Sun Stand Still

Listen to an oh-so-challenging message and meditate on this prayerful song.

Music to My Ears

I recently interviewed our good friend Carlos Pino for Birmingham Box Set.  

We chatted over chips and salsa about his life as a full-time musician in Birmingham.  It's an encouraging read for anyone seeking a career in a challenging industry. 

You can check it out here. 

{Photo by Thomas Diasio}

Have a lovely day.

Peace

It's said that a picture speaks a thousand words. It stills a moment in time and allows others to emotionally connect with the event.

excitement. joy. laughter.  

fear. anger. despair.  

hope. faith. peace.  

And then there is reality.  A panoramic, 360 degree view that makes your heart race and leaves you speechless.

The recent tornado damage in our state moves me to tears. I can't imagine the heartache of families who lost their loved ones, homes and livelihood.  When an opportunity arose for Eric and I to join our church in a day trip to Tuscaloosa, we were eager to help.  It was a great privilege to work alongside 18 other volunteers and clear debris in Ms. Beverly's yard. 

Seeing the devastation in person was truly life changing. The historic neighborhood, once shaded by beautiful trees, now bakes in the sun, illuminating the quiet chaos of a desolate street. Ms. Beverly survived the storm in a tiny hallway, while her bedroom was sucked away, the top floor seemingly disappeared and her entire home was littered with insulation. 

It was only by the grace of God.

Ms. Beverly's home was destroyed by fire just five years ago. She rebuilt then and says she will rebuild again. I was struck by her smile as she discussed such things; her hope for the future, her faith in God's goodness, her peace despite the pain. And I pray that her peace remains. 

*all photos of our time in Tuscaloosa by Kevin Johnson.

**for opportunities to help, please visit Hands on Birmingham or contact your local church.

Life Test

Listen to a challenging message and read straightforward scripture.  

I am so moved to evaluate my life and make certain I am growing in Him. 

Good Friday

This year's season of Lent held new meaning for me.  

Our church observed Lent through personal choices regarding self denial and a focused time in God's word.  Chris delivered a series on what Christ accomplished at the cross: He took our place, won our victory, gave us freedom, paid our debt, forgave our sin and made us clean.  

It is a humbling process to consider Christ's sacrifice for our gain.  

{artwork by a2 members: Kevin Johnson and Calvin Ross}

In full disclosure, I have not held true to my promises regarding Lent.  I have faltered.  But I have also been drawn to Christ in such a way as never before. 

I was honored to participate in a2 church's devotional blog and would like to share my post with you in observance of today.  You may read it here.  I encourage you to check out the other postings as well.   

I am so looking forward to celebrating Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  If you live in Birmingham and don't have a church home, we'd love for you join us. 

Fabric Flags

This weekend marked the 2 year anniversary of our church.  We celebrated with a fall festival including fire pits, a chili cook-off and delicious desserts.  

That morning, our pastor began a two-part sermon from the book of Esther on seizing your destiny.  Listen here.  If you're local to Birmingham, come visit. You're sure to meet new, cool people and walk away challenged to grow closer to our great God.

{photo by David Jacks}

A few months back, my mom, sisters and I made the fabric flags above for my sister's graduation party.  I will not lie.  We looked like an assembly line factory abusing all kinds of labor laws.  They turned out cute-as-pie and I was so excited to see them used again!

The guitarist and friend above, Carlos, played one of my favorite songs ever: Bron-yr-Aur (not to be confused with Bron-y-Aur Stomp, which also happens to be amazing).

Have a lovely day!

Lasting Joy

Listen to a kid-friendly, yet challenging message. 

Read a book about growing up, maturing and maintaining joy.  

a2 in Review

Listen to an inspiring message and read a challenging verse.

He Reigns

Listen to an inspiring message and a powerful song.

What Will Heaven Be Like?

Listen to an inspiring message and read an encouraging verse.

Genuine Hope

Listen to an inspiring message and read an encouraging verse.

