Un-Plugging

I know it's been awhile since I have written, and I know I say that all the time before I write a post. So sorry! But I have a plan to (hopefully) change that, so keep reading! :)

J and I went to Crossroads tonight and experienced (yet another) wonderful service. I cannot express how much BOTH of our lives have been changed in a positive way since we have been going there. More to come on that later! But the service tonight was about how much of our lives are consumed with media that are feeding us messages, both positive and negative, and how we don't even realize it most of the time. The challenge this week is to "fast" from a form of media that often consumes us. The goal of this is to create some silence in our lives so that God's message to us can be more easily heard. I have decided to limit my Facebook use, because I allow it to waste soooo much of my time. I am also going to steer clear of mainstream radio and fill that time with songs that bring me closer to God. Last week Brian (a pastor at Crossroads) made us more aware of the lyrics of "Rude Boy." Just in case you haven't caught them on the radio, here are the lyrics as well as a link to the music video:

Rude Boy by Rhianna:
Come on rude boy, boy
Can you get it up
Come here rude boy, boy
Is you big enough
Take it, take it
Baby, baby
Take it, take it
Love me, love me
Come here rude boy, boy
Can you get it up
Come here rude boy, boy
Is you big enough
Take it, take it
Baby, baby
Take it, take it
Love me, love me
Tonight I'mma let you be the captain
Tonight I'mma let you do your thing, yeah
Tonight I'mma let you be a rider
Giddy up
Giddy up
Giddy up, babe
Tonight I'mma let it be fire
Tonight I'mma let you take me higher
Tonight Baby we can get it on, yeah we can get it on, yeah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e82VE8UtW8A

Oh my...not a song that encourages me (or ANYONE, for that matter) to be a better person! And yet most of the songs played on KISS, Q102, etc. have similar messages. So this week I am going to listen to songs like the few listed below that send POSITIVE messages my way, in place of the ones that are played on mainstream radio.

Invitacion Fountain by the Violet Burning

Let all who are weak
All who are weary
Come to the Rock
Come to the Fountain
All who have sailed
On the rivers of heartache
Come to the sea
Come on, be set free!
If You lead me Lord, I will follow
Where You lead me Lord, I will Go
Come and heal me Lord, I will follow
Where You lead me Lord, I will go
I will go
Let all who are weak
All who are weary
Come to the Rock
Come to the Fountain
Let all who have climbed,
The mountains of heartbreak
Reach to the sky
Come on, and give your life
If You lead me Lord, I will follow
Where You lead me Lord, I will Go
Come and heal me Lord, I will follow
Where You lead me Lord, I will go
I will go
Heal me.
Heal me.
All who are weak
All who are weary
All who are tired
All who are thirsty
All who have failed
All who are broken
Come to the Rock
Come to the Fountain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67A2Lqskv-E&feature=related

Bring the Rain by Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HgAVenbUU&feature=PlayList&p=2FFF0569A236D2C3&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=27
The final song I am sharing with you is one that Mandi and Brett chose for their video to honor their beautiful daughter, Macy, that I spoke of in my last entry. More to come on that as well...God has done some wonderful things through Mandi, Brett, and most importantly, baby Macy!

Word of God Speak by Mercy Me

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak
I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYu8ZyETnKo&feature=related

So in my "un-plugged" time this week, I plan to do a lot more blogging! Writing has always been a form of meditation for me, and I feel that oftentimes what I write is prompted by God. So you should be hearing a lot more from me this week as I "un-plug" my media and tune in to God!