In Which the Children Plan Easter Service

Bethany and Trenton spent most of the afternoon planning a Good Friday Service. It was so sweet. They changed into dress clothes, made bulletins, set up the school room and practiced songs. I'll let the pictures and captions tell the story. 

All dressed up

I love these sweet faces.

Can't leave out the elements for Communion

Taking offering (with money they gave us). Bethany is in the background getting the games set up for us. Yes! They had games with prizes. Really creative and cute!

Bethany teaching a lesson. She had places marked in her Bible and she asked Daddy to read them. The vacuum piece Trenton is holding is their microphone and Bethany is standing behind the podium. :)

Trenton playing the worship music.

A visual aid of The Last Supper. Trenton is holding it up as Bethany tells the story.

Trenton did a reenactment with his knights and people.

Trenton closed in prayer.

Standing on the Promises

This week I read Granola Mom 4 God and this post. It's so good you have to go read it!
Here is a list of the verses that I copied/pasted from her post.

1. It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.  (Deuteronomy 31:8)
2. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)
3. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
4. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)
5. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.  (Isaiah 54:17)

 So encouraging!

Hearing the Word

This morning I had a doctor's appointment (just a routine exam) and while I was in the car, I heard Dr. David Jeremiah's sermon on hope. It was a wonderful reminder and follow-up to a conversation I had just last night with a good friend.

Then on the way home I heard Focus on the Family's broadcast. Phenomenal! The speaker was Joan Brock and she was so good. Very encouraging!

I'm looking forward to going back and listening to both of these again.
When you have time, listen and be encouraged!!

Time away + Eating off the Floor

Two weeks ago, my oldest daughter and I went to the Midwest Homeschool Convention. We traveled with a friend and her daughter. We had a good time and God used it to teach each of us more about Himself and depending on Him.

The classes I went to focused much on reaching the hearts of our children, inspiring learning and persevering through the journey of life for the glory of God. I'd love to sit down with my notes and blog about the details. I will work on doing that in the next month or so. (Just a side note: we laughed until it hurt at the Tim Hawkins concert.)

My girl took these three pictures while we were at the convention. We walked to a little restaurant and had lunch in this park. So relaxing and refreshing.

From relaxing and refreshing, we now return to 'regular life' where I'd put off washing the kitchen floor for...ummm...a LONG time. My thinking traveled the gamut, everything from "It's winter time and the kids and dog will be tracking in all kinds of inclement elements." Then I thought, "Always such a big job, let me just wait until after the spring rains." Finally I could take no more. The floor was downright dirty.

Yesterday was the day...I got down on my hands and knees (is there any other way?) and scrubbed that floor until well, we could have eaten off it! =)

Now that it is clean again, I love it. And it makes me want to wash it again just to try to keep it clean.

From here it's an easy jump to the analogy of my life and walk with God. If I neglect my daily walk with Him, 'junk' (sin) builds up quickly. Spending time on my knees, scrubbing out the dirt and allowing His righteousness to wash over me, leaves me refreshed and wanting to get on my knees tomorrow. This verse has been close to my heart this week:

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4

Jesus, draw me nearer. Nearer Lord to thee!

Be sure to visit Home Sanctuary and connect with other Company Girls. Thanks for stopping by!

Retreat and Then Some

I've missed posting to Company Girls for the last couple weeks, so I'm glad to be able to do it today...one day late...but still, here I am. I've enjoyed reading and trying to accomplish Rachel Anne's Small Things. March was my first full month and I'm looking forward to keeping up even more this month.

I so enjoy company and love to meet new friends. In addition, spring seems to be here, really here! Seeing the sun shine and feeling the warm it gives, digging in the dirt and planting and most of all, hearing my children laugh and play outside have ALL helped lighten my heart. God is good and gives us incredible blessings. Open my heart and eyes, God, to what You want me to see and do. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you visit again! To my regular reading friends, thanks for coming back to check on me after longs days of not posting. You encourage me!

