June 30, 2008

washin' up jesus

The title is what my son used to say when we would go to church and worship Jesus. I was really touched by a song we sang yesterday at church. It truly felt like worship in my heart. I wanted to share the lyrics with you. I don't know who has the copyright on the song. I looked online and saw the name John L. Bell, and also the name Robert Kochis associated with it. Whoever it is, great song!


The Summons

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known?
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name,
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show,
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.


Definitely food for thought. A clear statement of what Jesus calls us to be. Do you hear Him calling? Can you hear the freedom in following Him? I hope this began your week with a blessing, like it did for me.

June 27, 2008

do you like it?

First things first - did I really say ta ta for now in my last post? Yes, yes I did. And I'm sorry about that. I guess I was just excited about finding a FREE template online!

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, how do you like my new look? I've always gravitated towards water scenes, lighthouses and darker colors because the title of my blog makes me think of those things. But what I love about this look is the different flowers. It reminded me of the many different emotions that we feel. Each one is different. My favorite part would have to be the raindrops. Because even when it rains, something is growing. I've been really learning that a lot lately.

I was waiting for someone to ask if the new, brighter template reflected that I was doing better with the whole fog thing. And it didn't take long - it was the first thing Handsome (my hubby) asked when he saw it. All I can say is that it is complicated. I have been studying about emotions and what God has to say about them. What I am learning has been a big surprise to me.

I'll be back soon to discuss what I'm learning because it might just be helpful to someone out there. Also there are New York pictures to share - because really there is nothing more riveting than pictures of other people's vacation, right?

Have a great weekend everyone!

June 25, 2008

change is a-comin'

No, you aren't at the wrong blog...I'm tired of my old design and I found this one online - free! Can you believe it? I'll be working on it for the next couple of days. I have some new stuff to link to that I really think is neat so come back and visit, okay? Ta-ta for now...

June 24, 2008

there is something you can do

A couple of months ago, a few bloggers that I read went on a trip to Uganda with Compassion. I urge you to click on either of those links (or both) to learn more about the things we can do to help children around the world. But before you go (and please do - especially the blog posts from Uganda - they are life changing), I want to tell you about something. Because of the trip to Uganda, they have started a website - compassionbloggers.com - to generate interest in this world of bloggity goodness about the needs of children worldwide. In addition to sponsoring a child, you can sign up to blog monthly about a critical issue. After hearing of how lives can be changed with just a little effort on my part, I felt compelled to sign up.

Compassion has set up a Day of Prayer and Fasting on June 25th for those affected by the Global Food Crisis. I don't think that most Americans realize the extent of poverty and hunger in the world. It's way easier to just continue consuming at will and turn a blind eye. But the fact of the matter is, there are people in the world who go to bed hungry. While we buy new cars and complain about filling up our oversized gas tanks, these people spend the majority of their entire budget on food. I look at my son and realize that he has no idea how lucky he is. The momma heart in me cries out to these families whose children must suffer. I hurt for the moms and dads who must look their children in the eyes and say I'm sorry but there is no food tonight. We complain about the extra pounds that we have on our bodies and instead we should be thankful that we were able to have dinner tonight.

If God has laid this same burden on your heart, I invite you to go to the links in this post and look around. There are people out there helping and they could use your help. Pray about it. See where God wants you to step in. It might be praying. It might be giving to the Global Food Crisis Fund. Did you know $13 can feed a child for ONE MONTH? Or maybe it will even be sponsoring a child so that they are able to thrive and grow and most importantly, learn about Jesus Christ. Whatever it is, no matter how big or small, do something. We are so blessed. How can we not do more?

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

June 23, 2008

another new friend (a MIRL!)

Yeah, I just stole this picture off of Bev's blog, Scratchin' the Surface, because I have no idea where the camera is at the moment and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to find the cord to connect it to the computer. But, all the clothes are unpacked and the laundry is done and put away. Can you believe it?

We just got back from a 1300 mile round trip to New York City. I will post pictures of everything in the next few weeks as I stumble back into the swing of things. We went to NYC so the boys could take in the Reds/Yankees game at Yankee stadium and the girls saw Mary Poppins on Broadway. Along the way, we stopped at the Hershey Factory in Hershey, Pennslyvania, the Crayola Factory in Easton, Pennslyvania, four minor league parks, and most importantly, we stopped so I could meet my bloggy friend, Bev.

I emailed her when I realized we would be passing near to where she lives. We hammered it out and the next thing you know, I'm sitting in McDonald's with a stranger that I know a lot about. This bloggy world is neat because you get past all the surface things and really see a person's heart. I knew from reading Bev's blog that she has such a sweet soul and meeting her only confirmed that. We spent an hour or so catching up on things and chatting away like we'd known each other for years. And it felt like we had. We discussed big stuff and little stuff. I was sorry when the time came for us to leave. I'm thankful that there is that little thing called email so that our friendship can continue.

Oh, and just for the record, I do own more shirts than my Amy Grant Fan Club shirt. I was wearing it in the last picture and happened to be wearing it yesterday when I met Bev. My husband said he thought I did it on purpose. I didn't. I joked that it was my meeting strangers shirt. And also for the record, I got my haircut the day before we left for vacation and shouldn't have. It always takes my hair a few days to settle down. Still waiting... And by the way, for those of you who don't know what MIRL means - it means Meet In Real Life. Yeah, I didn't know that either for the longest time. Glad to be of service! :)

Thanks again, Bev, for being so gracious and kind! My kids adore you and are still talking about you. And wondering when I'll take them to McDonald's again... (yeah, thanks for that set up!)

 
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