27 Quotes/Phrases/Thoughts/Lyrics to live by: #8

Ready for the first "lyrics" of the theme'd post? After completing my "birth day", people have been asking "how was it.." I don't really know how to answer that question.. It was a grown up birthday.. No party, no cake (we did a joint family birthday this year in Feb), lotsa rain, working all day.. it just was ;) 


but -in "being"- it was fine/good/not bad :) I realized tho, that instead of saying "fine/good/not bad", I should be responding, "My day was..


Blessed, for my heart is found in thankfulness, 
takin' in these mercies
Blessed, oh yes i have the way
for my heart is found in thankfulness
givin' me new mercies 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzzK_WGOCE8&feature=related 
(for the whole song, see the lyrics in the description under the video)


and after harping on lyrics and meaning in the past few posts, I will say:
I'm a linguistic nerd, a sucker for rap/clever-double-meaning lyrics in a poetic way..
and the irony of the unexpected = Asian's rapping with Spanish lyrics.. 
I'm a fan of the multi-lingual-ness of the song too.. 

and the story-like quality of the way the song builds.. 
and the direct biblical references/Christian culture things
(reminds me of theologically sound stuff like Lecrae)
and the salsa/reggae beat.. 

and.. and.. just enjoy! :)


Soli Deo Gloria
:D

27 Quotes/Phrases/Thoughts/Lyrics to live by: #9

It's been said that the longer you're a Christian, you don't become "sinless", but you will begin to "sin less" (as you learn more and more about what pleases and displeases God).. And while I can see evidence of this quote from time to time, I think it's not so much that we "sin less" the more mature Christian we become, but we become more aware of our short comings and God's perfection.. and recognize more deeply the PRICELESS gift that Jesus Christ's righteousness credited to our account brings.. 


It's kinda the same way that a surface of a counter can be dirty.. so I wipe it off.. 
but then I put on my glasses.. and I can see I missed some spots, so I wipe it more..
but then I pull the magnifying glass out of the drawer, and there's still some dirt.. so I wipe some more
and then I bring over my sisters microscope, and I find yet more that needs to be cleaned up.. 
and it seems like this never ending job.. 


and in reality - "cleaning up our lives" is a never ending job.. at those times, it's good to remember that I'm just a sinner saved by grace.. And I am clothed in HIS Righteousness.. so while I strive to honor my Creator, I'm constantly humbled by his gift to me! It always amazes me, how I can be meditating on a Praise and Worship song while driving down the highway, and so easily get "derailed" when someone seemingly cuts me off, or how I can be thinking about things that are pure and lovely, and then *BAM* something disgusting pops into my thoughts.. but that's for another time and another post.. ("Who will save me from this wretched state I am in.. but thanks be to God.. who delivers me through our Lord Jesus Christ..")

Soli Deo Gloria
:D

27 Quotes/Phrases/Thoughts/Lyrics to live by: #10

In lieu of yesterday's post, I think this is one of the reasons that I find lyrics, poetry and spoken word in general so -dangerous? misleading? in need of being scrutinized? Those things all seem so harsh, and negative.. When I don't mean to be a debbie-downer.. I just want to point out that:


"A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false because spoken magnificently."
Saint Augustine


At times I'm jealous of people like this guy or this girl (sorry Deafies - find me a grant, I'll take up a part time job and I'll fix Google's captions by inputting them all manually..), and I wish I could be as eloquent as they are.. I find myself linguistically drawn to the "I see what you did there!" manipulations of their words, weaving a brilliant tapestry of sounds and syllables into a picturesque scene that some one will pay money to hang on their wall..


..but then I think of this quote, and it's implications and my utmost desire is that the things I utter are TRUE.. 


I want to be a "person of my word".. but now-a-days, it seems (myself included) that our "Word" doesn't carry as much weight.. 
"I'll get that back to you tomorrow".. (a week passes, and it's not completed).. 
"Yes, I will be there".. (Something else comes up and we don't make it).. 


It seems like it's deeper than even that, though - I guess it goes back to Paul's admonition to "test everything; keep what is good".. which brings me full circle to yesterdays quote.. Don't just swallow everything that's given to you. Life comes with instructions: discernment required!


