-11333280292890772362011-10-20T12:52:00.007-05:002011-10-20T13:27:35.062-05:00A favorite new poem I had never seen before.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQIJlrwNoGvVKjQ19aj0KaFlNuGHrsTFwA74LG9aaT0m0Dr5cEDzcBanTm1sP2co8ut8HGuLDpMHAiIpB5axsHHcqsy_H-wjhYrhouR6nHLGDJYWdEmIsGhOwknsAMTXidwoLWdwic23J/s1600/back.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp89diIUl4sjEVocVsjWh8MS3udAVZFeaNTgK5v0xq1_qsOAjLWslMmPo_VZDsboX6aMfVsXzPWuNCd-mmlvJ9qY_75IHPIwlp9OrmZBsmF27iU1ppIbnybRgcvIMk3Kr55tMnQ93bxPS/s1600/336949120_cm7mGKsY_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp89diIUl4sjEVocVsjWh8MS3udAVZFeaNTgK5v0xq1_qsOAjLWslMmPo_VZDsboX6aMfVsXzPWuNCd-mmlvJ9qY_75IHPIwlp9OrmZBsmF27iU1ppIbnybRgcvIMk3Kr55tMnQ93bxPS/s320/336949120_cm7mGKsY_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665635234399200482" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is my new favorite poem.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I read it to Ellie last night as we were side by side, laying on the couch.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When I first saw it, my breath actually caught in my throat.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In case you can't read the above, here it is in easier to read format:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are the trip I did not take;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are the pearls I could not buy;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are my blue Italian lake;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are my piece of foreign sky.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are my Honolulu moon;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are the book I did not write;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are my heart's unuttered tune;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are a candle in my night.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You are the flower beneath the snow;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">In my dark sky a bit of blue,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Answering Disappointment's blow</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">With "I am happy! I have you!"</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The author? Anne Campbell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I love it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It reminds me of my children each time I read it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And how I should treasure them as "the book I did not write".</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">God is the Author of their story, I am merely a steward entrusted with their care.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And a look in their eyes, faces smiling, full of trust and unwavering love, makes me certain of my calling as a Mom.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">God has anointed me for this before any song grew in my thoughts, or fell from my lips.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQIJlrwNoGvVKjQ19aj0KaFlNuGHrsTFwA74LG9aaT0m0Dr5cEDzcBanTm1sP2co8ut8HGuLDpMHAiIpB5axsHHcqsy_H-wjhYrhouR6nHLGDJYWdEmIsGhOwknsAMTXidwoLWdwic23J/s320/back.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665642633911978898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-80315793093217032792011-10-17T17:52:00.008-05:002011-10-17T22:52:02.275-05:00Fall Is Here<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KjbHqf6pIQhxEq2CwneJwDMpL81PwqdSNH_19O6gdqbZLq6KIMkRZq8yuv1TdiBHMQJyfLWfJkIs62jKTuKysjdPu6eXaO3c2h3cBcskhHDov0G1wWYaYVaJ8E5dM36ojmZjgrle-SbA/s1600/images-5.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfXrjZ7d4mNG8bQtNCYbe7tEvO97i0FT8Ek9rz8hsQ1b3MQehYW0V9aOcA3qL5j8SFPClOhqG4NVWU928qQaO2wBhuKW_xF5rLS4SXhWEX0XdiNkHBVeHrce_mnUDX6OD9YQDw9NLHSzh/s1600/images-1.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I can tell Fall has arrived.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have that expectant and nostalgic feeling.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I wish we had snow in South Louisiana.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Alas, there is none to be had this time of year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">However, compensations for this greatly abound.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For example, we still have dragonflies for a couple more weeks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here's the latest specimen:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyetCy-sdcqLsm4E1VIBXAqba2KhyphenhyphenantdVpfeiQdr6skU_fXykCYo1Rm5DdQOlw3lI1xBugROZDE5YBA6zKnV43LSZZBOki7nBqOkT8iCtkCjqwIrQQQhid1fD-IyYahl-l7KwdGbwPd4g/s320/1b7e6ba032d148e9823ebc2b4b4f5223_7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664599332006118514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Like it? We found it in the driveway yesterday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I want to shadowbox it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Another upside to the not-quite-cold-enough-to-wear-a-jacket-yet weather those in colder climates aren't experiencing is, well, not having to wear a jacket yet. Although it's appropriate to celebrate this fact when sitting in the bleachers watching a football game, I must say, I can't wait to put on a cardigan. I love cardigans. Really. Okay, I've already worn one <span><span>a <i>few</i> times.