Today I am sharing a little Sidewalk Prophets. The song is "You love anyway". Most of the time I am in AWE of the constant unconditional love Daddy pours out on all of us. The real kicker...He loves us no matter what...NOTHING can separate us from that love. These words have been ringing in my ears for weeks. When you think you are a lost cause He believes in you...When you are beat down He picks you up...When you turn your back on Him He never turns His back on you and He...Loves you anyway!
The question was raised
As my conscience fell
A silly, little lie
It didn’t mean much
But it lingers still
In the corners of my mind
Still you call me to walk
On the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future’s so far
My heart is so frail
I think I’d rather stay inside
But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
How You love me
It took more than my strength
To simply be still
To seek but never find
All the reasons we change
The reasons I doubt
And why do loved ones have to die?
But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway
See now, I am the man that called out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes then, I turned away with this smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life
But You love me anyway
Oh, God… how you love me
You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
You love me, You love me
You love me, You love me
How You love me
How You love me
How You love me
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
What we have to celebrate
"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten--the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm--my great army that I sent among you." Joel 2:25 NIV
If you had of told me 9 years ago that I would still be married to Michael and that he would become an amazing dad...I would have thought you had lost your mind. As young parents we didn't always make the right choices and Michael seemed to almost cave under the stress. While I matured at a rapid rate Michael on the other hand went on a downward spiral. While I choose not to include all those details now (post for another time) I do however believe Michael and I are living in those very years spoke of in Joel. You see the locust or Satan or rather addiction in our case stole many many years from Michael in his relationship with our oldest two children. And yesterday as we celebrated fathers day we also celebrated that which God had delivered...He is He has repaided to us those lost years. He has mended all hearts and wounds, repaired all relationships, and even blessed us almost 3 years ago with a 3rd child.
It has been wonderful to watch God change, shape and mold Michael into the man he is today. I count it a true blessing to be the woman God chose to place with Michael for this journey. We are a real team and in today's time that in itself is a true blessing. Father's Day has a whole new meaning around here over the past 4 years or so. I am amazed at all God has done in our lives and I am thankful for His promise to restore all those years.
As we embark on new journeys and adventures in this life I know I have something to celebrate...My husband loves me, loves his children, loves God, and would do anything for us. I thank God everyday because I believe he made a perfect match!
If you had of told me 9 years ago that I would still be married to Michael and that he would become an amazing dad...I would have thought you had lost your mind. As young parents we didn't always make the right choices and Michael seemed to almost cave under the stress. While I matured at a rapid rate Michael on the other hand went on a downward spiral. While I choose not to include all those details now (post for another time) I do however believe Michael and I are living in those very years spoke of in Joel. You see the locust or Satan or rather addiction in our case stole many many years from Michael in his relationship with our oldest two children. And yesterday as we celebrated fathers day we also celebrated that which God had delivered...He is He has repaided to us those lost years. He has mended all hearts and wounds, repaired all relationships, and even blessed us almost 3 years ago with a 3rd child.
It has been wonderful to watch God change, shape and mold Michael into the man he is today. I count it a true blessing to be the woman God chose to place with Michael for this journey. We are a real team and in today's time that in itself is a true blessing. Father's Day has a whole new meaning around here over the past 4 years or so. I am amazed at all God has done in our lives and I am thankful for His promise to restore all those years.
As we embark on new journeys and adventures in this life I know I have something to celebrate...My husband loves me, loves his children, loves God, and would do anything for us. I thank God everyday because I believe he made a perfect match!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Guess What...
We are moving! I can't believe it after 5 years at our current address we are moving on. We will be staying in the same city but have found a home to better suit our needs. It is almost perfect for us and with the addition of a fence and a couple trees in the future it will be just what we need. I have to admit that while I couldn't be happier about the new place I am mildly sad leaving this one. We moved here when Duece was just 2 years old and Jesse was about to begin Kindergarten. This is where we brought Cooper home from the hospital and we Michael and I have grown in our faith and as a couple. I have a tingle in my heart that as the last box is packed and the doors shut and lock behind us I might be a little sad!
