God is God

This Sunday afternoon was mellow. My mom and I spent some time together this afternoon. At the gas station, I flipped on the Christian radio station while she was busy filling the tank. The following song was playing. It happens to be a previous favorite; but this afternoon it took on special meaning. More than just a song... a means of seeing a glimpse of an invisible God.

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for
to Him and through Him and from Him
are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone...

Oh Now Wait a Minute Now

"Hey Noah, keep cool. Hey Noah, I'll take care of the rest, I'm the weatherman."

Hymn

If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather 'til I only dwell in Thee?
If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after
'Til I only dwell in Thee

If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision 'til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
'Til I only dwell in Thee

Today this has been playing on repeat... all day. 
What a beautiful piece of music! The fact that it is so much more than just music because of the truth and perspective it contains only adds to its beauty.

By Brooke Fraser

Moving Forward in Truth

I don't think a goodbye or the time leading up to it could be any sweeter than that I have recently seen and been a part of.

My Lebanese, jelly bean sharing, adventurous & infectiously joyful friend- if you're reading this, know that the times I've throughout the spent with you in the past few weeks, I clearly saw God in our conversations. I had such fun! I'll treasure the memories always. Looking forward to lots of stories (praying for testimonies of salvation!) and the next time I get to give you a hug.

I didn't intend to post on the above, but I couldn't not say something about it.

...every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15: 2-5

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
   No light in the darkness you see?
   There’s light for a look at the Savior,
   And life more abundant and free!
   • Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
     Look full in His wonderful face,
     And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
     In the light of His glory and grace.
2. Through death into life everlasting
   He passed, and we follow Him there;
   O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
   For more than conquerors we are!
3. His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
   Believe Him, and all will be well:
   Then go to a world that is dying,
   His perfect salvation to tell!
4. Even when we don't feel as close to God as we desire to feel, He is near. I heard someone very wise say that when you feel as if you couldn't possibly hold on any longer, look and see that He is holding on to you. God is working in me as I work to finish this school year. During conversation yesterday I was able to recognize His grace. I haven't been consumed by schoolwork as is my nature, but have been able to enjoy the weather and go through days of work more freely. Separate from and more prevalent than schoolwork: God is working on my heart spiritually and I recognize it. At times the recognition happens awkwardly; I am sure, always incompletely, but it's there.
5. 
   

A Little More Music

This played on one of my favorite mixed CDs as we drove home from my softball game tonight, which we won 5-4. Three of us did the wave a bunch of times while playing "left bench" for an inning. f-u-n.

This week could have been horrible, grueling and painful. It hasn't been, and I can't post without acknowledging that God has been continually showing Himself present whether through Sunday at church, beautiful natural surroundings, songs, or scripture. It's been hard, prayerful & tearful. It's not near over, but God is good.

You’re in too deep...
He hasn’t left you out to dry
Even Now
You haven’t left His watching eye
Even Now
So children sing it when you don’t see how
My Father’s worthy of my hope
Even now

You’re wondering if you heard Him wrong
If he’s listening

The same old fear, the same old haze
Is God not here?
Is His hand raised?

Could this be part of any good plan?

When your tunnel’s still dark at the end
Even Now
His children don’t know why but trust their Father’s at their side
So hold His hand, hold up your hope
Even now

Duos Cancion

These selections are totally different from each other, but are two recent favorites & worth sharing. The parents are also currently enjoying the first. Just last night Dad really connected with it in what he said turned out to be a momentous night of being close to God. 

Mercy Me, Word of God Speak

lyrics listen  

Emily Jane White, Time on Your Side

small disclaimer: If you come across something odd or weird related to this 

indie artist, even other songs of hers, as of this posting, my knowledge extends no further than having enjoyed this particular song. I'm not really understanding the design of the album cover artwork.

lyrics personal site 

Note: itunes can give away some really icky free songs, but also some great ones. Time on Your Side was the latter in my opinion.

My Daughter, My Child

As I went about one day last week, I found myself humming parts of the following Keith Green recording. I listened to the song and realized I was singing words meant to be spoken from God. The Lord met me in that moment... these words are His heart toward His children, toward me!

My son, My son, why are you striving
You can't add one thing to what's been done for you
I did it all while I was dying
Rest in your faith, my peace will come to you

My child, My child, why are you weeping
You will not have to wait forever
That day and that hour is in My keeping
The day I'll bring you into Heaven

For when I hear the praises start
My child, I want to rain upon you
Blessing that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do in Me

My precious bride, the day is nearing
When I'll take you in My arms and hold you
I know there are so many things that you've been hearing
But you just hold on to what I have told you


I read Ps. 103 this morning. I was doing really well on committing the passage to memory. Usually I prefer the English Standard Version, but for Ps. 103, the wording found in my pocket New International Version couldnt have been better in relation to this song.

I will praise the Lord each morning, each moment of each day, for this: His unchanging heart of love, guidance and counsel toward me allowed by His work of salvation in me because of the substitution that took place on the cross.

"He let go of His Son so that He could hold on to us."

Note: the 'keith green recording' link goes to a youtube video of a cover for the song, but I liked the cover more than the video of the actual recording.

Growing in Discipline: Tidbits

There's a cry in my heart for Your glory to fall, for Your presence to fill up my senses.
There's a yearning again; a thirst for discipline, a hunger for things that are deeper.

