Then Sings My Soul Saturday - Trust His Heart

Hello, Saturday "Then Singer's". Today I've posted one of my all-time favorites by Babbie Mason. I had the opportunity to attend The Inner Circle songwriter's conference last year. It was wonderful.

All around us people are struggling - relationships, health, death, finances, job loss...

This song is such a reminder to not look at today's circumstances.

God's plan is bigger than circumstances.

All things work for our good

Though sometimes we can't see how they could

Struggles that break our hearts in two

sometimes blinds us to the truth

Our Father knows what's best for us

His ways are not our own

So when your pathway grows dim,

and you just can't see Him

Remember you're never alone

************

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand...

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

************

He sees the master plan and

He holds our future in His hands

So don't live as those who have no hope

all our hope is found in Him

We see the present clearly but

He sees the first and the last

And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me

to someday be just like Him

************

He alone is faithful and true

He alone knows what is best for you

Rainy Days and Mondays

"Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down." You could probably sing along with this Carpenter's hit and nod in agreement. Noone likes rainy days! Or Mondays! But I will say...yesterday we were hoping that those dark grey clouds looming above our drought-parched houses would drop buckets of relief. Thunder roared. Lightning pierced. No rain fell.

A quick peek at the nightly weather report informed us that there were storms all around us. It seemed that everyone was getting that lovely wet stuff but us! Put off and a little dissappointed that our grass would die another day, we went to bed.

"I guess the grass will always be greener on the other side...if they're the ones getting the rain."

The morning news report shared a new story. Those same storms we were hoping for had caused tremendous damage in surrounding areas. Fallen trees and power outages were tops of the headlines today. Sometimes the rain brings more.

"Whew. I'm glad that storm missed us!"

Isn't it funny how our perception changes when time has passed? We were praying for the event, grumbling at it's loss and rejoicing that it wasn't us...all within 12 hours! When will we figure out that God has this thing figured out???

God's hand protected us from the high winds and falling trees...but we still wanted rain. I can look at my spiritual life and see the same pattern. It seems that everyone around me is getting "rain" except me and I am desperate for a taste of it. I want to be close to Him. To know Him like no other. I want to "praise Him in the storm" - when and if He chooses to work there.

Adaville Baptist Church

Today was a great day at Adaville Baptist in Spindale, NC. These precious folks were so welcoming and supportive. Pastor Cal Sayles delivered a message refocusing our minds on life's real goal: Heaven. He reminded us that our treasures should not be invested in things of this life - instead on things that have eternal value.

I had the opportunity to share 3 songs and brief testimony. God is gracious and faithful. I am thankful.

TSMS - Mighty to Save - Hillsong

The video is precious!

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

A kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

****

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save

He is Mighty to save

Forever

Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

****

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

****

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

Visit AMY at SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDERS for more Then Sings My Soul Saturday.

Twenty Cans of Success

My sweet friend Carol shared this today.

Be encouraged as I was by this!

Open up a Can.

Twenty Cans of Success

by Neil Anderson

Why should I say I can't when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)?

Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)?

Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)?

Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling, knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)?

Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)?

Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?

Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)?

Why should I lack wisdom when Christ became wisdom to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)?

Why should I be depressed when I can recall to mind God's lovingkindness, compassion and faithfulness, and have hope (Lamentations 3:21-23)?

Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on Christ who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)?

Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians 3:17)?

Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says I am not condemned because I am in Christ (Romans 8:1)?

Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)?

Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit (Galatians 3:13, 14)?

Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul, can learn to be content in all my circumstances (Philippians 4:11)?

Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)?

Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody can be against me when God is for me (Romans 8:31)?

Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He gives me knowledge through his indwelling Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:33; 2:12)?

Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through Christ (Romans 8:37)?

Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations (John 16:33)?

Ministering to the Lord

OK. I'll admit it. This week, I have been bit pouty. With chores, children and household chaos, I lost sight of my Lord for a few days. He wasn't behind the laundry...He was in it the whole time. My connection to Him isn't "when it's all done"...it's in the doing.

Tonight I picked up a little book called "Prayers & Promises for Women" and read this entry:

And the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna...and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. Luke 8:1-3

The role of women in Your ministry is not clear, but we can catch glimpses of them now and then. As with many men You healed, women also left their homes to follow You, to minister to Your needs. They saw You were fed and clothed, with a place to rest at night, taking on those burdens to free You and the disciples to do Your work. Many women carry on this ministry today, quietly supporting Your work, seeing to the details of church life. Only You know who they are. Bless them and keep them; give them Your reward for faithful service."

Today, I thank God for the opportunity to serve my family: to keep their clothes smelling like Downy, to maintain the household and feed their sweet little faces. That is my ministry...not just to my family...to the Lord.

Today Will Be Better

Today is going to be a great day. My first thoughts this morning as I woke up. It has to be better than yesterday.

Yesterday was...humph. It started out good - and ambitious for a Monday! "Everyone strip your beds! We're washing sheets!" The kids loved not having to make their beds. Then I got the brilliant idea to clean out closets. What was I thinking???? Darby's was a mix of too-small shoes, Barbies and random toy pieces. So, we removed everything and started with a blank canvas, I mean closet. The sight of an empty closet was wonderful. I was great until I turned around to see the mountain-high mound of assorted treasures piled up on her sheetless bed. How are we going to get all this stuff back in the closet?

I really wanted to lie down somewhere at this point...but none of the beds had sheets!

