it's all about You...

one of my favorites...a reminder of what is important...in this life...

heart of worship ~ phillips craig and dean

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come

Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

CHORUS
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus

I’m sorry, Lord for the thing I’ve made it
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve

Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

when the world says...

be encouraged this weekend...

chain reaction...

my car broke down this week...how many times has that been in the last year and a half? too many to count...on the one hand...i'm thinking here we go again...but really...when i think about the fact that for the first 10 years that i had this car...i had absolutely no problems...so really...i've been pretty blessed...the good thing is:

- i was close to home

- i didn't get hurt

- no one else got hurt

i have no idea how i'm going to pay for this repair...but then again...i didn't know how i would pay for all the other repairs...but God provided...

this time...it was a hose...that was severed...smoke quickly filled the front of the car...and a nice pile of coolant was all over the cement...

when i got the car towed to the mechanic...of course we both saw the severed hose...but upon further inspection...what had happened was that a part underneath had come undone and was circling quickly around and around...and with that...it caught on another part...which came loose...and that part...while rapidly flailing around...severed the hose...

of course...the mechanic was naming these lovely car parts...but after the second one...all i was thinking...was that this is getting more and more expensive...with each new part added to the story...

as i was thinking about this later in the day...i realized that this is so much like life...when we do that one thing...that we don't put much thought into...and think it won't be that bad...or it is trivial...not realizing that every choice...every decision we make is like a chain reaction...just like with my car...

many times we have choices or decisions that we know are not the best way to go...but we don't think about the long-term affect it will have on us...and others...

i would have loved for the Lord to teach me this little life lesson in another way...meaning not through my car... =) i am glad and thankful for the reminder...and as i go through my day...i will think about each choice and decision i make...carefully...so as not to end up like the car's chain reaction...in a big mess...

how would i know?

i honestly don't remember the last time i listened to a full cd of one particular artist...my music is always set to "random"...i think mostly for the element of surprise...and always by genre...

so yesterday a song came on...it was in my ipod...so i must have heard this song at one time or another...the thing is...i don't remember it...but wow...the words really hit home yesterday...

there are many times we may want to ask why things turn out the way they do...or why we may need to go through a rough time...if we didn't have those times...how would we ever know how He has come through for us...time and time again...

hope you enjoy!


Kathy Troccoli
Words and Music by Jackie Gouché-Ferris and Andrew Gouché

If it wasn't for the times that I was down
If it wasn't for the times that I was bound
For all the times that I wondered
How I would ever make it through
All the times that I couldn't see my way
And I had to turn to You

Chorus:
How would I know You could deliver
How would I know You could set free
If there had never been a battle
How would I know the victory
How would I know You could be faithful
To meet all of my needs
Lord I appreciate the hard times
Otherwise how would I know

I remember all the times I had to cry
And at the time all I could do was wonder why
Why would a God so kind and loving
Allow me to go through all this pain
If I could see into the future
Then I would know the joy I'd gain

Repeat chorus

How would I know that you could make a way out of no way
How would I know if I never had a need
Brother I know what you're goin' through
Sister I know cause I've been in your shoes
But I can truly say that I know what God can do

i love how He loves me...

...my Father in heaven...who never ceases to amaze me...i cannot tell you the number of times i have broken down in tears...yes...i am a very emotional person...cry at movies...cry in church during worship...cry during commercials...but putting all that aside...His love overwhelms me...time and time again...

i know there are a lot of people who don't believe...and friends who don't understand my faith...how can you explain what you can't see...but feel...all the time?

He lets me know He hears me...He lets me know He understands...whether it be in the song that comes on...with the words so eloquently sung...and pertain to the moment you are in like no other...or the scripture that burns in your heart...with the feeling that it was just for you...or the call that comes in...right at the moment you need it...or the funds that arrive...when you had no idea how you would pay a bill...

these are all those moments...that are so important to a person...and God then makes it important enough to let you know...that He knows...and understands...and hears...

i love how He loves me...

new addition...

my girlfriend and her hubby had to put there cat down a while back...they had had lovable smoky for almost as long as i've had my chester...didn't think they would be getting a new cat...at least that wasn't in the plans...

and then i received the call today...new baby...i just had to go over and meet the new addition to the family...9 weeks old...i didn't get a pic...but he is ever so precious...black and white...nothing more classic then that...right?

he has beautiful big bold black & white stripes...we are still thinking of a name...(isn't it wonderful that they asked for my input?)

i'm most excited for when they go away...since i have always been the official babysitter...i love my two babies...although they are far from being babies...but they are to me...but when you see a true kitten...a part of you always wants one...

although i ended up coming home and loving on my two fur balls...my babies...

enjoy the weekend...give your pet an extra hug or two...

time to stop...

i am going on day 5 of a massive headache...it is not a migraine...but close...really limits my ability to do much...and yet...i'm in one of my busiest weeks...

it may seem odd...but the busyness kind of keeps my mind off the headache...but...the busyness...when i slow down...is when i realize how bad the pounding has gotten...

when your body is telling you to slow down...i think it is wise to listen...so today...i have canceled all plans...and spending time quietly at home...

hopefully...day 6 will have no headache...

say what you mean...and mean what you say...

