On Mondays I like to share a song that speaks to my heart or one that I simply enjoy. Thank you for stopping by :)
Today's song is He Reigns by The Newsboys.
The other day I was leaving work feeling kind of tired and blah ... Then I got in the car and this song came on and I felt SO much better! I guess I needed a reminder that
On Mondays I like to share a song that speaks to my heart or one that I simply enjoy. Thank you for stopping by :)
I feel like a few of the recent Monday songs have been slower in tempo and more thought-provoking. While today's song is still thought-provoking it is definitely NOT slower in tempo! Today's song is Trading My Sorrows sung by Israel & New Breed. I'm going to post the song first and then post my thoughts about it after.
I just LOVE the lyrics to this song!!!
I'm trading my sorrows I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I love the idea of laying down my sorrows and my shame ON PURPOSE! I don't have to carry that junk around anymore! There is NO benefit in that. I can trade them in for the Joy of the Lord!! I have had this song in mind for a couple of days now, and yesterday's message in church was called Living With Joy. It was an awesome message! I just love God's timing :)
Are you trading in your sorrows and shame? Are you clinging to them and holding on tightly to them? What have you got to loose my letting them go?
I chose this version of the song specifically because of the part in the middle where he sings:
Wake Up! Joy Is Here!!! Wake Up!
Are you awake my friend? Are you trading in your junk for the Joy of the Lord? Is there anyone out there saying 'Yes Lord' today?
Yes Lord, I will gladly trade in my junk for Your Joy! Thank you for giving me the option for a trade!
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Have you ever heard a song or watched a movie or read something that you have done many, many times before only to have it appear fresh to you on that particular day??
The other day I heard the song Your Grace Is Enough by Chris Tomlin. Now, I have heard this song probably hundreds of times. It is on my favorite Chris Tomlin CD (Arriving), we sing it in church, it's on my iPod. I know all the lyrics by heart. But this day somehow, the line that says Your grace is enough for me really stood out to me and I wondered -- Is it enough? Is it really enough?? I started to think of different circumstances where it might NOT be enough - things I have gone through and things that my friends and family are going through now. Is His grace REALLY enough to get us through those situations?? Who of us would answer that His grace is insufficient? I'm not sure that I know too many people who would answer that it is not. And yet, isn't that how we treat His grace by our behaviors? Don't we all have doubts - times where we lack a trust in His grace and His provision? Don't we doubt that the job will come through? Don't we fear when the bills come in? Do we trust when illness strikes? We struggle with depression, anxiety, addictions. All of these behaviors say that we don't believe that His grace is enough.
So, I wonder, if we truly recognized that His grace IS sufficient enough to carry us through anything:
would we have more peace?
would we have more joy?
would we be less stressed?
would that be what it looks like to 'live by faith and not by sight'? (2 Corinthians 5:7)
I lived for many years with anxiety, fear and doubt. I didn't know how to trust God. It was scary to let go of that junk because I didn't know what I would have in place of it. I had absolutely no idea how wonderful His grace really was to receive!! How freeing it is to place my burdens at His feet and to trust that He will take care of them. I no longer need to worry! Praise God!!
And this whole wondering left me with an overwhelming sense that YES, IT IS ENOUGH! My faith was strengthened by having followed that train of thought and realizing that there is not a situation on Earth where His grace would not be enough for me! There is absolutely NOTHING that could happen to me that He would not be there with me and for me. I am never abandoned, never alone! I am never left helpless and therefore I am NEVERHOPELESS!! What a comforting feeling that is!!
On Mondays I like to share a song that speaks to my heart or one that I simply enjoy. Thank you for stopping by :)
I recently heard this new song on the radio by Matthew West called Strong Enough.
I like this song because I simply find it encouraging! The song really grabbed my attention because the first line says 'You must think I'm strong to give me what I'm going through.' In light of my recent adventures in life, it was very encouraging to me to think that God has allowed these challenges knowing that I would try to honor Him through them all. It's encouraging that He thinks I'm strong, that He thinks I can handle it. In the song, the singer recognizes that he is not strong enough for the trials in his life right now and asks God to be strong enough for both of them. Of course, God's answer to that prayer will always be Yes! I just love that I don't have to be strong enough because He will carry me :) I pray that you are also encouraged and that you are drawing from His strength today.
