Monday, June 27, 2011

"World Wide Open"

9 DAYS LEFT BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR AFRICA!!

PSALM FOR THE DAY:

Psalm 111

2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

(God made a world that is amazing and big and full of wonders for us to see. We live in a country where we are free and fortunate and able to make choices, good or bad, for ourselves and make our own path. Whether you choose to start your own business, move to another state to start over, have 20 kids like the Duggars, drop out of school to become a rapper, be a mother, a writer, a lawyer, run for president or just a marathon, be on a reality tv show, or travel to another country to spread the love of God- it is your choice and the possibilities are endless. Life is short. We all deserve to be happy and to push ourselves to experience the beauty God has put right here in front of us. RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACE! You don't have to travel to Africa to see it, God is everywhere, and I can't wait to continue my journey.)

SONG OF THE DAY:

Love and Theft- "World Wide Open"

I need to move, I need to breathe
Shake the things that pull on me
Holding me down, slowing me down
I need to run, I need to fight
Let go of the things that I am holding onto
Maybe I need to
Just open up my eyes so I can see
It's always been there right in front of me

Sunday, June 26, 2011

10 DAYS LEFT BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR AFRICA!!

PSALM FOR THE DAY:

Psalm 19

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

SONG FOR THE DAY:

Collective Soul- "World I Know"

Has our conscience shown?
Has the sweet breeze blown?
Has all kindness gone?
Hope still lingers on.
I drink myself of newfound pity
Sitting alone in New York City
And I don't know why.

Are we listening?
Hymns of offering.
Have we eyes to see?
Love is gathering.
All the words that I've been reading
Have now started the act of bleeding
Into one.

So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below.
And I laugh at myself
While the tears roll down.
'Cause it's the world I know.
It's the world I know.

11 DAYS LEFT BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR AFRICA!!

PSALMS FOR THE DAY:


Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.


SONG FOR THE DAY:

Third Day- "Call My Name"


It's been so long since
You felt like you were loved
So what went wrong
But do you know
There's a place where you belong
Here in My arms

When you feel like you're alone in your sadness
It seems like no one in this whole world cares
And you want to get away from the madness
You just call My name and I'll be there
You just call My name and I'll be there

The love I have for you is so alive

Friday, June 24, 2011

"The Change"

12 DAYS LEFT BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR AFRICA!!

PSALM OF THE DAY:

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The LORD protects and preserves them—
they are counted among the blessed in the land—
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness.


SONG OF THE DAY:

Garth Brooks- "The Change"

One hand, Reaches out
And pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for
They say what good have you done
By saving just this one
It's like whispering a prayer
In the fury of a storm

And I hear them saying you'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world will know
That it will not change me

Thursday, June 23, 2011

"In The Jungle, The Mighty Jungle"

13 DAYS LEFT BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR AFRICA!!

I cannot believe that it's less than two weeks before my team and I leave for Uganda, Africa. I can't wait to hold the orphan babies, take a boat ride down the Nile and see some exotic animals (except for the exceptionally large spiders, of course). It seems like only yesterday I made the decision to go and it's here already!! I'm getting excited but there is so much to be done before we head out. The team consists of our leader Tina, her two sons, four others, and myself. We had planned a benefit concert/silent auction for this past Tuesday to help raise money for the trip but under circumstances out of our hands, it got cancelled. It's so hard to put in so much work for a great cause and have it taken away in a second like it was. We all have to keep in mind that God must have a plan. We will keep pushing forward towards our goal and remember the reason we are doing this :) So we have rescheduled just the silent auction (man, we have some good stuff) for next Tuesday, June 28th at Jonathan's Grille here in Franklin. We are also getting together vbs songs and crafts, devotionals from each team member, crafts to teach the orphans while we're there, and packing of food, vitamins, crocs, etc. The team is also supposed to be preparing their hearts before we go by reading Psalms each day.

I've decided that for the next 12 days, I will share with you a favorite psalm that I read in this process. I have also come across so many songs (duh) that relate to what I'm doing and what the team is trying to accomplish as a whole. So I will post these two things each day, follow along if you'd like :) It will be a fun journey. We'll start now..


PSALM FOR THE DAY:

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.


(I love this so much because it's reminding us: God is with you at all times! He never sleeps, He never looks away, He watches over you day and night. Verses 1 and 2 are my favorite. I ask myself where my help comes from, it comes from the Maker of Heaven and Earth. He can do anything, He is everything, so why do we worry? He knows our story, He knows our life. Those two verses are also in one of my favorite Christian songs, "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns. This song is/was so important to me bc when my uncle was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease years ago, this song pulled us out of many a doubt. It didn't matter why it was happening, we had to praise God through the bad times as well and have faith that he had an overall reason and plan for that. Now, I can use it as a testimony, as a place where I've seen God work, )

SONG OF THE DAY:

Casting Crowns- "Praise You In This Storm"

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm




So, I guess while I'm preparing my heart, I can help prepare yours for something else. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Mae xoxo