Silence

I'm losing my voice, due to a head cold...ironically tonight's youth sermon is on silence. Man, when I commit to something I go all in huh? Ha. I'm super excited about Collide tonight because in my experience when I'm sick and weak, and can barely talk, God shows up and takes over. Christ's strength is made perfect in my weakness every single time and I expect nothing different from tonight. God be glorified!

Fittingly, I wrote this blog in silence instead of listening to music as is the norm...

1000 miles to go

So I just noticed that the odometer on my Ford Taurus shows 1000 miles to go before I hit the big 100,00 thousand mark...it makes me reflect on my life lately; where I've come from, where I'm going. I've got some miles on me and at 30, and I'm starting to feel some where and tear, beginning to feel like a full blown adult; all the while still chugging faithfully forward toward milestones that God has set before me.

Things in my life are simultaneously the best and most difficult at the same time. I'm being stretched to my limit (in a good way) in all ways possible. I'm trying to treasure this season of my life, it's been a blessing to move from my desert season to what I'm deeming my oasis/prosperity season. I'm growing, and the growing pains are stretching and hurting some, but it's a fruitful pain, tolerable because I know it's bringing my God glory and honor.

God has been His usual loving, strong handed, disciplinarian, provider and the stories of his faithfulness are becoming too numerous to tell; but I won't stop trying! May the rest of my existence on this earth be a testimony to the one who holds all things (and all people) together for the glory of His great name!

Listened to "Church Music" by David Crowder Band while blogging

Josh Garrels - Farther Along

Favorite music and Movies of 2011

Favorite cds from 2011

1. Needtobreathe – The reckoning
2. Switchfoot – Vice Verses
3. Adele – 21
4. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
5. Burlap to Cashmere – Self Titled
6. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
7. Gungor – Ghosts upon the earth
8. Shane & Shane – The one you need
9. Phil Wickham – Response
10. Josh Garrels – Love & war, & the sea in-between

Honorable mentions:

1. The Hawk in Paris – His + Hers
2. The City Harmonic
3. Peter Furler – On fire

Favorite songs:

1. Ohhs ahhs – Needtobreathe
2. Afterlife – Switchfoot
3. The violet hour – The Civil Wars
4. Paradise – Coldplay
5. Someone like you – Adele
6. Love reclaims the atmosphere – Burlap to Cashmere
7. Liberty – Shane & Shane
8. A place only love can go – Needtobreathe
9. The new hello (hers) – The Hawk in Paris
10. Dark horses – Switchfoot
11. Closer – Shawn Mcdonald
12. This is the stuff – Francesca Battistelli
13. Blessings – Laura Story
14. Vice Verses – Switchfoot
15. Maybe they’re onto us – Needtobreathe
16. Let there be – Gungor
17. Poison & wine – The Civil Wars
18. The one you need – Shane & Shane
19. All I am – Phil Wickham
20. Sun & moon – Phil Wickham
21. Reach – Peter Furler
22. It was a dark and stormy night – Five Iron Frenzy
23. Farther along – Josh Garrels
24. Keep you eyes open – Needtobreathe
25. Up where I belong – Switchfoot

Favorite Movies:

1. The Muppets
2. Moneyball
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: On stranger tides

Music listened to while blogging: Josh Garrels "Love & war, & the see in-between"

Faithfulness

A new year is here! Had a great holiday season with family and friends and I’m looking forward to what this year has in store for me, my family, and church family. Growth and maturity Lord I pray!

Read today that Doug Fields the youth pastor at Saddleback church resigned today to pursue writing and speaking. Lord thank you for such a godly example of a youth leader that although I’ve never met, admire his faithfulness in ministry for over 18 years. Let it be said of me that I was as faithful!

Thank you Lord as you keep teaching me about Up, In, and Out. Help me pass along what I’m learning to the youth volunteers and teenagers so that they also may increase in love for you and the world! Today I praise you for your faithfulness to me and to all generations.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” So true...

Listened to while blogging: Simon & Garfunkel