In the end...all you're left saying is "Hallelujah!"

Wow...so many emotions to feel right now...I just finished bawling over a video of some old friends meeting their two Ethiopian children for the first time...before that I was bawling about my husband leaving for a missions trip tomorrow and playing out a movie plot in my head...something like p.s. i love you or up close and personal.  I'm also not feeling well...but in spite of it all I am reminded of the song that was playing during my friend's video called "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty".  It's an old hymn that I remember trying to pound out on the piano.  In the end...all you're left saying is "Hallelujah!"  So as I go to bed...I choose to entrust once again, my life, my husband, my friends, and all circumstances to Him...and just say..."Hallelujah!"

Praise to the Lord,

The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him,
For He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord,
Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How all your longings have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord,
Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness
And mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

The Top Five Things...Favorite Appliances

Okay so this post is silly...but I just have to give a shout out to the little machines that make my life oh so much easier.
5.  Food Processor.  This little machine has only been a part of my life since Christmas (thanks to Mom and Dad).  The purpose of this one was to help me make homemade baby food and it is WONDERFUL.  I can't even tell you how much money I've saved because of it.  I've also made a ton of other things and saved a bunch of time.

4.  My "new" Kirby Vacuum Cleaner.  I purchased a generation 3 Kirby vacuum cleaner from Jaime's Flea Market last week for $135.  It's AMAZING.  My carpet is a new shade of white thanks to this friend.

3.  Coffee Maker.  Yes, I do love my coffee maker.  It was free with my first order from Gevalia.  It provides me with the needed fuel for my day.  However, it did make me sick when I was pregnant...

2. Indoor grill.  It's not a George Foreman...it's better!  It also has griddle plates so that i can make pancakes.    I use this one almost daily.

1.  Laptop.  Is this an appliance?  I use this one daily.  It gives me access to my favorite things...friends, movies, articles, music, etc.

What are your favorite appliances/machines?

Spring cleaning

Guess what?  I finished the book! (So Long Insecurity).  I'm not a very avid reader...so I'm kinda proud of myself.  It was a long book too!  Anyway, I may be leading a short-term small group to follow up from the simulcast.  So, let me know if you're interested.  Beth really hit on every area that i could imagine someone being insecure about.  And trust me...if you think you don't struggle with insecurity...read the book...I can almost guarantee that you do...just like me.  


So, I haven't been blogging for the past few weeks...I honestly couldn't put all of my thoughts into this little box...they were everywhere.  The truth is that God has been doing a pretty big transformation in my life (Spring cleaning...if you will) in a few areas...one being insecurity.   The others, I  won't get too detailed.  But, I think I can sum it all up with this realization:  It is only by God's power that the strongholds can be released from my life.  What?  You learned that in Sunday school as a kid?  Well, so did I.  But for the first time it resonated with me.  I think it is because having children and being married...though they are my favorite things about life...also bring out the worst in us.  My husband and son know me...better than anyone else.  I didn't really know that I had strongholds until my beautiful boys came into my life.  Anyway, God knocked me off of my chair in church a few weeks ago...and I knew that he was calling me to spend some purposeful time with him on a few things.  Let me say it again...it is only by the POWER of God that we can be healed from strongholds in our lives.  I know it...I've lived it and I feel like a new gal.  Here's a song that I heard yesterday that made me bawl like a baby:

If you want to feel all alone
Walk away
Try to find a home for your own
Walk away
And I'm not keeping score
But I've seen it so many times before
Put your bags down this time around

Chorus:
Stay with me
I have all you need
You've tried everything, yes everything
Now just stay
All your searching for
Can be found an so much more
No more running away
Stay

If you need healing aside,
I'm the way
To know your have purpose in life,
I'm the way
You can rest assured,
You will find all you've been looking for
Sit yourself down so I can be found

I know you feel

That what you find here
Is less than the world has to give
But when did the world ever lay it's life down
So that you might live

Stay with me,
Dont you ever leave,
You've tried everything
Now just stay

No More Running away (Stay)

No More Running away (Stay)
No More Running away
Stay

Until next time...