Tune Tuesday: Revive My Heart

A few lines in this song kept coming to my mind this week.  I haven't sung it in years...so I hunted it down on youtube and wrote out the words.


My nature is a mire beneath my footsteps.
My heart is but the source of all my pride.
Oh God, of power and grace,
I fall before your face.
In mercy grant this wretched soul a heart that you'd revive.

Revive my heart
Revive my heart
I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness
Revive my heart
Revive my heart
That I rejoice in you, O Lord
Revive my heart

I'm overwhelmed how such a Holy Father,
Would stoop to lift one up so small, so weak.
With self denying gaze, I repent of all my ways,
Unworthy of your pity Lord,
Forgiveness now I seek.

Revive my heart
Revive my heart
I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness
Revive my heart
Revive my heart
That I rejoice in you, O Lord
Revive my heart

Sew Saturday: Turtles...

 Here's a sneak peek at a turtle quilt and lovey for a sweet baby boy that was just added to our church family.  Unlike most baby quilts this one is being done FAST and only with what's in my stash.  This sweet couple had a very, VERY fast adoption...and oh, he's such a sweet little peanut.  Sweet is the word of the day, by the way!

 My flash did something strange to the fabric...it's not an olive green...it's more of a true green.  I'm combining pinwheels (my favorite and fast) with this darling turtle flannel I've been hoarding for years.  It's all flannel (front and back) with no batting.  They drape really nicely!

Five Minute Friday: Silence

What comes to mind when you think of the word: silence.  Write about it in 5 minutes or less.

Ready...Set...Go!

There are periods of time where I really struggle with silence.  Usually it's when I don't want to deal with all the loud things floating around in my heart and mind.  I have learned that when I am uncomfortable with the silence...(I must have the TV on, or music playing, or be reading deeply in something fluffy and entertaining)...During those times it is good for me to examine...why?

Another thing about silence is that it's never really silent.  I sleep with a fan on all year through...that hum is far from true silence...but I would say it is quiet and peaceful in the room.  Similarly, I have two antique clocks ticking and chiming at various intervals throughout the day.  This has become a part of the silence and peace of our home...However, I notice that it's far from silent because when we have guests they often comment on the clock noises.  

Over the years I'd say my extroverted-ness is waning.  I crave silence (peace, quiet, reprieve) in ways that I never did before.  As I work to be more God-pleasing than people-pleasing I find that it is absolutely necessary that I spend time in God's Word and Prayer...in the silence...to gather what I need in my happy extroverted life.  

STOP!

Re-balanced Hodgepodge

 

1.  In a rut, in a jam, in the groove, out of synch, off balance, out of touch...which saying best fits some area of your life currently (or recently)? Explain.
Off balance.  I've been doing too much people pleasing.  I suppose it should be called "attempted" people pleasing because you can't please all of the people all of the time... and most of the time, you don't.  It's so freeing to re-evaluate priorities and put first things first.  It's delightful to have time for things I enjoy but have been so busy I couldn't take time to enjoy...blogging for example.
2. What is it about somebody else's style of work (coworker/employee/shared volunteer project/household chore) that makes you crazy? Why?
I had no idea that having children would so magnify and show me my control freak ways.  My daughter is very particular...very neat and organized.  My son, like his father before him, is what I call a "pile-er-up-er"...piles of stuff follow them.  How they find anything I'll never know.  I'm thankful that I've never seen my husband's work desk...pretty sure I'd freak out!  We have it figured  out...I set a few "collection points" around the house...and any piles must be in those areas at the end of the night.
3. What's a tradition that always makes you feel at home?
I love the tradition of mornings.  I think this started when I was a little girl.  The smell of coffee, the quiet, the calm, the new beginning.  I loved mornings when I would visit with my grandparents in the summer (the walk up the mountain, the newspaper distribution, breakfast, devotions)...I love mornings at my parents house (coffee, quiet, slow paced, talking)...and I love mornings with my own little family (coffee, quiet, snuggles, candle burning and my Bible).  
4. A favorite song with a girl's name in the title or lyrics? Any reason why this is a particular favorite?
I know all the songs with the name Lola in them.  "Lola, she was a showgirl..." "Lola...la la la lola."  "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets"...My mother's name is Lola.  Obviously, we teased her with these songs...she objected to my naming a baby after her...now that the name is coming back into popularity she kinda wishes she'd let me.  It's a very pretty name...with unfortunate song subject/lyrics.  She was named after an Aunt, I think.
5. Share a favorite quote, verse, or saying relating to gratitude or thanksgiving.
"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."  Col. 3:17

6. Insert your own random thought here.
My sweet Emma has been home sick with strep throat and pink eye.  Although it changed my week's schedule dramatically it has ended up being a sweet time.  I got some house work done...and we watched cooking shows and chatted.  

