I love worship. It draws me to that place where I can just come before the Father and say, "here I am, in all my imperfection, bowing before you".
I haven't had a real worship experience in a while. But today at church, I had a moment where I forgot where I was and just let myself be before the throne. I was on worship team and usually I'm a bit careful about getting to wrapped up in my own worship time. The purpose of the team is to draw the congregation to the throne room, so sometimes you need to be sensitive to what is happening in the pews rather than what is happening in your own heart.
We were singing "Hosanna", which has been recorded by a number of groups, but most recognizable by Hillsong or Starfield, and I almost forgot where I was. I was so drawn in to what the words of the song were saying and I could picture myself falling down at the Father's feet and just worshipping. When I realized that Debbie was going back to the chorus, it brought me back, but for a moment, it was just me and my Father. Wow. I love that.
Here are the words for you. It's a pretty powerful song.
I see the King of Glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, The whole earth shakes
I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, The people sing
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith, Selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and sing
We're on our knees, On our knees
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
25 Things about Me
This was a note going around on Facebook, so I decided to give it a try. It actually took me quite a while to complete. It is hard to think up 25 things about yourself. As I got going, I could have put more than 25, but these were the ones that I thought best gave of glimpse of who I am.
So the instructions were: So you've gotta do this thing. 25 random facts about you.
1. I love music education...and if I ever have my own job (rather than filling in for someone else), I have a lot of things I'd like to try. Music is evolving constantly and yet remains the same in so many ways. Wouldn't that be neat to explore in a classroom filled with diversity?
2. I love choir. Yes, choir. I love to sing in a choir, but more so, I love to direct choirs. It doesn't even matter what kind of choir. I've done school choir, a men's choir, a small choir at church, a big choir at church...anything. I love choir music. I love the way composers use harmony and voice timbre to create a piece. It can be almost magical.
3. I love to play games. Board games, card games, word games...I'm especially fond of Life, Dutch Blitz and my new favourite called Bananagrams. I am not fond of UNO or Monopoly.
4. I like the insides of my cupboards to be organized. They are very neat. This means that if I don't have time to put things away, rather than just stuffing them in a cupboard, I leave them on the counter. Messy on the outside, clean on the inside :)
5. I sing - all the time. Sometimes just in my head, sometimes out loud, but there is always a song. Sometimes I tap my foot to the song in my head. It just happens.
6. I'm shy. I know you find this hard to believe, but that's because if you are reading this you know me. If you don't know me, I find it hard to communicate. It isn't that I don't want to, it's just that I can't think of a good way to engage you in conversation. I'm not good at surface level.
7. I am not crafty. Not that Amber hasn't tried, but I just can't do it. I have completed 2 scrapbooks in my lifetime and then I gave all the stuff I had leftover to my friend. That was enough for me.
8. I love Chai Tea. I don't drink coffee but a Chai Tea with a splash of milk and a bit of sugar just hits the spot. I also love London Fogs, but only if they are from Stone's Throw. They make the best London Fogs.
9. I don't drink coffee. I don't like Coffee Crisps or coffee cake or chocolate covered coffee. I don't even really like the smell of coffee - although the flavoured stuff does have a slightly more pleasant aroma. I don't own a coffee pot. When my mom comes to visit, she drinks instant coffee or goes to Tim Horton's. I am a bad daughter :).
10. I have prepped for a new class every semester since I started teaching. At the beginning, it drives me crazy, but I always learn something new. I probably learn more than my students do. In my 3 years of teaching, I have taught the following: food studies 30, home arts 9, math 9, math 10, english 9, drama 10, drama 20/30, Housing/Interior Design, Information processing, choir, vocal jazz, music 9, Art 20, Entreprenership 30
11. I speak French. I used to speak it better than I do now, but I can still do it if I put my mind to it.
12. I've been to Romania twice. I really like it there and don't know when I'll get to go back, but hopefully someday.
13. I'm stealing this from Amber...I've had the same best friend since I was nine. We live farther away from each other now than we ever have and we've never lived in the same place.