And while you're on the computer, check out this new blog that I found! She is hosting a blog hop so hop on over and check out her blog :)
The other night I heard a tune similar to Josh Groban's Believe so I thought about using it for today's post. Well, in all honesty, it really is just to Christmas-y for me to use in July! LOL I am sure that I will use it some time in December since I really like that song.
But while I was on YouTube looking for that song, this one was listed on the side. As I watched it, I got *God-bumps* all over! I started to cry toward the end and was just really moved by it. This really is a fantastic song so just enjoy it for it's beauty (meaning, no deep theological meaning here this week LOL)
First off, hot summer weather has finally arrived here in Maine and I am LOVING it! Winters are so long and the summers are so short that I want to take full advantage of all the hot weather that I can.
I have been attached to my camera lately. I think I have taken over 1,000 pictures so far this month!! If it's a day that I'm not working, I can average 300 - 400 pics in a day. I think I will do a photo blog in a day or so. I have really gotten some good ones lately :)
I LOVE hearing feedback from you! If you have any thoughts or comments, then post them! Let's get some chatter going on here!
I think I have finally gotten the look of the blog to where I like it. Of course it has to be pink! I like other colors too but I am always drawn back to the pink. And that flower picture at the top? I took that out on my rose bush! I was very happy with it!
I would like to share with you my sister's blog. She claims that God laid on her heart to do a blog but she was very hesitant. Then, out of the blue, I started mine and she felt like God was really telling her to do it. So she did. Here is the link to her blog, called Treasures of Faith. http://treasuresoffaith.blogspot.com/
I have lots of blog posts on the back burner but just haven't had time to write them. Some of them are started while others are just notes in a notebook or an idea in the back of my mind. I am officially on vacation for the next ten days so hopefully I will have time to do some writing.
I found this new song on the radio that I really enjoy. I feel like it speaks very well with what I am going through with Zoe and Colin's birth-father right now. (No, that's not over yet.We have one more court appearance on Monday morning and then hopefully that will be the end for a while! If you feel lead to pray for us about that, I would very much appreciate it.) The song is called Strong Enough by Matthew West.
Lastly, I will leave you with this picture of Matt and I. It was taken last Saturday, on our 4th Wedding Anniversary!
May God bless you all as you seek to know Him better!
Today is Independence Day. The day when we celebrate our freedoms as a nation. Please do not take these for granted!!
I thought an appropriate song for today would be The Newsboys' I Am Free. I love the line that says 'I am free to live for You'
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Sin puts us all in bondage to itself. But there is Freedom in Christ. Freedom from worry, guilt, fear, shame, addictions, negativity, stress. We get so stuck in those ways of living that I think we sometimes forget that Jesus offers Freedom from all that junk. He has called us to a life of Joy!! My prayer for you today is that you would take anything that is weighing you down and hand it over to Him. He will replace it with something wonderful -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control!! m(Galatians 5:22-23)
Enjoy your freedoms today and don't forget to pray for those who serve and their families as they sacrifice for our Freedoms!!
(Yes, this is a long post. I apologize) When my birthday came in May, I wanted to find an older post I had made on my facebook page so I scrolled backward through the whole year. It was amazing to look back on all the ways that God has changed my heart and to reflect on all the wonderful memories and challenges that I had faced. I thought it might be an interesting way to share my heart with you if I posted some of the highlights here. Enjoy :)
Dear God, I want to thank You for the last 365 days of my life. Thank You for friends old and new. For the laughter and the tears. The lessons learned and the memories made. But mostly, thank you for being there with me through it all. And should You choose to give me another 365, I can't wait to see where it takes me ♥ Love, Shannon *May 19, 2010 at 8:53 pm
sometimes faith in action means letting go of your safety net and trusting that IF you fall, God will catch you. *May 27, 2010 at 8:45 am (This was after I felt the Lord leading me to quit my job without having any future prospects!)