You Can Change

Listen to an inspiring message and read an encouraging verse.

a2 in Review

Church was wonderful yesterday. Chris spoke on the person, power and promise of the Holy Spirit. Please see his blog for message notes or listen to the sermon here. When life "puts the squeeze on you" you can count on the Holy Spirit to be and do the following:

1. He is our constant companion (John 14:16)
2. He is our reliable teacher (John 14:26)
3. He convinces the world of it's sin, God's righteousness and of coming judgement (John 16:8)
4. He leads, guides and instructs us in the truth (John 16:13)
5. He "grooves" on glorifying and magnifying Jesus Christ (John 16:14)
6. He discloses to us the mysteries of Christ (John 16:14b)
7. He empowers believers for life and service (Acts 1:8)
8. He liberates believers from the power of sin and death (Romans 8:1)
9. He brings the resurrection of Christ to my day in and day out life (Romans 8:11)
10. He leads us to wholeness and holiness (Galations 5: 16-25)
11. He seals our salvation and redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14)
12. He confirms and reminds us that we are children of God (Romans 8:16)

He's not just all about hype. He's about giving me understanding and guidance. He's about changing me. That's what I want.

a2 in Review

Yesterday, Chris challenged us to get past our excuses and be ready to act when God calls us. Listen to the full message online here.

Intervention - God's "A" Team

Read Exodus chapters 3 and 4

This is the story of God speaking to Moses through the burning bush.

Then the Lord told him, "You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians... So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt".

Exodus 3: 7-8, 10 (NIV)

When Moses understood that the Lord was calling him to act, he did what we all would do. He made excuses. His excuses and God's response are perfectly applicable to any call God places in your life - big or small.

Our Excuse: "Lord, what do I have to offer? I am a nobody!"

God's Response: "I will be with you!"

But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Then God told him, "I will be with you..."

Exodus 3:11-12 (NIV)

Our Excuse: "Lord, I don't have all the answers. I don't know what to say."

God's Response: "I will tell you what to say."

But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'the God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask, 'Which god are you talking about? What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" God replied, "I am the one who always is. Just tell them, 'I am has sent me to you.'"

Exodus 3:13-14 (NLT)

Our Excuse: "Lord, what if they don't believe me?"

God's Response: "That's not your job! Your job is to trust and obey."

But Moses protested again, "Look, they won't believe me! They won't do what I tell them. They'll just say, 'the Lord never appeared to you.'" Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."

Exodus 4:1-5 (NLT)

Our Excuse: "Lord, I'm not capable."

God's Response: "I made you!"

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me. I'm clumsy with words." "Who makes mouths?" the Lord asked him. "Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the Lord?"

Exodus 4:10-11 (NLT)

Our Excuse: "Lord, I'm not as qualified as others. Send someone else."

God's Response: "No! You are my answer!"

But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send someone else." Then the Lord became angry with Moses.

Exodus 4:13

This sermon reminds me why I am blogging about a2 in the first place. I never want to forget this.

a2 in Review

Yesterday, we took a brief break from the Unshakable series for a two-part sermon titled, Intervention. Chris and Janet are passionate about reaching people in the city of Birmingham and that's what this message was all about! I encourage you to listen to Chris' message here.

Intervention - The Other Side

Read Mark 4:35 - 5:20

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples,

"Let us go over to the other side."

Mark 4:35 (NIV)

As Chris points out, this isn't just a geographical move, it's about taking this ministry from Galilee to Decapolis, an area of ten cities home to pagan people who worshiped pigs and were viewed as extremely sinful by the Israelites. Jesus was calling his disciples to radicalize their ministry - go outside their comfort zone towards people who were different!

So they go. Jesus sets a demon-possessed man free and instead of being grateful, they beg him to leave. Just as he is getting back into the boat, the no longer demon-possessed asks to leave with them. Jesus encourages him to go and tell everyone what the Lord had done. Jesus and his disciples leave and the man begins to tell his story. As the story spreads, the people are blown away by what they hear.

