“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago.” Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way. Remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair, and dealing with life’s issues every day. The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient, or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad—just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I have always had for you, I just want to say, I love you, my darling daughter.”
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Today, I miss my mom! I wish I had read this letter a long time ago and had a second chance to spend a day with her.
“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago.” Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way. Remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair, and dealing with life’s issues every day. The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient, or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad—just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I have always had for you, I just want to say, I love you, my darling daughter.”
“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago.” Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way. Remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair, and dealing with life’s issues every day. The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient, or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad—just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I have always had for you, I just want to say, I love you, my darling daughter.”
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
"The Proof Of Your Love"
If I sing but don't have love
I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
If I give
To a needy soul but don't have love then who is poor?
It seems all the poverty is found in me
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
Oh, let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
When it's all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains
Only love remains
Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love.
I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
If I give
To a needy soul but don't have love then who is poor?
It seems all the poverty is found in me
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
Oh, let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
When it's all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains
Only love remains
Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love.
For King and Country
When the journey's end looks a lot nearer, love is all that matters.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1Peter 4:8
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Here I go rambling again...
I miss my worship leaders, Dave and Jess. Their departure for a sister church has left our service in limbo; its future yet to be determined. I miss their music. I can't explain it, but I know music makes a difference in how I offer praise back to God. Melodies from the last two centuries rarely stir me, even though I relish their transforming lyrics. It seems like the theology found in them just sinks deeper within when set to music that reflects the style in which I'm accustomed to listening. Maybe it's the riveting beat of the drums or the clean punch of a good bass; I just know I worship more deeply.
I've asked most of the questions: Does a personal bent towards contemporary style reflect my immature notions of worship? Am I focusing on my preferences instead of what God desires? Are we making others uncomfortable in our chosen style of corporate worship? Am I willing to sacrifice even a bit? I'm not sure I have the answers.
But my biggest concern lies with what will deliver the Gospel to those who aren't familiar with corporate worship and to our youngest generations. What style will welcome them to consider my Jesus? Will my young friends I invite to church be distracted by tradition, possibly missing a Savior who wants to radically change their broken lives?
I recall a young fifteen year old, Isaac Watts, sorely irritated by church music he felt was "dead". "Nobody my age can relate to this!" he argued and with the urging of his father, Isaac pushed the envelope with new relevant hymns that grabbed the youth. Even though, the traditionalists hated his "Watts' Whims," they survived and again and again , new discontents, the young Charles Wesley's, Fanny Crosby's, Keith Green's, offered a new and more palatable set of chords. What if no congregation had ever accepted, adopted the offerings of these worshipers?
Music is a powerful thing...a God-given thing!
Music undeniably can break mental barriers and can open a heart to the Truth found in the Gospel.
Musical taste is wildly varied and trying to meet all preferences in one service runs the risk of not fully engaging anyone. For me, personally, it is terribly distracting.
But I come back to my original concern: What about those who might stay to hear the Truth if they are drawn by the music? Contemporary or Traditional!
Perhaps we need to explore other formats of "doing Church together" as a multi-generational, eclectic body.
But I do think we need to heed Paul's advice:
I miss my worship leaders, Dave and Jess. Their departure for a sister church has left our service in limbo; its future yet to be determined. I miss their music. I can't explain it, but I know music makes a difference in how I offer praise back to God. Melodies from the last two centuries rarely stir me, even though I relish their transforming lyrics. It seems like the theology found in them just sinks deeper within when set to music that reflects the style in which I'm accustomed to listening. Maybe it's the riveting beat of the drums or the clean punch of a good bass; I just know I worship more deeply.
I've asked most of the questions: Does a personal bent towards contemporary style reflect my immature notions of worship? Am I focusing on my preferences instead of what God desires? Are we making others uncomfortable in our chosen style of corporate worship? Am I willing to sacrifice even a bit? I'm not sure I have the answers.
But my biggest concern lies with what will deliver the Gospel to those who aren't familiar with corporate worship and to our youngest generations. What style will welcome them to consider my Jesus? Will my young friends I invite to church be distracted by tradition, possibly missing a Savior who wants to radically change their broken lives?
I recall a young fifteen year old, Isaac Watts, sorely irritated by church music he felt was "dead". "Nobody my age can relate to this!" he argued and with the urging of his father, Isaac pushed the envelope with new relevant hymns that grabbed the youth. Even though, the traditionalists hated his "Watts' Whims," they survived and again and again , new discontents, the young Charles Wesley's, Fanny Crosby's, Keith Green's, offered a new and more palatable set of chords. What if no congregation had ever accepted, adopted the offerings of these worshipers?
Music is a powerful thing...a God-given thing!
Music undeniably can break mental barriers and can open a heart to the Truth found in the Gospel.
Musical taste is wildly varied and trying to meet all preferences in one service runs the risk of not fully engaging anyone. For me, personally, it is terribly distracting.
But I come back to my original concern: What about those who might stay to hear the Truth if they are drawn by the music? Contemporary or Traditional!
Perhaps we need to explore other formats of "doing Church together" as a multi-generational, eclectic body.
But I do think we need to heed Paul's advice:
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I Cor. 9:22
There I go rambling again.
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