What is Freedom

I haven't written much lately. I know, I have been a poor, poor blogger. But I have been busy writing music and other stories...aka fan fiction. I am on a fan fic yahoo group called the Black Pearl Sails where we write about, you guessed it, Pirates of the Caribbean. It's a guily pleasure that I have :)

Anyway, this weeks drabble is on Poetry. And since it's poetry month, that's what they decided to do. Now, I haven't written poetry in a very, very long time. But it was a fun little challenge to say the least. This is what I came up with. I hope that you enjoy it.

Comments are appreciated :)



FREEDOM

What is freedom?

Freedom is the wind blowing around your face
Caressing it with her gentle fingers
Letting her sweet words and phrases linger
Holding you in an embrace
 

Freedom is the horizon's sunrise
Warming you with her golden rays
Coaxing you and leading you for days
Reminding you that you are alive
 

Freedom is the miniscule escape
From the advancing enemies grasp
A ragged sigh of relief and you clasp
Tightly to the treasure that's yours to proclaim
 

Freedom is the groaning plank boards beneath
The swaying on the white-capped waves
The way that Calypso plays
With your home under your feet
 

You asked me my friend, and I can tell you sure
She is my love, my life, my all
She is ever faithful, not letting me fall
What freedom is, is the Black Pearl.

The Vertical Self

I didn't know what I was going to expect from the book. Okay, maybe I did know a little since I knew what the “vertical self” meant. I was actually drawn in more by the cover of the book than anything. I liked the contemporary feel. For some reason, that's usually how I pick the books I read-by the cover. Then if I like the summary of the book I'll read it. Sometimes I have success, sometimes I don't.

This book was a success for me. I have always been battling with “myself”, as it were, instead of just letting God take control. And even though I knew most of the stuff in the book, it was nice to have a refresher course on why I wasn't letting God consume all of me. It's amazing how this world can really be an influencer in your life without even realizing it. Even in the Christian world. So many times we are caught up in pleasing ourselves, that really this life is all about pleasing God.

Stayer plays out The Vertical Self in eleven chapters. He breaks down how society has played a huge roll in the development of our cultures from generations past to present. He convieniently places Scripture where it needs to be said to bring us back to the truth of things: GOD is in control; not us. At the end of the book, there is a short “Bible Study” that a group can use for their weekly meetings. I used it on an individual level and my journal is jam-packed full of pictures, diagrams, scripture, and thoughts.

I recommend reading this if you are new to the Christian faith and are struggling with at the battle lines on “who's side to be on” or even if you have been a Christian for a long time and just need a good dose of reminding who you really belong to.

Welcome to my Wonderland

For those of you who don't know me well, or for those of you who do, I love to write. Doesn't matter what it is. I love to write. It's a way of expressing myself. Though, sometimes I don't always make sense when I write and it's hard to portray what is going on inside of my head.

I love to write music. I also love to write fanfiction. It's one of my guilty pleasures. I am on a couple of sites that have things called "drabbles". Drabbles are usually short stories about 100-200 words long and it's written from a single word prompt. Example:Each week we are given a word. So let's say, "LOVE" was used. You would use that word to form a story around it. It's fun creating stories of your favorite characters. Mine happen to be anything Johnny Depp. But it's mostly Jack Sparrow since it's so easy to create an adventure for him. I also have recently fallen in love with Tarrant Hightopp-the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. What a great character!

So I had a dream about him one night and I got this story formed. I am in the process of writing it right now, but I am posting it on my writing blog.

I hope you stop by and read some of my work. I enjoy feed back. I am also in the process of writing a novel- non-Johnny Depp. :) I am stuck on it write now. I have the basic storyline playe out, I just can't get my characters to move forward.

You can view my stuff HERE. I hope you all enjoy it!!

Carry My Cross

There are no words to describe what Jesus did for me today. He loved me so much that he took ALL my sins on his shoulders and died for me so I may be washed clean.

Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace, Jesus. Without You, life wouldn't be worth living.

