10,000 Reasons...

Many of you have been asking how we are doing.  To be honest I don't know how to answer that question.  We are doing well. Yes that it is true, but that implies that this is easy and things are great in our home.  This is far from the truth.  But if I give some statement going off of my feelings (tired, stressed, scatterbrained) or details of our day (tantrums, fighting, wetting, hitting, kicking,  etc), then you are going to think that I regret my decision or that things are awful.  This is also far from the truth.  We are making it.  That is about all I can say.   We make a few steps forward and in the same week or day, we may take 10 steps backward.  But hey, at least we made it a few steps forward.

How am I doing? I am weary, but somehow there is still enough energy and grace to make it through the day. Perhaps this is the closest I have been yet to being poured out like a drink offering.  How do I do it?  I don't .  When I do it, I lose my cool and yell in anger and frustration.  I start thinking about all the things I miss (like my friends and reading books) and I start throwing a pity party.  I really am painfully having to lean on and trust in the gospel.  I say painfully because although it is so good, it is so hard and painful.  I am now more than ever, thankful for a Savior who endured the horrors of the cross that I might know him.  I all too often forget that my salvation cost Jesus his life, why would I expect that loving these boys would cost anything less than mine.

This song has been on repeat this week. The Lord has used it to encourage me and remind me of his goodness.  And it is a good for me to remind me of all that I have to sing about.

"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)" 

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing
Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore


Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name

Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name Jesus,
I'll worship Your holy name Lord,
I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name Jesus,
I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

never once...

this song has been in my head for weeks. i mean it is on repeat on my ipod. the lyrics are powerful.  give them a read below and listen to the song. trust me, you are going to want to buy it.

Verse 1

Standing on this mountaintop 

Looking just how far we've come 

Knowing that for every step 

You were with us 

Verse 2

Kneeling on this battle ground 

Seeing just how much You've done 

Knowing every victory 

Is Your power in us 

Pre-Chorus

Scars and struggles on the way 

But with joy our hearts can say 

Yes, our hearts can say 

Chorus 1

Never once did we ever walk alone 

Never once did You leave us on our own 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

Repeat Verse 2

Repeat Pre-Chorus

Chorus 2

Never once did we ever walk alone 

Never once did You leave us on our own 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

Bridge

Scars and struggles on the way 

But with joy our hearts can say 

Never once did we ever walk alone 

Carried by Your constant grace 

Held within Your perfect peace 

Never once, no, we never walk alone 

Ending Chorus

Never once did we ever walk alone 

Never once did You leave us on our own 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

Every step we are breathing in Your grace 

Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

spotify...

i love music. in fact i had to create a line in my budget for the amount of money that i spend on music.  i try to use applications such a pandora and grooveshark to help satisfy my love for music for free.  well there is a new app that has replaced both.  it is called spotify.  you can listen to ANY music (of just about any music) all the time for FREE on your laptop.  i mean you can use to play anything.  just wednesday i used to create a playlist for a game we were playing in staff meeting.  if you use the free version (which i am) you can play any music on your laptop as long as you are connected to the internet. you can create playlists, share playlists, subscribe to playlists, etc.  there are adds that play in the free version, but i don't mind them.  if you pay $4.99/month you can get rid of the adds, but that is not worth it to me yet.  if you pay $9.99/month you can get offline access and download music to your iphone, ipad, ipod, or other portable music player.  i love this.  i use it to listen to music all the time.  i also love that i can listen to a new album in its entirety and decide if i want to add it to my DJ repertoire. i am also excited about having this at my disposal when i am DJing an event. check out more info below or go here to sign up.


Spotify is Here! from Spotify on Vimeo.

eli young band cd release concert...

last friday, several of my friends and i all went to see eli young band in concert at the nutty brown cafe just outside of austin. the music was great, the company was awesome, and well the view wasn't bad either.  for about half of the concert we got to be backstage.  it was a blast!  here is a picture at the meet and greet at the end of the show.

waiting here for you...

all is set. all is planned. all is loaded in.  now we just pray and wait.

our church is doing one easter service at the frank erwin center tomorrow. we have been laboring over this for many months and the time has come. and let me tell you, i could not be more excited. i was listening to this song off the latest passion album and i felt it was a wonderful expression of what i am feeling. while it is cool to think about the number of people (for me, the number of kids) that will be there, that is not what exciting to me. i really am waiting with eager anticipation to see what God is going to do in the heart of austin for his name. i cannot wait to see how he shows up, the lives he saves, the way he will show how he is greater than anything else. we are desparate for his presence, because bring people from death to life is impossible without him. i cannot wait to see who he draws. so i am waiting with eager anticipation to see what my god does for his glory tomorrow!

