05/15…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.”
~Ps 23

Poem of the Day:
“All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners

or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial–

Did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?

This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.

This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.

This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil
of this sacred earth.

So let us be marked,
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are

but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.”
~Jan Richardson

Lyrics of the Day:
“When I thought I lost me
You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to your love
You picked up all my pieces
Put me back together
You are the defender of my heart
When I thought I lost me
You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to your love
You picked up all my pieces
Put me back together
You are the defender of my heart”
~”Defender” Rita Springer

Currently listening to “The Weight of these Wings” by Miranda Lambert

02/11…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
~Hebrews 10:23

Excerpt of the Day:
“I need all the women in my life who are dangerous and hilarious, who don’t choose between their womanhood and their callings, women who push back the powers of darkness, women who lead uniquely and differently, women who love.”
~“I Needed to See Her” by Sarah Bessey

Video of the Day:

Who would have thought I would say that Lady Gaga was one of my favorite Grammy moments (also on the list Sam Smith with Mary J Blige and Miranda Lambert’s kick ass performance.)

Currently Listening to “The Power Ladies” playlist on Grooveshark which features:
Sara Bareilles
Ellie Goulding
Florence + the Machine
Natasha Beddingfield
Carrie Underwood
Adele
Alicia Keys
Miranda Lambert
Kate Voegele
Emeli Sande’
Missy Higgins
A Fine Frenzy
Lee Ann Womack
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Fleet Foxes
Rebecca Ferguson
Brooke Fraiser
Sia
Rachael Cantu
Brandi Carlile
Katie Herzig
Sara Evans
Sugarland
Rachael Yamagata

03/27…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
 Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.”
~ Ps 34:4-6

Quote of the Day:
“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.”
~Bill Watterson

Excerpt of the Day:
“When Payne arrived at the hospital on Nov. 19, though, he hardly recognized his friend.
Asleep in blue pajamas under a pink flannel blanket, she’d undergone chemotherapy that morning and surgery in the afternoon. Groggy and disoriented from anesthetics, Lacey hadn’t opened her eyes for hours. Her parents, Matt and Heather, said she hadn’t smiled in days.
“Laaaccceeey,” Heather whispered. “Adreian is here to see you.Laaaccceey, Adreian’s here.”
After a few moments, Lacey rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. Sure enough, standing next to her bed was Payne, his 6’10” frame nearly stretching to the ceiling as he clutched the stuffed zebra he’d brought as a gift.
Grinning, Lacey extended her arms as Payne bent down to embrace the girl he calls his “little sis.”
“Superman!” she said. “You’re here.”

…

“I can’t find it, momma!” Adreian said as he rummaged through drawers. “I can’t find it!”
Gloria stepped away from the window and collapsed onto the bed. Cradling her, Adreian watched her take her final breath.
“She died in my arms,” he said.
…

People in Payne’s hometown still buzz about the day John Calipari landed his aircraft on the school’s baseball field—and about what happened a short time afterward.
Instead of hurrying to greet the Kentucky coach as he entered the building, Payne made Calipari wait in a hot gymnasium for nearly an hour before finally hitting the floor for his workout.
Payne, Calipari was told, was in a tutoring session.
And he wasn’t going to leave until it was complete.
Payne had to work harder than the other students at his high school to fare well academically. In kindergarten, he was diagnosed with a cognitive disability that prevented him from learning at the same pace of his classmates.”
~ “The Adreian Payne Story: How Michigan State Star Became the Ultimate Role Model” by Jason King

Currently listening to “Automatic” by Miranda Lambert

06/03…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“When they call on Me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them My salvation.”
~Ps 91:15-16

Poem of the Day:
“IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired waiting,
Or be lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet dont look too good, not talk too wise:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools…”
~“If” by Rudyard Kipling

Excerpt of the Day:
“I was about to dig in again, knowing it would be alright, but I didn’t.
I shut my mouth. (erased what I’d written in the gchat window)
I paused.
And when I started typing again, I said something that changed my life: “Tell me why this is important to you.”

And she did.

It had nothing to do with the reasons that triggered me. In fact, even as she explained, she affirmed my right to have a different opinion than hers about this article. But she told me why it was beautiful to HER and in that way, SHE became more beautiful to me. Because she let me see her and hear her story with all its unique markings and pain and hope and love.
…
This is how to be friends with people who are radically different than you. This is why it is VITAL to be friends with people who are radically different than you.”
~“I did Something Radical” by Emily Maynard

Currently listening to “Four the Record” by Miranda Lambert

11/26…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD. ”
~Ps 27:14

Quote of the Day:
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
~Hans Christian Andersen

Lyric of the Day:
“I’m just too selfish I guess
I know you’re tired and restless
It’s no surprise we’ve come undone
But I can’t not love you just because
You say it’s better in the long run”
~ “Better in the Long Run” by Miranda Lambert

Currently listening to “Stronger (Deluxe)” by Kelly Clarkson – Especially love “Dark Side”, “Honestly” “Standing in Front of You”, “The War is Over”, “The Sun Will Rise”

11/07…of the day

I took some much needed time after moving hundreds of miles, downsizing lots of square feet, gaining 6 house-mates, changing vocational fields, taking on adolescent teens, leaving friends, and welcoming back others I am back.

Verse of the Day:
“You made me ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under my feet.”
~Ps. 8:6

Quote of the Day:
“As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
~Marianne Williamson

Video of the Day:

The road to London 2012 starts today…Camp Opens!

Currently listening to “Four the Record” by Miranda Lambert

08/10…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Some trust in chariots, Some trust in horses, But I trust in the Lord, my God. ”
~Ps 20:7

Quote of the Day:
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
~George Eliot

Lyrics of the Day:
“My hands, they’re strong’s
But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet”
~“Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele

currently listening to “Baggage Claim” by Miranda Lambert – lovin the new single.

06/13…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“He who guards his lips guards his life,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. ”
~Prov 13:3

Quote of the Day:
“Clear Eyes,
Full Hearts,
Can’t Loose.”
~Coach Taylor, Friday Night Lights (one of my all-time favs)

Lyrics of the Day:
“So you’re lookin for your skin that you never did fit in
You can’t hide when you’re turned inside out
Love is looking for you now”
~“Love is Looking for You” by Miranda Lambert

currently listening to “Number One Hits” by The Judds

04/03…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.”
~Ps 3:5

Quote of the Day:
“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”
~James Baldwin

Video of the Day:

This year’s Song (written) and Record (produced/performed) of Year.  One of my all-time favorite songs.  This is last years  performance at ACM’s just after Miranda won Album of the Year.

ML talking about the house that built her.  What a great story.  We all have houses that build us. This is why she is one of my favs!

currently listening to “Gold” by B.B. King

11/10…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“So there was great joy in that city.”
~Acts 8:8

Quote of the Day:
“Define and refine your perception of excellence.  Preach and pursue it every day.”
~TP

Lyrics of the Day:
“I was standing there crying in the kitchen
It’s been one of those mornings that’s gonna last all day
And he comes in, wraps his arms around me
And I don’t even have to say a thing

That’s what makes it love
That’s what makes it a love song”
~“Love Song” by Miranda Lambert

currently listening to “Up on the Ridge” by Dierks Bentley

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