But in the mean time...The moving madness must begin. I am on a mission to clean this house this week so that next week I can start packing from nice clean rooms. I intend to as I pack go through and purge any and all unused items. If we haven't used them here we will not be using them there. I think the local rescue mission store will be getting a LARGE donation:) I have to get a serious move on because we are moving in...JUST TWO WEEKS 15 DAYS TO BE EXACT!
So who wants to help...I can feed you!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Jesus Rides the Subway-Trevor Morgan
It seems like God is talking to me through worship and music alot these days. So sorry if you haven't been enjoying my very random posting about songs God is using to speak to me.
This one I heard on the radio. As the words came over my speakers I was consumed. I realized Jesus never hung out with the Saints. He mingled among the very ones most of us would never give 2 seconds of our time. But take it from someone who has been there " been kicked around" Jesus can cover any unlovely thing and make it Holy and Righteous. Think about these words the next time you are quick to pass judgment. Everyone is offered the same exact gift from Jesus. Remember He became sin so we might become his righteousness!
Jesus rides the subway
With the junkies and the freaks
Jesus rides the subway
With the hustlers and the creeps
He rubs shoulders with the thieves
And he looks a lot like everyone he sees
Jesus rides the subway
While the pretty people sleep, and he says…
You can lay your burden down
You can lay your burden down
Oh, maybe you’ve been kicked around
But you can lay your burden down
Jesus strolls the sidewalks
On the wrong side of the tracks
Jesus strolls the sidewalks
That poverty attacks
He makes his home among the shacks
Where the fatherless have fallen through the cracks
Jesus strolls the sidewalks
While the righteous turn their backs, and he says…
You can lay your burden down
You can lay your burden down
Oh, maybe you’ve been kicked around
But you can lay your burden down
Jesus went to church on Sunday
Sat in the back and sang the hymns
Jesus went to church on Sunday
But they didn't recognize him, and he said...
You can lay your burden down
You can lay your burden down
Oh, maybe you’ve been kicked around
This one I heard on the radio. As the words came over my speakers I was consumed. I realized Jesus never hung out with the Saints. He mingled among the very ones most of us would never give 2 seconds of our time. But take it from someone who has been there " been kicked around" Jesus can cover any unlovely thing and make it Holy and Righteous. Think about these words the next time you are quick to pass judgment. Everyone is offered the same exact gift from Jesus. Remember He became sin so we might become his righteousness!
Jesus rides the subway
With the junkies and the freaks
Jesus rides the subway
With the hustlers and the creeps
He rubs shoulders with the thieves
And he looks a lot like everyone he sees
Jesus rides the subway
While the pretty people sleep, and he says…
You can lay your burden down
You can lay your burden down
Oh, maybe you’ve been kicked around
But you can lay your burden down
Jesus strolls the sidewalks
On the wrong side of the tracks
Jesus strolls the sidewalks
That poverty attacks
He makes his home among the shacks
Where the fatherless have fallen through the cracks
Jesus strolls the sidewalks
While the righteous turn their backs, and he says…
You can lay your burden down
You can lay your burden down
Oh, maybe you’ve been kicked around
But you can lay your burden down
Jesus went to church on Sunday
Sat in the back and sang the hymns
Jesus went to church on Sunday
But they didn't recognize him, and he said...
You can lay your burden down
You can lay your burden down
Oh, maybe you’ve been kicked around
Friday, June 10, 2011
More Like Falling in Love
If you have read this blog any amount of time you know some things about me...I am a wife, stay at home mom, I craft, we are downsizing our budget and you know that I am a Christ follower! You might also know from Lent or Christmas post that I am a United Methodist. Right?!? Anyway....It hasn't been all that long ago that I thought God was a "gettcha God" ruling from heaven with a wrath like no other. But once I realized God loved me and wanted to be part of all the ends and out of my life I also realized this believing thing was way more about RELATIONSHIP and had almsot nothing to do with what "title" was next to the church I attended.
God doesn't care what religion I am. And if all that religion does is cause me to trip up or be bond by laws and rules he really doesn't want me to be a part of it. We were created from the very begining to be in constant relationship with our Father that is what he wants us to do and he Loves when we love on him and will love on us back!
