This Time

down cast face
and broken heart.
But this time
instead of falling apart;
I'm gonna close my eyes
and let You guide my feet.
I'm gonna cast my care
because You care for me.
I'm gonna run this race
with all I've got,
knowing you can bring me through
without one tiny spot.
This time I'm gonna walk on the waves
because you bid me, "come"
out if all the raging storms
I'll be afraid of none.
This time I won't hide my face
because my shame is gone
I don't have to be afraid
because this time, I know I'm not alone.

You Haven't Moved

Here I am stepping right back in
To that place I said I’d never go again
I can’t seem to shake it
I can’t seem to make it past this need
I don’t know how far I’ll go
Before I turn back from this road I’m headed down
And come running back where I belong
I just hope it won’t take that long for me to see
That you’re still here with me

You said, you said, you’d never leave
And I said that I would always believe
That your love is true
And it can pull me through
But here I am in a moment of doubt
And I can’t see my way out of this place
I can’t see your face
I need to come back
run back home to you
Cause you haven’t moved

I know your grace is there
When this burden’s too hard to bear
But how long can this go on
I don’t think that I’m that strong anymore
I can’t help but question
What’s this about?
And why can’t I find my way out?

You said, you said, you’d never leave
And I said that I would always believe
That your love is true
And it can pull me through
But here I am in a moment of doubt
And I can’t see my way out of this place
I can’t see your face
I need to come back
run back home to you
Cause you haven’t moved
No you haven’t moved.
So why can’t I find you?"

Yesterday I was on my way to a photo shoot and I was in an area that is somewhat unfamiliar to me. I knew where I was going but I had driven farther than I thought I should have. So I was worried that maybe I had passed it up without realizing it. I decided that at the next stop light I was going to roll down my window and ask the person next to me if I was still going in the right direction. I knew that they were local to that area because I had checked their license plate.
So we pull up to the light, side by side. Our cars were almost close enough that I could reach out and touch theirs. I rolled my window down. I smiled my can-you-help-me-smile and waved my hand to get the attention of the woman in the passenger seat.
I was able to get her attention. Unfortunately, as she was looking at me she had this confused and almost panicked look on her face. It was as if she was thinking, "Oh my gosh! She's looking at me! She's flagging at me! What do I do? I can't talk to her, I don't know her!" So she turned to the driver and said something to him. Then they both sat there with this uncomfortable look on their faces and ignored me until the light turned green. Then they sped away.
That story probably makes you think something like, "Wow! What a rude and selfish couple of people!" And to tell you the truth that is exactly what I thought. But then HE spoke. And I realized that I have that feeling from time to time when I am afraid I am going to have to interact with someone. I have even seen people that I actually do know and avoided them just to keep from having to stop and spend a few minutes chatting with them. If you are honest with yourself, I'm sure you can say that you have done the same thing.
HE reminded me of the many times in the Bible when Jesus stopped to show kindness to someone; or when He gave his time to help those who gathered around Him begging for a miracle.
Jesus was asked for help every time He was near people. They even made special trips from far away. They did desperate and crazy things just to get close enough to Him to ask for His help. People begged more than travel information from Jesus. They needed mountains moved! They needed the impossible to become possible for them.
It would have been completely understandable if Jesus had yelled to the masses, "Give me a break! I'm just trying to go for a walk here!" Or if He had told the desperate traveler, "I'm off duty today. I need a rest. Come back tomorrow!" But He never did that. There were times when He went off alone or with His closest followers to rest and spend time with His Father. But He never turned away anyone who needed His help. His first recorded miracle happened at a wedding! He wasn't "on duty" there. He was merely a guest at the celebration. But still He took time to help.
How sad it is that we are so unlike Him. We have become so detached from Him and from each other as a society that not only do we refuse to help each other, but we are too afraid to even talk to each other! I think that we are afraid that if we get involved with each other, even on the most basic of levels, something may be required of us. We may be asked to help; to show compassion; to care.
I am reminded of the story of the good Samaritan and I wonder how many of us would be like the Samaritan and how many would cross on the other side of the road?
Today, I encourage you to interact! Smile at a stranger! Say hello to a few people. Ask, "how are you?" and really listen to what they say... care about someone! Encourage someone! I promise that when you do, HE will encourage you! I don't know about you, but I NEED His encouragement!
So, get out there and be encouraged with me today!