waiting here for you
If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for you, I’m waiting here for you

You’re the Lord of all creation
And still you know my heart
The Author of Salvation
You’ve loved us from the start

CHORUS
Waiting here for You
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia

You are everything You’ve promised
Your faithfulness is true
And we're desperate for Your presence
All we need is You

CHORUS

Singing Alleluia
Alleluia, singing alleluia, alleluia

CHORUS

Waiting here for you
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
We're singing Alleluia

I'm singing Alleluia
Waiting here for you
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia
Singing Alleluia

a good week for new music...

within the last week or two i have purchased several new albums that i think are worth your time. some great music.

this album is #1 right now on itunes. that should tell you how good it is.  the civil wars is a band with singers joy williams and john paul white. i have heard this duo a few times, got some of their free christmas music on noisetrade.com, saw them on leno.  i love the sound of the their music but most of all (kind of folkie), i love the way their voices go together. i even really like their remake of i want you back (originally recorded my michael jackson). definitely buy this one!









i recently had a friend tell me about andrew belle and then literally the next day i saw that this album was free on noisetrade.com and so i immediately downloaded it. it is so good!  i was listening to it nonstop (until i bought the civil wars album). go ahead and buy this one too. its perfect for all of this winter weather.









this is a local austin band (some friends of mine) and i have grown to really like their music. give it a try and discover a new band before your friends. you won't regret it.

seeds family worship cd's....

a few months back we came across these famiy worship cd's.  they are songs that are straight scripture.  they are fun and you know if i can stand them, they are not too cheesy.  they are catchy and most importantly they help you and your kids learn scripture and know god. so check'em out.  anyone else have any family worship cd's that you like?

fun christmas music...

with christmas upon us, i thought i would share some of my favorite fun christmas songs.  after all, as a dj, that is my forte.  so here you go. my top christmas songs: (feel free to add your favorites in the comment section)

top 30 christmas songs (in no particular order... i do not have that much time)
1. all i want for christmas is you by mariah carey
2. merry christmas, happy holidays by nsync
3. jingle bell rock by bobby helms
4. rockin' around the christmas tree by brenda lee
5. a holly jolly christmas by burl ives
6. i want a hippopotamus for christmas by gayla peevey
7. pennies from heaven by louis prima (even though it technically is not a christmas song, but its on elf)
8. silent night by sarah mclachlan
9. i've got my love to keep me warm by dean martin
10. blue christmas by elvis presley
11. frosty the snowman by harry connick jr
12. let it snow by ella fitzgerald
13. jingle bells by wayne newton
14. santa baby by eartha kitt
15. a marshmallow world (live) by dean martin and frank sinatra
16. i'll be home for christmas by michael buble
17. christmastime is here by vince guaraldi trio (from charlie brown)
18. the christmas song by frank sinatra w/ bing crosby (nat king cole's version is good too)
19. mele kalikimaka by bing crosby
20. baby, its cold outside by leon redbone & zooey deschanel
21. we need a little christmas by the muppets
22. sleigh ride by ella fitzgerald
23. winter wonderland by tony bennett or peggy lee (it is a toss up between versions)
24. white christmas by dean martin
25. ave maria by josh groban
26. o come, o come emmanuel by christy nockels
27. god rest ye merry gentlemen by jars of clay
28. grandma got run over by a reindeer by elmo & patsy
29. the happiest christmas tree by nat king cole
30. rudolph the red-nosed reindeer by jack johnson

and as an added bonus - 12 days of christmas by relient k.  if your kids are in kidstuff or have been to winterfest at pine cove, they will know motions to this song. :)

what are your favorites? what do i need to buy to increase my library?

glory in the highest & behold the lamb...

i love me some christmas music!  in fact i own 24 hours of it - that's 430 songs - perhaps i have a problem.  anyway, christmas music is fun but not all of it is worshipful. i mean who doesn't love "merry christmas, happy holidays" by nsync or "all i want for christmas is you" by mariah carey??? classics. but not exactly the music that gets my heart ready for the coming of my king.  (nothing wrong with listening to them by the way, i plan on it)

these two albums however, are worth every penny (and they are cheaper on amazon than in itunes right now).  music is one of the ways i connect easily to the lord, so these two albums have really helped me worship christ during this season.

chris tomlin's album glory in the highest takes some familiar christmas songs that perhaps we have forgotten due to their familiarity and calls us back to worship. i love his version of "joy to the world" and "angels we have heard on high."  (we will likely use those in kidstuff)  "come though long expected jesus" is another favorite of mine (and not just because it is sung by christy nockels). anyway, most of the songs you have heard before, but these are some of the most worshipful versions i have heard.  so just go ahead and buy it. you won't regret it.