...seems like such a meaningful statement...i guess i have really been surprised at how many people...don't do this...i don't understand when someone says that they are going to do something...whether it be something minor...or something big...your word is your word...why say something you have no intention of doing?

do you really want to be known for that?

i know i don't...

the spider monkey...

ok...confession time...my favorite animal at the zoo has always been...the monkey...they amuse me...really =)

so the other day...i was flipping channels...should have been the first clue that i have things i need to be doing...but am avoiding by desparately trying to find something on tv to occupy my time...

i came across this little tidbit on the spider monkey...and was mesmorized by the information...and of course...i don't even know why i'm surprised...a lesson came out of the show... =)

the spider monkey is a tiny animal native to south and central america...quick as lightening...it is a very difficult animal to capture in the wild...for years...people attempted to shoot spider monkeys with tranquilizer guns or capture them with nets...but they discovered the monkeys were nearly always faster than their fastest draw or quickest trap...

then somebody discovered the best method for capturing this elusive creature...they found that if you take a clear narrow-mouth glass bottle...put one peanut inside it...and wait...you can catch a spider monkey...

what happens? the spider monkey reaches into the bottle to get the peanut and he can't get his hand out of the bottle as long as it is clenching the peanut...the bottle is so heavy in proportion to his size...he can't drag it with him...and the spider monkey is too persistent to let go of a peanut once he has grasped it...in fact...you can dump a wheel barrow full of peanuts or bananas right next to him...and he won't let go of that one peanut...

and then came the lesson...

how many of us are like that? unwilling to change a habit...be a little flexible...try a new method...or give up something we know is bringing destruction to our lives? we stubbornly cling to our way...even if it brings pain and suffering?

today...don't cling to a negative situation that may be draining you of your full vitality...energy...creativity...and enthusiasm for living...as the well-known phrase advises...and one i say often..."let go...and let God..."

trust the Lord to lead you to the wise counsel and new opportunities He has for you...have faith in Him to provide what you truly need to live a peaceful...balanced and fulfilling life...you may never lose your taste for peanuts....but with the Lord's help you can discern when they are trapped in glass bottles...

a simple pleasure...

what is it that gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside? certain smells...like the aroma of homemade bread right out of the oven or the cinnamony smell of hot apple cider...makes you feel everything will be all right...

or maybe a crackling fire in the fireplace to chase away the damp chill on a rainy nite? although we here in the bay area have been having some incredible summer weather...and not really thinking about fires in fireplaces...

what about the whistling of a teakettle...ready to brew a pot of your favorite tea? or listening to a favorite recording of beethoven's "moonlight sonata"? when was the last time you sat outside to do nothing else but watch the sun set?

sometimes...my simple pleasure is just laying on my couch...and having my kitty asleep on top of me...purring away...

when was the last time you gave yourself permission to be "nonproductive" and enjoy some of life's simple pleasures?

when we don't take time for leisure or relaxation...when we give our discretionary time away to busyness and relentless activity...we are living in a way that says..."everything depends upon me and my efforts..."

consequently...God prescribed a day of rest...the sabbath...to enjoy His creation...to give us time to reflect and remember all He has done for us and all He is...the sabbath is time to remember that God is God...and...well...we are not...

the sabbath doesn't have to be sunday...you can take a sabbath rest anytime you relax and turn your focus to God and His creation...sometimes you have nothing better to do than relax...you may have something else to do...but you don't have anything better to do...

remember to relax and just enjoy God's creation...after all...He created it for you to enjoy...

a reason to smile...

enjoy the weekend...

if i had it to do over again...

i was reading a study the other day...fifty people over the age of 95 were asked the question...'if you could live your life over again...what would you do differently?'

three general responses emerged from the questionnaire...
if i had it to do over again...
- i would reflect more
- i would risk more
- i would do more things that would live on after i am dead

then...an elderly woman wrote this about how she would live her life if she had it to live over again...

