21 days

I can't even stand it. These sweet little faces I get to see in 21 days. I seriously love being an aunt. How can you not love these kids?!?!



Look at those dimples. Seriously. ohmyword.

Welcome to America!

Just read this update on Aaron's blog and I have tears:

Hard to believe I’m actually typing this. Story has arrived in the USA!!!!!! And her last name is “Ivey.” God has worked the miraculous!!! No doubt.

I’m writing this from my phone, so bear with me… Jamie & Story landed in Miami a few minutes ago… Now they go through immigration & customs where US officials will scour through all our paperwork (again) before she’s allowed in. Shouldn’t be any hold ups or problems. Story is still sick. Not sure what’s up. Jamie will take her to doctor asap.

I am in Arkansas and getting on a flight home tomorrow to see my baby girl! I got to see her a few weeks ago and she was starting to warm up to me. Looking forward to seeing her in a carseat in our car tomorrow!!

Amos is still in the process. My heart breaks for my son today. His sister is no longer with him, and I’m sure he wonders if papa is really EVER going to take him home. Keep praying for his adoption process. Since they are not biologically related, they are 2 totally seperate adoptions. He has a ways to go as he’s still in MOI. But that boy will have his day!!!

Praise GOD for all that He’s done and continues to do… And thank you all for sharing in the struggle AND rejoicing!!!

SO thankful for God's provision, His perfect and GOOD plan and His faithfulness.

Story is Coming Home!

Thanking God over and over today! My good friends Aaron & Jamie will finally bring home their daughter, Story, from Haiti!Jamie is on her way right now to pick her up and will be home tomorrow night!
They have been in this process for over 2 years.
Please continue to pray that everything goes smoothly in bringing her back and also PLEASE pray for sweet Amos. He is still in the MOI stage of the adoption. Pray for his sweet little heart as Story leaves to come home.

Heart Corruptions

O God,
May thy Spirit speak in me that I may speak to thee.
I have no merit, let the merit of Jesus stand for me.
I am undeserving, but I look to thy tender mercy.
I am full of infirmities, wants, sin; thou art full of grace.
I confess my sin, my frequent sin, my wilful sin;
All my powers of body and soul are defiled;
A fountain of pollution is deep within my nature.
There are chambers of foul images within my being;
I have gone from one odious room to another,
walked in a no-man's-land of dangerous imaginations,
pried into the secrets of my fallen nature.
I am utterly ashamed that I am what I am in myself;
I have no green shoot in me nor fruit, but thorns and thistles;
I am a fading leaf that the wind drives away;
I live bare and barren as a winter tree,
unprofitable, fit to be hewn down and burnt.
Lord, dost thou have mercy on me?
Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride,
at the false god of self,
and I lie in pieces before thee.
But thou hast given me another master and lord, thy Son, Jesus,
and now my heart is turned towards holiness,
my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to thee.
Help me in all my doings to put down sin and to humble pride.
Save me from the love of the world and the pride of life,
from everything that is natural to fallen man,
and let Christ's nature be seen in me day by day.
Grant me grace to bear thy will without repining, and delight to be
not only chiselled, squared, or fashioned,
but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long,
and lifted from the quarry to the upper air,
where I may be built in Christ for ever.
--The Valley of Vision

Sweetness Happening!

Some exciting things are coming up that I'm really looking forward to...

1. This Thursday night: Derek Webb in concert.
2. November 3rd and 10th I'm heading to Texas A&M to lead worship with the guys at Breakaway. It's supposedly pretty cool. :)
3. November 6th & 7th I'm getting away by myself for a little retreat! Some friends are letting me stay at their "retreat house". It's going to be a time to get some serious songwriting done and to just spend some uninterrupted time with Jesus. It's gonna be so sweet.
4. THANKSGIVING BREAK. Oh man. I cannot even wait. In 37 days I'm heading home to Iowa to visit my family. One of my best friends, Jen, is coming with me. It's going to be LEGENDARY. The last time I was home was 10 months ago. WAY too long.
5. December 8: Shane and Shane in concert. I saw them a few years ago and they are incredible live.
6. February 4-6 is the Verge Conference that my church is putting together. It's a conference that will be focused on how to build missional community wherever you are. Some amazing speakers are going to be speaking including my pastor, Matt Carter and Mr. Francis Chan. Aaron Ivey, the guys and I will be leading worship. SO excited!
7. Recovery. God continues to amaze me at what He is doing through this group. I've been going to Recovery since last January, went through a step study, got a sponsor, still going through the 12 steps...leading worship once a month and now leading an open share group. I cannot even begin to tell you how much this has changed and is changing my life. EVERYONE needs to go through a recovery program. No matter what. DO it. It makes sense. Living life will make more sense. It is so hard, and painful at times. God shows you things that you never even knew existed. Hurts, habits, fears, and pride. But it is so worth it. This community of broken, imperfect, real people has opened my eyes to the reality that we are ALL broken, imperfect messed up people. Some choose to live it out with other people and some people choose to put on a mask of "I've got it all together" while stuffing the mess away.
I'm excited to see how God is growing this group. He is releasing an amazing freedom in His children.

So much goodness. I'm thankful and I'm full. God is good and I am undeserving. Such sweetness.

Grandpa's Funky Shoes

My mom wrote a sweet post on our Things With Wings blog.
My grandpa is 84, has emphysema and is on oxygen 24/7. He can't really do much.
My mom has been amazing as she watches her parents get older and start losing things that were once strong. She serves and loves them constantly. She is being Jesus to them. It's beautiful.
Anyway, my grandpa used to be really crafty. He would make things out of wood, paint, and do all sorts of other things. He hasn't been able to do much of that anymore, but my mom will bring over some little wood pieces for him to paint to pass the time and so that he can be creative again.
The other day my mom got him some new tennies. His old ones were worn out and falling apart. The next time she came over she found this:These are his old tennis shoes! He painted them! How precious is that?!
My grandpa is funky. And they kinda look like some sort of African flag.
Maybe he's African...which could explain my hair.

