Seeds Family Worship

How are you at memorizing scripture?  I am horrible.  I get verses mixed up.  I get references mixed up.  It's only by the Grace of God that I ever get a verse right.  However, music has helped me memorize scripture.  Now, I still don't get everything right, but I do better!

Seeds Family Worship has helped me and many others.  They have created 5 albums chock-full of scripture memory songs.  Right now, they are working on their 6th album.  They need our help.  Here is what Seeds has to say:

Can we build character in 45 days? Join us in this challenge!
NEW ADDITION: ALL BACKERS REGISTERED TO WIN iPAD IF WE REACH OUR GOAL.
Seeds Family Worship was born as a result of seeing good music help families connect to scripture from the Bible. After 5 albums, families all over the world have nearly 60 portions of scripture memorized, enjoy great music, and have better family times thanks to Seeds. It's time to add to this with a 6th album--Seeds of Character.
Each Seeds CD focuses on a specific topic (courage, faith, praise, purpose, and encouragement), using scripture to encourage families to understand what the Bible says about each. This album will focus on scriptures that highlight the character of Christ--encouraging families to focus on developing the character we see exemplified through Christ in scripture. This is better than any man-made definition of good character.
Seeds founder Jason Houser is busily writing songs for the album. These songs will soon be finished, and it will be time to get into the studio and record.
Here's where you come in. . .
We've always believed that families deserve to have music with high production value--it's the reason parents admit to listening to Seeds even when their kids aren't around. To create this high-quality production Jason pulls together some of the best talent in the music industry to create each CD. Past CDs have included. . .

High quality songwriting (founder Jason Houser is a Grammy-nominated songwriter), incredible musicians--Ken Lewis (drums for Ben Folds, Vince Gill, Carly Simon, Chris Rice), Elliott Park (writer of "I Loved Her First"), Don Poythress (writer of hits by Tim McGraw & Clint Black), and Rodney Clawson (writer of hits by George Strait, Faith Hill) to name a few--and great production quality from engineer David Hall (worked with Etta James to Kenny Chesney to Fall Out Boy).

This quality does require a more expensive production than typical synthesizer-driven albums for families. We will raise the funds needed to record and manufacture this album by inviting you to buy the CDs in advance and enjoy the process of creating with us. As always, the CD will include our signature buy one/give one packaging--providing you two identical CDs with every purchase.
Why you should be involved. . .

• it makes a new Seeds album ready to release this year
• it provides a good reminder for all of us to pray about how the scripture sung on this album will be used in the lives of families around the world
• it creates a fun way for your family to watch the behind-the-scenes process of making the album
• it lets us all know that while we plant and water this album, God is the one making it possible (grow)

It makes us happy to think about what we can all do together and how the songs on this album will be used to plant God's Word in the hearts of families. So, let's take 45 days to make it possible to create this album together. Let's go build some character!

So, can you help?  Can you give?  Check the progress tracker on the right of this blog.  If you want more information, click here as the link on the tracker hasn't been working correctly.   Let's make this project happen!

Counter-Cultural Holiday Season

What do the holidays mean to you?  How much do you stress over the holidays?   Do you ever watch old Chrismas movies and pine for the quiet times spent as families around the tree?  I have.  I know, many people find the term "Happy Holidays" to be offensive because it seems to be the new politically correct term that ignores Christmas.  I am using the term intentionally because I want to include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

How long have you seen Christmas decorations up in stores?  One store nearby had their trees up on July 5th.  July 5th.  Can you believe it?  Add in all the sales that started months earlier than normal.  Add in all the hype.  Add in all the shopping and lists and Santa and STUFF and you have holiday burnout.

I feel that it is time to take back our holidays.  Thanksgiving isn't about turkey and football.  It's about being thankful for our vast blessings.  Christmas isn't about Santa and loads of presents under the tree, it is about Jesus coming to Earth, fully God and fully man, so that we could have a Savior.  Without Christmas, there is no Easter.  God gave us his SON as a gift.  We should give more than cheap plastic toys that aren't really needed to those we love.  There is so much more than all the STUFF and CLUTTER.

Check out this counter-cultural movement - the Advent Conspiracy.  See if it doesn't at least challenge your thinking about this giving season.  I know we are rethinking our holiday giving this year.

Under Bridges: There is Love

Once again, I was caught off guard with a glimpse of God as I drove today.  I had put in an old favorite album, Brave Saint Saturn, and was enjoying it.  On comes track seven, Under Bridges.  By the midpoint of the song, I was in tears.   I know not many people know of this band - I just must share this with all of you - especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Matthew 25:40
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

There is too much division in the churches - too much haggling over the little details that the big picture is getting overlooked.  We are looking to the government to solve all of our social ills, but shouldn't the greatest part of this burden fall on the Church?  Aren't we called to go out and to love like Christ?

