As I sat stunned (and worried) it was in this moment God spoke to my heart, in such a loving way, to trust and wait on him. Trusting and waiting when you have no income with bills to pay isn’t the easiest thing but as I look back I see it really was. I was at a point in my life that was so out of my control I had no choice but to trust God completely. It was during that time I was waiting on Him and the promises he spoke to me, my faith was taken to a new level. So many things during that time got me through what was the biggest faith test of my adult life. I constantly spent time with God, I had music on and worshipped him throughout the day, I renewed my faith and waited on Him. Was it easy? No! There were times I wanted to just say “I can’t do this anymore” but He would comfort me and gently remind me to wait for and trust Him. So I did and he worked everything out so perfectly and in such a way there would never be a question of His faithfulness to me.

Have things been easy since then? Some days yes, some days no but I am always gently reminded of his faithfulness. There is a song titled “Waiting Here for You” and my how it is song that speaks right to my soul. It talks about faith moving mountains, coming to Him with expectations, praising Him and simply waiting on Him. It’s such a powerful song and one I play when I have moments of “wanting it now”. Waiting Here for You is part of Christy Nockels new album “Into The Glorious” which is out today. Over the next week I am really going to be soaking up the other songs on the album and give you a rundown of my experience with it as well as share a video from Christy. I have a feeling this cd will be played in my house on a regular basis if this song is any indication of how much I will enjoy it.

If you want to check out Christy Nockels new album here are a few links you will need:

• Into The Glorious on iTunes
• Into The Glorious on Amazon
• Christy Nockels on facebook.
• Christy Nockels on twitter. (#IntoTheGlorious)

Check back next week for my thoughts on the full album and go take a listen so you can let me know what you think as well.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as part of Christy Nockels: Into the Glorious Album Blog Tour in partnership with EMI Music and Momma Findings, however, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are clearly my own

To say it mirrored my life is very close to true. If you changed the princess to a prince I would have sworn that song was written about my life. I was crying my eyeballs out driving down the road. It was called “Just Another Birthday” by Casting Crowns. Before I continue here is the song:

The song starts by talking about how she wished her father was there but it was just another birthday and she would be fine. I could not put into words how this mirrored most of my life and even wrote a letter to my dad in Dear Daddy. The girl in the song has her 16 birthday and once again her father isn’t there….I know that feeling more than I’d like to. But it’s just another birthday and she is going to be fine..right??

Next it talked about her being 19 and getting pregnant and that not working out the way she thought it would. Realizing he didn’t care. That was me too. Which now that I am older I realize that was a blessing in disguise but when you are 19, pregnant and alone it’s so scary. She has just another birthday but realizes she isn’t going to be fine

She calls out to God for healing, for Him to put the broken pieces together and be a father to the fatherless, meaning both her and her child. Finally she talks about being 21 and having her princess (in my case a little prince) by her side, looking back and seeing what all God has brought her through and realizing that it’s never again going to be “just another birthday”. God called her, held her, freed her and now she knows she (and her child) are going to be fine.

When I say that song brought me to tears I mean it really brought me to tears. I could not imagine there being a song more fitting for the life I had and the life I have. Do I still deal with the pain of not having my father active in my life…sure, but at the end of the moment of pain I know I am going to be fine. God has brought me through so much and blessed me with so much that never again will I look at it as “Just Another Birthday”

What about you, has there ever been a song that really touches you like that?

I am a huge Aerosmith fan.  I mean I was ecstatic when Steven Tyler joined AI as a judge, a little more Steven in my life is a good thing.  So today I just wanted to share some of my favorite lyrics from some of the Aerosmith songs out there!

From Cryin’:
‘Cause what you got inside
Ain’t where your love should stay
Yeah, our love, sweet love, ain’t love
till you give your heart away

From Amazing:
It’s Amazing, With the blink of an eye you finally see the light
It’s Amazing, When the moment arrives that you know you’ll be alright
It’s Amazing, And I’m sayin’ a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight

From Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing:
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you’re far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Where every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

From Dream On:
Every time I look in the mirror
All the lines in my face getting clearer, the past is gone
It went by like dusk to dawn, isn’t that the way?
Everybody’s got their dues in life to pay

Half my life’s in book’s written pages
Live and learn from fools and from sages
You know it’s true
All things come back to you

Aerosmith is definitely a group that has spanned decades, now if I can just get to a show of theirs all will be perfect in my rock world!  What artist would you love to see in concert?

