Friday Fave Five: Celebrating 14

In celebration of my oldest turning 14 this week, I thought I would share 5 recent favorite things about my son.


Please excuse this proud mama as I brag on my son a bit...



1. free laptop: Even at 14, my son's ability to understand electronics, computer programming and technical things is beyond me. Just recently he was given a laptop that was not working. It's owner bought a new one and gave the laptop having trouble to my son for parts or whatever he chose to do with it. After just a few hours, would you believe my boy had that thing fixed and working?!

Since it's previous owner had already replaced it, he let my son keep the one he had fixed. My son now has a working laptop and has moved his computer programming projects to it instead of the old desktop he had been using.

2. MOPS and toddlers: One Friday a month the private school my son attends has the students do community service. They can choose from a variety of activities. My son chooses to help with childcare for a local MOPS program. He consistently chooses the 1-2 year old's. He was choosing this age even before our little guy came into our family last year.

Just recently he shared that one little girl was using sign language and he was able to communicate with her and help meet her needs since he knew sign because we were also using it in our house with our little guy. He's basically 6ft. tall but so good, gentle and attentive with those little ones.

3. Track: During his elementary years my son played soccer. That has come to be his sport of choice. However, to now play soccer would require playing in the city league which is beyond the ability of our budget. He informed us just recently that he has decided to go out for track. He doesn't seem to mind running (another area he and I are completely different). I am eagerly looking forward to watching him compete athletically in this way.

4. GPA and recognition: This last week the school had an awards chapel. He received recognition in each class but one. He is also on the scholars list with a GPA of 3.95. We have always held the belief that our children doing their very best is more important than the actual grade they receive.

However, when it is the child's personal goal to enter high school with a 4.0 GPA, they are already thinking of college and scholar-shipping on grades, and they take the initiative to push themselves a bit harder... you can't help but celebrate loud and long with them at working so hard and being so close to such a goal.

5. Morning Rising: Another area I have really noticed him mature and take responsibility in is getting up in the morning. He sleeps hard and has a very difficult time waking to an alarm. At the beginning of this school year I was still waking him, noting that it didn't appear he was making personal effort to wake himself before then.

We changed the practice after Christmas. I no longer wake him. He is completely responsible to get himself up on time. If he doesn't and he is late, then he has to live out the consequences.

As a mother this has been more difficult than I envisioned. On some mornings as the time passes and he is not up, it has been all I can do to not go in and wake him. But I haven't.

He is getting himself up. Some mornings are much more rushed than others, but he is taking responsibility for himself.