Two weekends ago I was blessed by being able to attend a women's retreat. Sponsored by our women's Sunday school class, the retreat was held at a state park lodge. The scenery including a big lake was beautiful and so relaxing. The theme of the retreat was The A.R.T. of Fellowship. Our sessions, games, and decorations centered around Abiding in Christ, Relationships with others, and using our Talents to glorify God, build up the body of Christ and be a light to the rest of the world. We each received a little 3x3 canvas to paint something to remind us of the weekend. This sweet little girl was on the promotion material for the retreat and I wanted her on my canvas! I talked a friend into pencil drawing her on my canvas (which is why she actually resembles the little girl) and then I painted her. She sits on my kitchen counter and is a visible reminder of The A.R.T. of Fellowship.

This week the kids and I spent each morning reading Scripture leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. I am deeply humbled and grateful for the amazing grace and mercy given to me. The blood of Jesus shed for me...I thank God for the faith and heart to even try to take in this life-changing event. I pray that you will set aside time this weekend (and every day) to spend with Jesus, our Savior and our Lord.

A friend posting this on her facebook and it was really good...I'd never heard it before...



Lastly, I found this Resurrection Garden idea and I REALLY want to do this next year with the kids.

Thanks for visiting with me today.

He is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!

Seeking God

I've titled my quiet time "Seeking God Alone". Really this title takes on two meanings: 1. Seeking God by myself--my Bible, God and me. 2. Seeking only God for my daily strength and wisdom.
I struggle with making sure I'm going to God first with a problem, a hurt or a question. Sometimes I turn to friends, or my hunny, or sometimes I want to avoid it altogether and I turn to food or some other distraction. Seeking godly counsel or talking something over with a friend is not wrong in themselves. However if I am only turning to others and not turning to God, then I am wrong.

I read this article this morning titled "What does it mean to seek the Lord?" It's by John Piper and was a great reminder.

Col. 3:1-2 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Seek Him today.

The week God planned

I'm thankful for online friends and Company Girls has been a delightful place to get to know other women who are seeking to make their home a sanctuary. Rachel Anne has encouraging posts each day to help you do a 'small thing' (and boy those small things really add up to be big!) Today I'm thankful that you have come to visit because my house guest just left a few hours ago (sniff, sniff). She really enjoyed making and drinking peach tea while she was here. So pour yourself a glass and read about the week that God planned. Thank you for being here.
...and come back soon....

A week that God plans is far better than anything I could plan! I know you can relate: the week that I thought we were going to have was promptly (and providentially) turned upside down when a friend called last Saturday. She lives a few hours away and needed to have some time away from her home to think over some important things.

Of course, we said "you are welcome here, please come." She did and let me tell you the wonderful week we had. She had lots of time to think, read and pray. And we had time to enjoy her company. She is a gracious, sweet friend who loves my children and can make a walking stick laugh. :)

I've been studying the "One Anothers" in Scripture. Here are just a few of them:

• Comfort one another. I Thessalonians 4:18
• Build one another up Romans 15:2 "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." I Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
• Bear one another's burdens Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
• Care for one another. I Corinthians 12:25 "that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another."
• Show hospitality to one another. I Peter 4:9 "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."

My friend that was here this week was a joy to have. My hunny and I spent the evenings talking with her and helping her work through things. And each morning, my sweet 4 year old, pounded on her door and excitedly said, "Good Morning!" Each one of my 3 kids enjoyed time with her playing games, painting nails and reading books. My prayer for her and her family is that God would redeem the time she was away, grow her into the person HE wants her to be and give her the grace and mercy she needs to live every day for Him.

{sigh} I miss her already.

