It’s that time of the week again. This weeks “Four For Friday” happens to fall on the holiday of July 4th! Parades, Fireworks, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, friends and fun! Maybe even some good old apple pie! What could be better? Here are my VERY Random Four songs this week. Thanks to Mike for contributing last week! Agree 100% on the Casting Crowns song by the way. Was really disappointed in that CD when it first came out but it’s one of my favorites now. Especially after seeing them live.
1.Independence Day by Martina McBride - It’s not exactly about the Holiday, but “Let Freedom Ring”!
2.I Am Free by the Newsboys - One of my favorite worship songs. This song just gets you moving and celebrating the freedom we have in Christ.
3.Tremble by Audio Adrenaline - MercyMe covered this on their last tour with Audio Adrenaline. I have a copy on my iPod. I heard it while I was on a flight last week from Miami and contemplating our move to Charlotte and how real Gods presence has been the past two weeks. I was overcome with emotion. Bart explains it so well in this clip on YouTube. May we never lose that reverence.
4. Carolina In My Mind by James Taylor - The link actually takes you to a cover by the great Allison Krauss. Her beautiful voice singing the lyric “Signs that might be omens say I’m going, going to Carolina” get me every time.
A special shout out to My Sister today too. She was born on the 4th of July! Happy Birthday sis. Hope you all have a safe and happy 4th! God bless America.
First off, it is with excitement and pride that I announce that my wife now has a BLOG!!! I think she got the bug when she signed up for Facebook recently and now she is officially a blogger. I am both thrilled and disappointed. I am thrilled that the blog world will now get a glimpse into the life of the one that is the grace of my life. I’m disappointed because I just became the second best blogger in our household. That I am okay with though. Check out her new blog HERE.
Secondly, and I can’t find any other way to frame it…..
Our house went on the market yesterday with the intention of moving to Charlotte, North Carolina (specifically Huntersville). While I have written about 100 posts trying to put into finite words the ways and workings of an infinite God, I just cannot seem to do it. The story is long but exciting. The call is as real as real gets. The signs have been everywhere that now is the time. The overwhelming peace that has come to Heather and I has been straight from John 14:27:
“My peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let you hearts be troubled and do not be afraid“.
While staying in the place we love and with the friends and community we lean on would be the safe thing to do. God has made it VERY clear that He is in control. He has removed the doubt and cleared the path as only He can. We just want to be obdedient. He deserves that much and will get all of the glory, honor and praise that He is due.
Stay tuned to my blog both of our blogs as the journey continues. It has already been an amazing ride. We love you all.
“There’s times I’d rather kill you then listen to your honesty, but you’ve always been a friend to me” - Garth Brooks
You gotta love when you surround yourself with “truth tellers”. I made a commitment long ago to run everything in the discernment process through God, family and close friends. The catch was that I would not keep calling people until SOMEONE finally agreed with my point of view. Each persons input must be considered.
Today I spoke with 3 of my “truth tellers” and their responses reminded me why they are in my band of brothers. All three responses were different yet fed directly into my thought process as well. With respect to my friends, I share their comments with you too…
Friend #1 - “I knew this email was coming….”
Friend #2 - “While I can’t say I am thrilled about it, you have to be obedient to what you feel like God is calling you to do.”
Friend #3 - “Dude…you have not been able to find your groove for months now.”
Three friends with three insights. What I find amazing is that all three recognized something in my life. They didn’t offer their input until asked, but were kind enough to be honest in their responses. Not only were they honest, they were right. I couldn’t have put it any better myself. To my friends and brothers, I thank you.
For well over a year and a half now, I have climbed aboard plane after plane. Week after week and month after month, I step onto an airplane and never once see the pilot. I’ve never spoken to one of them. I’ve not had the opportunity to ask them 100 questions before deciding if I trust them. I don’t know if they are tired, qualified, drunk, or even know where we are going. I just walk back to my seat, buckle up and keep my seat and tray table in the upright position.
So why won’t I do the same with my Creator and Heavenly Father?
That was the question that came to me almost audibly Friday. Weighing a big decision has opened some dialog and discerning with God lately. I find myself asking 100 questions (why, when and how). I am begging to know that everything will work out alright. I am even questioning His direction. In the meantime, I climb aboard another plane and give my faith to another pilot. I give a guy I’ve never seen my physical well being…literally. Yet I won’t trust God with a decision that He has made VERY clear?