He is growing and maturing into such an incredible young man. I am watching it happen right before my eyes and I couldn't be more proud... and blessed...
~~~~~~~~~~

Head to Susanne's to see what things were favorites to others this week.

What were favorites in your week?

Just to be close

This is peanut. She was insisting that she be on my lap. No, she was insisting on being in my face. Which is manageable, except when I am needing to do other things!

Numerous times I would put her back down. Numerous times she would jump right back up.

After this repeated routine, I realized it had stopped. I looked down and this is what I saw.


She had plopped down on the hard wood floor right beside me. Her back was right up against the leg of an end table. She was actually laying on the floor. That hard, cold floor. It was as if she was trying to say, "I just want to be close to you". And she made sure she was... regardless of the cost.

I paused to consider. How often do I want to be so close to God, to rest in his lap, to spend some time with Him... that I am willing to sacrifice a bit of what I consider comfort in order to be near Him?

The good news? He never places me out of his lap. When I don't find myself there it is because I have climbed down, not because He set me aside.

When He sees me willing to sacrifice comfort, He scoops me up into His loving arms and holds me ever so close. He loves to "love" on me. He will do the same for you.

The time to be near Him does not magically appear. I must be persistent, purposeful, intentional and determined to make it happen. Just as Peanut was to be on my lap.

He is there waiting for me. The question is... what am I willing to give up, to sacrifice, to do... just to be close to Him?

Let's Go Shopping

My heart had been heavy for several days. I now have a much lighter heart.

Garment of Praise
Praise Chorus taken from Isaiah 61:3
By David Ingles

Put on the garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness
Lift up your voice to God
Praise with the Spirit
And with understanding
Oh magnify the Lord

I was wearing a spirit of heaviness but have since put on my garments of praise. Words reminding me of our loving Heavenly Father sent me shopping. It was time for some new clothing. My spirit of heaviness was becoming more than I could handle. I sensed I was losing strength.

I have been reminded where my strength comes from. It is from quieting my heart before God and being confident of what I know of Him and His promises. Again that has proven true.

Strength to face today. This moment...

Isaiah 30:15 (NLT)
In quietness and confidence is your strength.

Isaiah 30:15 (Msg)
Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on Me.


So, I went shopping. (What else is a girl to do when things get tough?)

I have found garments of praise... and they are absolutely lovely! Come shopping with me!! Let's don garments of praises together!


Psalm 57:7 (NLT)
My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!

Psalm 108:1 (NLT)
My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!


What garment of praise is filling your heart today?

Will and Desire

"Lord, if what I ask for does not please You, neither would it please me. My desires are put into Your hands to be corrected. Strike the pen through every petition that I offer that is not right. And put in whatever I have omitted, even though I might not have desired it had I considered it... not as I will, but as Thou wilt"

-- Charles Spurgeon

Renewed Surrender... Inviting Rain

Things seemed to be going as well as could be expected. Of course there were bad days intermingled in with the good, but overall it was manageable. Almost as if on auto pilot.

Then it happened. It was if we hit a wall. Looking back I notice that I probably saw it coming. I should have predicted it. Maybe I just didn't want to admit it. Perhaps I believed ignoring it would make it not be so.

Reality hit. My first reaction was one of despair, disappointment and hopelessness.

I had a good cry. I was honest with God. I got to the other side. I renewed a surrender of my will for His, to be used as He saw fit to bring glory and honor to Him alone.

I previously made the decision to no longer go into all of the details in this public forum of my daughter's situation and difficulties related to her brain injury. However, I will share generally. It helps to explain the world my heart is facing in the days ahead.

Once again...it is time to get busy. It is time roll up my sleeves and get to work. It is time to straighten, stand up tall and be strong marching forward.

I have made phone calls. I have made appointments. There will be more evaluations for my daughter. The paperwork has arrived to be completed. There are decisions to be made.

Renewed surrender. Inviting and experiencing rain.

Experiencing a Holy God worthy of all praise in the midst of it. To Him alone be all the glory.



Bring the Rain
By Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty




Head over to Shawntele's to see what others are saying about the music that is filling their days.

Friday's Fave Five: A Busy Week

Good Friday morning! Feel free to sit back, put your feet up and stay awhile.

The air is crisp, the frost is still present, but the sun is shining!

A beautiful morning as I say goodbye to a busy week. A beautiful morning as I usher in a family filled weekend.

Yes, a good Friday morning. As I look back, here are five of my favorite things of this past week.


1. Scripture Recognition: We had the Christian radio station on as we were driving about town, the children and I. As a song was playing my son asked, "Mom, isn't that song a verse in the Bible?" Yes, it was.

My heart smiled as my son recognized God's own Word that day without prodding. We then began to list off other songs we knew that were Scripture to music. An encouragement that God's Word is hiding in their hearts, just sometimes deeper than I see.

2. Celebrating Babies: Attended a baby shower for a friend. Their daughter is so excited about her baby brother coming in just weeks, as we all are.

3. Community Helpers: I spent a day at the preschool of our church. Each year they do a unit on community helpers. During that time, I dress in my nursing scrubs and gather my nursing supplies.

I talk to the 4 year old classes and share my "toys" with them. They then play doctor/nurse themselves with toy medical kits, dolls, phones, etc. It is always so much fun for me, especially as their eyes widen and a smile appears on their face as I help them listen to their own heartbeats.

4. Singing and Sleep: One evening this week I listened in the quiet of the living room as my daughter put herself to sleep singing out songs to the Lord with the radio. I can't think of a greater focus when entering into a night of sleep.

5. Modern Day Miracles: There is nothing quite like faithfully praying for a friend which allows you to be just a small part of such a greater miracle for them. What an honor.
~~~~~

Head over to Susanne's to see what things were favorite's for others.

What things in your week became favorite's for you?

Conversing with a Teenager

My oldest son's birthday is next week....


Me: "What do you want to do for your birthday?"

Son: "Probably go to the Buffet."

A slight moment of silence and then, as serious as can be,

Son: "Oh, you mean other than food?"....

Spoken like a teenage boy!

