Ellie's Birthday

Here are some pictures from Ellie's birthday party a couple weeks ago.

I know, I know, long time between posts.

Well, we are currently in Dallas, Texas, at Christ For the Nations.

Busy busy. So I think I'm doing pretty well, considering.

As guests arrived, they wrote in a small book some advice or encouragement for Ellie's tenth year.

I put the book in a small suitcase with a note,
"Please write a note to the birthday girl. Thank you!"

Guests served themselves from the snack table using these cones I made from scrapbook paper, twine, and hot glue.

Drinks were served from a BIG Mason jar in little Mason jars.

I set up a photo booth on on end of the playroom.

I got these blackboard birds on a string at World Market, and wrote "P H O T O" on them.

Cute, right?

Some of the photobooth backdrop. Paper flowers with buttons, paper birds, and hearts strung on twine.

With the girls.

(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.)

Silly pose.

Me, Nichole, & Teresa. I love these ladies!

Ellie's little cousins.

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!).

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.

Then we released balloons with glow bracelets inside them.

It's really hard to see here, but they looked pretty cool.

I think next time, we'll use fatter glow sticks, rather than the skinny bracelets.

Drummer Boy helped her open gifts.

Even when she wasn't asking for his help.

He's sweet that way.

And that's pretty much it!

Ellie's friend, Katy, stayed the night because as a fellow homeschooler, she was the only one who could take off Monday.

I set up a tent in the living room with twinkle lights, and they camped out there.

obviously, I had the flash on, but, you get the idea.

Happy Birthday, Ellie girl!!!

I'm not going to lie, I've got butterflies.

Okay. Most of you know we started a non-profit, No Compromise International, back in September.

We are overwhelmed by the support and encouragement we have received in our start up process.

For real. Overwhelmed.

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 NCI, and take up a love offering during the event.

Well, that night is tonight.

I've led multiple times.

I've taught on worship, and the heart of a worshiper.

But tonight Biker Man and I are presenting to our home church the vision God has given us.

(Well, Biker Man is. He's the one speaking before the love offering. I'm just worshiping and inviting others to do the same.)

This is the call God laid on my husband's heart when we got home last summer.

He had a burning bush experience with the Almighty.

And our family will never be the same.

(Did I mention he just got back Saturday night from Kenya?

He was there for 10 days with the team from Crossroads and our wonderful pastor, Jeff Ables.

I will be posting pictures of that trip soon.)

But back to this evening...

Pray for us.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to grip hearts.

For the conviction and love of God to change lives.

For us to only say what God wants us to say.

Wake Up

I have come to my garden, my sister my spouse;

I have gathered my myrrh with my spice....

I sleep, but my heart is awake;

It is the voice of my beloved!

He knocks, saying,

"Open for me, my sister, my love,

My dove, my perfect one;

For my head is covered with dew,

My locks with the drops of the night."

I have taken off my robe;

How can I put it on again?

I have washed my feet;

How can I defile them?

My beloved put his hand

By the latch of the door,

And my heart yearned for him.

I arose to open for my beloved,

And my hands dripped with myrrh,

My fingers with liquid myrrh,

On the handles of the lock.

I opened for my beloved,

But my beloved had turned away and was gone.

My heart leaped up when he spoke.

I sought him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

(Song of Solomon 5:1-6)

I was reading this a few weeks ago, and the Holy Spirit spoke to me.

How many times does God ask me to do something for Him, and the timing seems off to me?

I sleep, but my heart is awake....

I'm settled.

Comfortable.

My prayer life is lacking in fervor.

I know God is speaking, but it seems distant, far away.

I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again?

I have delegated out what God told me to do.

It's getting done, but I'm on auto pilot.

I'm tired of the responsibility of leading.

I have lost passion, and am no longer walking in God's authority.

I have washed my feet, how can I defile them?

I'm in the groove of doing ministry on my own terms, and what God is asking doesn't seem ideal.

I'll have to get my feet dirty to walk where He walked.

To touch the untouchable.

My beloved put His hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him...

I see evidence of God's power.

I'm finally moved to action.

I'm ready to go where He wants me to.

My hands dripped with myrrh...on the handles of the lock.

I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone.

I miss God's timing.

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.

I want to bring along all the stuff I was already doing for Him when He called.

All the works I had "anointed" myself.

I can't open the door He's wanting me to, because my hands are slippery with works of my own.

I have to drop everything He hasn't called me to do, in order to go where He calls me to go.

And I must fall in love with Him daily.

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.

Focusing On What Matters

I have been listening and listening to new songs lately.

Mostly because I'm getting ready to launch into January, the month of practice practice practice.

With XMC students.

Preparing them for Tour.

So, I have been immersing myself in new worship music.

My friend Kristin, from CFNI, has been very helpful.

So have my students.

This is my favorite song of the moment.

One of them.

I have quite a few right now.

But this song is incredible.

It focuses on what matters most in our lives.

The blood of Christ.

Without it, there would be no salvation. No hope for eternity.

God is faithful, by Whom you were called

into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

(1 Corinthians 1:9)

Jesus is the only PROOF we need that God is faithful!!

Enjoy "Blood So Beautiful" written by Jonathan Lewis.