Could You take me beyond?
Could You carry me through?
If I open my heart could I go there with You?
For I've been here before, but I know there's still more- Oh, Lord, I need to know You.

For what do I have if I don't have You, Jesus?
What in this life could mean any more?
You are my rock; You are my glory
You are the lifter of my head, the lifter of this head

Just finished this book. Took this one off of the shelf this one last night.

That Starfield lyric line about having a thirst for discipline, that's me right now. I've been wasting my days. I've been given the ability and responsibility to manage my schoolwork, my education! Maybe I've attempted on my own and here I am with satisfactory progress this year, moving confusing granted. ;-) I have tried, and have sought the Lord for help on different levels. Maybe I didnt do either of those completely or enough. What I know is: I have been irresponsibly and continually squandering the time in which to accomplish tasks.

first |fərst|
coming before all others in time or order; earliest; fundamental
met with or encountered before any others; foremost in position, rank, or importance
our first priority; foremost, principal, highest, greatest, paramount, top, uppermost, prime, chief, leading, main, major; overriding, predominant, prevailing, central, core, dominant;

Yesterday I was discouraged. Last and this week I've been trying to wake up earlier- a hard thing. I want to even say tortorous some days. How the morning plays out can have such an effect on the rest of the day. Bad morning, not so much work gets done before lunch, school has to go until dinner or after oh, and ya, I probably never changed out of my pajamas or touched my hair.

On a positive note, today has been a day of small victories. I woke up and started school by 8:30. It's 2pm and I've finished all but half of an argumentation lecture and history reading, oooh, maybe I need to do some essay prep too. The source of praise, whether I have a bad or a good day, is that God is giving me to grace to have transcendent joy.. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." has continually been on the brain since the reference to it in a friendship message at YPCG awhile back and due to reading the above linked Mark Pearce book, which was a fabulous read by the way. First. It's highly probably that devotions was not the first thing I did upon waking up. Yes, devotions are wonderful; meeting God and experiencing his Word is irreplacable and we should thirst for it. However, I am growing in consciously keeping Christ first in my heart and mind throughout the day (whether I was able to begin it in such a fashion or not).

“Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another”
-George Washington

Breakfast Extra Special

This story begins with a venture to the downstairs main family closet which contains toys, supplies for craftiness, sports gear, board games, a box of long florescent lights and a few bottles of really old wine. Outside the doorway sat two or three boxes of books that came from our living room. In need of reading material, I opened the box and rummaged. Devotional tapes, pamphlets, devotional books, encouragment books, a Jewish holiday handbook and Bible, homeschooling books. The Busy Mom's Life to Simple Living. I read it in two days and came to the conclusion that aside from one or two tidbits, I dont know why in the world we own it. There was this one tip- to take flour from its original bag and store it in a gallon milk jug. I tried it... very odd.

The book did however spur me to do something I've always planned to do: pre-make homemade pancake mix. That was Saturday. Today being Monday, there being only two eggs in the fridge and being steered away from foods I knew would trigger more migraines, I made pancakes. We had some Aunt Jemima, but after reading the ingredients list I decided to take another route.

I am plain not good at making pancakes.The first two I made stuck to the pan because I didnt have enough butter. They cooked well, but I had to do damage control by scraping and washing the pan before I could continue. The next bit of butter to go in the pan steamed and turned tan. No matter, in went the batter. I'm a poet and I know it... Anyway, when the two little rounds were bubbly I flipped them over in the pan and one ended up flopped half way over the edge of the pan, dripping uncooked batter onto the stovetop.

My mom walked into the kitchen, "oh... what are you doing?"
"I'm not very good at making pancakes."
"Everytime you make them you smoke us out!"
As a last word and recognition of the silver lining, I chimed as my mom exited the room, "They taste pretty good!"

The next two patches of batter went in and came out burnt. The next two I managed to not burn, but when I bit into the last bite of one later, it ended up containing an icky batter reservoir.

We had a man working the basement installing something or other.
He walked up the stairs, "Oh man, good thing I didnt install that smoke alarm yet."
I sat in the dining room eating my creations and chuckled at his comment. I had made pancakes from scratch. I could now proceed to scratch that act off of my life achievements list. I'm only half serious- I dont have a life achievements list that I can remember, but come to think of it... wouldnt be a bad thing to do.

In Your Eyes.

Wishing For Snow To Come

Today several people I talked to at lunch noted wishing that it would snow instead of the rain we currently have. I've established the habit of streaming Christmas music through itunes and when I got home this played when I turned the computer on.

These lyrics are being posted because I like hot cocoa, marshmallows, the two words pumpkin head make a great nickname in my opinion, and because I cant wait to see the twinkle of snow crystals.

It's a marshmallow world in the winter
When the snow comes to cover the ground
It's the time for play
It's a whipped cream day
I wait for it all year round.

Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the evergreen trees
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
It's shining so your nose won't freeze.

The world is your snowball, see how it grows
That's how it goes, whenever it snows,
The world is your snowball just for a song
Get out and roll it along.

In winter, it's a marshmallow world.
In winter, it's a marshmallow world.
In winter, it's a marshmallow world.

Find the Wright answer to the Riddle

hehe. silly title.

Paul Wright- Take this Life & You're Beautiful

Jeremy Riddle- Sweetly Broken

let there be created really cool lights

Conversational Apologetics. I spent an hour and a half listening to these two downloads. Wonderful.