When it comes to this decision, it’s time to find my seat. It’s time to place my “baggage” in the overhead compartment. We’re about to “push back from the gate” and I am going to trust my “pilot”. He has delivered me safely in the past and will do it again….
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” -Hebrews 11:1
Happy Birthday to my wife Heather today. Brian Littrell sang it best……
“The Grace of My Life”
I lie awake so often at night
With something to read or something to write
In the silence my mind is free
To think of the ways that God has blessed me
It’s easy to see how He’s been so kind
Any proof I might need is right here by my side
You are the grace of my life
So tender, so undeserved
Hard to believe you’re my wife
Even harder to put what I feel into words
If I need evidence God is good
Just looking at you is enough
You are the grace of my life
For you grace my life with your love
Love that is pure, so faithful and strong
You forgive me when I do you wrong
I’ve seen in you time after time
A picture on earth of love so divine
Oh, I am amazed for how can it be
That someone like you would love someone like me
You are the grace of my life
So tender, so undeserved
Hard to believe you’re my wife
Even harder to put what I feel into words
If I need evidence God is good
Just looking at you is enough
You are the grace of my life
For you grace my life with your love
Gotta get the post out early this week since “I’m leaving on a jet plane” in the morning for Miami. Thanks to Jenny for participating in last weeks post. Anyone else care to share what is playing in their iPod, stereo or car this week? Without furhter delay, I give you this weeks “Four For Friday“
1. “With You” by Ingram Hill. Most of you are saying “I thought Chris Brown sings that”. You’re right. As much as I like the original I think this unplugged acoustic version by Ingram Hill is great too.
2. “Will I Ever Make it Home” by Ingram Hill - Recommended by my buddy “Mud Puppy” this is one of my favorite songs when I’m traveling. I usually listen to it once or twice in the iPod while I am away.
3. “Tattoo” by Jordan Sparks - I had to post this since Jenny mentioned it last week in her comments. See, it pays to comment along with this Four For Friday thing. This was also one of our road songs on our trip to Charlotte. You just gotta hear “my girls” sing it. Plus I like this song. Just don’t tell anyone…
4. “Miami” by Will Smith - Pretty self explanatory.
For you fans of MercyMe out there and more specifically their lead singer Bart Millard, here’s some good news. Following the success of his first Hymn collection CD, Bart is releasing a follow up called “Hymned Again“. It hits the streets on August 19th. Bart and I are very close. Okay, maybe not, but he did leave a comment here once. If you’re reading this Bart, feel free to say hello again! Here is the track list for the new collection:
1.
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
2.
Down At The Cross
3.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
4.
I Saw The Light
5.
I Stand Amazed
6.
Victory In Jesus
7.
Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus
8.
Brethren We Have Met To Worship
9.
Grace That Is Greater
10.
What A Day That Will Be
11.
Jesus Cares For Me
12.
*Track List Is Subject To Change Before Street Date
I will admit that I draw inspiration from the most unlikely of places. Today’s wisdom comes from the artist known as “Pink”. Pretty interesting analogy. I can’t help but wonder what it means if you’re like me and have two left feet???
If God is a DJ
Life is a dance floor
Love is the rhythm
You are the music
If God is a DJ
Life is a dance floor
You get what you’re given
It’s all how you use it...
I decided to start re-reading “Chasing Daylight” again last night. This is one of those books that should be required reading once a year. The message seems to always be very timely. Below are a few underlines from the first time I read this book.
“There are things God does for you and things God waits for you to do. The journey begins when you choose. Stop wasting daylight. Choose a life of meaningful adventure. When you do, you will live in the epicenter of God’s activity”
“Like Rahab, we are always just one choice from a different life. At our worst, good is only one decision away.”
“Do what you know you should do, and you will know what to do. God clarifies in the midst of obedience, not beforehand”.
“All of us pass a bit of ourselves on to others. You better like who you are and make what you give to others from yourself a gift and not a curse.”
“The most important decisions of our lives will require us to forsake invisibility and risk becoming visible. Whenever you choose to seize divine moments, you move from invisibility to visibility.”
“Many times when we claim we are waiting on God, He is waiting on us.”
It’s that time of the week again. This weeks “Four For Friday” happens to fall on the holiday of July 4th! Parades, Fireworks, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, friends and fun! Maybe even some good old apple pie! What could be better? Here are my VERY Random Four songs this week. Thanks to Mike for contributing last week! Agree 100% on the Casting Crowns song by the way. Was really disappointed in that CD when it first came out but it’s one of my favorites now. Especially after seeing them live.