I am one of those people who counts down to November because then I can start playing my Christmas music without my family thinking I am insane. Though truth be known, I listen to it pretty much throughout the year. There is just something about Christmas tunes that always lifts my spirit. This year I had the privilege of adding a new CD to my ever growing Christmas genre.

Raul Rendon’s “A Christmas Fantasy” is definitely one that has been played repeatedly since I received it. I love that it has the Christmas classics I adore. My dad plays the saxophone so it has always had a special place in my heart. The minute I heard that music I smiled. The whole cd makes Christmas a little more “jazzy”. I have to say “Mary Did you Know” was my absolute favorite. It gives me chills each time I hear it. The sounds in this cd moves me to tears.

I highly suggest you picking up a copy of “A Christmas Fantasy” if you love Christmas music. Sometimes I am leery of instrumental only songs fearing that something won’t feel right without the words. Not so with this cd. The jazz feel with the classic Christmas songs is a perfect mixture of instrumental and holiday song, no words needed.

You can order Raul Rendon’s “A Christmas Fantasy” through CD Baby or download through iTunes and Amazon. Don’t forget to keep up with Raul on Facebook and Twitter to see what upcoming projects he may have.

This post was sponsored and product was provided free of charge by Raul Rendon. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind.  For more on my policies please see my disclosure page.

That being said I never fully appreciated the “stories” the Bible had to offer until much longer after I was saved. I believed what I read, after all why would I commit my life Christ if I didn’t, but I didn’t grasp the depth of what I was reading. As I aged and continued to read I was amazed. The story of Ruth, the woman Esther was, Moses’ life, everything I read I get something new out of. Until now it has all been physically read by my eyes, now I had a chance to listen to some of these accounts through The Story CD.

I turned this CD on to listen to these accounts from creation to the second coming, from Adam to Mary and immediately grew still. Creation, the first song on the cd, had no words but the compilation of music moved me to tears. By the time I got to “How Love Wins” I could barely breathe I was so touched. The songs on this cd, are taken from the accounts I read in the bible every day, yet they brought the stories to life in a different way. As I made it to Alive, sung by Natalie Grant, I knew that’s what I felt as I grew and understood the stories over the year. As I took them for more than just words written on a paper but truth, I felt alive!

That’s what I hope I am teaching my children, the stories of the Bible are not stories like they read, they are truths, they are real accounts.  The words of the Bible are not just there for fun, they are words to live by and they are answers when life brings situations that aren’t fair.  Was it fair for Daniel to go into the lion’s den because he would not give up his faith, no but God brought him out.  Chances are my kids aren’t going to physically go into a lions den but sometimes life situations can feel like that and what better to teach them than these stories of truth, that they will make it through whatever they are facing.

I will be playing The Story CD often in my house because my kids will love it, and I love that a story can be put to music.  A little bit more about The Story:

THE STORY is an unparalleled project from the best-known artists in Christian music. The songs on THE STORY take timeless biblical stories and provide a completely new context into how God’s story of love and redemption intersects with our story of brokenness and failures resulting in a new story of hope and rescue. The CD contains 18 all-new songs written by multiple Dove Award-Winners Nichole Nordeman & Bernie Herms, produced by Brown Bannister & Bernie Herms, and a stellar line-up of artists across all major labels. (Music Inspired By) THE STORY is based on a collaboration with authors Randy Frazee (The Heart Of The Story) & Max Lucado (God’s Story Your Story) as well as Zondervan’s bible The Story.

Get a little more look inside the story behind The Story:

It’s a great cd and I highly suggest picking it up. It tells THE STORY in a whole new way! You can find it on amazon and iTunes. A great gift idea this holiday season as well. Share The Story with yourself and those you love.

What’s your story?  When did you first learn about the Bible?

Disclosure: This post made possible by EMI Music, who provided me with a sample product to facilitate this post. Although opinions, stated, are always my own and never wavered by products received, I have been compensated for my participation. If you purchase through the Natalie Grant link, please note I am an Amazon affiliate and will receive a small percentage.

I grew up in ballet and dancing so music and worship is a big part of my daily life. I cry during a good song. I have been dealing with some things lately that involve people treating me wrong in an underhanded way and that hurts me worse than someone outright being mean to me.  I’m a peaceful person I don’t like mean, gossipers, judgement, and everything else that goes with that. I like happy and all that encompasses.