This is a little vid I did some years ago as I was reflecting on Holy Week. Carry My Cross is such a powerful song and the Passion of the Christ was such a powerful movie that it only seemed natural to fit them together. I hope this video touches you somehow. God loves you. He always has. He always will. Nothing you can do will ever stop that. And remember, even if you feel alone in this world, He is MUCH closer than you think!!

Fear....

January 12, 2010~Haiti hit by an earthquake

February 10, 2010~Chicago has mild earthquake
February 27, 2010~Chile hit by an earthquake
February 27, 2010~Hawaii hit by tsunami caused by Chile earthquake

Do I have reason to be afraid? Well, I am.

I have seen some videos on Youtube about people saying, “oh, it’s not the End Times, you don’t know what you are talking about.” Or, “You Christians are crazy saying that God is saying something to you people.”

I think I have reason to be afraid. To me, things just seem to be getting worse and worse in the world. I know earthquakes happen on a regular basis in some countries. But I haven’t seen this magnitude of them being publicized.

I think that God is speaking and people are taking their time to wake up. I think God has been speaking to us for centuries and we have been ignoring his light tap on the shoulder saying, “Hey, buddy, come and smell the coffee. It’s time to open your eyes.” So now, instead of being subtle, he’s placing His hands on our shoulders and shaking us violently to force us to open our eyes.

We don’t know how long the End Times are supposed to be. I mentioned them to someone at work the other day, and they rolled their eyes and was like, “Really? This stuff has always been going on. We’ve always been in the ‘end times’”. I’m sure we have. But things seem to be getting more and more violent. And more and more frequent.

It makes me question my faith. Not so much to the point that if I believe in God or not, but to the point of how strong is it, knowing that if something like this would happen to me, would I be able to still praise Him in the storm.

And I am afraid. I am afraid of what’s to come. I’m afraid of having a complete tragedy knock on my door. I am afraid of dying slowly.

I think it’s only human to be afraid. But that makes me get closer to God in prayer. Why does it take a tragedy to do so? Because it’s opening my eyes. Life is short. VERY SHORT. And I don’t want to take any minute that God is giving me for granted.

I know where I’m going when I die. I know that I will be at Jesus’ feet, safe. But in this fragile human form, I have nothing to cling to but the faith and hope that God will protect me in a time of disaster. I may not be one of the fortunate one day and will need to remember that even in the time of trial, I will rise. And God will be there holding my hand and leading through that dark, dark valley to the brightest of sunrises.

A Father's Love Letter

I stumbled upon this while looking for something to add to my Bible Study. Wow. The Truth.

http://www.habeeb.com/fathers.love.letter/fathers.love.letter.english.html

Father's Love Letter
My Child ~
You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32
                                                                                                   Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Revolve for the Future

Revolve 2010 Edition
Thomas Nelson Publishing

It's hard for a teen girl to fit in and be liked. It's even harder for a teen Christian girl to fit in and be liked. It's not like she can just break out her Bible in the middle of lunch period or study hall and have time with God. I mean, I know she could, be since religion is not allowed in most schools anymore, it makes things a little harder.

Revolove,The Biblezine, as it’s called, has a wonderful blend of quizzes, beauty tips and stories of kids doing good mixed in with the New Testamnet while looking just like a regular teen girl magazine. The format is easy to understand and it helps bring problems in today's society to be more understandable and relatable to the problems faced back in Jesus' day.

I think one of the new elements that I really enjoyed was the “goodbook” bios on the characters of the bible. The column is set up much like a facebook page with all the statistics of the character. There are also interviews with musical artists that the girls would be following. Free downloads are included as well.

I think one of the only downfalls is that since it’s set up like a magazine, it’s not as sturdy as a BIble should be. It will tear, bend, peel easily like a regular magazine.

Any teenage girl would love reading this. I know there is another version for guys as well. As a 28 year old I really enjoyed reading Revolve.