Parting Scenes

I am reading and studying through The Friendships of Women by Dee Brestin. [You may remember I was going to study Romancing Your Child's Heart next, however the book could not be found on my shelf. I've since gotten a copy (thanks to a good friend), but for now I'm studying this book.]
Chapter one of Brestin's book talks about greeting scenes and parting scenes as well as how girls are gifted for friendships. She uses the Biblical examples of Jonathan and David (I Samuel 20:41-42) and Naomi and her daughter-in-laws (Ruth 1:9-10).

I've had many painful partings in my life, however I wrote about two this morning and thought I'd share them with you. I've just copied and pasted from my journal.

I remember a parting scene in my own life when a dear friend and her family moved to Michigan. I remember it because it was so sad that they were leaving. Our children had played together since almost birth, she and I had become close in sharing prayer requests and keeping accountable and even more than that our husbands had 'clicked' and were good friends. They were 'iron sharpening iron' with each other. Knowing that they would be 8 hours away was heart wrenching. That was 9 1/2 years ago and the Lord has allowed us to remain friends and we still keep in touch pretty regularly.

The other parting scene in my own life that remains etched forever is when my friend Julie died. Her husband called and said that by all indications her time on this earth was very short. He said he wanted me to come and be with her. A friend watched my children and I drove to Columbus with tears aching in my throat. I arrived just as dinner was being served and her husband said it was great timing as I could sit with Julie as they all ate together. God allowed me to witness her last hours, I believe, so that I would rejoice as she was ushered into heaven, seeing the pain she was in here on earth. I read Scripture, I sang, I stroked her beautiful face that had wasted away by the cancer. I talked to her as though she could hear every word, even though I wasn't sure if she could or not. I told her how much she meant to me and to her family. I told her to go to Jesus--that she had fought the good fight and I knew she would hear those sweet words from our Savior---"Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord." A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye as mine poured unchecked down my cheeks. Not even one hour later, she breathed her last labored breath and she was with Jesus. Appropriately her devoted husband was by her side. I was snuggling her babies on my lap reading book after book and choking back my raw emotions. Even nearly 3 years later the memory of her brings tears to my eyes. My heart aches with the pain of parting...not only for me, of course, but for her husband, three growing children and her extended family and friends.

Despite the pain that parting brings it is important to go hug goodbye to the traveling family, sit by the bedside of a dying friend, even kiss my hunny at the door before he leaves for work. Friendship and love are not only for the good times and fun times, but also for the hard times, the growing times, the painful times. The latter dig a well of growth and depth to my life that otherwise would not be there. This reminds me of a quote that roughly says that it's in the valleys that we grow. Life is not all mountain top experiences, in fact in my life those have been far and few between. However God is growing me into the person He wants me to be. A deep, passionate, loving person who treasures the people He has put on the path with me.

Tomorrow--greeting scenes. :)
I think it's so precious that I'm answering these questions today. Julie's birthday is on Friday, Feb.12. I've been thinking about her for weeks now, anticipating her birthday and what that means to those who miss her deeply. God is faithful. Through this study today He has reminded me that it is important to be present with my loved ones, whether that means in the fun times or the sorrowful times. He has given us today to be present with the ones He has in our lives. May I take the time to love and to growth with the family and friends I come into contact with today.

Fix our Eyes

It's been a long week and a half! We had computer problems, my hunny had back problems, my girls are having sinus problems and me?? well, just problems! hee, hee!

I went to bed really early last night and am feeling somewhat ready to tackle today. In my Bible study I'm reading Hebrews 12~~especially the first couple verses:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This week I've been asking myself some questions: such as "What does it mean to fix my eyes on Jesus?" "What do I need to lay aside in order that I can run with endurance the race that is set before me?" "How can I increase my endurance?"

I want to run the race well, and unlike a physical race, I do not know when the end of my race will come. I'm thinking that's where the endurance comes in! I must fix my eyes on Him and ask Him for the strength and grace to run with endurance. For me "fixing my eyes" on Him starts with reading His Word and praying that the Holy Spirit will use His Words to penetrate my life, change my heart and draw me towards Him.

