From WorshipGod 08

The following videos were just posted on the SGM youtube channel. These recitations were a powerful part of the conference for me. To hear scripture orated put life into the words. They're worth watching. I considered posting them one at a time so that the videos would be watched one at a time. Instead I'll just make a suggestion: when you watch them, watch all the way through. Stopping in the middle of the passage, I think you'd miss out.

Psalm 145


Psalm 25


Psalm 22

WG08 Opening Video

I am so glad this was posted!

It tuned my heart to worship as I sat in my seat the first night of the conference. Watching it again tonight, the way in which it so beautifully pulls together truths from the psalms was just as meaningful.

"If there's one thing to take away from this message it's this:

the psalms are about what your/my life is about."

-David Powlison, Enduring Hardship with the Psalmist

Completion & Preparation

Tomorrow: high school evaluation, long awaited and well-planned for. I'm ready. Math wasn't fabulous and chemistry could have been better; but hey, music and drama is pretty nice and honors English is great... and I survived APUSH. I didn't flunk! I learned much this year; and this week I've still been absorbing the lessons as I look back over everything and see it come to an end. 

YOUTH CAMP.

I love camp. 

It's neat to be saying that going into camp, instead of while coming away as I did last year. 

God is working in my heart. I am SO excited and that excitement is increasing each day. My stomach starts fluttering and I become speechless when I really delve into the emotions surrounding this part of the summer. I desire to meet God and am expectant that He will be there because He's already here, now, today, yesterday, Sunday. 

The supremacy of Christ is becoming evident in my life through situations, responses and conversations. I am waiting and hoping that God expands on the power found in that concept at camp. 

One more reason for excitement: A girl from our softball team is coming to camp! An uncanny and relaxed conversation led to an invitation which turned into action. God is just too cool.

CG Party

It is in trials when we doubt two things- that God is near and that He is good...
How has God been near, and how has He been good this year?

{luminaries up to the house}

I was sitting on the floor in the middle of our livingroom. We'd just finished singing six or so Christmas carols... Christmas carols, in our livingroom. I dont think I can express what that meant & means to me. "Joy to the world the Lord has come"- that is why our family celebreates Christmas to begin with! It was a vivid reminder of the centrality of the word 'joy' in Christmas for us two years ago and last year. There I was feeling warm and comforted in the sort-a-center of forty-some people who were all singing those words.

Mr. T. talked about the past year and the trials he knew we had all come across, the changes: moving, a job, health-wise, financially. There is no way to sugar-coat a trial. It's a hard thing whatever it may be. I was however so refreshed yesterday to face the smaller daily trials I have with confidence. The Lord brought me and my family through the trials of the past and there we were having a Christmas party in our house. The result of the dominant trial of this year (moving. just see the many, many blog posts) resulted last night in a house full of people, talking, a house full of laughter, food, happiness and friendship. We've had alot of people in the house thus far, most of them being carpenters, plumbers, electricians. ;-) To have those we have come to love in the house was much better!

I couldnt be more happy with my white elephant present- a bicycle tire with green light strung around it. We have a pair of size eight sparkly pink shoes needed to relocate to another home.

The Shortest YC Post in History

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
-Walt Disney

I can imagine God saying the above in the context of youth camp...and ultimately, life walked with Him.

Pirate Remorse

Dude, we missed a good party! Sadness on that point. Oh well--We stored up treasures in heaven while others made the choice to pursue treasure of a more pirate story-like nature. ;-)

Everyone's costumes were great, the performances very funny. & thanks to Mike for preserving some moments so that those of us who were unable to attend could enjoy.

[I said remorse more because it was a good word than because I really truly felt that upset.]