A Cry for Deliverance

From "The Valley of Vision":

Heavenly Father,
Save me entirely from sin.
I know I am righteous through the righteousness of another,
but I pant and pine for likeness to thyself;
I am thy child and should bear thy image,
Enable me to recognize my death unto sin;
When it tempts me may I be deaf unto its voice.
Deliver me from the invasion as well as the dominion of sin.
Grant me to walk as Christ walked,
to live in the newness of his life,
the life of love, the life of faith, the life of holiness.
I abhor my body of death,
its indolence, envy, meanness, pride.
Forgive, and kill these vices,
have mercy on my behalf,
on my corrupt and wandering heart.
When thy blessings come I begin to idolize them,
and set my affection on some beloved object-
children, friends, wealth, honour;
Cleanse this spiritual adultery and give me chastity;
close my heart to all but thee.
Sin is my greatest curse;
Let thy victory be apparent to my consciousness,
and displayed in my life.
Help me to be always devoted, confident, obedient,
resigned, childlike in my trust of thee,
to love thee with soul, body, mind, strength,
to love my fellow-man as I love myself,
to be saved from unregenerate temper, hard thoughts,
slanderous words, meanness, unkind manners,
to master my tongue and keep the door of my lips.
Fill me with grace daily,
that my life be a fountain of sweet water.

Valley of Vision-The Smell of Old People

I just got this treasure in the mail yesterday. I ordered it used from amazon.com It's old school and it smells like old people. I LOVE it. I seriously smell it all the time.
Is that weird?
Whatever. It reminds me of my grandparents basement.
Last Tuesday at our prayer meeting, Matt read a prayer from this book that completely wrecked me out and I knew that I needed to get this book.
I read this today:

O God, the Author of all good,
I come to thee for the grace another day will require
for its duties and events.
I step out into a wicked world,
I carry about with me an evil heart,
I know that without thee I can do nothing,
that everything with which I shall be concerned,
however harmless in itself,
may prove an occasion of sin or folly,
unless I am kept by thy power.
Hold thou me up and I shall be safe.
Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error,
my affections from love of idols,
my character from stain of vice,
my profession from every form of evil.
May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore thy blessing,
and in which I cannot invite thy inspection.
Prosper me in all lawful undertakings,
or prepare me for disappointments;
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with food convenient for me,
lest I be full and deny thee
and say, Who is the Lord?
or be poor, and steal, and take thy name in vain.
May every creature be made good to me by prayer and thy will;
Teach me how to use the world, and not abuse it,
to improve my talents,
to redeem my time,
to walk in wisdom toward those without,
and in kindness to those within,
to do good to all men,
and especially to my fellow Christians.
And to thee be the glory.

SO good. There are prayers for all topics. What I absolutely love is that the people who wrote these prayers are old guys (Including my man, Spurgeon). They lived a long time ago. The things going on in the world were different, but yet the battle with our souls is the same. The desire to bring Jesus glory is the same.
I love it and I think you should love it too.

Sterling the Super Hero

I don't know this little boy. But I'm praying for him today. A lot. His name is Sterling and he is pretty much a superhero.I have been hearing his story and prayer requests on Twitter today. (again...God uses Twitter. weird.)
He is in surgery right now getting a brain tumor removed. Pray for him.
Here are some specific requests that I got from this guy's blog:

1. A successful surgery. - What’s the definition of “successful” here? Well, according to Roger, one simply where Sterling comes out of it. I know that sounds serious, but that’s because it is.
2. Getting the whole tumor. - The doctor has told them that he expects to get about 85% of it with the chance to get the whole thing. Evidently, there’s 15% that’s in a blind area, and the doctor isn’t willing to risk going into that blind area. Totally understandable. However, the way they’ll remove the tumor, evidently, is by “drilling” into it so that it collapses on itself. Hopefully, the hidden 15% will collapse with the rest so that it can come on out. Roger equated it to a gummy worm being stuck in your kid’s car seat. You pull on it hoping the whole thing comes out, but there’s a chance the end breaks off. So, pray for the whole worm.
3. Good recovery. – They say that kids bounce back a lot better than adults. So, that’s good. And Sterling’s a strong, active kid (as you can tell from how good he is at soccer). So, I fully expect this one to be easy. However, we definitely want the Lord’s hand fully in Sterling’s recovery. They’re expecting a seven-day hospital stay followed by about three weeks at home. However, he could be up and going after a couple of days. There’s just a number of factors on which that depends.
4. A benign tumor. – This is just the beginning of a bit of a journey for Sterling, Roger, Becca and their family. The prayer is that the journey isn’t made any more serious.
5. Strength for Sterling. – I can’t imagine having to process this for myself, much less being a four-almost-five-year-old. It’s a lot to deal with for sure, but I know that with God, Sterling can get through it for sure.
6. Peace for Roger and Becca. – Probably the hardest thing for them to have right now.
7. Guidance and empowering for Dr. Wellons. – This is Sterling’s main doctor, at least the one that’s going to be holding the instruments in the O.R. However, we’re seeking the help of the Great Physician. I want Him to be the one working in and through all the doctors and nurses.

Sterling's dad is on twitter and his latest update says this:
"OR Update: skull cap removed, all going well. Working their way toward tumor (slow process), going under microscope. Confirming U2 playing."

Keep this little guy in your prayers today.

Courrier EP on iTunes. GET IT.

Go now. RIGHT now and get this EP.
Courrier : "Like the Cold of Snow in the Time of Harvest"
These guys are legit. I have been playing this CD over and over in my car since their release party Thursday night.
Get it on itunes. You will love it.

