Favorite Song Night.. "Audience of One"

 I love music. I don't know when it started. I think I was born singing. It soothes me and tells me stories. It speaks to my inner most parts, my heart and my Soul.. It moves me to Tears, Joy, Laughter, Praise, and yes even to Worship.

My niece Kindra shared this song with me tonight on fb. I love it. Her heart is so after God. Even through pain and disappointment she goes on. Because her goal has never been self, but to follow One, to obey One, to be like One, and to Worship One.. Tonight my soul lays down and I cry out praises to my Audience of One..  you can listen to it here.

\ Big Daddy Weave \ Audience Of One

I come on my knees

To lay down before you

Bringing all that I am

Longing only to know you

Seeking your face

And not only your hand

I find you embracing me

Just as I am

And I lift these songs

To you and you alone

As I sing to you

In my praises make your home

Chorus:

To my audience of one

You are Father, and you are Son

As your spirit flows free,

Let it find within me

A heart that beats to praise you.

And now just to know you more

Has become my great reward

To see your kingdom come

And your will be done

I only desire to be yours,

Lord

So what could I bring

To honor your majesty

What song could I sing

That would move the heart of royalty

And all that I have

Is the life that you’ve given me

So Lord let me live for you

My song with humility

And Lord as the love song

Of my life is played

I have one desire

To bring glory to your name

CHORUS

And we lift these songs

To you and you alone

As we sing to you

In our praises make your home

CHORUS

Sharing A Cup And Reflections...

  Winter has finally come to Michigan. Not much in the way of snow here, but cold temps. I don't normally drink coffee, but when I'm cold it tastes good. I really love it in the evenings with some caramel mocohito  flavored coffee creamer. I have to be careful tho, to much and I'm up for hours.

  Today was a good day for coffee and some reflecting on the past week.

 Our ladies at Church have some small prayer group that meet to pray for the Church and each other at various time during the month. We share our lives and prayers and a short devotion. I have been privileged to lead the devotional part the past couple of meetings. This week I found a sweet little devotional book that focuses on the Blessings of God. I thought we might take a blessing at each meeting and focus on it. Many times we don't realize how many things in our lives are blessings.

The book is in alphabetical order so I thought we would start at A.. LOL  those of you who know me will not find this odd. In my mind I would never think of starting anywhere but at the beginning and methodically move through each word in order to the end. Thankfully those attending suggested I hop around in the book and they suggested I use the first letter of their names. This time we decided our hostess, Arlene, would get the first choice.. A it was.. I don't mind saying that I was thankful we started at A. I did skip around in the A's and chose one of the A words toward the end. That was quite a bold step for me.

Our word was Acceptance. As we read Ephesians 1:4-6 we see that That God chose us even before He formed the world according to His will and His good pleasure. He made us accepted. Then we read Romans: 15:7 where we honor God when we accept others.

I was quite surprised to learn that I was not the only one who had felt unaccepted. almost all the ladies had felt that way at some point and some still fell like they just don't quite fit in. To realize that God Accepted us before He even created the world was quite an eye opener, But I think the thing that impressed me the most was the idea that by accepting others I honor God Himself.

Sometimes I think we as Christians get this part mixed up. We often forget that accepting someone does not mean we must accept their wrong behaviors, and choices.. It does mean that we should appreciate that each person no matter who they are or what they do, was created and is loved by God. If I truly love Him, I must love who He loves and accept who He accepts. Quite the little word acceptance. I'm thinking that I'll grab another cup of coffee and ponder that a little more.

He Had A Dream, So Should We All...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Today I, like many Americans, am remembering back to a time when I, as a little white girl, knew nothing of injustice, racism and hate. I would soon learn that these things existed. I remember seeing them on our Television. I remember my Papa sitting us down to talk about what we saw. I remember papa showing us by example that all people deserved our respect no matter their color or ethnicity. 

I also learned that there was a man who led thousands maybe millions to have a dream. I know he led me to believe there was place where all of mankind were equal. 

Yesterday in Bible study we discussed injustice and what a Christian should do. To many times we sit quietly by and say or do nothing. We know in our souls actions, words, and treatment of others is wrong, yet we do nothing. My Papa told me that day so long ago, that when we do nothing to stop what is wrong. We are worse creatures then those who do the wrong. I was again reminded today that we have not yet reached the place Where Dr. King was looking toward. We have come a long way toward the Dream, but we are not there yet. I want to recommit today as I remember Dr. King and his message. To always stand for the Right, to never tolerate injustice to any man, woman, or child. 

I would like to Honor Dr. King with reading and repeating these precious words of that speech he made so long ago. You can read the speech in it's entirety here.    

He had a Dream, So should we all. 

"Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today my friends -- so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father's died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi -- from every mountainside.

Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring -- when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children -- black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics -- will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

The Passing Of A Ky. Friend...

This is our friend Earl aka: Whiskers.. He sure was something. A Ky. friend of several years. One of those characters you don't soon forget. He was all rough and gruff on the outside.

Whiskers was like many from small southern towns. He lived in the same area his whole life. He married a girl there, bought a home and lived there, raised his family there, and died there. Peacefully, at home. All in the same house. No moving around.

He worked as many in the area, in coalmines. He had a quick wit. He was blunt. You never wondered what Whiskers was thinking. He told you.

Today I feel his loss. I spoke to a mutual friend about that old Whiskers.. That sassy, fun loving, full of stories,  sharp old truck driving, mustang racing, Nascar fan.. His boots always shined. A wide stride. A man who walked and lived with a purpose. Gruff and Tuff..

I'm gonna miss you dear friend.. Sleep peacefully.. tell Brenda we all said hey..

Here Comes Winter...

After a December that was the 7th warmest on record in Flint and the 5th warmest in recorded history in the Tri-Cities coupled with a January that so far seemed on track for the same thing, payback is almost here. Payback in the form of our first significant snowfall since late November. Check out the full story here.

I loved this December. it was wonderful. I didn't have to stay home even one time because of the weather or nasty roads. January has seen a few 50 degree days. One report said that temps this warm in January haven't been seen since the 1940's.  Wow, that means that I have never, in all my 50+ years, seen a January this warm. I've seen this one, and I LIKE IT.... 

I knew that these sunny warm days couldn't last forever. Even now I feel colder. The news is already warning of icy, messy roads for the morning. I have to go out. There is a funeral dinner tomorrow. I dread having to get up early so I can salt the sidewalk and scrape the ice off the windshield. I am thankful that we should only see a couple of inches of snow. Hopefully the road crews will be out early and the main roads will be decent. 

Our road is always the worst. The salt trucks may come down this way in a couple of days. We just have to hope we can make it up to the main road. 

I have all my stuff ready. It's part of living in Michigan. I have my heavy coats, scarves, gloves, boots, and assorted hats ready the middle of October. They have been sitting and patiently waiting. I guess tomorrow Winter comes, and it looks like she will stay for a while.. 

. 

I"m Beginning To Wonder About Some Things....

YES, I'm a little Husky.. well, maybe a lot Husky, OK, I'm Fat.

I admit it. Yes, I know it. Yes, my friends and family lovingly try to help me improve my eating, and encourage exercise. I love them for that. 

I do NOT however like that my local grocery store thought I was fat. 

How's that you say.. Well, you know those lovely little machines that spit out coupons along with your receipt? Well I got a lovely little coupon when I checked out Yesterday. I didn't look at it then. 

Later that afternoon I grabbed my receipts and that catalina coupon out of my purse. I saw save $7. 

I thought " woo hoo I've hit the jackpot".. 

Uh, NO.. the coupon was for $7 off diet pills. I immediately started to wonder about a few things. 

Is there a scale hidden under the floor in front of the cashier? 

Are they keeping track of all the "high calorie" food I buy in their store? 

Are the Camera's recording my appearance from month to month and seeing a weight change ?

Did one of the store employees see me eating that peanut butter cup in aisle 3 ???  

I had to laugh...  Thankfully I have a pretty good sense of Humor. 

I think if the catalina machine spits out a diet product coupon I need to accept it.. 

I also feel the need to pass it on to one of you who read this.. 

Just let me know who would like that coupon. 

I'll be sure to send it right our to you.  

LOL  

I Think I may just change stores for a while too.. 

Oh The Excitement Of A New Calendar...

Happy 2012 

I am so ready to start a new year. I bet you are too. 

I was just telling our ladies prayer group yesterday how I love my new Calendar. It's so nice and new and pristine. So full of promise for the New Year.. 

I spent the day filling in my calendars. (I have 3) I add all the birthdays, meetings, and events I know about already. It's such an exciting time. I can already see that this year is full of exciting things.. 

We will be celebrating the birth of our first Great Grandchild in March. 

Hubby will be 65 in March.. LOL  Medicare here he comes. 

Our only granddaughter will be 18 in May. 

I have a niece getting married in August, and a grandson turning 18 in December. 

So many great events to look forward to already. 

I see the pretty empty squares on my calender and I'm excited. 

I know adventures await me. Vacations, visits, outings, dinners, and celebrations. 

parties, meetings, garden planting and harvesting. 

The calenders themselves tell me of special days for remembering loved ones, waving my Flag, and the best fishing days. 

The New Year has begun.  

I see it in my calender, all fresh and white and new. 

I can't wait...