Seasons of the Heart

Seasons of the heart. I believe we all go through them...


There is cold in the winter, sometimes very bitter, bone chilling, frost biting cold. There are hazardous conditions for driving. There are the endless days with no apparent sunshine. There are days that are shorter and shorter with more darkness than light.

Winter can be a hard time of year, but at the same time so very beautiful.


The winter snow in the early morning as it glistens off of the trees. The snuggling up in winter gear for a brisk walk in the cold, crisp air. The gentle falling snow outside the window while one is curled up inside with a nice cup of coffee, a good book, or family gathered around games.

That is where I find myself, winter in my world and winter in my heart.


Although the winter of my heart is feeling long, cold, dark and lonely... be assured that there are also beautiful things occurring in this winter of my heart.


I can say that as the wind and snow are swirling and howling in my heart, He is sitting beside me wrapping me in His arms. I can assure you that though I must venture into the bone chilling, bitter cold situations of life, that He is bundled up beside me leading the way through the deep snow, giving me His footsteps to walk in so the snow of my heart isn't quite so deep and the walk is a bit easier. He is lighting the way one step at a time.

When the days are longer in other seasons, it's easier to see farther ahead and be prepared. In the dark days of winter, it is virtually impossible to see ahead of the path and prepare. It's just too dark at times.

I must learn to be content to trust His light one step ahead of me. I must give up the desire to be in control of what I see coming on the path. I must learn to trust that He sees it coming and is clearing the way for me.



I almost feel the need to apologize, and yet, not so much. For you see, I know spring is coming, to my world and eventually to my heart! It always does!!

The flowers, the green grass, the crisp mornings with warm afternoons, the burst of energy, the sweet smell in the air, the ability to be outside more... it is coming.

I will be able to see the wonderful effects of spring, the smile of my heart, the excitement to get going again, the revelations of what the cold, long winter has accomplished. (The colder the winter the less bugs in the spring and summer!! I'm not one much for bugs)

When spring comes, I will be able to reveal the "bugs" in my life that God has taken care of due to my winter. I will be able to share how and where He has walked this path with me. I will be able to show the new insights I learned while sitting and being quiet in my winter, including... learning to sit and be quiet.

He is taking this place my heart is in and teaching me new truths about Himself, His ways, and His character. In the process I am reminded of His promise, spring will come. It always does.

It is the next "season of the heart".

A Glimpse of Love

As soon as we arrived home from church he went right out the back door. It was a cold day. He had not taken his coat to church. He did not bother, even now, to put it on before heading out.

I stood at the kitchen window observing. At first I thought nothing of it. It was not uncommon to do an afternoon check... yet he lingered. He did not return as I thought he would. I continued to watch. As I watched, my heart was touched.

We have 5 laying hens. They are my son's responsibility. He checks their water, feeds them and gathers eggs every morning. Often he goes back in the afternoon to check for more eggs.

Yesterday morning, after returning from his morning chores, he shared about how quickly the chickens had eaten some fresh grass that he put into their coop. We mentioned that at some point we should let them roam and free range on some of that grass. We talked about how much they would enjoy that opportunity.

Evidently that thought remained with my son all morning. Even though we had been at church for hours and he had been with friends, he obviously had not forgotten the delight of those chickens that morning as they ate the grass.

For as soon as we arrived home he rushed directly to them. The door to the coop swung open and as I watched through the window in the warmth of the kitchen, I realized he was letting them out to roam.

He stayed out with them, sitting in a chair, watching and protecting them from danger as they grazed on fresh grass. He sat in that cold without his coat letting them have a moment of pleasure. He cared enough for those chickens to sacrifice a bit of his own comfort and personal free time for them.

In those moments a line from Scripture flooded my mind:

Isaiah 40:11 "He tends his flock like a shepherd."

As I watched the actions of my own son, the actions of another Son came to mind... God's Son. I heard the prodding in my own spirit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My child, do you see how much I care for you? My thoughts are consumed with thoughts of you. I rush to meet you and provide moments of sheer enjoyment for you. I long to give you more than status quo.

I wish to bless you with the blessing of myself. I love you so much that I sacrificed my own comforts of Heaven and glory, even my very life, to come to earth to provide for you.