Adoption

My good friend Zach posted a video of a sermon he did on adoption. Here is a clip of an illustration that he gives with his daughter Mya. She is lovely!

Untitled from Zach Nielsen on Vimeo.

New Music --Todd Agnew & Chris Tomlin

New Music out today!!!

Mr. Todd Agnew.
Todd and his family attend my church (Austin Stone). I have gotten the privilege to lead worship with him a few times. Amazing musician, amazing heart for Jesus.
Check out his new CD "Need". He is real and his songs are passionate about the struggles of life and the joy that is in Jesus.
Here is a quote from his website:

"One after another, we learn that we have a real need to be loved, to be rescued, to be redeemed, to be restored. Those are universal needs and they are all met in Jesus. It's a matter of trusting God to help me walk through that...even though I don't know what I'm doing."

Mr. Chris Tomlin.
Chris used to be one of the worship leader at my church before he moved to Atlanta to help start the Passion City Church.
He is releasing a Christmas album, "Glory in the Highest" today! SO excited for this.
Go get some new music!

COURRIER

You will need to check this out.
Some good friends of mine are releasing an EP this week. They are REALLY good.
Check them out and listen to their music www.myspace.com/courriermusic
You can also follow them on twitter www.twitter.com/courriermusic

So here are the details:

EP info: Courrier “Like the Cold of Snow in the Time of Harvest”
EP release Party in Austin, TX: La Zona Rosa, THIS Thursday, Oct. 8th, 8pm, with Jets Under Fire and The Canvas Waiting
EP drop Date: EP will be available on iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, etc., on Oct. 13th.

Seriously don't miss out on this. These guys are the real deal.
They were on the Austin morning news today! Here is the video--

HopeFest

*****HUGE NEED*****

Volunteers are needed for this year's Hopefest. It is a celebration happening in the St. John's neighborhood where booths and resources will be available for the community.
They need 400 volunteers and they currently have less than 50 signed up.
This is 9 days away.

Hopefest is happening on October 10 from 9:30-3pm @ Reagan High School
Go to the website to get more information and to sign up.

Spread the word/blog about it, tweet about it, facebook about it...and SIGN UP TO HELP!!!!!
This is a HUGE deal. Last year they had over 4,500 people show up to this event.
They cannot do this with 50 volunteers.

55 Days until Legendary

The personalized google desktop countdown has been set.
It's official.
55 days.
I will be in Iowa seeing my family and friends for Thanksgiving!!!
I can't wait!!
This trip is going to be a little different. The legendary factor will go through the roof...because...get ready...
One of my best friends, Jen, is coming home with me!!
I'm pretty sure it's gonna get out of control real fast.

I Will Exalt You

I'm loving this today

1 Peter 5:6-7

So humble yourselves under God's strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up. You can throw the weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are His personal concern.
1 Peter 5:6-7

Argyle Socks Meets Monday's Fabulous Moment

oh. my. word.
My sister just sent me this picture and it just might be Monday's Fabulous Moment. My Lily knows how to work the knee socks.
She is truly lovely! I need her now.
I love being an aunt, but not when they are so far away. :(
Here's another cute one...

"Ooo Baby, Here I am..."

So it's Monday morning. Monday's are always hard...after a full day of leading worship on Sunday. It makes getting up to be to work at 8am a little difficult.
Today I've got my ipod in and am listening to some Stevie Wonder.
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" is the song that is waking me up and getting me going!
At one point a little dance move came out of me as I'm sitting at my desk. It happened to be as my boss was coming around the corner. Nice. I don't think he saw me though! haha!
what songs do you listen to that get you going in the morning?!
Let's make a playlist.

Mark Driscoll-Filthy Roman Sponge

I can't stop thinking about this.

Matt Chandler-On His Devotional Life

Exchanging My Inadequacy for Jesus' Adequacy

I read an Elisabeth Elliot devo and this particular one was talking about a friend of hers who was born with no legs. This friend encouraged a family who just had a baby with no arms or no legs. This is what she encouraged them with:

"I am convinced without a doubt that a loving Heavenly Father oversees the creative miracles in the inner sanctum of each mother's womb (Psalm 139), and that in His sovereignty there are no accidents."
"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Creator calls a butterfly. As humanity we see only the imperfect, underside of God's tapestry of our lives. What we judge to be "tragic--the most dreaded thing that could happen", I expect we'll one day see as the awesome reason for the beauty and uniqueness of our life and our family. I think that's why James 1:2 is a favorite verse of min. Phillips' translation put it this way: 'When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends."
"I pray that your roots of faith will grow deep down into the faithfulness of God's Loving Plan, that you will exchange your inadequacy for the Adequacy of Jesus' resurrection power, and that you will be awed as you witness the fruits of the Spirit manifested in your family."

SO good. I love the part about exchanging our inadequacy for the adequacy of Jesus' resurrection power. I'm claiming that today.

Who Reads This Thing?

Who are you?! I want to know. I know there are some readers out there and would love to meet you if I don't know you!
Those of you I know...who are you? Who reads this thing?!
Don't be afraid...let me know who you are!
Leave a comment.
I do my fair share of blog stalking. It's ok.

God is Wooing Us To Heaven

"Heaven is not here, it's There. If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for." --Elisabeth Elliot

{Weepiness & Craziness} welcome to my life

I was weepy yesterday. It sucks. Today is better...I think.
Sometimes my best writing comes from when I'm in these weepy states and sometimes not...so we'll see what comes out.
I'm all about being raw and real lately. So just throwing that out there as a disclaimer.
When God is moving and digging into places in your heart it hurts sometimes. Those places that are still very much alive with self will hurt when God gets after it, there is still life there, it will hurt. He wants those things to die so that He can take that spot and give life back. His life. There is no room for self.
As I reflect on yesterday, there were so many things going on around me and inside of me. It's hard and frustrating to understand why I have days like this. I should be happy, I should be joyful. I generally am that way...so why the tears? Why the sadness? Why this day?
The ups and downs. It's hard.
It makes me start questioning if I'm not trusting God enough, or praying enough, or reading His word enough.
God doesn't really work like that. He doesn't punish based on our efforts to try and DO. I have to remind myself of that.

