This morning was amazing. God has really opened my eyes through the whole moving process. But that wasn't the amazing part of this morning. The lady who has been sitting in front of us at church accepted Christ today as her Savior! Then seeing this video tonight really made it all seem to fit together. What shackles Christ has set us free from.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Meet Me In The Stairwell
'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'
You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'
I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'
I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.
I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
During the next 60 seconds, stop whatever you are
doing, and take this opportunity. (Literally it
is only 1 minute.) All you have to do is the
following:
Stop and think and appreciate God's power
in your life, for doing what you know is pleasing to
Him. If you are not ashamed to do this, follow the
instructions. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of Me, I will be
ashamed of you before My Father'
If you are not ashamed, copy and send this message...only
if you believe 'Yes, I love my God. He is my
fountain of Life and My Savior. He Keeps me going day and
night. Without Him, I am no one. But with Him, I can do
everything. Christ is my strength.'
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Triumph Through Tragedy
Nick Romano
Sept 7, 1984 - August 25, 2008
Right after I found out about Nick's wreck, a song came to my attention and it reminded me of the story behind the song. The song is the hymn "It is Well With My Soul". It has helped me find some peace in it all. He was a dear friend. Unfortunately, I watched some old video footage of the duet we did together and then our band competitions from 7th grade. So many memories caused tears to flood back in.
The verses were penned by Horatio Spafford after several traumatic events in his life. In 1871 his only son died, shortly followed by his financial ruin through the Great Chicago Fire. In 1873 he had planned to travel with his family to Europe, but was delayed on business. He sent his family on ahead. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship collided with another ship and sank, killing all four of the Spafford girls in the process. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
If such tragedy can bring about the words below, may God use Nick to touch many lives and bring peace such as this.
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
- Words by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
- Music by Philip P. Bliss, 1876
Monday, August 25, 2008
A song for the brokenhearted
"Cry Out to Jesus" by Third Day
To everyone who's lost someone they love
long before it was their time.
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye.
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
keepin' you back from your life.
You believe that there's nothing
and there is no one who can make it right.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are.
Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love.
and they've done all they can to make it right again
still it's not enough.
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
you try to give up but you come back again.
Just remember that you're not alone
in your shame and your suffering.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are.
Cry out to Jesus.
When you're lonely and it feels like the whole world is falling on you
you just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus.
To the widow who suffers from being alone,
wipin' the tears from her eyes.
For the children around the world without a home,
say a prayer tonight.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
that meets you wherever you are.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
that meets you wherever you are.
Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.
Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.
To everyone who's lost someone they love
long before it was their time.
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye.
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
keepin' you back from your life.
You believe that there's nothing
and there is no one who can make it right.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are.
Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love.
and they've done all they can to make it right again
still it's not enough.
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
you try to give up but you come back again.
Just remember that you're not alone
in your shame and your suffering.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are.
Cry out to Jesus.
When you're lonely and it feels like the whole world is falling on you
you just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus.
To the widow who suffers from being alone,
wipin' the tears from her eyes.
For the children around the world without a home,
say a prayer tonight.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
that meets you wherever you are.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
that meets you wherever you are.
Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.
Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Follow Love
As a youth minister's wife, my main job is to be my husband's partner, his supporter, his friend. My job is to encourage him when times get tough; when God's will is being done, but the road gets rough. When I married Ryan this song became one of my favorite songs. And today, the lyrics express what is happening in my life right now. Those of you who know please do not mention yet. When the timing is right, Ryan and I will let everyone know. There are a few precious people that need to hear it from our mouths. And no, its not about an addition to our family.
FOLLOW LOVE by FFH
I'm gonna miss the simple town full of memories
I'm gonna miss just hanging out with all my friends
The rainy days and summer nights
Skipping stones by the river side
But i know.. its time to go
So heres goodbye heres so long
I must go and follow love
I feel my heart moving on
I must go and follow love
Carry on while I'm gone
This is what i've been dreaming of
I miss you so
But i must go, go and follow love
I've got a heart thats full of dreams
and a little bit of crazy
I can feel it pulling me to somewhere i have never been
I'm packing up and leaving home
To travel into the great unknown
Its time, i have to go
So heres goodbye heres so long
I must go and follow love
I feel my heart moving on
I must go and follow love
Carry on while I'm gone
This is what i've been dreaming of
I miss you so
But i must go, go and follow love
Were not guarranted tomorrow
So we must just keep on living for today
and make the most of every moment
every step along the way...oh
So heres goodbye heres so long
I must go and follow love
I feel my heart moving on
I must go and follow love
Carry on while I'm gone
This is what i've been dreaming of
I miss you so
But i must go, go and follow love
I must go, go and follow love
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Growing Old in the Word
Amazing how life can kind of creep up on you! I can tell I am getting older. My baby cousins are growing up and the first is going off to college in August. The youth in my husband's youth group are calling songs from my high school days as an "Oldie". And last but not least, I think I am losing my mind!
Enough of all of these rants. I know I go into them a lot. Today I want to share something that has been on my mind for years. There are people who want to "start their day off the holy way" and have devotions and read the Bible in the mornings. They say it makes their day brighter. Then there are those who want time with God to be the last thing they do before they go to bed.
Well, me. I can't do either. If its first thing in the morning, I am exhausted! Its overwhelming how much God reveals to you or can reveal to you during time with Him. Sometimes it so much it can physically exhaust you! That's happened to me recently.
