Am I guilty of this? Luke 14:15-24

My devo I read today: When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!” But Jesus said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, and I cannot come.’ So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ Then the slave said, ‘Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.’ So the master said to his slave, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled. For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!’” It is Jesus who extends the invitation, and anyone who rejects that invitation will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Those who reject the invitation are busy doing other things and making excuses, with their minds set on their own agendas and purposes. Their attention to the wrong things make it impossible for them to see the true identity of the one sending the invitation. The master’s response at this rejection is to fill his house with the sick, and whoever would accept the invitation. Matthew 9:12-13 says: On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” The sick fill the banquet table because it is they who have accepted the invitation sent by God - Jesus Christ.

Civil War the Musical

For all you gazillions of people who read my blog because I am so awesome at keeping up with it (blah), The Overlook Theatre Company is performing "Civil War the Musical" tonight and tomorrow at the Franklin High School Fine Arts Center. We performed last weekend in Marietta, GA and it went extremely well. It's hard to know what people are going to think once you perform in another town. Here in Franklin we have family and friends who are going to cheer us on no matter what, but step into a much bigger city where you know no one and the nerves fly sky high. Especially, in the Atlanta area. But, God was very good to us and allowed the response to be more than we could ever hope for. Anyway, this show is emotionally rousing to say the least. There are songs that some of the cast sing that I have heard a hundred times and still sob my eyes out. I know we will never know or understand this battle in history and all that took place, but for me, this show has given a little glimpse of the heartbreak and sadness that did take place. We hope you will come see it.

He makes...

He makes ALL things beautiful in His time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) I love and appreciate how this verse says, "all things," not "some things." Think this is definitely my verse of this year. So thankful.

Vision...

"Sometimes, there must be the death of a vision in order for fruit to begin to produce and grow." Such a sweet reminder from my dad's sermon this morning. In my opinion, the most piercing statements can be the kiss from God that one needs to feel.

So if...

So if there is one thing I am learning, it is, that I still have a lot to learn.

Nothing like being home...

So, the title might sound really ridiculous since I live in the same town as my parents. I am sitting on my mother's sofa and plan on doing so for the rest of the day. My parents took a group of young people who are currently at The Inn to Washington, DC for the week, so Scotty and I are staying at my parent's to be with my 98 yr old grandfather. I think I have only stayed overnight at my parent's once since I have been married. Why would we stay at our parent's when we have our own place? But do you ever just long to do so? I remember when I used to live away and every time I stepped into the front door when I came home to visit, I would just let out a sigh and say, "home." Awwhhh home... there is nothing like it. I visit my parents a lot, so it's not like I am missing out much, but there is just something special about being able to stay. Bless my sweet husband, he is being a sport to do so with me. I have the day off today, so I actually woke up at 6:30am (don't ask me why) put a pot of homemade spaghetti sauce on the stove and I'm letting it simmer all day. I made pecan balls for Thanksgiving and plan to bake some more. Why? Because there is nothing like baking at "home." My mother's cabinets are filled with every ingredient known to man-kind. If you opened my cabinets at my own home, you would find the bare minimum. But not at my mom's house!
I hope one day Scotty and I will be able to give our children the security of "home" like our parents have given us. It's the same feeling walking into Scotty's  parents home. You are never too old to miss the familiar smells, to long just to stay at least one night in the house where you grew up, and just have a place where you can run and just be.  Today I am so grateful for the home Scotty and I are creating together and for our parent's homes. Although they are just a couple of miles in distance, we are blessed to still have a haven where we can just be.

It's the old songs...

I have come to the conclusion, that the majority of the songs that move me, all trace back to my adolescent years. Perhaps it's because I can really grasp the meaning of the song much more now than I did then, but there was something even then that stirred my soul and I remember listening to the same song over and over and over and over again....so much that my tapes would sound like a warped record. Don't laugh, but Amy Grant was the bomb for me during my teenage years. When she came to the performing arts center a couple of years ago, I was able to meet her. I honestly hadn't listened to her in at least 10 years, but when she walked into the meet and greet room, I found the palm of my hands dripping, my heart racing, and my knees shaking so badly. She said hello and I couldn't even say hello back (hardly). Scotty stepped in and said, "well, Amy for the first time in her life, my wife is speechless." I felt like the biggest dork! Anyway, don't know why I'm sharing this, but I mentioned in a previous post that the Lord has been speaking to me so much through music lately. Tonight I got on YouTube and typed in Amy Grant and started listening to some of her old songs that I used to play over and over. I landed on this one and I dont know, it just made complete sense. More than that, it is what I needed to hear.  Arms of Love

Remembering-

Scotty and I had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 Memorial where the Twin Towers used to stand this past Spring. In the midst of being in the busiest city in our nation, there was a peaceful hush that blocked out every possible noise around you. Remembering today all those who now rest in that blissful peace.

Listening Perhaps

I have found in the past several weeks the Lord has been speaking to me through songs...or maybe He has been all along and I am just listening a little more than I have in awhile.

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

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 power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

I found my strength, I found my hope
I found my help in Christ alone
When fear has set, when dark has fall
I found my peace in Christ alone

I give my life, I give my all
I sing my song to Christ alone
The King of kings, the Lord I love
All heaven signs to Christ alone

To Christ alone
To Christ alone

Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
Here in the power of Christ we stand 

-Chris Tomlin-

If His eye...

1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
   Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
   When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
   • Refrain:
     I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
     For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
   And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
   Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
   When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
   I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.