Beautiful Collision

In one week my debit card number was stolen and used to purchase a ticket to South Africa AND my friend Gary the Garmin was stolen from my mother's car, in our driveway. (I should never leave him unattended. He's too little to protect himself!)
Here are my thoughts:


The depravity of man does not affect the goodness of God. No matter how low man sinks; no matter what man does; no matter how many punk kids break into cars out of boredom; God will remain the good Creator and LORD of the universe. My heart is saddened and disappointed, but not lost. I have not lost hope in God. Not really in man, either. There is still a spark of the holy within. It is up to God to stir it. And I trust in Him. I haven't yet decided whether I'll start locking my doors or not.

Love Waits

I think as musicians we must all struggle at some time or another with worshiping music.
It is so beautiful, and affective, so good, it seems worthy of being worshiped.
As a Christian this is a problem, because we know we are to worship nothing but the one God, the LORD Jesus Christ.

Sometimes I love music so much that I want to put it in that place of highest esteem. But in thruth, this is not loving music at all. To love something truly is to put it and keep it in its right place.

If I truly love my fish (I'm sorry this is a horrible example), I will not take it out of its tank to carry it with me wherever I go. That would kill the fish. If I truly love it, I will leave it in its proper place, where it lives and thrives, where it will have a future.

If I truly love music, I ought not elevate it to the place of LORD in my life. This will only lead eventually to dischord (no pun intended), disappointment and resentment. When I put music in that place of God, I will then look to it for things I would look to God for. And music cannot provide those things. I will then be angry with music for not fulfilling my hopes. Now do I still love music? No, now I resent music. Our relationship is broken because the expectations were excessive and preposterous. If I really love music, which I do, then I leave it in its place of "really awesome" and messenger of God's worthiness, and love for me.

Music, please understand me when I do not elevate you to the status of God. It is not because I don't want to or I don't love you, in fact, I DO want to (after all, I understand you much better than I do God), but I leave you where you are because that is your place, your home in a sense, and where you belong. Because I love you, I will not worship you.


This song is actually called "Speak to me Gently," but I originally knew it as "Love Waits" which I frequently need reminded of, and oftentimes like better ...

Love Waits
future of forestry

sadness and rhyme
these are the times
these are the memories
we find a way
pushing through the day
so speak to me gently

can you just feel the time
falling from some place new?
can you just feel the sign?
love waits for you
love waits for you

i'm searching the stars
in desparate hours
bound to find meaning
God shows a face
in this desolate place
and tenderness meets me

can you just feel the time
falling from some place new?
can you just feel the sign?
love waits for you

stories untold
of redwoods grown old
reside in the forest
and there you can hear
a whispering tear
that speaks into our loneliness

can you just feel the time
falling from some place new?
can you just feel the sing?
love waits for you
love waits for you

I Am

After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied
Isaiah 53:11

Sometimes I don't love Jesus. Even when I hear the Christmas or Easter story. But for some reason, when I read Isaiah 53 and the person and suffering of Christ is prophesied (one of many places) I really loved Christ. Maybe it was just for a night that that happened. But if it can happen one night, one unexceptional night, maybe it can happen again. And if it can happen again, maybe it can happen frequently. And maybe if it can happen frequently, maybe it can one day, some very exceptional day, it can become continual.
Most of the time when I love Jesus, it's when I hear music.

I Am
Nichole Nordeman

Pencil marks on a wall
I wasn't always this tall

You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed
You watched my team win
You watched my team lose
You watched when my bicycle went down again

And when I was weak
Unable to speak
Still I could call you by name
And I said "Elohim, oh super healer, come if you can"
And you said "I Am"

Only sixteen
Life is so mean
What kind of curfew is at ten pm?
You saw my mistakes
You watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I'd never love again

When I was weak
Unable to speak
Still I could call you by name
And I said "Heartache healer, secret keeper, be my best friend"
And you said "I Am"

You saw me wear white
By pale candlelight
I said "Forever" to what lies ahead
Two kids and a dream
With kids that can scream
Too much it might seem
When it's 2 am

When I am weak, unable to speak
Still I will call you by name
"Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture Maker, hold on to my hand."
And you say "I Am"

The winds of change and circumstance blow in
And all around us
So we find a foothold that's familiar
And bless the moments that we feel you nearer

When life had begun
I was woven and spun
You let the angels dance 'round the throne
And who can say when
But they'll dance again
When I am free and finally headed home

I will be weak, unable to speak
Still I will call you by name
"Creator, Maker, Life sustainer
Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer
Lord and King
Beginning and the End"
"I Am, yes I Am."