Discovering True Intimacy with Our Savior

Music Monday: I Wonder

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Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. – John 4:23

What does God require of us when we worship Him? John 4:23 says that the Father seeks worshipers that worship Him in spirit and in truth. Those believers are the people that He seeks out!

Oh, how I want to be sought out by God!

Worshiping God can happen at any time in any place with or without music. There are times when the sweetest, most honest, God worshipping time that we can offer our Savior is alone. When the beat is nothing more than the rhythm of our own hearts in sync with His. When the strum of a grateful soul gives Him greater pause that the chord on a guitar. When our thoughts wonder at:

His beauty and His grace;
His mercy and His faithfulness;
Him might and His power;
His works and His wonders.

But…

sometimes a song helps.

I Wonder

by Leeland

At the stars in the night, I wonder.
At Your lightning in the sky, I shudder.
Your glory is a blanket that covers every living thing.
And it feels like there’s not enough praise inside of me.
With all these words all my heart can sing in holy.
You are holy.

Jesus Christ
You bled Your love
Laid down Yourself
And gave me life
In naked shame You hung
And You were lifted high.
So, here I lay in awe and wonder.
I am afraid
for no one’s ever sacrificed and loved me this way.
So, on my face I fall under Your heavy grace.
Here I lay in awe and wonder.
Oh, and I wonder.

I’m in awe at the majesty of who you are
Your love is a seal burnt inside my heart
And all of the day I want to be where You are

And it feels like there’s not enough praise inside of me.
With all these words all my heart can sing in holy.
You are holy.

Jesus Christ
You bled Your love
Laid down Yourself
And gave me life
In naked shame You hung
And You were lifted high.
So, here I lay in awe and wonder.
I am afraid
for no one’s ever sacrificed and loved me this way.
So, on my face I fall under Your heavy grace.
Here I lay in awe and wonder.
Oh, and I wonder.

The Pet Store

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Hello friends! It is so good to be back! I have missed this place – and YOU! I thought about you almost every single day.

For those of you wondering, the conference was a success by mine and Jamie’s standards. No one took a tumble down the stairs. There were no wardrobe malfunctions. No one threw her bible on the ground and went stomping out of the room.

It was good.

And I am blessed and humbled not only by the sweet comments we received but that God would choose to use me at all.

Last week, however, was a bit more of a roller coaster than I expected as I shifted gears to go back to work. Remember those cartoon characters who would run full force into a cement wall and then slowly slide flat-faced to the ground? That was me last week! But all is well. God gave me a few surprises to keep me motivated.

Speaking of surprises, let’s get to the point of the post.

Yesterday, I went to buy Ellie (my adorable, sweet and TEETHING labrador retriever) some chew toys at the local pet store. I chatted for a few minutes with the lady behind the counter as she rang up my items.

It was a normal transaction by every definition of the word. I slid my debit card through the thingy, entered my PIN, and waited to be “approved” by my bank. (By the way, does anyone else want to scream “I’m approved! I’m approved! I’m approved!” every time you go through a checkout lane? Nah, it’s probably just me.)

Anyway, while I was waiting to be “approved,” I looked up, smiled at the lady and then things started to get weird. Out of NOWHERE, y’all, this large rat came crawling out from under her hair and onto her shoulder!!! Ummmm. Ewww!

Realizing that I was in a pet store, I decided to play it cool and said, “Oh, you have a cute hamster on your collar. I wasn’t expecting that, but it’s cool” or something equally as lame and headed out the door.

My spiritual lesson for today? Expect the unexpected. God loves to surprise us.

He surprised…
Abraham and Sarah with a baby;
Moses with a burning bush;
Jacob and Daniel with angels;
Elijah with bread and water;
and the disciples with an empty tomb.

And he can certainly surprise you.

A Sheet Cake Offering

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As some of you are aware, Jamie and I just wrapped up writing and teaching the women’s conference at our church and to be honest, I am just flat out of writing material. Turns out – this is gonna be a great blessing to you because Robyn had a fabulous post that I want to share.  So, without further adieux, let’s have a round of applause for Robyn’s sheet cake offering.  Enjoy!

 

I don’t have a very big sweet tooth, but my mom has some pretty spectacular dessert recipes that when prepared, make me morph into some kind of unrecognizable addict.

Like somehow I can justify eating three pieces of cake a day.

Her chocolate sheet cake is one of those, and I thought I might like to try it out this weekend to honor a friend’s birthday.

As most of her best recipes go, they’re well, loose, in places.  Her macaroni and cheese, for example, calls for no specific ratio of macaroni to milk to eggs.  It’s just, “until it’s the right consistency.”

Right.

This sheet cake recipe is my Mimi’s recipe, and it has a couple of interpretive elements.  For one, the cake batter is to be poured into “the pan,” which refers to one pan.  And I don’t mean one particular sized pan, but the actual pan that Mimi used, and that Mom now uses.  In other words, the one I don’t have.

Mom doesn’t know the exact size, but only that “it’s bigger than a 9 x 13.”

And the icing calls for “1-1½ boxes of confectioner’s sugar.”

My grandmother’s and mom’s generations are not making it easy on daughters like me to carry on our favorite cooking traditions, I tell you.

Needless to say, between the wrong pan size and the un-measurements (and my omission of some critical vanilla in the icing), Round One was a disaster.

I called Mom today to report back.  “I just finished making my second chocolate sheet cake, if that tells you anything.”

How often this happens in our spiritual lives!  Despite the guide and instructions that we’ve been given by the Lord — and no, the specifics are not always explicit — we mess up all the time.

Disappointing?  Sure.   Costly of time and energy (and another round of ingredients)?  Uh-huh.  Normal?  Absolutely.