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQuu3XzUMeyX2pmhUxSIfHpG2kWahydgPGhb1M9EVveEQ9rbmwm_zeM043sHNoWhRa2PCdfYDJDg8AaR8BqWIg0t5X97a146AEL4UrLXlKu6n2bVamNDhmRyjbUAyg8vs8FEEBCOdCn3T/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664603553395765202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 259px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i>hats</i></span>. Especially these.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfXrjZ7d4mNG8bQtNCYbe7tEvO97i0FT8Ek9rz8hsQ1b3MQehYW0V9aOcA3qL5j8SFPClOhqG4NVWU928qQaO2wBhuKW_xF5rLS4SXhWEX0XdiNkHBVeHrce_mnUDX6OD9YQDw9NLHSzh/s320/images-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664603548801792226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 288px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KjbHqf6pIQhxEq2CwneJwDMpL81PwqdSNH_19O6gdqbZLq6KIMkRZq8yuv1TdiBHMQJyfLWfJkIs62jKTuKysjdPu6eXaO3c2h3cBcskhHDov0G1wWYaYVaJ8E5dM36ojmZjgrle-SbA/s1600/images-5.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KjbHqf6pIQhxEq2CwneJwDMpL81PwqdSNH_19O6gdqbZLq6KIMkRZq8yuv1TdiBHMQJyfLWfJkIs62jKTuKysjdPu6eXaO3c2h3cBcskhHDov0G1wWYaYVaJ8E5dM36ojmZjgrle-SbA/s320/images-5.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664609493278171906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 194px; " /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNPdbyYtWK5gscG-BImChogJsKNTZlw0hK6sjuaMUgMhQajWsMHMbSgApRVh93r55DrtWIQeocG75ZdNPybvNEkZvFyhQvxUDbI-aYIsO8yCQh_Bb1jpOvoCVITMzH3boivPX20B9iDR_/s1600/images-2.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNPdbyYtWK5gscG-BImChogJsKNTZlw0hK6sjuaMUgMhQajWsMHMbSgApRVh93r55DrtWIQeocG75ZdNPybvNEkZvFyhQvxUDbI-aYIsO8yCQh_Bb1jpOvoCVITMzH3boivPX20B9iDR_/s320/images-2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664609484168741442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 203px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But, it's just not cold enough yet. Except for the middle one, which could be worn any time at all. In any situation.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">According to Drummer Boy's calculations, the time for dressing for Fall is now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He came into the living room this morning still in his nightclothes, but ready to embrace a blustery day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY69VunCTkCcCsS-gW_vEmAIcXxUZ9jPHUobVDFrLOhCeUlbyXjw-jlnF7Wh7TJRRO3JbMzowqjSioGOpshn1XQ4QhXnszJcBi-0euGp2weEbNu07WYefpCU0DvnsUO_oxqb4Q7Q_s0C9/s320/4366e1e88f254c7483bd74423f8aebd7_7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664599337418390242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">How great is this?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I get to look at this beautiful, wondering, curious, amazing little boy every single day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I am so blessed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-71299315042774960922011-10-04T16:21:00.007-05:002011-10-05T10:42:35.161-05:00Some Fun Stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACLaow9QOpNjI51w9FNXKxn8wk69FYUkA5cY7iOyBYT9082C2Tn549tmr55xywYa1xvuAgs6P6wjUzqy0cpSMDexoARjsmKS8HMtvUW9lgSDG_FeugOs42p6hhTSv2DXfbZ0LnLalhKGC/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACLaow9QOpNjI51w9FNXKxn8wk69FYUkA5cY7iOyBYT9082C2Tn549tmr55xywYa1xvuAgs6P6wjUzqy0cpSMDexoARjsmKS8HMtvUW9lgSDG_FeugOs42p6hhTSv2DXfbZ0LnLalhKGC/s320/IMG_0762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659753539046685330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB70ieHSxWEKZgNVV4e-CSnHVV0-a5JVQt3obx1Ymg9haO_eq2LG4o8ntKMZSlazU1XFsQbaUeljPaRlaod22D-pDlddNXMUVMn9FQFugbLYnE-JG0Ty9wfQLuqqhiRvhr01vpz6TWi_ht/s1600/The-Marco-Polo-634x634.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaYuh3499ftghD1HiwbL3WlObIoJBvhyphenhyphenJIV5rxKi1FPUzBl6qA30c3z7xS0Yzmd-V-wnA6w-0WVZpRFXYc0kYWlDFdIMmkJ3UqwJ1ng1k8vX_VDb-x0F4J1WYUbFaRkMefir67F17wNBg/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;" >I wanted to give you something funny.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Most of these came from twentytwowords.com. I don't endorse everything on their site, but these were pretty good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i><b>Darth Vader camping</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e_Cd4CR0GQEeXEJK2H-eOnkuS4z9Ndsgi3gud8Zyv0ONDqwQYn32w6-lJATq_n3bsxyNHENGSwP5tIEosEUZlpTPrE6puJF5PL351BBNfhi7B7NSkm-NuitfqjNz9AyGrjqnHFiish4l/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e_Cd4CR0GQEeXEJK2H-eOnkuS4z9Ndsgi3gud8Zyv0ONDqwQYn32w6-lJATq_n3bsxyNHENGSwP5tIEosEUZlpTPrE6puJF5PL351BBNfhi7B7NSkm-NuitfqjNz9AyGrjqnHFiish4l/s320/IMG_0462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659751938487087666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px; " border="0" /></a><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">A life lesson</span><br /></i></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoV1fyVUWt3gn4dRP6z0rJGczEreVfY3MtYG3CgBvfkMu442DIvPovIUYOIwqjkRt_O_ZB-1y5kilIxuofRWGQz0yfR7-R8gAZ7xdmUfVgC8GposSvpcI7d6vBq2M02iGEshvRptxa1ya/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoV1fyVUWt3gn4dRP6z0rJGczEreVfY3MtYG3CgBvfkMu442DIvPovIUYOIwqjkRt_O_ZB-1y5kilIxuofRWGQz0yfR7-R8gAZ7xdmUfVgC8GposSvpcI7d6vBq2M02iGEshvRptxa1ya/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659751936834997890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " border="0" /></a><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mitch Hedberg wisdom</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaYuh3499ftghD1HiwbL3WlObIoJBvhyphenhyphenJIV5rxKi1FPUzBl6qA30c3z7xS0Yzmd-V-wnA6w-0WVZpRFXYc0kYWlDFdIMmkJ3UqwJ1ng1k8vX_VDb-x0F4J1WYUbFaRkMefir67F17wNBg/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaYuh3499ftghD1HiwbL3WlObIoJBvhyphenhyphenJIV5rxKi1FPUzBl6qA30c3z7xS0Yzmd-V-wnA6w-0WVZpRFXYc0kYWlDFdIMmkJ3UqwJ1ng1k8vX_VDb-x0F4J1WYUbFaRkMefir67F17wNBg/s320/IMG_0718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659752504942680306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 131px; " border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Finally, a candidate to believe in</i></b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeyDBSCvWlrl-MFJjw06tODSz9BOQooxXHckWGqxrYaLSB2rANnCLVj14EsuFrlRXHGUQJ8ylY1Z8ygAjCiYVUavft0HUNELuymQlDpiGNDUTovqO_sAy20XtK5hSaT3dNHwfisEf4E2L/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeyDBSCvWlrl-MFJjw06tODSz9BOQooxXHckWGqxrYaLSB2rANnCLVj14EsuFrlRXHGUQJ8ylY1Z8ygAjCiYVUavft0HUNELuymQlDpiGNDUTovqO_sAy20XtK5hSaT3dNHwfisEf4E2L/s320/IMG_0700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659752501520795154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px; " border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A pun you can wear</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB70ieHSxWEKZgNVV4e-CSnHVV0-a5JVQt3obx1Ymg9haO_eq2LG4o8ntKMZSlazU1XFsQbaUeljPaRlaod22D-pDlddNXMUVMn9FQFugbLYnE-JG0Ty9wfQLuqqhiRvhr01vpz6TWi_ht/s1600/The-Marco-Polo-634x634.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB70ieHSxWEKZgNVV4e-CSnHVV0-a5JVQt3obx1Ymg9haO_eq2LG4o8ntKMZSlazU1XFsQbaUeljPaRlaod22D-pDlddNXMUVMn9FQFugbLYnE-JG0Ty9wfQLuqqhiRvhr01vpz6TWi_ht/s320/The-Marco-Polo-634x634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659752998700665762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Explaining politics</i></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-family:Georgia, serif;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidX9NNq5wOb0qZ7ns6uZuoVKOal0OVn92TLCOaHZr3lmJyqpZ676-dZreePSzxIgs29-B7-owKEYkBUXrw7zQkZ4XdDWc4xv90tezpVEMPylWZQpHJe7Iw4ww9hVUBlJvRqOijRbCZuFXw/s1600/Pictures-for-Sad-Children-Politics-634x458.gif"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidX9NNq5wOb0qZ7ns6uZuoVKOal0OVn92TLCOaHZr3lmJyqpZ676-dZreePSzxIgs29-B7-owKEYkBUXrw7zQkZ4XdDWc4xv90tezpVEMPylWZQpHJe7Iw4ww9hVUBlJvRqOijRbCZuFXw/s320/Pictures-for-Sad-Children-Politics-634x458.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659751932408109106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px; " border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-38493064021089798342011-09-28T10:30:00.003-05:002011-09-28T11:45:39.327-05:00Getting Ahead<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This morning, I was giving Drummer Boy his spelling test.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He had just finished telling me all the words on the list.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"See, Mom?" he said proudly. "I <i>know</i> them already. I'm not going to forget. They're up there in <i>my noggin.</i>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I gathered the study materials and began to read out the words to him.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"No, Mom, I wrote those <i>already</i>,<i>" </i>he pronounced, firing off at light speed the words he had written down in the 25 seconds it had taken me to start the test.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQRbFGqB6CO-j-imaXyo0sUtCtq4nfWhFBACcGemOPybDStuiTxPeXt5Ojmcf42ZN_FMArdoHvj8n8zP8WWypJ8TfHtx5q66R4REeDGmc1uJPyaiojbRSJ2_B1wFYK-xosdj8RkgrOSHh/s320/IMG_0781.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657447296805158418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">As you can see, all the <i>words</i> were correct. But the <i>format</i> lacked any form at all.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I made him do it over, and this time, numbered and dated with his name.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(And he had to<i> wait for me</i> to give him the words.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxXikzeYEcvKxONcEk51ccx-JrgCo05hXo5swxedYADn0rsjYyITQjTDJF0R-THLyMDgZpgUK_F-9M36RCJpe44c3Jph0UncocSXqcTRfNLjjvRMDcZrZHN9eIQ1BU1Xxz57pYt_-6tE3/s320/IMG_0782.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657447301983040738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">You know where this is going, right?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">If I had just let him do it the way he wanted, it wouldn't have been acceptable as evidence of our homeschool method of testing--to any official from the Department of Education. It was just a bunch of words jumbled together.