"It's Me"

Just another reason to love her. Love her honest, transparent and real lyrics.

"Sometimes when Troy, my husband, and I are in the midst of a disagreement, one of us will say something that's really sarcastic or just so overt. And being on the receiving end of that, it's is like, "Honey, it's me ... Sara." Or vice versa. We just forget who we're talking to and the value of that person. For whatever reason, you cross that line where sensitivity and tenderness are discarded. You'd never talk to anyone else like that or treat someone else like that. Troy and I are working on that--talking to each other and interacting with each other in those situations in the way we would a complete stranger. -Sara Groves

Um, Hi...I am a big fan....

So Sunday night we attended the highly anticipated Art*Music*Justice* concert at Gordon College. It was wonderful! Every artist brought their own flavor and a clearly compelling love for Jesus and His Kingdom work.

Of course the highlight for me was Sara Groves. She is amazing! She not only has an amazing gift for writing and singing music. She has a heart for the things of God, and the poor, orphaned and needy of the world. She told stories of her trip to Rwanda and the girls they have helped fleeing from the life of child trafficking. It was quite heart breaking and eye opening. I am so consumed with myself when there are people in need all over the world. This one story she told about a girl who lived out her faith while living in a brothel with people mocking her as she prayed to her God. She knows what real faith is. What it is to live it out in the worst circumstances possible. I don't know that faith. I simply have not had to endure the worst treatment and still trust that my God loves me. I pray my eyes are opened more, and I reminded of what life is really all about. I am so distracted by everyday mundane things.

Anyway, the highlight of the night was meeting Sara. I prayed that the Lord would make it happen if He wanted it to. So we are waiting by these doors after the concert that are at the front of the chapel that she would need to come through to go to the front lobby. A guy was sitting there guarding the doors. (He was really small, I contemplated jumping him and running for it...hehe jusssssst kidding.) So a bunch of people went through and I asked him if we could. He looked at me and said, "Well they can they are her family!) (oops of course they can!) A few minutes later he came back over and said we could go through the doors. So we went through and there she was! Chatting it up with her family who lives in Boston. It was just me and Josh back there! Her husband was standing near by and we talked with him a bit. (Including the possibility of going on a missions trip with them to Rwanda in March!!!!!)

Then Sara came over to meet us! I felt like a stupid teenager. I know I must of sounded sooo silly. I had an idea in my head of all the things I would say to her! How I love her heart for Jesus and how her music compels me to love Christ more. Well it didn't come out quite as I had planned. (Nerves...geeez) But I was able to talk about how her songs about marriage are so transparent and how we relate to them. She laughed and pointed to her hubby and said he helps in that department. It was great! It was so of God! No one else was around! So we might be going to Rwanda in March! Then I will have plenty of time to rehearse what I will say ...ha!

Till death do us part......

So I am usually not a fan of cheesy Christian movies. I mean I know they have a great message and it is refreshing to see something clean in the movies, BUT usually they have corny actors, lines and anyone you take to see it will think it is not the greatest. (Let's just say when watching "Facing the Giants" last year with Josh's sisters it got turned off in about 20 minutes.) So when our good friends invited us to go see "Fireproof" Kirk Cameron's new movie, I was sceptical. But I was plesantly surprised and loved the movie. I found my self laughing, shedding a few tears, and relating to the characters and their struggle. Now don't get me wrong there are a couple of cheesy lines (like "I am gonna give him a karate chop sandwich") but what would a Christian movie be with out a few.

The theme is Marriage, which lets face it anyone who is married has faced difficuties in marriage. The couple is on the brink of a divorce and includes arguments, struggle with pornography, flirting and enjoying another man's attention, feeling like your spouse doesn't respect/love/appriciate you. A couple of the arguments were so life like Josh and I looked at eachother and laughed as we have had that exact same one! (Yes we get in arguments!)In the movie he is given "the Love Dare" from his father a 40 day challange how to love your spouse unconditionally. (This book is really available and a great idea!) It is such a great movie and opens the doors for great conversation with your spouse and other couples. Josh and I are all about being real in our marriage with others. It does no good to put on a happy face and pretend marriage is a breeze. You grow and learn more when you are honest (and it totally humble's you.) We had a great relationship with a couple in Birmingham where we could talk and be honest and really get down to the nitty gritty of marriage. (We MISS YOU Jason & Michelle!) We have been praying for a couple here we can share and be honest with here as well. You can go to their website to learn more about the movie and resources to help.Fireproofmymarriage

I really encourage you to go see this movie if you are married and to find a couple you can be honest with! God meant for marriage to be a journey and what better way to do it then learn from eachother.