Come Together Now

Come Together Now (Music City Unites For Haiti) from Music City Unites For Haiti on Vimeo.

Love Poured Out

"That which is good, profitable or beneficial is not always fun, easy, or pleasant. Remember love, joy, peace, and kindness PRECEDE goodness." ~Beth Moore, Living Beyond Yourself: Living in the Fruit of the Spirit Workbook

I have not always been a pleasant person. I have not always done things to please God. I have been selfish, uncouth, demanding, unforgiving, unpleasant, non-peaceful, unloving, non-joyous. All the things that the Spirit is not. How am I to go about living in the Spirit if I am full of these things?

Can someone please help me out here?

God wants me to see the things that I am not so he can break me and use me for the things that are good. I cannot live on good works. What would they truly mean if I am only doing them to please someone else? How am I  to learn if I am not broken and humbled in His presence?

In order for me to truly do good works, I must first learn to: LOVE. Have a joyful heart. Be kind to others. Then good works will follow.

I need to pray to learn to love. Love as Jesus loved. Love to the point I would lay down my life even for my enemy.

Crazy you say?

Jesus did it.  He humiliated himself on a cross. NAKED. SCARRED. BEATEN. RIDICULED.

How's that for love? He didn't have to do it. But he chose to do it because he love us more than anything.

Shouldn't we return the favor?

God's Loving Kindess

For some reason or another, I have never actually been able to wrap my fingers around the concept of God being my Father; my Daddy. Or Jesus as my brother.

I have always known God as a powerful omni-present being, the one that hears my prayers. And Jesus to be my Savior, but I never actually considered them to be part of my immediate family like I do my brother or my dad.

I have tried in the past to pray about it and take my cares to God like my father, but there was always a barrier that blocked me from feeling the things that I truly needed to feel to help me understand that God is my Father and I can go to him for anything that I need. I may not get it in an answer that I want like my Dad does to me, but He will answer me somehow. This I know. But I never could just close my eyes, reach out my arms and run to God like a little child does when they scrape their knee and he holds them tight and comforts them saying, "I'm here. You are okay. Daddy's here."

I have had a hard time over the past couple months trying to get into my Bible trying to learn what God wants me to. My mind was always distracted and I couldn't tell you how many times I would read the same sentence over and over and over again. I am grateful for the new friends that I have found at my new church. I started going to a new reunion group along with my regular one that I attend from the people of Walk to Emmaus. The new reunion group I chat with are women from my new congregation that have attended Via de Cristo which is similar to the Walk to Emmaus.

Ruth, one of the ladies from the group said to me, "Mindy, don't go to church-go to worship. And don't read the Bible- STUDY it."

I really needed to hear that because I was getting caught up in my schedule and I couldn't keep up with the daily readings and I wasn't retaining anything.

I did my study this morning and I had a new found, newly freshened look on the Bible. It was on God's kindness and how we really need to come to him as a child comes to a Father. He is our Daddy and we need to trust him like a child does. They mimic things that the parent does.

This makes me think of my 2 year old nephew. He does everything that my brother does. He is definitley a Daddy's boy. He follows Marshall around the house/yard with his Handy Manny tools and helps Daddy fix things. He runs to Daddy when it's time to sleep or he just needs a hug.

That's how I want to be with God. I want to look up to him and follow everything that He teaches me. I want to mirror him.

And I need to learn that Jesus is not only my Savior, but also my big brother. As I was reading my Bible study, I got this image of Jesus and I chatting over Starbucks, goofing off in the park, playing card games, crying into His shoulder, soaking it wet. That's the relationship I want with Jesus. I need to start making it personal again. I want to look at Him not only as my Savior and Brother, but also my lover. I want to be focused on nothing but him. I his love for me to fill me completely and make me whole. Sometimes that void just takes over and and I can't find anything to fill it, even when I try seeking it in the Word.

I am slowly learning to have an intimate relationship with my Daddy and Big Brother. I want it so much.

