Music That Encourages Me

In Christ Alone must be one of my favorite songs, if not THE favorite. It awakens my senses to worship. It quickens my pulse, the Lifeblood in me, given to me. I hang on every word as if it were resonating on my own vocal cords. I think I can smell the aroma of prayer just from the Spirit inside me speaking to the Father. Oh, it does far more than just encourage me.
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.
Here in the love of Christ... so very simple, moves my core to worship, to a different place in my mind. I feel like worshipping in every fiber of my being, where I long for that different place, that next life, one of complete outward focus.Where I will no longer be busy with earthly needs and tasks. Where the things I call mine right now are but specks of dust in an afternoon sunbeam. Where my song is in unison with a multitude, a continuous crescendo of voices, singing, crying adoration to the King.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift if love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on the 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
Here in the death of Christ, I live... reminds me of the Life given to me through the murderous torture and crucifixion of my Beloved. The Man whose skin was clawed and stripped by the sharpened instruments of my sin. The One who carried my wondering past engraved on a tree through a wondering path of mockers and scorners. The King whose crown I wove with deceitful lips and sharp lying words.
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 it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
This is where I want to move, somewhere, anywhere, just get up! To be closer to Him, freer to feel Him, able to worship Him. It's like a rumble in me that I don't want to contain, I want to release it, but it is not meant to be released. It is meant to be shared, it cannot be released for I haven't the ability to hold it. I am the one being held. It is the joy of my Beloved's grasp on me, His ever enduring fingers from which I cannot be pried.
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is power 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
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Here is where I feel as if all of me is speaking with Him. I am reminded of my freedom and my imprisonment. My freedom from the ties of sin that kill. My imprisonment to the Source of my freedom, that which I freely and wholeheartedly seek, desire, want, need, long for. I love the loose bound chains that keep me near to Him. He does and has commanded my destiny. Not that he dictates, or makes me do anything. He, as Merriam-Webster defines "commands", has always and always will "exercise a dominating influence over" every person. We are constantly influenced by His craftsmanship, creation, orchestration of the earth and heavenlies. Many, many are influenced by peer pressure, though not all are swayed by Divine pressure. Few are those who hear His voice in a meadowlark or see His love in the protective manner of a lioness with cubs. Few are those who feel His arms in difficulty or praise His name in the mundane and the exciting alike. But those of us who do, we enjoy walking through life as if in a picture. A hand painted personal work of art. Made with the caressing strokes of a lover on the canvas of our soul.

Meat-za Pie

Hello all,
I am trying out a new blog thingy... MckLinky blog hop. It has a theme and comes out on Tuesday so I will be submitting my own blog and see how it goes. Maybe it will get me blogging a little more. This week's theme is favorite recipe. I hope you enjoy it!


Meat-za Pie

1 lb ground beef (well I use turkey)
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 sm can evaporated milk (5 oz)
1 sm can sliced mushrooms
ketchup
1 cup shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Combine the first four ingredients in a bowl with a fork. Sometimes I add an egg, not sure why I do but it changes the consistency a bit. Place mixture in a pie dish and flatten with fork. Coat top of mixture with ketchup spread out with the back of a spoon. (This can be as desired, think of the tomato sauce on a pizza.) Next top with sliced mushrooms and cover with cheese. Place in oven 25 minutes or until top is golden brown. Let sit for 3-5 minutes before serving. Cut into "slices" and enjoy!

I have had this dish since I was a little girl with a few modern twists added. Now this is a favorite dish at our house with often very little left overs. I like to serve it with green beans and corn.

If you try it let me know how you like it!

Girl-a-rama at the Spohrs and a scare!

