Big Daddy Weave - Listen To "Love Come To Life"

A good friend of mine danced to this while her husband sang recently. This song is my prayer lately, in the war between the pull of the world and the gentle drawing of God's Spirit in me.

Steven Curtis Chapman - Films and Music Inspired by THE STORY "This Is H...

I just saw this after someone tweeted it. I hadn't heard this song by Steven Curtis Chapman before. It's so beautiful, and helps me to focus again on the cross, and get ready to celebrate the resurrection.

Ryan Kelly ~ Were You There?

Ryan Kelly, of Celtic Thunder, shared this today on Twitter. I love hearing artists sing such heartfelt songs of love for the Savior. Especially good to hear Ryan express his faith in Christ, since their shows are much more secular.

Casting Crowns - Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Here's the song by Casting Crowns that I mentioned in my last post. The song is reminding us that we can't be the light of the world by pointing at sinners in condemnation, as if we ourselves are not sinners too. However, what I 'heard' the other day on the radio was that the world can't see Christ in us, the church, because we are too busy pointing our fingers at each other in condemnation, when we should be showing the world how much we love each other. Condemning the world and condemning other believers are both stumbling blocks to sinners; keeping them from seeing the light of the gospel.
As I said in the first post, there is a place and time for defending the truth against falsehood. It should be done. But taking it upon myself to do this as a constant thing, mainly against one group of Christians, is not what I am called to do. My curious and often obsessive personality can draw me into things that are not my business if I don't pay attention to what I should be doing. I should be seeking Christ first and taking care of my family; and loving the believers around me as well as sharing the gospel with unbelievers I meet. I can't do any of these things by delving into 'Catholic vs. Protestant' theology.
It has been quite a while since I have had the heart to post anything about Catholicism and debate about it. My own struggles have deflated both my pride and my curiosity in that area: two of my major faults. I don't know if I'll ever want to go there again. I'm still very interested in the church and how it should and shouldn't work, but from a more personal perspective lately. I'm not 'sure' of so much as I was before. I don't know if I was right or wrong in all my facts, but I know I was often wrong in my prideful attitude.
I am truly sorry for the things I have posted in an attitude of pride, thinking that I know something when I really don't: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him(1 Corinthians 8:1b-3). To those I have offended, please forgive me.

The Criminal Who Made Joseph Kony Famous: by Geoffrey Botkin

My daughter shared an article about the Joseph Kony issue which I think is very helpful to gain perspective on what's really happening in Africa. It is written by Geoffrey Botkin, founder of the Western Conservatory of Arts and Sciences. Hearing all the hype a couple of weeks ago made me curious about what the real situation is in Africa. I am glad to have this practical information, and to know that African nations are dealing with the warlords.

Casting Crowns - Behind The Song "Jesus, Friend Of Sinners"

I heard this song today. I'm not sure if it was the first time I've heard it, but it was the first time it got through to my heart. This is a video about the song. I'll post the song next. I am getting something from this song that isn't exactly what was intended; but when I heard them singing about the world not being able to see Christ's message because of our pointing fingers, I saw how the world can't see Christ in us because we're too busy pointing our fingers at each other; at other believers. The unity and love that Christ spoke of in His church isn't there as it should be. I really don't know if what I've said in past blog posts about Catholicism is wrong. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. But I'm getting that even if I was 'right' about some or all of what I have posted about, that much of it was not my business. I had to go through what I went through to learn something, but in the end I didn't learn what I thought I was learning all along. This may make no sense unless you've been with me for a while; but when I posted about Peter cutting off the ear of the servant of the high priest, and I said this was the pope persecuting the servants of Christ the High Priest; well, after listening to this song, I realized that was me, too. There is a time and a place to defend the faith, but sometimes we take things upon ourselves that we ought not. Whether any popes persecuted Christians, do I have the right to decide who is or who isn't a Christian? What do I really know about it? Our earthly church rulers may or may not do well, but we ourselves should love other individual believers and be united with them. I have no idea how this can happen, but I pray it does. That doesn't mean I won't ever speak out if I see something wrong, but I will be much more careful about it. And I pray I'll remember to take the plank out of my own eye first. In Christ,
Jennie

My first solo

Here I am singing my first solo for our Koinonia Dinner Theater fundraiser. This is our homeschool co-op; we're raising money to help buy the property which we've been leasing for the last two years.

