new music

today is the release day for mandisa’s debut album. you probably remember mandisa from american idol 2 seasons ago. not only is she an amazing singer but she is an unbelievable woman of god. pick up a copy of true beauty. i was able to get a pre release copy last week and it quickly became a regular on my ipod. she even kept me groovin’ on the greenway the other night! it is a great mix of music. i promise you won’t be disappointed. if you want a sample you can see mandisa’s latest performance on live with regis and kelly last friday. her official website gives a complete list of future media appearances. i’ll be settin’ my tivo!

i’ve seen the light

i’m down to my last 5, yes count them 1-2-3-4-5, days of school! i can hardly believe that it’s almost over. 1 paper and 2 finals then i’m on to graduation. what in the world will i do with all this free time???? i’m sure i will be able to think of something!?!? going to do hang out with a friend tonight because the rest of the weekend will be spent studying and writing! going to see “no reservations”! be sure not to miss “hairspray”. great movie that was actually just as good as the broadway show!

friends you just gotta have

noticed this article on cnn.com this morning. took a quick survey of my friends. the results are….

1. The Uplifter- check….couldn’t survive the difficult times without her encouragement
2. The Travel Buddy- got one…in fact we are planning our next trip right now
3. The Truth Teller- yep…she says the hard things but always with love and grace
4. The Girl Who Just Wants to Have Fun- sure do…we always laugh and can find something crazy to do
5. The Unlikely Friend- absolutely…is there really anything “unlikely” though about a god-ordained friend…so glad he brought us together!!

some of my friends take on multiple roles. thank you lord for the women you have placed in my life!

what about you? are you blessed to have these 5 women as a part of your life?

holiness

had a little god moment while i was working on my flowers yesterday. i try to take time to pick the dead flowers out of the plants in my walkway at least several times a week. it had been several days so there were plenty to pick. as i was picking those dry dead flowers out of each plant it was as if the lord whispered in my ear, “child this is what i do in your life. pick and prune you using whatever circumstances necessary. i want you to be holy and be transformed into the image of my son. i takes the pain of the pruning to remove the things that don’t look like me.” i love the times that god whispers to me. it is not judgmental or condemning. its loving and kind. (hearing from him in nature is a new thing…thanks to a friend who has taught me to listen to god in nature!) i can identify a few areas that the lord is pruning in my life. it brings a whole new perspective when i hear him say that it is for my good and is helping to accomplish his purpose in me.

after the pruning i always haul out the hose (or hose pipe for you native tennesseans!) and give the flowers a good soaking. still pondering what the lord just said to me, he interrupts my thoughts again and whispers, “child while pruning is important, so are the times when i bring refreshing into your life. i speak to you daily through my word to provide the encouragement and nourishment you need to make it through the painful days of pruning. trust me to provide everything you need for life and godliness.” WOW! i was blown away by this follow up message. but just like most things these days it fits right in with what he keeps teaching me. stay in the word and receive everything you need for life- the hard times as well as the easy times!

praise you lord that you are a god who speaks! may i have ears to hear what your spirit says to me today!

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance
15 but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
1 Peter 1:14-16 (HCSB)

For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3 (HCSB)

hunger

right now the hunger pains are kicking up. it’s almost time for lunch and that is a good thing because my stomach is making all kinds of weird noises. for some reason breakfast seemed to have worn off faster this morning! this physical hunger though is just a reminder of the challenge the lord has been bringing my way these days. he is constantly asking me if i’m hungry for him- just him not what i can get out of him. he has used a multitude of ways to ask me that question and each time my answer has been “YES”. my hunger is growing and getting more intense. the more time i spend studying and hanging out in god’s word the more i realize that i am desperate to know god. if i don’t know HIM, how am i going to know what he wants for my life? besides that, we were created to know him and because of jesus that can be a reality. so every day i’m determined to learn one more thing about god’s character and his activity and as a result i will be challenged to adjust my desires and my will in order to follow him. the spiritual hunger in me is my reminder from the savior to stay in the word.

1 As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
Psalms 42:1-2 (HCSB)