For the last few weeks, I have been really enjoying the music stylings of Sovereign Grace Ministries in their newest album, "Risen." There is one song, in particular, that I absolutely fell in love with; and I just can't get it out of my head..... and whaddya know? We sang it in church yesterday! Pretty timely considering this Easter season...
How do we know we’ve been forgiven?
How do we know that we have been made clean?
How do we know we’ll go to heaven?
How do we know we’ve been redeemed?
You have been raised, the tomb has been opened
Nothing can take away our hope in You
You have been raised
You have been raised, the work is completed
Hell and its powers have been defeated
You have been raised
Now we are free from condemnation
There is no judgment left for us to fear
We don’t have to wonder if we’re welcome
You are the One who’s brought us near
The price You paid for us
Has fully been accepted
Because of Your shed blood
I once was lost in darkest night Yet thought I knew the way The sin that promised joy and life Had led me to the grave I had no hope that You would own A rebel to Your will And if You had not loved me first I would refuse You still But as I ran my hell-bound race Indifferent to the cost You looked upon my helpless state And led me to the cross And I beheld God’s love displayed You suffered in my place You bore the wrath reserved for me Now all I know is grace Hallelujah! All I have is Christ Hallelujah! Jesus is my life Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone And live so all might see The strength to follow Your commands Could never come from me Oh Father, use my ransomed life In any way You choose And let my song forever be My only boast is You.
This song has been so close to my heart lately and I just thought I'd share it with you...
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
At risk of completely divulging the extent of my complete nerdiness... here are a few things that I am ridiculously excited about:
1. I just received [this] book in the mail. Yes, a book entirely about how to feed your family in a clean, healthy way - for under $75 a week. (Probably less if it's just two of us) I'm pretty stoked about it.
2. Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast. Duh, who wouldn't be excited?!
3. WINCO. Yes. I'm in love. That bulk food section completely captured my heart. This is love.
Quinoa, Oats, and Yeast!
4. LeftoverHomemade Pizza from last night. Even the day after, it's delish.
5. 21 days until I get to see my seester! Can't wait!!
Yesterday, I received some incredible news! For those of you who don't know, I have an insatiable love for all things Broadway. When we traveled to the East Coast for 2 weeks when I was in high school, one of the run-away highlights of the trip for me was attending Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York!!! Talk about a dream come true!
Anywho, yesterday, my momma informed me that she has made plans for a girls night out - over Memorial Day weekend - with my sisters and I to go see the Broadway show, Wicked. In Spokane! Holy Moly. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth - yes, please! I'm thrilled beyond belief. Though, to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm more excited to see the show or to spend the weekend with three of my favorite ladies!
I will never forget that rainy Friday night. It was my first year of college; I was living in Portland. I was driving around downtown Portland with my friend Chris and our friend Micaela - who had come to visit us for the weekend. This song came on the stereo and I will not soon forget the conversation that followed.
(I hope you weren't too distracted by the beard...)
I distinctly remember commenting that - though we were all single and no where near serious relationships - this is what I had hoped marriage would be like. That, even when everything around us is falling, my husband and I would be a shelter for each other.
Chorus: All of this around us'll fall over
I tell you what we're gonna do... You will shelter me, my love And I will shelter you.
Now that I have the incredible blessing of being married, I find great joy in the fact that my wonderful man is, indeed, a shelter - a safe place for me. I know that, with him, my heart, hopes, dreams, and fears are safe. He sees me at my best and at my worst; and he loves me no matter what.
Lately, I have been reading through Psalms. There, I have found reference after reference to God being our shelter. Ps. 31: 1-2 says, "In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me." I find great comfort that, even if everyone (including my amazing man) lets me down, I have a fortress, a shelter in an unchanging God.
I kinda wish that I could go back 5 years and tell myself that, with Christ at the center, married life is indeed a sweet, sweet shelter. Oh, how I love that man!
-Laura
PS - Stay tuned tomorrow for some fun pictures of my girls night tonight!
Yesterday was simply wonderful. C and I celebrated our first Christmas together… he made us a special breakfast, we read through Luke 2, opened gifts, and relaxed in front of the classic movie, “White Christmas.” Ah, it has been so long since we have had such a relaxing day!
We headed out in the afternoon with Everett and Carrie to go see the Portland Zoo Christmas Lights. Unfortunately, there was zero parking available. So we went out to dinner at the Macaroni Grill (thanks for the recommendation, Lisa!) and went to a showing of the newest Narnia movie, “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” in 3D. Ooooo… Aaaaaaah… (Admission reminded us why we rarely go to movies in theaters!)
Anywho, it was a wonderful kick-off to the great celebration week coming up. As I write this, we are driving through the beautiful Gorge (thank you, mobile internet) heading up to our good ol’ stomping grounds in Spokane. We are so excited to spend this next week and a half with family and friends.
I better go… gotta get back to our freestyle rapping competition. Pretty sure I’m winning… (although C is clearly dominating the beat-boxing category.)
Our next travel game? Seeing who can do a better Creed impression. Followed by singing through the alphabet - coming up with a new Christmas song for each letter of the alphabet.
Being newly married and enjoying this life of newlywedded bliss, we are not particularly in a hurry to settle down and procreate just yet. Perhaps, if the Lord wills, someday we may; but it is not in our immediate plans. Well, that was an interesting segue into what I had intended to write about...
I think about the following subject often throughout the year, but during this particular season it is especially at the forefront of my mind. In the Christmas narrative - detailing the not-so-glorious arrival of the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, perhaps the character that strikes me most is that of Mary, Christ's mother. As I sat at breakfast the other morning with Cole, we talked about how crazy this time of year must have been for her. (yeah, yeah, yeah... I know Jesus likely wasn't born on December 25th, but work with me here!)
What must she have been thinking? I can't even begin to imagine what would have been going through her mind... An illegitimate pregnancy? Public scorn? Wait, the Holy Spirit will come upon me?? Nevertheless, her teenage response to the news of her impending pregnancy was astounding and mature beyond her years. She said, "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled." She was undoubtedly scared, but answered calmly and faithfully.
Anywho, one of my favorite, favorite Christmas songs (aside from the traditional "O Holy Night" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful" - because you just can't beat those) is this song sung from Mary's perspective.
Check it out. It's catchy :) If I ever played Mary in a Nativity, I'd sing this.
Sweet Savior, thank you for giving up Heaven to come meet us here - you could have left us on our own, but You're here... Emmanuel, God with us. There is no greater gift than this.
We will also remind you that this is just aBLOG…just the highlights. We don’t sit around happily smiling for pictures all day long. Our life is far from perfect: we are imperfect people serving a perfect God. We do strive to glorify God, but we fail miserably and find comfort in knowing that our debts have been paid and we have been set free.