Read Matthew 15:30-31

Jesus and his disciples return to Decapolis and, this time, are greeted by a large crowd in need of healing and Jesus heals them all.

The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the cripple were made well, the lame were walking around, and those who had been blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel.

Matthew 15:31 (NLT)

A change had taken place in Decapolis. All because a group of men were willing to follow Jesus into uncertain territory. All because those same men didn't give up after the first visit ended badly. All because one man was willing to share his God story.

a2 in Review

Yesterday, we continued the series, Unshakable, with a message entitled One. I encourage you to listen to the full message here (or by going to iTunes and searching for a2 Church) or read the message notes on Pastor Chris' blog.

Chris spent time breaking down the trinity of God and how each member of the trinity relates to one another. Then, he blew me away with this: God desires us to experience oneness in our relationships as He experiences oneness in the trinity. Oneness with God, our spouse, our family, our friends, our church body. In fact, Jesus prayed:

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may the be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

John 17:20-21 (NLT)

For the remainder of this post, I am simply going to list the threats to unity and the spiritual graces that protect unity. As I pray this week, I am asking God to show me practical ways to apply this message in my marriage, my family relationships and my friendships.

Threats to Unity:

1. Criticism

2. Uncontrolled egos

Spiritual Graces that Preserve and Protect Unity:

1. Be humble

2. Be gracious and meek

3. Be patient

4. Be proactive

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NLT)

a2 in Review

Yesterday we continued the series, Unshakable. I encourage you to listen to the full message here or visit Pastor Chris' blog for complete message notes. The following includes snippets of yesterday's message and how it touched my heart.

God is Great, God is...

This message overwhelmed me with the majesty and love of our great God.

Chris explained the details of our universe in numbers impossible to comprehend: billions of stars, millions of galaxies. How much is a billion? I know how many zeros come after the one, but how many is a billion? I can hardly grasp it.

Yet, we try. We squeeze our great God into our small minds to try and grasp who He is. And for me, this point really hit home. We trivialize God. We push His majesty aside for a my-size deity.

We overlook that He is "creator, eternal, self-existent, omnipresent, all-knowing, all-mighty, holy and sovereign". We forget that we are "created, dependent, limited by time and space, limited in knowledge, limited in power, messed up".

Why does this matter?

I love the way Chris read from Isaiah chapter 40. Read the full chapter here, as I will just include excerpts.

Yes the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

Isaiah 40:10 (NLT)

Who is this powerful Lord?

Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?

Isaiah 40: 12 (NLT)

God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.

Isaiah 40:22 (NLT)

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

Isaiah 40:26 (NLT)

Are you beginning to feel the awe and mystery of our great God?

Consider this:

Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Isaiah 40:10-11 (NLT)

Did you catch it?

This unfathomably powerful God will feed you, carry you in His arms, hold you close to His heart, gently lead you.

I remain overwhelmed by the majesty and love of our great God.

a2 in Review

Eric and I belong to a vibrant church plant in Vestavia, Alabama called a2 Church. The pastor, Chris Goins, and his wife (and worship leader) Janet, have inspired and challenged us to see Christ in a whole new way over this past year and a few months.

Every week, Chris' message gets my gears turning and my heart longing for more of what God has to offer. Eric and I leave each Sunday saying "we do not want to forget that!"

So, each week, I'll post something that touched my heart, in hopes that it will touch yours too. If you're intrigued by what you read, check out itunes to download the message for free (search a2 church) or simply click here.

Yesterday, we weren't able to stay for the entire message. So, for this week's post, I am jumping back to the first message of the series Masterpiece, Becoming God's Best Version of You.

When you wish life was an etch-a-sketch

In this message, Chris encouraged us to ponder the following ten questions, originally posed by Don Whitney. Let each question sink in as you consider how the answer could change your 2010.

1. What's the one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

Which of these questions resonate with you? Why? What other questions can we ask ourselves to make sure we grow this year?