I've struggled with writing Christian lyrics. Before it was easy - broken hearted country songs are not as difficult as the the Dixie Chicks make them out to be. But writing for God, well, that's pretty intimidating. What can I say that would be honoring enough? Or that hasn't already been said a hundred times? I finally decided it's kind of like praying...just say what's on my heart and God will be pleased. It doesn't mean I'm going to get rich and famous from it; my treasures surely lie elsewhere anyway - I've figured that much out by now. So here's my first somewhat attempt at a song. It doesn't rhyme or even have any meter, it's just a flowing of my thoughts:
Sweet baby in the manger
You came so You could know me
That this world could know You in the flesh
And follow in Your footsteps
Hear Your words
See Your love personified
I love You for You died
I love You for You rose
I love You for You live forever
To be my Lord and Savior
Mighty Redeemer
Though You knew they would condemn You
You brought Your message to the world
The very sinners who needed You to bleed
You carried Your cross before them
Still with love and mercy for their souls
As the hammer struck the nails
I love You for You died
I love You for You rose
I love You for You live forever
To be my Lord and Savior
Mighty Redeemer
The tomb could not contain You
The stone was rolled away
By the power of Your victory
By the awesomeness of majesty
Your promise lives forever
Let every tongue confess
I love You for You died
I love You for You rose
I love You for You live forever
To be my Lord and Savior
Mighty Redeemer
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Satan Carries a Shrimp Fork
I posted a bulletin on MySpace about a little mishap I had. It involved stepping on a shrimp fork and puncturing the bottom of my foot. It's a long story, but the result is a little blood blister 2 days before I leave for a mission trip with our church youth group. We're going to the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona, and I'm very excited. In fact, the only thing I'm not looking forward to is having to wear close-toed shoes for the entire week. Ah, the sacrifices we make...
So I mentioned in my post that this little injury is going to make it interesting to do all the walking and hiking involved in the trip. It's really not that bad; Andrew kissed it and it feels better already. Anyway, one of my MySpace friends commented that maybe it was a message from God that I was not meant to go on the trip. I was quick to point out that God does not cause harm, but sometimes He allows it to happen to test our faith. Not that my little foot wound is comparable to, say, Job's trials, but it's the same concept. I reminded my friend that the sometimes the enemy puts obstacles in our path to keep us from doing God's work, but we have to see them for what they are and overcome them. How can you tell when the obstacle is from God or the enemy? I've always kind of gone by the thought that if it causes fear, anger, or pain, it's not God. If I have a peace that I can get over it, such as with the boo-boo on my foot, maybe it was just a little test of faith.
So she pointed out the times when, say, people can't find their car keys and know they're going to be late for work and have been told that if they're late one more time, they're fired. There's a lot of negative emotion going on there. Fear, anger, anxiety... But when they hit rush hour because they left late and are sitting on a bridge all stressed out and see an airplane hit the building they should have been in, is that from God? It's so hard to know.
Twice since the doctors told us not to get pregnant again, friends have called us with the hope of adopting a newborn. They knew a girl who got pregnant and wasn't ready to be and wanted to know if we would be willing to take the baby in. ABSOLUTELY!!! We never hesitate to say yes. What kind of Christians would we be if we asked these moms to choose life and then didn't offer a loving, secure home for their baby to grow up in. But each time, the mother did not choose to carry the baby. It's hard for us to hear that the choice has been made, not only because we've lost a potential addition to our family, but because I know how lasting the effects of that decision can be. One of my best friends made that choice in high school, and now at my age she still cannot conceive. Here she is 15 years later struggling with her choice and crying every day because of it. My question, though, is - is God trying to tell me 2 kids is where our family is supposed to be? I'm pretty sure He wouldn't use such extreme means to make his point, but it's been known to happen. After all, what did Job teach us but that God cares more for the Spirit than the flesh.
I have hope that God has a plan for me. There are obstacles that I don't understand. His ways are not mine, and I will never understand it all. After everything I've seen, though, I could never turn my faith from the knowledge that he has my best interest at heart, and that he is using me, punctured foot and all, for the exact purpose he created me for.
So I mentioned in my post that this little injury is going to make it interesting to do all the walking and hiking involved in the trip. It's really not that bad; Andrew kissed it and it feels better already. Anyway, one of my MySpace friends commented that maybe it was a message from God that I was not meant to go on the trip. I was quick to point out that God does not cause harm, but sometimes He allows it to happen to test our faith. Not that my little foot wound is comparable to, say, Job's trials, but it's the same concept. I reminded my friend that the sometimes the enemy puts obstacles in our path to keep us from doing God's work, but we have to see them for what they are and overcome them. How can you tell when the obstacle is from God or the enemy? I've always kind of gone by the thought that if it causes fear, anger, or pain, it's not God. If I have a peace that I can get over it, such as with the boo-boo on my foot, maybe it was just a little test of faith.
So she pointed out the times when, say, people can't find their car keys and know they're going to be late for work and have been told that if they're late one more time, they're fired. There's a lot of negative emotion going on there. Fear, anger, anxiety... But when they hit rush hour because they left late and are sitting on a bridge all stressed out and see an airplane hit the building they should have been in, is that from God? It's so hard to know.