My encouragement to you today is to fix your eyes on Him, the author and finisher of our faith.
All for His glory!

Serve a cup of kindness

As I prepare to teach a mini lesson (for the T & T AWANA class) on kindness tonight, I wanted to share the visual that I'm using. I used a template that I've used before for a different focus. Before it said, "Warm up to a good book." It had a packet of hot chocolate mix and a note card tucked inside. Once they finished the book, they would write a short summary on the note card.

This time it says, "Serve a Cup of Kindness". I am going to talk about the song "I'm a little teapot" and how what we are filled up with will come out when we are 'bumped'. Then I am going to have them give some ways that they can show kindness intertwined with Scriptures that speak about kindness.

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."

I'm looking forward to it although I'm a little nervous too!

Note: I used two Stampin' Up stamps (borrowed from a friend) for the teapot and cup.

The Next Study Endeavor

This morning I finished reading The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias. It was a thought provoking book and I enjoyed reading and studying through it.

Next I'm going to read "Romancing Your Child's Heart" by Monte Swan. I bought this book years ago, read a couple pages and put it down. I don't even remember why. Then a couple weeks ago, I came across an e-workbook for the book. So, I'm intrigued. I'm going to read the book and go through the workbook. I pray that it's a good study.

I'm trying to remember where I purchased the e-workbook. I got it along with several other things and I'm sure I can track down the information. When I do, I'll add it to this post.

Do share what you are studying, won't you?

Music that Ministers

I so enjoy music and often I find that it soothes my soul, expresses thoughts and feelings I'm having and reminds me of the hope we have in our faithful God. This is one of my new found favorites.



JJ Heller has a fun blog that I've already enjoyed reading. The words of this song have been my companion this holiday season. He holds us in His hands!

The God Chronicles

A blog I often read, Titus 2:3-5, hosts The God Chronicles--where she tells something that happened: how God answered prayer, how God works in our lives, etc. She invites others to do the same. I love this idea and wanted to share some of my own God stories.

Yesterday I was trying to get ready to go scrapbooking with some friends at church. I had been busy all day, taught the kids, baked two double batches of banana bread, made a dessert for the scrap and pretty much felt all out of energy. The thought of getting my scrapbook stuff out and ready to go, did NOT appeal to me at ALL.
<Enter selfishness.> However I was going to be dropping off my oldest daughter at a friend's house for a pizza party and then picking her up--scrapping in between. So canceling would have affected us both, not just me.
<Exit selfishness.> I started pulling items out of the craft closet and sorting what I wanted to take. Then I realized my adhesive was gone, completely out.
<Re-enter selfishness.> That's it, I thought, the last straw. I'm not going, I'm getting into my pajamas and going to bed.
<Enter God.> Opening one more drawer revealed a new package of adhesive hiding under the other items! Just a small God story, however it made me smile to think that He cares about the little details of our lives.
<Narrators notes: God is always there. Selfishness was crowding Him.>

The second one I want to share is how I love the way He weaves just the right Scripture, sermon and study at the perfect time! One example:: I signed up for Ken Boa's daily Scripture sent to my email inbox and I can't tell you how many times what I've studied for my morning Bible study directly correlates to the Scripture of the day. :) God reminders! Whenever it happens, my joy increases and I'm reminded of God's sovereignty and faithfulness to us.

Be sure to visit Titus 2:3-5's monthly God Chronicles to read more stories about how God is working in the lives of others.

Sorry I haven't been able to figure out how to make my links show up in my posts. Remember I told you about it here? Well, I don't know how to fix it. When you mouse over the words, the links will show up red, but only after you mouse over them.

Incomprehensible

The Lord appoints the number of the stars
And calls them each by name. (Psalm 147:4)

This verse was in my email inbox unopened until just this very minute, from Ken Boa's Daily Scripture. I love it when what I'm studying and learning on my own in God's Word lines up perfectly with the Scriptures that come to my inbox (from Ken Boa's site and K-Love's encouraging Word). God is so good.