If its the last thing I do before I go to bed I wind up awake until 3am just with things racing in my head that has been revealed to me or a song of praise will pop into my head and I will want to spend more and more time worshiping God and spending time in His word and won't be able to sleep.
My solution. Bit by bit all through the day. I'll read a verse before I take my shower in the morning. Then read a few chapters at lunch or during my breaks at work. My main Bible study has been around 8-9 at night or when Ryan has his meetings at church. This has caused me to become a 9:30 in the bed person! But it is better than staying up all night! So here I am....growing old! Before you know it I will come home from work and go straight to bed and then wake up at 4am!
Enough of all of these rants. I know I go into them a lot. Today I want to share something that has been on my mind for years. There are people who want to "start their day off the holy way" and have devotions and read the Bible in the mornings. They say it makes their day brighter. Then there are those who want time with God to be the last thing they do before they go to bed.
Well, me. I can't do either. If its first thing in the morning, I am exhausted! Its overwhelming how much God reveals to you or can reveal to you during time with Him. Sometimes it so much it can physically exhaust you! That's happened to me recently.
If its the last thing I do before I go to bed I wind up awake until 3am just with things racing in my head that has been revealed to me or a song of praise will pop into my head and I will want to spend more and more time worshiping God and spending time in His word and won't be able to sleep.
My solution. Bit by bit all through the day. I'll read a verse before I take my shower in the morning. Then read a few chapters at lunch or during my breaks at work. My main Bible study has been around 8-9 at night or when Ryan has his meetings at church. This has caused me to become a 9:30 in the bed person! But it is better than staying up all night! So here I am....growing old! Before you know it I will come home from work and go straight to bed and then wake up at 4am!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
God's protection
When I was little, I used to think heat lightning was when God got angry. When the lightning hit the ground he was furious! Well, tonight driving hom from my father's day cookout at my grandfather's house I saw heat lightning and it matched my mood. I hope God became angry tonight. But I wish he was as furious as I have become in the last hours.
Why such hostility?! Tonight I had a 9 year old boy's life in my hands. And we were both in God's. I'm so thankful my family and I are alive tonight. Especially my cousin, my husband, and our friend Michael who were all outside to witness the events.
Both greenville and spartanburg county deputies were involved and all I will say is it involved a crazy man with a gun waving it around and half the time it was pointed in the direction of a member of my family. A sack of stolen guns. Stupid county line regulations and confusion about which deputy was supposed to deal with what. And a shots were fired. Then because the guns were found in one county and the man ran into the other they just said "Call us if you see him." when there is a missing gun somewhere between two houses of the events and now I'm afraid my little cousins or some kid in the neighborhood will run through the woods (what we call the "Swamp") and find it!
God blessed us all tonight by keeping us safe! I was in charge of my 9 year old cousin eating outside because the kitchen and dinning rooms were cramped with people. My husband and his friend Michael was outside too when the shots were fired. I had my cousin and I stay put. The guy didn't see us, but if we had moved out of the corner of his eyes that loaded gun would have probably went off in our direction. Having that responsibilty over someone so small and young really has changed me tonight.
Then we come home to two cop cars and an ambulance at the pool of our apartment complex. Apparently robberies at the pool and a break-in in an apartment below us occurred before we arrived.
"For He orders His angels to protect you whereever you go." -Psalm 91:11
I really believe God had his angels protecting my family tonight. None of these events were just coincidences. He has a perfect plan. He changed my life tonight. I've been taking too much for granted. I've been a very sheltered kid until now. My husband, who has had a gun pulled to his head before, is helping me through this. God has blessed me with such a protective man! His first instinct was to protect his family and the second was calling 911 once we were safe!
And a special thanks to Aaron for teaching my hubby well! TO RUN! lol.
Why such hostility?! Tonight I had a 9 year old boy's life in my hands. And we were both in God's. I'm so thankful my family and I are alive tonight. Especially my cousin, my husband, and our friend Michael who were all outside to witness the events.
Both greenville and spartanburg county deputies were involved and all I will say is it involved a crazy man with a gun waving it around and half the time it was pointed in the direction of a member of my family. A sack of stolen guns. Stupid county line regulations and confusion about which deputy was supposed to deal with what. And a shots were fired. Then because the guns were found in one county and the man ran into the other they just said "Call us if you see him." when there is a missing gun somewhere between two houses of the events and now I'm afraid my little cousins or some kid in the neighborhood will run through the woods (what we call the "Swamp") and find it!
God blessed us all tonight by keeping us safe! I was in charge of my 9 year old cousin eating outside because the kitchen and dinning rooms were cramped with people. My husband and his friend Michael was outside too when the shots were fired. I had my cousin and I stay put. The guy didn't see us, but if we had moved out of the corner of his eyes that loaded gun would have probably went off in our direction. Having that responsibilty over someone so small and young really has changed me tonight.
Then we come home to two cop cars and an ambulance at the pool of our apartment complex. Apparently robberies at the pool and a break-in in an apartment below us occurred before we arrived.
"For He orders His angels to protect you whereever you go." -Psalm 91:11
I really believe God had his angels protecting my family tonight. None of these events were just coincidences. He has a perfect plan. He changed my life tonight. I've been taking too much for granted. I've been a very sheltered kid until now. My husband, who has had a gun pulled to his head before, is helping me through this. God has blessed me with such a protective man! His first instinct was to protect his family and the second was calling 911 once we were safe!
And a special thanks to Aaron for teaching my hubby well! TO RUN! lol.
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