Random Musings

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." - Proverbs 13:12 For so many years, I held onto a hope that seemed impossible.  I knew that the Lord had something amazing waiting for me, but I just had to stand in obedience until He brought it to fruition.  It is true that "He [makes] all things beautiful in His time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but it is sometimes so difficult for us.  Our bodies long and yearn for the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams.  We become heart sick when it seems like we'll never receive the promise.  We ache for what we do not know. But, then something beautiful happens...God comes through for us.  The joy that is found on that morning is beyond compare.  This year has been a year of desires fulfilled.  I am reveling in the goodness of a Father who would see fit to give me all of these good things.  It's amazing.  It's humbling.  It's more than I dared to dream...

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights..." James 1:17 I've heard it said that, "Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale".  On December 31st, 2012, the Lord gave me a good and perfect gift.  Nick Giardino, the love of my life, planned a perfect day and the Lord surrounded and protected it with love and beauty. The entire day was a surprise adventure for me.  Nick planned everything with great love and attention to detail.  I met him at his house that morning and we set off for a day I'll never forget.  It was beautiful to be able to rest and trust in him to lead me through the day. The Lord gave us beautiful little moments and gifts throughout the day.  As we started on the journey, Nick said we needed to listen to some love songs.  He had a soundtrack for the day!  As he pulled it up on shuffle (it was in order for a different part of the journey), the ...

A dear friend's mother shared this short devotional with me the other day. She shared a lesson the Lord had taught her long ago in hopes that I would gain wisdom from it. It's been reverberating through my heart and mind ever since. I'd like to share it with you. This excerpt is from "My Utmost for His Highest (An updated edition in Today's Language)" by Oswald Chambers Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile "I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also" (Matthew 5:39) This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature...

For the last couple of days, I have had the priviledge of leading worship from the Woods stage at Atlanta Fest just before Chad Wallace took the stage to share a message from his heart. It's been a beautiful experience and I'm looking forward to doing it one more time tomorrow. I have a few stories I want to share about this experience and how God is working, but I think I still need some time to process them myself. But, I do want to share with you a song written by Matt Jackson who shared just after us the last two days. The chorus of this song is echoing in my heart and I hope will be resonating for the rest of my life: "I want the Healer, not just the Healing. I want the Giver, not just the gifts. I want the Real Thing, not just Something. I want You. I want You." Too often, we look for the healing and forget that the Healer is so much more than we could ever hope or imagine. I hope you'll let those words simmer in your heart, as they are in mine, and ...

I have several friends who are going through tough times right now. I feel so inadequate to speak into their pain. When someone is grieving or in pain, words seem to fall flat and offer no real comfort. In times like these, for me, I turn to music and look for hope and healing. It seems the combination of lyrics, rhythm, instruments and voices speak into the darkest parts of my heart. So, for all of my friends who are down, grieving, or in pain at the moment, I'd like to share some music that captures the spirit of "The Words I Would Say". If the video above doesn't load, you may access it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thLdWPr32yY

I had the honor, today, of attending the funeral of a man who walked 93 years on this earth. I can't even begin to imagine the things he saw in his lifetime. I wonder what he must have thought as he saw the world go through so many changes. His obituary stated that he had nine hobbies: his wife, his seven children, and his church. What a legacy to leave. He was a military man, a business man, and a community leader, but what he loved was his wife, his seven children, and his church. I am blessed to know one of his children and two of his grandchildren. I can see his legacy in them. What touched me the most, this week, as I heard stories of his passing, was of a comment his wife of 70 years made to him in his last days. I'm told that she told him it was ok to let go, not to worry because, "I'm right behind you". How beautiful. I'm sure that is not a comforting thought for their children who are still grieving the loss of their father, but somehow, it r...

In an interview I had today, I shared a recent struggle and how I had decided not to "let it define me" any further. Towards the end of the interview, one of the gentlmen interviewing me returned to that topic. He said, "You said you weren't letting [that situation] define you, but what would you say does define you?". Excellent Question. How do I want to be known? The question gave me pause for a moment. I shared with him that I want to be known as someone who loves Jesus and is busy sharing His light. I want to reflect Him. And, then I told him that I think my friends would say that I'm a person who loves really well. I definitely want to be known like that. But, as I think about it, I think I would have to define myself as a work on the way. I really want to love like Jesus, but I know that I often fall short of that goal. But, I'm trying. I want to be a great support to my friends and someone whom they can trust. But, again, I know I fail...

Hello all! I'm researching some things for a project I've been writing. I'd love it if I could get some outside input for my research. I'm studying and writing about the lies we believe about ourselves, our families, our relationships, God, our situations and circumstances, etc. For instance, some of the lies I have believed in the past are: "I am an unfinished mess." "I am broken. I am not whole." "I can't do something because I am afraid." Please post your lies below. By posting comments directly on my blog at http://christysolly.blogspot.com, you may post annonymously. Feel free to post as many as you feel comfortable. These can be lies you've believed in the past or something you are believing now. Things that affect your view of yourself, of God, of others, etc. Thanks so much everyone! ****Update July 20, 2010****** Hello everyone! I'm doing my best to respond to each comment. I realize that some of you who are pos...

-/\/\----------------------------------------------------------------- \ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/ --\/------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday, November 4, 2009 MORNING: "For my strength is made perfect in weakness." -- 2 Corinthians 12:9 A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God's work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God's warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, "I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory," defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for "it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Th...

