Be Yourself

This is going to come from Genesis 29:1-30  The rest of this story can pose other questions...but the one I want to bring to you all is this...Do you want to be the Rachel in a man's life, or a Leah dressed like the Rachel? 

First, read what happens in this passage.  I don't want to tell the story and keep you from reading the words of God yourself. 

Jacob loved Rachel.  He saw her at the well and kissed her.  He was willing to work for her hand in marriage...and work for a long 7 years!  This is true dedication! 

Ladies, do you realize that godly men do this as well today?  They work for the right girl to come along.  They work for the woman they are expecting to get from God.  They work to be ready for the right woman. They trust God will give it like Jacob trusted Labon to give him Rachel.  (Now obviously Labon is far from God).  Do you want to dress like another man's woman?  Change yourself to fit their obligations and priorities so you look more attractive?  Is that showing real love ladies? 

Here is a random quote that stuck out: "You know you love someone when you want them to be happy even if their happiness means that you're not part of it." -Unknown  (Now the question of whether love was really there is worth arguing...but giving up this urge in your life shows a great amount of respect and trust if not love)

Back to the Bible...what does it say once Jacob finally got his Rachel? 
Verse 30 "Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah..."  Do you want to be loved ladies?  So why would you pretend to be someone you're not?  In the end, the man won't love you like you want him too. 

Here's the bright side...you are somebody's Rachel.  Someday, you will find your Jacob who will work for you.  Reflect on these two ladies and how Jacob interacted and reacted to both of them.  Wouldn't you want to be the one being pursued?  Be yourself ladies.  Some guy will find that in itself absolutely breath-taking!

The Fighter Within

My brother and I had an amazing conversation last night, where we shared songs with each other that pumped us up for battle.  My brother explained to me how these songs would get him "in the zone" for an upcoming battle he was going to be physically fighting in.  It's not lyrical by any means, but the music therapist in me analyzed the music he shows me and breaks down music into it's elements:

Pitch
Rhythm
Meter
Dynamics
Tempo
*Individual Instrumentation Styles (How each instrument group uses the elements to create something blood-pumping)

I have a couple videos of songs that my brother and I looked at and agreed upon.


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SenbXX0Lkb4
Like much music, you hear a simple line...but notice the pitch.  Lower strings.  It gets under your skin as you sense that the pitch slowly rises.  Then you hear other instruments from under it rise in dynamics.  Soon the two are working together to build suspension.  The drums kick in more so to add rhythm, and finally higher strings play a very set and simple rhythm to emphasis the beat.  Strings work together to form two sets, and finally the adrenaline begins to climb as the dynamics and suspension builds in this complexity of rhythm and voices.  2:04...hear the driving drums underneath?  This is what keeps the line going.  Everything else is simple rhythm, but this driving percussion line gets your body ready to take a risk!  (and just cause I'm biased, the French Horns come in with rips to REALLY get the song moving at 2:30)  Finally the final line in dynamics brings this piece to an epic close. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shDNaFhPiJY
Now this next one isn't going to have such a broad range of instrumentation.  But notice the use of a constant moving melody line.  No syncopation in the strings, but then the complexity in rhythm from stomping feet and clapping add more to this very set line.  Apart, these lines are very VERY repetitive.  Nothing new, nothing really complex.  The strings alternate between a constant quarter note line with occasional eighth-note transitions and a constantly moving eighth-note drive.  The percussive quality only emphasizes the beats like 1, 2...(3)and 4 and.  The vocals emphasize the beats like 1..(2)..and (3)...(4) and.  On the last phrase, the vocals and strings join in a harmonious grand finish. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGcsIdGOuZY
My final video is one I know most of us have heard...many of which can hold close to your hearts for one reason or another.  This one has vocals that only emphasis the message more that the instruments want to express.  Granted, they don't play as vital of a role to get our blood pumping, but dynamic change to cue the chorus and the constantly moving guitar line helps to get the word "Hero" pop out that much more.  Notice how the male and female vocal interaction.  I love this song because they work together to get one message across..."We need a hero."

Given this short little musical connotation, I hope that your blood is now pumping.  We are in our own constant spiritual battles. 
I Timothy 6:12  "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Ephesians 6:10-11 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

And as Moses lifted the Israelites up with encouragement of our God as our Hero, I also use this to lift you up.  Let God use His gift of music and scriptures to get your blood pumping for the good fight.

Exodus 14:13 "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today.   For the Egyptians who you see today, you shall never see again.'"

If God be for us, who can stand against us?

Lot's Wife

This week in my Woman's Devotional book, I am going through the life of Lot's wife and her legacy she left behind.  Sadly, Lot's wife was not known for her roles as a mother, wife, servant...nothing like that.  She was remembered for looking back, missing what she was leaving behind.  She was remember for what she became...a pile of salt. 

How interesting is this?  Today's part of my devotional focuses on her legacy in scripture.  Questions are asked such as "What do you think were his wife's thoughts and feelings when Lot offered his daughters instead of his guests to the raiders?"  Wuff...tough question. 

It was said that in those times, a guest was highly respected in a household.  You put up great security for your guest...even to the point of sacrificing family members to keep your guests safe.  How crazy is this?  It is so interesting to learn about these things for me, because I understand scripture so much more if I knew the context of the situations.  In this case, I am floored at even thinking about my future husband giving up my children so my guests can stay safe...I wouldn't know what to do! 

My devotional then asked about why Lot's wife would want to look back while they left Sodom.  Why would she want to stay in such a wicked city?  For us, it seems like such a dumb thing to ponder.  If it's wicked, leave.  Well, how hard is it for us to point out our sins and desires as "wicked" and want to turn from them?  Sometimes we get so caught up in the good pleasures of life that we don't want to break away from them, even if they are hurting us.  Lot's wife must have had an attachment to the wickedness in the city, and had a couple things that she treasured a little too much.  Why else would she turn back at the city? 

Do you turn back on things in your  life?  Do you make the commitment to stop an addiction, drop a bad friend, end a poor relationship...and then turn around and spend our time looking back?  What makes our fate any different than Lot's wife?  There are plenty of times when I should have turned into a pile of salt.  Thankfully God is forgiving and uses me as another kind of salt for the earth. 

Stop looking back at your past mistakes and regrets and start moving forward so that we may season our earth with salt instead of become a worthless pile of it. 

Little Humor

I found this funny, and I wanted to share this.  To me, it was quite interesting.

I had Chinese food for lunch today, and my fortune cookie read, "Attend to business another day, nurture your love life."  My reaction...laughter.  I thought to myself "Hmm... this is interesting...I wonder what part of my love life we're talking about here...I could see many options to 'nurture' my love life.

So, my next step to answering this fortune?  I went to my Proverbs chapter of the day.  Low and behold, I got a kick out of what I read.  Chapter 26, verse 6 "Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool."

So, my fortune wasn't accurate.  Proverbs told me that.  I will listen to that instead of a cookie any day.   I thought it was funny though.  And, I guess if I had a love life, I'd be nurturing it.  However, I do not....yet.  It's a promise from God though to me.

Will I be a Sarah, who takes that promise into her own hands because she wasn't patient enough, or a Ruth who waits for her kinsman redeemer to act?  ...is that supposed to be a hard question?

Is this a hard question for you?  Do you refer to the Bible to get your true answers of what to do with life?  Don't let a fortune cookie lead you where God is trying to lead you instead.

Still Calls Me Son

 I heard this song, and wept.  So, I want to share it with everyone for my post. 

Still Calls Me Son-John Waller
I drug his name through godless places
And I've known shame that no child of his should know
I've seen pain on broken faces
Beyond all thought of hope
I was just too far from home
Still I always wondered when I closed my eyes

After all I've done
Could he run to me?
Would he kiss my face?
Could he even look at me?
After where I've been
should he take me back?
I would understand
I've disgraced him
But it would be amazing
If he still calls me son

With nothing left for me to bring him
Lyrics www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/john_waller/
I left my pride and turned my heart toward home
I saw my home on the horizon
And from a distance
I saw my Father
Watching for his own with forgiving eyes

After all I'd done
He just ran to me
Then he kissed my face
He would not let go of me
After where I'd been
He just welcomed me
I didn't understand
But he put his robe on me
It was so amazing
That he still called me son

One day as I breathe my last
And I know my days on earth have ended
When every hour is spent
I will close my eyes in amazement
And I'll hear angels
They'll be singing

Amazing Grace
Cause he will run to me
And he will kiss my face
He will not let go of me
After where I've been
He will welcome me
I won't understand
How he'll put his robe on me
It will be amazing
That he'll still call me son

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
When he calls me son
I once was lost but now I'm found
Cause he calls me Son

Lost in the Clouds

Two posts in one day...I just felt like I wanted to have a random post of what goes through my mind when I stare at the sky.  (This brought about the change in blog title)

Clouds are so cool.  We try to paint them, draw them, recreate them in some way down here with our own hands...but nothing beats the reality that comes from those clouds.  They change in shape as they travel along the clear, pure sky behind them.  They carry water that either results in shade from the sun, or a horrific thunderstorm.  Sometimes it's hard to see what shapes the clouds make, and other times it has a clear resemblance of something we can relate to (like a bunny or dragon). 

I love the clouds during a sunset or sunrise.  It's really awesome to see the lower clouds have a different reflection of the sunrise than the clouds further up...resulting in deeper and contrasting colors.   And there are so many kinds of clouds for that matter!  The clouds that are highest in the sky, Cirrus clouds, are ones that are the lightest, most faded looking clouds, where as the clouds that are closest to the ground produce the dangerous, destructive storms we see. 

Why do I rant about the clouds?  If I could do nothing but lay down and stare up at the sky all day, I would be content.  Cheapest entertainment for me.  But really...what is it about the clouds that really get to me?  Why do I stop and stare every time there is a clear sky?  Why does something so frequent happen to be something so breath-taking each time I look up? 

As I said earlier, clouds are something we cannot recreate.  We try, but it's not the 'real thing.'  I had said to myself earlier "Get your head out of the clouds and focus on your works down here that God has shown you."  Then I realized...I can't!  My head is forever in the clouds...but not with dreams and fantasies. 

It's in the clouds because I know what lies behind those clouds.  I know who made those clouds, and they were made for me.  They were made to catch my attention and remind me that my true home is beyond those clouds.  I am fascinated at what comes out of them because I know it's something we cannot recreate.  It really makes me long for the day I can see my true home...on the other side of those clouds. 

Biblical Directions

Matthew 9:27-30
"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!'  When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and asked them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' 'Yes, Lord,' they replied.  Then he touched their eyes and said, 'According to your faith will it be done to you'; and their sight was restored..."

What did it take for these blind men to be healed?  What does that mean for you in your lives?  How powerful does faith appear to be?

Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money." 

What is the main message of this verse?  Pretend money isn't what is being addressed here...what is the other "master" that you are putting in place of God?  What do you have to do to make God your only master in your life?

Luke 18:22-23
"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'You still lack one thing.  Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.'  When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth."

Following Jesus and serving God isn't supposed to be easy.  What does this say about the importance of God in your life?  How does this verse co-relate with the previous verse?

Acts 2:42
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

What should we be devoting ourselves to?  Keeping the context of this list, what do these turn into in our lives?