andrew peterson's behold the lamb of god album is SO GOOD!  it is not your typical, play in the background music.  it is the kind of music that you need to pay attention to.  the entire album tells a story, the story of jesus coming starting with the old testament.  it is PERFECT for advent. in fact , if you have a chance to see this live, you need to go. i got to see it three years ago, and it messed me up! it was by far the most worshipful thing i did that christmas.  it is not a cheesy christian concert (like i thought it was going to be). check here for tour dates. also, you need to buy the whole album, don't pick and choose songs on this one.  you really need to hear the whole thing to hear the whole story.  my favorite songs on the album are "deliver us", "labor of love", "behold the lamb of god".

your great name...

aaron first sang introduced this song to us a few weeks ago at church and i loved it!  i came home bought natalie grant's version and have probably listened to it a thousand times.  i belt it out on my little car all the time. it has been in my head and on my heart for weeks now so i just wanted to share. read through the lyrics, give it a listen.

your great name

lost are saved, find their way

at the sound of your great name

all condemned feel no shame

at the sound of your great name

every fear has no place

at the sound of your great name

the enemy, he has to leave

at the sound of your great name

(chorus)

jesus, worthy is the lamb

that was slain for us           

son of god and man

you are high and lifted up

and all the world will praise

your great name

all the weak find their strength

at the sound of your great name

hungry souls receive grace

at the sound of your great name

the fatherless find their place

at the sound of your great name

the sick are healed, the dead are raised

at the sound of your great name

chorus)

jesus, worthy is the lamb

that was slain for us           

son of god and man

you are high and lifted up

and all the world will praise

your great name

redeemer, my healer, lord almighty

defender, my savior, you are my king

stronger...

we sang this song a couple of weeks ago in church and its lyrics have been such a great reminder to me.

stronger
by hillsong

there is love that came for us
humbled to a sinner's cross
you broke my shame and sinfuless
you rose again victorious

faithfulness none can deny
through the strom and through the fire
there is truth that sets me free
jesus christ who lives in me

chorus
you are stronger
you are stronger
sin is broken
you have saved me
it is written
christ is risen
jesus you are lord of all

no beginning and no end
you're my hope and my defense
you came to seek and save the lost
you paid it all upon the cross

so let your name be lifted higher
be lifted higher be lifted higher

healing is in your hands...

this song by christy nockels is off the latest passion album, awakening. it has been on repeat for the past several days.   i love it!  it has been a sweet reminder for me of the lord's love. something i need a reminder of often.

healing is in your hands
by christy nockels
No mountain, no valley, no gain or loss we know
could keep us from Your love
No sickness, no secret, no chain is strong enough
to keep us from Your love
to keep us from Your love

How high, how wide
No matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
How deep, How strong,
And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands

Our present, our future, our past is in Your hands
We're covered by Your blood
We're covered by Your blood

How high, How wide
no matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
How deep, How strong
And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands 

waking up...

i am late in the game in buying this album, but do not let my tardiness deter you from buying it. i loved onerepublic's previous album so much i was a little skeptical that i would love their second album as much. and the truth is, i like it better!  great music, great beats and even some soul searching lyrics.  i have a few of the songs in my songlist above if you want to give them a listen.

a few of my favorites (though i recommend the whole album) are:
all the moves
good life
secrets
everybody loves me

buy it and enjoy!

downtown church...

i bought this album a month or so ago and it still has not gotten old! i love it! patty is by far one of my favorite musicians and i was wondering if this gospel genre would still let patty be patty.  and it does! buy this album, it is so good.  i cannot speak to patty's spiritual beliefs, but i can speak the beauty of this music.

have i mentioned that patty lives here in austin?  not too far from my house. maybe someday we will be friends.

christmas music already...

i broke the seal and started listening to christmas music this past sunday. i love it! i know that it is not even thanksgiving, but if there was good thanksgiving music i would play it. there just simply is not. so instead i will roll out my 22 hours of musical joy!  what do i like?  well check this blog post from last year where is listed my top 25 holiday favorites. enjoy it! after all, 'tis the season to be jolly!

two new albums...

here are 2 new albums that i am enjoying! thought you might want to check them out.

leeland's new album, love is on the move, is good. it follows typical leeland sound (which i love) and the lyrics are good too! i am currently LOVING the song, love is on the move. holy spirit have your way and follow you are also both good songs.










the album, the outsiders, by needtobreathe is great! in fact when i first bought it, i listened to it for like 3 days straight. this album sounds like marc broussard meets kings of leon. a good southern rock style with christian lyrics. garden, lay'em down and a girl named tennessee are my favorites.

so buy up and enjoy!

song of the beautiful...

song of the beautiful
by christy nockels
The broken, weary and poor
Finding...You are the cure
The weak and dying, glorifying, You in it all...