The Sparrow at Starbucks

A friend of mine sent me this lovely little story about how God can use ANYONE to further His kingdom. I hope this story gives you a sense of hope to know that you do belong in this world and you are cradle gently in the palm of His hands. Enjoy!

The song that silenced the cappuccino machine


It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square . Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.

For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing.

It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me. "I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?" she asked.

"No," I replied. "We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?"

To my delight, she accepted my invitation. "You choose," I said. "What are you in the mood to sing?"

"Well. ... do you know any hymns?"

Hymns? This woman didn't know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look. "Name one."

"Oh, I don't know. There are so many good ones. You pick one."

"Okay," I replied. "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"

My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah. Let's do that one."

She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing.

Why should I be discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.

I sing because I'm happy;
I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee! I didn't come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin' to drink, just like you!" But the ovation continued.. I embraced my new friend. "You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!"

"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.
"Why is that?"
"Well . .." she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song."
"Really!" I exclaimed.
"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual.. "She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week."
I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. "Are you going to be okay?"
She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. "I'm gonna be okay. I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything's gonna be just fine." She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.

Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it.

God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, everything's gonna be okay.

The next time you feel like GOD can't use YOU, just remember...

* Noah was a drunk
* Abraham was too old
* Isaac was a daydreamer
* Jacob was a liar
* Leah was ugly
* Joseph was abused
* Moses had a stuttering problem
* Gideon was afraid
* Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
* Rahab was a prostitute
* Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
* David had an affair and was a murderer
* Elijah was suicidal
* Isaiah preached naked
* Jonah ran from God
* Naomi was a widow
* Job went bankrupt
* John the Baptist ate bugs
* Peter denied Christ
* The Disciples fell asleep while praying
* Martha worried about everything
* The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
* Zaccheus was too small
* Paul was too religious
* Timothy had an ulcer...AND
* Lazarus was dead!

No more excuses now!!

God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger. God bless.

The Voice of the Psalms

The Voice of the Psalms
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishing

I have always loved the Psalms. I always found them comforting and a great worship and prayer.

The Voice of the Psalms is a wonderful book to add to your collection. Published by Thomas Nelson Publishing Company and written by the people from the Friends of Ecclesia Bible Society, this version of the Psalms is, I think, one of my favorite.

The Voice of the Psalms is the newest edition to the family of The Voice. They have published versions of readings from the final week of Jesus’ life on earth, the Gospels, Acts, Romans, and more.

The first few pages give a great layout of the book. You get a great overview of what the Psalms is supposed to be, understand the vision of The Voice Project and receive a welcoming from the President of the Friends of Ecclesia Bible Society

I love that the Voice of the Psalms also provides devotionals for Lent, Advent, Worship, and Seeking.

The reading is easy to follow and understand. Sometimes I have found myself wandering while reading the especially longer Psalms. Spread out among the psalms are mini devotionals that help you feel more connected to the writers of the Psalms. You can bring what they wrote thousands of years ago to life in your own walk.

I enjoy this book very much. I highly recommend anyone to pick it up and deepen your love and relationship with God.

For more information on The Voice, please visit www.hearthevoice.com. There is a lot of great information on the project including free downloads. Right now they have the Voice Revealed: The Gospel of John

Where is God?

Today, hard times come to us in several ways:


~Functional Problems.
~Health Issues.
~Catastrophes
~Relational Conflicts and Losses.
~Emotional Struggles.

**part of an excerpt from the Introduction**

This is a great book for those who are going through a hard time in their life, or have had a hard time and having trouble letting it go. I’m sure we have all questioned, “Where is God?” at some point in our lives.

Dr. John Townsend, best-selling author of Boundaries, begins the book with his story to Antarctica. This is a very gripping story that catches you right from the beginning.

As the book moves on, we are taken on a journey through the lives of others. I could relate to some of the stories being told. We learn what is holding us back from loving God and experiencing the freedom that he gives us. He does not force us to love him, but he waits patiently for us to come to him.

