Don Moen - I will sing

Lord You seem so far away. A million miles or more it feels today.
And though I haven't lost my faith, I must confess right now that it's hard for me to pray.
But I don't know what to say and I don't know where to start.
But as you give the grace with all that's in my heart.

I will sing.
I will praise even in my darkest time through the sorrow and the pain.
I will sing. I will praise.
Lift my hands to honor You because Your word is true. I will sing.

Lord its hard for me to see all the thoughts and plans You have for me.
But I will put my trust in You. Lord you'll be my guide to set me free.
But I don't know what to say and I don't know where to start.
But as you give the grace with all that's in my heart.

I will sing.
I will praise even in my darkest time through the sorrow and the pain.
I will sing. I will praise.
Lift my hands to honor You because Your word is true. I will sing. (2 times)

Now, I had to have my mom send me the artist (I knew she'd know who sang it) and I finally was able to find the lyrics easily, though they weren't exactly right (I fixed them to the best of my knowledge). It is just how I feel most of the time. Well, I'm looking at the time and I still need to start something for dinner and unload the clean dishes from the dishwasher. Oh I feel like all I do is clean up around here. It's a never-ending cycle. Have a good day!

God bless, Jo

Taking a lesson from Paul and Silas

OK, I don't have my sermon notes out (they're in my bible cover in the car), but I just wanted to let you know I learned a great lesson in church this morning. Paul and Silas were thrown into JAIL and we're not talking the ones that are like hotels for criminals either. They were probably sitting on dirt (possibly mud) floors with their feet in stocks because of their witnessing for Christ, but they didn't go "woe is me." No, they began to pray and sing and praise the Lord. You know what God did, he sent and earthquake. It caused all the prisoners to be loosed from the things that bound them and just before one of the guards was going to kill himself (he'd be put to death if he let even on prisoner go on his watch), Paul said stop, we're all here. This gave him the opportunity to lead this jailor to the Lord! OK, so basically what I learned is that anything bad in life can be related to the situation Paul and Silas found themselves in. The thing is, they didn't grumble and get down, they looked to the Lord, took their place in the heavenlies (that's in Ephesians I think) and through their testimony the jailor and his family were led to Christ.
Now, to me, I have a lot of "down" days. I have been a pessimist for as long as I can remember and like I've said I am on Zoloft now for depression. So anyway, I seem to be focusing a lot on my problems and not enough on THE ANSWER. So what I'm going to do is read my bible more, pray more (which some days I don't even pray at all), and listen to and sing Christian songs and hymns. There are some really great ones out there too. There is one that is considered a praise song that just totally fits where I'm at right now. I am trying to find it right now so I can post it here. It's taking forever and I know my mom has the song from a lyrics website. Ugh, I was planning on going to bed early, but man if I couldn't find this thing. If I don't find it in a couple of minutes I'm giving up and emailing mom, then I'll post it tomorrow or something.
Oh well, for 45 minutes I've been searching and nothing. I don't know what it's called but it just speaks to me. Ok, so I've given up, now nearly an hour after I began looking and still nothing. Anyway, I'll email mom and have her send me her lyrics site so I can post them. You'll really love the song and if you listen to Christian radio at all I know you've heard it.

God bless, Jo

The Duck and the Devil

The Duck & the Devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.


In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's ...he finally couldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know.

You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter?

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt,fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ...whatever it is....You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing..... He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.

He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets ..... It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

God is at the window.

Christians - By Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."

I'm whispering "I was lost,

Now I'm found and forgiven."


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

and need Christ to be my guide.


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

And need His strength to carry on.


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed

And need God to clean my mess.


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible

But, God believes I am worth it.


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner

Who received God's good grace, somehow!


May your day be filled with many blessings!!!

Anger and Love

Anger and Love
[ Brian Clark ]

Anger seeks revenge
Love seeks healing

Anger spouts lies
Love speaks truth

Anger shouts loud
Love whispers softly

Anger rips at the soul
Love saves the soul

Anger causes others pain
Love causes others joy

Anger stoops low to solve problems
Love looks for higher ground

Anger lays down the law
Love breaks down strongholds

Anger is senseless in its methods
Love strives to make sense of a senseless world

Anger echoes carelessness
Love reflects from a caring heart

Anger solves problems only in the mind
Love works wonders in heart, body, and soul

Anger ruins the world
Love saves the day

Anger darkens the spirit
Love brightens the world