If at times the world seems so very large and overwhelming, keep in mind I am not far off. I am sitting close by. I will not leave you alone unprotected. I can not. Just as a shepherd tends his flock... all the more I will tend to you and care for you. I love you..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After they had some time, my son gathered each one up and returned them safely to their house. He shut the door and returned to his own warm house. As he began the steps back, I turned from the window to continue on with my tasks at hand, a renewed sense of God's love for me.

I realize that God's tender loving care for me is so much more than the gentleness I witnessed in my son toward those chickens. However, I also recognize that if that is just a small glimpse of how God views me, than the true reality of His consuming love for me is so much more overwhelming and impossible to even fully grasp or comprehend.

Be reminded today that you are loved. God rushes to meet with you. He wants to provide for you beyond what you can see. Are you willing to leave the "coop" and venture out with Him? Will you trust Him to tend to you? He wants to more than anything... if you will just let Him.

Originally published April 21, 2008

Winning the World through Love and Acts of Kindness

In Egypt, during the early 1980's, Christianity captured pagan N. Africa. It was the practice of the people that had unwanted babies to leave them to die. If someone wanted the child they would pick it up. If not, then the child would cry to death or die of starvation.

The Christians began making what were called baby runs. They would take these infants to care for them. There were no bottles, so nursing mothers adopted these children and fed them as their very own.

Christians also made an impact during the time of the plague. It has been said by many that during the plague, Christians died differently. They died with hope.

It was not only through Christian's death's that people took notice during the plague. Many Christians were given poor jobs such as garbage collectors. They would take the bodies that were trashed, wash them and bury them.

The world took notice. It was simply through acts of kindness and loving through Jesus that they were winning the world and gaining credibility.

It causes me to pause and wonder... am I gaining credibility and winning the world through acts of kindness and love through Christ?

Matt. 22:39 "Love your neighbor as yourself."

"The world can out out finance us, out entertain us, and out number us. Let it never be said that the world can out love us."

--- Dr. Erwin Lutzer

I'm challenging myself to consider... in what ways could I love better?

Valentine Truth vs. Lie

In case you hadn't noticed, this week ushers us to Valentine's Day.

I am mindful that for some, many perhaps, this does not seem to be a holiday worth celebrating. I am conscious of the fact that some people may find themselves feeling downright miserable.

Of course, this is probably not uttered as much as it is experienced. When others are basking in flowers, chocolates and teddy bears, how could one possibly share of their own disappointments, rejections and loneliness?

A day focused on love and significance to another person somehow so easily gets distorted into meaning one must have a significant other to be celebrated.

You may be a reader today that is feeling lonely. You may feel rejected, wondering what's wrong with you. You may find yourself disappointed... yet again.

Not so long ago my young daughter said the following, "Mom, sometimes girls think they need a boyfriend to feel special."

This broke my heart!


I am saddened as I realize my daughter has already learned of this ugly lie that struggles to be passed off as truth. How is it that we so easily find ourselves looking to others to affirm our need for value?

It angers me to think of the energy that it takes to fight this lie. But I will do it. With everything in my being I will stand... and fight.

I know the personal fight within myself that this lie has generated. I know the battle that rages in the depths of my soul as I continue the war to sort truth from deception.

I refuse to let her be swept away in this horrible torrent of looking for and hoping in people to gain her value when that is a great lie.

I invite you to eavesdrop on some of the words we exchanged as we rode in the car together that evening that she shared that thought with me... my beautiful daughter created in the image of God... and I.

You are significant.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

You are loved.
Jer. 31:3 (MSG) "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!"

You matter.
John 3:16 (Amp) "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."

You are never forgotten.
Is. 49:16 (Amp) "Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands."

You are never alone.
Ps. 139: 11(MSG)"Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!"

To each and every reader today... whether you classify yourself as having a significant other or not... may I have the honor and privilege of wishing you a very Happy Valentine's Day this week...

all because of HIM!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was unable to find an adequate video for this song. However, if you click this LINK (I recommend that you right click and select to open in a new window) it will take you to the song in audio.