Titus 3:4-7 "When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life."

God has shown me, through a couple of amazing men, how necessary these times are. These men struggled with depression, the ups and downs, the tears, the not so joyful days.

David (man after God's own heart)-
Psalm 40:1-2 "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along."

My man Charles Spurgeon (one of the greatest preachers in the 19th century)-
"Fits of depression come over the most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy. I note that some whom I greatly love and esteem, who are, in my judgment, among the very choicest of God's people, nevertheless, travel most of the way to heaven by night."
"Any simpleton can follow the narrow path in the light: faith's rare wisdom enables us to march on in the dark with infallible accuracy, since she places her hand in that of her Great Guide."

Joseph Hart (hymn writer)-
Come ye sinners poor and needy Weak and wounded, sick and sore Jesus ready stands to save you Full of pity, love and power I will arise and go to Jesus He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior
Oh, there are ten thousand charms

Come ye thirsty, come and welcome
God's free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance
Every grace that brings you nigh

Come ye wear, heavy laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry till you're better
You will never come at all

View Him prostrate in the garden
On the ground your Maker lies
On the bloody tree behold Him
Sinner, will this not suffice?

God is and has always been faithful. I am the unfaithful one. I'm so thankful that His grace covers over and over and over again.
I'm seeing how He provides in abundance.
I have amazing friends around me who love me so deeply and who encourage me daily. They know how to make me smile and laugh. They know how to just let me cry. They know how and when to pray for me.
I'm so humbled.
The day was full of hugs from God through them.
I got to spend the evening with 4 amazing women who seriously bless my life like crazy. It was the perfect way to end the day.
We went to Charlotte's softball game and at this point Kate had not arrived so it was just Jen, Ro and I...
We were told that we needed to cheer more. So we did. We got real obnoxious and the three of us even did the wave. Several times.
Ro stole my shades and looked all fly...
And she even showed us her pole sliding skills...even though she was afraid of heights.And at the end of the night she ran up to Jen and did this...I almost peed my pants right there in the parking lot when I mentioned something about her booty and she looked at the pic and said...."That girl got donk! I'd be like 'ooo can I have her number?' You gotta send me that pic". I about died.
Ok. not sure how this post started out talking about weepiness and God's love and grace then ended with...well...this.
Welcome to my life. :)

Black in Heaven. Yeah.

Jen and I explain to Ro why it is that we are gonna be black in heaven.
yeah. I said it.

A Man Worth Waiting For

So...here is a real honest post.
I am continually stirred when God starts showing me the condition of my heart.
I am stirred to realness, to vulnerability, to be honest with myself, with others and most importantly and first with God.
I was sharing with a dear friend of mine the other day about how all around me are couples coming together and getting married.
I'm 28. I'm single. With NO one interested.
I am generally very ok with that. I have prayed for God to keep my heart and for Him to keep guys away until the right one comes along and in His timing. I am thankful that He has done that. I've also prayed that He would continue to heal my heart.
During this season of seeing friends come together in marriage, I have also let doubt in. (my friend was quick to say..."doubt is not from God."...OK!!!)
I see these guys who love so deeply and live sacrificially for their girls. I know they are not perfect and they will not be able to love and live perfectly and that Christ will be the only one to satisfy and to give them the ability to love and sacrifice.
I find myself doubting that I will be loved like that. That someone would actually love me and sacrifice for me and want only me.
Enter...the Holy Spirit.
Jesus.
His love is complete. His sacrifice is complete. His desire for me is complete.
This man...whoever he is...will fail me, will not love me and sacrifice for me the way that I yearn to be loved and sacrificed for and desired.
I'm so thankful for Jesus.
I know that He yearns to give me the desires of my heart. He wants to give me sweet gifts. I'm surrendering. Surrendering to His will not mine.
My friend shared this with me in an email:

"Ultimately, its surrender. A 'Thy will, not mine be done' Placing not only our hurts and wrongs in his hands, but also our hopes and our dreams in His hands. He is the God of all hope Romans 15:3 and He cares for us!! He is the perfect Father, who wants to give every good gift to us.
I think when we dwell on His correction a bit too much that it slides over to just seeing Him as our disciplinarian, but we must never forget that He loves us with a love so amazing and unimaginable. He rejoices over us-His precious ones. So the truth is everytime our dream of "him" (the man of our dreams and the whole wedding thing) occurs what if you begin to pray for him and surrender it all back to God?
'God I give this dream to you and know that you can and will provide something so much better than what I can imagine and I just give it back to you. Please lead and guide "him" to your heart. Fill him up with you, Spirit, so that he can walk in a manner worthy of your calling."
As a wife, praying for your husband will be one of the chief things you will get to do to serve him in love. What if we started now!?"

I'm praying for this man, and he is worth waiting for! :)

Rise & Shine

One of our worship leaders, Andy Melvin, recently wrote a new song for the church. We sang it yesterday and I could really feel the Spirit move powerfully through the words of this song...challenging people to step up and be the hands and feet of Christ. Here are the words...