Tune Tuesday: Give Me Faith

I need you to soften my heart

And break me apart

I need you to open my eyes

To see that You're shaping my life

All I am, I surrender

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're good and your love is great

I'm broken inside, I give you my life

I need you to soften my heart

And break me apart

I need you to pierce through the dark

And cleanse every part of me

All I am, I surrender

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're good and your love is great

I'm broken inside, I give you my life

'Cause I may be weak

But Your spirit strong in me

My flesh may fail

My God you never will 

I may be weak

But Your spirit strong in me

My flesh may fail

My God you never will 

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're…

Monday Musings...

I've been looking through years of past posts.  It helped me remember what I miss about blogging and gave me ideas for getting back into the habit of writing down the collective memory.  

In the past it helped me to organize blogging by day of the week.  Some of my favorites from the past were memes that I'm not sure are even in existence anymore.  

There were very few bloggers I kept up with during my almost year long hiatus...

I've continued to follow Barbarah @ Stray Thoughts.  I'm excited to start keeping up with The Week in Words again.  I've been reading hers but not posting mine.  

Wednesdays will also be easy...I've continued to follow Joyce @ From This Side of the Pond!  I'm excited to re-join the weekly hodgepodge.

Five Minute Friday- I remember being a part of this meme and enjoying the challenge of writing on a topic for five minutes only.

I had created a few funny day tags of my own.  

Tube Tuesday- a chance to share videos.  I stopped this at one point because I was frustrated by technology.  We'll see if I can now overcome that hurdle.  

HIM Sunday- A play on words...a chance to share lyrics... HYMN/HIM...get it?!

Sew Saturday-I enjoy posting about current sewing projects...especially now that my daughter is a part of the fun.  The issues I had with this was not being able to show the projects being worked on because they were gifts in progress and/or not really being able to show any progress because well, sometimes the progress is s l o w!  

Caffeinated Randomness-this is rather self explanatory...and I really enjoyed these rambling posts.  Definitely have to do those again.  

I have followed several quilting blogs...but they don't generally have memes that I can feasibly keep up with...seriously, these women are *crazy* productive.  I have also followed big christian blog conglomerate blogs...Desiring God, TGC, and Challis.  

A sidenote:  I used to also maintain another blog...predominantly for family not on Social Media.  Frankly, Dear Void, I'm thinking of using that instead of Facebook...as I'm once again fed up with it all.  Long.Story.Short...they had an app whereby I could simply check groups and not have to sift through the junk stuff but they took it away and now I'm annoyed, putting it mildly.  I keep telling myself that there are people who live without the darn thing and there are people with better self control too...but I have ministry groups on there and not all communications make it to email...also, I'd probably never see pictures of my extended family if I got off.  As sure as I say I'm going to take a break I have an urgent prayer need (Lubby went in the hospital last time I tried that) OR I get back on to realize I've left a person hanging regarding an important question or someone has died...It makes all of my people pleasing issues gang up and turn into hives!  I have issues, Dear Void...*sigh*

Autumn...

Autumn is my favorite season.  It is a time of amazing wonder at God's creation.  Every year I think it's prettier than the year before.  It is a time of slow down and speed up.  Slowing down the outdoor activities, more cozy, quiet reading before a crackling fire, school is full scheduled mode.  Speeding up for the approaching holidays, of ministry outreach activity, of preparations for winter.

Autumn is a time to consider stewardship.  God owns everything and I own nothing.  Everything I have, God has entrusted to me.  I can either increase or decrease what I have.  God wants me to increase it.  I can be called into account at anytime, and it could be today.

Autumn is a time to remember things that brought me joy that I haven't made time for...things like blogging.  It is also a time to realize the things I'm striving after that are exhausting and need to be let go.  It's evaluating the balance and asking if it's bringing God glory...or if I'm just exhausting myself trying to build my own lame kingdom.