"I've resolved to give God everything I've got and leave the results up to Him." Coach Grant Taylor from “Facing the Giants”
As promised, this is my favorite quote. This quote has caused me to think about so much in my life, so many things that I have struggled to make come to pass, only to fail again and again. So many things I’ve wanted to change, only to see them continue to go in a direction that I did not wish. I meditate on this a lot…the need to give God EVERYTHING…my hopes, my dreams, my fears, my family, everything…and then to trust Him to bring about His will in His timing, as long as I commit everything to Him and do things His way.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
To say that I love to read would be an incredible understatement. Reading has been something I have done for enjoyment for as long as I can remember. When I sit down with a book, it is very hard to put it down. I can get so engrossed in reading that I will lose all track of time, which, when you have a family isn’t a good thing. So, I have to learn to practice self control with my reading. That isn’t always easy.
Once again, I can’t pick just one…I love the Bible because it is still just as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago. People in the Bible experienced the same struggles, triumphs, heartaches, and fears that I do. And the Lord has blessed us in giving us His Word to lead us and guide us in our life experiences.
I also love “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan. I have found so many truths in this allegory that have been evident in my own life, and seeing how Christian and Christiana struggled thru even their own failures to come out strong in faith and a testimony to the faithfulness of the only One who never fails.
One of the books that has been most recently added to my favorites list is “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, and Claude King. This book has blessed me in so many ways and helped me to see the many ways that I was experiencing God’s work in my life when I didn’t even realize it.
The second recent addition has helped me so much in the trials and struggles I have experienced in the past year. Robert J. Morgan took a fresh look at how the Lord moved for the Israelites by the Red Sea and came up with ten “rules” for helping believers through trials and difficulties in this life: “The Red Sea Rules”.
Okay, I have to admit, we don’t watch what you would call “regular” TV. We have Sky Angel so that we can make sure that most of our TV choices will be edifying and Christ-centered. As a family, we usually watch programs like “Wretched – with Todd Friel”, “Answers in Genesis”, “Origins”, and a few movies and things. Terry has his own programs that he likes which include the “American Heritage Series” with David Barton, and he also likes to watch Glenn Beck. For me, if it comes to the program that I could watch over and over, I would have to say “Laugh with the Skit Guys”. I LOVE the Skit Guys! Tommy Woodard and Eddie James are hilarious, and on top of being incredibly creative and hysterically funny, they really have a way of bringing spiritual issues to light to cause you to really think about them. I like “Bananas” too, but the Skit Guys are my favorite!
Okay…this one is easy. My favorite movie of all time is “Facing the Giants”. There are a lot of other movies that I like in a lot of different genres, but “Facing the Giants” is the only one that I can watch over and over and over again, and still get something new out of it every time! I NEVER get tired of watching it. Maybe it is the fact that I relate to Grant Taylor’s struggle with fear and feeling like a failure. Or maybe it is the fact that I SO relate to Brooke’s desperate desire for a child, and the miracle of having one where it didn’t seem possible. Or maybe it is just that I like football!!! I guess it is just everything fit together in one perfect package that makes up my favorite movie of all time. Oh, and it also has one of my favorite quotes in it…but I guess that is for another day. :-)
This may be one of the hardest ones for me to answer. Music is a HUGE part of my life. I have some music in my head almost all the time. I have different songs come to mind from time to time depending upon my situation. Music ministers to me in ways that I cannot explain. So, where would I begin to even break down my favorite song? Do I even have a favorite song of all time? Should I pick my favorite hymn, or my favorite CCM song, or my favorite musical? So since I couldn’t pick just one, I will have to give a montage of sorts to show the diversity of music that makes up my life.
My favorite hymn is a tie (between 3 different songs). Before Terry’s cancer it was “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. After Terry was diagnosed with cancer “It Is Well With My Soul” became very special to me and continues to be so. The third I don’t even know if you can call a hymn, but it has always meant a lot to me as it is the cry of my heart in many ways. “Lord, I Am Fondly, Earnestly Longing”:
I grew up on musicals, so I love the songs to many. Terry and I have an appreciation for many things Jewish, including the music. I don’t know if you could say it was Jewish, but we love “Fiddler on the Roof”. I love the music from “Phantom of the Opera” and have since I was a teenager who desperately longed to sing like Sarah Brightman. I owned the complete soundtrack to the original Broadway production and would spend hours in my room singing the songs. I love the music from the “Prince of Egypt”! The songs are extraordinary, and I could listen to it at least once a week.
When it comes to my usual listening pleasure, contemporary Christian music, I would be hard pressed to pick just one song, or even just one artist. I LOVE Keith Green’s music and his heart that comes through every song. My favorite Keith song is “Make My Life a Prayer To You.”
I have been blessed by many a Casting Crowns song, the worship of Chris Tomlin, and the stories of Nichole Nordeman. I hear and echo the heart of Jeremy Camp. But my favorite Christian artist is Steven Curtis Chapman. I don’t think I could pick one of SCC’s songs that I like over another. There have been so many that have helped me through some of the hardest times of my life, as well as some I just love to sing. Time (and space) would fail me to tell of every song, but here are just a few highlights.
My fave SCC song to sing and dance to: “The Great Adventure”. It might be an oldie, but it is definitely a GOODIE!!! (I was a little discouraged because apparently I can't embed ANY SCC songs!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrrjbTc0urk&feature=fvst
One of my favorites of all time, and that I will begin singing at any given time is “Much of You” from All Things New. (Yay! I found one!!!)
From This Moment I am in love with “My Surrender”:
On top of all of this, I have songs that have been important to me in this season of my life. The one that has been the theme song for me during this difficult and trying, uncertain and changing year has been “Whatever You’re Doing” by Sanctus Real.
So you have my life summed up in song. And that is only scratching the surface.
Okay, so I have been inspired by one of my Blogger friends, Amanda, to start this 30 day blog journal. Here's the deal...you are supposed to blog about different things every day for 30 days. I'm not sure I will do it EVERY day, but I will...eventually...post 30 different blogs about the following:
Day 1 - your favorite song Day 2 - your favorite movie Day 3 - your favorite television program Day 4 - your favorite book Day 5 - your favorite quote Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad Day 9 - a photo you took Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you Day 11 - a photo of you recently Day 12 - something you are OCD about Day 13 - a fictional book Day 14 - a non-fictional book Day 15 - your dream house Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly) Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc) Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding Day 19 - a talent of yours Day 20 - a hobby of yours Day 21 - a recipe Day 22 - a website Day 23 - a youtube video Day 24 - where I live Day 25 - your day, in great detail Day 26 - your week, in great detail Day 27 - my worst habit Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse Day 29 - hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days Day 30 - a dream for the future
So thus begins my journal journey... Come along with me if you wish. I'm wondering what I am going to find out about myself.
