Winner Might Macs

Congratulations VALERIE! You won Mighty Macs DVD.

Lent- Big Grapes

I listen to a lot quite a few different Christian speakers throughout the week.  When I was sick last week I was able to catch up on Dr. Charles Stanley.  I typically don't catch him but when you are lying in bed you get a chance to really clean out the DVR.  He had the last two messages in a series of Faith.  The one really caught my attention because it was regarding the grapes that the spies brought back from Canann.


The story can be found in Numbers 13.  In a nutshell, the Israelites had spent a couple of years crossing the desert.  They sent in twelves spies to see what the land looked like.  Two of them came back with the report that the land was flowing with milk and honey and they brought back a bunch of grapes that was so large that they had to carry the grapes between two men.  The other twelve said that there were giants and they should not try and enter the land.


But God had told them they would be victorious.... and they chose not to listen so they spent the next 40 years or so going around the desert, and the adults, except for Caleb and Joshua, did not enter the land.

Part of the reason this story caught my attention is that three days before I listented to it, the pastor at our church spoke on it.  And that, coupled with the fact that I probably would have never listened to this Charles Stanley, made me sit up and take notice.  


So I kept noodling all of this over in my feverish brain.  I started thinking about all the things that God has done in my life.  Maybe those were the grapes.  No... The grapes were a sign of the future.  So I just started drawing circles in my journal to represent the grapes and asking God to fill them in.  What are the grapes in my future?  I don't know if I have a prophetic gifting but I do know God has given me glimpses.  He says he gives us the desires of our hearts.. when we are in tune with Him, we have His desires.


So I started noodling on that.  It is SUPER hard when you have a child with special needs to really see into the future.  But even that is an act of worship... going to Him to fill in the blanks of what the grapes are..to TRUST in Him.  


When I was a young girl I read a book called Somebody go Bang a Drum.  It was about a family who had a TON of kids..like 10 or 20.  I have had that dream since then and I still do.  I do not think it will be filled the 'natural' way.  I have a friend who lives my dream.  Mine may look different but I still think somehow it will happen.


I still, as many of you may already know, have that dream to get in an RV and go on the open road.  I have one little man in the house on the same page but alas a miracle will have to happen for the big man to want to do this... but stranger things have happened.. it is still a dream.


I have a dream this summer to go to Chicago with the kid and the hubby and meet my sister there.  A smaller dream that is 'do-able.'   Kid has larger dreams... Disney, Atlantis, the moon....


So anyway...  I am really trying to fill in the blanks on what the grapes of the future might be.  As a reforming pescimist, it isn't easy... but with God, all things are possible.  God wants us to focus on the grapes and not the giants.

Vineyard Music's Miami LIVE Worship album review and give-away.

I had the opportunity to review this album and let me tell you... it is FRESH!  And unlike any worship music I currently have on the iPod.

You can picture yourself on the beach with this music and I got to wondering, wouldn't it be cool to go to a worship service on Miami beach?!  


A description is best left to the folks who wrote the promo:

What happens when a group of 20+ musicians and 10+ songwriters steeped deep in their own musical traditions of Black Gospel, Latin, Caribbean, and Anglo come together to create a new tradition and sound? What happens when the fusion of Black, Anglo, Latino, Caribbean, and Cuban voices unite together to worship in one voice? Among the 2000 people that attend the Miami Vineyard Community Church, there are over a hundred singers, instrumentalists and songwriters that make up its eclectic worship ministry. For one night, these musicians joined together in worship and invited the church to document the sound that is uniquely MIAMI VINEYARD LIVE.

This distinctive bi-lingual liturgy is filled with many flavors, from Latino claves to gospel two-step to funk and soul to delay-laden rock guitars of modern worship, yet they all work together seamlessly to create a new sound and voice that is authentic and refreshing. From anthems of praise and proclamation to songs of intimacy and adoration, there is a common thread running deep throughout this recording and that is true worship of the Living God as an expression of His Kingdom breaking in on the streets and beaches of Miami, FL.