To learn more about the book or Dr. Townsend, please visit:

http://www.thomasnelson.com/
http://drjohntownsend.com/

I want to finish last. Last in the worlds eyes

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I couldn't finish Matthew Chapter 20 because one verse kept being spun around in my head:

15:"Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?"

So I read the footnote.

This verse comes from the story that Jesus is telling about the vineyard owner and how he paid the last hired who only worked about an hour the same wage as those slaving all day in the vineyard. The ones that worked all day were mad. And the vineyard owner confronted them saying that don't I have the right on how to spend my own money.

This parable is not about the rewards of heaven but about salvation and God's grace. We shouldn't begrudge people who turn to God at the last moments of their life. And I am learning this the hard way.

There is a coworker of mine whom I couldn't stand and no matter how I tried to ignore and or give him signs that I didn't want him around me; that he was bothering me. He was very crude and just would say derogatory things to me. He left the dealership and I jumped for joy. A couple weeks later he came back. I grumbled.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

He came over to me the other day and told me that he started going to this church by him and how he really enjoys it. This is coming from the same man that I COULDN'T stand and didn't believe in "organized religion". He told me how he and the pastor are forming a great relationship with each other. At first, I tried to ignore him, because I didn't want anything to do with him.

But then the other day when we were talking, I think God was whispering to me. "Mindy, he's coming to you because he knows you are the only one here that he can talk to with questions. HELP HIM."

I was like, "REALLY, God? Are you serious?! I can't stand this man!! And now you want me to HELP him!?"

Boy....did I wake up. Especially hearing this parable today. Am I jealous of relationship that he is finding with God? Absoulutely not. I have a relationship. But God is helping me strengthen that relationship by breaking down the walls I have for this guy and helping him out. He is going to need it. I call going to work, "The Lion's Den." Most days it feels like it. So if I can help him just a little each day, then so be it.

God is helping me learn in BIG ways by letting go of the past and learning that Jesus would have approached him straight away without hesitation. And praying for guidance is going to be a project to work on. I don't have a problem praying for the ones I love. But bringing my "enemies" into the equasion is going to be fun.....It's something that I need to work on and will be asking God for help on quite a bit :)

It's not easy, but I am willing to do it. Every time I see him, I clench my jaw. Satan thinks that he can hold the power over me, but it's going to be taken away real fast.

The Problem With The World Is Me

The Problem with the world is me.  Yes, I admit it. I saw the little lady walking across the street and didn't help her though I felt led. Yes, I saw that kid being bullied and instead of walking over to defend him, I turned away and pretended like I didn't notice. Yes, I joined in the conversation of gossip and instead of stepping out of the conversation, I added my two cents.

Am I really being the hands and feet of Christ? Am I reflecting Him as I ought? No. I am trying to serve two masters. Well, my dear friend, it's not going to work. You see, you can't serve two masters. It's you or God. And since I am all about pleasing myself, making sure I have all the cool gadgets and all the top songs from the top artists, it's the almighty God being put on the shelf to dust.

Yes, the problem with the world is me.

Someday I will think of others before me. Someday I will serve God will a willing heart and cast all my earthly cares to the wind. Someday will carry my cross and truly follow Jesus not letting other influence my opinion on my beliefs.

That someday is today.


**Video and lyrics is of my favorite band downhere. check them out at www.downhere.com**

 

There's got to be some reason for all this misery
A secret evil corporation somewhere overseas
They're pulling strings, arranging things
It's a conspiracy

Or what about the ones who shape the course of history
What if we petitioned for one grand apology?
I'll write to my prime minister
You, write your president

Everybody's wondering how the world could get this way
If God is good, and how it could be filled with so much pain
It's not the age-old mystery we made it out to be
Yeah, there's a problem with the world
And the problem with the world is me

Some will say the devil and his legions
They put us in a headlock of submission
But they lost all power over me
A long, long time ago

And since I was a kid you know I've caused a lot of hurt
And no one ever taught me how to put myself first
It came so very naturally
But I'm not a prodigy

So I will look no further than a mirror
That's where the offender hides
So great is my need for a redeemer
That I cannot trust myself
No, I cannot trust my self
I dare not trust myself
So I trust in someone else

The sooner you can sing along
The sooner you can sing this song
The happier we'll be
The problem with the world is me


Martel/Germain

The Prodigal God

The Prodigal God. That’s a silly title for a book, don’t you think? At least I thought so. I mean, isn’t it us who are the prodigal ones? Aren’t we the ones who are always turning our backs on God and not his on us?