My big revelation this morning was that it's not so much that I'm so special that God has the hairs of my head numbered (Matthew 10:26-33) but that He is incomprehensible. His knowledge, His sovereignty, His power, His omniscience, etc...it's about Him, friends. And the above verse confirms it, He knows the stars BY NAME, the stars that are so numerous that we cannot count them. He knows the number...in fact...He designated the number.

And the sparrows, those little sparrows, He knows them too and neither the stars nor the sparrows are as special as mankind whom He made in HIS image. Yes, I am special to God, yes, He knows the number of hairs on my head and knows when each one falls (and when each one turns gray), and yes, this makes me fall on my face before my incomprehensible God.

Reading...instead of cleaning

This week I've been catching up on blog reading and wanted to share some goodies with you. I've also been reading some books from our church library that have been very insightful and convicting. All this reading has made it hard for me to get my cleaning done (imagine that!?) Balance...I need balance!

Had to throw in this cute picture of T. He feel asleep after sitting in his room for getting in trouble.
This is what I'd do too if someone sent me to my room! :)

Anyway, here's some of what I've been reading...maybe you'll enjoy it too (just don't forget to keep up on the housework!)

• Just today a friend linked to this site I Am Second on Facebook. Amazing testimonies about God transforming hearts and lives.
• Lelia from Write from the Heart has some good stuff to say about how we dress (and how we allow our kids to dress). I just found her blog and can see God working in the everyday circumstances of her life.
• Are you looking for a beautiful unique gift for a newborn? Look no further, Naomi makes the perfect gift....baby silkies. Visit her site for pictures and products. (She's my real life friend which makes me grin!)
  
• Living with Lindsay has a great post about learning to embroider. Lots of links and ideas. I'm gearing up for starting Christmas gifts. :)

A picture of T picking red raspberries at a friend's berry farm.
Along with his sisters, he was a diligent worker. I made freezer jam with our bounty!

From our church library, I am reading Made for His Pleasure: Ten Benchmarks of a Vital Faith by Alistair Begg. Here are some of the chapter titles: Spiritual Fitness in a Flabby Generation, Prayer That is Larger Than Ourselves, Sacrifice: Wholehearted Commitment to God's Kingdom and Relationships: A Marriage that Pleases God. In the Introduction the question is asked, "Who am I trying to please?" May I say with Paul and the writer of this book: "I make it my goal to please Him" (2 Cor. 5:9)

Hebrews 13:21 "May He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

What have you been reading lately?

Mixed, Mixed Up, or Just Right

Several weeks ago at one of the first soccer practices for Bethany's U8 team, the girls were in two lines running a drill. Two girls would go up, dribbling and passing the soccer ball until one girl would shoot the ball into the goal. While the two girls were running, the rest of the girls were...well...talking and goofing off. Try as I might, I had difficulty keeping order. "Cheer for your teammates. Watch what they are doing." Other pleas went unheard as they continued to talk and even nit-pick at each other. I continued to monitor their conversation and my ears perked up when I heard one of the girls ask my Bethany, "Are you mixed?" Here is how the conversation proceeded from there:
Bethany: "What?"
other girl: "Are you mixed?"
Bethany puzzled: "What?"
other girl, getting slightly perturbed: "Are you MIXED?"
Bethany: "No, I'm Bethany."
other girl: "Isn't your dad black?"
Bethany: "What?"
other girl: "Your dad is black, isn't he?"
Bethany: "No...he's not black. He's brown."

