Random Musings

Spiritual House Cleaning Lately, I've been doing a lot of reading on Spiritual Spring Cleaning. As one chapter in my life closes and another begins, I feel the need to have a time of reconsecration and rededication to the things of the Lord. Today, I ran across a great article about King Hezekiah and how he cleaned and reconsecrated the Temple to the Lord's purposes. Here's the link to that article: http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.107.9 In a side bar, there was a list of 10 Questions for Spiritual Spring Cleaning. I want to share that here. You can also access it by going to: http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.107.9.1 10 Questions for Spiritual Spring Cleaning 1. What am I grumbling about? "Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction". (Isaiah 29:24) "Do everything without complaining or arguing" (Philippians 2:14) 2. Do I have habits that irrit...

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to speak at my church. Below are my notes for that message. (Some people have asked for a recording, but it didn't actually get recorded due to sound difficulties. And, since I didn't really deviate from my notes, I decided to post them here). The notes are kind of long because I wrote out the passages of scripture I used. I encourage all of you to spend some time in Ephesians and the rest of Paul's epistles. They are chock full of pearls of wisdom. I showed these three videos before the service. Feel free to check them out. God of this city (Paris) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Ocr8udIuQ Disneyland Paris - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tUJTIR0ECU Friends in France - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaH-Y4WQdD8 France 2008 For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Christy Solly, and I am honored to have the opportunity to share with you today. On August 10th, I had the privilege of traveling to France with Alan and Heidi W...

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...

For the last several weeks, I have been very aware of the clouds. I have seen some of the most BEAUTIFUL skies I’ve seen in my lifetime. I’ve seen amazing sunsets as I’ve been driving down the interstate. I’ve seen full and beautiful cloud formations in the most unlikely of places and unremarkable of days. It’s as though the Lord has been drawing my eye to the sky and towards Him in a time when I’ve needed more and more to rest in His presence. I’m not sure what exactly He’s trying to teach me or speak to my heart, but this came across my email today and gave me something to chew on. I wanted to share it here. Today’s My Utmost for His Highest Entry: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR CLOUDS? Behold, He cometh with clouds. Revelation 1:7 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=re+1:7&sr=1 In the Bible clouds are always connected with God. Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or providences, within or without our personal lives, which seem to dispute the rule of God. ...

I just found out today, in the Sunday service, that our youth pastor has taken a job at another church. He and his family will be leaving us August 1st. I feel like my heart is breaking in my chest. Since coming to us last year, Tom and Jen have planted themselves in our hearts and it is sad to let them go. In some ways, it’s truly a blessing that the Lord has called them to another church. Tom and Jen came here a year ago with a strong conviction that the Lord was calling them to FCC. However, we’ve struggled financially for some time now and can no longer support 2 pastors. I believe it is God’s blessing on the faithfulness of Tom and Jen that has opened another position for them nearby. I pray that it will be a good thing for them and their family. I am sad, for many reasons, at the loss of this family. Tom has done an amazing job with our youth. In the time that he’s been here, we seen a number of students come to know the Lord and be baptized. He’s taken the staff under ...

Scripture: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” Ephesians 5:1-2 “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” – Ephesians 5:3-5 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light” – Ephesians 5:6-8 “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful eve...

Scripture: “ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him” – Eph. 3:11-12 “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you , being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” – Eph. 3:17-21 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance or one another in love, being diligent to preserve the u...

A few weeks ago, I sent an email to some ladies with whom I am connected. It's prompted a number of conversations and has reaffirmed my belief that this topic is one that needs godly discussion. I'd like to post that email here now for a wider audience. I realize that some may see my views and unyielding, old fashioned, and too black and white. I'm ok with that. I realize that it may be one of those issues where we may need to "agree to disagree", but I welcome any comments and discussion. Here's the original email: Hello Ladies! I wanted to share with you something that's heavy on my heart right now. I've chosen to email each of you because you are a young person, have a young person in your home, or you may have an opportunity to minister to someone who has been touched by the following topic. I'd like to talk about pornography. This is a hot button issue for me and I have some strong opinions, but, today, I'd like to share with you ...

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...

Scripture (The Message Version): Ephesians 1:4-6: Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son. Ephesians 1:11-12: It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone. Ephesians 1:17-19: But I do more than thank. I ask – ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do, grasp the immensity...

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...

Scripture “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 “You were running well, who hindered you from obeying the truth?” – Galatians 5:7 “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.”- Galatians 5:9 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkennes, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its pa...

From: My Utmost for His Highest WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend. John 15:13,15 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=joh+15:13,15&sr=1 Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said - "I will lay down my life for Thy sake" and he meant it; his sense of the heroic was magnificent. It would be a bad thing to be incapable of making such a declaration as Peter made; the sense of our duty is only realized by our sense of the heroic. Has the Lord ever asked you - "Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake?" It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways. There was only one brilliant moment in the life of Jesus, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration; then He emptied Himself the sec...

Today has been a WONDERFUL day! Thank you to all of you who contributed to the purchase of this beautiful laptop in front of me. It’s SO great to have the freedom to stop and capture my thoughts before they’re gone. Writing is one of the ways I sort through things and I’ve been able to write more since I used my graduation money to purchase this laptop! Thanks again! This morning started out with Ladies Bible Study at the church. Jen’s been doing a great job of getting us together each Saturday morning for a journey through Paul’s letters. Each week, we read 2 chapters and then use the acronymn S.O.A.P. to work our way through them. (Scripture – write down the scriptures that stand out to you; Observation – what do you observe about these verses; Application – how can you apply them to your life; Prayer – write a prayer to the Lord as you reflect on what you’ve learned). This morning’s chapters were Galatians 3 and 4. Much of these verses emphasize grace versus the law and our sonship ...

A few minutes ago, I sat on the verge of tears as a number of circumstances came together to make me sad. As often is my habit, I sat down at the piano to play and sing through my emotions. I opened one of my songbooks to a random page and found solace there. Come to Jesus by: Chris Rice Weak and wounded sinner Lost and left to die O, raise your head for Love is passin' by Come to Jesus Come to Jesus Come to Jesus and live Now your burden's lifted And carried far away And precous blood has washed away the stain. So sing to Jesus Sing to Jesus Sing to Jesus and live Like a newborn baby Don't be afraid to crawl And remember when you walk, sometimes we fall So fall on Jesus Fall on Jesus Fall on Jesus and live Sometimes the way is lonely And steep and filled with pain So if your sky is dark and pours the rain The cry to Jesus Cry to Jesus Cru to Jesus and live O, and when the love spills over And music fills the night And when you can't contain your joy inside Then dance...

This morning, during the music portion of our worship service, the Lord highlighted in my heart a young man in our congregation. We were singing the song “Hosanna” from the new Passion project. There’s a line in that song that says, “I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith”. In that moment, I had a glimpse of the new generation in our church…in the church at large. If I could speak to my generation and the ones that follow, this is what I would say: God is doing something new. He is raising up among you leaders to take His name to the nations and to those around you. There is revival ahead if we choose Him. It’s not always the easy choice, but it is always the best and right choice. In choosing Christ, at times you will also be choosing loneliness or pain. That’s ok. We are here but for a moment. The things of this world are passing like the blade of grass that is here today and gone tomorrow. What’s important…what lasts forever…is what we do fo...