Music Monday

Yesterday our church celebrated our 125th anniversary.  We invited back all of our former pastors who are still living and any relatives of former pastors who have passed away.  We had pastors and relatives from all over come back to celebrate with us.  Several of the relatives were related to pastors who had pastored in the late 1800's or early 1900's.  

It was such a special service.  Our church's theme this year is Walk by Faith and all the former pastors spoke of walking by faith during their time at our church.  The stories of God's provision and direction were amazing.  We laughed and we cried.  I was so encouraged by these men of God who were still listening to Him and following Him late into their lives.  They were so sweet and encouraging to us.  

I started thinking about Music Monday and what I wanted the song to be.  After yesterday this song, which has always been one of my very favorites immediately came to mind.  I think the lyrics echo our service yesterday perfectly.  

Music Monday

Last night we watched some of the Grammy's.  It is always a spectacle and last night was no different.  Of course, much of the show was a tribute to Whitney Houston and her too early passing.  I wanted to post a Valentine's Day love song here and since it is appropriate I thought I would post Whitney's Greatest Love of All. I was in about 5th or 6th grade I think when this came out and thought it was the best song ever.  My prayer is that Whitney knew the truly Greatest Love of All, Jesus.  

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!  I hope it is filled with much love.  

Book Review Tuesday

Tonight I am leading the women's book club at my church.  I have been leading it for over 5 years now.  It is one of my loves.  Actually reading anything period is one of my loves.  I have always loved to read.  It started young when my family didn't have a television.  Not because we couldn't afford it, but because my parents believed it wasn't good for us as children or for us as a family.  Can you even imagine your home without a television?  I never knew what I was missing.  We read through series of books together as we read every night before bed and any time we couldn't wait to find out what happened next in the book.  We played lots of board games together as a family.  And we went on bike rides through our neighborhood in the summer with my sister and I on the back of my parents' bikes.  It was good.  I learned to love to read and it has stayed with me.  We finally did get a tv when my grandfather came to stay with my sister and I when my parents had to go away on a trip.  He wouldn't stay without one!

I thought it might be fun to review the books we read for book club so if any of you out there want to read some good (mostly) Christian fiction you can have some recommended to you.  Tonight we are discussing Not A Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols.  It isn't a new book, but it is fabulous.  It is about a young woman who is saved as a child, but her family falls apart and she ends up in a very bad situation.  She manages to get out of it, start anew under an assumed name and meets a prominent minister's family who is struggling to hold it together after the loss of a family member and the demands of a high profile ministry.  Their lives connect and intertwine.  Ultimately it is a story of redemption and how nothing is too awful for God to redeem.  My favorite quote of the book is "You cannot out sin the cross."

Next month we are reading A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander.  I cannot wait to start it!  Let me know if you ever want to join us in person.  We'd love to have you!

Music Monday and an Important Reminder

I was just over at Gypsy Mama, one of my new favorite blogs, and she has a post today about being who we are and appreciating what we are good at instead of what we are not.  This is one thing that has been on my heart concerning my blog.  It is hard to blog about yourself and your life. (at least for me it is)  I never ever want anyone to read my blog and feel less about themselves or their lives.  I have friends who don't read blogs because it makes them feel bad about their life.  I hate that, and it's one reason I quit blogging for a while.  I

I have always been one to get excited about things (even very small things)  At Christmas or birthdays growing up, as soon as I got a new purse or new shoes I would put them on and show everyone.  Not because I was bragging or thought I was so cool, but because I was genuinely excited.  I'm still that way, but now I worry when I get like that.  I never want people to think I think I am better than anyone else.  I hope that comes through in my voice and I know that people who truly know me understand that.  But, if you ever read my blog and hear any haughtiness or pride, please let me know.  I never, ever, ever want that to be what this blog is about.  

This song for Music Monday sums it up.  All I ever have to be is who He Made me.  He knows our hearts. I'm so thankful He does.  

Valentine Decor

I got a frame at a local thrift store months ago and have been trying to decide what to do with it. When I started thinking about Valentine's Day decorations I decided I didn't know what or how, but I was going to use it. I began by spray painting it ashiny red. Very Valentiney (You didn't know that was a word? Well, it is now.) I was going to put a big heart in the middle or a set of X and O that I am going to glitter, but when I found x's and o's at the Target dollar spot my wheels got going. I was thinking of how I could string them to hang when I thought of my frame. So I strung pink and white baker's twine and then glued the x's and o's and hearts on the baker's twine. I am very happy with the way it turned out. It kind of reminds me of stained glass. So easy, and incredibly cheap - two of my favorite characteristics of a great craft.

Linking up with SixSistersStuff Strut your Stuff Saturday!