It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free,
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...

The fallen back on their feet
The fatherless now complete...
The innocent suffering, rising from wounding, to find...You were there all along!

It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Saved Me...
The song of the redeemed, the echoes of those made free -
It’s the song of the beautiful, Jesus Loves Me...

Oh how He loves me
Oh how He loves me
Oh how He love me...
The broken, the beautiful....

The prodigal running home...
The widow never alone...
The one who is waiting, rising and singing, “You...Jesus, You Are My All!

when i first heard this song, i thought, “yes, god is good to help those who are broken. those people out there who are broken, weary, poor, weak and dying…”but I did not include myself in with “those people.”i did not see myself as such. then one day as i was driving and listening to this song, the lord said to me, “becca, that is you! you are the broken, weary and poor.”

my pride was like, "no, I am not that bad." but the lord quickly brought to mind my struggles. over the next day or so i really wrestled with this. i was listening to the song again and i lost it! i wept.i was humiliated to have my true state revealed to me, but I wept because then that meant that this song applied to me. my guilt was lifted. i do not have to live with shame. the burden i was carrying was removed. jesus loves me! jesus saves me! i can be free!

i finally could see that jesus was my cure, that my weakness glorified him. not my hard work to cover my weakness. i have left the father and tried many other things. but now i have returned and been able to say that nothing else satisfies, that jesus truly is my all! now i continue to struggle daily, but i know that my god is there.

anyways, this is a great song! i recommend buying it. perhaps you will find yourself singing and dancing to it in freedom like i do.

martyrs and thieves...

martyrs and thieves
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

Chorus-

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid
To bare all my weakness knowing in meekness
I have a kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
Oh I am not afraid
To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life
Oh I... am, I...

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

(Chorus)

Can you hear me? (repeat 6x)

Well I've never been much for the baring of soul
In the presence of any man
I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure
In the arms of a sinner I am
Could it be that my worth should depend
By the crimson stained grace on a hand
And like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in Your will
To reveal all of You that I can

(Chorus)

There's a place in the darkness that I used to cling to
It presses harsh hope against time...

this song has been on my heart all month really. i find myself singing the chorus over and over again, longing to be healed! longing for the light! i am not afraid to bring my junk into the light anymore because i have tasted healing this summer and as humiliating as it has been, the results far outweigh the pain! so i ask the Lord to turn on the light and reveal all so that i can be healed and he can be glorified!

the third verse also gets to me, i would rather keep to myself all safe and secure, but i have done that my whole life, trying to keep this image together. if only i could take all the energy i wasted trying to cover up my sin and keep my image and use that to bring my sin into the light to be healed. i would be a very different person! no more clinging to the darkness!

this is an old song, but oh so good if you do not own it!

between the beauty and chaos...

this is one of our worship leaders at church. he just put out this album and i love it!! we sing found, let your kingdom come, and the name at church all the time. great worship songs. in addition to those, my top favorite right now is beautiful mystery and amos story (which is about the 2 kids that aaron and his wife are in the process of adopting).

check it out on itunes or aaronivey.com. it will be well worth your purchase!

in christ alone...

in christ alone
in christ alone my hope is found;
he is my light, my strength, my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
what heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
my comforter, my all in all—
here in the love of christ i stand.

in christ alone, who took on flesh,
fullness of god in helpless babe!
this gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones he came to save.
till on that cross as jesus died,
the wrath of god was satisfied;
for ev'ry sin on him was laid—
here in the death of christ i live.

there in the ground his body lay,
light of the world by darkness slain;
then bursting forth in glorious day,
up from the grave he rose again!
and as he stands in victory,
sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
for i am his and he is mine—
bought with the precious blood of christ.

no guilt in life, no fear in death—
this is the pow'r of christ in me;
from life's first cry to final breath,
jesus commands my destiny.
no pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from His hand;
till He returns or calls me home—
here in the pow'r of christ i'll stand.

this song has ministered to me more over the past few months than i can explain. i sing it all the time and its truth continues to affect me. each verse has been my favorite and ministered to me at some point. my only hope is found in him. my fears are stilled and my comforter is all i need. he took on flesh and suffered and died and because of that, sins curse has lost its grip on me!! WOO HOO!! and lately, i sing the fourth verse at the top of my lungs and beat my steering wheel if i am in the car, NO GUILT IN LIFE, NO FEAR IN DEATH, THIS IS THE POWER OF CHRIST IN ME!!

if you do not have this song to listen to, i HIGHLY recommend bethany dillon's version. that is the one i jam out to.