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">God reminded me this morning that when I get ahead of Him, even if I know the plan, the words to say, the song to sing, the person needing help, <i>if it's not according to His pattern, His format, it's not done right.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">No one else will be able to look at what I'm doing and "get" what it's about. All the right words and actions will be there, but if it's not done in an orderly fashion, <i>waiting on God for the next step,</i> it will not last beyond me. It will die with me, because I'm the only one who understands it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><i><b> Then the LORD answered me and said:<br /> “ Write the vision<br /> And make it plain on tablets,<br /> That he may run who reads it.<br /> For the vision is yet for an appointed time;<br /> But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.<br /> Though it tarries, wait for it;<br /> Because it will surely come,<br /> It will not tarry."</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><i><b>(Habakkuk 2:2-3)</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-10533203057730158712011-09-26T12:06:00.005-05:002011-09-26T15:01:41.789-05:00This Made Me Stop And Think.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3aaAKpGpQ9bZD-jw6LVZQ_1Mi6jKTuuiasKbBU80JX0n37XcHPaapz18WhyxvQ2FgTs5O2UnnecGShyphenhypheniuhlQrREPxED7mM_hoH9a8QYZ_swaWVY_6j2m8oK9znvYcv8Vaz5VLbVCGR3K/s1600/5230673897.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Yesterday, we were visiting a church in Shreveport, New Creation Family Church. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">The pastors are dear friends, Bishop Shaun and Teresa Cooper.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It was good to reconnect, and share what God has been doing in us, and through us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I sang during the morning service, a song God gave me for their church.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Then Pastor Shaun spoke. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Wow.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Biker Man and I kept looking at each other in amazement and <i>conviction.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The one point I will share here was from Revelation 3:20.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>"Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I've heard this scripture since I was a little girl. I could quote it to you, and tell you it's about Jesus wanting to come into the sinner's heart and forgive sins, and be Lord of your life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But the Bishop gave a different spin on it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This verse is right after the warning to the church of Laodecia. The lukewarm church. Jesus doesn't know where they are. He can't locate them, they aren't hot for Him, or cold. They make Him sick, completely taken over by the apostacy and apathy of this age.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But Jesus stands at the door and knocks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Bishop Cooper said, "Your prayer life isn't out of a <i>desire</i> for Him anymore. It's become one of <i>duty.</i> So you give Him time in your car, or when you get to church. It's not the passion it once was. See, Jesus went to the store to get more bread. When He got back, He was <i>locked out.</i> Locked out of His own home. And you have all your friends there, sitting at the table, throwing a party. Yelling at the kids. In the back yard bar-b-que-ing. Running the vacuum to clean before you let Him back in. But He's God. He already knows the house is dirty. Remember when you couldn't wait to get home and spend time alone in worship with Him? When you couldn't wait to get up and get lost in prayer with Him?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This quote blew me away.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><b><i>Poor prayer life = Poor perspective.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">My prayer life determines how I view everything else. How I handle my day. The love I give, whether it's tempered by cynicism or sincerity. And I won't even know if I'm listening to the voice of God if I'm not hearing His voice in the Secret Place.</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3aaAKpGpQ9bZD-jw6LVZQ_1Mi6jKTuuiasKbBU80JX0n37XcHPaapz18WhyxvQ2FgTs5O2UnnecGShyphenhypheniuhlQrREPxED7mM_hoH9a8QYZ_swaWVY_6j2m8oK9znvYcv8Vaz5VLbVCGR3K/s320/5230673897.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656724167365327202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 274px; " /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-19900971322417995162011-09-20T23:17:00.002-05:002011-09-20T23:20:25.467-05:00Guy On A Buffalo<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Biker Man showed this to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It's my new favorite video.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iJ4T9CQA0UM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Don't ever mess with a guy on a buffalo.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Just saying.