Still, I proceeded - but not without a few interruptions. Remember my post from a few days ago? I also bought birdhouses. Darby painted her birdhouse WITH HER HANDS and not the messless squeeze paint brush kit. Then, Sam added water to the PlayDoh. If you've ever done that (and why would you) it just makes a slimy, gross mess. It seemed like as soon as I would get one mess cleaned up...there was another.

I would like to say that I handled all of it with grace and love. Let's just say I was reading "Shepherding the Heart of a Child" again last night. I needed a reminder of how God would handle these situations. Man, I blew it.

Aren't you glad God loves us enough to give us another chance when we just plain BLOW IT?

God must look at me sometimes and think, "Didn't I just get you cleaned up?" And there I go again - doing things my own way or adding to it. Still He whispers, "Forget yesterday. Today will be better."

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

One of my MOST favorite songs is "Sing to the King" by Billy Foote. There's an energy with this song that just gets my hands up and the rest of me swaying. It comes from an old hymn called "Sing We the King" from 1910 (at least the first verse). The awesome chorus was added and it has been recorded by Passion, Hillsong and, most recently, Sandy Patti.

The chorus lyrics are:

Come let us sing a song - A song declaring we belong to Jesus -

He's all we need.

Lift up a song of praise - Sing now with voices raised to Jesus -

Sing to the King!

Anybody Ready for School to Start?

OK, Moms. Summer is in full swing and the travel has nearly stopped. That translates into a LOT of time at home. I love that! There is NO PLACE I would rather be than in my house! However, two short people in said house are making me wish they were back in school. I don't like feeling that way. So, sometimes I feel the need to exit my house to go to my

2nd favorite place...Wal-Mart.

Last night the exit was necessary. Matt agreed to handle all of the bed-time duties while I just got out for a while. A large bookstore would have been my ideal refuge; however, we live in Forest City. So...Wal-Mart would have to do.

While there, I searched for some busy...I mean bonding stuff for us to do. I came up with a few paint kits: a star frame for Sam and a butterfly mirror for Darby. My plan was to begin today as normal and when the "he looked at me" "she breathed near me" talk began...I would break out the kits.

Good idea, right?

Ahhh the best laid plans...

When I returned from the store, they were both still awake (thank you sweet tea with dinner) and saw the Thursday activity plan. Needlesstosay, this morning I was awakened with desperate voices in need of painting.

"Guys," I reasoned, "we aren't painting yet. I bought those for when you start fighting today." (Morning mind.)

"OK. If we start fighting now...can we paint?" (That Darby - always thinking)

So, we painted.

Darby - Always very careful.

Sam, always very colorful.

In the end...Sam's favorite part was taking the extra stickers and making a "Sam-bot" out of himself.

Drumroll Please.........

Here's Darby's Frame/Mirror!

And Sam's Star Frame.

Time well spent!

The Gratitude Dance

Have you danced today?

Robots, Magic Hats and Me...Oh My!

This summer has been full of events, travel and interesting e-mails. After our week-long vacation, Little Miss South Carolina in Hartsville, Deeper Still in Atlanta and Miss South Carolina in Spartanburg...I'm ready to stay at home in Forest City for a while!

Much-needed rain came down yesterday and today. As wonderful as that was, Sam and Darby don't do well without a sunshine-run-around-outside break. Neither does Mommy. So, to break up the day, yesterday we headed out to see Wall-E.

After reading reviews ranging from "I slept through this movie" to "This was the best movie ever"...I wasn't sure what to make of it. I will say this - any movie that can captivate the attention of 4 kids under 7 is OK with me! Minimal dialogue. Cute robot. G-rating. I won't be waiting to rent it again but...it was good.

Today, "Nana" took the kids to see a magic show at the local library. Needlesstosay, Sam has been pulling things out of his hat all night.

During my quiet time, I wrote several devotions for the book Amy and I are trying to complete. By God's grace and provision, in two years, moms all over the country will be encouraged by words God gives now. Amazing. More about this new devotional when more is known.

I am excited about a few new invitations and confirmations I've received over the last few days: August 9 - Rock Hill, SC, September 11 - Big Springs Baptist in Hollis, NC and March 27-29 - Taylors First Baptist Church's Women's Conference (held at The Cove).

Please continue to pray for us! God is working. I am thankful.

Miss South Carolina 2008

Darby and Crystal Garrett, Miss SC 2007

ON OUR WAY!

Last night Darby and I headed down to Spartanburg, SC for the last night of preliminary competition at Miss South Carolina. It was a sweet girls night out that ended with a trip through the Krispy Kreme drive-thru window.

The finals are Saturday, July 5th. Guess who's doing the pre-show!!!! Me! I have an opportunity to sing 15-20 minutes before the state-wide event.

Keep us in your prayers!

The Shackles are Off!

Deeper Still in Atlanta this past weekend was wonderful. Priscilla brought us out of the wilderness. Kay took us through three books of the Old Testament with real-life application. Beth lead a 19,000-member interactive scripture memory session while bringing out Truth. The Word was alive in Atlanta!

Travis Cottrell. Wow. God must have been pleased with the worship. He was so gracious to "hang out" during the breaks for pictures and chat.

Smile!

You have to watch this short video!

Who says Bible teachers can't be fun? Certainly not these three. During "Shackles", the Deeper Still Trio entertained the sold-out arena as if they were alone in a hotel room just cuttin' up. I wonder if David ever did that lasso move when He danced before the Lord?

God is dealing with me to stay in His Word and know more about Him. The daily discipline of being with Him can not be replaced by anything else. I want to KNOW the TRUTH so I can SPEAK the TRUTH.