I can’t get this song out of my head… January 27, 2008

I used to be a BIG Jennifer Knapp fan when I was in high school. I think because she is someone I could really look up to at the time. For those who don’t know, she is a Christian music artist who sounds similar to Melissa Etheridge. She plays guitar and to me, she seemed like a rock star. She hasn’t had an album recently (I think her last one was in like 2001 or something), but check her out…you won’t be disappointed.

Anyway, recently I found a live album that she recorded in 2006. I had never heard a song she wrote called “Martyrs and Thieves” so I downloaded it and I have been hooked ever since and I’m trying to learn to play it on the guitar. This is my “lifesong” right now. Enjoy…and download the song!

VERSE 1: 

There’s a place in the darkness that I used to cling to

It presses harsh hope against time

In the absence of martyrs there’s a presence of thieves

Who only want to rob you blind

They steal away any sense of peace

Though I’m a king I’m a king on my knees

And I know they are wrong when they say I am strong

As the darkness covers me

BRIDGE:

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory

I am not afraid

To bare all my weakness knowing in meekness

I have a kingdom to gain

CHORUS:

Where there is peace and love in the light in the light

Oh I am not afraid

To let Your light shine bright in my life in my life

Oh I… am,          I…

VERSE 2:

There are ghosts from my past who’ve owned more of my soul

Than I thought I had given away

They linger in closets and under my bed

And in pictures less proudly displayed

A great fool in my life I have been

Have squandered till pallid and thin

Hung my head in shame and refused to take blame

For darkness I know I’ve let win

REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS

TAG:

Can you hear me? (4x)

VERSE 3:

Well I’ve never been much for the baring of soul

In the presence of any man

I’d rather keep to myself all safe and secure

In the arms of a sinner I am

Could it be that my worth should depend

By the crimson stained grace on a hand

And like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in Your will

To reveal all of You that I can

REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS

OUTRO:

There’s a place in the darkness that I used to cling to

It presses harsh hope against time

I love Florida January 20, 2008

 

Haha this map cracks me up. South FL actually felt cold(er) temps today. It’s been in the 60s all day! That’s cold for us Floridians! Meanwhile people are experiencing temps below zero. I can’t even fathom what that feels like.

I’m glad I live in paradise!! — that was for you, Guy!

Accountability January 17, 2008

In my post about New Years’ resolutions…one of mine was to get into accountability with someone.

Well, that is one resolution I’ve kept so far in the 2 weeks of the New Year. I have this awesome friend named Sarah who just moved here from out of town and I really believe that God put both of us in each other’s lives for this very reason. We met for the 2nd time tonight and it is just awesome and challenging and I kind of feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach. What a necessity for the Christian life! I’ve always known this and I have tried to pursue it before but it never worked out either for me or for the other person. I know this is going to stick because we both need each other so badly.

So, are you in accountability with someone? If not, you need to be…you are missing out!

“Counseling makes me sick!” January 17, 2008

We’re all laughing here at the office because one of our Pastors, James Brown was counseling someone this morning and had to run out of his office quickly to the bathroom because he realized he was about to be “sick” all over this poor woman!! He had said he was feeling kind of achy and felt like he had a migraine earlier this morning.

Luckily he made it but had to end the session early and he barely made it to the bathroom again! I’m sure the woman was ready to get outta here!

We’re all telling him to go home…we don’t need those germs around. He claims he feels better now and his joke now is “Boy, I don’t know about you, but counseling makes me sick!” (For those who don’t know James, he is the biggest practical joker I have ever met…he rarely has a serious conversation!)

I’m not a workaholic January 16, 2008

I read this great blog post today from Seth Godin. He always has some great nuggets of wisdom to share. Check it out when you have some free time.

What a blessing to have a job where I don’t feel like I’m working for nothing. This truly is what I love doing. I don’t wake up in the morning and think “man I don’t want to go to work today!” OK, sometimes if I’m really sleepy I might want to stay in bed a little longer, but who doesn’t?? My job has a purpose and I am actually appreciated by others for what I do. Most importantly, what I do impacts the kingdom.

I’ve had jobs where I dreaded getting up every morning to go to. I used to switch jobs like I switch my toothbrush…every 3 months. I’ve been working at my current job for 2 years (officially in March)! Some may say it’s because I’m married and I’ve settled down…that might be part of it, but not all of it. I’ve finally found something that doesn’t bore me (and believe me, I get bored easily). Of course there are bad days and times of frustration, but it’s all put in perspective when you remember who you’re doing it for!

For those of you reading this, I hope you can find something you love doing. It’s definitely refreshing to find your niche in life! If you’re already there, leave a comment! Tell me what your job is and why you love doing it!

p.s. I’m not saying all of this just because my boss reads my blog…this is truly my heart!

Name Change Series January 15, 2008

Check out my other blog to read about the process of our church name change. If you’re in ministry, you might find it interesting! More articles are to come, so stick around!

What I’m listening to… January 14, 2008

Not that anyone has asked, but I thought I’d share some of my favorite bands and artists. Here’s a short list of the music I’ve been listening to lately. Just a disclaimer: I’m not a top 40 music fan (for the most part). 

Here’s my list (in no particular order):

1. KT Tunstall
2. Leeland
3. Eisley
4. Sarah Bareilles
5. Dave Barnes
6. A Fine Frenzy
7. The Fray
8. Future of Forestery
9. John Mayer
10. Mat Kearney
11. Shane & Shane
12. Vanessa Carlton

I’m always looking for new music…so who do you listen to?

Disturb me January 10, 2008

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord.”

ht: Perry Noble dot com

Rebranding Series at CommNetwork January 8, 2008

Check out what’s happening on my Communications Network blog. Some of you might really find this interesting!

In the spirit of New Years’… January 7, 2008

Here are some goals/resolutions that I made for 2007. Below is how I did on my 2007 goals and some more for 2008.

2008 Check-up on last year’s goals:

1. We stopped playing tennis…lol. It was a combination of no time and laziness.

2. I joined First Place last year and did two sessions. I lost around 12 pounds. Even though I didn’t join back I have kept the weight off (meaning I didn’t gain it all back…PTL) but I still want to lose about 15-20 more.

3. I am watching what I eat. Of course there’s always fluctuation…I am an emotional eater. Some days I was good, some days I was really bad! Spiritually I was on and off…that is one discipline that always gets me. It’s so hard for me to carve out the time and I hate it about myself.

2008 Goals:

1. Spinning with my Mom. She started last year and did really well. She hasn’t done it in a while though and we’re both committing to do it together.

2. Continuing to eat healthier and shed some more pounds.

3. Possibly have a child in 2008? Anything is possible!!

4. Get myself out of bed in the morning to spend time with my Creator!

5. Keep up with the laundry/cleaning better.

6. Get into accountability with a peer.

7. Ask an old(er) “seasoned” woman to be my mentor.

8. Paint, design and reorganize our second bedroom that has become more of a storage room than anything.

9. Serve my husband more.

10. Overcome some sin in my life as well as my control freak tendencies.

So there you have it. 2007 was a great year. We did lots of cool things like visit family in Kentucky and Alabama, we got to see the Dry Tortugas and spend some time in Key West, we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary, we celebrated 1 year of being homeowners, I met Charlie Hall and Shauna Niequist (read her book…it’s amazing!), I turned 24, I tried out for American Idol, I almost lost a family member but God has been gracious to keep her with us even longer, and much more. I love new beginnings and I’m ready to face the challenges head-on!