A party and a flash back

Last Saturday night, we had Krista's bridal shower at the apartment. Everyone had tons of fun and the food was amazing! We all had a tiara to wear for the evening and Krista had a couple of boas.





While out on the town, we witnessed something very random. We stood around, chatting about this and that when out of no where, Abraham Lincoln walks by us. We all did a double take and yep, it was him. How often do you see Abraham Lincoln walk by you in Nashville?! So, of course the cameras came out and here you go....



Just to humiliate myself...



Can you find me in the above picture? I'm such a dork! This is from the church league, coaches pitch, maybe 2nd grade? I don't know how old I am in this picture but I look so 80's.

God amazes me

My heart is full tonight. God amazes me with how He works in and through us. Yet I shouldn't be surprised when God answers a prayer. Doesn't the Bible tell us to ask in His name and it will be done? Why do I assume a prayer will not be answered? Oh, my weak faith. Anyway...

I recently got off the phone with a friend whom I've prayed for the last two weeks. The prayers were specific. Unbeknownst to me, what God had me praying over for a couple of weeks was the very thing God was dealing with in my friends life. My friend called tonight to talk with me about the EXACT thing I had prayed for him! Wow!

What an awesome God I serve! My faith has been challenged tonight. May I continue to pray in faith.

In Christ alone

I want to share the lyrics to a song, lyrics by Stuart Townend. My heart is full of praise when I read these words.

"In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

Pondering

As much as I enjoy Christmas time, it's this time of year that defines who I am. My church had a Good Friday service and I've been thinking on the things we discussed. In my opinion, the American church does not think enough on what Jesus had to give to satisfy what God demanded for reconciliation between Himself and us.

It is so easy for us to dwell on Resurrection Sunday. And, why wouldn't we? It's a joyful time, it's where our hope lies. Yet, the suffering of the crucifixion and death of Jesus is key to our salvation. The resurrection holds an empty hope if the payment for sin has not been dealt with. The week leading up to Resurrection Sunday is filled with loneliness, deceit, mourning, physical and emotion anguish, despair, betrayal. Doesn't sound like a fun week. Most of us would shy away from those things. But everything Jesus went through had to take place. The salvation plan was required by Jehovah God. His holiness could be satisfied only by a blood sacrifice.

Today is a solemn day for me, as a Christian. Today marks when Jesus laid in a tomb. The earth was silent, the heavens were silent. Imagine with me the deafening silence while Jesus appeared to have lost the battle. My crazy mind wonders how the animals and nature responded to this event. Did they sense something was not right?

As my pastor said, we must understand the significance of the crucifixion and death of Jesus to understand the significance of His resurrection. We have to understand what Christ saved us from before we can walk in the power He saved us to. Jesus conquering death and the grave would have no meaning if He had not first walk through the cross.

Some pics

Well, it's been a while since I posted a picture of myself. So, here you go. Nothing like a close-up from holding the camera yourself.



Hold on to your chair as you read the next line. I have a collection of something. Yep, Mindy is collecting an item instead of throwing it away. Below is a picture showing the start of the cross collection on my wall.



I have more to write, but I'll do it in a new blog.