O Praise Him

So... It's been a while!

When I started this blog, it was certainly not with the intention of six months passing before posting again, but you know how life is... between dealing with some losses in my life, another puppy(!), being sick myself and taking care of two sick pups... Life took over!

This is Alex- he's a sweetheart!

And here's Lillie- the result of a day at the dog park!

However, no matter how much life gets in the way, I know that God is always in control. I know that He will not allow anything that gets in the way of His plan for me to touch me, or harm me, or change me. This is not to say that I won't have hardships, and that I won't have trials, but this is to say that if it's in HIS plan for me, I will be OK!

The church service Tony and I attend is known as Pulse; it is a more contemporary service aimed at people in their teens through their 20's and 30's, but the Message is still the same. There are more people wearing jeans and Converses than their are suits and ties, and the music is more guitars and K-LOVE than it is an orchestra and a hymnal, but His word is what is preached. In the front row are three or four boys (I say boys- they look about 22) that fully belong to Him. I love watching them during the worship songs- they are not ashamed to raise their hands for His glory or to go to their knees in prayer. They remind me of another young man, from a YouTube video. It's in the morning in New York City, people are getting their coffees, the streets are wet and puddled from a rain the night before. A young man steps out of his apartment, puts on his headphones and starts to walk. As his music plays and the lyrics start he starts to silently sing along. As the music picks up, so does his response. As he is walking, other people are looking at him but he pays them no notice; he is praising his Lord.

Near the end of the song, powerful in itself, he crosses the street, stops in the median and raises his hands, singing out loud.Cars are passing him, people are walking around him, maybe grumbling about the crazy guy blocking the sidewalk, but he doesn't care. As he falls to his knees and prays, a mother rushes her child past him; cars are trying to make the left turn in front of him; the city keeps moving.

What isn't seen, however, is how he might have affected the people who saw him that morning. What if he was the only reminder of Christ for a passerby, for a driver in a taxi, or for that child that is rushed by his mother?

What is I am the only reminder of Christ for someone in my life, someone that I pass by? What if hearing K-LOVE when my car windows are down, or when I'm humming a tune walking through the halls at school, is the only opportunity for someone to hear that they are loved, that God loves them? I should be as unabashed as those guys in the front pew, but I stay in the back so that when I come in late I don't disturb anyone else, so that only a few people can see me.




You can try to fix your broken empire
Put bricks on a cracked foundation
But you'll be building castles on the sand
There's power in the blood of Jesus
Your father's screaming Just Come Home!
He's reaching out His hands!

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Be Thou My Vision

O Lord of my heart...

My church family here in Lexington is amazing. My husband and I are a part of a fantastic Sunday School class with people that I know with whom we will be friends forever, no matter where we are called. Every time I am able to be around our friends I leave feeling refreshed and energized for the Lord; no matter if we are coming from a movie night, a Bible study, or a trip to Starbucks- He is working in us! 


This morning in church we closed with two amazing songs. The first was one that I was familiar with, even though I didn't start going to church until I was a freshman in college and am SO lost sometimes in regards to hymns! But I really don't think I've ever listened to the words as closely as I did this morning, or it could have been that I actually heard the words instead of just listened to them, ya know? 


What I love about Be Thou My Vision is that it truly is Christ focused. It goes beyond calling Him Emmanuel, and expands on His names, what He really is, with each line: He is our  Vision, the Lord of our Heart, the filler of our best thoughts, our Light for our nights, our Wisdom, THE Word, our Great Father, our Strength and Shield in battle, our Dignities and Delights, our Shelter from the "storms" of life, our Power, our Inheritance, the only High King, our Treasure and Reward, bright heaven's Sun, the Heart we strive after-- the Ruler of all. The hymn tells us what Christ is and what he should be in our lives- our vision, our ruler. 


Then we closed with one of my favorites from Chris Tomlin. I've heard him described or nicknamed as "America's Worship Leader," because his songs are worship driven, worship inspired, and if you have sung a contemporary Christian song, chances are it's one of his! I remember the first time I heard Our God on K-Love, remember tearing up when I heard it because it is so true! 


Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God! 


And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?
What could stand against? 


It is so true though- He is greater, stronger, the Most High and more powerful than anything that will try to stop us. He wins. If we are one of His, He is for us; when we are not one of His, He is STILL with us- He is our Reward as well as our Strength and Shield in battle.  Like it? Retweet it!

Find me here...

Inglenook: 

1. A nook or corner beside an open fireplace.

2. A bench, especially either of two facing benches, placed in a nook or corner beside a fireplace.

Interlude: 

1. An intervening episode, feature, or period of time.

3. In music, a short piece inserted between the parts of a longer composition.

Two weird words, eh? Why make that my title? I think it fits me, and what I think sometimes. This can be a space of relaxing, of getting away, of sitting and collecting my thoughts, of taking an "intervening" moment in my crazy day! Besides, I think in music and in books so I think it fit!

So, I had a friend of mine tell me I should start a blog. I think most people that are told that think, But I have nothing to write about! I started to think about it though, and I really do have stuff to say, but sometimes other people say it MUCH better! Have you ever been listening to the radio (do other people still do that??), watching a movie, or reading a book, when you hear/see/read something that makes the most sense in the world? If when someone asked you a question or you wanted to tell them something, if you could pull up a YouTube video or a Google Books page would you do that? 

I have a hard time answering questions... What do you think about the latest movie? What do you want for dinner? Why do you think that? My mother says that when we were younger and in a gas station or WalMart and she let us pick out a thing of candy or the like, I would look at everything ten times and for as many minutes and STILL not know what I wanted. I am still like that today (except for my Dr. Pepper- there is no question about that!) with most decisions or thoughts. But there are those few things, quotes and lyrics and lines from a movie, that I just want to say- Here, look at this, listen to this song and that will explain everything. 

I think my niche, my inglenook if you will, in this "blogosphere" is to show others what is important to me, and why it is so important that I would put it in writing, put myself out there. 

To start... 

I used to work at the police station at my university. One of my officers came in to the dispatch office one night, rolled me away from the computer, and pulled up this video on YouTube. Three years later, I STILL cry when I see it; my husband tears up every time. It's pretty daggum powerful stuff y'all. 

A skit was performed at WinterFest in Knoxville, TN in '06 and it was set to the song Everything by Lifehouse. The song itself is powerful enough, but to put the skit to it? Man, it is intense. The skit tells the story of a girl who has found Christ and becomes alive, as he shows her the beautiful things he has made- the apples in the trees for her to eat, the flowers for her to smell, the birds and clouds to watch. But when the world's temptations and influences get in the way they block her sight for Christ's love and His creations. She is on the brink of losing it all. Everything. 

But then...

(See, told you it was good!)

She fights back, and Christ is pulling her to Him, and she wants Him so badly, and the world is pulling on her and trying to tear her down and just when the world is about to win He pushes the world back!! (Chill bumps just typing this!!)

"And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You're all I want, you're all I need. 

You're everything, everything."

He really is everything we need, and it's when we forget or ignore Him that our problems are worse. I'm not saying that we won't have problems WITH Him in our lives, but through Him- because of Him- we make it out on the other side. 

Find me here, speak to me.
I want to feel You, I need to hear You.
You are the light that's leading me
To the place where I find peace, again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the life, to my soul.
You are my purpose, You're everything.

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and You give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, You won't let me fall.
You still my heart, and You take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause You're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, You're all I need.
You're everything, everything.

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?
Would You tell me how could it be any better, any better than this?

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?
Would You tell me how could it be any better than this?

Would You tell me how could it be any better than this?

Honestly, what could be better than knowing His love? I can't think of anything. 

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