We were once Your enemy
Now displayers of Your mercy
Called from darkness into light
To be the very hands and feet of Christ
So in the Name that saves
Let Your love ignite a flame in us

We've got rise and shine
We've got to rise and shine
The light of the world alive in us
The hope of the world alive in us
We've got to rise and shine

To you repairers of the breach
To you restorers of these broken streets
For every hungry tongue
For all injustice done beneath the sun

For the hopeless and the weary
For the broken and the needy
For Your glory, send Your Spirit
And let it rise

Last week Andy asked me to come over and learn the song...little did I know I showed up to "rehearse" at his recording studio and he had a mic and headphones all ready for me to RECORD! what?!
I listened to the song once and hammered out a bgv part and had it recorded in 45 minutes or so!
They attached the recording to the podcast of Matt's sermon (which you should definitely listen to) from yesterday. Check it out here. It's right under the sermon title "Powerful Witness of the Resurrection".
God is stirring up His church to get up and move. It's challenging and hard but SO good.

Amos & Story

Adoption is happening all around me and I love it. But I hate it at the same time. My heart hurts when I see families who are waiting to get their kids. It just doesn't make sense to me, why it takes SO long.
My good friends Aaron & Jamie are waiting for their kids Amos and Story. I'm praying everyday, "Lord let this be the day. Lord let this be the day."
They have been able to visit them in Haiti several times and it gets harder and harder to leave, I can't imagine.
Aaron just got back and here is a video that he made of some of his time with Amos and Story.
Pray for them to come home SOON.

The E Man

My dear friends Dan & Shadley finally got their boy, Esias, from Ethiopia this summer and they just posted a video on their blog of getting him. Oh, my heart!
So sweet!

Please pray for him today as he had surgery to remove an adenoid and he also has laryngomalacia so they had to clear out his airway so that he can get the proper O2 levels.

Red Head BIG Booty Slap

Jen made me watch this in a coffee shop.
In public.
People were looking at me because I was crying...making noises...laughing SO hard. I'm seriously surprised I did not pee myself.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love this song and that I have my very own booty slap dance. But seriously, this kid has got some moves.
OH man. I'm in pain from laughing so hard.
enjoy....

Wedding Weekend!

Wedding time!!! Hilary is getting married THIS WEEKEND!!! yay!!!
This weekend is FULL. It's going to be so much fun.
We're getting together tonight to get some last minute stuff put together.
Saturday is getting the apartment put together for company coming. Picking up Miss Sarah from the airport. Bachelorette party Saturday night...which will be LEGENDARY!
We have rented out a dance studio and an instructor is going to teach us hip hop routines. On top of that...it's an 80's theme party, so we will all be sporting the coolest outfits.
I will be going as an 80's rocker chick. It will be amazing.
Sunday morning we are having a bridal breakfast up on Mt. Bonnell and then we are going to the 11:15 service of church (PAC) which I will also be singing at.
My friend Christy will get in sometime Sunday afternoon.
The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner Sunday night downtown. Complete with kareoking.
Monday wedding day!
I have taken Tuesday off of work because...well...I will be worth nothing.
It will consist of taking my friends to the airport, sleeping and a massage. It will be lovely.

Precious Faith

Spurgeon Today:

"The Lord trieth the righteous." -Psalm 11:5
All events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause. Out of the golden gate of God's ordinance the armies of trial march forth in array, clad in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war. All providences are doors to trial. Even in our mercies, like roses, have their thorns. Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads. Everywhere, above and beneath, we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it hastens to the earth. The trials which come from God are sent to prove and strengthen our graces, and so at once to illustrate the power of divine grace, to test the genuineness of our virtues, and to add to their energy. Our Lord in His infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon His people's faith that He will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not been like unto fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant grace. Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valour, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage. The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction doth this sharp service for believing souls. While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known. Thus it is well that Jehovah trieth the righteous, for it causeth them to grow rich towards God.

Heartbreaking Foot Washing

This breaks my heart.

(HT Zach)

Oh How He Loves!

Throughout this series that we are doing at my church I have gotten to pray with some people after the service.
It was not planned.
They just came to me.
Several of them.
One girl just kept saying that she felt like throughout worship she felt like I was screaming her name and just knew that she needed to come ask me for prayer. Another girl came up to me with tears in her eyes and said...I just feel like I was supposed to come and talk to you.
My soul stirs when this happens. God is moving. It was no accident that these people came to me and asked for prayer.
I don't feel gifted in that area, but God uses me somehow and I love it. I love lifting hurting people up in prayer.
I felt honored that they would come to me and share what they are struggling with and humbly ask for prayer. Especially when it's someone they don't even know.
Something that I love praying over people is that they would know and believe the extent of God's love for them. Especially in the hurt.
This song is on repeat on my ipod. It's David Crowder's new song.
How He Loves

He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

And oh, how He loves us, oh
Oh how He loves us
How He loves us all

And we are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way
He loves us Oh how He loves us
Oh How He loves us

13 is a Good Age!

My sweet nephew Jackson turned 13 on Sunday! WHAT?!!?! He's a teenager. CRAZY! He is so handsome and so much fun. When I come home next time, he is the one that I am going to be most shocked by! He has now gotten taller than my sister. Which means he will be taller than me. He will for sure be able to take me out.
I'm so proud of Jack. He carries himself well and he is confident in the Lord. He is wise beyond his years and his sense of humor...is...JUST like his dads. We've got a Joe Jr. here folks. :) Love you SO much Jack!

You Will Be Healed

The last two weeks at the Stone have been unbelievable. Matt has been doing a series on confession called "You Will Be Healed".
For some reason the church has set off a tone that to the believer makes you feel as if we have to be put together and that it is not ok to be not ok and then we find ourselves living double lives, covering up sin and putting on fake Christian smiles.
To the unbeliever it completely turns them off from God, Jesus, & the church.
All of that makes me want to vomit.
It's completely opposite from what God calls us to do. He is very clear about confessing our sins not only to Him but to each other, walking in the light and receiving His healing and freedom that comes from that.
The first week of the series I had the honor of being interviewed for a video on my experience with confession. It was humbling...especially with it being shown in front of 5,000 people! There were a couple of other people they interviewed as well and their stories are incredible!
We decided to keep the video private so that we had control over who sees it since it's pretty sensitive material. If you want to see it let me know and I can send it to you.

