This song “Facedown” by Matt Redman keep coming to mind lately. Hmmmm, Holy Spirit telling me something, you think? Its a beautiful piece of music - worship, humility - just beautiful. I did a search on GodTube and YouTube for it and found not just one, but two great videos I wanted to share with you that feature this song.
As you get to know our Lord more and more, you realize how amazing He is and you realize with every breath you take that with every opportunity you have to worship Him, you want to fall facedown in His presence. And sometimes the lyrics of a praise chorus will say to “stand in awe” but you do not feel worthy…you need to fall facedown instead.
Pride is something the Holy Spirit and I work on regularly. Facedown is a good place to be during such lessons. I pray that we all listen to the Holy Spirit in our own lives - what is He telling you? Then fall facedown. He’ll meet you there. The burden will be lifted. The joy unimaginable.
Here are the words to the song:
Welcomed in to the courts of the King
I’ve been ushered in to Your presence
Lord, I stand on Your merciful ground
Yet with every step tread with reverence
And I’ll fall facedown
As Your glory shines around
Who is there in the heavens like You?
And upon the earth, who’s Your equal?
You are far above, You’re the highest of heights
We are bowing down to exalt You
So let Your glory shine around
Let Your glory shine around
King of glory, here be found
The first video is from GodTube. It features clips from the recent movie based on C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A beautiful portrayal of sin, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and what Christ did for us and His resurrection.
This second video I was so excited to find! I think it speaks for itself.
I am reading again Phillip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace?
An incredible book, not to mention I am learning a lot about history and politics that I did not know.
Even more amazing - this is my second time reading it. Don’t laugh.
I think I lost more brain cells than I thought during pregnancy and now during mommy-hood.
You like the new blog look? I am ready for fall, can you tell? This is the time of year when I miss Kentucky.
My grandma is coming home from the hospital on Thursday! Woohoo! Doing well and as ornery as ever!
G started speech therapy again this morning - first day went well, except for the fire drill in the middle of his session. Startled S a good bit though!
G started praying for us at dinner time. So sweet. We all hold hands then G pretty much says what Daddy says for the dinner blessing (its usually the same every time) but says it really fast. Then G and S both enunciate very cleary at the end “A-men!”
A few days ago, I shared with you how the Lord was teaching me that He alone is my Solid Rock, my Firm Foundation, my Jesus forever. My husband is not my solid rock (although he is handsomely solid ;) ), nor is the house, our paychecks, our families, my friends - nothing this world offers can ever be any kind of solid rock as much as it might appear that way. This morning, I learned even more how God has been working this lesson in me. Read on.
Today, I finally finished a Bible study I had been working through for quite some time by Catherine Martin called Pilgrimage of the Heart. First, let me just tell you that if you have never done any of her studies, you are missing out on an incredible blessing. I rank her right up there with Beth Moore’s studies. Just incredible. Anyhow, I started this study over a year ago…yea, yea…I know its only an 8-week study but I tend to pick up and put down studies pretty frequently. God uses that in my spiritual walk, however, and I do finish them. Whenever I pick a study back up, its always at just the right time. I love how that happens - it always take my breath away.
Back to my story and God-moment today…
At the beginning of the study, Ms. Martin has the reader write a prayer/letter to the Lord about what is weighing heavy on your heart, etc. At the close of the study, she has you review that letter and see how God worked in your life.
It seems I have come full circle with a prayer in the process of being answered, a pilgramage that my heart is certainly on right now as I learn to lean on Him alone as my Solid Rock. This is one line out of what I wrote in my opening letter and prayer of this study over a year ago:
“With so much change…you have to be my rock…”
I was immediately humbled. I know the Holy Spirit works and lives in me. But to KNOW it like that…how do I even begin to express the awe that I felt upon reading those words I had written over a year ago and realizing where I am now? I felt humbled. Loved. Cherished. And there I fall, tongue-tied.
So many lessons learned today - the Holy Spirit IS working. Prayers ARE being answered. He IS growing me in HIS time. It DOES help to write out and journal prayers. Need I go on?
Yesterday, we were outside doing yardwork when I noticed a large tree limb that had broken off during the recent Tropical Storm Fay. It had fallen but was stuck way up in the large oak tree in our front yard.
So Chris monkeyed his way up into the tree, all the while declaring he’d always wanted to climb that tree. He pulled down the offending limbs so we could put them on the roadside for the city to pick up and then made his way down to the bottom-most limbs to jump down.
G then ran as fast as he could to the base of the tree with his arms outstretched in the air, yelling…
“I got you, Daddy!”
Of course, as any Mommy would I ran and grabbed my camera and got the second-best shot. This time, G’s arms weren’t outstretched, they were cupped in front of him to catch Chris. He was still saying, “I got you, Daddy, come on!”
25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Two Sundays ago, one of the songs we played for worship was The Solid Rock - a contemporary arrangement of the traditional hymn written by Edward Mote (1797-1874). I love hearing the same words in new arrangements because I hear them anew and it stirs my soul to listen closely and truly listen. Well, when I am not concentrating on making sure I get the chords right! :)
The Lord God has been teaching me through His Holy Spirit lately to depend on Jesus as my Solid Rock, my Firm foundation in this world of shifting sands. He is the ONLY solid rock. This trust has been on my heart for some time now and I am sure it will be for some time to come. I look forward to meditating on it some more. For now, I would like to share the words of this great hymn with you…
The Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in ev’ry high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood; when all around my sould gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found, dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand - all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
What are you standing on that you think is solid rock?