There are plenty of places to get a little sampling of this CD including their Vineyard Music page,  their Facebook Band Page, their purchase page on Vineyard, and Vimeo.  It is hard to provide a better description that that above but I just loved the unique sounds of this music compared to anything else that I own.  In this dreary Michigan March winter, it begs imagining sitting on a beach somewhere enjoying the smells, sounds and flavors found there.  If you close your eyes and pretend, it is like a mini-vacation.

Here is the tracklist for the CD:
HOLY SPIRIT COME
GLORIA A DIOS SOLO (WITH MY WHOLE HEART)
LORD REIGN IN ME
I LOVE YOUR MERCY
AT ALL TIMES
IF YOU SAY GO
EVERYTHING TO ME
WITH ALL OF MY HEART
YOUR NAME IS GREAT
YOU RESTORED ME
BREATHE
HALLELUJAH ANYHOW
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

I highly recommend this CD.  The folks at propeller are sponsoring a give away as well so if you wish to win please

1)Leave a comment

2) re post on Facebook and leave an additional comment.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it 

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally 

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance 

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the 

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Lent- Giving up stuff

Well I came down with the NASTY flu this week.  Temperature and bed for three days solid.  Still not 100% but compared to earlier in the week, this is a picnic.  So I had to give up a lot of things.

• school for kiddo (Lets call it a combo of sick days and winter break.)
• dishes
• food- both eating and had to toss a ton because I had taken out a bunch from the freezer for the week and then it went to waste.
• cleaning.
• hugging and snuggling the kiddo because I really didn't want him to get this.
• laundry
• etc...

My incredible husband picked up the slack.   


I know what you are thinking.  This isn't really giving UP something.  Not exactly but I did LEARN that I love to control.  (OK I knew that already but it was demonstrated to me.) Monday and Tuesday there was zero way I could have helped with anything.  And I truly didn't care.  Come Wednesday I started to make little 'suggestions' about things that could be done.  And I realized...did it REALLY matter?  Even if it didn't get done, what would change?


I get stressed when things don't get 'done' or done MY way.  But I gave up my agenda this week partly because I had no choice and later because it really didn't matter!   


It also demonstrated to me how I tend to do it all..when it doesn't all need to be done.  Even the kiddo learned how to make a waffle egg sandwich this week...among other things.  I wonder how many other things he'd do on his own if I just let him.  hmmm.....

Lent -Listening to God

Listening to God....


My kiddo says.."BUT I CAN'T HEAR HIM!"


I think it is easier than we make it out to be. At least some of the time. 


My current favorite author, speaker (not sure if he is a pastor) is Brad Jersak.  He speaks and writes about listening to God and I wrote in an earlier post some links of his talks.  One of the things he covers in his material is answering the question,   "how do I know this isn't just  me answering in my own head?  How do I KNOW it is God?"  He gave some ideas on how to sort that out.


I will pose an example that happened to me recently.  At church last week they asked us to write down six people we will pray for during lent.  I felt God nudging me to pray for the person next to me.  I have only been to this church three times...and I did not know this person.  How would I write her name down..if I didn't know it?


Simple solution:  ASK HER.


Ask her?  Heck I don't like to order for pizza (I have baggage..don't we all)..let alone tell a stranger I am going to pray for her and I want to know her name.  The first thought that flitted thru my brain was.."maybe I'm just not hearing God right." (Keep in mind.. I was in CHURCH..not at the local mega mart.)


Well there can be only three people that I could hear from in my brain.  First, the enemy.  And the enemy does NOT want me to pray for anyone.  So it can't be him.


Ok..Maybe it was 'just me.'  Um..no..  Did you read above? I don't like to order pizza and in general talk to strangers.  (My mom told me it was dangerous.)   I wouldn't ask myself to talk to a stranger.  So it wasn't me.


So..it must be God.


So that is my new 'quick run thru' when I want to see who I am hearing from.  Of course there are other questions where it isn't quite as clear but I am learning to tune my ear into what He wants and desperately trying to block out all the rest.  

Mighty Macs DVD and Give Away...

