God's gifts

About a year ago, the "Homeless man with the Golden Voice" hit the airwaves. His desperate struggle was there for all the world to see. Have you wondered what he's doing now? 



So who gets the credit for this life changing turn around? 
The difference between my successes of years gone by is that I didn't acknowledge the Lord or thank him for anything before," he told them. "This time around, I have God in my life, acknowledging him on a daily basis. I've found a new sense of spirituality now."

Dancing through life...

The Bible lists instances of God's people dancing. The most famous, I suppose, would be David dancing in front of the Ark of the Covenant...reading the description, he danced with joy and with abandon! In fact, he danced with so much abandon that one of his wives got really upset about it. But David didn't care what she thought, he had a need to worship the Lord with his body and followed through.

I know this song is an allegory of Jesus moving through his life, but the more I thought, it is an appropriate one. Why shouldn't our lives be seen as a dance? Not all of the movements will be happy but they won't all be sad either. If we dance through life, we have to be active participants. We cannot just sit passively and let life go by...We have to be moving!

One Sunday, about 3 years ago, my grandson (who is now 7) heard it. I'm sure most of you know how much attention a 4 year old pays to most hymns. Suddenly he was up... swaying to the music...and then dancing in the pew! He was following his heart and the words he was hearing. He wasn't constrained by what he thought the others expected of him. He was worshiping the Lord in one of the only ways he knew...and he didn't care who saw. That day I learned about praising God from a child. We are called to praise Him with our entire being, and as the Spirit moves us. Even though I am (yikes!) middle aged, I have finally learned that worship and dignity don't always go hand in hand!

Today I just felt the need to listen again...

Psalm 84

Psalm 84

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[c]

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

8 Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.

10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.

12 LORD Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.


Praying the Psalms has added a whole new dimension to my prayer life. I'm sure many of you have discovered this for yourself...but it's new to me. He asks us to glorify His Name and has given us the words!

Beirut

This is another Flash Mob...you've seen them here before...but this one gives me goose bumps! The sounds, the music, the enthusiasm...be sure an click on the "cc" for captioning...

Cartoons

This song has been around for quite some time...the youth used to sing it every chance they got. It's been many a moon since I heard it so I thought I'd look it up and put it out for you all to hear...be sure and hang around to the end! As someone once pointed out, this might give us an alternative to saying Alleluia during Lent!

Warmth n Winter 2010

Kyle was MIA for the picture, working hard to help make it all happen!

Despite the snow and ice...We did it!

The Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil was our speaker...Pocket Full of Rocks provided the music. It was a great weekend!

Lauds

Monastics (Nuns and Monks) schedule their day around the "Liturgy of the Hours", certain times of the day that they meet together to pray, sing and praise...They are:
Matins (during the night)
Lauds (at Dawn)
Prime (6am, the first hour)
Terce (9am, the third hour)
Sext (Noon, the sixth hour)
None (3pm, the ninth hour)
Vespers (Evening, at "the lighting of the lamps")
Compline (night or just before bedtime)

Watch and listen to Lauds...see the pictures of the earth as it wakes...hear the bells as they call to prayer and then the singing!

I'll Fly

I can't hear this song without thinking of my Nanny. Think of the mountains of NC, tent meeting, summer nights, guitars, banjos and fiddles. It may be different than what you're used to but it was a wonderful way to worship! I'll always remember feeling happy and safe and loved!