Here are some words that stirred and broke my heart today. From "IF" by Amy Carmichael. There are a number of areas in my heart and various situations where these apply...ouch. If I do not feel far more for the grieved Saviour than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love. If in dealing with one who does not respond, I weary of the strain, and slip from under the burden, then I know nothing of Calvary love. If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love. If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where is no peace; if I forget the poignant word, "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, th...

The Lord has been working on my heart pretty intensely these days. I've wrestled with an area of unforgiveness for several days and I believe I have finally been able to let go of the hurt. But, it seems that I have barely settled my heart on one issue before the Holy Spirit brings another to mind. It's what I want. I want to be more like Jesus and this is the process. But, it's so difficult and so much work. It's hard to look your failings and weaknesses in the face and lay them at the feet of Jesus! A few days I read something that has really be gnawing on my heart. I am reading a biography of Amy Carmichael, a turn of the century missionary to India. When she first arrived in India, she had an occasion to be sternly (and perhaps not appropriately) scolded by an older missionary woman. Being of Irish stock, her temper started to get the best of her when she heard a voice whisper, "Let this be an opportunity to die". What? It took me a moment to see what the ...

In the past couple of weeks I have really been challenged by watching the life of a friend of mine. I've watched him take on a couple of projects and go hard at them without complaining. As I've watched him and seen the results of his hard work, I have been awed by what a difference it makes to do something with excellence. Many, if not most, of us are usually satisfied with "good enough". We don't give our best effort at everything and simply settle for whatever we accomplish. I am guilty of that often. I usually get a "good enough" result with a minimal or average effort, and I've been content with that. No more. As I've thought about this during the week, the Holy Spirit has really convicted me. There are areas of my life that really need attention in the excellence department. I've been reading the Scriptures (Colossians 3, II Peter 1, Philipians 4, etc) and it only reaffirms what I am feeling in my spirit. Everything I do, wheth...

I watched this video today and it resonated in my heart. It touched on a part of my heart that has been challenged since I've returned from Honduras. While I was there, we would have 2 or 3 church services a day. By the end of the day, I felt completely poured out. All that was in me, I had poured out for the people of Honduras. And, it was a requirement - a profound necessity - to fill back up on the Word of God, prayer, and time in His presence. It wasn't an option. It was as voluntary as breathing. We had a good deal of "down" time, but it was important to spend that time filling back up in order that we could pour ourselves out. Since I have been home, I haven't reached that point of being poured out. It has broken my heart to realize this. It should feel as necessary as breakfast to dive into the Word in the morning. I should feel that hunger and thirst as if it were time for lunch in the middle of the day. And, in the evening, I should long for the Word of G...

Thursday night I returned from an 11 day mission trip to Honduras. It was a WONDERFUL trip and very intense for me. I am still working on gathering all of the miracles we saw in order to have them in one place, but it was beyond anything I could imagine. At the last service alone, 13 people had their sight restored! It was incredible to have the opportunity to minister with the PCF (Peachtree Christian Fellowship) team and pour God's love and power on the people of Honduras. There will be more to come, but I wanted to write about how the trip most affected me personally while it's all still fresh. God definitely worked on my heart while I was there and I'm pretty sure He broke down anything left of myself that was getting in His way! For those of you who don't know, here's a quick recap of what God has been working in my life in the last 12 years. When I was 18, I first noticed that something was wrong with my body and since then, I've been seeing Doctor a...

This is one of my favorite hymns. It resonates within my heart like little else. It's been on my mind for the last few days, and I've been meditating on the words. Come Thou Fount Come Thou Fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise Teach me some melodius sonnet Sung by flaming tongues above Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it Mount of Thy redeeming love Here I raise mine Ebenezer Hither by Thy help I'm come And I hope, by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home Jesus sought me when a stranger Wandering from the fold of God He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to thee Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart, O take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above I think there are a number of reasons why this song ...

A dear friend emailed me the lyrics to a song today in relation to something we were discussing. I’ve read it several times today and listened to it as well. I’ve found myself within these words. I can see so much of me in the following lyrics. Martyrs and Theives By: Jennifer Knapp There's a place in the darkness that I used to cling to It presses harsh hope against time In the absence of martyrs there's a presence of thieves Who only want to rob you blind They steal away any sense of peace Though I'm a king I'm a king on my knees And I know they are wrong when they say I am strong As the darkness covers me There are ghosts from my past who've owned more of my soul Than I thought I had given away They linger in closets and under my bed And in pictures less proudly displayed A great fool in my life I have been Have squandered till pallid and thin Hung my head in shame and refused to take blame For the darkness I know I've let win Can you hear me? Well I'v...

I’ve been thinking a lot today about the Christian practice and/or idea of a “Quiet Time”. This is supposed to be that time during the day when you are quiet before the Lord and study His Word. My own perception of what that time looks like in practice has been challenged in the last several months. A Quiet Time (or Devotional Time) has always seemed to have a pretty standard structure for me. It may include a time of prayer in the beginning (especially inclusive of a request for wisdom and open eyes and ears), a time of Bible reading or study using a curriculum of sorts, and then a time of closing prayer (mostly filled with requests). This is a fairly shallow and narrow depiction of what a quiet time could consist of, but I think it is fairly representative of the way we are taught to have these times. In the past few months, and in my processing of them this morning, I have come to see Quiet Times in a new light. As I was discussing the idea of a quiet time (via email) with a fr...