Our Anniversary Trip to Cozumel

My husband Eddie made this video of our recent cruise to Key West and Cozumel, so I thought I'd share it here: 

Our Anniversary Trip to Cozumel

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

For Saint Patrick's Day, here is the Confession of Saint Patrick, written in the fifth century, originally in Latin. I enjoy finding and reading things written so long ago by our elder brothers and sisters in Christ, and seeing in them the same struggles and joys, and the same love for Christ that we have as believers today.

Chance Scoggins: Stepping Beyond the Dream

Somebody tweeted this today:Chance Scoggins--Stepping Beyond the Dream. The link won't work, so just go to www.chancescoggins.com and look under the post for March 12, 2012. This, like the Neil Gaiman post, is another one that really hits me where I am right now. Been thinking alot about the gifts God has given me and how I haven't used them and developed them as God would wish me to. Goes back to living in depression and fear and complacency for so many years. This has been a theme in my latest posts, and I keep coming across this idea of pursuing your dreams, using your gifts, and being willing to risk making mistakes in order to do what you were made to do, especially for the purpose of blessing others even if you feel inadequate. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. "Fear not, for I am with you even unto the end of the age."

The Well of Living Water

I heard this on my local Christian radio station,J93.3FM, last week. A recording of Mark Hall, of Casting Crowns, talking about his new book 'The Well'. He said 'the woman at the well thought she was standing beside a well talking to a man, but she was really standing beside a hole in the ground and talking to the Well'. He said we often draw from so many other things in our lives instead of from Christ, the Well of Living Water. We think we're drawing from a well, but it's just a hole in the ground which cannot satisfy. How true that is.

This really struck me, as I seem to be in a season of uncertainty and changes in my life; and I feel like I've been asleep for many years because of depression and fear, and am just now trying to wake up and live. I feel like I'm wanting to stretch my wings and be willing to make mistakes while trying new things. In the process I feel like I'm being pulled by both the world and by Christ, and I have to learn how to walk in this world, but not be of it. I am tempted to 'be of it' though, since I've lived a sheltered life for so long, and often feel lately that I've missed out. My last post on Neil Gaiman relates to this, of course. I want to be free to do things even if I make mistakes and fall down in the process. I don't mean that one should go out and sin, but that I should stretch myself by using the gifts God has given me. I will make mistakes as I do this, but I will also grow into who God meant me to be.

Pray for me to seek first the kingdom of God and not fall for the world's false substitutes.

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes"

Neil Gaiman is a writer in many forms, including novels, comic books, and screenplays. He wrote at least one Doctor Who episode. On his blog in December he wrote this, which is what I need to learn this year and wish I had learned many years ago, since I've always been afraid of making mistakes:
"And for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.

And it's this.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

Good Post by Wes King: Where does my inspiration for writing songs come from?

I read this post by Christian singer/songwriter Wes King today on facebook and wanted to share it with you.

Someone wrote me an email and asked me where my inspiration comes from to write songs. This was my response, thought I'd share it.

