Thank You, God, for Sunday

Today I was able to help out with the toddlers in the nursery. They are so sweet and they always make me think of my children when they were young. I'm so glad I can spend the time with them, and that their parents can have a safe place for them to play while they worship.

When I was on my way home, a song came on the radio that reminded me to keep things in perspective. With work being so busy, sometimes it's hard to just let go so I can relax in my Savior's arms. The song is by Nichole Nordeman and is called Brave. The chorus goes:

"So long status quo, I think I just let go, You make me want to be brave
The way it always was, Is no longer good enough, You make me want to be brave"

When I searched the web to find the words, I came across another song by Nichole Nordeman that really brings the truth to the forefront. I hope those of you that read this think about these words, and if you have not yet let go and let Jesus lead your life, that you will.

What If
For a friend who thinks this Jesus stuff is nuts

What if you're right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you're right?
What if it's true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it's true?

What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?

But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?

What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That's all you find?

What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Than folklore that must be told and retold?

You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land for so long
But what if you're wrong?

Nichole Nordeman

God's True Love for Us

Last Sunday, we sang a song that had been going through my mind for the past week. The song talks about letting the Power of the Cross work in your life and not forgetting about keeping Jesus first in your life - in ALL you do.

"Believe"
I say on Sunday how much I want revival, then on Monday, I can’t even find my Bible.
Where’s the power - The power of the cross in my life?

I’m sick of playing the game of religion. I’m tired of losing my reason for living.
Where’s the power - The power of the cross in my life?

I’m not content just to walk through my life, giving into the lies, walking in compromises - now we cry out as a generation that was lost, but now is found in the power of the cross

Chorus
We believe in You. We believe in the power of Your word and its truth.
We believe in You, so we lay down our cause that our cross may be found in You.

I’m not satisfied doing it my own way. I’m not satisfied to do church and walk away.
I’m not satisfied, there’s no love in my life but You.

I’m not satisfied living in yesterday’s hour. I’m not satisfied to have the form, but not the power.
I’m not satisfied, oh Lord, I am crucified in You.

So we lay down our cause - that our cross may be found in You.

Hillsong Music Australia

A Time For Healing

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina has touched my heart so deeply. At times like these, my prayers go out to all of the victims and I pray for guidance on where and how I can help. My church has looked into organizations to join with and will be “putting out the Bible” next Sunday and forwarding those funds to Samaritan’s Purse to help out the people affected by Katrina. They will also be using the donations to help out the family of our church members. My prayer is that this will give people the hope that comes from knowing that God’s love for them is never-ending.

I was able to find friends who lived in New Orleans about a week after the disaster. They are fine, but had to evacuate from their home, along with their dogs. I tried to look at the Google Map of the Katrina devastation to see if their house was ok, but there was a cloud over their house at the moment the posted picture was taken, so it was hard to tell.

I also went on the Creating Keepsakes Message Board and changed the view from Scrapbooking Only (which is my usual view) to View All Messages so I could find out how our Scrapbooking Sisters in Louisiana and Mississippi were holding up. One of the posts touched my heart – a post from "southern mom". She had just completed 8 albums of her family photos and those albums along with all of her scrapbook supplies were washed away along with the back of her house. I am blessed with so much and wanted to share my supplies with her to help get her started again.

I feel so helpless knowing there were many others who probably couldn’t even get to a computer to let us know how they were doing, and even more families who have no home to return to.

I remember a story I once heard that helped me remember that even though you want to help everyone, there is only so much you can do, so you help who you can. And so, I will.

The Starfish

There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw an old man. As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.

The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand into the water. He asked, "Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?"

The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.

"But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish!" exclaimed the young man. "How can you make any difference?"

The old man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea, he said, "I make a difference to this one."

-Author Unknown