Twice since the doctors told us not to get pregnant again, friends have called us with the hope of adopting a newborn. They knew a girl who got pregnant and wasn't ready to be and wanted to know if we would be willing to take the baby in. ABSOLUTELY!!! We never hesitate to say yes. What kind of Christians would we be if we asked these moms to choose life and then didn't offer a loving, secure home for their baby to grow up in. But each time, the mother did not choose to carry the baby. It's hard for us to hear that the choice has been made, not only because we've lost a potential addition to our family, but because I know how lasting the effects of that decision can be. One of my best friends made that choice in high school, and now at my age she still cannot conceive. Here she is 15 years later struggling with her choice and crying every day because of it. My question, though, is - is God trying to tell me 2 kids is where our family is supposed to be? I'm pretty sure He wouldn't use such extreme means to make his point, but it's been known to happen. After all, what did Job teach us but that God cares more for the Spirit than the flesh.
I have hope that God has a plan for me. There are obstacles that I don't understand. His ways are not mine, and I will never understand it all. After everything I've seen, though, I could never turn my faith from the knowledge that he has my best interest at heart, and that he is using me, punctured foot and all, for the exact purpose he created me for.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
A Not-So-Well Oiled Machine
It has been my anti-privilege to work spend the last two hours on the phone with a government agency. Or should I say 6 offices or departments of said agency. You have to take Paper A to Office B, then call Department C to report Change D, at which time they will send you Form F....
We got one of those All-in-One printers this week. Scott hooked it up last night. He ran the print test to make sure all the ink jets were firing. The instructions then said to place the print out on the scanner, and the machine will check the alignment to make sure everything is hunky-dory.
I know a state agency that could learn a thing or two from an $80 Lexmark.
We got one of those All-in-One printers this week. Scott hooked it up last night. He ran the print test to make sure all the ink jets were firing. The instructions then said to place the print out on the scanner, and the machine will check the alignment to make sure everything is hunky-dory.
I know a state agency that could learn a thing or two from an $80 Lexmark.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
A Joyful Noise
I'm so blessed! That's not a novel statement for a mother of two wonderful children. Even when it's almost 10:30 and neither one is asleep, including the 2 year old who will probably be up at 7am begging for Cheerios and to have JoJo's Circus turned on. I just know it's worth it when I have a day like today.
We went to dinner to celebrate Bethany's graduation from the 6th grade. On the way home, we were listening to a CD of Christian songs I downloaded from iTunes. The whole family was singing along to Chris Rice's "Untitled Hymn." Scott and Bethany are pretty good singers, and they really belt it. But even over their joyful noise, I heard a tiny voice coming from the back seat: "sing to Ze-zus...sing to Ze-zus..." It was little Andrew singing along with the song, in real time, not repeating what had already been sung. I was amazed and proud at the same time. Our children's pastor is always talking about how kids "get it" at that age, even if its at their own level. Here was proof. Our little Andrew, who has music coursing through his veins (he's quite the little drummer, and showed off his break dancing skills tonight too, but that's another blog...) was singing praise to the Lord.
Personally, I have a habit of only singing if I'm alone, or drowned out by the radio or the church congregation. Scott tells me that I would sing better if I sang louder. Since I usually sit right behind the Pastor, I haven't quite had the courage to try that in church. I did give it a shot in the car on the way to Bible Study a couple of days ago. I had Third Day's "Cry Out to Jesus" cranked and I was matching the volume. My face all screwed up with emotion, I glanced to the side just in time to see two ladies from my Bible Study group in the car next to me waving frantically and grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats! Sigh...thanks, honey. Really.
We went to dinner to celebrate Bethany's graduation from the 6th grade. On the way home, we were listening to a CD of Christian songs I downloaded from iTunes. The whole family was singing along to Chris Rice's "Untitled Hymn." Scott and Bethany are pretty good singers, and they really belt it. But even over their joyful noise, I heard a tiny voice coming from the back seat: "sing to Ze-zus...sing to Ze-zus..." It was little Andrew singing along with the song, in real time, not repeating what had already been sung. I was amazed and proud at the same time. Our children's pastor is always talking about how kids "get it" at that age, even if its at their own level. Here was proof. Our little Andrew, who has music coursing through his veins (he's quite the little drummer, and showed off his break dancing skills tonight too, but that's another blog...) was singing praise to the Lord.
Personally, I have a habit of only singing if I'm alone, or drowned out by the radio or the church congregation. Scott tells me that I would sing better if I sang louder. Since I usually sit right behind the Pastor, I haven't quite had the courage to try that in church. I did give it a shot in the car on the way to Bible Study a couple of days ago. I had Third Day's "Cry Out to Jesus" cranked and I was matching the volume. My face all screwed up with emotion, I glanced to the side just in time to see two ladies from my Bible Study group in the car next to me waving frantically and grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats! Sigh...thanks, honey. Really.
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