I Lift My Hands - Chris Tomlin - Lyrics

This song speaks to me right now.  There is a lot going on in the lives of so many of my loved ones, and the prayer list keeps growing with some very difficult things to endure.  God is faithful, though, no matter what. This song speaks about that, and keeping the faith during the struggles.  He is there to help us.  He wants us to pour out our hearts to Him.  He is always there, always faithful, no matter what our struggle.  He waits for us to come to Him, and say here I am, God, hear me and help me.  


Take time to really listen to this song.  Just let God speak to you through this, especially if you are going through a rough time.  Give Him your sadness, your pain.  He wants to be your healer, your comforter.  He wants to hold you up in the tough times, in your times of weakness and troubles.    











Hear the sound of my prayer, 
       when I cry out to you for help. 
    I raise my hands 
       toward your Most Holy Place.
             Psalm 28:2

Bursts of Spring

I spent some time up at Manito Park on a beautiful Spring day.  I call it my therapy session!  I love flowers, and they help me to relax.  I had my trusty companion with me, too, and she enjoyed the Spring day as much as I did.  Funny, I think animals get Spring fever just like we do.

A few of the crocuses are even from my yard.  They sprang to life today, and I had to get a few pictures of their beauty!

Angels Sing By Press Play - Lyrics

Sharing some worship on this Sunday~

Life List vs. Bucket List

I was listening to someone talk the other day about the difference between a bucket list and a life list.  She said the difference is on a bucket list, it's things to accomplish before I die, but on a life list, it's things we want to accomplish everyday to make our part of the world a better place.  A life list is about the really important things in life, it's about what we value, what our values mean to us, and how we live according to those values and our core beliefs.  A life list is about the things we do that will leave a legacy, things we will be remembered for long after we are gone.


Bucket lists usually include some extreme things, that usually only involve the person doing them.  A life list is about helping others, and making a difference in the world.


I never have thought about a bucket list for myself.  I guess when I did, it was more of a life list, because I think of things I want to do in ministry, things I want to do to help out others.  Sky diving isn't a priority to me, but helping someone out who needs it, is a priority.  Bungee jumping never has crossed my mind either, but jumping in to help out a struggling teen, I am all over that, because what I am doing is making a difference in someone's life, hopefully for eternity.  Are there places I would like to visit before I die?  Sure.  However, when I get to the end of my life, I am not going to be sad that I didn't see the New England states in their Fall glory.  I think at the end of my life I will think about who I could have helped more, who I could have been a better friend to, and what ministry opportunities I might have missed.  In order to accomplish a life list, we have to look beyond ourselves, not something very popular in the culture we live in.  We have to look around and see what we can do to enhance our world, the place God put us, and we have to be willing to step out of our box and do something.


One way we can help out our life list is to write down ten beliefs we have that we want to live by everyday, and then actually live them out.  There are plenty of opportunities all around you, if you look.  If you believe you want to help the homeless, don't just sit and feel sorry for them, go work in a shelter, sign up with Habitat for Humanity, or gather some clothes and actually help them.  If you believe that teens need a caring adult that can mentor them, don't just say it, or think someone else will do it, go do it.  You may be the only person in that kids life who truly cares about them.  The things you can do are endless.  God gave each of us special talents and gifts, don't waste them.  We can all sit around and say we should do something, or help someone.  I challenge you to stop saying it and go do it.  


What are your core beliefs?  What do you want to do on your life list?  What are you waiting for, the world is waiting!

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.  Ephesians 5:2

Reverse Thinking

The Sufferings of His Broken Heart

by Max Lucado


Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night.
Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that person? See that solitary figure? What’s he doing? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead?


That’s Jesus. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.


Maybe you’ve seen the classic portrait of Christ in the garden. Kneeling beside a big rock. Snow-white robe. Hands peacefully folded in prayer. A look of serenity on his face. Halo over his head. A spotlight from heaven illuminating his golden-brown hair.


Now, I’m no artist, but I can tell you one thing. The man who painted that picture didn’t use the gospel of Mark as a pattern. Look what Mark wrote about that painful night, he used phrases like these: “Horror and dismay came over him.” “My heart is ready to break with grief.” “He went a little forward and threw himself on the ground.”


Does this look like the picture of a saintly Jesus resting in the palm of God? Hardly. Mark used black paint to describe this scene. We see an agonizing, straining, and struggling Jesus. We see a “man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3 NASB) We see a man struggling with fear, wrestling with commitments, and yearning for relief.


We see Jesus in the fog of a broken heart.


The writer of Hebrews would later pen, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV)


My, what a portrait! Jesus is in pain. Jesus is on the stage of fear. Jesus is cloaked, not in sainthood, but in humanity.


The next time the fog finds you, you might do well to remember Jesus in the garden. The next time you think that no one understands, reread the fourteenth chapter of Mark. The next time your self-pity convinces you that no one cares, pay a visit to Gethsemane. And the next time you wonder if God really perceives the pain that prevails on this dusty planet, listen to him pleading among the twisted trees.


The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you’ll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.

Almost Missed the Moment

I almost got in the way of God.  Almost.  Fortunately, I felt Him tugging away at me, and I surrendered my will for His, and God showed up in a big way.  


We had plans to go to a worship service at our church, mainly music, and a short message by our pastor.  Those plans included someone else.  I changed those plans.  I had a rough day and changed the plans.  The other person said he was ok with it, but about ninety minutes beforehand, he sent me a text.  God was already working on my heart, telling me we all needed to be there.  Text after text kept coming in.  I told my husband we needed to change plans again, he agreed.  He had quite a distance to travel to pick the other person up, and as he left his destination, he prayed for God to clear the way if we were all truly supposed to be there.  He had a minimum of twenty traffic lights to go through, just on the way there.  Every light was green.  It was the beginning of rush hour in Spokane, and traffic flowed continually and smoothly for him, which is extremely unusual.  After picking up our friend, he only was stopped by one stop light and it was a very brief stop.  


The time of worship was great.  It's always fantastic to draw near to the heart of God with several hundred believers.  Our pastor changed his planned message some that morning, and now it was on full surrender and trust, giving up our will for God's, no matter what.  Some things he said hit me hard.  Some things he said were exactly what the person with us has been struggling with for days now, and as our pastor talked, the person next to us started to break.  God was definitely in that place.  I almost messed it up for my will.  The service ended with pastors and leaders praying with anyone who wanted prayer.  The one pastor this person has connected with was heading the opposite direction, but stopped turned around, and immediately grabbed and prayed with my friend.  God, again.  You can say it's all coincidence.  I know otherwise.  I know that God was tugging on my heart four hours before the service began to change my mind.  I know God cleared the path for my husband to pick up our friend.  I know that God put the words in my pastors mouth for myself, and my friend, to hear.  My friend committed his life to Christ last night.  I almost got in the way of that because I had my will that I wanted to happen.  Thankfully, God had other plans and he was persistent in getting those across to me.  God moves, we just have to see it.  In order to see it, we must be willing to listen when he pulls at our heart.  I am glad I listened.  I am thankful I got out of the way, and allowed God to move.