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-56982338931643036782011-09-15T13:13:00.004-05:002011-09-15T14:07:46.467-05:00Quotes On Worship<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 1px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><img src="http://emeraldogzz.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/worship.jpg?w=440&h=240&crop=1" id="il_fi" height="240" width="211" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="arial14" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size:100%;" ><i>"The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service."</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="arial14" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size:100%;" >~ Billy Graham</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><i>"Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped." </i><br />~ Jack Hayford</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">"It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men."<br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><i>~</i> C.S. Lewis</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:arial;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><i>“I wish to get back to worship again. Then, when people come into the church they will instantly sense that they have come among holy people, God’s people. They can testify, ‘Of a truth God is in this place.’"</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic; ">~ </span>A. W. Tozer</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><i><span class="body">A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="body">~ C.S. Lewis</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>"When I'm praying the most eloquently, I am getting the least accomplished in my prayer life. But when I stop getting eloquent and give God less theology and shut up and just gaze upward and wait for God to speak to my heart, He speaks with such power that I have to grab a pencil and a notebook and take notes on what God is saying to my heart." </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>~ </i>A.W. Tozer</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; font-size:medium;"><i>"A glimpse of God will save you. To gaze at Him will sanctify you."<br /></i>~ Manley Beasley </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="arial14" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size:100%;" ><i>"A true love of God must begin with a delight in his holiness."</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="arial14" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size:100%;" >~ Jonathan Edwards</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="arial14" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>"Whenever the method of worship becomes more important than the Person of worship, we have already prostituted our worship. There are entire congregations who worship praise and praise worship but who have not yet learned to praise and worship God in Jesus Christ." </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>~</i> Judson Cornwall</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Be careful what you do with the best you have."</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Oswald Chambers</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-34745483025328278822011-09-09T10:32:00.005-05:002011-09-09T11:15:46.452-05:00Two And A Half Weeks Later<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I know, I know.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have been gone from the blog world for over two weeks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Again, living life with no time to blog about it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">That's a good thing. For me, anyway.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We have commenced school, Master's Commission (XMC),</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">and getting back into the flow at Crossroads.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So much has been happening, but the BIG news on the home front is:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We are launching a full-time ministry!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I will devote an entire post to this later on.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Most recently, Drummer Boy lost another tooth.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here is the video I did of this monumental occasion.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(Disclaimer: Drummer Boy's method for tooth-pulling was not my first choice. It was something he had heard about and wanted to try. Could not talk him out of it.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTxgxReKPZXnWg3O3Qd28IMBkmx5xqIkW2ObJkNUGY0vMsD-v3rYFwBVpoupI6hKaQE50eQ3saQXZ1fZga6w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-67626599498479145382011-08-23T17:43:00.006-05:002011-08-23T22:23:13.552-05:00Fruit Born In Season<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDTrUO1Z1U6cszH4vo_nIZxfz07ws9AExHJIoctOpGwdxr7hpBPqOSIvlOEio71wZ-eH1-b9nf29fTKe1qpHUGzQvAbzavyRlrjucxTvS6Gd5yxS6NqotOKDfKKkSNZwZdINaRr5k8bz-/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDTrUO1Z1U6cszH4vo_nIZxfz07ws9AExHJIoctOpGwdxr7hpBPqOSIvlOEio71wZ-eH1-b9nf29fTKe1qpHUGzQvAbzavyRlrjucxTvS6Gd5yxS6NqotOKDfKKkSNZwZdINaRr5k8bz-/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644186111283714914" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I did this one afternoon last week for the daughter of a friend.