He Sends His Love
By Point of Grace

I am writing this to you
And I hope that one day soon
You will come to realize
You are precious in His eyes

I know you feel alone
A million miles from home
It seems that know one cares
That life is so unfair

Hold on to this promise like it's your last breath
Let it fill your heart when it's all you have left

(Chorus)
You gotta believe
You gotta be strong
You gotta have faith enough to know no matter where you are
He is always with you
Never give up
Never give in
His only one died for all our sins and he will lift you up
And hold you in his love
He gave his Son
He sends his love

When the weight is just to much
And there's no one you can trust
When it's dark and your afraid
Let the spirit guide your way

There is so much left to do
A great big world to wander through
So many people in your life
Waiting to see your smile

Chorus

His love is all around you
A fortress that surrounds you
Let it comfort and protect you from the storm
It's time to start a new day
He will help you find your way
To a better place

Chorus




Head over to Shawntele's to see what others are saying about music they are enjoying.

Friday's Favorite Five

To be honest, I have had a pretty rough week emotionally. Coming off of a rough week physically the week prior with having all three of my children ill hasn't helped I'm sure.

Although a few places in my heart are still a bit raw, I have come to realize that God is at work. He is speaking some things to my heart that I'm convinced I would not have heard otherwise. It has not been easy but I know that if I just stay in the process... it will be worth it.

I also realize that it is during seasons such as this that I need to intentionally be thankful and look for those everyday things that become great blessings.

Please note that all of you are ALWAYS a favorite in my weeks! However, to give some variety I probably shouldn't include that on every list every week. ;-)

So, here are five of my other favorite things from this last week:

1. Music: For me, music touches something deep within my soul. It weaves truth into places unreached in my heart by any other venue. For me, music is healing, therapeutic, medicinal and a restorer of hope as I dwell on the words that point me to my Father.

2. Tears: A good cry helps me to release stress of the heart. Do you find that to be true also? If I can just be given some time to truly cry out, I come to the other side with clearer thoughts and a determination to get back on my feet ready to tackle life again.

3. Schedules: With having illness in the house we lost sight of our schedules and things that needed to be done. My daughter and I sat down this week and reviewed our previous schedules, made a few adjustments to allow for more realistic expectations, and are ready to tackle the hours of our days a bit more organized once again.

I have learned that with an 8th grader in a classroom setting, homeschooling a 6th grader and having a toddler in the house... if I do not have some type of a schedule, I get absolutely NOTHING done, which then begins to spiral my emotions in discouragement and a sense of being completely overwhelmed!

4. Library: I am able to read so many wonderful, even new release, books for free! I so enjoy that I can reserve the books and put them on hold online. They are then pulled and ready for me to swing by quick and pick up. Almost as quick as a drive through!

5. My Man: I have the most wonderful, amazing, godly and understanding husband! How he can know me, good and bad, the way he does and still choose to love and stand by me is so humbling. I love how just a simple glance can speak a thousand words to the depths of my heart and soul.

I am blessed....

Head to Susanne's to see what favorite things filled others week.

What unfolded as a favorite in your week?

Beauty from Unlikely Places

"Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who have had their hearts enlarged by suffering.

Living in true beauty can require much waiting, much time, much tenacity of spirit. We must constantly direct our gazes toward the face of God, even in the presence of longing and sorrow.

It is in the waiting that our hearts are enlarged. The waiting does not diminish us.

God does not always rescue us out of a painful season. You know that He does not always give to us what we so desperately want when we want it.

He is after something much more valuable than our happiness. Much more substantive than our health.

He is restoring and growing in us an eternal weight of glory.

And sometimes... it hurts."

---Stasi Eldredge

II Corinthians 4: 16-18 (AMP)

" Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting."

The Lesson of Flood Flowers

The day had been long. The week had been long. No matter. Friday had come and I was headed home.

Home to rest. Home to relax. Home to refresh so as to have the strength to do it again the next week.

My mind wandered into nothingness... Just minutes later I would be home.

I came to the top of the hill and instantly my mind jolted to reality. The audible cry that escaped my lips almost startled myself in the silence of the car.

It was gone. Completely under water. The town I had just driven through hours before was now buried. Only roofs were seen. On them I noticed people. A helicopter was hovering in the air. The town was buried in the flooding and the road I was to take to reach my home... gone.

There are a few things I distinctly and vividly remember about the flooding that occurred the summer that I was home from college working.

Cresting the top of the hill only to look down and see nothing of the town that had been there just that morning is one of them. It took me an additional two hours to arrive home that night due to having to find roads passable.

One of the other distinct memories I have are what I call... the flood flowers.

As we were driving to church one morning, I was looking out of the window. This had become a very common practice as we compared the water level to where it had been as it slowly receded.

