Rollin' Revelations

So this is going to be my new series of blogs. I call it Rollin' Revelations, becuase during my hour commute to work each morning, as I'm ROLLIN' to work, the Lord often speaks to me through the songs I listen to on KSBJ (christian radio station in H-Town). I started listening to KSBJ at Christmas time when I began this long commute from our new house becuase I discovered that I can have severe road rage. So I thought that listening to Christian music in the morning would help with that. It really has. Anyone with road rage, I HIGHLY recommend it! Its hard to cuss some one out and yell when people are singing about Jesus in your car!
So anyways, I have learned a lot of new songs since I began this and as cheesey as they are sometimes, they have really just spoken to my heart. So, every so often, I will share my Rollin' Revelations with you.

There is one song this week that really had an impact on me. Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin.

I am in a women's bible study right now and we are going through "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore. I love the words of this song, "My Chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my saviour Has Ransomed me. And like a flood, His Mercy Rains. Unending love. Amazing Grace." I started thinking about the things in my life that have held me in bondage and prevented me from experiencing abaundant life in Christ. The more I thought about breaking free from those chains, the more I realized that they have already been broken by my Savior who rescued me. A-Men! The day I declared I believed and anwered God's call on my life, those chains were broken...I was set free. It was for freedom that Christ set me free (Gal. 5:1) And there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jeses (Romans 8). Why then do I still live in bondage? Becuase I am picking up those chains and putting them on. Sometimes, the weight of those chains is so much to bear that I don't feel they'll ever come off. But this song reminded me so much that though I may have those chains on, the lock has been broken and God can remove them. Another A-Men! They aren't permanent. I can never lock those chains back on again becuase God has paid a ransom for my life....there is always a way for them to come off with the power of my saviour!
Through this message, the Lord has also been speaking to me about mediocrity. I keep hearing, "Child, you have been set free. Why are you living in anything less than the abundant life I've given you?" Through my prayer times, I have been asking the Holy Spirit to show me the areas that I am settling for less. And asking what is holding me back. The answer that I've come up with time and again is "good intentions." I intend to be an excellent wife, to share God at work and with my neighbors, to grow deeper in my relationship with God. I even come up with plans on how to do it. But as my pastor said at church on Sunday, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." So I've started asking myself, its good to WANT to do something, but ARE you doing it?
So I sum up my Rollin' Revelation this week with two points.
1. Do you know that your hope is secure in Christ? He came to set the captive free and no one can snatch you out of his hand. He has taken off your chains and you are FREE!
2. Are you wearing needless chains that are causing you to settle for medicrity in life and not experience that abundant life that Christ died to give you?

This is a VERY long post and thanks for reading...maybe my other revelations won't be so long!!

Random Thought

So Tonya and I often have "counseling/encouragement sessions" over g-mail chat. Today we talked about the word SPEW...as in:
"Water spewed out of the broken fire hydrant"
"Coke spewed out of the can when I opened it up"
"Old Faithful spews"
"I laughed so hard I spewed out my food"

You get the idea. What a gross word right? Who says Spew? There are so many more eloquent words. Though "spewing" is what we often do because of the messy lives we lead. We go to our friends and spew all of our drama, excitement, stresses, triumphs. We may even go to the Lord and SPEW our stuff on him...which by the way, he wants us to do. But are you always the spewer and not a spewee? Ask yourself that question. We long for someone to spew on, but are you a spewable friend? Are you a spewable disciple of the Lord? Are you letting him speak to you, empower you with the Holy Spirit?

As much as I SPEW, and Lord knows that I do, I want to be spewable. So here I am! Spew on me!

Cinderella

So the first time I heard this song, I broke down and cried. I have been a dancer my whole life and was always begging my mom or dad to watch or dance with me. Cinderella also happened to be my favorite Disney movie for as long as I can remember. I wore my VHS version of it out. Anyways, listen at your own risk...you may need some Kleenex near by.


Cinderella, by Stephen Curtis Chapman

A cute Picture for Valentine's Day

Just something to make you say, AWE!

I Heart Michael!

This year, Michael gave the best birthday present! For a while, I have wanted to go to the outlet malls in San Marcos to go shopping. Although Michael didn't necessarily want to go, he agreed that for my birthday, we could go. So Saturday morning, we got up and headed to San Marcos. We had a great time! We jammed out in the car and had great conversations. We had lunch in San Marcos and then hit the malls. (Oh yeah- and on our way, we stopped to get gas, and 3 little girls were selling Girl Scout cookies there--we bought 7 boxes!)First we hit Nike and got a great deal on some work-out attire...like dry-fit running shorts for $19. Next, we went to Crate and Barrel. We replaced some glasses that we broke during the move and one that our dear friend Chris Normal dropped and shattered (love you Chris!). We went to Ann Taylor where I was able to find some great work clothes, and Michael got work clothes at J. Crew. We also got AMAZING deals at Banana Republic. The most surprising thing was at the Coach store. If you know me, you know that I have wanted a Coach purse for a long time. If you know Michael, you know that he thinks they are ridiculous and need-less and refused to get me one. That all changed this weekend. We walked in and I found a purse that I had looked at on-line--and it was in the clearance section! Yay! And then, the most surprising thing of all was that Michael actually bought it for me! Wow!
After shopping, we met my friend Molly for sushi in south Austin and then headed home. It was a great, great way to celebrate my 25th birthday.
Thanks Michael! I love you thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much! (Actually more, but you get the idea)