What can you do differently duting this holiday season to show Christ to others?  Let this song and video challenge you.  (disclaimer - I did not create the video and would have chosen a few images differently)



Lyrics:
Yesterday while walking,
Beneath an overpass,
I saw the figure of Jesus,
Standing barefoot on broken glass.
His beard was graying,
The smell of urine filled the air,
Asking if I had some change,
Anything that I could spare.
Emaciated,
His shaking fists balled up,
Influenza and pneumonia,
Begging God to take his cup.
So different from his pictures,
Breathing air through yellowed tubes,
Jesus Christ, dying of AIDS,
Can look right through you.
And all have hated,
Crucified and walked away,
The Savior of the prostitutes,
Drunkards, rapists, and the gays.
Under bridges,
With hands raised,
From the ghettos they praise his name.
Broke and crippled in the dark of night,
Raise your voices to Jesus Christ,
Hallelujah.

Heart Fixation

Where is your heart?  Yes, in your chest to be sure.  I mean, what is your heart fixed upon?  I can honestly say that right now my heart is fixed on a cheeseburger that I am craving (oh, the joys of pregnancy).   Where should our hearts be fixed?

Paul helps us out in Philippians:
 

Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

I know that my heart is prone to wander.  I don't mean that in any way in regards to my marriage - no worries!  I get sidetracked with the nuts and bolts of life.  I grumble about bad drivers.  I fret about parenting decisions.  I rejoice over catching a favorite television show. 


The more I let my heart go unchecked, the more it wanders.  When I am intentional and focus on things as Paul describes, the more my heart desires those good things.


We need to guard our hearts.  We need to guard them against any influences that draw us away from God.  If we haven't given our hearts completely to God, we need to let Him perform a heart transplant - remove a heart of stone and replace it with a heart full of life.


How is your heart?  Where is your focus?

Can He Use Me?

Do you ever feel useless?  Do you wonder how, and why, God would use you when there are so many more qualified people around?  I do. 

I tend to sit back and let others use their gifts.  I fear failure.  I fear uselessness.  I fear the unknown.  I am being sinful.  I would rather do nothing and not fail than go and DO and risk being exposed as not perfect. 

God is the only One who is perfect.  We are to strive toward perfection, but we cannot attain it in this life.  He has given us great gifts to share.  We sin when we say, "No, God, I don't think I am good enough to use the gifts You have given me.  I think You made a mistake when You blessed me with this gift - it is meant for someone else."

Our Heavenly Father does not make mistakes.  He gifts us each differently.  We are to work together as a body to carry out His works.  An arm cannot carry a meal to a new mother if the feet don't take the body to her.  In that way, we all need to use our unique gifts together for the good of the Body of Christ. 

This verse came through 411GOD recently.  I often struggle with feeling too young to do much of the work God has for me.  I look quite young and get treated like a child often.  God assures me that He CAN and WILL use me!  What power!

1 Timothy 4:12-16 (New Living Translation)

12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Do you know what your giftings are?  Have they changed as you have grown?  I came across a spiritual gifts test this summer.  While no human-created test can tell us each and every gifting we posess, this one opened my eyes to gifts I had overlooked.  How are you gifted?  How are you using those gifts?  How can you Be The Blessing to someone else with your gifts?

Our Hearts Spilleth Over

When was the last time you were angry?  Surprised?  Caught off guard?  How did you respond?  What did you say?

A very wise pastor once spoke about our hears being like a vessel filled with liquid.  We truly see what is inside that vessel when it is bumped and the liquid spills out.  What have you been filing your heart with?  Things of this world or things of the Lord?

When we are bumped or shaken, we can see what is hiding in our hearts.  I am often surprised with what is in my heart.  I like to think that I am a pretty good gal - pretty under control.  I love the Lord and like to think that I am getting pretty close to what He wants me to be.  Yeah - I can be delusional!

Something so minor like the dog barking right after I put the baby down to nap or a person cutting me off in traffic can cause an explosion of ugliness in my heart.  Being told "no" about something I desire can cause me to fly into a rage.

I am thankful for these bumps.  God allows me to see what I had previously ignored.  I am able to address the areas of sin in my life rather than letting them slip by.  Not always right away - sometimes it takes days to give up my own agenda.  I have a lot of work to do, by God's Grace, I will continue to grow.  Yes, I will slip up - a LOT.

What is in your heart?  How do you respond?