Love

People talk about feeling love, being lovable, lovely or 'falling in love.'

People talk about choosing to love.

Love is an emotion, love is a gift, love is a sacrifice, but love is not a choice, it is a command.

"If love were a choice, who would choose such exquisite pain?"

2014 In Song (idea from Emily)

“It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had…”

So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there,
You start believin' that your situation's unfair

But there's always scars,
When you fall back far

I don't know if you can see, the changes that have come over me
In these last few days, I've been afraid, that I might drift away
I've been tellin' old stories, singing songs
That made me think, about where I've come from
And that's the reason why I seem so far away today.
This is love callin'....

Though it's crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die

Some days life feels perfect.

Some days the tongue gets twisted;
Other days my thoughts just fall apart.

Who do you thank for the knowledge of noon
That stands every shadow on end?
Who do you thank for the neighborhood tunes
That float on the breeze like old friends?

"You know I get sick deep-sea fishin'
And you make the best fried chicken…
I'd take a gold band on my hand
Over being a single man
Cause honestly I don't know what I'd do
If I'd never met a woman like you."

Never too late to get back up again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever

Newspaper notices heralding that great event
Daddy's buddies send the flowers
Mother's friends have baby showers
Welcoming that Heaven sent
That first born son is always the one
The first to be called and the last to come.

So I'm sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a dyin'
And my love is an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain

Future like a promise, you’re a city of gold
Stubborn in your bones and Jesus in your soul
Seeing you stand there, staring at the unknown
I won't pretend that it's not killing me
Watching you walk away slow.

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

As we fight against the odds we realize
There’s a special calling placed upon our lives

In the mundane tasks of living
In the pouring out and giving
In the waking up and trying
In the laying down and dying

But the Father gives the strength to believe.

It’s another nameless morning
And the call goes out, a warning
There’s a precious life that’s hanging by a thread
And so we rush with hearts a-pounding
Knowing every moment’s counting

Remember at night what you knew in the day, Till darkness fades away

The tired old man with a Bible in his hand
Said, “Lay my down upon the cool green grass.
My eyes have seen that river flowing through the Promise Land,
I’m just looking for a shallow place to cross.”

And yonder breaks a yet more glorious day
The saints triumphant arise in bright array
The King of Glory passes on His way
Alleluia, Alleluia

Flashback

5 years ago...I went to Africa for the first time.

After that, I always knew I had to go back. In two years, Lord willing, I plan to move back to Congo to stay.

Christmas

It was a different kind of Christmas this year...some things were the same - the Peter Barrys came, gifts were exchanged, the parents, especially Mother, did a fabulous job making the day special, and much joy was shared by all.

But other things were different. I spent Christmas Eve at the hospital with Grandfather, handed out gifts to the nurses and CNAs, and read the story in Luke 2 out loud at GF's request.

With Emily and Anna both gone, I was the oldest daughter at home for the first time ever. Grandfather was in the hospital, even on Christmas Day.

Aunt Elizabeth brought a lovely mini Christmas tree and a stocking, and on Christmas Day our whole family came and sang "For All the Saints" for Grandfather, with Ian accompanying on the guitar.

Seek Ye First

Cherchez d'abord le royaume de Dieu et sa justice
Et toutes de choses vous seront donnees en plus

Alleluia

Demandez, et il vous sera donné ;
Cherchez, et vous trouverez. Frappez, et l'on vous ouvrira.

Alleluia

L'homme ne vivra pas de pain seulement
Mais de toutes parole qui sortira de la bouche de Dieu

Alleluia

"Speak Life"

Some days, life feels perfect.
Other days it just ain't workin.
The good, the bad, the right, the wrong
And everything in between.

Though it's crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won't shine and you don't know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life.

Some days the tongue gets twisted;
Other days my thoughts just fall apart.
I do, I don't, I will, I won't,
It's like I'm drowning in the deep.

Well it's crazy to imagine,
Words from our lips as the arms of compassion,
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die.

Raise your thoughts a little higher,
Use your words to inspire,
Joy will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the things you say.

Lift your head a little higher,
Spread the love like fire,
Hope will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the words you say.

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won't shine and you don't know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life.

Some days life feels perfect.

(Tobymac)

Thanks Be to God

(Michael Kelly Blanchard)

Who do you thank at the gate of the dawn as the hounds of the night back away?
Who do you thank for the morning's new song, sung by birds as they play?
Who do you thank for the sermon of sun,
Preaching the hope of a new day begun,
Testifying that love's light has won?
Who do you thank for this kingdom come?

Who do you thank for the knowledge of noon that stands every shadow on end?
Who do you thank for the neighborhood tunes,
that float on the breeze like old friends?
Who do you thank as the sky settles down,
and wraps a red robe round town after town
and calls to the stars to start making their rounds?
Who do you thank as this beauty abounds?

Thanks be to God for the wonder of living
Thanks be to God that it¹s free.
Thanks be to God for the life you've been given.
Resting in mercy fragrant and kind,
a sacred design, living awe
Thanks be to God, thanks be to God

Who do you thank for the map of your mind that charters the course of the day,
Leaving you room in this canyon of time, to learn what to look for and say?
Who do you thank for this mural of life,
the savor of senses sharp as a knife,
the privilege of poignant, the honor of right?
Who do you thank for delight?

Who do you thank for the treasure of home, wrapped in the real of routine?
The blessing of knowing your own flesh and bone,
and watching them wake from your dream?
Who do you thank for the structure of souls,
tied to each other from infant to old,
beauty so human, so holy to hold?
Who do you thank for such gold?

Thanks be to God for the life you're living
Thanks be to God that its free.
Thanks be to God that your shame is forgiven
Taken away by the stare of His grace, the look in His face
has melted the mob.
Thanks be to God, thanks be to God.

Who do you thank as the years gather in and hang like sweet herbs in the hall?
Who do you thanks as your moments begin to listen for the final call?
Who do you thank for the shape of your days?
Who do you thank for winning your ways?
Who do you thank for this primer in praise now as spirit leaves clay?

Thanks be to God for the breath that you're breathin',
Thanks be to God that its free.
Thanks be to God, though death may come stealing,
and take what it can, it can't have what you own,
'cause your soul has a home that's beyond this sod,
Thanks be to God, thanks be to, thanks be to God!