Monday Mania 2.0

Nerds will be nerds

We had some super-technological geniuses come to work last week and install some radio computer equipment that apparently had so much tera-byte-gigs and mega-super-duper chips of Internet power that one of them said "It could launch a missile to the moon and back."  Wow...when they were explaining how all of it would work in our studio...my eyes started to glaze over.  I think I lost some brain cells that day as they imploded upon hearing all that techno-talk.  I'll never be the same.
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Kari

I went to see Kari Jobe in concert in Oklahoma City with some great friends and it was an incredible night of worship.  Not because she sings awesomely sweet melodies but because God is awesomely sweet at the way only He can speak love through notes played by instruments strummed and hummed by humans.  Best part though was a close encounter with my Savior.  I'll never be the same.
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This is probably photo shopped Africa

I went to Africa once and plan to go back.   Still to this day..I go back there everyday in my mind.  I think about the kids and the joy and happiness we received from them.  Their smiles make me smile.  International missions has really penetrated me to the point that I hear their voices cry out in my heart.  When I hear them...I am never the same.
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When I see this I come unglued.

There are few things I face almost on a daily basis because I live with boys.  And more and more frequently, I get to experience the life altering empty toilet paper roll.  Please...whoever you are, if you are reading this Monday Mania post today...please I implore you...to pay-it-forward when it comes to bathroom tissue.  It's just a nice and thoughtful thing to do.  You could be in the same situation someday.  I'll never be the same because I just told you that.

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Boo-Boo-Fever-Family

I tried to watch another reality-yet-scripted show on The Learning Channel the other day that should also be called a train wreck for your eyes.  I had kind started to like it (almost) until they dropped some inappropriate language in the script to "enhance" the already rehearsed conversations.  If you don't know me, well just know this, I have zero tolerance for cussing.  I immediately turned it off, and  launched into a mini-sermon-ette on Facebook.  Here goes...

"Well this is just my opinion, but the language that they put into the show to get people to watch was a real turn off for me. It's not been that bad up to this week's show. But I also have a TV Guardian. So I didn't hear it anyway. But when the producers blur the word as it is coming out of the mouths, and you still know what they are saying, that is a deal breaker for me. I rather go look at a post. I don't need all that junk in my brain. Seriously TLC???  That doesn't add to the content of the show. It turns a semi-odd but funny family into a sad display. Frankly, I will pass."

I am different again since I shut that show off. 
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A friend of mine, let's call her Haylee Frazier, says that I use math everyday.  I said, "Nuh...uh...not me...I hate math everyday."  She said, "Did you solve any problems today?"  "No, pretty sure I caused problems, now you solve that."  She wants to be a math teacher someday.  She didn't look at me the same after hearing that.  Looks like we both have a lot to learn.

I like this bow of many colors.

Ok, so let's wrap up this little Monday post in a pink little bow, shall we?  Thanks for reading today.

Music Monday - {Steady My Heart}

Steady My Heart by Kari Jobe

There are days when the words that I pray just fail to match my emotions.  When that happens and my heart hurts, I just pray these words back to God and it helps.  It makes me feel like I have been heard by the One who cares.


When praying it gives me perspective to know that Someone cares.  It doesn't take away my circumstances, but I can think about how God likes to hold my heart.  When I pray "steady my heart" then I know I have what I have prayed for.  What I have learned is that sometimes God will remove what is making my heart hurt, or He will hold me through what hurts, or He will guide me through it, causing me to not look at the fallout but just staring at his firm steady hands as they hold me.


Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
‘Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul, Healer of my scars,
You steady my heart, You steady my heart


I'm not gonna worry
I know that You've got me
Right inside the palm of Your hand
Each and every moment
What's good and what gets broken
Happens just the way You plan


And I will run to You
I'll find refuge in Your arms
And I will sing to You
‘Cause of everything You are
You steady my heart



When life hurts you, or people disappoint...when pain weaves it's way in and through your body, when you have prayed and prayed and you feel like you are out of words...just pray these words back to God.  It helps.


When you think that God has forgotten about you and your problems, He hasn't.  His delay is not His denial.  Ask Him to steady your heart until He works His best for you.

  " What, then, shall we say in response to these things? 

If God is for us, who can be against us? 

 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—

how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" ~ Romans 8:31-32

What also helps is knowing that all good things come from God.  So if I have to wait, or seek His best answer in ways that are different,  I too can know my response to God...and have a steady heart.

Music Monday [Light of the World]

Kari Jobe's style of worship has brought a new light and perspective to me. I have a new appreciation for her music ever since I saw her at Winter Jam.

 Matthew 5:14 says "You are the light of the world.  

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

It sounds like she is singing this verse straight from the book of Matthew, which is a direct quote from Jesus.  Whenever I see Jesus words in red in my Bible, I take those as my words to live by.  Those "red-lettered" threads (words) are truth that I want to weave into my wayward heart.  And I like it when God's words are put to song.

The most impacting part of the song is the chorus below.  We are to be like Christ.  Those words were not just recorded centuries ago for a group of disciples or written for someone else of the Bible times.  God's words were written for me.  


We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, 
we gotta let the light shine
Let the light shine, 
let the light shine

We are called to the spread the news
Tell the world the simple truth
Jesus came to save, there's freedom in His Name
So let it all break through

We are history makers.  We are His-story makers.  How will people know of God's greatness if we don't share His story in our lives?  We gotta let the light  shine so that others will know the simple truth of Jesus, that there's freedom in His name, that Jesus saves, so that God's glory shines through.  We must share so that name of Jesus will be lifted high.  Being the light of the world is my spiritual act of worship.  


Be the light, shine bright!