14. I like food. Only certain kinds of food, but the kind I like, I like a lot!
15. I like sharing the office at school with Gail. This is the second time we've been able to be music colleagues and we get along so well. Sometimes we don't get a lot of work done, because we are friends too!
16. I'm not very domestic. I don't bake (I can, but I don't love it), I'm not a great cook and I'd rather be busy doing something else then cleaning. I'm sure there is a friend to go out with, marking to do, movies to watch...anything. I do however keep my bathroom clean.
17. I like musicals. I've only ever acted in one, but it was so fun. I like to watch musicals and I like the music (most of the time).
18. I have nice nails. I know, weird, but I do. They are real, not fake. They grow nice all on their own.
19. I like shoes. I have a lot of shoes. I've been downsizing but I still have a lot. Sometimes I go to the shoe section just to try shoes on for fun. I try on the ugly ones too.
20. I love to read. I like to own the books I read because I will read them again and again and again. I worked at Chapters over the Christmas season and really discovered a love for non-fiction, especially biographical works or true stories written with a fiction quality.
21. I love my family. I get along with my parents. My sister and I have a great relationship. We didn't always, but now that we are adults, I'm glad we are friends. I have a great brother-in-law and the sweetest neices and nephew in the world. Alexa is my girl.
22. I have a pig collection. I have stuffed pigs and pig figurines. My favourite pigs are called "This Little Piggy". The line was discontinued, but every once in a while I find a good one on e-bay.
23. I love my church. I have been going to Harvest City Church for just over two years and I love it there. My pastor is a great man of God and the congregation is very warm and friendly. I have made great friends there that I love a lot.
24. I drive a standard. When I bought my car a year ago, I said I would only buy a standard - and I did. It makes me feel like I'm in control.
25. I own my own home. I love it. I like decorating to a way that makes me feel at home. I think my house is very warm and cozy. It's little but it's the perfect size for me. I've discovered that I really like having flowers and mowing the lawn. I don't like shovelling, but if that's my only complaint, then I think I have it pretty good.
Phew...that was hard. Done and done!
So the instructions were: So you've gotta do this thing. 25 random facts about you.
1. I love music education...and if I ever have my own job (rather than filling in for someone else), I have a lot of things I'd like to try. Music is evolving constantly and yet remains the same in so many ways. Wouldn't that be neat to explore in a classroom filled with diversity?
2. I love choir. Yes, choir. I love to sing in a choir, but more so, I love to direct choirs. It doesn't even matter what kind of choir. I've done school choir, a men's choir, a small choir at church, a big choir at church...anything. I love choir music. I love the way composers use harmony and voice timbre to create a piece. It can be almost magical.
3. I love to play games. Board games, card games, word games...I'm especially fond of Life, Dutch Blitz and my new favourite called Bananagrams. I am not fond of UNO or Monopoly.
4. I like the insides of my cupboards to be organized. They are very neat. This means that if I don't have time to put things away, rather than just stuffing them in a cupboard, I leave them on the counter. Messy on the outside, clean on the inside :)
5. I sing - all the time. Sometimes just in my head, sometimes out loud, but there is always a song. Sometimes I tap my foot to the song in my head. It just happens.
6. I'm shy. I know you find this hard to believe, but that's because if you are reading this you know me. If you don't know me, I find it hard to communicate. It isn't that I don't want to, it's just that I can't think of a good way to engage you in conversation. I'm not good at surface level.
7. I am not crafty. Not that Amber hasn't tried, but I just can't do it. I have completed 2 scrapbooks in my lifetime and then I gave all the stuff I had leftover to my friend. That was enough for me.
8. I love Chai Tea. I don't drink coffee but a Chai Tea with a splash of milk and a bit of sugar just hits the spot. I also love London Fogs, but only if they are from Stone's Throw. They make the best London Fogs.