Prodigal:

1.wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.
2.giving or yielding profusely; lavish (usually fol. by of or with): prodigal of smiles; prodigal with money.
3.lavishly abundant; profuse: nature's prodigal resources.


When we think “prodigal” we think, lost or run away. And we also think of the story of the Prodigal Son. That is the story that the book by Timothy Keller is based off of. I just finished it and I have a new look on my faith and how God wants me to live.


Jesus has an amazing way of getting through to us in a parable. I always thought the story of the Prodigal Son was about a son that decided to take what his father gave him, take off, blow it foolishly, then wallow in self-pity and return home. But it is much more than that. Jesus used this to speak to the people in the crowd and to the Pharisees. The “younger brother”(the wayward one) was pointed to the crowd and the “elder brother”(the righteous one) was pointed to the Pharisees. But we can learn from this as well.


The younger brother left and foolishly lived his life on what his father had given him. Then the came back and was ready to say that he would work as a hired man, but his father welcomed him back home with open arms and celebration. The elder brother was enraged. He had always been the one that never did any thing wrong, he would say to himself and eventually his father, and look what his brother got. A celebration for his return. How was that fair?!

Neither brother is right in their way. God doesn’t want us to live like the young brother, running off and carelessly living our lives only to come back and receive forgiveness and go off and do it again. Nor does he want us to live like the elder brother, thinking he’s the righteous one, therefore, having the “right” to whatever is his. If we live like the younger brother we will continue seeking for things and never find what could fill the void controlling our lives. If we live like the elder brother, we feel like we deserve a place in heaven because have been “good” and then we could fall away from God because he isn’t answering us like we expect him to since we are doing all he asks of us.

We can get caught up in both lifestyles so easily. But if we would just let go of ourselves, listen to God, feel the Holy Spirit, and believe in Jesus, our lives would be so much more meaningful. God is always there waiting.

In a section of the book, there is a paragraph where Timothy mentions a newspaper that asked “What’s wrong with this world?” The Catholic think G.K. Chesterton replied back, “Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely, G.K. Chesterton.”


Enter the lyrics from the song The Problem from the band downhere:

Everybody’s wondering how the world could get this way
If God is good, how it could be filled with so much pain
It’s not the age old mystery we’ve made it out to be
Yeah, the problem with the world
The problem with the world is me.

Ain’t it the truth? We are so busy trying to make ourselves look better and bigger. We put down people and belittle them to make ourselves feel better. We make up excuses as to how busy we are and we don’t have time or the patience or money to help someone in need. HELLO?! What if it’s Jesus standing in our midst!? We just laughed in His face if we turned our back on those that need our help the most. When will we eventually wake up? Someday that could be us and we may need someone’s help and we will be wondering why no one is helping. If we aren’t the hands and feet of Jesus and live as He lived, what kind of model of the Body are we to those who aren’t part of it. We are our own hypocrites.

I love this paragraph from the book:

The younger brothers are too selfish and the elder brothers are too self-righteous to care for the poor. Christianity, therefore, is perhaps the most materialistic of the world’s faiths. Jesus’ miracles were not so much violations of the natural order, but a restoration of the natural order. God did not create a world with blindness, leprosy, hunger, and death in it. Jesus’ miracles were signs that someday all these corruptions of his creation would be abolished. Christians therefore can talk of saving the soul and of building social systems that deliver safe streets and warm homes in the same sentence. With integrity.