Today as I was driving, I was in tears as I thought about the things mentioned above, when God brought to remembrance this song, Rise Up Mighty Warrior. As I thought about part of the first verse and the chorus, I knew that is what I am going to have to do. RISE UP! God will take care of the rest.

Here are the words that really got to me today when I was upset:
To all who’ve suffered at the hands of another,
Come out from the bitterness, come out from the shame
Well the God of creation is calling out your name
Turn to those with love who have only brought you pain!

So, RISE UP MIGHTY WARRIOR, RISE UP!
And receive what only God can give
He gives life thought the blood of Jesus Christ
He gives love and the strength to forgive

The people that are judging me, talking about me, really have nothing to do with me at all, but rather the insecurities and the issues in their lives they want to project onto me.  Of course I’m not perfect but I never claimed to be, I just do my best and unfortunately that’s not enough for some but I can’t let that be my issue.  So, I just have to love these people where they are at and let God take care of the rest. If they are meant to be in my life there is a reason though,I might ask God a whiney why.  If they aren’t supposed to be in my life God will take them out. I will only grow stronger because of the pain I feel through their judgement and harsh words,  while they will only tear themselves down in the end.

So, if you are having a hard time because someone is talking about you, judging you…love them and rise up. Pray and let God handle it, he’s the dad who doesn’t allow his children to be weakened by the words of another.  Yes it will hurt, but let that strengthen you.  Remember to guard your heart so that when an attack comes through words or whatever you will stand through it!   It’s not up to us to put people in their place but rather love them for who they are and let God deal with them. Usually when people lash out directly or indirectly it ultimately has nothing to do with you at all but rather the problems/situations in their lives that they are trying to avoid.

That got a little deep but oh well, it’s what was on my heart and I have to share. No more being timid, sometimes you just have to speak it out. HOWEVER when you do have to be bold remember there is a way to present something, you can be bold and NOT hurt another’s feelings. That message will have to wait for another day LOL.

So what are some songs you love to hear that really speak to your spirit when you are going through a hard time?

Halloween is tomorrow so I figured for today’s Quotable Sunday I would share some lyrics to some of my favorite halloween time songs!

• It’s a jump to the left, and then a step to the right.  Put your hands on your hips, pull your knees in tight.  But it’s the pelvic thrust that really drives you insaaaaane.  Let’s do the time warp again, let’s do the time warp again.  (Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show)
• He did the mash.  He did the monster mash.  The monster mash.  It was a graveyard smash  He did the mash.  It caught on in a flash  He did the mash.  He did the monster mash. (The Monster Mash)
• There’s something strange, and it don’t look good.  Who you gonna call?  GHOSTBUSTERS. (Ghostbusters movie theme song)
• They’re creepy and their kooky.  Mysterious and  spooky.  They’re all together ooky, the Adaams family.  (Adaam’s Family Theme song)

First I will go with one that is a little more light hearted (because this post could get pretty deep and personal when it comes to the second song).  The first song I swear you could put my name in is “Do Everything“.   The first verse and chorus go as follows:

You’re picking up toys on the living room floor
for the 15th time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost
Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
and head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you

Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

That could be me and the words could not be more true. I sat and thought, “Man, how much have I done and complained about having to do, when everything I should be giving Him the glory“. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, amazing children, a blog to share and yet it’s so easy to grumble and complain.

Sure I am going to have a bad day, thankfully God doesn’t look at those alone.  He sees my potential even when I am not showing it. What right do I have to be bitter because I have to wash this dish for the 100th time today at least I have food that is causing me to have to wash the dishes. I want to remember to do everything for His glory without complaint. Do I think I will quit complaining for good, no (just being honest).  However, I can still do everything for the glory of God because He has blessed me beyond words and that is worth doing it all for Him.

The next song is “Meant To Be”. I was sobbing when I listened to this. If you know me I am very tender hearted so it’s no surprise this song touched me. I have to share all the lyrics of this one with you:

Long before you drew your first breath
A dream was coming true
God wanted to give a gift to the world
So He wrapped it up in you
Every step that you’ve taken
Every move that you make
Is part of His plan

CHORUS:
You were meant to be touching the lives that you touch
And meant to be here making this world so much more
Than it would be without you in it
You were meant to be bringing the gifts that you bring
And singing the songs you’ve been given to sing
You are perfectly, wonderfully, beautifully meant to be
You were meant to be

Long before you took your first fall
And stumbled to the ground
God started telling the story of you
To the angels gathered around
Every failure and victory
And everything in between
It’s all in His hands

(Chorus)

You are, you are, you are meant to be
You are, you are, you are meant to be

For every breath that you’re taking
And every move that you make
It’s a meaningful life you’ve been given
So live it well

(Chorus)

He had a plan for me before I was even born…and for you! Have I taken some not so great detours along the way…yes I sure have. He still lovingly accepted me right back as if I had never gotten off His path for me. The part that just took my breath away was “every failure and victory it’s all in his hands“. I sat repeating that to myself over and over. That means he already knew the mistakes I have and will make and He still loves me. No matter how big or small, he will still love me. Tell me a human besides family or amazing friends (and even sometimes that doesn’t work out) who will do that.

