Solomon's wisdom

Ahh...my grandsons. They make me laugh like you would not believe. I am blessed.

"Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children." Proverbs 17:6

The line in the sand..

Last Wednesday, this video was featured on K-LOVE - the radio station I listen to. I felt it was worth sharing. And today being Music Monday makes it even more appropriate! I hope you find it as meaningful as I did...

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player**

An interview with Chris Tomlin

And now for the whole song! Won't it have even more impact now? Enjoy!













Jesus Messiah ~ Chris Tomlin

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves the child." 1 John 5:1

It's done

Well, what I have been dreading for months and months is now done.

Today I ordered my Sweet Hubby's gravestone. Actually, our stone, since we have a joint burial plot. I think it will be beautiful...

On the way home I was praying and praising through the music on the radio. (Thanks K-LOVE!) This song came on and since I didn't post a Music Monday selection, I thought I'd do that today. Call it "Tune Tuesday" if you like!

**Be sure to scroll down and pause my player first!!**

Every Time I Breathe ~ Big Daddy Weave

It's so true - I do feel closer to my Jesus with every breath and He is such a marvelous God!!

In closing, I'd like to share a very special Scripture verse. It's been even more meaningful this past year...and it will be inscribed on our stone.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my Sweet Hubby and the father of my children.

You are missed so very, very much.

But one thing I know for sure - we were most blessed to have you in our lives.

For you

I received unsettling news yesterday. I am clinging even tighter to His Word today...Christ is my solid Rock and He is YOURS too.

This is for you...(don't forget to pause my player)

We Live ~ Superchick

Every day is a gift. Sometimes in the midst of "life" we forget...

So just breathe, live, love. Pray and lean on Him...and your brothers and sisters in Christ who love you.

I wish you peace in the midst of the storm. Believe me - it IS there...HE is there.

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." John 9:3

A breath of fresh air

I've been absent, I know...it's been a long time coming. I've needed to get away; to hopefully relax a bit and restore my mind and spirit.


So, away I went...

San Juan, Puerto Rico

And then...

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI

Then off again...

Samana, Dominican Republic

Then off to...

Labadee, Haiti

And finally...

Home sweet home

Nine nights total. Long days at sea with my Bible and my balcony. Lots of time to reflect and remember...and I did.

Many days, this is all I saw. And it was enough.

Somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

God's creation is magnificent...

"God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:10

And so, my dear friends, I would like to thank you for your faithful prayers that have kept my head above the waves these past 7 months. May God bless you richly.

In closing, on this Music Monday, I would like to leave you with this...

*Remember to scroll down and pause my player before listening*

It is Well With My Soul ~ Wintley Phipps

And that's just the way it is...

Wow...Monday already?! Is it just me or did the past week fly by?

In this post, I'd like to share a bit about our church service yesterday. Pastor Tommy brought forth such a good lesson (as always) that affected me so personally. The title of his sermon was "Finding Purpose in Our Pain." Mmmhmmm...you see where I'm going with this, don't you?! In a nutshell, Pastor Tommy outlined some of the reasons why God allows believers to suffer:

• To strengthen our character
• To teach us obedience
• So that we can comfort others
• To make us more fruitful
• To help us develop an eternal perspective

Oh, how I wish I could convey his message so that you might understand what it meant to me. I am going to be listening to this sermon over and over again, I just know it. And I'll be praying about how to apply the lesson in my own life as I work through my grief and pain. One thing I know for sure...I do not want to be guilty of the sin of self-pity. I do not want to be a "spiritual sponge" - as Pastor Tommy put it - always taking and never giving.

I invite you to listen for yourselves...to do so, visit my church's website, click on the Music & Worship tab at the top. Once you enter the site, click on "podcasts" on the left hand side, scroll down to the sermon for 5/31/09 and click. You won't be sorry...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3

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Oh...you didn't think I was going to leave you without a song on this Music Monday, did you?

One of our associate pastors sang a solo at yesterday's service...and as he sang, it hit me right between the eyes. POW. Regardless of my sorrow, or your suffering, or anything...God is still God. And He is still on His throne. And for that, I am thankful. I look forward to the day when I can bow before Him in adoration at His Throne of Grace...until that day, I'll just continue to praise Him in one of my most favorite ways - with music.

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link**














You Are God Alone ~ Phillips, Craig and Dean

Have a blessed week!

Memories

Memorial Day. A day we set aside to remember those men and women who have given their lives while serving our great nation. That means you and me...we make up this wonderful country called the United States of America and we are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices of many.

Our Pastor preached a wonderful sermon yesterday morning about "then and now...different time and different place." How true. The America of WWII is not the America of today. It was sad to see and hear some of the differences. Some are so subtle that unless pointed out, they slip by unawares. Others, glaringly obvious...

As you go about your day today, please take a moment to thank a Vet. Or the family of a serviceman or woman so far from home. And say an extra prayer for the families of those who won't be coming home. Remember: Freedom isn't free. Today, we honor those who have paid the ultimate price.

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

And since today is Music Monday, I thought the following song was very appropriate.

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link.**

While You Were Sleeping ~ Casting Crowns


Be safe. Be blessed.

It's still Monday, right?

For a few more hours at least, it's still Monday. So there's still time to share this week's Music Monday song with you.

Have you ever given much thought to the fact that this world is geared for two-sies? It's hard being a one-sie in a two-sie world. Believe it. Some days it hits me harder than others. I keep waiting to wake up and feel "normal." And then I realize...this is my new normal. Welcome to life as a one-sie. Can I just tell you - I hate it. *sigh*

This week's song doesn't really have anything to do with the above observation. Except that I heard it on my car radio as I was driving to meet a friend for dinner after work. And thinking that while I'm thankful for my friends, I'd so much rather be having dinner with my Sweet Hubby - even just one more time. I listened to the words of this song and thought, "Yeah Lord, I'm just one little voice down here. One little one-sie voice. With all the pain and suffering in the world, do you hear the sound of my heart breaking?"

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link.**










Hold My Heart ~ Tenth Avenue North

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13

Sometimes it's obvious

There are times when I know - beyond the shadow of a doubt - that the Lord puts people in my path. This past week I have experienced His loving intervention more times than I can count. And some of these encounters have been so special, so unique that there is no way NOT to see the Hand of God and no way that I could NOT be reminded of my Sweet Hubby...as if I needed any reminders. Oh how I needed these new friends this week! They have truly blessed me and I am thankful for them and His love.

"It is not that we are trying to rule over your faith, but rather to work with you for your joy, because you have been standing firm in the faith." 2 Corinthians 1:24