Do you ever wish you could escape to a remote island
and rest for days on a hammock,
without a care in the world?
The houses in our neighborhood are about 10 feet apart...
{I kid you not}.
Lately it feels like 10 inches.
For a girl with personal space issues,
this is no bueno.
People pry, push, insist and judge
it's human nature...
but this makes becoming a 'shut in' so very tempting.
However,
with each passing year
I feel the need to stretch, to grow,
with each passing year
I feel the need to stretch, to grow,
and 'put on my big girl pants'.
It's much easier to just follow along quietly,
questioning nothing, avoiding conflict.
No one wants to disappoint and
we all crave approval.
To me,
faith is such a personal thing.
It's something between us and God.
Only He truely knows our hearts desire.
I'm so grateful for the atonement.
I find comfort in knowing
there's only one critic
that matters.
So even though I'm pasty white feeling claustrophobic
and would prefer to just relax in the sun
on a far away island...
I will remain faithful,
exert myself,
and reach out for His arms.
Here's my new favorite song,
(To hear audio, scroll down to my music and hit play.)
How He Loves
Lyrics by John Mark McMillan
He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
fantastic blog, so glad Patty connected us. How He loves Us is also one of my favorite songs! you may also like Katie herzig's "Shovel", "It is Wel" by kutless, "Held" by Natalie Grant..
ReplyDeleteThe life of faith is never the life we would have chosen. We would choose easier, well worn paths. We would rather go quietly with the flow. The the One who chooses us takes us on His path---the path of dying and rising. We die to ourselves and He raises us to life again. We doubt and question, He remains faithful and steadfast. Our faith is weak and lifeless. So we cling to Him--and walk in His shadows, where He heals our brokenness. It will never be the wide easy way. It will be crooked and dangerous. But He is leading us to life.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing. And I am praying.
lots of love,
edie
His arms are always open for us. I am kind of the same way.
ReplyDeleteLove this song Jessica! First time hearing it. I SO know how you are feeling in the neighborhood. I grew up in the "country" and now I'm moving my family there. And while it is something we have dreamed about for years. I can't help but wonder if I am doing the right thing? Will my children miss having the ice cream man outside? And friends to ride their bikes with? I'm just glad they all have each other. Like we have each other in blog land. :)
ReplyDeleteKristi
Actually, we might live in the same neighborhood. I am familiar with that 10 foot thing.
ReplyDeleteGod allows/creates discomfort, sometimes I think it is just to grow me, get me out of my rut. It sounds like you are in the midst of a God something. Stepping out is never easy. Hang in there.
I sent you an email about our common stomping ground. Look forward to hearing from you.
Blessings.
One of my favorite songs, as well. How often I need to be reminded of God's great love for me!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post.
Thank you for sharing such sweet thoughts this morning!
ReplyDeleteJessica-
ReplyDeleteI cannot figure out how I know you. Maybe high school (Alta) or college (Snow College??) Anyway I linked to your blog from someone else's and was immediately intrigued by your sidebar about adoption so I read your adoption story and cannot believe the similarities. We have adopted our 3 children. 2 boys and then it took some time to get our sweet little Sadie, who is 1. In reading your story, it is so like our own story with Sadie. We waited about 6 months with LDS Family services with no luck. We also started to get proactive and tell everyone we knew and within two weeks we found our sweet little girl. We also did not meet her birth mom-which was very unlike our other two open adoptions. Anyway-I need to write it all out on my blog. Let me know if you can figure out how I know you. I am thinking HS. Your family is darling!!! Congratulations! The blog world is so small!
i do so love that song! and i'm all too familiar with the neighborhood thing. see, we have a park in our neighborhood and it is right across the street from my house so taking the kids there can often be difficult because people don't understand the choices i've made to be a SAHM, and then a homeschooling mom, etc. i have faith that He has me on my path so my goal is to remain focused on Him. not always as easy as it should be though ;-) stay strong!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the song. I can't believe that I have never heard it, but maybe I just haven't ever really listened the words before. I am having a put your big girls pants on kind of day. . .thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteI love that song. Isn't He amazing????? :)
ReplyDeleteLove this song...we've sung it regularly at our church.
ReplyDeleteJessica-I had to look in my year book to see how I knew you. I saw your comment on my blog. My last name was Vick. I hope I look the same in a good way! I look forward to checking in on your blog too. So fun to hear your adoption story.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I LOVE that song. Love.it.!
ReplyDeleteSecond, Amen!
Love that song. And would so love to go to a deserted island and just have SPACE!!! Peace & quiet sound like total bliss.
ReplyDeletelove the photo.. sigh.
ReplyDeleteme, too. :)