I hope with sincere love that someday we all can open our eyes and live as neither brother, but openly share the love of Jesus as He did. I don’t want to live like a Pharisee, righteous thinking that I am too good to not step down and help the younger brother. I don’t want to live like the younger brother always running and never reaching the hand of God.


God is a Prodigal God. He lavishly lets his grace fall on us. He wants nothing more than to welcome us back with open arms and wrapped us tightly in them. Let him be part of your life and consume it completely above all else this world has to offer. For, it’s only temporary. But God? God is eternal.

New Blog Up and Running!!

Hey all!

Just wanted to thank you all for reading and I wanted to let you know that I also started a new blog. I will keep this one for personal stuff. But my new one is something that I have always wanted to do. Music is a huge part of my life, and I wanted started a blog about certain songs, lyrics, or whatever that mean something to me at the moment. Music has a way of inspiring a person whether they notice or not.

Please check out and add Sing A Song to your friends!!!

Thanks, all!
~Mindy

All in Good Time, Mindy. All in Good Time

Is it sad of me to say that I am jealous of my friends with families? I want one so bad. All my sisters and brother are married and have kids. Most of my friends are married and have kids. And here, as one of my friends from younger years said, "Here we always thought Mindy was going to be the first to settle down with a family."

I think it really starts to get to me hard this time of year. All the cute little kids in their holiday outfits all dressed up ready to go to church then to come home to find Santa stopped by while they were out. All the babies, having no idea what they are in for when they grow up, cooing and jibbering as they crawl or waddle about from Grandma to Grandpa to Auntie to Uncle.

Reading a friends post this morning on facebook really did me in. Her mom had commented on how she is in love with all the nesting that is starting to take place at their house with the little one's arrival right around the corner. "How awesome God is."

Yes, how awesome God really is. But, come on. Can he cut me a break soon here?! I'm not getting any younger and I want to hold a little one in my arms soon. I want to start a family. I want to play in the dirt, kiss a boo-boo, hold them till they fall back to sleep and tell them it's okay-The boogey man can't hurt you.

I want that.

But when will God put that certain someone in my path. Or is he, and I haven't even opened my eyes yet. Or-maybe God still thinks I still have some things to accomplish before I settle down.

I don't know, but it's so hard to trust Him sometimes. Nevertheless, I still do. I try waiting patiently to His still small voice, but I get distracted ever so quickly. so many things flood my mind at one time.

Then I hear God calling to me- "All in good time, Mindy. All in good time. My plans for you are set. They are in motion. Trust me and you will see them through. Even when you waiver, I will guide you back on that path."

So, jealously shouldn't be what I feeling. I should be happy for them(which I am by the way...) and trust someday, maybe God has that in my plan as well. Or, maybe something bigger and better than I could ever hope or dream up!

"See the Star in the sky....Gently leading the way"

I love Christmas. I love the sights, sounds and smells. I love the home-y kind of feeling that you get when family and friends gather to share stories and sit and have dinner together.

What I love most about Christmas is the music and concerts. Yes, I celebrate Christmas all year long with remember Jesus' birth, death and resurrection, but there is something special about the time God's Son came to Earth to humble himself and become like us. And Christmas concerts do that to me.

I went on Sunday, December 6th, to see the Bethlehem Skyline with downhere, Jason Gray, and Lanae Hale. I got to help run the merch stand and meet some great new people. I got to finally meet Lanae. She is one sweet lady! I also got to meet and work Merch with Walt. He works with Centricity as well as played bass for Lanae on her set on the Skyline tour.

We had a meet and greet before the show and since I had an extra pass, I thought that I would just randomly pic 4 kids out of the crowd. I picked four very sweet little girls who seemed to enjoy every minute of it. I wanted to pick kids, because meeting "rockstars" at their ages means alot to them. One of the girls said she didn't know what to say to them! I told her just be yourself and just start talking about anything. They are all great and they love meeting their fans!