Trusting in HIM,
Shirley

Won't You?

Today I’m crying out I’m crying out to you
I’ve had all I can stand and I’m not sure what else to do
I need to hear your voice to know you’re here to with me
Lord I need your perfect strength to pull me through when I am weak

So won’t you? Won’t you?
Lift me up when I am down;
Wrap your strong arms tight around
All that’s left of me.
Lord won’t you? Won’t you?
Mold me again when I break;
When I’ve had all I can take.
When I don’t feel like going on,
Put in my heart a brand new song.
So I can sing praise to you; So I can praise you.
Lord that’s all I’m living for.
I only want to love you. I want to love you.
I want to trust you without restraint.
I want run the race and never faint.

So won’t you? Lord, Won’t you?
Lift me up when I am down;
Wrap your strong arms tight around all that’s left of me?
Lord won’t you? Won’t you;
Mold me again when I break, when I’ve had all I can take.
Today I’m crying out. I’m crying out to you.
I’ve had all I can stand. I don’t know what else to do.
I need to hear your voice and know you’re right here with me.
Lord, I need your perfect strength to pull me through;
Because I know that I’m too weak.
So, won’t you? Lord won’t you?

Have you considered My servant?

Today I feel like giving up. If I told you all the things that have happened today, you would probably laugh. And I guess it would be funny. But not right now. Let me just tell you a little about my day;
It started EARLY. My 2 year old came into my room crying, "Mommy I pooped!" I think I thought I was dreaming because I reached out and patted him. Guess where I patted him? Yep. Right on the behind. I pulled back a sticky stinky hand. So I got up and bathed him and put him back to sleep. I couldn't find the spot where he had relieved himself. I went back to bed. I got up and found the poo. Cleaned it up and started the day. My aunt called and I haven't talked to her in a week . I haven't been feeling like talking so I haven't answered the phone. I answered today but could hear nothing she said because my seven year old scream at the top of his voice the entire time I was on the phone. I had to hang up and take care of him. Then I went walking through the hall and heard a noise that sounded like pouring water. The two year old strikes again. He had hollowed out a place in the bean bag and was standing there peeing in it!. Another mess cleaned up. Then all three boys truly were trying to kill each other and I was refereeing. Then Jacob (the two year old) kept sneaking out the door...naked. I then discovered that the domain name that I paid for months ago isn't available and hasn't been for 8 years. I have hundreds of business cards with the name on them out there. I was multi tasking. I should not have been. I was trying to take care of the domain name thing on my blackberry while I was washing dishes. I got a new message from the web host and my blackberry slipped out of my hands. When I tried to catch it I hit it and it flew across the kitchen and landed in my dish water. I've had this blackberry for only a few months I didn't get the insurance on it. My other phone was stolen by a lady I was doing FREE photography for and now my computer is dying. Did I mention that my car is broken?
So, today I feel like giving up. Heaven sounds a whole lot better than earth and I'd rather be there right now.
But you know what? Praise the LORD anyway! He has always been and will always be right here beside me... even in the craziest of times. Things could be worse and if not for His grace, they would be! In times like this I am reminded of Job. The Lord said, "Have you considered my servant, Job?" Then he goes on to tell Satan how Job is a good guy who loves God and hates evil. We all know what happened next. Wouldn't it be awesome if God were bragging about us to the enemy right now? Have you considered my servant, Shirley? Or have you considered my servant, your name here? They wont break under your attack! They will cry out to me for help and salvation but they will not break! How awesome to have God speak so highly of us!
I am his servant and I will not bend. I will not break. No, I will not give up. Not today. I will call on HIM. I will ask for help. I will wait on salvation. I will expect it. I will receive it! I will be encouraged. Won't you be encouraged with me today?

That's What Faith Can Do