Another Song

OK, so earlier in the summer I played with the idea of having a post that matched a theme of the day. I have a friend who likes to have "Foodie Friday" where she posts recipes. I had thought about having "Music Mondays" because I love music. Can I sing? No. Can I play an instrument? No. I simply love songs that move my heart and challenge me to love God more. Here we are in July and it is Tuesday, but I decided to share another song with you.

I first heard this song several months ago at church when it was playing with a video about some friends of ours who are missionaries in Africa. Ever since then the words have moved in my heart in powerful ways. The following is a video someone made on youtube and set it to the song. I hope it encourages and challenges you today.

God of Justice by Tim Hughes

Matthew 25:34-40

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Just Wanted to Share...

This was a song our worship pastor's wife sang on Sunday morning last week. It is one of the most moving songs I've heard in a long time. I get chills when I hear it. The song is called "When the Saints" and it is written by a beautifully gifted young woman named Sara Groves. It's about rescue and freedom. I recommend listening to it after reading the words.

Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know
It's more than I can handle
But your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
and I cannot let it go

And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind
it often overwhelms me
but when I think of all who've gone before and lived the faithful life
their courage compels me
And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharaoh's court
I hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
And when the Saints go marching in
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
I want to be one of them

I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sister standing by the dying man's side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door

I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
and when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them

This song reminds me of Hebrews 11 and 12 in the New Testament of the Bible. Chapter 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" and gives names of ordinary men and women who trusted God and His provision.

"1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." --Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Recently, I heard a teacher explain that the original Greek word for "founder" can also be translated as "captain". He then in referred to Jesus as "Captain Salvation". Although it was a little humorous, it is very fitting. He is our leader but also our hero. He is the one who inspired all of the men and women named in Hebrews and all of the men and women referred to in the song written by Sara Groves.

Jesus is the one who comes to kick down the door when we are huddled in the corner in slavery to sin, to addiction, to pain, to doubt, to depression... Jesus is the one who heals us from the wounds that bondage leaves....and Jesus is the one who gives us the strength to go back in to the fire to help others--just as the families of Jim Elliot and Steve Saint went back to the jungles to love and minister to the very ones who killed their husbands.

I hope this song encourages and compels you today to continue running the race Christ has set before us with passion. May we be "one of them".

Playing Catch Up

Wow! It has been along time since I last posted. We've had a lot going on the last few months...lots of new possibilities for our family and lots of waiting on the Lord's timing. So, in the last couple of weeks I've been trying to play catch up on the blog. I've given up on trying to feed the perfectionist monster in me, so I'm afraid things aren't quite in the right order. I'm sure you are devastated. So, the next few posts are my attempts to catch you up.

7 Years of Wedded Bliss

This May marks our 7th wedding anniversary. Wesley has always been so sweet to surprise me with a weekend trip somewhere. He works hard to plan out everything and often it is a surprise. He has always done a great job. The last year we've really been working hard on being better financial stewards of what God has provided us, so we agreed to scale down our anniversary

We thought about our options and Wesley asked me what I really would want to do. After a while I asked him to take me for a day trip to College Station where we could go and hang out at some of the places I loved going while I was a student at Texas A&M. I hadn't been back in a long time and thought it would be fun to go back. Surprisingly, my Baylor Bear agreed very easily, and at the end of the day, he enjoyed it a lot!

So here is are some pictures from our day in Aggieland.

This was my dorm.

Sibisa Dining Hall and Underground. This was the location I acquired my Freshman 10.

This is where I found my "footing" as a freshman. I met some of my closest friends in my "Fish Care Group." God used the people here to impact and grow my life in wonderful ways!

After our walk around campus, we ate some AMAZING hamburgers at Fitzwilly's.

We had to chase down the burgers with famous J.J.'s Snow Cones. My sweet friend Amy introduced me to these when we were juniors at A&M. I am forever in her debt.

Caribbean Splash....Yum!

Bonfire Memorial. I was a freshman when the stack collapsed. It was such a sad time in the life of the A&M family.

Research Park. Wesley and I spent a lot of time here when he would come visit me from Baylor.

This is behind the Former Student Association. It wasn't there when I was in school, but Wesley took my picture in it anyway. The Aggie Ring is a very important tradition at A&M.

This is where my sister and I lived along with our other roommates. We had some great times together here!

I "studied" here. Maybe that's why I didn't do as well as I would have liked to.

Of course, no trip to College Station is complete without a Freebird's burrito. Oh. My. Goodness. There are no words.

As we reached home that night we stopped by Cold Stone and picked up some Birthday Cake Remix ice cream. Simply delicious!

If you're still with me, you're a trooper. Thanks for hanging in there and "celebrating with us". I am so thankful for the days I was given to spend at Texas A&M, but even more I am thankful for the days since. As much fun as it is to reminisce, the reality of today is so much better than the days of the past because God has continually pushed us, challenged us, and grown us.

His plan is the best, and I praise Him that His plan included Wesley and I living for Him together. I love my man more today than ever and I have loved watching him grow into an incredible husband, father, leader, and man of God. I can't wait for the next 7 years!

Praise our God for He is good!!!!

Flower Girl AND a Ring Bearer

May, 2010

We are blessed to share that our very own "big kids" are getting married! Thankfully, we are only responsible for the wedding attire of the flower girl and ring bearer! This will be Josie's 3rd and Caleb's 1st! We are so blessed to have such amazing young people in our lives!

Chantel and Travis, our adopted college students, will be getting married in June of 2010! They are such a precious couple and we have loved, loved every minute of getting to know them! We first got to know them when they helped teach Josie's Sunday School class over two years ago. When they needed "parents" at church, Wesley and I jumped at the chance to have them as our very own kiddos. We told the college minister and made it official. We have loved having them be a part of our family and they have been on many adventures with us. Now they've graduated and become engaged.

They love to tackle Travis.





Here's the "proposal" but I ran out of time on the camera.

We can't wait!

Family Garden

April, 2010

This spring my side of the family decided to build a garden to share. The kids had a blast helping!

Aunt Penny, the driving force behind the garden, with Caleb.

St. Patrick's Day

March, 2010

Believe it or not St. Patrick's Day is not really about leprechauns and giant mugs of green beer. It actually a day to celebrate the life of the first man to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the polytheistic culture of Ireland. He also is famous for using the illustration of the shamrock as a way to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

We were so glad to celebrate with our sweet friend Mary Margaret!







Isaiah 52:6-8

6 Therefore my people will know my name;
therefore in that day they will know
that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I."

7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"

8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes."

Any day the good news of Jesus' love is shared and received by the hearers is a day worthy of being celebrated. So let's celebrate our God who loves us and honor those who are willing to give up everything to tell others about His unending love!