Sara Groves one of my favorite artist of all time (Get to see her on SUNDAY!!!)
is very honest about her marriage and often jokes she "hangs out their dirty laundry of marriage" in her songs. It is so encouraging to listen to her songs and know you are not alone and be reminded about the center of marriage wich is Christ. So hop on I tunes and check out a few of her great songs.
Here are a few of my fav's about marriage:

Roll to the Middle - A song about when you have an argument and then in bed you want to face the other way and not touch your spouse but you let your pride melt and roll to the middle of the bed.

We just had a World War III here in our kitchen
We both thought the meanest things
And then we both said them
We shot at each other till we lost amunition

This is how I know our love
This is when I feel it’s power
Here in the absence of it
This is my darkest hour
When both of us are hunkered down
And waiting for the truce

All the complicated wars
They end pretty simple
Here when the lights go down
We roll to the middle

No matter how my pride resists
No matter how this wall feels true
No matter how I can’t be sure
That you’re gonna roll in too
No matter what, no matter what
I’m going to reach for you

When it was over - A song about a wife breaking her husbands heart and he was going to leave her and they decide to work through it through "the Love that covers a multitude of sins"

When it was over and they could talk about it
She said there's just one thing I have got to know
What in that moment when you were running so hard and fast
Made you stop and turn for home
He said I always knew you loved me even though I'd broken your heart
I always knew there'd be a place for me to make a brand new start

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

When it was over and they could talk about it
They were sitting on the couch
She said what on earth made you stay here
When you finally figured out what I was all about
He said I always knew you'd do the right thing
Even though it might take some time
She said, Yeah, I felt that and that's probably what saved my life

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

There is a love that never fails
There is a healing that always prevails
There is a hope that whispers a vow
A promise to stay while we're working it out
So come with your love and wash over us

Honesty - A song about being honest with yourselves and with another couple about your marriage
Here in the stillness
where thoughts are born
here in our frailty we're tattered and torn

here in confession
here in our mess
here in the place where we're mostly undressed - mostly

oh honesty, oh honestly, the truth be told for the saving of our soul

here in the corner
where we craft our pain
here in the open we're laying our blame

here in the hallway
here behind doors
here in the places we wage our private wars

oh honesty, oh honestly, the truth be told for the saving of our soul

Only the truth and truthfulness can save us now/ only the truth and truthfulness can save us
Only the truth and truthfulness can save us now/ only the truth and truthfulness can save us
can save us now

Same Old Stuff....

Ever feel like Sanctification is happening sooo slow...or is it even happening?
I desire to live out this "as obedient children not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but He who has called you is holy you also be Holy in all your conduct" 1 Peter 1:14-15 but so often I feel like every day I just wake up to struggle with the same old stuff. Again Sara Groves captures my feelings in one of her songs. (if you don't know her I seriously suggest listening to some of her stuff...its so unique and touches you deep with in.)

Like a Skin

The butterfly can just look back
Flap those wings and say Oh, yeah
I never have to be a worm again

The snake gets tired of being him
He wriggles from that itchy skin
Leaves it lying where he’s been and moves on

I’ve been longing for something tangible
Some kind of proof that there’s been change in me

Feels like I have been waking up
Only to fight with the same old stuff
Change is slow and it fills me with such doubt
Come on New Man where have you been
Help me wriggle from this Self I’m in
And leave it like a skin upon the ground

Change me O Lord....the same faith that saves, sanctifies....sanctify me with your truth.

It's going to be one of those days.....

