One of the dearest friends God has ever graced me with got married yesterday at 4 p.m. to the man she has been waiting for. It was the most beautiful wedding I have been to...and believe me when I say I have been to a lot! Being a violinist I have played many weddings and about half of those I may not have known the people but I have discernment enough to know whether the couples really loved each other or not....When they did there was a radiance and joy that filled the whole room.
The Purity of yesterday's ceremony intoxicated the whole place....at least us girls ...or rather for me :) Every single one of us were practically weeping! Pure Love is the Best!!
There were 9 bridesmaids....we all represented (as another bridesmaid so beautifully put it) Stephanie's deposits all over Georgia, Alabama, and other states. Not all of us knew each other, but we all at least knew one other person. There was a sweet fellowship in the brides room before the wedding that only the Holy Spirit could have brought. I had a present for Steph......a song and after that we prayed over her.
I thought that the song I wrote was about me and for me, but I quickly realized it wasn't....and God showed me...it was for Stephanie. My plan had been to record it for her on my new macbook....lol...however I didn't exactly receive the computer in adequate time and so I presented it to her live in the room across the hall which fortunately had a piano in it. So I told her the story of the song and how I thought it was for me.... and then I sang it to her...She cried. I contained my emotions with only a few mess ups on the piano. It was a sweet time.
I love that woman of God so much.. Stephanie has always been the one to encourage me to keep writing songs. Always telling me how they had encouraged her and inspiring me to not give up on what God had put in my heart. I was so honored to be involved in her day! And I am so privileged to share in her Joy! Congratulations Stephanie and Josh Fleming....
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Don't let me Settle
"Don't Let me Settle for someone who's second best
Don't Let me Settle for someone like all the rest
For I believe there is only One out there for me
And no one else will do so I will wait on You
I will wait on You."
~chorus to a song I wrote my freshman year in college
It's still my prayer. I'm learning to wait on the Lord. For He is faithful that promised.
Don't Let me Settle for someone like all the rest
For I believe there is only One out there for me
And no one else will do so I will wait on You
I will wait on You."
~chorus to a song I wrote my freshman year in college
It's still my prayer. I'm learning to wait on the Lord. For He is faithful that promised.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
To love Jesus more ....at any cost
"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes
All my own desires and hopes
And accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all
utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.
Fill me and Seal me with Thy Holy Spirit
Use me as Thou wilt,
Send me where Thou wilt,
Work out Thy whole will in my life,
At any cost, Now and Forever."
~Prayer of Betty Scott Stam~
I read a story yesterday in the book Quest for Love by Elisabeth Elliot. Betty Scott and John Stam gave their lives to the work of Christ so much so that even though they loved each other deeply they still said the work of the Lord first. She had gone ahead of him into Missions a year before he would be finished with school. He did not feel it right to ask for her hand and ask her to wait for him.God's work came first. So they both, knowing that they loved each other went their separate ways to fulfill the call of God on their lives...to take the Gospel to the Chinese people. Niether knew what God had in store for them with this love they had, but simply laid it down and continued the work God had given them to do. They were both Slaves to Christ and no one else.
In a year from this time, John graduated and got accepted into the China Inland Mission. Soon they were united and married . All in God's sovereign time. 11 months later they had a baby girl, Helen Priscilla Stam.
Betty wrote the above prayer years before John and Betty were married. Just 3 months after their daughter was born, and 14 months after they were married, they were Captured by Chinese Communists, walked through the village half naked, and beheaded for the Cause of Christ.
All my own desires and hopes
And accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all
utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.
Fill me and Seal me with Thy Holy Spirit
Use me as Thou wilt,
Send me where Thou wilt,
Work out Thy whole will in my life,
At any cost, Now and Forever."
~Prayer of Betty Scott Stam~
I read a story yesterday in the book Quest for Love by Elisabeth Elliot. Betty Scott and John Stam gave their lives to the work of Christ so much so that even though they loved each other deeply they still said the work of the Lord first. She had gone ahead of him into Missions a year before he would be finished with school. He did not feel it right to ask for her hand and ask her to wait for him.God's work came first. So they both, knowing that they loved each other went their separate ways to fulfill the call of God on their lives...to take the Gospel to the Chinese people. Niether knew what God had in store for them with this love they had, but simply laid it down and continued the work God had given them to do. They were both Slaves to Christ and no one else.
In a year from this time, John graduated and got accepted into the China Inland Mission. Soon they were united and married . All in God's sovereign time. 11 months later they had a baby girl, Helen Priscilla Stam.