"i'd make more mistakes next time; i'd relax; i would limber up; i would be sillier than i have been this trip; i would take fewer things seriously; i would take more chances; i would climb more mountains and swim more rivers; i would eat more ice cream and less beans; i would perhaps have more actual troubles...but i'd have fewer imaginary ones...

you see...i'm one of those people who lives sensibly and sanely hour after hour...day after day...oh...i'd have my moments...and if i had it to do over again...i'd have more of them...in fact...i'd try to do nothing else...just moments...one after the other instead of living so many years ahead of time..."

sometimes it semms life is lived backwards...when we are young and have only a limited perspective...we have to make the huge decisions of life that will shape the rest of our years...but we can...and are wise to...learn from those who have gained insight from life's experiences...

life cannot be all work and no play...and yet you want your life to be meaningful...to God...to your loved ones...and to yourself...

reflect on your life today...ask God to show you the true meaning of your existence...what you are to accomplish...and how to have fun along the way...

serenity...

many people are familiar with the "serenity" prayer...although most probably think of it as a prayer to be said in the morning hours or during a time of crisis...consider again the words of the prayer:

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change...courage to change the things i can...and wisdom to know the difference..."

can there be any better prayer to say at the end of the day? those things which are irreversible or fixed in God's order...we need to relinquish to Him...true peace of mind comes when we trust God knows more about any situation than we could possibly know...He can turn any situation from bad to good in His timing and according to His will...

those things we can change...we must have the courage to change...furthermore...we must accept the fact that in most cases...we cannot change things until morning comes...we can rest in the interim...knowing the Lord will help us when the time comes for action...

the real heart of the serenity prayer is revealed in its conclusion...that we might know the diference between what we need to accept and what we need to change...that takes wisdom...

"if any of us is deficient in wisdom...let him ask of the giving God [who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly...without reproaching or faultfinding...and it will be given him...only it must be in faith that he asks...with no wavering...no hesitating...no doubting..."(james 1:5-6)

at the end of the day...we must recognize the Lord's wisdom may not be given to us before we sleep...but perhaps as we sleep...so that when we awaken...we have the answer we need...many people have reported this to be true...they went to bed having a problem...turned it over to God in prayer...and awoke with a solution that seemed "plain as day" in the morning light...

ask the Lord to give you true serentiy tonite...

without music...

the learning...

"in order to do all that God wants you to do, you must learn how to be criticized, misunderstood, rejected and be able to forgive those who are behind it..." ~ joyce meyer

i saw this quote a few weeks back...and i have to say...it has really been on my mind...it is interesting that while some have a hard time receiving praise...and in that need to learn how to accept it...it is a whole different ballgame to learn to accept criticism...rejection...being misunderstood...and to forgive...

i think it is interesting that God calls us to forgive...the one thing that many struggle with...that i have struggled with at times...but ultimately...what it has boiled down to for me...is that if i seek the Lord's forgiveness in my own life...how can i then not forgive?

i don't deserve forgiveness...and yet He gives it to me...instantly...how can i not extend the same to those who have hurt me? to those who have criticized me? to those who have spoken ill of me?

it is a learning process...and although i would be lying if i said i forgive as quickly as the Lord does...because i don't...sometimes i process it...wonder how i could forgive...but the Lord is teaching me...

and in the learning...i am doing what God wants me to do...not only in the exercise of forgiveness...but all that He has planned for my life...

meet bentley...

i wish i could start this post by saying that this is the newest addition to my furry family...but alas...i cannot...although i did have the fun of babysitting 3 week old bentley...

so strange how you can fall in love so quickly...and it made me want a puppy that much more...someday...soon...



here is his close-up...don't you just want to squish him?



may your weekend be fabulous!

emmanuel kelly...

i guess i should start by warning you...kleenex will be needed for this one...saw this video for the first time today...and cried...there are really no words to add...heart moving story...

second chances...

it was about 3 weeks ago...that i received a call from my girlfriend...she let me know that her nephews daughter had just suffered an aneurysm...a young girl...only 23 years old...and that same day...my sweet friend and family member "r" responded to my email for prayer for this 23 year old...saying she was praying...and could i keep her husband in prayer who was just being taken into emergency...not knowing that he as well would suffer an aneurysm...same day...he was healed...and we praised our Father...for His wonderful goodness...and healing power...

meanwhile...the 23 year old...was declared brain dead...with absolutely no chance of survival...her parents were not believers...but overwhelmed in hearing about all the people that they did not know...praying for their daughter...

grappling with the decision to take her off life support...they couldn't do it...and kept holding out faith that something would happen...

and today...a new doctor has told them...that she will have full recovery...

to say that this is anything short of God's amazing healing power...well...it can't be done...He is alive and well...and still healing...

i am overwhelmed...and beyond gratefulness for God's gift of life...and second chances...

celebrations...

this last weekend...my family celebrated the 80th birthday of my aunt...it was such a fun time...being among family and friends...and seeing all the people that so love my aunt...

there were some surprise visits...which made it that much more fun...and just a time to catch up with those that you don't see often...

and then the next nite...we celebrated my mamacita's birthday...although it was a much smaller venue...i liked the idea that the whole weekend was dedicated to celebrations...

celebrations...so much we have in life that we can celebrate...i guess it is all in how you view things...do you try and not take things for granted...like the fact that someone may or may not be around in a year...or even the small pleasures...not always focusing so much on the "big" things...that we miss out on so much of the beautiful small things...

they are all important...life is meant to be celebrated...so what have you celebrated recently?

the present....