Ever wake up and wonder why you are in a weird mood right from the start?
Today was one of those days. First I slept late by mistake...woke up at 7:25 (have to leave at 7:30). I was dead tired and could hardly see....and I got in the car to make my drive just in a rotten mood. I usually use my drive to work as a prayer/worship time....because anyone who has children or works with children knows once the day starts....you have very few and far minutes in between the chasing around, laughing, pooping of the pants, and other childlike chaos. Well I had my ipod on shuffle and was not in the mood to worship or pray at all. In fact it has been hard to get time with God lately. Let my rephrase that. I haven't made time for God lately. Anyway this Sara Groves song came on...and it was kind of like a wake up call from God to me.(Don't you love when he does that)

How is it between us - Sara Groves

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed,
the wrong side of the room,
the wrong side of the world.

Can't put my finger on the mood.
It's not melancholy, anger or the blues.

I love my husband, my house, my job.
Couldn't be any better,
and really what else is there?

Then I realize I'm forgetting God,
and that's the root of all my misery.
Lord, first of all, how is it between you and me?

Chorus: How is it between us?
How is it between us?
When did I talk to you last,
and what has happened since?
How is it between us? How is it between us?
When did I talk to you last, and what has happened?
.
When I wake up I am on my way,
reinventing the wheel and saving the day.

I have learned this lesson a thousand times,
I am the branch, and you are the vine.

Apart from you we are mice and men,
with our fancy dreams of grandeur and no way to get there.

Oh I can think about you now and then,
or I can make a mark on eternity.

Lord first of all, how is it, between you and me?
How is it between us?
How is it between us?
When did I talk to you last,
and what has happened since?
How is it between us? How is it between us?
When did I talk to you last, and what has happened?


So let the wicked prosper, let the oceans roar,
let the mountains crumble, and fall into the sea.
There's something more important weighing on my mind.
Lord first of all, how is it between you and me?

Needless to say the next song didn't come on for a while and it was silent in the car....weird. Let's just say God made it impossible for me not to talk to Him. It was a good time. Can I just say having this job has given me an immense respect for mom's every where. You do more than "Just stay at home." (My friend Greta had a post about this recently)You are superhero's! And I respect you when you choose to spend time with the Lord during their nap instead of crashing yourself because you are soooo pooped. You really have to purpose to make that a priority or it just won't happen naturally. So thanks mom's across the world for all you do, for shaping young minds, for cleaning up...well everything, and for doing the most important job on earth. I feel very fortunate to have a job that is preparing me to be a mom. I think it will be a breeze to start out with a newborn compared to starting out with a 2yr & 5 yr old. And hopefully they will come one at a time :)

On another note, still no word on my mom. She has been in the hospital 3 times in the last month. This time we are hoping to have some answers. Keep praying for her. She is a very talented writer and I set her up a blog when I was in Canada last week. She would love the support and encouragement if you went and read her stuff! Her Blog is Spiritual Caffeine. Thanks for the prayers.

Catching Up

Well Sara Groves was awesome! I even convinced my good friend Rachel to go with me. She loved her too. One of my favorite lines in her new song "When the Saints" is "I see the Man of sorrows and His troubled road, I see the world upon His shoulders, and my easy load" I am so thankful for that truth. What an easy load I carry. He took it all.
Josh was sick again! This sickness included fever, ache and he even passed out one morning because he got up too quickly. Oh my sickly husband! This is a change usually it is me who gets sick all the time. I did like taking care of him for a change. While he was sick we really did not go anywhere which led to watching pretty much all of Season Two of Lost...our new addiction. DON'T TELL US ANYTHING!!! Most of the time when I mention this show people seem to think its helpful to tell us what happens in future episodes!!! I have turned in to a crazy women who shuts her eyes and covers her ears and sings out loud something like this: "balahalalalalahalabla" when a commercial for the current season comes on, or someone starts to tell me about it.I am sure it is actually quite entertaining to see.
Well we are off to Boston to look at another seminary this weekend. I am excited to also spend time with one of my best buddies!!! I will let you know all about it when we get home. Hopefully this time we will not get snowed it like in Chicago. We shall see....oh and you know we will be watching season 3 on our Ipod the whole way there ...hehe

Less Like Scars

I am so excited.
A dream come true.
I am going to see one of my favorite Artists in concert tonight with my sister in law. If you haven't heard of Sara Groves, you simply must. She is one of the deepest, real and honest singers I know. She loves Jesus and the gospel is clearly proclaimed in her songs. She writes them all her self and playes the piano well she sings.
Here are a few of my favorite songs by her