Tuesday Tunes

I hooked on the Casting Crowns album The Altar & The Door. So many awesome songs. One of the ones that is really hitting me is this one...

Somewhere in the Middle by Casting Crowns

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle

1st late edition of Tuesday Tunes...

I'm sure you're all shocked. :P I'm also fairly sure that I'll be late again someday. Hopefully not, but as everyone should be well aware by now, I am FAR from perfect. ;) The version of this song that I have on my ipod starts off with the following quote:

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

— Brennan Manning

Every time I hear this song, it makes me think.

What If I Stumble by DC Talk

What if I stumble?
What if I fall?

Is this one for the people?
Is this one for the Lord?
Or do I simply serenade for things I must afford?
You can jumble them together, my conflict still remains
Holiness is calling, in the midst of courting fame

Cause I see the trust in their eyes
Though the sky is falling
They need Your love in their lives
Compromise is calling

CHORUS:
What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
You never turn in the heat of it all
What if I stumble, what if I fall?

Father please forgive me for I can not compose
The fear that lives within me
Or the rate at which it grows
If struggle has a purpose
On the narrow road you've carved
Why do I dread my trespasses will leave a deadly scar

Do they see the fear in my eyes?
Are they so revealing?
This time I cannot disguise
All the doubt I'm feeling

What if I stumble?
Everyone's got to crawl when you know that
You're up against a wall, it's about to fall
Everyone's got to crawl when you know that (2x)

I hear You whispering my name [You say]
"My love for You will never change" [never change]

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
You never turn in the heat of it all
What if I stumble, what if I fall?
You are my comfort, and my God

Is this one for the people, is this one for the Lord?

What an an incredible service this morning...

If Darryl & Sherrie Beebe (http://www.2b4giving.com) are coming to your town DO NOT MISS THEM! They shared their amazing story this morning at the church I attend. Their family suffered a horrific and terrible tragedy. In the years since, they've found peace, hope and forgiveness. I'll never forget today's service. Our pastor suggested that people would be changed today, I had no idea how true that would be for me.

I have so much more I want to say, but I'm not sure how to say it. The words that I think of are inadequate. If I find some that work, I'll be back. In the meantime, check out their website and their story.

I've got Dt Pepsi back in my life again!

Oh, how I missed it. And ice cream. Yum. Though I just realized... I didn't eat any bread yesterday. I'm definitely having some tonight. ;) I'm so glad that I did the weird food thing, but it will be nice not to have to make and buy a bunch of stuff I can't eat.

I picked up Jessica Simpson's new country cd recently and found a song that I just love - Pray Out Loud. I think I listened to it four times yesterday. It reminds me of a quote I read once about praying before you go to bed... Give you troubles to God at night, he's up all night anyway! Check out the lyrics -

When you're down
Don't be afraid to pray out loud
Just close your eyes and let it out
Take all your fears and downs
He's listening right now
Don't be afraid to pray out loud
Pray out loud

Everybody's got their problems
Everybody's got their struggles
We all need a helping hand sometimes
Sometimes

And I think back to when I was a little girl
My daddy said Remember, Jess, is you I cherish in this world

When you're down
Don't be afraid to pray out loud
Just close your eyes and let it out
Take all your fears and downs
He's listening right now
Don't be afraid to pray out loud
Pray out loud

Don't have to face it on your own
We don't have to be alone
Just open up your arms and look ?? the sky
And pray out loud

When you're down
Don't be afraid to pray out loud
Just close your eyes and let it out
Take all your fears and downs
He's listening right now

Oh, when you're down
Don't be afraid to pray out loud
Just close your eyes and let it out
Take all your fears and downs
He's listening right now

Don't be afraid to pray out loud

Long time no blog, what's up with that?

Lots. ;)

I enjoyed doing the 10 on Tuesday for part of last year, but I think I'm going to do some different things in 2009. Here are a few major updates:

• I started school last week. Oh boy. I'm taking a 200 level course titled "Philosophy of the human person. One of the things about finishing my education at a Jesuit institution is the requirement of this class as well as Ethics and at least one theology & religious studies classes. So far it's okay. The other kids seem, well, like kids. You know, barely out of nursery school. If I could go back and check my attitude at the door, I would. I'd have finished my BA in psychology at WWU. Can't go back now though!
• I'm ANXIOUSLY awaiting the arrival of my good friend Heather's baby girl. She's due in 8 days. 8!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait. I've been longing to meet her for months now.
  
• Each year my pastor names a theme for the year in our church. 2008 was the Year of Intimacy with God. Great year. 2009 is the Year of Boldness. I've been feeling a call recently to get involved with the youth in my church. In the church I used to attend, I worked with the children's ministry, teaching Sunday school and leading in AWANA. But the last couple of years I've felt the youth ministry calling to me. In fact, the last few weeks I've felt the Lord telling me to get involved and start a small group with some of the teenage girls. I spoke with our youth pastor about it yesterday and I can't wait to get started! It won't be until March because my class meets in Seattle until 6pm on Mon/Wed and youth group starts down by my house (~1.5 commute in the evening) at 6pm. :( Next quarter I'm going to aim for either a Tue/Thur class or something that gets out earlier. I really, really want to get involved.
  
• I made this vegetarian (vegan even!) jambalaya this weekend. And it's GOOD. I used brown rice, so it took a while longer before it was cooked all the way, but YUM. I've had some every day! And there's still a bunch left. Though not as much as I'd like. I might have to make some more this week!
• There are some students that I wish would either find a different major or just graduate. Ugh. I feel bad sometimes, but some of them just drive me UP THE WALL!
• There are some students I wish would never graduate and leave me. The top two are those that work for me. I adore them and would keep them forever if I could!

Well, I think that ought to cover it for now... There's more, but I need to get some work done before I leave today!

I was challenged this weekend...

To share my faith. Not by anyone in particular, but yesterday's church service and our small group activity both showed me that sharing my faith is not something I truly excel at. I do my best (though FAR from perfect) to live it, but there's definitely something to be said for getting the words out there. I heard this song yesterday and thought about it's truth in my life. The lyrics are simple, but so full...

Mighty to Save

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave. (x2)

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave. (x2)

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus. (x4)


Please feel free to comment. I'd love to have some dialogue about this.