so a random box came up out of the basement full of treasures: Zoe's old homeschooling papers, old pics of the kids!!, my waffle recipe ♥ and .....are you ready.... da da da da daaaa ......ANOTHER Bible! I can't believe it! The more Bibles I give away, the more that appear! Maybe I could start a bookstore! lol *June 7, 2010 at 4:33 pm
so last night I said to Matt "Tomorrow we will be the same - Thirty-Something!" and he replied "No, I will just be thirty, Not something." Well anyway, welcome to 30 Matt! Happy Birthday! I love you ♥ ♥ *August 2, 2010
Zoe, Colin & Matt were all baptized this morning! It was terrific!! Then we had a celebration cookout at the church! Thank you to everyone who shared in it with us!! ♥ ♥ *August 8, 2010
State Track Meet today. Colin's team won FIRST place in the Boys 11-12 (yr old) relay!! WAHOO!! That's first in THE WHOLE STATE!! *August 14, 2010
"I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God offerings that cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24 *August 15, 2010
Love covers a multitude of sins. And so does "I'm sorry" ♥ *August 24, 2010
Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you Deuteronomy 6:18 ~~ You cannot expect the blessings of God without obedience to God. And how will you know what that is unless you read your Bible? I want to encourage you, if you have not read your Bible today to go do it ♥ *September 13, 2010
... today is a whole day for you to do good. What you do today is
important because you are exchanging a whole day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; and in its place
will be something that you had left behind... let it be something good. *September 18, 2010
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.~~ Jim Elliot *September 23, 2010
So, I have always tried to be the person that I want my children to grow up to be. But I have realized that the person that I wish to be when I grow up is Zoe!! She has become MY role model!! ♥ U Zoe!!! *October 6, 2010
Is ANYTHING too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14 I LOVE this verse!! There is so much hope in it ♥ *October 12, 2010
When we face hard times, do they strengthen our faith or do they end up making us bitter? Whatever comes my way in the weeks to come I STILL BELIEVE!!! I believe because it would be contrary to God's character for Him to be ANYTHING but FAITHFUL to me ♥ ♥ *October 21, 2010
Do you ever feel like you could just use a little confirmation from God? Which decision to make or which job to take? Am I on the right track or should I be doing something different? Or maybe, it's something just as simple as a question that is on your heart and you need it answered. That was what happened to me this week.
(I'll give you a little background here and I'll try to be brief! LOL)
Our Pastor (not Pastor Dan but I'll get to that) and his family came to Maine from Alabama to start a church. They were here 6 1/2 years and started 3 churches and were planning the 4th church when God called them back to Alabama. I think they were more shocked than any of us!! Anyway, Pastor Dan was the Associate Pastor so he stepped up and on Father's Day we voted him in to be our 'official' Pastor. For the most part, the transition at church has gone very smoothly. We were determined as a church family to do whatever it took to maintain our unity. (Ephesians 4:3). Well, as is expected, some people left the church but the most amazing thing is that from the very first week that Dan stepped up to lead us, there have been more and more new people at church! It has been amazing to watch God bless the work that we are doing at this church!
Now, I'm rambling at little bit. LOL So, these people who have stepped away from God and from their faith, are still my friends. They are still people that I care about. But their 'bump in the road' really got me to thinking about my own faith and wondering how strong it was. I asked Matt one day, 'Would there be a time when I wouldn't walk with God?' This was serious to me! I really wondered that. There have been times in the past when I have walked away. Could it happen again? Matt's answer was very simply 'I don't think that would happen to you.' He also seemed a little surprised that I was wondering about it. So, then I asked Pastor Dan. The first thing he said that we aren't going to worry about it. Ok, so No Dwelling. Got it!
Then he said that usually when that happens to someone, it is from one of two things: It happens gradually and they don't even notice that they are moving away from God OR an event happens that shakes them and they loose their faith because it wasn't strong or rooted. (I think this is illustrated in the parable of the seeds. Matt 13:3-23; Mk 4:2-20; Lk 8:4-15).