Betty wrote the above prayer years before John and Betty were married. Just 3 months after their daughter was born, and 14 months after they were married, they were Captured by Chinese Communists, walked through the village half naked, and beheaded for the Cause of Christ.
Monday, April 11, 2011
To Count it all as Loss
Today I had Starbucks with my friend Mallory...this is not an uncommon occurance. Mallory and I meet at least once a week for coffee. I am so thankful for a friend like Mallory.Her Quiet and Sweet Spirit inspires me and challenges my thinking. By being able to hear her journey as a believer she is constantly causing me to question my real motives for the ways that I think and the reasons I do what I do...Who is the center of my world? Me .........or Jesus? Who am I really seeking to please in the long run? I am very thankful for the true friend that I have in her.
Satan will do anything and everything to get my attention away from Christ. And he succeeds at this far too often. He wants my thoughts on myself or anyone who is not Christ. He would even take my "religious attempts" at doing something "good" for Jesus as long as my attention is really on myself and not truly on Jesus. Sometimes when the Lord gives me a revelation, I may boast in the fact that I got a revelation rather than being humbled by the Word of the Lord...How Selfish am I? :( Satan wants my life...He is after me! And Oh! How I live like he is not....this scares me....However, I will not stop fighting...I must become more aware. I need more wisdom. I think I'm some good person, but I'm not. I am a sinner and am constantly in need of my Savior! I need to Know Jesus More!
I want to truly count it all as loss compared to Knowing my God.
Satan will do anything and everything to get my attention away from Christ. And he succeeds at this far too often. He wants my thoughts on myself or anyone who is not Christ. He would even take my "religious attempts" at doing something "good" for Jesus as long as my attention is really on myself and not truly on Jesus. Sometimes when the Lord gives me a revelation, I may boast in the fact that I got a revelation rather than being humbled by the Word of the Lord...How Selfish am I? :( Satan wants my life...He is after me! And Oh! How I live like he is not....this scares me....However, I will not stop fighting...I must become more aware. I need more wisdom. I think I'm some good person, but I'm not. I am a sinner and am constantly in need of my Savior! I need to Know Jesus More!
I want to truly count it all as loss compared to Knowing my God.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Florida Here I Come!!!
2 more days and I'm headed to Florida to see my family. I absolutely CANNOT wait to go!!!! I will get to see 3 of my big brothers and sister in laws and my nieces and nephews and good old friends from good ole Lake Wales, Florida.
Central Florida is probably one of my favorite places to be. I have so many memories there that I cherish...a little piece of my heart is there. One day I wouldn't mind living there.
This year is coming to a close...there are 7 weeks left of school and counting. Life is getting very busy for me with our end of the year Chorus performance coming up May 12. If you didn't know already, this is my first year teaching. I'm having fun being creative for this performance....making it how I want it and trying my best to make it how the Students want it as well... As far as I can tell the Students are enjoying what we are doing. It's an elective so It needs to be fun. And It's the last 2 periods of the day so it doesn't need to be boring....These poor students need a break to have some fun...I hope that's a little bit of what Chorus has been this year. I have enjoyed it and I hope they have as well.
Next year I have the responsibility of Chorus and Drama.....I don't know how in the world I'm going to do that.....I guess we shall see.
But I am ready for Spring Break!!!!! I have a feeling that after next week, I won't want to come back to Georgia..........
Central Florida is probably one of my favorite places to be. I have so many memories there that I cherish...a little piece of my heart is there. One day I wouldn't mind living there.
This year is coming to a close...there are 7 weeks left of school and counting. Life is getting very busy for me with our end of the year Chorus performance coming up May 12. If you didn't know already, this is my first year teaching. I'm having fun being creative for this performance....making it how I want it and trying my best to make it how the Students want it as well... As far as I can tell the Students are enjoying what we are doing. It's an elective so It needs to be fun. And It's the last 2 periods of the day so it doesn't need to be boring....These poor students need a break to have some fun...I hope that's a little bit of what Chorus has been this year. I have enjoyed it and I hope they have as well.
Next year I have the responsibility of Chorus and Drama.....I don't know how in the world I'm going to do that.....I guess we shall see.
But I am ready for Spring Break!!!!! I have a feeling that after next week, I won't want to come back to Georgia..........
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
"God is Always Good"
"When Life doesn't go the way I thought it should...Sometimes it's because God is Good. And when plans fall apart though I never dreamed they would.. Sometimes it's because God is Good."