On our drive I was straining to find the ditches I knew were there. I wondered if it was just a very small taste of what Noah must have felt. Straining, almost as if it required great effort, just to catch one small glimpse of earth beneath the water.

It was then that I saw them. They were some of the smallest and most beautiful flowers I had seen. Springing up, where plain ol' earthy ditches should have been, through the murky water left from the flooding... tiny flowers reaching towards heaven.

I pointed them out to the rest of my family. We were all amazed and wondered at their appearance. In what seemed so devastating, so ugly, so destructive... was rising something so innocent, so simple, so precious.

Their thin stems standing tall seemed to announce determination. Their perfectly formed petals seemed to shout hope. Their bright colors seemed to proclaim life.

We later learned that they were a flower that grows after and in the midst of large flooding. I wish I could recall what they were called. I can't. But I do remember the lesson they taught me.

I have experienced moments of life that can feel destructive, discouraging, devastating, and overwhelming. That all beauty has become ugly and repulsive, perhaps even nauseating. I have felt as though all hope is lost. There is nothing to salvage, nothing to rebuild, nothing but ruins.

However, If I look, if I wait, if I am willing to see them... they appear. They are there. As I strain to catch just one glimpse, in time, I am not disappointed. My heart flood flowers appear.

God does a planting in the middle of the chaos. Strength is bolstered. Beauty is remembered. Hope is renewed. There is promise of sunshine after the rain. Life springs forth from apparent death. And He provides the reminder in the midst... just for me.

I find that now I am not so amazed and astonished when I see them in my heart, just more assured and comforted. A knowing smile crosses my face and a peace settles deep in my spirit as I look out the window of my soul, gazing upon my heart flood flowers.

For you see, I've learned... that's just the way my God is.

Your Hands

I heard this song for the first time this weekend. It became an instant favorite.


Your Hands
By JJ Heller

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...




Head over to Shawntele's to see what others are saying about music they are enjoying.

Continuing in the Battle

What a weekend of unexpected heart pruning, learning and growing this has been! Emotionally, I am exhausted but experiencing the beginnings of a sweet sense of renewal and restoration.

Friday, I stepped out in posting something quite personal for a Favorite Five. From the first letter I typed on the screen, there was a place deep inside that shuddered at the thought of someone misunderstanding my intent. I hit publish despite the fear, in the faith that my heart would be seen.

Within that same hour, another situation happened in my life. I acted in faith that my heart would be seen by a friend. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I was misunderstood. My desire was so desperately to encourage and to bless. Apparently, it came across entirely different.

The pain of being misunderstood left me in tears and afraid, wanting to hide for fear I would continue to do or say the wrong things. I was entering a place that Satan likes to try to get me. One of isolation so as to not disturb anyone else's world.

In the pain and discouragement of that experience, my thoughts went to my Friday's Fave Five post. I couldn't stand the thought of being so misunderstood happening twice in one day with someone misunderstanding the intent of my post as well. It was a risk I wasn't willing to take. My heart didn't feel it was strong enough to take.

I deleted the post.

The things is, my post had been up long enough for some feed readers to capture it. Some people read it. They contacted me. God used their words to bolster my spirit and encourage the hurting part in me.

As I sit back now and examine it, I realize perhaps I should have been prepared for the situation. When I think of the ways I was encouraged last week, all five of them are because I was willing to step out and take a risk. I was willing to completely be myself in an effort to reach others, to touch something personal in their heart as I gave personally of mine.

Now it makes perfect sense why that would be a target area for the enemy. Wound deep. Make the cost seem too personally painful to endure. Allow the sacrifice to appear worthless, and even damaging in itself. Cause retreat, into isolation of self.

Time spent weeping at the foot of the cross, words from friends like you who saw my retreating heart and encouraged me to move forward, and a strong will to not be taken down has caused me to once again take action.

I have wiped the tears. I have sat and listened to the affirming love of my Jesus for me, for who I am... strengths and weaknesses both. I have taken your extended hands of encouragement and grace to once again stand.

I am brushing off. I am bandaging my wounds. I have checked my own heart motives. I am moving forward in faith.

I will not retreat, will not be defeated, will not give up, will not withdraw from the battle. There is work to be done and I am not afraid to do it! I am on my feet. I am continuing in the battle.