Well, I am feeling very much like God took care of that concern for me. You see, last week when I was going through my trial of not knowing how Colin was (because I couldn't reach them by phone), not knowing when he was going be home or how I was going to get him home, I didn't panic. Yes, I cried. Yes, I told God that I DID NOT want to go through this. Yes, I knew that there was a lesson in this for someone, even though I didn't know who or how. But panic, no. It didn't even occur to me to panic. Now, I have talked to several people over the last week, and especially during those 2 1/2 days without him, that wondered how I could be calm. When I go back and read the post that I made from that day (you can read it HERE) there is definitely a peace about it. Honestly, I don't even remember writing that post. The afternoon was a blur to me but I can see that through the whole ordeal, my default reaction was GOD. I can see that I kept my focus on Him. He truly is my Rock!
I also wanted to clarify a small error that I made in that post. The first song I heard in the car was Everlasting God, but I had put my iPod on earlier and this was one of the songs that came on it:
I love the lyrics at the 2 minute point that say 'Take my life and let it be ALL for You and for Your Glory'. Well, I remember hearing this song on that Monday morning and singing those lyrics out loud, sort of as a declaration from me to Him. This was such a wonderful feeling to still be able to offer my life to Him in the midst of trials. To still be willing to offer it to Him without knowing what the day would hold. It was just so precious of Him to show me what my gut reaction would be, to know that I wouldn't fall away. That's priceless!!
ps-please don't read this and think 'Oh that's great for her but it would never happen for me'. I have put the effort into my relationship with God. I have spent the time with Him that it took to build this faith. You can have that too. If you feel that maybe your faith wouldn't stand this trial, why don't you start today to build your relationship with Him? My faith wasn't born overnight, you know ;)
May the Lord bless you all as you seek to know Him better!
Since I enjoy music so much, I thought it might be neat to post a song every week that has a message to it.
Today's song is Matt Redman's 'Blessed Be Your Name'.
There is a line in the song that says: Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise.
What if we actually lived like that?? What if we really took the time to recognize His blessings and then took the time to praise Him for them? I think His blessings are so many and so wonderful, that perhaps we would Never Cease to Praise Him!!!
Do you ever feel regretful for the wasted time in your life? I feel like there was so much time in my life that I spent running from God and His ways. There was so much time I could've spent pouring my energy into Him and in to helping other people but I just wasted it on myself. It's very easy to look back at years spent selfishly and get stuck in a place of regret.
When I went to that funeral last week, many people were talking about Alan's faith and how much he love the Lord. Well, I knew Alan my entire life and as I child I never knew of him going to church. Alan did not become a Christian until later in his life. So as I was sitting there in the funeral, listening to people talk about his faith, it was refreshing to me. I was so encouraged! It made me realize that I can start fresh today. I can begin today to give my life fully to the Lord and to live for him. Nobody will remember my wasted years. I want people to look back on my life, but also to look at it now and see that I am no longer wasting any of my time.
Today is a new day full of fresh opportunities to live for Him and to serve others!!
Then last night I was again reminded of this lesson. I was watching VeggieTales Jonah with the kids and when Jonah is in the belly of the whale some angels come and sing this song to him:
Praise God for being the God of Second Chances!!! So, I ask you -- What are you going to do with today? Do you need a second chance from God? He'll give it to you if you ask Him for one!
What are you going to do with your second chance??
The events of earlier this week had me thinking back to another time when I had drama in my life. It was drama that was similar to what I'm going through now and a co-worker told me not to tell anyone at work. I think she may have been trying to protect me from any gossip or something, but I just didn't see the point in hiding it. I hadn't done anything wrong so why should I be ashamed?
