Broken

On a whim, I purchased Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD, "This Moment" (mainly for song, "Cinderella" - which is SO sweet). Well, I was blown away by the second track on the CD. Below are the lyrics. Let them sink in. And that last line of the song... well, that's the best... that's the hope!

Broken
by Steven Curtis Chapman

I'm just a well dressed wreck
I'm just a made up mess
Working hard trying to keep everybody impressed
All the while I'm falling apart on the inside

I look around to see
Is anyone like me?
First glance tells me I'm all alone in the sea
Then I look again a little deeper

And we're all in the same boat
We all just need to know

We're all broken
We're all broken
And we all need a Savior
Broken
We're all broken
And we all need a Savior

'Cause we're all broken

This is a fool's parade
The way we masquerade
Trying to make everybody think it's all okay
When the truth is we're all living a story

What if we all got brave?
Enough to take away
All we're hiding behind even just for a day
And let the scars show even a little

But I know the honesty
Will show us all to be

Broken
We're all broken
And we all need a Savior
Broken
We're all broken
And we all need a Savior

We don't have to pretend about it
We don't have to keep acting like we're all okay
If we lift our eyes to the cross
We'll see the reality

That we're all... broken
And we all have a Savior
Broken
We're all broken
And we all need a Savior
Broken
We're all broken
And we all need a Savior
We all have a Savior
We all need Jesus

So, I looked in the liner notes, and SCC had some scripture associated with this song. Here they are (in NIV):

Isaiah 53:5-6
2 Corinthians 12:9
Romans 3:23-24
1 Peter 5:5


All for now,
Lisa

Winter Training.... more lists

I'm not sure what it is with me right now, but I seem to be drawn to lists. So, here I give you 10 winter training tips from active.com. I hope this inspires you to get out there, despite the cooler weather.

1) Use base-layer clothing made from fabrics that are designed to wick moisture away from your skin. This will keep you dry and warm for the duration of the workout.

2) Do not overdress. Though this may feel nice and comfortable at the beginning, you will sweat much more than you would otherwise, making your clothes wet. Wet Clothes = Cold Body. Generally speaking, if you feel slightly cool before starting your activity, you have dressed perfectly for the conditions.

3) Dress to your training plan. Hard workouts will require less clothing than easier workouts. If you are unsure how to dress, bring a shell jacket that can be used for your warm-up and cool-down, but can be easily taken off and stowed for the more difficult part of the workout.

4) Wear shades. In most cool or cold weather conditions, sport sunglasses will protect eyes from the bright sun reflecting off of the snow and prevent them from watering due to the cold or wind.

5) Keep it down. The down coat is king when it comes to cold environments and intermittent activities that involve stopping. A light-weight down coat is the perfect solution to keep you toasty during winter sports that incorporate periods of prolonged rest.

6) Staying on your feet and keeping them warm go a long way toward enjoying outdoor winter activities. Over-layering your feet will cause them to sweat, which can lead to cold toes. For cardiovascular-based sports, a single pair of warm, wicking socks will normally do. In very cold conditions or for gravity-based sports, use a double layer of socks.

7) A good trail running shoe provides extra traction for slippery surfaces and many offer waterproof features that help keep your feet dry. In areas with deep snow, a pair of light gators will keep the snow out of your shoes.

8) H2O. One of the biggest challenges for training in cold temperatures is avoiding de-hydration. While it may feel unappealing, drinking regularly during these lower temperature workouts is just as necessary as in warmer weather. Filling water bottles with lukewarm fluids will help to prevent them from freezing or being too cold to drink comfortably.

9) Plan your route ahead of time. Use a loop course to avoid getting too far away from home in the event something were to go wrong during your activity.

10) Avoiding frost bite and hypothermia is the most important consideration when preparing for cold weather activities. Make sure all of your skin is covered and carry an extra layer in case the conditions change during your workout.

All for now,
Lisa

Listening to the Voices of the Martyrs

I just received a mass email - from Focus on the Family - entitled, "The Most Courageous Stories You Will Ever Read". Of course, that enticed me to read on. It was an advert email telling about a newsletter called "The Voice of the Martyrs". If you're like me, when you think of "martyrs" your mind goes to Stephen or other characters in the Bible. Well, unfortunately, it's still happening today.

Three quick testimonies awed me:

A Sudanese Christian boy has his knees and feet nailed to a board and he is
left to die. When rescued he says he forgives the man who did this because Jesus
was also nailed and forgave him.

A Vietnamese pastor is sentenced to two years in prison. When he is offered
an early release, he declines stating that he has a group of new Believers in
the prison he has to disciple.

A Colombian missionary is kidnapped and told she only has two hours to
live. She tells her captors that if she only has two hours to live, she wants to
spend it telling them about Jesus.

All for now,
Lisa

More Putting off and Putting On

Well, mostly putting off. According to Bob Greene, six foods to avoid:

1) Soda
"Soda is empty calories and sugar, so you have to cut it out. Instead, drink water, low-fat or fat-free milk, or tea. Fruit juices are good too, but remember, fruit juice, not fruit drink." (emphasis mine)

2) Transfats
"They clog your arteries, they're high in calories, and they may even make your body store fat in the abdominal area. Aside from being unsightly, it's also bad for your health. You'll find these in cookies and baked goods which might be made with margarine."

3) Fried foods
"I mean, even if you use a good fat oil like olive oil to fry foods, anything fried has a lot of calories. Try things that are oven baked instead of fries. There are calories either way, but oven baked has fewer."

4) White bread
"You don't have to get rid of carbs entirely, but white bread is made from refined grains, which are stripped of their most nutritional parts, so you're eating empty calories. Instead, we want you eating bread made form 100 percent whole wheat or whole grains."

5 and 6) High-fat milk and yogurt
"Use 1 percent or non-fat dairy in their place, which are often just as good, only with lower cholesterol, fat, and calories."


Do yourself a favor - just eat the stuff God made. It works well that way.


All for now,
Lisa

God is Speaking

Today, just simply read the lyrics of this wonderful song. Ponder the meaning. Feel His grace.

God Speaking
lyrics by Ronnie Freeman
sung by Mandisa

Have you ever heard a love song,
That set your spirit free?
Have you ever watched a sunrise
And felt you could not breathe?
What if it's Him.
What if it's God speaking.
Have you ever cried a tear that
You could not explain?
Have you ever met a stranger
Who already knew your name?
What if it's Him.
What if it's God speaking.

Who knows how He’ll get ahold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough.
He’ll do, and He’ll use
Whatever He wants to.
To tell us,
I Love You.

Have you ever lost a loved one
Who you thought should still be here?
Do you know what it feels like
To be tangled up in fear?
What if He’s somehow involved?
What if He’s speaking through it all?

All for now,
Lisa

On the Subject of Lists

While mindlessly surfing, I came across a very interesting list. It gave the 26 Keys to Having An Extraordinary Christian Marriage. I thought it was a good list and wanted to share it. But here's a bit of personal information: Not wanting to appear desperate, I've often shrugged marriage off as a "God will bless me when God will bless me". When He's ready He's ready. But I think there has been an unfortunate consequence of my putting the "big ig" on marriage.

So, regardless of when it happens, I want to start now to prepare for a good marriage - which takes time and purpose. My new thoughts around marriage stem around the purpose of marriage. Should it be for companionship? Family? Unique intimacy? I can get Biblical and say, "for two to become one". I saw this somewhere: "uncovering your true self and, ultimately, your unique purpose for being created". For which I agree, but I think there is more responsibility. I think each partner needs to be willing to lay down their life (truly lay down their life) for the sake of the other becoming more in the image of God. wow! Blows my mind to fully comprehend that. And I savor the day when one day I'll look my husband in the eye and know that he would truly lay down his life for me.

But, don't I already have that? I call him The One: Christ.

All for now,
Lisa

P.S. I'm still preparing for my number two! ;-)

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2008

I received this from a friend and thought is was blog-worthy:

1. The Bible will still have the answers
2. Prayer will still work
3. The Holy Spirit will still move
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching
6. There will still be singing of praise
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people
8. There will still be room at the Cross
9. Jesus will still love you
10. Jesus will still save the lost

All for now,
Lisa

Putting On and Putting Off

Ephesians 4 says to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Well, I'm sure this is speaking of spiritual needs. However, I'd like to look at it in view of physical needs. Yesterday, a nurtionist was on KSBJ and spoke of things we should take out of our diet and put into our diet. Below are some she listed. I got to thinking about them and I think I want to try it for 2008.

put off
corn syrup
refined sugars (aka enriched)
refined flours (aka enriched)
hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
diet sodas

put on
FRESH (not canned) fruits and vegetables (keep apples/oranges by the door)
legumes (black beans, lentils, garbanzo beans) - can be from a can
maple syrup, honey, agave nectar sweeteners

What about you?

All for now,
Lisa

The Sin of Self-Reliance and The Stupor of Worldliness

This is a direct quote from John Piper. And when I read it, I had to take a deep breath. For it hit the core of my being. It probably hit the core of your being also.

All for now,
Lisa

Thoughts for the New Year

My friends have come up with some catchy phrases for the new year:

It'll be great in 2008
It's 2008, don't be late
Get a date in 2008
Find a mate in 2008
A clean slate in 2008

All these are great, but it got me thinking. And then I started thinking about thinking - and what the Bible says about thinking. Specifically, Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

S0 - my question to you (and I really hope I get some good answers here - so, you lurkers out there come out!) is: what is true, what is noble, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is admirable - excellent or praiseworthy? What are these things that (at least the NASB says) on which we should dwell?

What would your list look like?

All for now,
Lisa