This is part of a song that is on John Waller's new album. It's really been ministering to me and opening up my understanding to the reality that God truly is always good in every situation and in every season. Man makes plans in his heart, but the Lord directs his steps. All too often I complain all the way through the trials and tests that I go through, almost certain the Lord is upset with me or that the Lord has left me alone and I don't know why. I forget that it is in these times of testing the Lord says "Rejoice.....JUMP FOR JOY"....really, Lord? Jump for Joy? Is that really what you meant? Do you see what I'm going through? It hurts and I don't understand why you are putting me through this! How can I have any kind of Joy? After listening to my faithless, untrusting thoughts for long enough the Lord is beginning to have grace on me...
I read the book of Job the other day. I started reading it because it was in my schedule to read the Bible in a year and I was behind...I was only going to Try to read a few chapters, but once I began, I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all. God began to speak into my own faithlessness and doubt. God is Always Good. It's his nature. It's simply who He is. God knew that Job was blameless and innocent. In fact, God was the one who made Satan notice him. God was the one who allowed all that happened to Job to happen. Why? Because God is sovereign. Job kept complaining saying that He wanted to present his case to God. Job wanted to tell God that he had done no wrong, that he was not in sin and not deserving of all this. Job knew it was God's hand all along. This opened my eyes to myself.
I like to plan ahead. I have to have my planner or I don't know what is going on. If I lose my planner, I'm totally lost in this world....not really but almost. I like to figure things out too. I like to figure out situations and outcomes...especially my own. Recently, I had an experience in my life where the outcome was very different than I thought it would be because I thought that I had figured out what God was going to do. After all, I had been simply waiting and watching the Lord do what he was already doing, so in my mind I thought that I knew what the outcome would be. As you have probably already figured out, the outcome was very different than where I thought the Lord would bring it.
I was not shaken. But I was confused a bit. I told the Lord, "I trusted You, And I watched you work. I saw Your hand. What did I do wrong? Was I really not trusting? Was I just wanting my way? But I know You were there. I don't understand why it went this way. Was I decieved? If I was, Oh how easily I was....But I trust you still I know you have a plan and purpose."
And the Lord said to me, "You did trust me, my daughter. And you are right. My hand was in it and I was working. However, Your ways are not mine. I am sovereign. Although there is pain in trials, don't you see that's right where I am...That's where I fellowship with you the most.That's where Your Joy comes from because that's where my Son is. I wanted to see if you really trust me. If you would take my hand and let Me lead you and walk beside you in those trials. Don't Give up. Keep trusting Me. I never left you once."
All of the AWFUL things that happened to Job and yet God's hand was in it. God allowed it....For Job's growth. God is sovereign and always good! Always! We don't understand everything He is doing in our lives. How can we? He's God and we aren't! It is in the valley where we are refined and where we meet with Jesus. Where He allows us to fellowship and partake in His massive suffering.
It was in the hardest struggle of my life before my dad had his heart surgery a few months ago that I experienced REAL JOY that comes from the trial's of our faith (James 1).And these trials will never stop. We will never stay on the Mountain long. We are people of the valley. It's how we respond to them and Who we meet there that's important. I'm so thankful that God chose me to be apart of His Mission!
Wherever You are in Your life...If you are on the Mountain, enjoy it while it lasts, but Don't expect to stay there. The valley is where we are refined...it's where we are made more like Christ Jesus. It's where we really experience and get to know who He is. Don't give up! He is with You! And He won't ever leave! I promise!
In all things, GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD!
This is part of a song that is on John Waller's new album. It's really been ministering to me and opening up my understanding to the reality that God truly is always good in every situation and in every season. Man makes plans in his heart, but the Lord directs his steps. All too often I complain all the way through the trials and tests that I go through, almost certain the Lord is upset with me or that the Lord has left me alone and I don't know why. I forget that it is in these times of testing the Lord says "Rejoice.....JUMP FOR JOY"....really, Lord? Jump for Joy? Is that really what you meant? Do you see what I'm going through? It hurts and I don't understand why you are putting me through this! How can I have any kind of Joy? After listening to my faithless, untrusting thoughts for long enough the Lord is beginning to have grace on me...
I read the book of Job the other day. I started reading it because it was in my schedule to read the Bible in a year and I was behind...I was only going to Try to read a few chapters, but once I began, I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all. God began to speak into my own faithlessness and doubt. God is Always Good. It's his nature. It's simply who He is. God knew that Job was blameless and innocent. In fact, God was the one who made Satan notice him. God was the one who allowed all that happened to Job to happen. Why? Because God is sovereign. Job kept complaining saying that He wanted to present his case to God. Job wanted to tell God that he had done no wrong, that he was not in sin and not deserving of all this. Job knew it was God's hand all along. This opened my eyes to myself.
