A Woman Inspired

An Enthusiastic Hello to all my new friends from the "A Woman Inspired" Conference! I'm SO enjoying the sessions and hope you are as well!

Above All

I love the music of Michael W. Smith. I first heard of him when I was a summer camp counselor and a friend introduced me to the classic "Friends".

Growing up in a liturgical church, I didn't really have that "personal" relationship with Christ. Living in the northernmost portion of the Bible Belt, that was something I left to the "born again" Christians. My friend Bonnie was "Christian" and shared with me her love of the music of Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant.

I loved it and have been a fan ever since. Lately, this worship song has been speaking my heart. Whenever I really get to thinking, I can't wrap my brain around a God who loves us more than ANYTHING. A Father to whom we are all HIS FAVORITE.

It's just bigger than my simple little mind can imagine.

So I enthusiastically sing...





Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature, and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began.

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth.

Crucified, laid behind a stone.
You lived to die, rejected and alone.
Like a rose, trampled on the ground,
You took the fall, and thought of me

Above all.

Circle of Life

Please take a swim over and visit my friend Michelle at Island Time Blog. She and I were college classmates (and fellow Bandos) and have recently reconnected through Facebook. She has a wonderful post up about life, death and resurrection...

Dance Partner

Being raised in a liturgical church, we never talked about having a "personal relationship" with Jesus. That was for those "born again" Christians so prevalent in the area of the Bible Belt where I grew up.

Over the last few years, however, I've seen what I've been missing. So as not to become depressed about what I missed, I have to believe that God brought me to my new church in His time, and my church/faith/religious experience to this point was simply preparing me for this new relationship with Him.

This video is incredible. I'm unsure of the origin, but there are several versions on YouTube. This was the first one I saw, and very well-done. Take a few minutes to watch it. Drink it in. See the symbolism.

See the dancer, as she struggles through life, and perhaps you'll recognize some of the struggles in your own life. See the Christ figure as he strains to reach her grasping hands and know that He is ALWAYS there, even in your darkest hours, fighting for you.



Dear sweet Lord,
When we struggle with life
May we always remember that You
are waiting in the wings.
Ready to once again
become our enthusiastic dance partner.

What Is Easter?

Sometimes in the midst of Lenten sacrifices it's easy to get caught up in the rules, and forget that we are to be preparing ourselves, body, mind and spirit to receive the Risen Christ in our hearts.

This past Sunday in church, our pastor reminded us of the meaning of Easter.

Easter is when God turned to Satan and yelled, "Surprise!"

Enthusiastically preparing,

Pay It Forward

Ooohh! I'm SO blessed! Last week I entered 12 Arrows "Pay It Forward" Giveaway.

And I won!

Now I have to decide what I'm going to give away! Stay tuned! ;)

VERY Enthusiastically,

Anyway

One of my pet peeves is having to deal with stupid people. Rude people irritate me to no end. Fortunately or unfortunately, it's not likely that I'll be able to walk away from those types of people, nor will they quit appearing in my life. I consider myself to be fair and patient with most folks. Sadly, that fairness and patience sometimes goes out the window, and I find myself struggling to not be sarcastic and biting.

I love this passage. It's called "The Paradoxical Commandments". Often attributed to Mother Teresa, it was actually part of a booklet by Kent Keith, titled "The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council".

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Be good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People need help, but may attack you if you try to help them.

Help them anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

Maybe I need to go back to school.