Sunday, June 15, 2008

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Your Favorite One

We've been singing this song in church lately, it's by an artist called Misty Edwards. The title of it is "Your Favorite One". The first time we sang in was a couple of months ago and I was really uncomfortable. I just felt like I couldn't get myself to sing it to Him. I was thinking to myself, "Me? I'm not Your favorite one, me? this piece of crap?"


Isn't that terrible!? I just didn't feel worthy enough to come before Him in worship to sing, "Jesus, here I am Your favorite One."  It just didn't feel right, because maybe, just maybe, that girl over there is His favorite one. 

Well, I must not have been the only feeling or thinking that way because Greg (my Pastor), got up at the end of that song and said, "I know it might feel a little arrogant singing that song to Your Savior, but remember, we are ALL His favorite ones; He is a big enough God that we are all LOVED equally and are all His favorite, so you can go before the throne with confidence, not arrogance, and know that YOU are HIS favorite one!"

What a bold thing to do huh? Especially if you have such a jacked up past as mine; the fact that I can go before the throne in gladness, joyfulness, and zeal, singing, "Jesus, here I am Your favorite one." That takes some soul searching and lots of time in relationship with Him to really mean it and feel it and believe it.

So, ask yourself this, is that something you could sing before the Lord? And if not, how come?
Do what it takes to be able to get to that place, because it's the most amazing feeling, Truth in the world! I can't believe I'M HIS favorite one!

I Don't Know How To Love Him

This is the title of one of the songs in the play 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. At first, when the woman (Mary), was singing it, I couldn't comprehend what she could mean. I was falling in love with the song, it was so beautiful, I had never heard it before.

After sitting there it took on it's meaning for me. It's neat cuz it's like this, she is basically saying to Jesus, "I don't know how to love You". The more I thought about it was was like this for me: she was in such AWH of her Savior, of her God---she is so in LOVE with Him that she doesn't know how to handle herself over Him. She's overwhelmed and on her knees over what He who He was to her (accepting her after committing adultry), and what He was yet to do for her, (die).
It's like it was so powerful that she couldn't handle her emotions, or her gratitude--she wanted to love Him JUST RIGHT, but wasn't sure how---she didn't want to "mess up", she wanted to appear worthy, and give back to Him. 
The scene and what she sang was so powerful. It's how I feel toward Jesus, still, everyday. It's like I love Him so much it hurts--I want to give Him so much and love Him so much, sometimes I don't know how!

And then there's Judas. I mean talk about not knowing how to love Jesus on a whole other level! He was stricken with temptation over looking good, pleasing the people, and GREED. It was clear He did love Jesus in His heart, but he was swayed, and wasn't sure how to love Him. And because of that it cost Him His life. Judas cared more about what others thought, and WHO others were than he did Jesus, and because he gave into temptation, he paid way to much attention to his own desires. 

WAYS TO LOVE JESUS:

*Simply take on His mind and heart over yours (get into His heart and mind by reading His Word, taking time in meditation and prayer, writing, reading devotionals, and disciplining your habits to form new ones for Him)

*Take time for God and others (the lost, co-workers, your children, your spouse, other relatives, and friends)

*See people through the eyes of Jesus, otherwise it will be doubly difficult to love them, and it will be easier to not judge them (we are all created equal and made in God's image)

*Continue daily to give up yourself, and all your idols and all your ways, be conscience of how you're living and if it looks like Christ (how he would act or respond in life)

*Forgive others

*Be generous with your time and money

*Be gentle and use kind words that build up and encourage others

*Love the unloveable

*Praise Him with all your being

*Don't give into to violence or revenge

*Don't focus on yourself (have a Kingdom mindset and build that, instead of trying so hard to build the "world") everything you do or don't do will build or not build the Kingdom

*Be in community with others, we can't go through life on our own (step out of your comfort zone, tell people you need them, even though it's risky)

*Honor your body

*Telling your children about Him

These are just some ways on how we can love the Lord. I am sure you can think of plenty of other ways! 

Here's to the King!

Friday, June 06, 2008

Madelynn's 1st Formal (without a boy)!



It was a neat evening. There were about 4 teenage girls here at our house, 3 Moms (not including me), 1 Gramma, and 2 Step-dads!

I made a Taco Bar, and did all the girls' make-up. Madelynn was still wearing her Boot from her broken foot, so they 'be-jeweled' it, it was cute! (I used the extra bejewels to dazzle up my cell phone).

Madelynn's friends straightened her hair, and she                    looked just stunning! 

Thursday, June 05, 2008

The Remedy

Here we are

Here we are
The broken and used
Mistreated, abused
Here we are

Here You are 
Here You are
The Beautiful One
Who came like a Son
Here You are

So we lift up our voices
We open our hands
To cling to the love
That we can't comprehend!

He is the One 
Who has saved us
He is the One
Who embraced us
He is the One who has come
And is coming again
He's the Remedy

Written by David Crowder

So if you find yourself once and a while, or everyday-down and out over what life has brought you and still bringing you, it's OK. Don't look for some other remedy to help you. Life will without a doubt disappoint us and so will people in your life. There is only one remedy for our ailments, I promise you---run to HIM! Stick to Him, and keep Him at your side--He is all you will need. You will feel like you want something else to help you; alcohol, movies, make-up, fashion, pornography, drugs, others, money, your job---any escape. But there is no escaping this world and what it has to offer; it can really be painful--and when it is, turn to THEE ONE MEDICINAL thing that will work-JESUS.  Even when it's NOT painful, He's the One! 
I've tried mostly everything else! Sorry, doesn't work:) 

David Crowder seems to agree.

stay tuned. . .

Did You Know?

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV or computer for three hours? Don't ask me how!


And that each County has a ECO-Site that you can bring "stuff" too? Like when you get your oil changed, you might not be able to trust that the guys there will dispose of it properly and if they don't it can pollute our water. If you take it from them, you can bring it to your County Site and they will ensure proper disposing! All automotive fluids, including:
*Antifreeze
*Coolant
*Gasoline
*Steering Fluid

And that putting Tile in your home is not a better solution for the environment? One of the better things you can place on your floors is Linoleum. It's actually a natural thing, it's made from Linseed Oil, which is Flax oil from the Flax plant! Isn't that cool! And everyone thought Linoleum was cheesy!

Some of my other favorite ideas:

*Purchase a non-toxic hand wash in bulk and use the same pump over and over

*Cut down on bottled water, and purchase a #2 or #5 or # 7 recycled plastic water bottle; OR better yet an all Aluminum one, they have absolutely no leaching--which means, none of the heavy metal (aluminum) is like coming off while you drink and harming you. The recycled plastic ones above I mentioned are not 100% leach proof (I am sure if you did your research you could find one)

*Wash your floors with a Steamer---works excellent and no chemicals needed!

*When you have parties (10 people and under), use your own dishes and silverware instead of buying and using paper plates/napkins and plastic cups/ware

*Bring Canvas bag/s to Target, Grocery Stores and other misc shopping (some places give you a discount too if you byob)

*Use non-toxic aromatherapy enhanced counter top spray---it's an easy switch, and there are no harmful chemicals, AND you get the benefit of essential oils!

*RECYCLE! For a list of all recyclable items, contact your local garbage company

*Baking Soda and Vinegar are natural cleaners; you can even wash your clothes with them!

*Of all fruits, buying Organic Apples is the MOST important! 

*Save your Java Jackets from the coffee shops to re-use next time

*Bring your own mug instead of using their paper cups at coffee shops

Stay tuned. . .