A Living House

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."

- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Radioactive

I love this music video.
(and, of course, the music)

I watched a short behind the scenes thing on TV about it. I had never even seen the video before, but went and watched it on youtube right after I saw the program on TV.

The choir is amazing, and I love this concept. It's always neat to see the down to earth side of well-known musicians. How cute are the kids?! The energy level of the choir makes me smile and want to dance!

Here's a peek into the video that I saw on TV that day:

Mountains, Oceans, & Other Fleeting Things

Has anyone else noticed a theme amongst amazing songwriters lately?

Maybe it's just me. I believe it's no coincidence, either. This season is about knowing my Foundation - that I have a strong one, and just who He is.

"Take Heart" by Hillsong United.

There is a light
It burns brighter than the sun
He steals the night
And casts no shadow
There is hope
Should oceans rise and mountains fall
He never fails

So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again

All our troubles
And all our tears
God our hope
He has overcome

All our failure
And all our fear
God our love
He has overcome

All our heartache
And all our pain
God our healer
He has overcome

All our burdens
And all our shame
God our freedom
He has overcome

God our justice
God our grace
God our freedom
He has overcome

God our refuge
God our strength
God is with us
He has overcome

Beauty. Beauty. Beauty! Wrapped up in a song.



And, of course, a beautiful song I played the other day on my itunes for the first time in quite a while. Sometimes the older songs (though not necessarily old) just need to be busted out again.


"Shadowfeet" by Brooke Fraser

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
Towards home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing; less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
And I have sensed it all along,
Fast approaching is the day

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and the mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

There's distraction,
Buzzing in my head,
Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
But I've heard rumours of true reality,
Whispers of a well-lit way

Or how about one of my favorite love songs to God!
"Trust" by Kristene Mueller

It's the sweetest thing
To trust you,
Just to know
You got everything under control.

You are making me a mountain,
You're making me a mountain
That cannot be shaken.

You are making me a mountain,
You're making me a mountain
That cannot be moved.

High up on a rock,
Looking out at the horizon,
Watching as the storm rolls in,
Wondering if my heart will survive it,
And as the waves crash all around me,
And I can't remember what it feels like to be free,

You say, "I've got you, my baby,
Oh I've got you.
It's quite a mess you're in,
But it's nothing love can't fix.
So sit here upon My shoulders
And watch as it all unwinds."

My heart rests when I listen to that song. It always makes we want to go climb a mountain and feel the breeze on my face.



I find it interesting that mountains, oceans, and skies are all portrayed in different ways in each song. In the first two songs, the point is being made that no matter what happens, even to the point of the very earth giving way, I will trust in You. I WILL trust in You, God. And the last song is a prayer of thanksgiving that He is making us unshakeable.

For me personally, I have gone through some rough spots in the last year. This season has definitely not been fun. But through it all, I have learned, and am learning, that no matter what crumbles to pieces in my life, my Foundation will remain true. Because though physical mountains may be uprooted whilst the earth is groaning for its Creator, He is making me into a spiritual mountain, one that cannot be shaken or moved.

50.

Today is my dad's 50th.
(Dad, don't freak that I just announced that on the internet, just embrace it)
;)

Just wanted to say that I love my dad very much. He has supported me in every season of life. There have been many times in my life where we have gone through different phases in our relationship, from vacations as a kid, to my stupid moments as a teenager where he had to intervene and make some big calls, to letting his "little girl" live on the other side of the world for 4 years. Through it all, I appreciate his love and respect for me, for not hesitating to make the unpopular choices, and for his desire to see me succeed in life in every way.

I remember there was this song dad used to play in the car for me when I was a little girl. It was about real love that a man had discovered for his woman. I remember that song (as cheesy as it may sound) made me think a lot as a kid, and I dreamed of a man like this for myself one day (I still do..hehe). Dad would always poke me in the belly button whenever the word "you" came on in the chorus.

Here's something just for you, dad. :)

"Any man can be a father.
It takes someone special to be a dad."

~Author Unknown

Love you!