But praise Jesus, he is gracious, and generous with second chances.  He allows us opportunities to learn from our mistakes, and to learn his ways, that we often struggle to understand.

Mom was very sweet and said to me, “Well, it’ll get easier when you make it more.  That’s probably one of those we should’ve done together the first time.”

I think God’s like that, too.  I think he knows when we’re trying, and encourages us to keep at it.  And no matter what we’re doing, or how many times we’ve done it, I imagine he’s always saying to us, Do it with me.  It’ll turn out better that way.

Gracious Lord, continue to remind me that you are the God of second chances, and that whether I’m on the first, tenth, or hundredth chance, I’m better off doing life with You.

And please, Lord, let this chocolate sheet cake be an acceptable birthday dessert for my friend offering to you.

2011: The Year of Exercise

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OK.  So, that title might be a bit of a stretch (get it? I crack myself up).  2011 was, indeed, the year of exercise for me but not in the sense it has been previously.  2011 was the year of exercising…my faith.  And boy did I feel the burn.

Inspired my Robyn’s reflections of the year (which, by the way, I look forward to with ridiculous enthusiasm), I thought I’d share my own.

Most Memorable Moment
Standing in a pile of rubble after a significant hike through a ravine to lead my first person to Christ.  Totally worth it!

Favorite Moment
Holding hands and praying in the middle of a dusty, dirt road with a complete stranger who is now my brother in Christ.

Most Awkward Moment
Holding a plastic 13 gallon trash bag that was as white as my face as I nauseously paced at the Lima airport before boarding the plane for Arequipa.

Worst Moment
Watching my friend hold a tee-tiny Delta barf bag for 8 hours on the way home from Peru, and then feeling terrible that she actually had to use it the second we pulled into the church parking lot.

Best Purchase
An adorable, white labrador puppy who is as beautiful and sweet as she was in my dreams.


Favorite Gift

A Spanish Bible with a hand-written note inside given to me by a 10 year old Peruvian girl.

Most Embarrassing Moment
Being the only woman in the room who admitted to having a tattoo while playing “Do You Love Your Neighbor” at the Valleydale Women’s Conference. So glad this was caught on film.


Most Disgusting Moment
With two miles to go in a four mile race, watching thousands of people stuff handfuls of soggy donuts into their mouths at the Krispy Kreme Challenge. NOTE: No donuts were consumed by me or Robyn, and we have never looked at a Krispy Kreme donut the same again.  It was THAT disgusting.

Most Hilarious Moment
I’m going to have to agree to Robyn on this one: having a huge, middle of the night, delirious, ugly-girl laugh (complete with snorting) in wondering if the Delta blankets on our return flight from Peru were made from baby alpaca.

Favorite Football Moment
Watching my Auburn Tigers win their first national championship after 57 years.

Verse of the Year
Zephaniah 3:17

Greatest Accomplishment
Finishing Daily Resolve 2011

Biggest Endeavor
Writing the women’s retreat material with Jamie Harper which is still to be completed.

Favorite Line from My Prayer Journal
“Can you shut that bird up that is outside my window? It is driving me crazy. At the very least can you give it a different tune?”  (He did, by the way.)

Best Trip
My one-on-one retreat with God to my favorite place on earth: El-Bethel. It’s actually a condo that a friend’s parents own, but it is a very special place where I go to meet with God.

OK. I think that’s enough reminscing seeing that I have a writing deadline tomorrow.

Happy New Year, Y’all!

It Is Finished

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I have been looking forward to writing this post for 364 days when me and my accountability peeps decided to embark on “Daily Resolve 2011” and read through The Bible in a year. Remember our cute binders?

Well…mine is FULL!

And so is my heart.

It’s been quite the journey to say the least, and like any journey, it has been full of ups and downs, disappointments and doubts, followed by complete and total elation upon reading the last words penned by John in Revelation.

I had the name of this post picked out a long, long time ago. A smile crept across my face when I read my last reading assignment and those very words popped up by Jesus Himself. I think these are my three most favorite verses in the whole entire bible:

“And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!‘ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ And he also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.’ Revelation 21:6-8

I cannot think of a more beautiful way to celebrate the birth of Christ than to behold the truth that He is coming again. Three times Jesus tells us in the last chapter of His Word, “I am coming soon!”

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book (v. 7)…Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (v. 12-13)…I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star (v. 16)…Yes, I am coming soon! (v. 20).

It’s like he just couldn’t say it enough…he couldn’t remind us enough…that he is coming soon. And I can’t help but echo John as he writes:

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (v. 20)

Music Monday: Always

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I was going to post a lovely Christmas song for Music Monday, but this song held such a special meaning for me last week that I knew it needed to be a post. I hope you’ll roll with this non-Christmas song.

I was plagued with doubts early in the week, and when my unexplainably joyful friend, Jada, sent me this song, it was an ointment that soothed some old scars on my heart.

Give it up for Mr. Kristian Stanfill.

Always

 

My foes are many.
They rise against me.
But I will hold my ground.

I will not fear the war.
I will not fear the storm.
My help in on the way.
My help is on the way.

Oh, my God
He will not delay.
My refuge and strength – always.
I will not fear.
His promise is true.
My god will come through – always.

Trouble surrounds me.
Chaos abounding.
but my soul will rest in you.

I will not fear the war.
I will not fear the storm.
My help is on the way.
My help is on the way.

Oh, my God
He will not delay.
My refuge and strength – always.
I will not fear.
His promise is true.
My god will come through – always.

I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.
I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.
I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.
I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.

From you Lord
From you Lord

Oh, my God
He will not delay.
My refuge and strength – always.
I will not fear.
His promise is true.
My god will come through – always.

I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.
I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.
I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.
I lift my eyes up.
my help come from the Lord.