I would STRONGLY suggest listening to these sermons online. You can listen to them on our website here.

I absolutely love and am SO thankful that God has given me the amazing gift of leading worship at the Stone. These last two weeks have been amazing. I can't even fully explain what I get to experience in leading these people.
God has been breaking hearts over sin, as He has called people to walk in the light, as He has shown His grace, mercy and forgiveness I have sensed an amazing difference in worship.
When God reveals Himself in our brokenness and when we get to the depths of our sin and we start to taste the freedom from that, there comes a new level of worship. I have been sensing that in the worship of God's people at the Stone.
It is truly incredible!

Yesterday we sang the song Healer. A song that drew up controversy awhile back when the writer of the song claimed to have written it while battling cancer. He led worship with an oxygen mask...made a video with Hillsong about all of this...then it came out that it was all a lie. He actually wrote the song out of a desperate cry for God to heal him of his pornography addiction.
Matt shared this story yesterday and it was powerful. This is basically what he said at the end of the story...
"We are going to sing this song. Some of you are probably thinking...why would we sing a song that was written by a pornography addicted sinner? Just like we can read from a sinner like Paul. Like you can listen to a sermon by a sinner like me. Like you can be led in worship by a sinner like Aaron."
God redeems and He uses broken, messed up sinners.
It was a powerful night.
Please, just listen to this series.

"I trust in You
I trust in You
I believe You're my Healer, I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion, I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need, You're more than enough for me."

I Feel Helpless

Again, Katie from Uganda, has moved me to tears with her newest post.
I'm praying for her and for her heart...for God's strength and for these kids. Especially Michael and Patricia. Read this post and be moved by the stats. Be moved by her willingness to love and serve. Be moved to DO something. I don't know what...but something.
I feel helpless. I feel like I want to go over there right now and just be another pair of hands for her.

My Soul Sister

I'm going to brag on my friend, Jen, for just a second.
Not only does she share my love of Africa and black babies, but she has blessed my life over and over again. She makes me laugh...HARD. Like...peeing my pants laugh.
One of the things I appreciate most about her is how she speaks truth into my life. She is quick to be there for me when I need to just be told, "It's going to be ok". Or if I just need her to make me laugh...or talk black to me...by saying...."Gurrl you is ghetto."
I can count on her to just show up if I need a hug.
The other day when I was getting real frustrated with all my ghetto health stuff and starting to get anxious, she sent me this email that made me get on my face before my Maker.
I wanted to share it with y'all cause I think some of you may need to hear this too.

"Somehow, you've got to consider it pure joy, evidence that you are doing great work for God's kingdom. Know that you are worthy of these kinds of struggles. Satan goes to God and seeks permission to burden you with pain and exhaustion and God says, "go ahead and test her because I know her heart and she's mine. She will not stop praising my name." God doesn't need your body, friend, He needs your heart. that's all. Keep praying. Don't let fear in. Don't let it reside in any part of your being. He's got this."

yeah. take that in.
Love you Miss Jen.

I Think I Need Africa

My friend Kristin told me about this amazing woman. She is 20, single, living in Uganda and has adopted 13 girls and completely trusting in Jesus. Her life is amazing.
Kristin got the opportunity to go over the recently and got to photograph her life there.
She has 13 kids, and has over 400 kids that depend on her for care.
She writes the story of how she got to this place in life on her blog here.
Here is a post of pics of her girls and asking for prayer for each of them by name. AHH they are beautiful!!!
I'm pretty sure I might just name my daughter Zuula someday.
Kristin did a beautiful job taking photos. She put together a slideshow that you can see here.
Katie will be posting it on her blog in the next few days too.
God is stirring in my heart something crazy about Africa and it's not just cause I want black babies. Yeah...I said it.
I went to an Africa meeting on Tuesday night with Jen. I pretty much cried through the entire thing. Ok...not the entire thing, but for sure during the slideshow of pictures.
I'm not sure what all of this is, going on in my heart. But I think I should go. For a couple of weeks at least. I don't know. I need to be daily on my face about it.
My heart is drawn to the beautiful people there. Particularly the poor, orphans and widows. I just want to love on them like crazy.
I can't shake it and I get messed up every time I hear about it or see pictures.
Seriously. I need Africa.

Quotes of Sweetness

Lily quote that my sister just posted about:
"Wouldn't it be fun to grab a cloud and make a sheep out of it?"
OH my heart!

Jill posted about this sweetness she overheard from Will and Sam:
Will is buttoning Sam's shirt for him and Sam says, "Do you think I have talent?"
Will: "EVERYbody's got talent. Yours is being...cute."
Sam: "I think my talent is eating fast."

I LOVE these kids. I'm needing them...all of them. All 6 of them please.

My Love

Here is my lovely. I miss her terribly. We need to have some girl time...STAT.I love you sweet Lily Margaret!

Nothing Compares To You

Here is a video of one of our worship leaders Andy Melvin and his band. I get to lead with them every once in awhile and it's always such an honor. They are all amazing guys who love Jesus and love to worship. This song is one of Andy's originals. Nothing Compares to You. SO good!
Enjoy...and get a glimpse into what worship is like at the Austin Stone!

Waiting

I read this on Andrea's blog today.

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you. God says, 'I know the timing here, I'm longing too. When your prayer request waits, you're longing...and so is He! If He's longing and waiting, there is something the wait is for. There will be a wait and a wait and a wait, and suddenly there will be a whirlwind answer with such velocity, it nearly blows your wig off! He'll come swiftly. You can wait and long, but do not fret." -Beth Moore

Guess Who Turns 2 Today!

Someone very special is 2 today!
My sweet nephew Max. Happy Birthday sweet boy!

The McRae's-Pray for them!

