Archive for April, 2011

Happy Easter!

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

This was Holy Week, and I just wanted to take a minute to say Happy Easter! Holy Week’s always crazy for me with extra services and special music along with all our regular stuff, and sometimes it’s hard not just to wish it was over. Somehow, though, God always reminds my heart of how incredible this week is, what it means, who He is. What He sacrificed for us and why, and how that was the most amazing gift every given!

Our church took turns sending out prayers during Lent to remind people to pray and think about what was coming. I got Good Friday, so I’m leaving you what I wrote for that day:

Matthew 27: 45-54
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

My kids asked me last night, “Why is Good Friday good?” We talked about what happened on Good Friday. How it was terrible but wonderful, how the curtain tore in two giving access to God to all who would call Him Savior. How the people coming to life symbolized that death was now defeated. What incredibly Good News that is for all of us on Good Friday.

Lord, help us all to remember what You did for us on this day. Throughout our day, Lord, bring to mind what is happening at this moment. Make Good Friday real. Remind us of how You walked the road this morning with people mocking You and spitting on You where people had cheered your coming on Sunday. How You died for these same people, and how You died for us. How the curtain tore. How the earth was dark because You were not in it. Lord, help us to really remember what You’ve done, and to thank you. Help us to realize that we are the reason You did this. That You loved us enough for this. Thank you, Lord, on this Good Friday, for making it good.

Women’s luncheon at Faith Covenant

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

Today I spoke and sang at the Spring Women’s Luncheon at Faith Covenant Church in Westerville. If that looks familiar, it’s because that’s my church. 🙂 It was a funny experience for me – I’ve done concerts here every once in a while, but I’ve never spoken and it’s funny to tell people who have known you forever your story. What do they know? What don’t they know? And then there were a ton of visitors who didn’t know any of it, so I just did my thing in the end.

People ask me a lot why I don’t do more of my stuff at my home church, and I guess it’s because I’m always worried they will get tired of me, or that they hear me enough just on Sundays. I don’t want services to be about me, so I’m always trying to feature other people’s music and talents. Today went well, and it touched my heart to tell a story that so many of these actual people were involved directly in. These were the people who took care of my dad and our family. They were the ones who were praying for us with Toby. This is our family. Made it harder to tell my story without crying, but we made it through. 🙂

Adventure Week madness begins!

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Our duck friends who followed us for a week

We had our first read-through of the play with the cast and crew on Sunday after church and it went great. I have several first-timers who really don’t know what they’re getting into (let me tell you, if you have a pack of first grade girls pinning you into a corner screaming for your autograph because THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! it’s a pretty frightening experience for the newbie) but they will all be good. I’m looking forward to it.

After that, the fam drove up to Millersburg, OH, heart of Amish country to spend spring break. We’re having a great time – there are tons of animals here, goats, cats, horses, ducks, the kids are in heaven. There’s even a little 2 week old goat who’s been following them around. And I drove out yesterday and bought new dishes at the Homer Laughlin Factory – they make Fiesta. Can I say, everyone should have another shower after they’ve been married for a while. What do you think, every 10 years? Every 15? Whatever we choose, everything we own is looking cruddy, and man, I may be shallow, but these dishes are making me HAPPY! My mom drove out with me and spent hours with me in the seconds room finding prizes and getting dirty – thanks mom.