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Originally, it was just going to be a decorative piece of art for her new condo.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I was thinking, something like a fleur-de lis.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But as I began to work on it, God changed the outcome.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>She is a tree.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"A tree?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>Yes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"Okay," I answered as I started the trunk and worked my way up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>Spend more time on the roots.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"The roots? Isn't that kind of, well, <i>gothic-y?"</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>The roots are the foundation for the growth of a tree. Her foundation goes deep.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I began painting the root system. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>Some of the roots need to fade away. Her past has been redeemed, and those roots no longer tie her to future growth.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"Wow, Lord, You're being really specific. What about the leaves?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>I plucked her from the desert with My own hand. Her leaves will not wither because I have planted her by Living Water. Paint one solitary fruit. She is only now beginning to see what I have in store for her. Her fruit will be born in season, sweetened by the tears she has sown, seasoned by her commitment to be found faithful.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When we gave it to the young lady for her housewarming, I explained what God had shown me as I painted and prayed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">She thanked me and cried.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We both knew it had to be the Lord, because I've met her maybe twice, in passing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Jesus will go to any length to prove His love for us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"(She) shall be <b>like</b> a <b>tree </b>planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever (she) does shall prosper." <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Psalm 1:3</span></i>
<br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-49972294410795450332011-08-22T14:22:00.006-05:002011-08-22T16:34:22.124-05:00Beautiful Feet<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A couple nights ago, I noticed Drummer Boy had something on the soles of his feet.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Some<i>things.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Actually, it looked like a bunch of freckles.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"What are these?" I asked him.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"Oh, probably some prickles I walked in from the yard."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(I love his use of <i>probably.</i> More often than not, he uses this word when he knows <i>exactly</i> why.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"You stepped in prickles today?" I continued.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"No, the other day I think," he answered nonchalantly.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I felt like the world's worst mom for:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">a) only noticing days later my son had prickles imbedded so far into his foot that the skin was actually smooth to the touch,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">b) what now needed to take place as a result of the aformentioned maternal negligence.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The following pictures show Biker Man's surgical prowess.</span></div><div>
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2TtrEP8UJN7B3qKmTkRwohqZRtKApqiWs8GI-Sn-hHKsJPAeussIHQ0zF4IDzz82UjENmNOLPdGEgeAJXuwVNEDoaqi61nfKgSyVeBSdlzfwmlEY6xOtYe5GFIClaCmm4odevMF-DKWD/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2TtrEP8UJN7B3qKmTkRwohqZRtKApqiWs8GI-Sn-hHKsJPAeussIHQ0zF4IDzz82UjENmNOLPdGEgeAJXuwVNEDoaqi61nfKgSyVeBSdlzfwmlEY6xOtYe5GFIClaCmm4odevMF-DKWD/s320/IMG_0720.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643763140735308882" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuARoCMHoO-Y9Bsh7C8ArJezOctfvx1D08Bx5UCwNlTRmHJGsEskFf2RZrGsOeo8sCHB9GpiGmtM25XadWMRAqriqVNUlxXG4_wDvTAhTGQgBfV4xW-s1fQDAXhksmGACSGKnDD6H9DOsR/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuARoCMHoO-Y9Bsh7C8ArJezOctfvx1D08Bx5UCwNlTRmHJGsEskFf2RZrGsOeo8sCHB9GpiGmtM25XadWMRAqriqVNUlxXG4_wDvTAhTGQgBfV4xW-s1fQDAXhksmGACSGKnDD6H9DOsR/s320/IMG_0719.