Draw the line! And open the door!

Draw the line!  And open the door!

Referencing Girlfriends in God Aug 21, 2012:

“I heard someone once say that a woman defines romance as the feeling of being continually pursued. What do you think about that?”

What do I think about that?  WOW!  I don’t feel pursued except by trouble.  Trouble pursues me with a vengeance, and I keep running and keep fighting and getting nowhere fast.  Sound familiar? Listen to this:

Disciple – Draw the line video & lyrics

Another crash, another fall, another failure
Another choice I don't want to remember
Been here too many times
Every day's another fight
I'm at war with the person I could be
Give me a chance and I'll mess up a good thing

This sounds like my life!  I so understand those feelings of failure.  Can’t keep the checkbook in the black, never have enough money for bills.  And for most of those bills, it is to keep someone else happy.  Many know that I support my family, oftimes to my own detriment.  And for what?  Is making this person or that company happy with me for this moment going to get me anywhere?

Third Day – What good? video & lyrics

What good is it a man

To gain the whole world
And to forfeit his soul

They’re right – it’s getting me nothing, really.

Building 429 – Listen to the sound video & lyrics

Are you in over your head
Are you in water so deep you're drowning
Do you think you've been left
And there is no one to feel your hurting
Well, everybody has been there
And everybody's felt lost
If you're in over your head
Lift it up, lift it up

But there is, and it goes right back to that woman’s definition of romance – God is ALWAYS there!  Remember that picture of Jesus standing in front of that door and knocking?  There is no handle for Him to open, He has to wait for YOU to open that door, and if that isn’t continual pursuit I don’t know what is!  See, He did what Disciple in that first song says they are gonna do – Draw the line.

this is where i draw the line
this is the where the old me dies
light a match, let it burn, kiss it goodbye,
giving up what i was
this is where i draw the line

When I first heard the song, I had two immediate images – one of the women pulled out of her lover’s bed and taken to Jesus for judgement.  She was an adulterous, and there was no doubt in this instance she was guilty.  But, He knelt, and while he was not really drawing a line in the sand, He was!  “Let he who has no sin cast the first stone.”  There was only one person on the sinless side of the line and it sure wasn’t anyone in that crowd!  And the second image – Jesus on the cross and saying “It is finished.”  He drew that line!  No more death!  What a line and what a song!

George Strait – Love’s gonna make it alright video & lyrics

Girl you had one of those days
Seem like they been going around
You are a long way from being where you want to be.

When the world isn’t going your way
Or ever bad luck is getting you down.
Honey I will be right here for you with open arms,
you can run to me.
While this song isn’t speaking about running to God, that is how I am going to take and use these lines.  So, you’ve had a rough day/week/month/year, He is always right there with you, constantly wanting your attention so that He can rain love down on you.  That bubble bath?  His warm arms.  That chocolate or wine?  Max Lucado said it – “Come thirsty.”

So, do you feel loved and pursued?  Do you see that no matter how hard you struggle, for Him, the only thing you need to do is open the door, sit down and drink your fill.

You’ve got a friend . . .

I was bopping along to the radio this morning when God decided to hit my upside the head again, and He does it in such unique ways and with tools you would never have thought could be turned to that use.  Check this song out, blast from the past!

Depeche Mode – People are people lyrics & video

Why should it be that we can’t get along?  We all put our pants on the same way, bleed the same color, and for the most part, believe in the same God – what else is there?  We are to be the example to others, and leave the judging up to the ultimate and final One.

Casting Crowns – If we are the body lyrics & video

Everybody needs a friend, needs to know that they matter to someone.

James Taylor – You’ve got a friend lyrics & video

I know that I never think of Him that way, but the best friend we’ve got?

"What a friend we have in Jesus" lyrics & video

Is it so hard to reach out?  What do we do when we need someone?  We ALL need to reach out from time to time and know that someone is there to catch us and help us to the next step.  (ok, for this one, there are so many songs that come into play!)

Manafest – Every time you run lyrics & video

Casting Crowns – Prayer for a friend lyrics & video

Matthew West – Forgiveness lyrics & video

Third Day – Call my name lyrics & video

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp5PZuuB3Pg

Third Day – Cry out to Jesus lyrics & video

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime....

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real.
But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. (unknown)

Casting Crowns – Jesus, friend of sinners lyrics & video

Sidewalk Prophets- Live like that lyrics & video

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

(It was rather loud in my head this morning with all this music running around!)

even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye

2012 has not been a good year for me.

·         The house and barns were broken into and the value of items lost over $1000

·         I said goodbye to my tearcatcher and boon companion of 18 years.

·         Financial burdens have hit my family almost to the breaking point, possibly ending with my sister losing her house.

·         Late frosts took our apple crop.

·         Late frosts and no seasonal rain have almost completely killed my gardens.

·         Autumn is looming about 2 months earlier than expected as geese are flocking and mornings are cool.

It has been a hard year and it isn’t over yet.

Zac Brown Band – Colder Weather Lyrics and Colder Weather Video

Ever felt this way, left out in the cold?  Problems feel like a tidal wave about to drag you under?  And are they the result of someone else’s actions?  This verse hit me between the eyes the other day:

King James Version (KJV) Colossians 3:13

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye

Man, that hits don’t it!  We can say, but they just keep doing it, but so do we, don’t we?  And He keeps on forgiving.  We forget that, forget to keep saying thank you!

Zac Brown Band Let it go Lyrics and Let it go Video

And also, we need to keep remembering who we have to thank!

Zac Brown Band – Last but not Least Lyrics  and Last but not Least Video

This was in a book I read, not the best book, but this line is going to haunt me:

“The last kind words said to Jesus were by a thief - and they were the first into heaven with him.”

Zac Brown Band – Lance’s song Lyrics and Lance’s song Video

I want to get my silver, or golden, invitation, don’t you?  I can’t wait to sing this:

Eagles – Already gone Lyrics and Already gone Video

Well I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key

But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
Already gone

Montgomery Gentry - Damn Right I Am lyrics and video

Am I proud of where I’m from
How I was raised my daddy’s ways in this country that I love
Am I proud that all I see
Is black and white, wrong or right, and there ain’t no changin me
Am I proud of where I stand
Damn right I am!