I had too many memories before and after the show to even write here. If you are on the downhere messageboards, you can see the stories there.

But the concert itself was awesome. I didn't get to see Lanae's or Jason Gray's set because I volunteered to watch the merch table so the other volunteers could go and see the show. That was alright. I could still hear the music and I was having my own little concert up at the table.

I got to head down to see downhere and the first couple songs of the show were upbeat, fun and familiar. I was bouncing around like a normal "obnoxious fan" then out of nowhere, I just sat down, closed up, and didn't sing the rest of the night. I could barely look at the guys even. I found myself focusing more on the screens with the words. Something strange happened to me.

During soundcheck early in the day, I got to hear a snippet of Silent Night, and I know the song off the How Many Kings album, so I knew what I was in for. But nothing prepared me for what happened. I tried telling myself I wasn't going to get emotional, but I couldn't help myself. Every ounce of energy I had trying to hold the walls up, broke down.

Silent Night was always my grandma's favorite song. She and I were really close when I was little and the more I grow up, the harder I am finding myself with her passing. Yes, it's been almost 20 years since she has gone, but being 9 you really don't understand what has happened. I have so many great memories with her. Every Friday I would go to her house and hang for the weekend. Our Saturday morning ritual was make scrambled eggs, I would bring her her coffee, then we would watch Gunsmoke or Bonanza, depending on what time we got up. And depending on the time of year, we would go shopping or rummage saling.

I remember when she got sick and was in the hospital. She was in a coma but she still squeezed my hand. Mom told her we would be back later that night to see her. It was about a half hour after we left, and the hospital called. Mom brought me into their bedroom and told me. I screamed. It couldn't have happened.

Every year gets harder, so I think with downhere releasing How Many Kings and putting that on there was really really hard on me. I remember listening to it with Liz on the way home from our downhomiepalooza back in July of this year. I couldn't even make it through the verse line of the song without weeping.

But I am grateful for tears. Tears of joy, tears of sorrow. I have many great memories with my Grandma. I still wish she was here. I know that she would be proud of me, but I want her there in the front row watching me perform, I want her to be the first to hear a song that I wrote. And I know she is sitting with me as I write them.

This blog has taken a completely different turn than I wanted it to. But maybe I needed it. I wanted to tell you about my wonderful experience about the Bethlehem Skyline tour. But in a sense I think I did. This tour means a lot to me. It brings back wonderful memories while making new ones with family, friends, and "rockstars" that I consider like family.

So here are a few pics from the show. You can see more of my pics at: mindyracal Flickr If you get the chance to go, please do! Check out the tour here at the Bethlehem Skyline site.

Motivation

Why is it that when you wake up in the morning, you suddenly feel unmotivated? What is going on in your mind? I think I know what it is. It's the "easy" way out. I think that's why I am so far out of shape. Just the simple little thought, "Oh, I'll do that tomorrow," plays a big part. We are such procrastinators. We want everything NOW, but we always wait to do it "later". Then it never gets done.

Today I proved to myself that I could do it. I woke up this morning, feeling blah, knowing it was cold outside and didn't want to freeze my lungs. Then I made an excuse saying I w ill burn all those extra calories tomorrow at Zumba, so I won't do it. Plus, I am starting to get a nasty cough like I had at the beginning of November. I hope it goes away fast; I have a "date" with downhere, Jason Gray, and Lanae Hale coming up Sunday and I need to be in tip top shape to help run merch and be a strong supporter for them.

So, as I was preparing my morning tea, I rearranged my running/walking playlists and just decided to plop the headphones in and go. So I did. I dressed up, stretched and headed out.

I did my C25K for 20 minutes. I slowed down when I felt my lungs start to get fuzzy. I didn't run as much as I did last week, but at least I got a good amount of running in to still keep up with the schedule. AND, I still got up off my butt to run :)

I am learning every day that it takes a lot of discipline to refocus your brain. It's so easy to just not do something. But if you want results, you have to make an initiative and do something about it.