Boasting in My Weaknesses

A few weeks ago I wrote about my experience leading worship that particular week and I wanted to share another experience from the week before last. One of the things I have been learning is how, when we allow Him, God works through us. That doesn't sound so profound. It's not that I didn't already know this, I just hadn't experienced it to this degree before. Normally our worship team rehearses on Tuesday and then Thursday morning we just sort of set up and warm up together--we don't have time to actually go through all the songs that morning. On this particular week, one of our key members (everyone is key when there are only four of you) was scheduled to be out of town during our Tuesday rehearsal but back in plenty of time to play and sing on Thursday. Our reheasal time on Tuesday went a little shaky, but fine. Thursday morning I arrived at church and our pianist was there but just barely: having just arrived in town the night before (instead of Tuesday night), with no luggage, and a sick kid at home. She hadn't touched a piano for the past week, let alone practiced this week's music. Not only that, but the first song we were playing I don't play on guitar so it's all her. We got through the song after a rough start and the rest of the songs went pretty well. I was content just to see God get us through without any major problems under the circumstances we had. But I usually settle for less than God desires: Over following week I received so much feedback on how meaningful of a worship time it had been to many of the women, with several people specifically noting that first song! All I can say about this over and over is: It is so much not about me. It is so much not about me. I've always felt that I have to be doing my best in order for God to work through me the most. Apparently it's not true. As someone told me the other day, sometimes we just have to get out of the way to let God work.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

And the winner is...

April, who recognized this week's line from "We Are the World" by USA for Africa. Now who doesn't remember that song? I remember feeling like I was changing the world just by singing along!

80's Mystery Song Lyric

Here's this week's line:

We are the ones who make a brighter day

Email your answer here.

Summer's End

It's been a while since my last post. I apologize about skipping Mystery Lyric Friday. I'll try harder this week.

A while back, I wrote about summer and how I love summertime and going barefoot. Now the hot weather has turned to only warm. The inflatable pool is deflated and in its place is a big muddy spot in the middle of the back lawn. Pumpkins, scarecrows, and gigantic inflatable spiders are popping up in people's front yards. While I love the weather turning cool as much as I love it turning hot, there is something definitely bittersweet about fall. Maybe it's because I know that short days with foggy weather is ahead. But I'm dragging summer out as long as I can. The time doesn't change for another week so we still have sunlit evenings. For the past several weeks, my family and I have been walking a lot in the evenings, often to a restaurant for dinner, sometimes up the road to Starbuck's. Tonight we stayed home. We barbecued some burgers while the sun was just getting ready to set, made some fresh guacomole, and peeled a mandarin orange picked from my mother-in-law's tree this weekend. In what other time and place do you get to enjoy an end-of-summer barbecue with fresh, ripe citrus fruit? I know it won't be long until I'll have to live like summer is gone, but you'll have to drag me kicking and screaming and barefoot.

And the winner is...

My sister Cheri! She was one of many who correctly answered C+C Music Factory "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)". I am sure that those of you who missed this one thought it was this song but also knew this song wasn't released until Dec. 1990--and that's why you didn't submit your answer. Right? Well, I did poor research up front, thinking I saw the release was in 1989 but apparently it wasn't until 1990. Sorry about that. But based on the responses I got, maybe I need to do a 1990's mystery lyric every week... Hmm... Personally, I don't consider the 90's a period of great music. Then again, a lot of my favorite songs are great music either!

80's Mystery Song Lyric

Here it is--this week's lyric. Maybe a little different than usual. I'm not sure if it's harder or easier though. Mail me the title and artist.

Jump to the rhythm jump jump to the rhythm jump

And the winner is...

April! April correctly recognized the line from Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" and has been singing it ever since! Read all the lyrics here or watch the video here.

80's Mystery Song Lyric

Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream

Send your answer (song and artist) to me. I'll post the answer and the winner later on!

Hangin' Out at the Chord House

I've been meaning to mention a useful site I found quite a while ago. If you play guitar or piano at all, check it out. It's the looknohands.com chord house. Enter the Guitar Room (or Piano Room if that's your thing) and select the chord you want to learn about. It shows you the fingering, the notes you're playing, and let's you hear what it sounds like. You can even add multiple chords to a list and then have it play through the list. And this seems to be a pretty exhaustive list of chords (unlike some of the other references I've found), including different options for the same chord. The Advanced Guitar Room lets you do the same for alternative tunings and includes scales as well. (I stick to the Easy Room.)

The funny thing is, on occasion, I've even used this site backwards: I'm playing a chord, but I don't know exactly what chord it is. It's pretty quick and easy to go through the list (especially if I know it's some type of E chord for instance) and find the one that matches the fingering I'm using.

I'm a Student Again!

I haven't been a student for almost 10 years but here I am in school again. I am enrolled in The School of Women's Ministries. It's set up as a two year certificate program with six all-day sessions over the two year period. The first session was Saturday. It was really good and I am looking forward to more. I have some reading and writing to do over the next few months before the next session and I thought I might use the blog to occasionally share what I'm learning an maybe even as a springboard for some of the writing.

Just so you know: I never liked reading and writing throughout school. I did it, and I did it fairly well, I just didn't like it. It's just been in the last few years that I have developed a love for reading. (I'm really glad because it fits well with my love of books--finally I'm actually reading the books I buy!) I've always avoiding writing. I really don't know why--I think it's because I get overwhelmed trying to organize all my thoughts. That, and research for writing normally requires reading. But I think I will be okay with it now. I may actually enjoy it!