9. I don't drink coffee. I don't like Coffee Crisps or coffee cake or chocolate covered coffee. I don't even really like the smell of coffee - although the flavoured stuff does have a slightly more pleasant aroma. I don't own a coffee pot. When my mom comes to visit, she drinks instant coffee or goes to Tim Horton's. I am a bad daughter :).
10. I have prepped for a new class every semester since I started teaching. At the beginning, it drives me crazy, but I always learn something new. I probably learn more than my students do. In my 3 years of teaching, I have taught the following: food studies 30, home arts 9, math 9, math 10, english 9, drama 10, drama 20/30, Housing/Interior Design, Information processing, choir, vocal jazz, music 9, Art 20, Entreprenership 30
11. I speak French. I used to speak it better than I do now, but I can still do it if I put my mind to it.
12. I've been to Romania twice. I really like it there and don't know when I'll get to go back, but hopefully someday.
13. I'm stealing this from Amber...I've had the same best friend since I was nine. We live farther away from each other now than we ever have and we've never lived in the same place.
14. I like food. Only certain kinds of food, but the kind I like, I like a lot!
15. I like sharing the office at school with Gail. This is the second time we've been able to be music colleagues and we get along so well. Sometimes we don't get a lot of work done, because we are friends too!
16. I'm not very domestic. I don't bake (I can, but I don't love it), I'm not a great cook and I'd rather be busy doing something else then cleaning. I'm sure there is a friend to go out with, marking to do, movies to watch...anything. I do however keep my bathroom clean.
17. I like musicals. I've only ever acted in one, but it was so fun. I like to watch musicals and I like the music (most of the time).
18. I have nice nails. I know, weird, but I do. They are real, not fake. They grow nice all on their own.
19. I like shoes. I have a lot of shoes. I've been downsizing but I still have a lot. Sometimes I go to the shoe section just to try shoes on for fun. I try on the ugly ones too.
20. I love to read. I like to own the books I read because I will read them again and again and again. I worked at Chapters over the Christmas season and really discovered a love for non-fiction, especially biographical works or true stories written with a fiction quality.
21. I love my family. I get along with my parents. My sister and I have a great relationship. We didn't always, but now that we are adults, I'm glad we are friends. I have a great brother-in-law and the sweetest neices and nephew in the world. Alexa is my girl.
22. I have a pig collection. I have stuffed pigs and pig figurines. My favourite pigs are called "This Little Piggy". The line was discontinued, but every once in a while I find a good one on e-bay.
23. I love my church. I have been going to Harvest City Church for just over two years and I love it there. My pastor is a great man of God and the congregation is very warm and friendly. I have made great friends there that I love a lot.
24. I drive a standard. When I bought my car a year ago, I said I would only buy a standard - and I did. It makes me feel like I'm in control.
25. I own my own home. I love it. I like decorating to a way that makes me feel at home. I think my house is very warm and cozy. It's little but it's the perfect size for me. I've discovered that I really like having flowers and mowing the lawn. I don't like shovelling, but if that's my only complaint, then I think I have it pretty good.
Phew...that was hard. Done and done!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Discovering Godly Wisdom
I have been in the midst of some pretty major decisions and I've been struggling so much with what to do. I made an appointment to speak with my pastor and I'm so glad that I did. I'm thankful that Pastor Dave has an open door and that he doesn't mind questions from a confused mind. I came away from our discussion with hope and peace. I don't want to forget what he said, so I'm writing them down in hopes that when I need a reminder, I'll be able to sit down and read through it. So, here it is in a nutshell...
1) We cannot force God to speak. God will speak to us when he sees we are ready and in that moment, we will know. It doesn't matter how much I ask him to speak to me about the situation, he will when I am at a point where I can receive it.
2) God is the apprehender, we are the apprehended. If we are willing to allow God to take control, he will. All he asks for is a willing heart.
