Then Sings My Soul Saturday

I saw "Then Sings My Soul Saturdays" on a few other blogs and decided to join in on the fun... For my first ever TSMSS, I would like to share my favorite hymn, "To God Be the Glory."  When I googled it to find a video, the below video is the first one that popped up.  It is a little different arrangement, but I like it.  It is also sung by Tommy Walker who is one of my favorite worship leaders.  I even had the privilege to sing in the choir when he came to our city a few years back.  Remember to give all glory to God today and every day!

Quick Update

Today I had my 90-day evaluation at work. It was nothing but great marks and comments.  I even got a raise!  God has also been providing for me in many other ways as well.  He is stretching me in some areas as well.  

Lessons from Philippians

Today at church, we finished our study of Philippians.  Paul's letter to the Philippians contains four chapters with a total of 104 verses.  What you may not realize is we began our study on June 1, 2008!  Even before this study, Philippians is the book of the Bible that I knew the best...sad to admit, it was more head knowledge than heart knowledge.  I am still in the process of taking these teachings and putting them to practice.  I am pressing on toward the goal because He who began a good work in me WILL complete it!

Here is a summary of our study...

Chapter 1: Partners Together

What would it be like if we realized we are not merely customers/employees but PARTNERS together?

What if the good work that God began in me is somehow connected to healing the broken world?  What is my passion/good thing?

Chapter 2: Upside Down Living

What would it be like if instead of pursuing the typical American dream we would look for ways to serve & give & love & find greatness redefined?

What if my decision to follow Jesus and make myself "nothing" could lead to a life filled with "everything"--(unimaginable joy, peace, comfort, celebration)?

Chapter 3: Pressing on Together 

Let's not give up!

What if I decide I REALLY want to KNOW Christ?  Not know more about Christ (facts)...but choose to really KNOW Him...let Him invade the darkest, deepest parts of my soul and my heart and let Him lead me from there; not from my head in a book, but from my head up following Him.  Choose to know Christ so well that I would sense His presence, His pleasure, and His leading intuitively.  It would be the most natural thing.

Chapter 4: Whatever

Whatever happens to you-rejoice!

Whatever happens to you: let your requests be known to God and don't worry.

Whatever happens to you: think about whatever is true, right, honorable...

Whatever happens to you: be content!

Whatever happens to you: trust in God's provision!

What if I start practicing the discipline of gentleness? Could I really have the peace of God?

How do I choose gentleness first?

Unclench your fist...unclench your heart; is there a gentle word you could bring here so that it is evident to all?

Paul encourages and reminds the Philippians throughout the letter who they are; who they could be; and how much God loves them.  This is true for us today.

This is my prayer for myself as well as you:

"And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God."  Philippians 1:9-11

Tribute to My Brother-in-Law

It has been almost 2 weeks since you left us; but it still seems unreal.  You have impacted so many lives...more than you realized.  For someone who didn't like to be around people, you sure impacted as well as cared about so many!  You were able to bring out the best in my sister.  It was great to see how you both grew in love with each other, especially during the last couple of years.  I enjoyed helping Alex with your 5th anniversary dinner party.  You were a loving, caring, and fun dad to your daughter.  She will have many fond memories of the zoo, go-carts, mini-golf, bowling, eating out...You not only did fun things with LouAnn and Alex, but you also had creative ways of deciding where to go/what to do.  They also had fun trying to decipher your clues.  You were an honest, hard-working, generous person.  You were great at making plans for your family.  We are still discovering some of them even now as LouAnn finds more of your drawings and notes for the house.  I even noticed how much you changed for the better over the past two years.  You quite some bad habits...were beginning to see how much LouAnn loved you...becoming more comfortable around people...  Thanksgivings will not be the same without you there helping LouAnn host it.  We are all saddened by your absence and you will be missed.  

Birthdays & Memorials

On February 10th, we celebrated my Dad's birthday at Flat Top Grill.  Since it was on a Tuesday, my nephew even got to come!

I've been working with my niece on how to use chopsticks.  She is learning pretty fast!

On February 15th, friends and family gathered for a memorial service for my brother-in-law.  I want to thank those of you who attended; it meant a lot to us.  Several of you travelled a few hours!  It is great to know we have a supportive and caring family and friends.

One of my mom's co-workers brought a stuffed lamb for my niece to the open house.  Her church has a ministry where they pray over these lambs and then give them to people who are grieving, sick, or having surgery.  

Emotional Weekend...

This has been a loooong weekend.  Saturday morning began very early when my mom called me and told me to read my e-mail because she could not talk to me at that moment.  I went downstairs and signed onto my computer to find out that my brother-in-law had passed away the day before.  My niece was already with Grandma & Grandpa since they were going to watch her for the weekend and were hosting a tea party for my niece and two of her friends.  My sister and I went to our parents' house after taking care of a few things.  

My parents and I went to church with my sister and niece this morning before going to their house.  My brother -in-laws cousin, brother, & sister-in-law joined us at the house.  Mid-afternoon, we took my niece to Build a Bear to make a bear.  

This will be a long road for the family, especially for my sister and niece.  They have both lost their best friend.  Please keep them in their prayers.

God is there in all circumstances!

A friend of mine sent me the link to this video.  I was touched by it and thought that I would share it with you.  

Just goofing around...

On my computer, I have this program called photo booth.  When some of my relatives came over, we had a blast and were doubled over in laughter taking pictures with it.  Here is a sampling of those photos...

Grandpa

Frogger tongue

The meeting of the minds...

The January birthday buddies.

January birthday party

Last month, we had a birthday party for the January birthdays with the focus on my nephew's 10th birthday.  I hosted the event at my house.  There were about 20 people in attendance with 5 of us having January birthdays.  I think we might have wore the song out!  We enjoyed visiting with each other as well as eating DQ cake!

The 2 cakes that we had.  You can't see it, but there were birthday wishes to other January birthdays written on the sides of the cake.

The birthday boy!

Anthony with his maternal grandma, aunt and half brother.

My paternal grandpa.

The ladies with the birthday boy!

The guys.

Anthony's half-brother.

Dinner & a Snowman

Tonight, I met up with my parents, brother, and nephew for supper at McD's.  Not my favorite place to eat, but I was happy to spend some time with them...especially my nephew who I don't get to see too often.  The guys brought my mom some flowers for her birthday which is tomorrow.  

About 2 blocks from my house, I saw this snowman in someone's yard.  I thought it was cute and stopped to take it's picture.  It has been years since I built a snowman... not for the lack of snow mind you. :)  It is suppose to snow more tonight and tomorrow with subzero temperatures.  I think I hear florida calling my name!