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643763136050051042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I cringe even now looking at them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But it got me to thinking.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Sometimes in my walk with God, I walk where I shouldn't, following my own wisdom, and not the Holy Spirit's leading.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In the process, I get sidetracked, Walking where I shouldn't.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Junk gets stuck in my feet, and remains there until I stop and tell God about it and ask Him to remove it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Only He can.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Then I can walk unhindered and in obedience to bring His Good News to those He sends me to.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Then I'll have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><i>beautiful feet.</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">How beautiful on the mountains
<br /> are the feet of those who bring good news,
<br />who proclaim peace,
<br /> who bring good tidings,
<br /> who proclaim salvation,
<br />who say to Zion,
<br /> “Your God reigns!”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i>Isaiah 52:7</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2353915539848772636.post-17094136166154279142011-08-10T10:51:00.005-05:002011-08-10T11:12:45.765-05:00Holy In His Sight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9WaqcHq42bIULHJeMfxIASmWGUEPWztkAucqD5Nfkn5mLKKxoBwv3qtJtmQVYHUJVFHkg8NUhnU8DGcpyQAF__Bv_9OrKtgOcudpxwNw6FchT85ELmUy9sSe14pyl1sJFfzeh-G1Zybj/s1600/DSC_0500+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9WaqcHq42bIULHJeMfxIASmWGUEPWztkAucqD5Nfkn5mLKKxoBwv3qtJtmQVYHUJVFHkg8NUhnU8DGcpyQAF__Bv_9OrKtgOcudpxwNw6FchT85ELmUy9sSe14pyl1sJFfzeh-G1Zybj/s320/DSC_0500+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639260678528938962" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Sing little girl!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Your Daddy is a builder of a city yet unseen</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Architect and Founder of the reality of dreams</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dreams and visions of a time to come</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When the King will reign </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Fulfilling Revelation.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Barren womb long past menopause</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Conceiving Isaac, laughter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Gold refined from dross.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He looks beyond road construction</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">to journey's end not asking perfection</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Which no man can attain</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But holiness </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">which before His blood</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">was only His to claim.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But He loved with a love</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">beyond comprehension</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Unfathomable, crazy even</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">defying all convention</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Recklessly abandoning the Throne of glory</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In wonder angels watched</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">as He unfolded the story.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The lover He created</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">to one day be His Bride</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">His affection rejected</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Purity cast aside</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But true love could not be denied</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Her ransom too high</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Enslaved by her own choosing</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He kicked in the door</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">to the traffic house</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">as the enemy stood accusing</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">the woman huddled in a corner</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">believing lies about her soul</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Until Mercy called her name</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">and Freedom paid the toll</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Taking the rags</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">she clung to as right</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">As the ring kissed her finger</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">He called her</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">holy in His sight.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2