The McRae's need your prayers.
Here is a little paragraph of what this story is about:

Monday June 29th, 2009 began like every other day, and ended like one we could have never imagined. Our daughter Kate was taken to the Dr. for tremors in her right hand. We proceeded to Phoenix Childrens Hospital for a stat CT of her head. At 5:30 I, Holly, Kate’s mom, was taken into a room alone and told Kate had a massive tumor on the basil ganglia portion of her brain. I called her dad and our journey has begun. It’s a journey we never would have chose to be a part of, but was chosen for us, and our sweet Kate.
This is the first video they did:

Here is an update:

Here is a video of pictures put to a song that Audrey Assad wrote for this sweet little girl called "Little Light"

Little Light

Audrey Assad

Look at all the angels watching you
They’re singing songs that we have never heard
Their voices ring like bells over the mountains
Oh, if only we could hear their words
God is near, little girl.

Your eyes are brilliant,deep sky blue.
Your quiet wisdom is an evening song.
The angels must be breathless at your beauty
Like the world catches its breath before the dawn.
God is near, little one.

And Jesus bends to hear you breathe;
His tender hands are holding you tonight.
His heart is ravished when you look at Him,
and oh, the endless mercy in His eyes;
God is here, little light.

For current updates visit their Caring Bridge website.
PRAY!

***if you can't see the videos go here.***

I'm a Winner!

I just found out I won a free giveaway! I never win anything! It just made my day!

This new blog will make your day. It's done by two of my fabulously creative friends K & J. They started this blog to share their fun ideas about home decorating and anything else fun and fabulous. They are dear friends of mine and I miss them terribly! I'm so glad that they have this blog. They are beautiful and their homes and ideas are beautiful. Go and check it out and give them some love!
www.homageblog.com

He Is the Physician, He is the Master, He is the Head

I read this, this morning. I love it. I think God has a sense of humor, and I just had to smile!
I've been dealing with some weird headaches and I went to a neurologist yesterday. Next step...MRI of the brain and neck. We are expecting to see nothing crazy...it's just something that needs to be done to make sure there are no "surprises". But it still kinda freaks me out.
So...I loved reading this, it's from Charles Spurgeon:

"I know their sorrows."-Exodus 3:7
The child is cheered as he sings, "This my father knows"; and shall not we be comforted as we discern that our dear Friend and tender soul-Husband knows all about us?
1. He is the Physician, and if He knows all, there is no need that the patient should know. Hush, thou silly, fluttering heart, prying, peeping, and suspecting! What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter, and meanwhile Jesus, the beloved Physician, knows thy soul in adversities. Why need the patient analyze all the medicine, or estimate all the symptoms? This is the Physician's work, not mine; it is my business to trust, and His to prescribe. If He shall write His prescription in uncouth characters which I cannot read, I will not be uneasy on that account, but rely upon His unfailing skill to make all plain in the result, however mysterious in the working.
2. He is the Master, and His knowledge is to serve us instead of our own; we are to obey, not to judge: "The servant knoweth not what his lord doeth." Shall the architect explain his plans to every hodman on the works? If he knows his own intent, is it not enough? The vessel on the wheel cannot guess to what pattern it shall be conformed, but if the potter understands his art, what matters the ignorance of the clay? My Lord must not be cross-questioned any more by one so ignorant as I am.
3. He is the Head. All understanding centres there. What judgement has the arm? What comprehension has the foot? All the power to know lies in the head. Why should the member have a brain of its own when the head fulfills for it every intellectual office? Here, then, must the believer rest his comfort in sickness, not that he himself can see the end, but that Jesus knows all. Sweet Lord, be thou for ever eye, and soul, and head for us, and let us be content to know only what Thou choosest to reveal.

The Blind Side

I'm gonna need to see this movie...

Here is the story behind the story...

Lots of New-ness

Ok. Ok. Ok. I've been HORRIBLE with my blog. I'm sorry!
LOTS of stuff goin' on. Lots of new-ness.
To celebrate that, I have a whole new look with my blog. Hope you love it!
So...I have a new roommate and about to have a new apartment.
It makes me very sad...but very happy.
Hilary moved out :(
Dana moved in!:)
We are moving this weekend into a new apartment that I'm really excited about.
So my life has consisted of lots of packing, sorting, getting rid of stuff and stressing out.
Lots of other crazy life stuff going on too.
I'll try and be better about posting...I keep sayin' that....but seriously.

Boring.

My blog has been BORING lately. I apologize for all you faithful blog readers. I've been slackin' big time.
Totally lame, I know.
I want to do better. Post more pics, more video, more stories, more randomness.
It will happen. Not sure how...but it will happen.
I feel like it needs a new look too.
Anyone have any ideas on how to make this blog better! ?
The look...the content...give me ideas!

Some Spurgeon Love

A word from Charles Spurgeon--
"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."-Exodus 14:13
These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in His love and faithfulness. Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine flat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time. Precipitancy cries, "Do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once-we must do it so we think-instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything. Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle." But Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands. "Stand still"; keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward."

This May Just Need To Happen at My Wedding Someday.

Why do I feel like I could see this happening at my wedding someday?!?!
When the bride came in...I totally cried. Not sure why. Whatevs.
Jill, Laura...Deal with it. You will get your groove on.