I have some very good friends that have had a bad case of "what next?". So I decided to host 2 of their 3 kids for a slumber party. Two girls the same ages as ours! We had a great time.
It all started with the usual fair of mud pies and playing in the playhouse. The little girls that came over are the same ones that taught my kids the "joy" of mud pies. I guess it was a good thing but I hate dirt so it has been a struggle for me. I have however, slowly given in to the fact that it is a time consuming activity and with the boy, it's just gonna happen.
Soon, it was time for dinner. We had hot dogs, Cheetos, grapes, mac n cheese, and edmames. A lot of junk and a few treats. After dinner, it was off to the sprinkler for a little wet time.
Then the sun finally went behind the mountain so we played, umm attempted to play, kickball. There are a few things that you just don't learn by being a homeschooler, one is playground games. A few weeks ago, we were at the same girls house and there was a game of tug of war, no one knew how to slap hands and say good game. Now back to our house and no one knows how to kick the ball and run the bases. And with 4 little girls there is not really enough for teams so we just played kick and run. After the learning curve, the girls had worn off a little energy. For more energy release, they chased John, then each other.
As the sun started going down, we started on smoke bombs. Girls, of course, liked the color aspect and off they ran to mix the colors. Now John was setting up the few fireworks we had gotten, and blowing up a few. The girls waited on dark with ice cream.
Now here is where the scare starts to creep in. I put the dog inside at first but when you are going in and out, I guess I just let him go out like usual. During the fireworks I saw the little thing trying to get in the front door. I guess it didn't register that he may run off. I guess I just thought he would stay on the front porch. Nope.
We watch a few more fireworks and take a break to wait on John's parents to arrive before we finish the show. Now here is where I realize that I no longer see the little rat dog. I casually call him, every few minutes, then as the time wains, a little more frantically. No little rat dog. John's folks show up, mine have come over, and everyone is calling for the little dog. The fireworks are nixed, 2 girls move indoors to watch movies and the other 2 go with John and his parents to call for the dog.
Fast forward to 10:30-ish, little girls get a snack, and 2 try to see where Momma/ Mrs Brandee's line is and they cross it. Now mind you I am trying to maintain composure even though my dog is missing and the littles want to stretch the snack. I loose it and snap "The dog is missing and I really need you girls to obey and get to bed!" By the end of that sentence a had started crying. I didn't want to break the mood of the slumber party by showing my sadness but they should have been in bed by now and I just really needed to cry!
Finally the girls are in bed and I can't sleep. I pass the time by making a "lost dog" sign and playing countless games of solitaire. I soon feel my body wear out and go to bed at 1am. At 2 am, one of the girls is constantly coughing so I am up trying to decipher who, what, why, water... back to bed. At 3 am I am waken again, only this time it is by the familiar bark of the little rat dog. I stumble to the door, call for him and in he comes. Of course, like nothing was wrong and he had not been gone for hours. A bite to eat and he is ready for bed, as am I. Whew, rest....
Next day....Oblivious to the missing dog, the girls are slowly waking, I hear chatter from the room and giggles. So cute! John goes in to announce that the dog is home. They had forgotten but their happy. Then JMama pipes up "because we prayed". Yes JMama, because we prayed... During the night of looking, we stopped with John's folks and prayed for the dog's safety and return. Good thinking JMama.
We decide on cinnamon rolls for breakfast...I hear "I don't like cinnamon rolls..." What!?! Are you sure? *Thinking....Are you ok kid?* Have you ever tried cinnamon rolls? "No" Sssoooo....After a taste test, the rolls were happily approved and gobbled up. Hey Mom, open the can and bake a cinnamon roll every once in a while! You can't live on raspberries alone!
We had a great time with littles! The kid less parents went to "The Melting Pot". Said they had an adventure... I can't wait for the slumber party at their house! AAAhhhhh, Dreaming of adult conversation and face to face time with my man!

Grab a bag yourself

I found this delightful crafty, fabric-y, learning place. Since I love fabric and all the notions and tools that go with fabrics I thought I would pass this on to you also. C&T Publishing They are having a grab bag contest... there are 16 grab bags to be given a way! It can't hurt and you just might win something! You can't win if you don't enter!
Let the Son shine,
Brandee