3) Don't try to pry open the door. There is no grace on the other side. When God opens a door, then we can walk through knowing that his power goes before. However, when we force the door open, we are walking through it alone.
4) If you feel like you are thrashing, then God hasn't spoken. I said to Pastor Dave that I feel as though I am tangled in my bedsheets. He said that's a pretty good sign.
5) Pros and cons won't aid in the decision making. Sometimes when God calls us somewhere, there are more cons than pros. If we choose to make a decision based on that, we will miss the call. God's call isn't always easy, but it is always right.
6) There will be an identifiable moment when God's voice is heard. You will know with certainty that God has said yes or God has said no. No questions asked. The heart will tell the mind.
7) God will give us wisdom if we ask for it...HOWEVER, we have to believe that he will give us the wisdom, otherwise we are praying without receiving. Pastor Dave used James 1:5-7 as his reference. It says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord". Wow. That's intense. That is where praying with faith and expectations comes into play.
8) If you feel on shaky ground, then don't move. Any type of change requires solid footing, so if you already feel off balance, the best place to stay is where you are.
9) This is pulled directly from Pastor Dave's sermon on Sunday...I guess I do listen in church :). Rejoice in the victory, even before the victory is won. Pray believing that God will answer and then rejoice in that answer, even though you don't know it yet. His example from Sunday was Joshua and the battle of Jericho. Joshua marched around the wall and then with a victory shout and the blowing of celebration horns, the battle was won. It was in the rejoicing and not in the fighting where the battle was finished.
That's a lot for a one hour conversation! There are probably more words I could write, but that's a pretty good start. I'm am so grateful for leadership that is so grounded and wise. I know that God has placed me here for a reason. When I look back on these times, I will know that he was walking with me, giving me people to lean on, talk to, and grow with. I'm so thankful.
1) We cannot force God to speak. God will speak to us when he sees we are ready and in that moment, we will know. It doesn't matter how much I ask him to speak to me about the situation, he will when I am at a point where I can receive it.
2) God is the apprehender, we are the apprehended. If we are willing to allow God to take control, he will. All he asks for is a willing heart.
3) Don't try to pry open the door. There is no grace on the other side. When God opens a door, then we can walk through knowing that his power goes before. However, when we force the door open, we are walking through it alone.
4) If you feel like you are thrashing, then God hasn't spoken. I said to Pastor Dave that I feel as though I am tangled in my bedsheets. He said that's a pretty good sign.
5) Pros and cons won't aid in the decision making. Sometimes when God calls us somewhere, there are more cons than pros. If we choose to make a decision based on that, we will miss the call. God's call isn't always easy, but it is always right.
6) There will be an identifiable moment when God's voice is heard. You will know with certainty that God has said yes or God has said no. No questions asked. The heart will tell the mind.
7) God will give us wisdom if we ask for it...HOWEVER, we have to believe that he will give us the wisdom, otherwise we are praying without receiving. Pastor Dave used James 1:5-7 as his reference. It says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord". Wow. That's intense. That is where praying with faith and expectations comes into play.
8) If you feel on shaky ground, then don't move. Any type of change requires solid footing, so if you already feel off balance, the best place to stay is where you are.
9) This is pulled directly from Pastor Dave's sermon on Sunday...I guess I do listen in church :). Rejoice in the victory, even before the victory is won. Pray believing that God will answer and then rejoice in that answer, even though you don't know it yet. His example from Sunday was Joshua and the battle of Jericho. Joshua marched around the wall and then with a victory shout and the blowing of celebration horns, the battle was won. It was in the rejoicing and not in the fighting where the battle was finished.
That's a lot for a one hour conversation! There are probably more words I could write, but that's a pretty good start. I'm am so grateful for leadership that is so grounded and wise. I know that God has placed me here for a reason. When I look back on these times, I will know that he was walking with me, giving me people to lean on, talk to, and grow with. I'm so thankful.
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