So that has led my train of thoughts down the road that got me thinking: people who have lived with alcoholics or had any kind of abuse in their past are ashamed. I know that for years I didn't want people to know what life with Zoe and Colin's father was really like. I know that I hid alot of stuff and covered it up. I'm pretty sure that that is normal behavior in those circumstances. There is also some junk in my childhood that I was definitely ashamed of for many years. But I have discovered that when you are open and honest about your challenges and your struggles (like I have been this week) that you never know who you might be an encouragement to. I have learned this week of someone at work who is going through something very similar. I didn't know this before I opened up. Now I am hoping that maybe I can be an encouragement to her. Sometimes all you need is to know that you're not alone. The other thing that I have learned about being open and honest is that secrets have a way of owning you. There is no freedom in that. There is no joy in that. They only way to lessen the power of a secret is to be open about it. (Remember, Jesus is TRUTH!! John 14:6) So, I am not going to live my life bottled up and ashamed. I am seeking to bless and encourage someone with my trials! Otherwise, what's the point? (And yes I do see that there is the thing of personal growth that takes place through trials. But why keep that to yourself?)
In happier news, Colin seems to be doing very well this week. I think he is relieved to be home even though he won't admit it. Pastor Dan picked him up yesterday and spent the day with him. He and his family are such a blessing to us!! Thank you all so much for all of your prayers!! They really do mean the world to me :)
So, I will end this post with something else that I am NOT ashamed of: Jesus Christ!
I feel like hibernating! Usually that is a feeling that I would associate with Winter, but that is how I have felt over the last few weeks. I have left Facebook, left my Monday night ladies group (both temporary, I'm sure). I don't feel like calling people very much. I am still very social at work, at baseball, at church and you know, at life in general. But I'm not initiating things, conversations, visits, etc.
I just can't seen to shake this feeling of blaaahhhh ....
At first I was sure it was just hormones.That was just what kind of week it was. But then the next week came and it wasn't any better. Well, now I am moving into the third week of this junk and all I can think at this point is: Spiritual Attack. Gotta be. It just isn't like me to cry like this. I just can't seem to shake this sadness. I don't feel depressed. I'm just sad at times. Last week I was talking to a very dear friend of mine and I told her that I feel like I'm mourning. And I'm not sure why. And there's also this feeling of pending doom. I hate that feeling, you know!?
For the last several weeks I have also been drawn to Philippians 3. Paul faced a lot tougher stuff than what is on my list!! I love his passion!! I have been really reminding myself lately to PRESS ON!! I am pretty sure that part of this bought of Spiritual Attack is because of the blog. My purpose for it is to encourage people in their Faith Walk and of course, when you do that kind of thing, you are inviting the attention of the enemy.
But I press on! I know that I have encouraged people so I will continue to write. But would you pray for me please?? Thank you so much for reading. I really do appreciate you!
And here's a song to lift the mood! A friend of mine once said, 'How can you be sad with this blasting on your iPod??' LOL So, turn it up and PRAISE HIM!! You simply CANNOT listen to or sing along with this song and be upset!!
May the Lord Bless you all as you seek to know Him better!!
Ok this is not going to be like a typical post for me. I have a video that I wanted to share but the song gets lost in the video, well at least for me it does, because I always get caught up in the *action* part of it. So I thought that first I would post the song just in lyric form and then post the video after that. So, yes you are getting the same song twice, but I love the song just for it's *worshipful* nature (is that even a word? Could be a Shannon-ism!) but I love the video for it's message. So, I was just wondering, would you all bear with me? Would you just humor me a little? Thanks :)
Here is the song with lyrics:
And here is the video that I wanted to share in the first place :)
Warning: I cry EVERY time I watch it!
Do you see yourself in this video? I sure do.
I have certainly been drawn away by lust, greed, vanity.
Struggled with insecurity, loneliness, depression and anxiety.
Did you also notice in the video, that the further the girl got from Jesus, the more her anxiety increased?
I am so thankful that God has delivered me from all of that!!
Now my hope, my joy comes from Him and HIM ALONE!!
Please do not mistake this as me saying that I do not love my family and friends and that I do not find joy in them. I certainly do. But I don't think it was possible for me to enjoy those *earthly* joys until He delivered me from all that junk. And once I found what joy from the Lord felt like -- NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO THAT!!
