There’s been a lot rattling around in my mind lately, but this stupid song somehow got stuck during lunch:
I can’t get no satisfaction,
I can’t get no satisfaction.
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can’t get no, I can’t get no.
Contrast that with…
Continue Reading…
A few weekends ago, Karen and I spent some time at Disneyland (WooHoo!). At one point, after walking around and standing in lines for about half of our 14-hour shift, we took a break, found a bench, and people watched…another fun activity to do at the park. [sometimes when i’m doing this, i wonder who is watching me and what are they observing, thinking, or saying. anyway…]
At one point, Karen made an observation that came to mind yesterday as I was talking with someone. As I recall, in effect she said:
Music is a big part of who I am. The two songs below are resonating in me right now as my dad and step-mom died in a car accident over the weekend.
We are still grappling with it all, but the certainty is:
Soli Deo Gloria!
Blessed Be Your name [song story]:
Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name
Yet another Andrew Peterson song that sums it up for me – as his “I’ve Got News” did…
Fool With A Fancy Guitar
It’s so easy to cash in these chips on my shoulder
So easy to loose this old tongue like a tiger
It’s easy to let all this bitterness smolder
Just to hide it away like a cigarette lighter
It’s easy to curse and to hurt and to hinder
It’s easy to not have the heart to remember
That I am a priest and a prince in the Kingdom of God
I’ve got voices that scream in my head like a siren
Fears that I feel in the night when I sleep
Continue Reading…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11
We are … perplexed, but not in despair; … So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:8, 18
It’s cool how the small things cause you to remember stuff from your past – both good and, well, not-so-good.
In my new role as a foster father (not-soon-enough adoptive father!), the other day, Sam & I were cleaning up the side of the house and we were “team sweeping” the leaves and stuff – me sweeping, him using the dust pan. He was having a tough time getting all the stuff in the dust pan and I recalled how my dad taught me the “sweep, back up the pan, and repeat” process for getting all the stuff picked up. So, naturally, I imparted my well-honed “sweeping” knowledge to him…
Pretty cool – and not so painful. I’m sure, in the course of our lives together, I’ll have ample opportunity to share and teach Sam about the not-so-good or hard lessons I’ve learned…
I was reading in Colossians yesterday and these two verses from chapter two popped out:
9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Here is my #5opic Friday Challenge album!
[What’s #50pic Friday? See Here, then Here]
All photos taken with an iPhone and either left “as taken” or processed using a few apps: CameraBag, Pic Grunger, TiltShift, Photogene, or ColorSplash.
Enjoy!
OK. Please read the post title again in your best robot voice…that will lend to the theme here.
Ever had one of those days – or maybe weeks? I have – I guess we all do.
The other day, I found myself in robot mode. You know, where in spite of the junk that’s going on around you, you enter that safe and socially presentable state called: ROBOT MODE. (just for effect, re-read those two words in your robot voice.)
I was bummed, busy, and had stuff to do and people to work with…so I “engaged” and went through my day as if nothing were wrong – you know: birds singing, rainbows in the sky, whistling aloud, etc. Believe me, I’m good at it too – I bet I fool most people.
Except one…OK, two. (OK, maybe more, but I’m only focusing on two here…)
I was reading in First Thessalonians this morning and this verse in chapter one caught me:
3We [Paul, Silas and Timothy] continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)
Um, ok…”caught” is probably not the best word. “Convicted” is probably more appropriate…
Mainly because at times, if I were honest, Paul may have phrased this a little differently about me (…maybe even you).
Maybe something like:
3We continually [lift you] before our God and Father [because of] your work produced by guilt, your labor prompted by obligation, and your endurance inspired by fear of our [gracious] Lord Jesus Christ [and the totally wrong thought you have that you’ve got to “bank” good things to make Him love you, accept you, and answer your prayers].
x
Oh, to be like the Thessalonians…
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:13, 16
Every time I hear this song, I’m amazed, humbled, and filled with hope.
Beautiful Things
Michael & Lisa Gungor
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
© worshiptogether.com songs
DENNARR(dot)COM 