Random Musings

In my last post, I spent a moment expressing thanks for an amazing God who overwhelms me with His grace. But, I have so much for which to be thankful, that I felt like posting a second Thanksgiving blog. I'm thankful for being raised in a godly home. My parents protected me from so much of the world and, although it annoyed me as a teenager, I find it priceless as an adult. They've helped me preserve my options in so many ways. I'm thankful for growing up in a home where I was the only girl with two awesome brothers. It taught me many things and gave me a sense of love and protection. I'm thankful for my sister who loves me as if there is no such thing as "in-law" and for the one I will call sister in the future. I'm thankful for the miracle of life that I see everytime I see my beautiful niece. I'm thankful for her inquisitive nature. I'm thankful for her innocence. I'm thankful for her laughter and the fact that she recognizes mine. I...

Psalm 100 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to HIm and praise His name. FOr the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. It's the end of Thanksgiving week and I'm sitting on a balcony, overlooking the ocean, with my mom and her best friend. It's at the ocean that I feel the Lord's power and presence the strongest. Maybe it's because I was born near the water, or maybe it's just because this is one of the ways He chooses to speak to me. For the song set this morning, I wound up with an "ocean" theme. It wasn't intentional, but the thread was definitely there. "God of infinite worth, with hands that carved out the ocean". ...

I received an email from a friend today and he was sharing some things going on in his life. Right after I read his email, I opened to the passage for Chad's upcoming message on November 14th. I don't believe it was a coincidence or random happenstance. Here's what I wrote to my friend (and needed to hear myself). Ephesians 6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet f...

I've been thinking alot about how I think and how I approach questions and conversations. I am very black and white and use strict logic, in most cases, when evaluating things. I like rules; they tell you what to do and show you the boundaries. I like structure; it makes me feel safe. I like logic. But, there was a time when my default reaction was one of emotion. There was a time when I would exagerate the situation because I was angry and just wanted someone to be hurt. I've been thinking of how I made the change from that girl to one who tries to react first with logic and remove emotion from the equation. (Unfortunately, that is not always how I react, but it is my current default setting). Tonight, I realized one of the turning points for me in this journey. When I was a freshman in college, I took an upper level seminar class called "Church and State". I don't know where my advisor was when I was choosing my courses, because I was definitely in ove...

So, if you've ever stopped by this blog or maybe caught it in a facebook note, you know that I pretty much write about whatever's on my mind at any given time. Today will be no different. I've had the opportunity lately to think about the kind of person my sister, Katie, is. What's that? You didn't know I had a sister? Well, I do. Now, she's not a biological sister; the Lord didn't give me one of those. I think He knew best on that one, actually. I loved being the only girl with 2 brothers. But, when my brother Daniel (you can read my recent post about him by going here: http://christysolly.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-brother.html) got married, I gained a sister. And, I couldn't ask for a better wife for my brother. She loves him and it's absolutely clear when you see them together. That's all a sister every really wants anyway - someone who loves her brother more than she does. And Katie is fierce about the people she loves. She fights f...

At Bible study last week, Chad said something that I've heard a thousand times, but for some reason, it struck me anew and has continued to echo in my thoughts. "You were bought with a price." It's true. I am not my own. I was bought with a price. A price I could never hope to repay. Today's "My Utmost for His Highest" is also along that theme and I wanted to share it with you as I continue to chew on that simple statement: "You were bought with a price". -/\/\----------------------------------------------------------------- \ / MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST -- http://www.heartlight.org/ --\/------------------------------------------------------------------ November 1, 2010 YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN Know ye not that . . ye are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1co+6:19&sr=1 There is no such things as a private life - "a world within the world" - for a man or woman who is brought into fellowship w...