April 18, 2011
I awoke to rain and gloomy skies. My alarm was yelling at me that it was time to get up! Oh, I had so hoped that the weather would break and I would awake to a peak of sun!
April 16, 2011 was a friend's wedding day, where I assisted the caterer. She is a person who loves outdoors and flowers and beautiful scenery. After all, she had planned an outdoor spring wedding and most of her flowers came from her own yard and yards of friends and family. I could only imagine how she was looking forward to beautiful pics of her and her groom sitting, standing, and walking in all of Spring's glory! Alas, it was not to happen on this wet and dreary day!
Indoors it would be! How beautiful they had adorned the reception hall! It did not look pretty and colorful outside, but it did inside. Purple, yellow, green, white, pink. Wonderful scents perfumed the room. The photographer was a genius and was able to capture a few impressive pics outdoors after the showers ceased. The bride was of course beautiful in her mother's wedding dress, worn out of love for her and in memory of her. I thought that was such a sweet sentiment. The groom was handsome and full of smiles!
I will remember the simplicity of the event. The sweet, unpretentious, air of the cermony impressed me. There was no pomp and circumstance, no "look at me, I'm the bride today and everybody better look at me" attitude. There was nothing completely unneccessary or extravegant. It was pure and organic. Love between man and his bride at its finest, an expression of respect and committment to each other and to the Lord Almighty. It was a wedding that rain showers could not prevent from being a happy, joyous, lovely , blessed thing. May the Lord truly bless and keep this couple for all of forever to come!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
A big mouth is not always a bad thing...
April 3, 2011
My husband has a big mouth...sometimes...well, a lot of times. He will admit to it. It is his nature to speak up. He speaks to anyone. If you know him you have witnessed him do this, it's as if he knows no strangers. His parents will tell you he was like that as a kid, too. He just can't help it! Lol.... So it was no surprise to me when he came home from class one night in March and told me he had been walking to class and overheard a man's phone conversation about needing a band to play at a youth event. I knew what was coming next. He, of course, stopped and spoke to the man! The man was Kyle Fisher with Campbellsburg Christian Church. He was indeed in need of a band to play at a youth event he was planning. Jason gave him a card for Defining Ezra and thought that nothing would come of it, but he had tried. He thought if they weren't needed this time, maybe they could help some other time. Well, lo and behold, Mr. Fisher called! How very cool does God work sometimes! It turns out Mr. Fisher was having trouble getting in touch with the band that they had been directed to by a friend. At that very moment that Jason was coming down the hall, Kyle was on the phone trying to reach the contact person, and having no luck. He said he was becoming frustrated. And "out of nowhere" comes Jason. So, the date was arranged and DE prepared a set for C3!
The day of the event was a beautiful day! Warm and breezy with lots of sun. We got to the place and it was this ginormous, fantastic warehouse-like building that they use for their youth events. Very cool. I have seldom met kinder people in my life! We were welcomed and shown generous hospitality. Such a blessing to be there. Jay and Libby had a blast talking to the teenagers and wondering around the big space of the building.
As usual, we all helped unload and set up. Let me tell you, when they have to take their sound system, there is a LOT to unload and set up! This time we also used the lights, which we don't do very often. A friend of the guys helped them out and ran the sound. But, there was no one to run lights, so guess who had to do that? Me, of course. It's not the first time I've done them. It always makes me nervous though, I 'm afraid I'll do a poor job!
There was time to hang out and talk to some of the teens and parents before they started and we had a great time doing that. I can't tell you much about how they sounded that night because I was sitting behind amps and drums. Ha! All I heard was distorted wumps, wumps and boom, crash, bang with a little vocals here and there! (At least I hope the audience heard something better than what I did!) But, I will say that the presence of the Almighty was there that evening! Unforgettable night and that audience is why our guys do this! Such honest and heartfelt worship we witnessed that night! What glory to our King there was!
When the event was over, there was, as always, excitement and joy...a peace that descends on the heart and an indescribable "ah" feeling.
I must say, as we were tearing down and loading up I looked up and saw my son sitting in on a meeting the youth and parents were having. I thought, "Oh, no, he shouldn't be sitting there.." Did I mention he is just like his Dad??? A minute later I saw the meeting erupt in laughter. I thought, "Oh no, what did he say?" Later, I learned that he contributed to the meeting and even led in prayer. That's my boy! Lol...Did I mention he is just like his Dad???
God's gift of a big mouth got Defining Ezra and our family an unforgettable night and gained us some friends within the Body of Christ that we would've never met this side of Heaven. Thank the Lord for my husband's abandon of self and his faith in God. I thank the Lord for our guys and their willingness to use their time and talents for the Kingdom. I thank the Lord for CCC, Kyle Fisher, and all the wonderful teens, parents, and their friends that we met there! I thank the Lord for all these sold out souls who want to see His Name glorified in this and all lands!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jeremiah 20:9
My husband has a big mouth...sometimes...well, a lot of times. He will admit to it. It is his nature to speak up. He speaks to anyone. If you know him you have witnessed him do this, it's as if he knows no strangers. His parents will tell you he was like that as a kid, too. He just can't help it! Lol.... So it was no surprise to me when he came home from class one night in March and told me he had been walking to class and overheard a man's phone conversation about needing a band to play at a youth event. I knew what was coming next. He, of course, stopped and spoke to the man! The man was Kyle Fisher with Campbellsburg Christian Church. He was indeed in need of a band to play at a youth event he was planning. Jason gave him a card for Defining Ezra and thought that nothing would come of it, but he had tried. He thought if they weren't needed this time, maybe they could help some other time. Well, lo and behold, Mr. Fisher called! How very cool does God work sometimes! It turns out Mr. Fisher was having trouble getting in touch with the band that they had been directed to by a friend. At that very moment that Jason was coming down the hall, Kyle was on the phone trying to reach the contact person, and having no luck. He said he was becoming frustrated. And "out of nowhere" comes Jason. So, the date was arranged and DE prepared a set for C3!
The day of the event was a beautiful day! Warm and breezy with lots of sun. We got to the place and it was this ginormous, fantastic warehouse-like building that they use for their youth events. Very cool. I have seldom met kinder people in my life! We were welcomed and shown generous hospitality. Such a blessing to be there. Jay and Libby had a blast talking to the teenagers and wondering around the big space of the building.
As usual, we all helped unload and set up. Let me tell you, when they have to take their sound system, there is a LOT to unload and set up! This time we also used the lights, which we don't do very often. A friend of the guys helped them out and ran the sound. But, there was no one to run lights, so guess who had to do that? Me, of course. It's not the first time I've done them. It always makes me nervous though, I 'm afraid I'll do a poor job!
There was time to hang out and talk to some of the teens and parents before they started and we had a great time doing that. I can't tell you much about how they sounded that night because I was sitting behind amps and drums. Ha! All I heard was distorted wumps, wumps and boom, crash, bang with a little vocals here and there! (At least I hope the audience heard something better than what I did!) But, I will say that the presence of the Almighty was there that evening! Unforgettable night and that audience is why our guys do this! Such honest and heartfelt worship we witnessed that night! What glory to our King there was!
When the event was over, there was, as always, excitement and joy...a peace that descends on the heart and an indescribable "ah" feeling.
I must say, as we were tearing down and loading up I looked up and saw my son sitting in on a meeting the youth and parents were having. I thought, "Oh, no, he shouldn't be sitting there.." Did I mention he is just like his Dad??? A minute later I saw the meeting erupt in laughter. I thought, "Oh no, what did he say?" Later, I learned that he contributed to the meeting and even led in prayer. That's my boy! Lol...Did I mention he is just like his Dad???
God's gift of a big mouth got Defining Ezra and our family an unforgettable night and gained us some friends within the Body of Christ that we would've never met this side of Heaven. Thank the Lord for my husband's abandon of self and his faith in God. I thank the Lord for our guys and their willingness to use their time and talents for the Kingdom. I thank the Lord for CCC, Kyle Fisher, and all the wonderful teens, parents, and their friends that we met there! I thank the Lord for all these sold out souls who want to see His Name glorified in this and all lands!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jeremiah 20:9
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Birthday!
"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:3
Another year. That one’s done, gone, over, finished. Good times, bad times, lessons learned, greatness, not-so-greatness, illness, sadness, happiness, endings, beginnings, growth, love, tears, smiles, hugs, kisses, LAUGHS, prayer, music, messes, sweetness, work, patience, IMpatience, pictures, faith, trust, worry, friendship, MORE music, questions, answers, dreams, hurts, plans, devotions, bills, strength, weakness, history, family, fights, forgiveness, apologies, books, time, fruit, confession, renewal, clarity, HOPE….
Having a birthday in the spring provides a perspective of a year being over, but a new one beginning. As the world around me awakens from it’s long, hard winter slumber, I am reminded that another year of my life has come to a close, and a new one is dawning. I do not feel depressed because the number of years is yet one more, but I feel hope and anticipation. The sun begins to shine, flowers are blooming, grass is growing and green, trees are budding, weather is warming. All this new birth and renewal of life, a new season, helps to keep me in a healthy perspective of growing a year older. The number of my age is just a number, I thank the Lord for His goodness and the wisdom He nurtures in me as each year passes.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
So, as this, my 32nd birthday comes to a close, I praise my Lord for His blessings. I praise Him for the undeserved life He has given me. I praise Him for His majesty and greatness. I praise Him for the past year of trials and joys – and for the coming year of what He, in His providence, has in store for me and for my family. Whatever is coming I rest in the assurance of my Father’s grace and mercy. His promises endure the ages and His love transcends all.
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." 2 Cor 4:15-17
Friday, April 8, 2011
Here it goes!
Well, I've done it! I have signed up for a blog. Is it cliche now? Alas, I couldn’t resist. The idea came to me and wouldn’t go away, so here I am!
So, I suppose I'm going to attempt to put our life into words. And who will even read my trivial musings?? ;) One day my kids can read these entries and remember these times. For anyone else, it will be boring reading!
I guess you may be wondering about the name. Sold Out Lives. If you are a Christian, you might guess what it means. I am unashamedly, undeniably sold out to Jesus. He is my Savior and Lord, He is my All in All. I live to please Him. My husband and I live to serve. Just about everything we do as a family is to serve the Lord or praise Him in some way. We have sold our life out to Him, for His use, for His glory. It’s His. Living a life sold out to the King of Kings is pretty exciting, adventurous, wonderful, and joyful….and…hard, crazy, different, exhausting - and not lucrative. It takes a lot of faith and trust! But it is the best way to live!
So, this blog will be about our life. I will share some of our adventures, happenings, praises, as well as some of our trials, troubles, and lessons learned. I also can't wait to share some stories of others I know, read about, or meet along the way who also have sold out lives! It’s all for the glory of the Lord!
AFHG,
Cyndi :)
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
-The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin
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