Our children have never classified people according to their color. In fact, if you ask my kids to describe someone, the color of their skin doesn't usually enter into their description although they may say that someone is "darker skinned" or "lighter skinned" than they are. They will describe what the person is wearing, what his/her hair looked like, tall/short, thin/thicker, etc. Our kids obviously aren't "color blind" in the sense that they know their colors (red, brown, yellow, black, white) and they can see that all of us have some sort of color on our skin. I'm not sure if I'm explaining it well here, but I have the thoughts in my head. :)

Our identity and our children's identities are not wrapped up in the color of our skin, but in who God says we are. In our home, people are not a race or a class, but people who need love and care and mostly need the Savior. Those values transcend outside our home. We treat people like people. Philippians 2: 2-4

...complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant that yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Bethany didn't seem bothered at all by the encounter with her teammate. Her teammate, on the other hand, as made several other comments about the color of her own skin, her father's, her mother's and so on. My heart goes out to her, as I want her to know that when we look at her we don't see her color so much as her personality and her character. And more importantly, what does God see when He looks at her?

I pray that I will be able to communicate the love of Christ to these little girls and that seeds will be planted for His glory.

Perfect Peace

Yesterday's sermon was about Mark 15:1-8 and the women who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with perfume and spices. In our class (after the sermon) we talked about the obstacles the women faced:: the heavy stone across the entrance, the soldiers who were guarding the tomb, possible grave robbers, and of course, their grief over Jesus' death. God graciously took care of each of these obstacles with the miraculous resurrection of our Savior.

The next question was "What obstacles do I face when coming to Jesus?" wow...this is a blog not a novel, I'm not sure I have room to list all my obstacles. I don't usually have all the obstacles at one time (God's grace, I'm sure). Some of my obstacles include:: the heaviness and guilt of my sin, the others in my life (past and present) whom I allow to emotionally weigh me down and steal my joy, and my independence--my lack of desperation for Him.

A good friend in the class mentioned the verse below (Isaiah 26:3) as a "grounding" verse of promise in her life. I've been meditating and thinking on this verse ever since she quoted it.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You:
because he trusts in You.

Isn't that a wonderful promise?!! A promise with a condition that as I trust in Him and keep my focus on Him, He will keep me in perfect peace.

Time Together

Tonight I had some treasured time alone with my little guy. He was so excited and told the rest of the family, "Mom and I are going on a bike ride together. We are going to have Mommy/Trenton time." Isn't that the sweetest?! (He did add that anyone was welcome to join us, which I thought was sensitive and compassionate.)

He rode his bike and I walked behind him around the neighborhood. He had such a good time. He would stop every once in a while and wait for me to catch up with him. He even held my hand for a short time, showing me that he could ride with one hand. He also made sure I was doing okay and tried to ride slower so I could keep up. :)

Being that he is my only boy, I find his personality and mannerisms fascinating. He wants to protect his momma and sisters, he loves to solve problems, he displays his muscles by carrying whatever needs to be carried, he slays the dragons (ants and spiders) and hugs me when I need it. Amazing. God has created him wonderfully.

Psalm 139: 14 "I praise You for {Trenton} is fearfully and wonderfully made, Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

My girls are special too, just sayin'.

Barriers to Worship

Yesterday at church a local Christian University singing group led us in worship. It was wonderful, convicting and inspiring. The leader of the group gave a 'mini' sermon on the "Barriers to Worship". What keeps us from worshipping God? He gave 3 reasons:

1. Ignorance--we've never been taught
   Romans 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
   Psalm 63:4 "So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands."
   Matthew 15:8-9 "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." It starts in the heart. Don't do in public what you haven't already done at home.
   
2. Fear--we are so afraid of being judged. What will others think about us?
   Psalm 40:3 "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."
   
3. Arrogance--we really don't think our sin is that bad. When we sing about God's amazing love, we aren't convicted or moved to any point because we don't see our sin as ugly, wretchedness before a holy God.
   Isaiah 64:6 "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind take us away."
   

Sin is sin. Preach the gospel to yourself every day. Meet Him at the cross.

From the Inside Out

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin
He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Chorus:
Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

Now do you see why it was so wonderful, yet convicting and inspiring? Jesus, I need You every hour!

My Refuge and My Fortress

Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart,
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth. Psalm 26:2-3

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, "My Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2