The angel by my side

And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there.
Matthew 18:20 MSG

This is where I was last night - along with my good friend, JJ! Tell me...does it get much better this side of Heaven than to be praising and worshiping along with 10,000 brothers and sisters in Christ??!!

And through it all, I had an angel by my side. My friend JJ. She has always been a blessing in my life, but especially so since I lost my Sweet Hubby. Boy, oh boy, has she shown what she's made of! There will never be enough words in my vocabulary to tell her how grateful I am that she's in my life.

One of the artists last night was Francesca Battistelli. When she sang this song, all I could think of was how thankful I was for the "angels" in my life. And most especially the one sitting right next to me. (Who also happened to be celebrating her birthday!!) So, since it is Music Monday - I wanted to share the song with you and also put it up to thank JJ for her company last night, for her friendship all these many years and for all the ways that she has actively lived out Proverbs 17:17 in my life.

*Please scroll down and pause player before watching video*
(just a note: some of the spelling/lyrics in this video are incorrect, but...oh well!)

Happy Birthday plus one, JJ! It was a wonderful night - even better than last year's WinterJam! And God willing, I'm already looking ahead to WJ2012 with you by my side!!

A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 AMP

Just You and me

It's almost 2 a.m. and like a lot of nights - most nights - I'm awake. Praying. Tonight (this morning?) I did something a bit different. I turned on Pandora radio on my phone...just a little soft music in the background while I gathered my thoughts. Of course, as happens so often, the music became a beautiful conduit for my conversation with our Creator.

These past few days have been filled with prayer requests. Illnesses, impending death of a friend of a friend, financial struggles...and with each day I add to my journal and take these concerns to the Throne Room - seeking His grace, mercy, peace, healing - on behalf of others. Many times I just ask Him to help me know what to say (and sometimes what NOT to say as well!).

Tonight, as I was lying there just...listening...a song came on. It was perfect. A prayer unto itself. I love that. And I wanted you to know - to share it with you.

*Please scroll down and pause player before watching video.*

Goodnight. Sweet dreams. Know that you are always in my prayers.

I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.
Psalm 62:1 NLT

Unchanged **updated 3/13/11

As we lift up and prayerfully surround all those impacted by today's horrific earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant radioactivity issue in Japan, as well as those affected by the subsequent tsunami in the Pacific region, let's remember that the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow is still on His throne. He is unchanged! Amen! May we see His glory shine through the dark days ahead!

*Please scroll down and pause player before watching video*

The Red Cross has set up a website to help aid in connecting loved ones. That address is www.redcross.org./safeandwell

Are you able to do a little bit to help financially? Here are just a few suggestions:

Text the letters REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross or visit their website at www.redcross.org

Text the letters JAPAN to 50555 to make a $10 donation to Global Living.

Text the letters JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation to the Salvation Army.

Text the letters TSUNAMI to 50555 to make a $10 donation to Convoy of Hope.

Text the letters WAVE to 50555 to make a $10 donation to World Relief Corp.

***I had a representative of Hope Letters make me aware of their effort to bring *HOPE* to the school children and relief workers in Japan*** Please read the following excerpt from their website:

Hope Letters is a voluntary online initiative to collect words and letters of hope aimed at a community (i.e., school children, emergency workers, or the public at large) and deliver them in their local language in a practical method. Hope Letters aims to rely on volunteers to translate messages into the language of the recipient and then use local organizations to deliver the electronic or paper messages, because Internet and computer access may not be available.

Hope Letters started on March 11, 2011 in response to the 8.9 earthquake that hit Japan and the ensuing massive devastation. from hopeletters.wordpress.com 2011

I *hope* we can ALL take a few minutes to visit their website to send messages to the children and aid workers in Japan. Amidst the devastation, think how much words of HOPE could mean to someone who may have none, or be running on close to empty...

Here is their website: http://hopeletters.wordpress.com/

And my thanks to the person who left me the comment letting me know about this wonderful work! God bless you and the volunteers making this possible!

Facebook has a Disaster Relief Page which has some suggestions as well...check it out, if you Facebook.

Let's all do *something* - we are the Body of Christ!!

There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
Luke 21:11 NLT

Where's the sin?

Isn't it interesting how we're all so different? We're all born with our own personalities and go on to be further shaped by our upbringing and life experiences...

If we're Christian and in active fellowship with other Christians, then we're further influenced by them as well. Hopefully, the influence is sound and of a good, kind and godly nature. But...what if it isn't?

I was in this position yesterday. Listening to someone cry out about issues within their church that they knew were not biblical...knew were far from how Christ would want the Body to act on His behalf. It's painful to listen to. I'm absolutely sure it's painful to have to wrestle with. I am praying for this couple. I know that the Lord will put them where they're supposed to be - whether they're already there and will effect change from within or be it someplace else. Can I ask that you pray for them too? Names aren't important...we know that! And besides - I'm sure there are (unfortunately) more people just like them would could use prayer about this very thing. So, maybe we should just lift them all up...

And while we pray for them...I chose this song for today's Music Monday selection. This was one of the issues raised during our conversation. It's no sin to be poor. Or homeless. Or hungry. We are all called to help. We ARE His Body.

*Please scroll down and pause player before watching video*

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
Matthew 25:34-46 NLT

A smidge early

Okay, I know it's not Spring...yet! I'm just sooo tired of Winter - and I know I'm not the only one! But Spring will be here in just a few more weeks, my friends!

And the bees sure do make me smile! How about you?

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT