I promised you a substantial entry, so here it is!
First, I want to talk about American Idol. Tuesday night was probably the best perfomance show I have EVER seen. (I mean, I still FFWDed over Adam, but...) All of them were so awesome that I didn't even try to pick a bottom two, only that Matt would be the one to go. And you know what? This was when he SHOULD have gone home and I'm glad the judges used their save on him. Although I wonder how everything would have fallen had Alexis not gone home in 11th place? I love how surprised Allison and Danny were to find out they were the top 2. Like, what?! I hope that Adam goes home next week or the next, but he probably won't. My ideal order would be Adam, Danny, then a Kris and Allison finale. But that's me. What do you think?
Second, my cat is so weird. I wanna share a story with ya real quick: Last night there was a beetle that kept flying at our living room window (which is low enough for him to jump onto from the floor) and he kept trying to catch it. Through the glass. And then his butt fell off of the ledge and he's like hanging there for dear life with his front paws. Too cute!! I was ROLLING.
Third, I finally convinced J to switch to U-Verse. We're paying a tiny bit more, but we're getting a LOT more channels than we have now, plus better DVR options. They're coming on May 13 and I can't wait!! I can watch my DVRed shows upstairs or he can watch TV upstairs while I watch my DVRed shows downstairs. That's his biggest gripe; I always want to watch my shows the NIGHT they're on because I catch up on all the blogging and gossip the next day.
J and I might be going to see Casting Crowns in Poplar Bluff in June and I'm excited. It's all dependent on if he can get off of work the next day (Sat.) 'cause if we go, we'll get a hotel since it's 3 hours away. I didn't get to see them the last time they were in town because J's friend only had one extra ticket. I was bummed because I LOVE CC. They always put on a great show.
Oh, and an update on something that I posted a few days ago, I was able to order my cap and gown. Turns out ordering doesn't end when they say it does for slackers like me who miss the deadline. ;-)
Apr 30, 2009
Apr 29, 2009
Worship Wednesdays #5
It's time for the fifth installment of my favorite entry!
This week we've got You Reign by MercyMe.
Hubs is sittin' next to me as I write this and I really like what he was just saying, so before I add my two cents, I'm gonna tell you what he said:
"I really like 'I Can Only Imagine,' but I think this is the best song they've written.... Yeah, it'll be great when we can see God face to face, but it's awesome to be able to testify here on Earth."
Amen, right?
I personally love the first few lines: "Even before there was a drop in the ocean/Even before the breath of all mankind.../You were on Your throne."
God knew us before we were here. He knew that I would live at the end of the 20th/beginning of the 21st century and be who I am. He knew I would be born to S and L and that my name would be Jessica. He knew my flaws (and still does!) and loves me anyway. HE FORGIVES ME ANYWAY!!
I love that line about creation testifying that He reigns. That's one thing I loved about camp: everywhere I looked, I saw His glory, His wonder.
This week we've got You Reign by MercyMe.
Hubs is sittin' next to me as I write this and I really like what he was just saying, so before I add my two cents, I'm gonna tell you what he said:
"I really like 'I Can Only Imagine,' but I think this is the best song they've written.... Yeah, it'll be great when we can see God face to face, but it's awesome to be able to testify here on Earth."
Amen, right?
I personally love the first few lines: "Even before there was a drop in the ocean/Even before the breath of all mankind.../You were on Your throne."
God knew us before we were here. He knew that I would live at the end of the 20th/beginning of the 21st century and be who I am. He knew I would be born to S and L and that my name would be Jessica. He knew my flaws (and still does!) and loves me anyway. HE FORGIVES ME ANYWAY!!
I love that line about creation testifying that He reigns. That's one thing I loved about camp: everywhere I looked, I saw His glory, His wonder.
Apr 27, 2009
8x8x8x8x8=32,768
(This didn't post when it was supposed to... grr!)
All right, I got tagged. I promise I'll have a REAL entry for you tomorrow. For now, here's how it works:
- Mention the person or people that tagged you. (In my case, it was Red and Emily
- Complete the lists of 8's.
- Tag 8 friends.
- Go tell them you tagged them
8 Things I Am Looking Forward To
1. Being debt-free
2. Getting a teaching job
3. Being a mommy
4. Camp Open House.
5. J's and my outing to Six Flags one weekday next month
6. Owning my own home
7. GoiMy brother being out of the Marines
8. My trip to the zoo with Miss Makenzie
8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Went to church
2. Sang at church
3. Went to work
4. At work I folded a looooooooottttt of T-shirts
5. Bought a new litter box for Paulie (and it works WONDERS!!!)
6. Went for dinner at our good friends' house
7. Watched J and D play Bond on the Wii for almost 2 hours
8. Played Mario and Sonic at the Olympics with said friends and I set 2 new WRs!
8 Things I Wish I Could Do
1. Get up the courage to audition for AI.
2. Sing harmony
3. Find a job
4. STay home all day and do nothing but read
5. Stop picking at my cuticles
6. Have the time to volunteer at camp this summer
7. See my former campers more often
8. Have the patience to be with my dad longer than 2 hours without getting POed.
8 Shows I Enjoy
1. Gilmore Girls
2. Law & Order: SVU
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Brothers and Sisters
5. American Idol
6. One Tree Hill
7. Roseanne
8. Wife Swap
8 People I Tag
(I'm not sure everyone will do it, but most people I read have already been tagged!!!)
1. Stephanie at Kitschicagoan
2. Kari-Anne at The Riveting Life of Kari-Anne
3. Cassi at Cleverly Disguised as a Responsiblie Adult
4. Ellen at Exit, Pursued by Bear
5. Mary at Girl, Stand Still
6. Nici at Mrs. Dinkela's Inner Thoughts
7. Kristal at Good Food, Good Friends, Good Life
8. Katie at The Life of Juan and Katie
All right, I got tagged. I promise I'll have a REAL entry for you tomorrow. For now, here's how it works:
- Mention the person or people that tagged you. (In my case, it was Red and Emily
- Complete the lists of 8's.
- Tag 8 friends.
- Go tell them you tagged them
8 Things I Am Looking Forward To
1. Being debt-free
2. Getting a teaching job
3. Being a mommy
4. Camp Open House.
5. J's and my outing to Six Flags one weekday next month
6. Owning my own home
7. GoiMy brother being out of the Marines
8. My trip to the zoo with Miss Makenzie
8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Went to church
2. Sang at church
3. Went to work
4. At work I folded a looooooooottttt of T-shirts
5. Bought a new litter box for Paulie (and it works WONDERS!!!)
6. Went for dinner at our good friends' house
7. Watched J and D play Bond on the Wii for almost 2 hours
8. Played Mario and Sonic at the Olympics with said friends and I set 2 new WRs!
8 Things I Wish I Could Do
1. Get up the courage to audition for AI.
2. Sing harmony
3. Find a job
4. STay home all day and do nothing but read
5. Stop picking at my cuticles
6. Have the time to volunteer at camp this summer
7. See my former campers more often
8. Have the patience to be with my dad longer than 2 hours without getting POed.
8 Shows I Enjoy
1. Gilmore Girls
2. Law & Order: SVU
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Brothers and Sisters
5. American Idol
6. One Tree Hill
7. Roseanne
8. Wife Swap
8 People I Tag
(I'm not sure everyone will do it, but most people I read have already been tagged!!!)
1. Stephanie at Kitschicagoan
2. Kari-Anne at The Riveting Life of Kari-Anne
3. Cassi at Cleverly Disguised as a Responsiblie Adult
4. Ellen at Exit, Pursued by Bear
5. Mary at Girl, Stand Still
6. Nici at Mrs. Dinkela's Inner Thoughts
7. Kristal at Good Food, Good Friends, Good Life
8. Katie at The Life of Juan and Katie
Apr 23, 2009
100th Post = 100 Things About Me
So, if you think I'm boring, you can just skip over this post. It's my 100th and apparently in the blog wqorld, you're 100th post needs to be something crazy like 100 things about me or soemthing. SO that's what I'm doing!! Are you ready? here we go...
1. I have a cat named Paulie who likes to wake me up way earlier than I'm ready.
2. He doesn't like to cuddle and that makes me and the husband real sad.
3. We got him from a relative of a friend I met online.
4. I met that friend on my wedding board where I've met a whole lot of amazing people.
5. Their input was invaluable; without some of their help, I don't know that some of my wedding would have been as awesome as it was.
6. My wedding day was pretty incredible and even though it was a month ago I still remember it vividly.
7. I love my wedding pictures. You can too!
8. I'm planning on making my own wedding albums, which is why finding a photographer who gave us copyright release was so important.
9. Even though I own the copyright on our pictures, every single one of our picture frames at home is empty. :-(
10. My blog's title comes from a Switchfoot song "The Economy of Mercy."
11. I love the poetic image of broken masterpieces.
12. I was a big fan of Switchfoot back in high school. I associate their Beautiful Letdown CD with swim team.
13. I swam in high school and loved it, just not the coach.
14. I got kicked off of the swim team my junior year because I was a "slacker."
15. I put slacker in quotes because one of the freshman girls accused me of shorting laps during practice and because I had to go to a few doctors' appointments for when I cut my head open at work.
16. At the time I worked at the YMCA and I took a slice out of my forehead when I leaned over to pick up a swim belt off the floor.
17. It hurt. Bad.
18. But I didn't need stitches, so that's good.
19. Teaching at the Y was a really fun job. I met a few really good friends there.
20. I've contemplated going back because I enjoyed it so much, but I don't want to go back to the whole smelling like chlorine every minute of every day. That was nasty.
21. I also loved working at camp. I made some amazing friends there.
22. My first summer working at camp, I was dating my high school boyfriend still and we argued every time wee spoke on the phone because he didn't like that I was gone.
23. I was with Jerome for 4 of those 6 summers and while he missed me, he understood that it was something I enjoyed doing.
24. And it de-stressed me, so he was all for it.
25. I'm not going to camp anymore because I'm married an a "big girl" now.
26. But J bets that I'll return next summer when the World Cup is on and he's watching soccer 24/7.
27. It's a possibility in my mind, LOL.
28. Speaking of J, he's a wonderful husband.
29. He's incredibly strong in his faith which I admire greatly.
30. He reads his Bible all the time. (Which is something I SHOULD do...)
31. He supported me financially while I was student teaching so that I could focus on my kids. I hope to be able to repay that sometime down the road when he's ready to return to school.
32. He wants to be a high school history teacher.
33. I think he'd be really good at it.
34. My dad was studying to be a high school history teaching before he dropped out of college.
35. My mom has her BA in English secondary education.
36. Talk about teachers running in the family, LOL.
37. For most of my life that's what I've wanted to do.
38. Except in 7th and 8th grade when I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist.
39. Then I realized I'm not too big of a fan of science.
40. I like kids better. ;-)
41. I have some bad habits that I wish I didn't do.
42. The only one of which I'm willing to admit publicly is picking at my cuticles.
43. It's bad... I tend to pick them till they bleed.
44. Unless I've had a manicure, then they're nice and pretty so I don't have to pick at them.
45. J bites his nails. Blech.
46. My mom paid for me to get my nails done for the wedding.
47. I'm glad she talked me into it because they showed up in some of the pictures...
48. My best friend from high school was my maid of honor and she got a French tip with bright pink polish.
49. We were roommates for 2 1/2 years in college.
50. They say rooming with your BFF is a bad idea, but our lines of communication were always open and it worked out wonderfully.
51. This is the same best friend who is momma to M, my favorite almost-three-year-old.
52. I'm Aunt Jessie to her. :-D
53. I also have a niece and 3 nephews.
54. One of those nephews was born 2 days before my wedding.
55. Another was born on my mom and stepdad's first wedding anniversary.
56. My brother who is dad to the other nephew and my niece is getting married in August.
57. Another brother is being released from the Marines in a month. (His contract or whatever is up.)
58. His wife is very happy.
59. My younger brother is a sophomore studying music education at SIUE.
60. In case you were wondering, that's 4 brothers.
61. And no sisters.
62. My mom also grew up w/ 4 brothers (and a sister)... plus some step brothers and sisters.
63. J and I both have big families, that's why our wedding was so big.
64. I love family gatherings w/ aunts and uncles because we don't see each other very often.
65. My dad's brother lives in Hawaii and I haven't seen him since I was 6.
66. My grandma flew out there for Christmas and had a great time.
67. J and I want to take a trip to Hawaii before we have kids.
68. I'm not gonna lie, I have the baby itch now that I'm married.
69. But we want time to ourselves and time to pay our debt down.
70. Plus, bringing a baby into our world right now would be irresponsible considering I don't have a job.
71. (Not for lack of trying, though... hopefully soon.)
72. One of the Sales Floor Leaders at work talked to me about being promoted to SFL, but I don't think I'll be there long enough for that.
73. Which kind of disappoints me, 'cause I'd kick @$$.
74. I guess I'll just be content to work as a sales partner.
75. I do get 20% off, afterall.
76. And with my husband's desire to own every single Christian CD in the world, that's probably a good thing.
77. Seriously, when you come to my house, I will gladly show you the Wall of Insanity.
78. With all the CDs in that room, we could probably pay off 2 credit cards.
79. And wouldn't that be nice??
80. I don't carry my credit cards with me.
81. Because I'll spend on them.
82. But then when I need one of them, I can't find where they've been hidden.
83. Which means my system works, but is awful frustrating.
84. I have to think of 15 more things.
85. Most of the past things have shown you my thought process this morning.
86. You probably wouldn't want to set up camp in my head.
87. The way I jump from topic to topic makes J laugh. A lot.
88. And sometimes it confuses him.
89. Hell, it confuses ME sometimes!
90. I'm enjoying doing my Wednesday posts, sharing worship songs because if gives me time to reflect on myself and the song.
91. I hope you enjoy it, too.
92. I take requests...
93. J and I split housework pretty evenly: he does dishes 'cause I hate doing that and I do laundry 'cause he hates doing it.
94. We take turns vaccuuming and doing deeper cleaning when we're off of work.
95. I try and make him take the trash out 'cause I do the litter, like, every day!
96. There's a commercial for KFC's grilled chicken on the TV; it looks good.
97. And, am I the only one who finds it odd that the CEO of KFC is AUSTRALIAN (or maybe New Zealand... I can't tell the difference)???
98. I can't wait till we have a grill so I can make me own grilled chicken.
99. And steaks...
100. But it would probably take a while for me to perfect the art because I'm not too great on a grill.
Did you enjoy? Hope so!! :-) Have a great day.
1. I have a cat named Paulie who likes to wake me up way earlier than I'm ready.
2. He doesn't like to cuddle and that makes me and the husband real sad.
3. We got him from a relative of a friend I met online.
4. I met that friend on my wedding board where I've met a whole lot of amazing people.
5. Their input was invaluable; without some of their help, I don't know that some of my wedding would have been as awesome as it was.
6. My wedding day was pretty incredible and even though it was a month ago I still remember it vividly.
7. I love my wedding pictures. You can too!
8. I'm planning on making my own wedding albums, which is why finding a photographer who gave us copyright release was so important.
9. Even though I own the copyright on our pictures, every single one of our picture frames at home is empty. :-(
10. My blog's title comes from a Switchfoot song "The Economy of Mercy."
11. I love the poetic image of broken masterpieces.
12. I was a big fan of Switchfoot back in high school. I associate their Beautiful Letdown CD with swim team.
13. I swam in high school and loved it, just not the coach.
14. I got kicked off of the swim team my junior year because I was a "slacker."
15. I put slacker in quotes because one of the freshman girls accused me of shorting laps during practice and because I had to go to a few doctors' appointments for when I cut my head open at work.
16. At the time I worked at the YMCA and I took a slice out of my forehead when I leaned over to pick up a swim belt off the floor.
17. It hurt. Bad.
18. But I didn't need stitches, so that's good.
19. Teaching at the Y was a really fun job. I met a few really good friends there.
20. I've contemplated going back because I enjoyed it so much, but I don't want to go back to the whole smelling like chlorine every minute of every day. That was nasty.
21. I also loved working at camp. I made some amazing friends there.
22. My first summer working at camp, I was dating my high school boyfriend still and we argued every time wee spoke on the phone because he didn't like that I was gone.
23. I was with Jerome for 4 of those 6 summers and while he missed me, he understood that it was something I enjoyed doing.
24. And it de-stressed me, so he was all for it.
25. I'm not going to camp anymore because I'm married an a "big girl" now.
26. But J bets that I'll return next summer when the World Cup is on and he's watching soccer 24/7.
27. It's a possibility in my mind, LOL.
28. Speaking of J, he's a wonderful husband.
29. He's incredibly strong in his faith which I admire greatly.
30. He reads his Bible all the time. (Which is something I SHOULD do...)
31. He supported me financially while I was student teaching so that I could focus on my kids. I hope to be able to repay that sometime down the road when he's ready to return to school.
32. He wants to be a high school history teacher.
33. I think he'd be really good at it.
34. My dad was studying to be a high school history teaching before he dropped out of college.
35. My mom has her BA in English secondary education.
36. Talk about teachers running in the family, LOL.
37. For most of my life that's what I've wanted to do.
38. Except in 7th and 8th grade when I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist.
39. Then I realized I'm not too big of a fan of science.
40. I like kids better. ;-)
41. I have some bad habits that I wish I didn't do.
42. The only one of which I'm willing to admit publicly is picking at my cuticles.
43. It's bad... I tend to pick them till they bleed.
44. Unless I've had a manicure, then they're nice and pretty so I don't have to pick at them.
45. J bites his nails. Blech.
46. My mom paid for me to get my nails done for the wedding.
47. I'm glad she talked me into it because they showed up in some of the pictures...
48. My best friend from high school was my maid of honor and she got a French tip with bright pink polish.
49. We were roommates for 2 1/2 years in college.
50. They say rooming with your BFF is a bad idea, but our lines of communication were always open and it worked out wonderfully.
51. This is the same best friend who is momma to M, my favorite almost-three-year-old.
52. I'm Aunt Jessie to her. :-D
53. I also have a niece and 3 nephews.
54. One of those nephews was born 2 days before my wedding.
55. Another was born on my mom and stepdad's first wedding anniversary.
56. My brother who is dad to the other nephew and my niece is getting married in August.
57. Another brother is being released from the Marines in a month. (His contract or whatever is up.)
58. His wife is very happy.
59. My younger brother is a sophomore studying music education at SIUE.
60. In case you were wondering, that's 4 brothers.
61. And no sisters.
62. My mom also grew up w/ 4 brothers (and a sister)... plus some step brothers and sisters.
63. J and I both have big families, that's why our wedding was so big.
64. I love family gatherings w/ aunts and uncles because we don't see each other very often.
65. My dad's brother lives in Hawaii and I haven't seen him since I was 6.
66. My grandma flew out there for Christmas and had a great time.
67. J and I want to take a trip to Hawaii before we have kids.
68. I'm not gonna lie, I have the baby itch now that I'm married.
69. But we want time to ourselves and time to pay our debt down.
70. Plus, bringing a baby into our world right now would be irresponsible considering I don't have a job.
71. (Not for lack of trying, though... hopefully soon.)
72. One of the Sales Floor Leaders at work talked to me about being promoted to SFL, but I don't think I'll be there long enough for that.
73. Which kind of disappoints me, 'cause I'd kick @$$.
74. I guess I'll just be content to work as a sales partner.
75. I do get 20% off, afterall.
76. And with my husband's desire to own every single Christian CD in the world, that's probably a good thing.
77. Seriously, when you come to my house, I will gladly show you the Wall of Insanity.
78. With all the CDs in that room, we could probably pay off 2 credit cards.
79. And wouldn't that be nice??
80. I don't carry my credit cards with me.
81. Because I'll spend on them.
82. But then when I need one of them, I can't find where they've been hidden.
83. Which means my system works, but is awful frustrating.
84. I have to think of 15 more things.
85. Most of the past things have shown you my thought process this morning.
86. You probably wouldn't want to set up camp in my head.
87. The way I jump from topic to topic makes J laugh. A lot.
88. And sometimes it confuses him.
89. Hell, it confuses ME sometimes!
90. I'm enjoying doing my Wednesday posts, sharing worship songs because if gives me time to reflect on myself and the song.
91. I hope you enjoy it, too.
92. I take requests...
93. J and I split housework pretty evenly: he does dishes 'cause I hate doing that and I do laundry 'cause he hates doing it.
94. We take turns vaccuuming and doing deeper cleaning when we're off of work.
95. I try and make him take the trash out 'cause I do the litter, like, every day!
96. There's a commercial for KFC's grilled chicken on the TV; it looks good.
97. And, am I the only one who finds it odd that the CEO of KFC is AUSTRALIAN (or maybe New Zealand... I can't tell the difference)???
98. I can't wait till we have a grill so I can make me own grilled chicken.
99. And steaks...
100. But it would probably take a while for me to perfect the art because I'm not too great on a grill.
Did you enjoy? Hope so!! :-) Have a great day.
Worship Wednesdays #4
(A little late... sorry)
This week: Matthew West: The Motions
When I was kid, my least favorite chore was cleaning the bathroom. I especially hated cleaning the shower. So I'd do it real fast. Then my mom would make me do it again, LOL, telling me not to just "Go through the motions."
Sometimes I have to sit back and think about how much of my life for Christ is "going through the motions," you know? I think a lot of us get comfortable in our lives and our faith that we get lazy, and just go to church and sing the worship songs, and pray when we're supposed to, but then Mon-Sat we don't give Jesus a second glance. I'll be the first to admit that I don't read my Bible as often as I should, nor do I pray as often as I should. There are some weeks where I ask not to participate in leading worship, because I think I lose focus there, too.
God wants us to be hot or cold, not lukewarm, and when we go through the motions, we are exactly that -- lukewarm. Jesus wants to live in us, through us. And sometimes I wonder if I'm living up to my full potential as a Christian in my life. Yes, I go to church, yes I'm involved in youth groups, yes I even work at a Christian book store... But how much of that is genuine all. the. time?
I think it's an important question for everyone to ask, and an important flaw that non-Christians should notice. We're not perfect. So many Christian want to give this image of, "just give your life to Christ and everything will be hunky-dory" when in reality it's not. We all falter. We all fail sometimes. And when we do, we just pick ourselves back up and refocus.
But I leave you today to ponderr how much of your faith life is just going through the motions, and how much is genuine? And is that really the kind of faith you want to have??
This week: Matthew West: The Motions
When I was kid, my least favorite chore was cleaning the bathroom. I especially hated cleaning the shower. So I'd do it real fast. Then my mom would make me do it again, LOL, telling me not to just "Go through the motions."
Sometimes I have to sit back and think about how much of my life for Christ is "going through the motions," you know? I think a lot of us get comfortable in our lives and our faith that we get lazy, and just go to church and sing the worship songs, and pray when we're supposed to, but then Mon-Sat we don't give Jesus a second glance. I'll be the first to admit that I don't read my Bible as often as I should, nor do I pray as often as I should. There are some weeks where I ask not to participate in leading worship, because I think I lose focus there, too.
God wants us to be hot or cold, not lukewarm, and when we go through the motions, we are exactly that -- lukewarm. Jesus wants to live in us, through us. And sometimes I wonder if I'm living up to my full potential as a Christian in my life. Yes, I go to church, yes I'm involved in youth groups, yes I even work at a Christian book store... But how much of that is genuine all. the. time?
I think it's an important question for everyone to ask, and an important flaw that non-Christians should notice. We're not perfect. So many Christian want to give this image of, "just give your life to Christ and everything will be hunky-dory" when in reality it's not. We all falter. We all fail sometimes. And when we do, we just pick ourselves back up and refocus.
But I leave you today to ponderr how much of your faith life is just going through the motions, and how much is genuine? And is that really the kind of faith you want to have??
Apr 20, 2009
Oh, no!
Um, I missed the deadline to order my cap and gown for the graduation ceremony on May 16. Eek! I lefft a message w/ the person who sent out the grad info, but haven't gottena response. The deadline was Sat. I realized it yesterday.
J and I went to look at the MH Centre and EJ YMCA, both within a few miles of our place so we would bike/run there instead of driving while the weather is nice. The MH Centre is waaaaay affordable, but has a tiny fitness room and no pool. We've applied for financial aid at the Y, so keep your fingers crossed!
J and I went to look at the MH Centre and EJ YMCA, both within a few miles of our place so we would bike/run there instead of driving while the weather is nice. The MH Centre is waaaaay affordable, but has a tiny fitness room and no pool. We've applied for financial aid at the Y, so keep your fingers crossed!
Apr 19, 2009
Did You Know?
Yesterday (April 18) was the original day I had picked out for our wedding. I wanted it because our church is AMAZINGly beautiful at Easter time. Plus, I wouldn't have had to pay for flowers for the sanctuary, :-).
Anyway, nothing too big has happened since my last post, so I thought I would babble. Here are some things I'm currently semi-obsessed with:
1. Super Paper Mario.
I never had a game system growing up. Well, my brother did but I never played 'cause he always played shoot 'em up games like James Bond or Smash Bros. which I didn't enjoy. So J and I are really having fun with this Wii. We rented Monopoly (for him... it's pretty cool) and Super Paper Mario. I'm currently on level 2-3 and it's way fun. We'll probably buy it at some point in the future, but for now I get to beat as much as I can in 5 days. :-)
2. Mandisa: FREEDOM
Anyone watcht he 5th season of Idol? It was the first I watched and I think it's the best, not because of who won, but because of all the talent that has come out of it. Mandisa was the woman who, upon being passed through to Hollywood, Simon remarked, "I hope we have a bigger stage." She confronted him when being let into the top 24 and said soemthing along the lines of, "If Jesus can die for me and everything I've done, then I can forgive you." She came in 9th, but Sparrow Records and TobyMac snatched her up. Her first CD was called True Beauty and the title track talked about what true beauty is (not found in a bottle, not what Vogue tells us, etc.) and she wrote a book, IdolEyes about her experience. SHe's an amazing role model.
Anyway, her 2nd CD was released about a month ago and I purchased it using my FCS employee discount and OH. MY. GOODNESS. It's wonderful. First of all, Mandisa lost 75 pounds for this record because she didn't want to sing about freedom and still be chained down by her food addiction. What a wonderful woman! I love track 4 which ocne again sings about beauty and what defines a person, and track 9 which is a gospel track called "Freedom Song." but my favorite is probably track 5: "Not Guitly." It's a ballad so full of power and emotion and I just cry everytime I sing it.
3. Pepper Jack Cheez Its
Mmmmmmmmm.....
4. Jon and Kate Plus 8
I know a lot of people HATE this show, but I can't get enough of it. THe kids are so cute and I think that Jon and Kate are very REAL. She gets a lot of flak for how high strung she is, but I totally identify with her (and J identifies w/ Jon). (BTW, I read her book "Multiple Blessings" and it's wonderful!!)
5. Jen Lancaster
I mentioned in my P post that love to read. I can't wait for Pretty in Plaid to come out and I've been reading Jen's blog every day. She's been posting everyday about the 80's and she is just crackin' me up with the pictures and the comments!! Totally... check it out!
Anyway, nothing too big has happened since my last post, so I thought I would babble. Here are some things I'm currently semi-obsessed with:
1. Super Paper Mario.
I never had a game system growing up. Well, my brother did but I never played 'cause he always played shoot 'em up games like James Bond or Smash Bros. which I didn't enjoy. So J and I are really having fun with this Wii. We rented Monopoly (for him... it's pretty cool) and Super Paper Mario. I'm currently on level 2-3 and it's way fun. We'll probably buy it at some point in the future, but for now I get to beat as much as I can in 5 days. :-)
2. Mandisa: FREEDOM
Anyone watcht he 5th season of Idol? It was the first I watched and I think it's the best, not because of who won, but because of all the talent that has come out of it. Mandisa was the woman who, upon being passed through to Hollywood, Simon remarked, "I hope we have a bigger stage." She confronted him when being let into the top 24 and said soemthing along the lines of, "If Jesus can die for me and everything I've done, then I can forgive you." She came in 9th, but Sparrow Records and TobyMac snatched her up. Her first CD was called True Beauty and the title track talked about what true beauty is (not found in a bottle, not what Vogue tells us, etc.) and she wrote a book, IdolEyes about her experience. SHe's an amazing role model.
Anyway, her 2nd CD was released about a month ago and I purchased it using my FCS employee discount and OH. MY. GOODNESS. It's wonderful. First of all, Mandisa lost 75 pounds for this record because she didn't want to sing about freedom and still be chained down by her food addiction. What a wonderful woman! I love track 4 which ocne again sings about beauty and what defines a person, and track 9 which is a gospel track called "Freedom Song." but my favorite is probably track 5: "Not Guitly." It's a ballad so full of power and emotion and I just cry everytime I sing it.
3. Pepper Jack Cheez Its
Mmmmmmmmm.....
4. Jon and Kate Plus 8
I know a lot of people HATE this show, but I can't get enough of it. THe kids are so cute and I think that Jon and Kate are very REAL. She gets a lot of flak for how high strung she is, but I totally identify with her (and J identifies w/ Jon). (BTW, I read her book "Multiple Blessings" and it's wonderful!!)
5. Jen Lancaster
I mentioned in my P post that love to read. I can't wait for Pretty in Plaid to come out and I've been reading Jen's blog every day. She's been posting everyday about the 80's and she is just crackin' me up with the pictures and the comments!! Totally... check it out!
Apr 17, 2009
Purple People Eater
Remember that song? I remember it was on one fo those KidSongs singalong things my music teacher would show occassionally.
Anyway, I asked Angie gave me my letter for this "Ten Things" thing that's going around that I thought would be fun. Comment and let me know if you would like a letter. (I promise I won't be mean and give you "Q" or "Z"... Unless you're Nici D. LOL) My assigned letter is:
In no particular order, here are my favorite things that begin with "P:"
1. Paulie. Our cat. He's a little stinker and constantly swipes kitty litte rout of his box, but I love this little guy. We got him from a friend of a friend who couldn't keep him anymore and he's such a sweet little guy. I've given my bathrobe tie to the "Let's Play!" cause. He and I (and J) have a lot of fun chasing that thing around. :-)
2. Praise and Worship. I LOVE to sing at church. I LOVE to praise God through song pretty much everywhere. (It's one of my spiritual gifts, in addition to administration.) There's something about music and singing that helps me connect with Him, no matter where I am. And I've been told that I help make worship a truly unique experience every Sunday because of the gift He's given me.
3. Pickles. Especially the ones you get w/ a deli sandwich at, like, McAlister's or STL Bread Co. The cold, kosher dills. Mmm...
4. Pizza. For reals, how can enyone get the letter "p" and NOT write about pizza?? It's very good stuff, especially if it's pepperoni and bacon. Mmmm...
5. Photography. I desperately want a really realy nice camera one of tese days, but it won't happen anytime soon, so I'm stuck with a little Canon PowerShot. But I would love to get into phorotgraphy, esp. once J and I have kids.
(Side note... the letter P is REALLY hard!!)
6. Pandas. I mean, seriously... How cute are they???
7. Pages. OK, a little bit of a stretch, I know, but I wanted to include my love for reading. Seriously, I devour books like they're going out of style. I just finished The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes for an STLWed book club. I'm currently reading Perfect Fifths. next on my reading list are Pretty in Plaid and The Shack.
8. Puzzles. Really, any kind of brain teasers. I love word puzzles and I can't get enough Soduko and Kakuro. I know how to solve a Rubic's Cube. I enjoy working on jigsaw puzzles, and my favorite Wii game is Big Brain Academy. They keep my brain sharp. :-)
9. Pillow Time. I mean, who doesn't like to sleep? I especially like it when J and I are both able to sleep in a little while and lay in bed together chatting.
10. Pools. I love to swim. I miss swim team, actually, even though I wasn't a big fan of my coach. I loved teaching swim lessons and I loved lifeguarding at camp. What I don't miss, though, is smelling like chlorine ALL. THE. TIME. :-) (BTW: I would love to be at this Mexican resort right about now.)
That was friggin' hard, LOL. I think it took me about a week to think of things that start with P. Do you want a letter? Comment on this post and let me know!
Anyway, I asked Angie gave me my letter for this "Ten Things" thing that's going around that I thought would be fun. Comment and let me know if you would like a letter. (I promise I won't be mean and give you "Q" or "Z"... Unless you're Nici D. LOL) My assigned letter is:
In no particular order, here are my favorite things that begin with "P:"
1. Paulie. Our cat. He's a little stinker and constantly swipes kitty litte rout of his box, but I love this little guy. We got him from a friend of a friend who couldn't keep him anymore and he's such a sweet little guy. I've given my bathrobe tie to the "Let's Play!" cause. He and I (and J) have a lot of fun chasing that thing around. :-)
2. Praise and Worship. I LOVE to sing at church. I LOVE to praise God through song pretty much everywhere. (It's one of my spiritual gifts, in addition to administration.) There's something about music and singing that helps me connect with Him, no matter where I am. And I've been told that I help make worship a truly unique experience every Sunday because of the gift He's given me.
3. Pickles. Especially the ones you get w/ a deli sandwich at, like, McAlister's or STL Bread Co. The cold, kosher dills. Mmm...
4. Pizza. For reals, how can enyone get the letter "p" and NOT write about pizza?? It's very good stuff, especially if it's pepperoni and bacon. Mmmm...
5. Photography. I desperately want a really realy nice camera one of tese days, but it won't happen anytime soon, so I'm stuck with a little Canon PowerShot. But I would love to get into phorotgraphy, esp. once J and I have kids.
(Side note... the letter P is REALLY hard!!)
6. Pandas. I mean, seriously... How cute are they???
7. Pages. OK, a little bit of a stretch, I know, but I wanted to include my love for reading. Seriously, I devour books like they're going out of style. I just finished The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes for an STLWed book club. I'm currently reading Perfect Fifths. next on my reading list are Pretty in Plaid and The Shack.
8. Puzzles. Really, any kind of brain teasers. I love word puzzles and I can't get enough Soduko and Kakuro. I know how to solve a Rubic's Cube. I enjoy working on jigsaw puzzles, and my favorite Wii game is Big Brain Academy. They keep my brain sharp. :-)
9. Pillow Time. I mean, who doesn't like to sleep? I especially like it when J and I are both able to sleep in a little while and lay in bed together chatting.
10. Pools. I love to swim. I miss swim team, actually, even though I wasn't a big fan of my coach. I loved teaching swim lessons and I loved lifeguarding at camp. What I don't miss, though, is smelling like chlorine ALL. THE. TIME. :-) (BTW: I would love to be at this Mexican resort right about now.)
That was friggin' hard, LOL. I think it took me about a week to think of things that start with P. Do you want a letter? Comment on this post and let me know!
Apr 16, 2009
Brand New Look, Same Old Me
Got my hair cut on Tuesday... What do you think??
Before:
After:
It's the first time I've had any resemblence of bangs since 6th grade. IT's taken some getting used to, the hair in my face, but I like it.
Before:
After:
It's the first time I've had any resemblence of bangs since 6th grade. IT's taken some getting used to, the hair in my face, but I like it.
Apr 15, 2009
Worship Wednesdays #3
So, funny story. Last week when I showed up at rehearsal for Easter, our worship arts director had pulled one of the more traditional songs and plugged in Mighty to Save. That song is too perfect for Easter for us NOT to have done it, you know? Ha. As I said in my last post, Easter was awesome: so celebratory, yet reflective. There's always so much energy at my church on Easter. "My Redeemer Lives" is a tradition at our church on Easter and we tell our drummer to go crazy w/ it 'cause there's a part where it's just drums while we're singing, and boy did he deliver!!!
Anyway, on to this week's post.
Peter Furler is the only original member of the Newsboys left, and he's no longer touring with the band, which buums me out, but on the band's Faith and Fame on GMC, he said that knowing he's left the world with a worship song like "He Reigns" is a wonderful legacy. And I can't agree more. A simple song, with a simple chorus, "He Reigns" has turned into an anthem of sorts, a song of unity:
Hallelujah, He reigns, indeed. My sr. high youth kids ask the occassional questions about different denominations (why there are so many, what they believe, etc.) and I always try to make sure to remind them that we all (mostly) have a belief in the Bible, in God, and in the redeeming power of Jesus's death on the cross. The song that the Newsboys wrote speaks about the unity we can all find in just being God's people. Spreading the Word, the Gospel, the Light. All of that is what makes us Christians: not how we look at communion, not whether we are pre/post/amillenials... It's that belief in Jesus Christ, that belief in God that makes us God's people throughout the world.
(PS: I wanted to embed the official video for this song, but embedding wasn't allowed, so watch it on YouTube
Anyway, on to this week's post.
Peter Furler is the only original member of the Newsboys left, and he's no longer touring with the band, which buums me out, but on the band's Faith and Fame on GMC, he said that knowing he's left the world with a worship song like "He Reigns" is a wonderful legacy. And I can't agree more. A simple song, with a simple chorus, "He Reigns" has turned into an anthem of sorts, a song of unity:
Hallelujah, He reigns, indeed. My sr. high youth kids ask the occassional questions about different denominations (why there are so many, what they believe, etc.) and I always try to make sure to remind them that we all (mostly) have a belief in the Bible, in God, and in the redeeming power of Jesus's death on the cross. The song that the Newsboys wrote speaks about the unity we can all find in just being God's people. Spreading the Word, the Gospel, the Light. All of that is what makes us Christians: not how we look at communion, not whether we are pre/post/amillenials... It's that belief in Jesus Christ, that belief in God that makes us God's people throughout the world.
(PS: I wanted to embed the official video for this song, but embedding wasn't allowed, so watch it on YouTube
Apr 14, 2009
What a weekend
So I warned ya last week that I wouldn't post for a while 'cause I would be swamped. And I am gald I did 'cause I wass go, go, go started Wed. afternoon. Want a run down?
Wed. I worked -- babysitting for a new family -- and then I had rehearsal for Maundy Thursday and Easter. Thursday I subbed, hung out w/ Jen, and had Maundy Thursday service.
Friday is where it gets good and I get set up for my crash: J woke me up all excited 'cause it was pay day and 'cause he got his tax return at freakin' 7AM. Grr... I worked at FCS till 5:30, then went out to Wright City for a sitting job till 12:30, stayed at my mom's but was at the end of a good book so I didn't crash till about 2:30. Had to be at church the next morning at 7, so I was up at 6:30. FFF set up from 7-10, FFF from 10-1 (I wasthe Easter Bunny!), then rehearsal from 2-4:30, and work from 5:30-close (which is usually 9:30 when we get outta there but it took till 10). Went home, showered, fell into bed around 12. Up at 5:30 for Easter; got to church at 7, had rehearsals, then 2 services. Then we went to see J's family, and then we caught up w/ a friend of mine.
Whew! Just typing that makes me tired. now for the highlights:
This year's Family Fun Festival was the warmest we've had in 2 or 3 years. J and I weren't able to go last year because of David's funeral (and last year it was just icky that morning), so it was nice to be able to make it this year. We had quite the turnout! SOOOOOO many people were there enjoying the weather and the free fun. The Easter bunny made an appearance, too! (Any one ever wear a mascot costume?? They're crazy!! I could only see out of a tiny hole. It's so crazy!) I got way burned, too, once I was outta that costume. Ha.
And Easter services? OMG, AMAZING!!! I love Easter every year: the sanctuary is so pretty (and this year Kathy and Kelley outdid themselves) and it's just an excitign morning. Last year I did a powerhouse solo of Nicole Mullen's "Redeemer" which fits in wonderfully w/ the whole theme of Easter, ya know? This year, Phil preached on God seeing is believing (Thomas and all that), and talked about Go dbeing the Great I AM. Kathy and I teamed up and sang Mark Schultz's "I Am" while this video showed:
I just love Easter!! Did you all have a wonderful Easter, too??
Wed. I worked -- babysitting for a new family -- and then I had rehearsal for Maundy Thursday and Easter. Thursday I subbed, hung out w/ Jen, and had Maundy Thursday service.
Friday is where it gets good and I get set up for my crash: J woke me up all excited 'cause it was pay day and 'cause he got his tax return at freakin' 7AM. Grr... I worked at FCS till 5:30, then went out to Wright City for a sitting job till 12:30, stayed at my mom's but was at the end of a good book so I didn't crash till about 2:30. Had to be at church the next morning at 7, so I was up at 6:30. FFF set up from 7-10, FFF from 10-1 (I wasthe Easter Bunny!), then rehearsal from 2-4:30, and work from 5:30-close (which is usually 9:30 when we get outta there but it took till 10). Went home, showered, fell into bed around 12. Up at 5:30 for Easter; got to church at 7, had rehearsals, then 2 services. Then we went to see J's family, and then we caught up w/ a friend of mine.
Whew! Just typing that makes me tired. now for the highlights:
This year's Family Fun Festival was the warmest we've had in 2 or 3 years. J and I weren't able to go last year because of David's funeral (and last year it was just icky that morning), so it was nice to be able to make it this year. We had quite the turnout! SOOOOOO many people were there enjoying the weather and the free fun. The Easter bunny made an appearance, too! (Any one ever wear a mascot costume?? They're crazy!! I could only see out of a tiny hole. It's so crazy!) I got way burned, too, once I was outta that costume. Ha.
And Easter services? OMG, AMAZING!!! I love Easter every year: the sanctuary is so pretty (and this year Kathy and Kelley outdid themselves) and it's just an excitign morning. Last year I did a powerhouse solo of Nicole Mullen's "Redeemer" which fits in wonderfully w/ the whole theme of Easter, ya know? This year, Phil preached on God seeing is believing (Thomas and all that), and talked about Go dbeing the Great I AM. Kathy and I teamed up and sang Mark Schultz's "I Am" while this video showed:
I just love Easter!! Did you all have a wonderful Easter, too??
Apr 8, 2009
Worship Wednesdays #2
This week I really wanted to put up a video of "My Redeemer Lives." It's a song that just makes Easter Easter at our church 'cause it's pretty much amazing. BUT I couldn't find a video of my favorite version, so I may have tojust post an MP3 of it next week.
This week, instead, I have chosen "Mighty to Save." It's also very Easter-ish. We wanted to include it in our Easter service this weekend, but there just wasn't any room. So we'll probably do it next week.
Anyway, the worship team from Hillsong Church in Australia wrote this amazing song. It's so full of truth and passion. Here, watch the video:
This song is amazing. The lyrics ring true and are touching, and always create an amazing Spirit-filled atmosphere when we sing it in church.
"everyone needs compassion, the kindness of a Savior... let mercy fall on me." EVERYONE needs compassion. I think all too often Christians get caught up in this "I'm saved, you're not, that means I'm better than you." WHICH IS NOT GOOD. Hello! Jesus died for us ALL because we're all sinners!! Why are we any better than people who have yet to accept the "kindness of a Savior?" Just because we have come to the realization that we can't possibly live without Jesus doesn't mean we're any better off. (I mean, we are because of the whole eternal life thing, but you know what I'm saying?? I hate that "holier than thou" attitude that a lot of CHristians get.)
The other lyric that gets me is "I give my life to follow/everything I believe in... now I surrender." This is what a lot of people have trouble with in giving their life over, I think. It's what I struggled with... I LIKE being in control. I LIKE knowing what is comign next and how it will happen. It took years for me to give everything to Him and I still struggle with it. A lot of people think that once you're a Christian, everything is hunky-dory and you never have to worry about anything again because everything will go exactly the way you want. Which, any Christian can tell you, does NOT happen. If it did, J and I would be debt free and in our own house, because that is what I really want right now.
What is more important to recognize is the peace that comes when you really surrender that. I'm looking for a teaching job fo rthe fall, right? most of you know that. I'm a little worried that I won't find one, but ultimately, I've given it up to God. He'll provide for J and I until we can really be on our feet (He's done it in the past... I've no reason to think He won't). I think that some people think I'm too nonchalant about finding a job. Trust me -- I'm not. I have my applicationa nd resume out to pretty much every district in STL and STC counties. It's a matter of trusting that He'll lead me to the right job in the right school.