Soli Deo Gloria
:D

27 Quotes/Phrases/Thoughts/Lyrics to live by: #11

I realize I've labeled this blog series "quotes/phrases/thoughts/LYRICS to live by".. and haven't used any song lyrics.. yet.. mainly, cuz I find myself frustrated more often than not with lyrics of songs [namely Christian "praise and worship" - as clearly they are synonymous *rolls eyes*.. am I insinuating that someone can worship God without singing?? *gasps*! but I digress].. and don't feel like I can just throw lyrics up here carelessly..  Here's my main beef with to days "P and Dub" (praise and worship - for those of you who don't speak "christianese"):


"Christians don't tell lies, they just go to church and sing them" - A.W. Tozer

Most "modern praise and worship" makes my eyes squint, and my nose crinkle..  because if people actually sang what they lived out, it'd be more like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTXyKfD55p8 
("I Surrender Some")


And, I will admit, there are just many songs that I can't/won't/don't sing at Church. I know some people will say those lyrics are suppose to be the "desire" of our hearts.. and I know some people just like the way the music sounds and don't really pay attention to the lyrics.. and I get art, and creative license (and am not a "lyric Nazi" abt every song) - BUT - I mean, if we analyzed 1/2 the stuff that we listen to daily on the radio (christian OR secular), do you really know what you're singing about? most of it is *not* appropriate or accurate! 


I guess -for me- since lyrics get stuck on repeat in my head like a broken record, it's something that I've come to realize can do a lot of destruction to ones thought processes.. or, on the flip side, can really brighten the outlook of a situation.. 


I guess what I'm trying to say is 1) if you're singing at Church - just make sure you *comprehend* what you're singing, and don't sing things that you don't mean.. 2) if you're not at Church, and you're jamming along to a song, but you'd never *say* those things to someone in public, then quit singing it!


Ok, I'll stop there.. I don't really want to rail on music, as I enjoy music just as much as the next person.. it's just the little things that get swept under the rug in lyrics that get me.. but I'll leave those for another post and another time..


Soli Deo Gloria
:D

27 Quotes/Phrases/Thoughts/Lyrics to live by: # 12

In keeping the previous entry in mind.. I don't know that I need to say more than the quote itself for this one.. it ties into the same idea, it's just expressed differently..


Soli Deo Gloria
:D

27 Quotes/Phrases/Thoughts/Lyrics to live by: # 13

For this quote, as well as quote #16, I found out that it's most likely not really said by the person it's widely attributed to.. However, I don't think that diminishes the quote itself.. So, while this quote is often connected to Eric Liddell, Google tells me it's only the "movie version of him" that says this..

"God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."

So whether he really said this while he was living/breathing here on Earth, or if it's something that he just might of said, I think it still rings true. If the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, doesn't it make sense that He would put in us something that allows us to feel that pleasure? We can discuss the nature of giftings on many different levels, but I know that when I sign (use American Sign Language) I feel God's pleasure. When I teach - specifically kids, and Bible lesson's - I feel God's pleasure. When I create "artsy-craftsy" things, I feel God's pleasure. When I am involved in athletic activities and compete well, I feel God's pleasure.. 

It seems to me, that America in general, has gotten away from this concept of "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men." I know there are some people that will say "watching sports isn't' "Christian".. "working for Walmart isn't "Christian".. "making movies isn't "Christian".. But Paul doesn't remind us to "be Christian".. He says *whatever* we do.. do it in the presence of the Lord, our Adonai.. and *enjoy* Him, and his giftings.. 

I'll close with a quote that supposedly Eric Liddell did say, "In the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory there is a glory to be found if one has done his best." *whatever* He's gifted you in.. find the glory in doing your best! :)

Soli Deo Gloria

:D

27 Quotes/Phrases/Thoughts/Lyrics to live by: #14

Math and I are like oil and water.. 

we just don't get along.. 

I've tried.. for years I have..

but math is just one of those things that I can't reconcile.. 

(pun intended)

I don't know why, ..

but numbers think they have the freedom to swim in my head

thus you even say "Math.." and I tend to say NOOOOOOO... 

So these are all things I wish I would have thought of when I was in Mrs. Langbartels' Math classes.. 
or Mrs. Wests' Pre-Algebra (for the 3rd time).. 
I think they would have appreciated my humor.. but alas, now there's no math tests to copy all these brilliant answers to math's ever repeating problems! 
Enjoy.. 

Soli Deo Gloria
:D