Back in October I reviewed Mighty Macs as it was coming out in theaters.  Now it is available on DVD!  You can read the review here.  I will just give you the run down again here:

THE MIGHTY MACS is based on the incredible true story of the 1971-72 Immaculata College team that started in obscurity but became the original Cinderella story in women's basketball. This team of pioneers went from barely making that inaugural tournament to the first dynasty in their game. And Cathy Rush, the woman that was ahead of her time, became immortalized when she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

As it says, it is a Cinderella story.  Even though you know what the ending will be the movie is full of wit and fun and plenty of drama.  The movie is about dreams and hope.   It is about commitment and tenacity... and heart.  And it is funny too!

Here is the trailer:





This movie is great for the whole family.  There is zero swearing, sex, violence. It is rated G.   I would think very young kids would be bored a bit but certainly even elementary age children might enjoy the story line.   I give this one two thumbs up.

The Might Macs of course has a facebook page.  And they tweet. And it is now available on DVD both at Amazon and on Itunes.  This is a great family film to support.

And... a contest!!!!!  WOOT!  If you would like to win a copy of this DVD please

1) Leave a comment.
2) Post this blog on your Facebook page and leave an additional comment.

And when you leave your comment, please leave a way for me to contact you!  The folks are Propeller are so generous to be giving these away!  If you don't win the DVD, I highly recommend watching this one! Contest ends March 8 at Midnight.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services 

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I 

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: 

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Lent... What should I give up?

So whatcha giving up?


As I sat with God one morning this week over a cup of coffee, I asked him what I should give up for Lent, if anything.  And I really tried to listen...


I will get back to listening and how that works for me on a later post.


But I listened and I really thought he said..I care about the relationship.   


This isn't to say that giving up something isn't important.  Because God continued... I want you to come to me each day and ask me what I want for that day.


I love that because it says the journey will be ongoing.  


I wrote the above several days ago and God has been faithful to tell me each day what he'd like me to do.   I will likely share a few of these with you over the journey.  

Lent- Worship Style

I have been to many different worship styles in my life... Catholic, contemporary, pentecostal..  Recently I have have been part of worship services that are more reflective and contemplative.  Last summer I went to Capuchin Retreat center twice to do a day 'semi-silent' retreat and it was wonderful.  If I have an opportunity to do this over Lent I want to do that.  It is a great way to center yourself on God.  Although the day retreats were only six hours, I could see myself going there for a whole weekend if I could get away with it.  This is not my usual self however; I love the 'ladies retreats' where lots of talk gets done.  But stepping out into this something different really blessed me.

This is just one of the pictures I took from that day.  I like to look at it because for me it is reflective of what Lent is about.. it is about getting with God and seeing what he has for you.  Filling up on him.  Reflecting on his grace.


On Ash Wednesday, the church I have been going to did a service in the Taize style of worship and it was lovely.  It was about getting quiet with God.  You can google Taize yourself to find out the background but think candles, repetitive songs, reading and silence.  This is something you could easily do on your own as well over the Lenten season.  


There is no one way to worship God.  Ask Him how He might speak to you this season.  Perhaps, if he leads you, try a new style of worship or prayer.  Sometimes just getting out of the rut helps you hear him a different way.  


Join us for our blogging time during Lent at the link below.

Lent - Ash Wednesday

What is Lent?  You can google it.  But many people give up something and I started asking God..what should I give up?  He did give me an answer which I will share at some point here but I came across a great quote today....

And I thought.. what if I gave up myself?  My old self.  The Bible says we do that when we become Christians but I think we spend a lifetime trying to find what that means.  And we can't even do THAT without Him.


I am going to try and blog for the 40 days.. but probably not every day... in the following link up.  So feel free to join!!!  I haven't blogged that much since Thanksgiving and I think it is time to get back in the swing.

Winner of Worship Music

Congrats Chef Penny.  You are a WINNER :).. again.. You might just be taking over the winning streak.  For the record folks, I pray before I 'draw' a number on random.org.  So Penny be blessed!