This song has made an impact in a lot of people's lives, as evidenced by how many other artists have recorded it: Laura Story, Michael W. Smith, and Seventh Day Slumber. I truly hope its words and the message God is saying through it has touched YOUR life.
Got any suggestions for next week? Let me know! And let me know what you think about this week's song choice!
This week, instead, I have chosen "Mighty to Save." It's also very Easter-ish. We wanted to include it in our Easter service this weekend, but there just wasn't any room. So we'll probably do it next week.
Anyway, the worship team from Hillsong Church in Australia wrote this amazing song. It's so full of truth and passion. Here, watch the video:
This song is amazing. The lyrics ring true and are touching, and always create an amazing Spirit-filled atmosphere when we sing it in church.
"everyone needs compassion, the kindness of a Savior... let mercy fall on me." EVERYONE needs compassion. I think all too often Christians get caught up in this "I'm saved, you're not, that means I'm better than you." WHICH IS NOT GOOD. Hello! Jesus died for us ALL because we're all sinners!! Why are we any better than people who have yet to accept the "kindness of a Savior?" Just because we have come to the realization that we can't possibly live without Jesus doesn't mean we're any better off. (I mean, we are because of the whole eternal life thing, but you know what I'm saying?? I hate that "holier than thou" attitude that a lot of CHristians get.)
The other lyric that gets me is "I give my life to follow/everything I believe in... now I surrender." This is what a lot of people have trouble with in giving their life over, I think. It's what I struggled with... I LIKE being in control. I LIKE knowing what is comign next and how it will happen. It took years for me to give everything to Him and I still struggle with it. A lot of people think that once you're a Christian, everything is hunky-dory and you never have to worry about anything again because everything will go exactly the way you want. Which, any Christian can tell you, does NOT happen. If it did, J and I would be debt free and in our own house, because that is what I really want right now.
What is more important to recognize is the peace that comes when you really surrender that. I'm looking for a teaching job fo rthe fall, right? most of you know that. I'm a little worried that I won't find one, but ultimately, I've given it up to God. He'll provide for J and I until we can really be on our feet (He's done it in the past... I've no reason to think He won't). I think that some people think I'm too nonchalant about finding a job. Trust me -- I'm not. I have my applicationa nd resume out to pretty much every district in STL and STC counties. It's a matter of trusting that He'll lead me to the right job in the right school.
This song has made an impact in a lot of people's lives, as evidenced by how many other artists have recorded it: Laura Story, Michael W. Smith, and Seventh Day Slumber. I truly hope its words and the message God is saying through it has touched YOUR life.
Got any suggestions for next week? Let me know! And let me know what you think about this week's song choice!
Apr 5, 2009
Easter is almost here!
I wanted to post real quick that I am going to be INSANELY busy this week. I'll be at church every night this week except Friday for rehearsal, youth group, or service... Saturday is our annual Family Fun Festival (which is FREE... you should come!!). Busy busy busy. But don't worry, I will have my new weekly special. I have it typed and set for a future publication on Wed. morning, so you don't have to worry about me missing that.
Anyway, I'll post pics of our Festival because I'm going to be the Easter bunny. :-)
Anyway, I'll post pics of our Festival because I'm going to be the Easter bunny. :-)
Apr 1, 2009
Worship Wednesdays #1
I thought I would try soemthing new. If you're not religious, you may want to skip readin my blog every Wednesday because I would love to start doing this on a weekly basis. Let me know what you think in a comment.
Anyway, I thought I would post a worship video and then have a mini "this is what I think" devotional kind of thing. Feel free to leave comments and suggestions; I would love to hear it!
First up, I've included the song "Grace Like Rain" by Todd Agnew. Check out the video:
(I looked for the official video, but I don't think there is one...)
We sang this one this past Sunday at church during our Hope and Restoration service, but we sing it other times, too. It's simply Amazing Grace, updated by the singer Todd Agnew, but I love the chorus: "Hallelujah! Grace like rain falls down on me. Hallelujah! All my stains are washed away, they're washed away."
Jesus did that FOR US. Like, how amazing is that??? We're forgiven. We're clean. We're made whole. We can actually look God in the face and say, "Here I am Lord. I need forgiveness. I need help. I need Jesus to make me whole." And HE DOES IT!!! Everyone has stuff in their life that needs forgiveness, that they haven't even forgiven THEMSELVES for yet. But guess what? Through Jesus, that forgiveness can be YOURS!!
This past Sunday, we had a drama about a woman who was caught having an affair with a married man. She talked about how she didn't deserve forgiveness, how her sin defined who she was. She was "The Other Woman." She was ashamed and had broken the man's family. Then it switched to the POV of the woman who was going to be stoned and Jesus said, "Sinless among you, throw the first stone." For the first time the woman (and the audience, in essence) looked at it not as a lesson in forgiving people because we're all sinners, too, but as a lesson that our sins don't define us.
Amazing Grace.... that saved a wretch like me. Like you. Like all of us. He did it. Have you accepted it??
Anyway, I thought I would post a worship video and then have a mini "this is what I think" devotional kind of thing. Feel free to leave comments and suggestions; I would love to hear it!
First up, I've included the song "Grace Like Rain" by Todd Agnew. Check out the video:
(I looked for the official video, but I don't think there is one...)
We sang this one this past Sunday at church during our Hope and Restoration service, but we sing it other times, too. It's simply Amazing Grace, updated by the singer Todd Agnew, but I love the chorus: "Hallelujah! Grace like rain falls down on me. Hallelujah! All my stains are washed away, they're washed away."
Jesus did that FOR US. Like, how amazing is that??? We're forgiven. We're clean. We're made whole. We can actually look God in the face and say, "Here I am Lord. I need forgiveness. I need help. I need Jesus to make me whole." And HE DOES IT!!! Everyone has stuff in their life that needs forgiveness, that they haven't even forgiven THEMSELVES for yet. But guess what? Through Jesus, that forgiveness can be YOURS!!
This past Sunday, we had a drama about a woman who was caught having an affair with a married man. She talked about how she didn't deserve forgiveness, how her sin defined who she was. She was "The Other Woman." She was ashamed and had broken the man's family. Then it switched to the POV of the woman who was going to be stoned and Jesus said, "Sinless among you, throw the first stone." For the first time the woman (and the audience, in essence) looked at it not as a lesson in forgiving people because we're all sinners, too, but as a lesson that our sins don't define us.
Amazing Grace.... that saved a wretch like me. Like you. Like all of us. He did it. Have you accepted it??
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