Random Musings

I just had an amazing conversation with a friend I have known for more than 17 years. We know each other well and have prayed one another through many things in life. She is a blessing to me, a true gift from God. We just spent time sharing our burdens and carrying them before the Father together. What a joy to walk this road with others who are on the same journey. It makes it so much more fun! I've been digging into wisdom literature lately and my conversation with my friend reminded me of this passage from Ecclesiastes 4:7-12: 7-8 I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: a solitary person, completely alone—no children, no family, no friends—yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, "Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?" More smoke. A bad business. 9-10 It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the w...

I spend alot of time thinking about what it means to love like Christ. It's such a small statement, but so difficult to truly live. I wrestle with my flesh all of the time when it comes to dying to myself and truly loving others as I've been called to love them. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35 It's a command. Love one another as I have loved you. If we claim the name of Jesus, we don't have a choice about this one. As I was thinking about it this morning, I came across a really familiar verse that struck me afresh. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, alwa...

Hi Everyone. I received this message last night from my friend, Paul Pierson. Please be praying for him. In the short time that I have known him, he has truly impacted my walk with the Lord. He is watching for the Lord to do something amazing. Join with me in praying God would be glorified in this. Below is his message: -------------------- Subject: Kidney Update So 6 weeks ago I scheduled a check up with my doctor to see how my kidneys were functioning, before I planned on leaving for Thailand. That was last week. If you read my last email, you know I was diagnosed as Stage 4 Renal Failure. Basically that means I have 19% kidney function. Not good. If you have 15% kidney function, you start dialysis and then, if your kidney's don't start working, you get put on a kidney transplant list. This stage is called Stage 5: End stage renal failure. End being the key word. So I'm 4% away from from Stage 5. Or so I thought. I went to my new kidney specialist this morning and I ...

Dear Family and Friends, In a couple of hours, I'll be headed to the airport and then to Paris, France! For those of you who don't know, I'm traveling with Alan and Heidi Winter of Frontline Missions. (I also traveled with them in April to Honduras). I'm hoping to get to work more and more with Alan and Heidi. This trip to France is a step in that direction. God put France in my heart when I was 17 years old and now, His plans for me are coming together and becoming very real. I'm very excited about the possibilities ahead and I can't wait to see what God is doing in France and what He will work in my heart for the next 10 days. I'll be gone from August 10th - August 20th. We'll be staying with some friends of the Winters and will be traveling around with them for the time we are there. Please pray for the following things (as well as whatever else God may put on your heart for this trip) - Pray that we will be sensitive to God's leading a...

This week, God gave me my own little miracle and I wanted to share the story. For many years, I have had chronic pain in my back, legs, and arms. I’ve had it for so long, it’s really become quite normal for me. In an effort to manage the pain, I’ve seen a number of chiropractors over the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been introduced to a wonderful Christian chirpractor in Tyrone, Dr. Peggy Murray. Dr. Peggy has been more than a chiropractor for me. She has openly shared her heart and her faith. She told me on my first visit that she is a Christian chiropractor, not just a chiropractor who is a Christian. She prays over me as she adjusts me and uses her gift of healing as she works on my back. Last week, she told me (for about the millionth time) that I really needed a massage. My muscles were in such knots that she wasn’t having much luck adjusting me. She also told me she would pray for the person I went to see to be someone with the gift of healing…someone with a...

Dear Friends, I just found out this afternoon that I am going to France August 10th - 20th with Alan and Heidi Winter of Frontline Missions! (I went with them and the Landmark Team to Honduras in April). For those of you who haven't heard my stories lately, here's a brief recap of what's been going on: A little history... When I was 12, the Lord called me to full-time ministry. He didn't give me any real direction, and I just assumed it would be music ministry, so I began working in that direction. When I was 17, the Lord put France in my heart. (I remember, like it was yesterday, standing in Notre Dame and having my heart crushed for the people of France). A few weeks later, I went on my first mission trip with Frontline Missions to Belize. Since then, I've been learning to listen to the Lord and seek His direction for my life. I've had the opportunity to be stretched as a musician and as a worship leader. The Lord has shown me pieces of the future min...

There has been a verse rolling around in my head for several weeks. II Chronicles 7:14 - "[if] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land". That's quite a promise. Today, I read that scripture in context. That text is God's answer to Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple. Solomon cried out to God and put many scenarios before Him. Solomon reminded God of the promise to his Father, David, that their line would be blessed and would sit on the throne of Israel. He asked God to keep His promise. Solomon presented the house which he had built for the Lord and asked God to live there, to remain there, and turn His eyes and ear towards the people and their prayers in that place. He asked specific things of the Lord. "Listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward th...