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

It's hard to say goodbye. The Brown's are headed back to Iowa and I'm back at work. :( It has been such a sweet time having them here.
I'm getting used to family being here every other month. So September is coming up...who's next!?!?!
We have had so much fun from the Wildlife safari, girls night, bat cruise, barbeque w/ the Cole's & swimming, church, museums, sea world. It's been a full trip and so much fun!
Max was really starting to warm up to me...last night. We had a fun time playing the laughing game together. It was hilarious.
Sea world was excellent. Hot...but lots of fun. Super cheezy, but fascinating. I really want my own sea lion. They are wonderful.
We got completely soaked during the Shamu show. We were in the splash zone, and thought we would just get a little wet. We were completely drenched. With fishy salt water. I smelled like fish and had soggy pants the rest of the day.
We went on this little kid/family roller coaster and Sam kept calling it the "Shampoo" ride, instead of the "Shamu" ride. It was very cute.
We stayed at a hotel last night in San Antonio and I got to share a bed with Sam (5 yr old) I woke up at one point in the middle of the night to him laying completely horizontal in the bed. He is not a very small 5 year old boy either. I finally got him situated back in bed. In the morning I woke up to his nose touching my nose and his eyes wide open!! He give me a kiss on the lips and threw his arm around me! Oh my heart. I love this little boy! He likes to snuggle. I do believe there was one whole half of the bed that was not being used.
There are lots more stories and pics that I'm sure we'll post at some point.
Gotta catch up on work.

Michael Jackson Funeral-Zach Nielsen

Good post and gets you thinking, from my friend Zach.
Check it out here.

Leading & Struggling-Aaron Ivey

My friend, Aaron, just posted a sweet blog that y'all need to check out. Especially if you are a worship leader.
Check it out here.

Hebrews 13:5

Loved this tonight:

Hebrews 13:5b (amplified version) "[God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]"

New Goal=The Moonwalk

No matter how creepy Michael Jackson was...you can't deny that he is a musical genius. He has taken over my playlists and I'm determined to learn the "Beat It" dance. I found myself tearing up during "Man in the Mirror" and I found myself trying the moonwalk to see if I could do it. (I can't) That's my new goal. Two goals in life right now...
1. The Beat It dance
2. The Moonwalk
My sisters got out our old Barbies the other day in hopes that Lily would be interested...not so much. BUT my sisters were very interested. They sent me some pics and in there was this little goodie...It's our Michael Jackson barbie doll, and yes...he's pantless.

Walter Just Made My Day

I'm sorry, but this is stinkin' hilarious. I love this show and Walter just made my day.

My Morning Playlist

My playlist (on shuffle) this morning is kicking me in the pants.
Some days are just hard. I don't know why. Some days I just get sad and I don't really know why. Today is just one of those days. It's one of those days that I have to cling harder and harder to my Love. I'm thankful that God never lets me go.

Here are some things hitting my soul this morning from my playlist:

"When hope is lost I call You Savior
When pain surrounds I call You Healer
When silence falls You'll be the song within my heart
And I will praise You I will Praise You
When the tears fall Still I will sing to You
I will praise You Jesus praise You
When the laughter fails to comfort
When my heart aches, Lord are You there.
When confusion is all around me
And the darkness is my closest friend
Still I'll praise You Jesus praise You" --When the Tears Fall by Tim Hughes

"Oh how many times have I broken Your heart
Still You forgive if only I ask
And how many times have You heard me pray
Draw near to me.
Everything I need is You
My beginning my forever
Everything I need is You" -- All For Love by Hillsong United

"Lord I wanna yearn for You
I wanna burn with passion over You
And only You
Lord I wanna yearn for You
I wanna burn with passion over You
And only You
Lord I wanna yearn." -- Yearn by Shane & Shane

"In the chaos and confusion I know You're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won't delay
This my song through all my days.
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord" -- None by Jesus by Hillsong United

"I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew" -- Love Me by JJ Heller

"The fullness of Your grace is here with me
The richness of Your beauty’s all I see
The brightness of Your glory has arrived
In Your presence God, I’m completely satisfied
For You I sing I dance
Rejoice in this divine romance
Lift my heart and my hands
To show my love, to show my love
A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You
Of deep deep love, yeah it’s filling up the room
Your innocent blood, has washed my guilty life
In Your presence God I’m completely satisfied" -- Divine Romance by Phil Wickham

My Beloved

My friend Andrea put this on her blog today.
The beautiful people in this video are from Botswana Africa.
OH MY HEART! It makes me want to get on a plane and go there now.

The song that is playing is "My Beloved" by Kari Jobe
Here are the lyrics...it's a beautiful song.

You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with Me, my love

Under My mercy come and wait,
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you, my child

You're beautiful to Me, so beautiful to Me

I sing over you My song of peace
Cast all your cares down at My feet
Come and find your rest in Me

I'll breathe my life inside of you,
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of My strength

I'll take you to my quiet waters,
I'll restore your soul
Come rest in Me and be made whole

You're My beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with me, my love

This is speaking to my heart today.

Thank You Jesus, that You call me Your bride, Your beloved, Your love. You sing over me with delight. You call me to Yourself and You take me away to the depths of You. Thank You for breathing life into me, thank You for hiding me in Your strength and for making me whole and complete. You are my Comforter, my Restorer. You look at me and You see a pure, lovely, beautiful child. Thank You for reminding me of my beauty in You. You call me beautiful. Thank You beautiful Jesus.

Colossians 1

Loving these verses today (from the message translation):

"Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating."

Getaway Weekend...Please?!

I have been yearning for a getaway.
A getaway by myself to somewhere beautiful where I can sit and read my bible, play my guitar and write songs. I have so many ideas in my head and I am having a hard time focusing on sitting down and putting it all together.
How beautiful would it be to get away and spend a weekend writing, reflecting, praying, reading, worshiping by myself! I would love it!
Several people lately have asked me when I'm going to record my own CD. What!?
It's been on my mind. Along with that come all the insecurities that like to creep in and grab hold of me.
I'm learning that I'm completely powerless over these. There is nothing that I can do to battle these. BUT GOD is completely powerful over them and HE gives me the ability to speak HIS truth to these lies and insecurities.
So...I'm praying and asking God to show me what He would want. I'm asking Him that He would fill me with confidence in the gifts and abilities that He's given me.
Would love it if He opened the door to record my own CD.
But first...I need a getaway weekend.