Well, it may sound trite, but it comes from knowing God, and the desire to know Him better.
The older I get, the more believable the Gospel becomes to me. I believe that God made us to enjoy what He has made, and Himself. There are countless other reasons, but these two are chief, or first among them.
Have you ever noticed that you have more fun at a sport or subject when you are good at it? You get good at it by practicing, and the more you practice the more you know it. The more you know it the better you are, the better you are the more you enjoy it. Thus, joy in increased by knowledge. Remember the verse "You shall KNOW the truth, and the Truth shall set you free". At the heart of Christianity is a knowing.
Sometimes, no often, you practice football, by not playing football, but by doing something like lifting weights, or watching football films. I've never seen anyone take a set of weights out onto a football field during a game, or old films of football games in the huddle. The weight lifting helps you become stronger over all, the films help you understand the over all game better. Both prepare you for the actual game. The weights, and films are not the ends, they are the means.
It takes faith, study, fellowship, and love to even begin to grasp the ineffable dimensions of God's love. In the end, we have to believe that He made us, and loves us, and understands what we are here for.
When we are amazed by that power and love, then our response is to know, and serve, and please the One who loved us so much that He ransomed us from the wages of our sin, and lifts us from our fallen state.
The further down the road to understanding, and knowing the God who loves us, the more our perceptions increase. Where we once saw a sea of green, we now see beautiful blades of grass, the lines and pattern on each one. We see a beautiful lady bug climbing to reach the top of one of these amazing little designs as ourselves reaching for the heights. We see the poetry in every inch of creation because God is a Poet. We see our actions and choices differently because God is telling a story and we want to play the part He has written for us with honor.
In short, we see the design and it's beauty with more understanding, because we believe that there is a Designer. In seeing deeper down, further in, and higher up we become inspired.
Do you remember when you were young and you drew, what to you at the time, was a master piece? What did you do, hide it? No, you called an urgent emergency meeting of your whole family to behold this creative masterpiece by your hand. I'm sure Grandma and Grandpa had to rush over and be amazed as well. You wanted to share the inspiration, the beauty, the childlike majesty.
This is why I write songs. I want to share the wonder, and be in the wonder. I love seeing someone's eyes open wide, the mouth agape, and the unique sound that only humans make when they are amazed by Seeing something that astounds them. Remember Jesus saying, "if you seek me you will find me". I want to seek that majesty with my own eyes and proclaim it, and the glory of the One who is worthy of our wonder. A good song is just one long, "WOW" that rhymes.
God bless you little sister. I pray this helps you. Go, be inspired to be a light to the world. I'm honored you would ask me.
wes

Evanġeliku: This is My Body ... This is My Blood

Here's a thoughtful blog post by Joseph Mizzi of 'Evangeliku'. My thought is that we should allow for many degrees of understanding ranging from figurative to literal as long as the belief comes from love and faith for our Savior.

Evanġeliku: This is My Body ... This is My Blood: What did our Lord mean when he said, ‘This is my body … this is my blood’? Was he speaking literally or figuratively? It is not my inten...

PROTECT A FREE AND OPEN INTERNET!!!

Visit here to find out more about SOPA and PIPA, "the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECTIP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate — that, if passed, will harm the free and open Internet. These bills endanger free speech both in the United States and abroad, potentially setting a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world." On the link, you can also click to find info to contact your Senators and Congressman. Thank you for your concern!

I Need Thee Every Hour ~ Selah

This hymn keeps coming to mind lately, because often I am forgetful of my own weakness and constant need of God's grace. I try to do things by my own power and understanding, or else I live for my own pleasure and don't remain mindful that I have been called out of this worlds darkness. I need my Good Shepherd every hour, until He comes to gather His flock and lead us to the fold. Remember this with me as we begin this new year.

Channeling my inner Italian: a Fontanini nativity

My Christmas present this year is a Fontanini Italian stable and Holy Family. By 'coincidence' my twin sister decided to get one this year too. We seem to read each other's minds alot and end up doing the same things without knowing it ahead of time. I've been getting in touch with my Italian side lately and enjoying the distinctive artistry of the country of my mother's ancestors.

Mannheim Steamroller - Good King Wenceslas (1984)

Happy St. Stephen's Day! It's good to remember things past because it helps us to put our own lives in perspective. Today is the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr, whom we read about in Acts chapter 6 and 7. I also like the story of Good King Wenceslas, just because I like old stories about admirable characters.

While we are safe, pray for those who are not

Please pray for those who are in danger this Christmas and every day, in countries that are not welcoming to Christians.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Re-post for Christmas: "He waters the hills from His upper rooms"

I posted this last year at Christmas time and would like to share it again this year. Be sure to follow the links as well. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!