My friend Heather had a dear friend, Natalie, who is now in Heaven after a struggle with a lengthy illness. This meme is in honor of her. Its a regular list that folks all over ther internet participate in. You can see the list of participants here. A Friday Felicities list is where you tell the world what is making you happy today. I have always enjoyed reading Heather’s lists and I thought it would just be a great way to see the hand of God in little blessings all around me, which may normally go unnoticed. It is so easy to take life and little things for granted. Here is my list:
I can’t believe September is almost here. The year is going by rather quickly.
Which means its time to start planning Christmas shopping. Oh my!
My new migraine diet seems to be working remarkably well.
I can now add lemons/lemonade to my trigger list (tomatoes are already there.)
My migraines have reduced lately in both intensity and frequency.
You have NO IDEA how happy that makes me.
And Chris.
Continued prayers are needed for my grandma in the hospital.
Prayers also needed for my sister-in-law and her husband for health-related issues.
We’ll have a new niece-nephew soon!!! Can’t wait!!!
I’ve been enjoying myself lately on Facebook. Gotten in touch with lots of people.
And its amazing how many of the folks I went to school with are so amazingly accomplished.
I’ve been blog-stalking them. Hehe. Good writers, too.
I want a vacation to see all my family.
Our church is busting at the seams. Such a magnificent problem to have.
We start three - yes, THREE - morning services on Sept. 7.
I play in the praise band that day. Whew!! That’ll test the concentration level for sure!
We’ve filled up our new building AND the neighboring elementary school with LifeGroups and PreSchool/Children’s groups already.
Go God! All for the Kingdom and His Glory! We are so blessed to be a part of His work at Chets.
We’ve been thoroughly enjoying ourselves working in the high school ministry. We are now the 11th grade LifeGroup coordinators. We basically support the 11th Grade LifeGroup Leaders in their roles in making sure fellowship/outreach events are planned and students are continually contacted, and that the leaders remain encouraged and a role that can be often tested. We love it!! Perfect for the stage of life we are in right now.
And those high school kids…just amazing. Really great kids.
Layin’ low for Labor Day - getting work done around the house. You?
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. -1 Corinthians 13:12
As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. -Proverbs 27:19
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. -2 Corinthians 3:18
When we see toddlers and preschoolers imitating us as adults, we all oogle in wonder and choruses of ooh’s and aah’s can be heard all around. Give a little boy a tie, glasses and a newspaper and he is the most handsome thing to walk this side of the Mississippi. Watch little girls dancing with their daddy’s and hearts melt all over the place.
As our babies grow, they learn by imitation and Chris and I are continually amazed at how much they study us then copy our words, actions and habits. Sometimes its funny, sometimes we are stunned at how smart they are, and sometimes it is…embarrassing. Parenting offers up a mirror, and that mirror is often all to clear.
G has recently started reflecting…me. In my not so glorious moments. I was preparing dinner and he and S were sitting at the table waiting not-so-patiently for their meal when he decided to sit in the chair I usually occupy and play the part of “mommy.”
“You! Sit in the chair and eat!”
“S! Use your spoon, hush, and eat!”
“1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8….9…10! Ok…that’s it…to your room….now!”
And on and on and on the tape recording went. Chris was nearly doubled over in silent laughter. My face was red. G had intoned not only every word, but the intensity level as well. *sigh* Ok, so I know I am not the only mom to fuss at my kids at dinner or other times in the house. But that my kids knew it so well?
Or does G just have a good memory?
Either way, it provided food for thought and a reflection to comtemplate.
Ugh, this Tropical Storm Fay Schmay needs to GO AWAY! It is the slowest moving storm ever.
Its windy, rainy, a few branches and leaves here and there. But oh no…its still not the end…
‘Cause she ain’t movin’.
Amazingly, we have power still. Hence you are reading this blog post! Ha!
S decided to have a pukefest in the middle of the night last night. But she is fine today.
Just wanted to make sure you all feel INCLUDED in our day-to-day lives. *wink*
I am participating, hopefully, in the women’s mentoring program at church this time around and will have a mentor. I am looking forward to that!
My grandma is recovering really well from her surgeries and I hope she will be home soon!
I have been thinking a lot about Christ as my Solid Rock lately, the old hymn running through my head a good bit. Very comforting yet what a great way to live each moment of life. Never changing, always the solid rock.
Earlier today, G was fixing me some pretend food in the play kitchen and before he handed me the food he grabbed my hands and we had to “pray” together.
19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”
Have you ever come home to your dog having dug out a trashed (ahem) feminine napkin and find it all over your living room carpet? There is not much grosser than that. It smells, it is disgusting…really, need I go on? Just the thought is turning my stomach!
How much more so does the thought of His children loving a false god disgust God? I tell you what…that really brought it home for me. Yuck.
So…what is an idol for you? Money? Worry? TV? Gossip? Throw it away…its as disgusting as a used Kotex pad.