I like to plan ahead. I have to have my planner or I don't know what is going on. If I lose my planner, I'm totally lost in this world....not really but almost. I like to figure things out too. I like to figure out situations and outcomes...especially my own. Recently, I had an experience in my life where the outcome was very different than I thought it would be because I thought that I had figured out what God was going to do. After all, I had been simply waiting and watching the Lord do what he was already doing, so in my mind I thought that I knew what the outcome would be. As you have probably already figured out, the outcome was very different than where I thought the Lord would bring it.
I was not shaken. But I was confused a bit. I told the Lord, "I trusted You, And I watched you work. I saw Your hand. What did I do wrong? Was I really not trusting? Was I just wanting my way? But I know You were there. I don't understand why it went this way. Was I decieved? If I was, Oh how easily I was....But I trust you still I know you have a plan and purpose."
And the Lord said to me, "You did trust me, my daughter. And you are right. My hand was in it and I was working. However, Your ways are not mine. I am sovereign. Although there is pain in trials, don't you see that's right where I am...That's where I fellowship with you the most.That's where Your Joy comes from because that's where my Son is. I wanted to see if you really trust me. If you would take my hand and let Me lead you and walk beside you in those trials. Don't Give up. Keep trusting Me. I never left you once."
All of the AWFUL things that happened to Job and yet God's hand was in it. God allowed it....For Job's growth. God is sovereign and always good! Always! We don't understand everything He is doing in our lives. How can we? He's God and we aren't! It is in the valley where we are refined and where we meet with Jesus. Where He allows us to fellowship and partake in His massive suffering.
It was in the hardest struggle of my life before my dad had his heart surgery a few months ago that I experienced REAL JOY that comes from the trial's of our faith (James 1).And these trials will never stop. We will never stay on the Mountain long. We are people of the valley. It's how we respond to them and Who we meet there that's important. I'm so thankful that God chose me to be apart of His Mission!
Wherever You are in Your life...If you are on the Mountain, enjoy it while it lasts, but Don't expect to stay there. The valley is where we are refined...it's where we are made more like Christ Jesus. It's where we really experience and get to know who He is. Don't give up! He is with You! And He won't ever leave! I promise!
In all things, GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Love Is Waiting
This song speaks volumes to me....I get 2 different yet similar meanings from the words "Love is Waiting". The first being that I am "saving" my love to give to whoever it is that God has intended me to be with. The second is that Waiting is a definition of love. I am showing my future husband that I love him by my Waiting.That's what love does...It Waits. I have listened to this song a hundred times over the last few years. It is still ministering to me and encouraging me.
Let none that wait on the Lord ever be put to shame.
This is where I am... <3 Sharon
p.s. I highlighted my favorite lines. She is such a brilliant writer.
Here are the Lyrics:
In the autumn on the ground, between the traffic and the ordinary sounds
I am thinking signs and seasons while a north wind blows through
i watch as lovers pass me by
Walking stories - whos and hows and whys
Musing lazily on love
Pondering you
I'll give it time, give it space and be still for a spell
When it's time to walk that way we wana walk it well
I could right a million songs about the way you say my name
I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again
and like I can't force the sun to rise or hasten summer's start,
neither should I rush my way into your heart
Let none that wait on the Lord ever be put to shame.
This is where I am... <3 Sharon
p.s. I highlighted my favorite lines. She is such a brilliant writer.
Here are the Lyrics:
In the autumn on the ground, between the traffic and the ordinary sounds
I am thinking signs and seasons while a north wind blows through
i watch as lovers pass me by
Walking stories - whos and hows and whys
Musing lazily on love
Pondering you
I'll give it time, give it space and be still for a spell
When it's time to walk that way we wana walk it well
[CHORUS]
I'll be waiting for you baby
I'll be holding back the darkest night
Love is waiting til we're ready, til it's right
Love is waiting
I'll be waiting for you baby
I'll be holding back the darkest night
Love is waiting til we're ready, til it's right
Love is waiting
It's my caution not the cold
there's no other hand that i would rather hold
the climate changes, im singing for the strangers about you
dont keep time, slow the pace
Honey hold on if you can
the bets are getting surer now that you're my man
there's no other hand that i would rather hold
the climate changes, im singing for the strangers about you
dont keep time, slow the pace
Honey hold on if you can
the bets are getting surer now that you're my man
I could right a million songs about the way you say my name
I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again
and like I can't force the sun to rise or hasten summer's start,
neither should I rush my way into your heart
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)