A couple months back I heard this song and I really think it sums up how I feel about this realtionship-vs- religion thing. Read and enjoy but know that relationship ready and waiting when you are!
More like Fallin In Love- Jason Gray
Give me rules
I will break them
Give me lines I will cross them
I need more than a truth to believe
I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes
To sweep me off my feet
It ought to be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance
Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
It's like I'm falling, oh
It's like I'm falling in love
Give me words
I'll misuse them
Obligations I'll misplace them
'Cause all religion ever made of me
Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet
It never set me free
It's gotta be
It's like I'm falling in love, love, love
Deeper and deeper
It was love that made
Me a believer
In more than a name, a faith, a creed
Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
End of school
It is official Friday was the last day of school and while swim team started weeks ago and it has been nice and HOT for weeks...SUMMER IS HERE! I couldn't be happier to be done with rushed mornings, hours of homework, and whiny voices at the diner table. Since we have chosen to home school we are taking an "extended" summer and not starting school until the first of September so unlike those returning to school we get around 14-16 weeks of summer! I am so excited. We might decided to start school earlier but this is our plan as of now. I am so excited I scored some of my curriculum at low cost or free tonight at a "curriculum fair". But the end of the school year wouldn't be the same without a couple par-tays to attend.
Cooper had the usual Kiddie Kollege "Ice Cream Social" last Wednesday and while I know he loves ice cream he mainly spent the hours hanging out on the playground with his friends. He was so sad when I made him say goodbye for summer to those friends and his teachers. He has asked everyday since then if they can come over to play:) He will go back to Kiddie Kollege next year 3 days a week in their 3 year old program. We love us some Kiddie Kollege.
Duece also had an "Ice Cream Social". It was so sweet to see all of his little class mates enjoying their treat while watching a DVD slide show of the year prepared by Duece's teach Mrs. Odell. Duece was our number 1 reason to visit the idea of homeschool and so imagine my surprise when he cried as we gave hugs and kisses and said good bye. He later told me he was going to miss everyone...That I have to admit made me sad...But I know we are making the right choice for next year!
Jesse had a party in her class that the parents were not invited to attend. However we were invited to attend the awards ceremony. I have to admit I have been extra proud of her all year she took first place in the grandparents day essay contest, preformed in the talent show and had maintained all A's all year. She received several awards including A honor roll, Pals club, AR, and Conduct. I am sure if I forgot one she will remind me;)
I am so proud of my kiddos and can not wait to embark on next years journey with them!
Well, with another school year behind us summer has now begun!!!
Cooper had the usual Kiddie Kollege "Ice Cream Social" last Wednesday and while I know he loves ice cream he mainly spent the hours hanging out on the playground with his friends. He was so sad when I made him say goodbye for summer to those friends and his teachers. He has asked everyday since then if they can come over to play:) He will go back to Kiddie Kollege next year 3 days a week in their 3 year old program. We love us some Kiddie Kollege.
Duece also had an "Ice Cream Social". It was so sweet to see all of his little class mates enjoying their treat while watching a DVD slide show of the year prepared by Duece's teach Mrs. Odell. Duece was our number 1 reason to visit the idea of homeschool and so imagine my surprise when he cried as we gave hugs and kisses and said good bye. He later told me he was going to miss everyone...That I have to admit made me sad...But I know we are making the right choice for next year!
Jesse had a party in her class that the parents were not invited to attend. However we were invited to attend the awards ceremony. I have to admit I have been extra proud of her all year she took first place in the grandparents day essay contest, preformed in the talent show and had maintained all A's all year. She received several awards including A honor roll, Pals club, AR, and Conduct. I am sure if I forgot one she will remind me;)
I am so proud of my kiddos and can not wait to embark on next years journey with them!
Well, with another school year behind us summer has now begun!!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Music Therapy Thursday...Better late than never!
I have really dropped the ball on this blogging thing...I guess I should try harder but honestly don't have the will or want to do a lot right now. But I really wanted to share this song with all of you because it really means alot to me right now as I seem to be in one of life's valleys. It bring me alot of encouragement I hope it does so for you!
Blessings...Laura Story
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
Blessings...Laura Story
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
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