Wouldn't ya know...

(Pics are some sneak peeks of a photo session of two of my favorite people! I will post more later, have to get the editing done for CDs for Jasmine and Spencer's family first, but they are just too adorable to not share!)

Having a house all to yourself is a glorious thing...but only for a little while. My men are on a retreat, smoking cigars, playing mexican train dominoes and worshiping God together. I am sure they smell like fish from too much bait, don't bother to shower, are only eating meat, and are having a wonderful time.

I can't wait to see them again. Don't get me wrong. Four days of reading and sleeping and reading and sleeping does a body good. No messes to clean up, no dinners to make...but I miss taking care of some bodies. I love my men.

(Jazz and Spence wanted to take pics at some of the places that gave them the best memories. Here is one from Frenchman's Bar.)

It has been nearly a month since our house got a little "bigger", and as much as I can find contentment in having things clean and tidy...I have needed an attitude adjustment more days than I would like to count. I seem to crave feeling sorry for myself lately, and it is humiliating. I just keep telling myself to shape up. And then I do. For about a minute. 

Someone posted something awhile ago that has continued to comfort me in the more bleak moments. It took me back to Genesis, and as I finished the book this morning I still just kept hearing the main lesson that I heard this month:
God is here. He is near, and not one thing in my life surprises Him. It is such a warm thought, and makes the long and lonely days not so lonely. Turn to Genesis 28 with me and just think about Jacob's words.

(And of course, she needed photos on the horse trails around Whipple Creek. Great times!)

He has just been shoo'ed out of the nest by his father and told to go and find a wife from their tribe. "Pick a good one, bud- not like the trashy ladies in our neighborhood." No questions, good ol' Jake hops to it and hits the dusty road.

As he walks along the highway, he cops a squat wherever he is when the sun goes down. He has this crazy, vivid dream (and no he did NOT pick any 'shrooms along the way) of God blessing him and promising "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go...".

When he wakes up, he is shaken by fear at the greatness of God, and realizes how REAL and PRESENT God is. Look at his words in the Message version:
"God is in this place- truly. And I didn't even know it...Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's house..." Genesis 28:16-17a

How often am I blind to the fact that God is "in this place?" That with His Holy Spirit, I am never far from my wonderful Savior. Oh, beautiful thought. Listen to Jesus:
" And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Sounds nicely familiar, doesn't it? God's words of promise aren't just for Jacob and his Promised Land. Jesus said to us- He would be with us always. 

I love what Jacob does after all that- when he wakes up in the morning, he sets up a memorial spot and names it "Bethel", or Holy Place. He chooses to worship the Lord as His God right then and commits to giving God a tenth of everything God ever gives to Him. 

(Raspberry fields where she decided Spencer was the one- because he was the only person who could keep up with her racing bareback. ;)

No need to be lonely. No need to doubt. Choosing to trust Him, I can be sure that the path I and my dear ones are on is just right. Great comfort tonight. God bless you, friend. May you notice Him in your "place" right now. May you be filled with fear and wonder at the Awesomeness of your God. And may you take time to thank Him, and worship Him for it.

(Never let go, Dear One.)

A young "up and come"-er. Check it out and follow!

http://www.spencerbakermusic.blogspot.com/

Just have to say how much I adore this kid. He has a smooth, whisper-like voice but it has a lot of power. So soothing. He is also a beast on the guitar, focusing more on acoustic than electric right now. And more importantly, he is growing in Jesus and I can't wait to see what God does with him. I would post a song I have of his, but not sure if he would be cool with that so you will have to simply enjoy the "heart" behind his lyrics.

Strongly suggest following his blog, not only for his encouragement but so you will know when he finishes his demo. It is going to be GREAT!


He's the little weirdie in the sweater vest! Bahahahaha! Love that kid! This was on our trip to Napa last winter with some of the youth to see Jordan's youth leader marry his cutie. It was an amazing time, and I think life changing for a lot of our teens. Commitments were made, Jesus was glorified. So good. <3

A side note...

Had to do two posts today because God is just that good! We had a final TAG (Teen Accountability Group)worship night tonight as a farewell to the school year, and I can't even explain how awesome it is to see God working RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. Sure, some of the teens were goofing off or whatever, but then there were others- kids I pray for and dearly want to see in love with Jesus, lifting up their hands to their Creator and singing with unexpected abandon. What a blessing to me, as I worshiped with them to realize these young adults are growing, and no matter what kind of mess they might make, God is in their lives and will give them grace and love and joy, and a good ol' whoopin' when they need it too!

One of the songs we sang said that God is our living water, without Him we perish. And God just brought that truth home in such a real way to me. I planted our awesome palm tree on Saturday, and today it looks pathetic, palms all curled up, yellowing tips. I was so bummed, and then I felt the soil. I hadn't watered it enough after transplanting. DUH! I know plants need lots of H2O at transplant time, but I thought palms needed way less. Apparently not. Without water, my poor tree is going to die. Wither up, suffer, and die. And that is exactly what happens to me when I choose to turn away from the "water" that only God can give, my nourishment and my strength. Oh, God, bring that truth home to me every day, and make it real to Felida's youth. Show them your glory, Lord. Forgive me for the times I make other things more important than spending time with you, "drinking" in your words and your ways. And God, please make my palm tree live. :)

Philip P. Bliss

While reading about Horatio Spafford, I was blessed with the opportunity to learn about the life of Mr. Philip Bliss- the composer of the music to that hymn we all so love- "It Is Well With My Soul". Bliss was a friend of Spafford's, and when he returned to the States with the words God had given him, he asked Bliss to put the poem to music- and thank God for that.
Reading about another great man after God's heart did me good this morning, and Bliss's life reminded me of two important truths. No matter where we are, or how we feel- God is worthy to be worshiped, and God's plans and purposes are ALWAYS best.
Bliss was a powerful leader of worship, and accompanied Dwight Moody and many others as they lead revivals and evangelized all across the United States. One Sunday morning "he had no patience with lukewarm renditions of hymns sung by a thoughtless congregation: 'Let us remember, when we stand up in the congregation to sing, that we are either singing to the Lord or (is it possible?) taking His name in vain!" He reminded his fellow worshipers that God deserved are most heartfelt singing. Bliss also loved writing Sunday School songs in addition to the numerous adult hymns, because he said the children's love and faith in God inspired him. He asked his friends that doubted the necessity of hymns- how many sermons they remembered as a child, and how many hymns. The power of music is a gift from God.
In tragedy, Bliss and his wife died in a train accident on their way to sing at one of Moody's revivals in Chicago, orphaning their two toddler sons. The sadness weighed heavily on all that had known and loved Bliss, so when they found one of his last hymns that he had written- it brought them great comfort to remember how secure their friend was in Jesus, and they would indeed see him again:
"Why had God allowed him to die so young, so tragically? Philip's last hymn, "He Knows", found among his papers not long after the accident, answered the pain of those who loved him best:

So on I go, not knowing,
I would not if I might;
I'd rather walk in the dark with God
Than go alone in the light;
I'd rather walk by faith with Him
Than go alone by sight."

Taken from "Well with my Soul" by Rachael Philips