A Hope and a Future

Christmas Offering

Dennis and I love the group Casting Crowns and last night we got their new Christmas album. This song really stood out to me; the lyrics really touched my heart.

Matthew 2:11  "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

Revelation 5:13 "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!' "

I need to be reminded of this today

Nothing about this election was a surprise to God. He is still on the throne. He still has a plan. I will choose to trust in HIM and HIM alone.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Bring the rain

I heard this song by the group Mercy Me today as I was driving; I've heard it before but today it struck me in a new way. What awesome words! I have certainly had "rainy" times in my life and although right now things are going very well, I am never promised sunshine all the time. The words of this song really echo my heart's cry: that no matter what is going on in my life, I pray I will choose to rejoice and cling to Jesus, "my only shelter from the storms".  You can find the lyrics here; check them out!

Where does my allegiance lie?

"The stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things"

Allegiance: loyalty or devotion to some person, group, cause, or the like

Rich Mullins was an awesome songwriter. This line is from the song "If I stand" and when I heard it this morning it struck me that it is so true in my life. Sometimes I feel so pulled in so many directions that it is very easy to let things and people and tasks get in the way of my relationship with God. I fly through each day trying to get things accomplished that reading my Bible and praying are pushed to the side. I don't want it to be that way and I hope and pray that I can do better this year. Because ultimately the "stuff" of Earth is just that, stuff. All that matters is having that relationship with Jesus and doing what HE wants me to do.

Grab your tissues for this one

So I got Dennis the new Mark Schultz album for his birthday (Broken and Beautiful) and wow is it a good one. We listened to it in the car on our birthday date and THREE of the songs had me in tears. Dennis kept saying "are you crying AGAIN?". Probably my favorite of the songs is called "Everything to me", a song he wrote about adoption (apparently he was adopted as a baby). I couldn't stop talking about it; I mean, come on, a song about adoption? That is SO where we are right now! I couldn't resist posting the lyrics here; but if you get a chance you gotta check out the actual song.

I must have felt your tears when they took me from your arms

I’m sure I must have heard you say goodbye

So young and so afraid, had you made a big mistake

Could an ocean even hold the tears you cried?

But you had dreams for me

you wanted the best for me

and you made the only choice you could that night

And you gave life to me

A brand new world to see

like playing baseball in the yard with dad at night

Mom reading Goodnight Moon and praying in my room

So if you worry if your choice was right

When you gave me up you gave everything to me

And if I saw you on the street

would you know that it was me

and would your eyes be blue or green like mine

would we share a warm embrace

would you know me in your heart

or would you smile and let me walk on by?

Knowing you had dreams for me

You wanted the best for me

And I hope that you’d be proud of who I am

You gave life to me

A chance to find my dreams

And a chance to fall in love

You should have seen her shining face

on our wedding day

oh is this the dream you had in mind

When you gave me up you gave everything to me

And when I see you there

Watching from Heaven’s gates

Into your arms I’m gonna run

And when you look in my eyes

You can see my whole life

See who I was and who I’ve become

You gave life to me

A brand new world to see

Like playing baseball with my son late at night

And reading Goodnight Moon

And praying in his room

I’m so grateful that I’ve had this life

When you gave me up you gave everything to me

See what I mean? I was crying even posting this tonight. SUCH a great song, huh?

I was created for this.....I pray I am living it!

Before the day
Before the light
Before the world revolved around the sun
God on high
Stepped down into time
And wrote the story of His love for everyone

He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember

Chorus:
You and I are made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be

All we are
And all we have
Is all a gift from God that we receive
Brought to life
We open up our eyes
To see the majesty and glory of the King

He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember

Chorus:

Even the rocks cry out
Even the Heavens shout
All the sound of His holy name
So let every voice sing out
Let every knee bow down
He’s worthy of all our praise

Words and music by Chris Tomlin

Praise You in this Storm

This is a Casting Crowns song that D sang at church this past Sunday....what an awesome song!

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
II barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away


I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of Heaven and EarthI