He knew I was going to be a mom before I was married, what did he do? He still sent the most amazing man who loved me and my son with every ounce of his being. He knew I was going to take the gift of dance and use it to have fun club hopping in my younger days. When I ran back to where I belonged, He made me the dance team leader of my church and I use my dance for His glory. He knew I was going to fall away and He still took me in as if I had never left. All because everything I have done and will do were meant to be. He loves me through the times I am obedient and the times I am not, because He knows before I do what choice I will make.

As the song says “God wanted to give a gift to the world, so He wrapped up You“. Me & You, a gift to the world, by someone who gave His only son so that if (or when I should say) we mess up and sin, we can be forgiven. Everything I am, Everything you are is Meant to Be. Remember that, when you don’t realize your worth (because being honest I tend to forget mine a lot) you were Meant To Be.

If you want to pick up Steven’s new album re:Creation find it on iTunes, Amazon, or your local christian book store..  Don’t forget to find Steven on facebook and twitter and keep up to date with the happenings he has going on.

Disclosure: I did receive an album to review before the release date and will be compensated for my time in writing the posts.  Reception of product nor compensation influence my views on product.  Opinions will always be 100% honest and only mine.

Welcome to Day 11, in the 30 days about me series, today it’s all about your favorite artist and/or band. You all obviously know my list is not going to be just one considering the list I had for my favorite songs LOL. I will try to keep it shorter though. Obviously, above is Bon Jovi, they rock (pun completely intended). I saw them live almost 2 years ago and it so far has been the best concert I have ever been too.

Some of my other faves are:

• Poison
• Aerosmith
• Mr. Big
• Francesca Batistelli
• Laura Story
• Mercy Me
• Third Day
• Destiny’s Child
• Cece Wynans
• DC Talk (even though they aren’t together)
• TobyMac
• The Bangles
• City Harmonic
• Jaci Velasquez
• Steven Curtis Chapman
• Eric Clapman
• Blondie
• Richard Marx
• Bryan Adams
• ‘N Sync
• Backstreet Boys

Okay you get my drift I could go on and on. I am a music lover and all things 50′s-90′s I love, with current contemporary christian. Music gets me happy and in a good mood! Now it’s your turn. If you are blogger, link up your day 11 post below. If you don’t blog still join in, down in the comments and share some of your favorite bands/artists.

Today, Steven Curtis Chapman, has a new album hitting entertainment stores all over. I was contacted a few weeks ago and asked if I would like to preview re:Creation before it was released. Being a huge Steven Curtis Chapman fan I didn’t even think twice about it, not to mention I love contemporary christian music. I’ll post later this week about my experience with some of the songs but let me just preface that upcoming post by saying “This CD is amazing“.

Steven brings back old favorites such as “For The Sake of The Call” and “The Great Adventure” that I have listened to for years. He also brings some new and fresh material that will lift you up. After having tragically lost a daughter in 2008, Steven found new meaning in some of the songs he had previously written and recreated them, which gave the title “re:Creation“

When asked about his new album Steven had this to say, “I found that since Maria went to heaven, many of the songs that I have written over the years continue to grow in meaning. The heart behind doing this was asking, how can I take some of those songs that have a new depth to me and reinterpret those, recreate those? Thus the title re:creation.”

In this youTube clip Steven shares more about his “re:Creation” album:

This album touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes, in a good way of course. I can’t give all of my emotions away in one post. Watch later this week for my review of the album.  If you want to find out for yourself, before I share my thoughts, you can head over and grab the album through iTunes or Amazon. Don’t forget you can keep up with Steven on twitter and facebook.

*Disclosure: I did receive the album at no cost to me and will be compensated for my time in writing this announcement post. Reception of product for review purposes only. Compensation nor reception of product for review influences my opinion about the product. Opinions are 100% honest and mine only. For more on my policies head over and read my full disclosure.