What makes God smile?

Yesterday, my 4 year old got into our minivan after pre-school. I buckled her into her car seat, shut the side door, climbed into the driver seat and as the engine started Emma said “Can we listen to my favorite song?” I agreed and put the music on. (This has become our ritual.)

She begins by humming the intro and then singing the words with all her might. When she gets to the following words she is at full volume: “I surrender my dreams to the plans you have for me, Thank you for showing me the emptiness of all I held onto…I surrender my all, I surrender my everything to you.” (Keeping in tune and up to pace for the most part!)
The first time I heard her singing these words, I smiled and thought ….she has no idea the depth of what she is singing. Immediately, God said to my heart “Who really does?”
I tried to record her sweet little voice to share it with all of you but I am not technically savvy enough.
I am however savvy enough to know that the sound of her little voice singing those words with such passion makes God happy. I can sense Him smiling with me.
This ritual never ceases to bless me and I pray that as she gets older, the words will always ring true in her heart.

My heart was in that jar

I broke my alabaster jar
At the feet of Jesus
The fragrance of my offering
Filled the room.

My tears mixed with rich perfume,
Poured out upon His feet.
I wept and bowed
in gratitude.

My heart
Was in that jar
All my hopes
All my dreams
My future was sealed
In my small vessel
My offering

Broken and poured out
I freely worshiped
Broken and poured out
By my own hands.
Driven by the Holy Spirit’s
Prompting.
Giving all,
To the Son of Man.

My heart
Was in that jar
All my hopes.
All my dreams
My future was sealed
In my small vessel,
My offering

Only One is worthy,
Only One is Holy,
He gave His all for me.
Sacrificial living,
At the feet of Jesus.
Broken,
yet freely offered
To the One who set me free!

My heart
Was in that jar
All of my hopes.
And all my dreams
My future was sealed
In that small vessel.
My offering

cjb

Transparency

He sees right through me,
I’m transparent.
There is nothing
I can hide.
Do not mistake
My transparency,
For lack of substance.
Or lack of depth.
Emptiness …
Gives us space
To be filled.
Clarity …
Gives us confidence
And vision.
Look on through!
There is nothing
To hide.
This is His plan
For me,
and
For you,
Transparency.
To be transparent
In all we say
And all we do.
To see though
Or look past,
To catch a glimpse
Of something…
Something other
Than me.
To catch a glimpse
Of Him.
He sees right,
He sees right through.
Transparency.

cjb

Women's camp in New Jersey 2006

I just returned from women’s camp at Camp Tecumseh. It rained on Friday and most of Saturday but Sunday’s weather was beautiful.
More importantly the Spirit was moving at women’s camp. He moved in the worship songs, he moved in the prayers of the women, he moved in the testimonies and the sermons.
In one of our moments of worship, I had a vision of all of us standing before the cross worshiping. A thought came to me…here we all stand, women of different languages, different cultures, different social backgrounds, different generations and we are all standing together worshiping one Savior.
In that moment, I was moved by the thought that it was women who were the last to leave the cross and the first at the tomb. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I was now worshipping with women who represent those same women of the cross and the tomb. Women, who have been set free from demons in their past and who’ve been healed by His touch. Women, who have been forgiven by Jesus, even when others were ready to “cast the first stone”. We all stood together before him.
As the music continued my vision moved from the cross to the empty tomb. I was blessed to be standing amongst them, to be standing in a crowd of women who truly poured out their hearts before God this weekend. Their praises were like a broken alabaster jar at the feet of Jesus. The sweetness of His presence in the room pushed the dark clouds away and opened the blue skies above us.

Mhairi, Carole and Karen

Mhairi, Carole and Karen
Originally uploaded by Browneyedgirl2006.

Rally day for the Montclair corps was last Saturday.
We had a great day at Star Lake.
For a slideshow of the day click on...RALLY DAY 2006!

The Battle Cry

Joan of Ark
Standing, staring
Hearing, knowing
There is a battle cry!

Mother Teresa
Kneeling, bending
Serving, praying
There is a battle cry!

Amy Carmichael
Protecting, paying
Loving, saving
There is a battle cry!

Catherine Booth
Preaching, teaching
Leading, speaking
There is a battle cry!

What do you hear?
The battle cry goes on!
What is he calling you to?
The work he’d have you do?

Hearing, knowing?
Serving, praying?
Loving, saving?
Leading, speaking?

There is a battle cry!
Women of God arise!
There is a battle cry!
Arise!
Oh, Warrior of God
Arise!

cjb

Our Slideshow of Russia

Click on Our SlideShow to see our pictures!

Back from Russia

We are back- we are safe- we are blessed!
This trip to Russia was one of the highlights of our lives. I will try and get a slide show up and running on this site soon. Our girls start school tomorrow, so life is busy today.
Once we have processed it all, I am sure there will be stories to share.
Blessings and grace,
Carole Jeanne