Monthly Archives: August 2009

Share the Love

Posted on
8

I stole about 30 minutes earlier this week to catch up on some of my favorite blogs. I found myself writing comments to encourage them… Most are friend-bloggers or artist/creative bloggers. Knowing that some are facing tough times really left me burdened to encourage. So I started comment/typing away.

Then I started thinking about how encouraging this internet-network has been to me – and still is… And I started thinking about how bloggers contribute so much to the world-wide-web conversation. They give so much because they give themselves. They give their hearts. What they are thinking. What they are going through. What they are struggling with. What they are celebrating. So much goes into our feed readers. So much heart and soul.

And I was very very thankful. Thankful for those blogs lining my feed-reader list that I can hardly get to anymore. But thankful for the connection. Thankful for the heart-felt sincere sharing that goes on.

And I had a thought. I want to do more to encourage. I don’t know when or how, but I want to do more to encourage those who are on the other side of the wi-fi connection who are connected to me.

And I want to ask you to do the same. Maybe this weekend, or over the next week, take some time to hit up your favorite blogger people. Send them an email or leave a comment letting them know just how thankful you are and that you don’t take their sharing lightly. Encourage.

After all, they are sharing themselves. With you.

Hi. My name is Mandy. And I’m… me.

Posted on
12

Wranglerdani, who is an awesome fun chick blogger person, asked:

If you could go anywhere and be anyone, would you pick a different life, or a different set of talents? How have you learned to love what you have and who you are?

Let’s just hit that second question – learning to love what I have and who I am. That’s tough. I think it has more to do with hormone levels and chemical balances and healthy lifestyles than it does circumstances.

The grass will always be greener on the other side. Patty Griffin will always be a better songwriter than me. Carrie Underwood will always have a better voice than me. Ashley Judd will always be more beautiful. Martha Stewart will always have a cuter house. That’s just how it goes.

Acceptance comes when we stop measuring ourselves against others, and start realizing that we are who we are because God made us this way. In the epistles, Paul writes that we are to measure ourselves realistically, not comparing ourselves with others.  We are each uniquely packaged – uniquely gifted – uniquely designed. It’s not up to the pot to tell the potter how to be used; it’s not up to us to tell God what we are to be designed for. Our existence is, in itself, a gift.

It’s our job to be thankful – and live a life that shows gratitude in proper stewardship.

What are you thankful for today, in your own life, on your own not-as-green-as-the-next-guy turf?

The Next Best Me

Posted on
4

Debra is one of the first bloggers I came across and we immediately connected. She’s a photographer from Houston – crazy talented. Loves her family. Loves Jesus. And I love her. I always feel like my soul has sipped a cup of warm tea when I visit her blog…

So, back to those fantabulous questions y’all asked:

Debra Parker: what is the one dream that you would lay all others down for?

Debra, at first glance, this struck me as a VERY complicated question. I had to think on it for a minute before I had the answer – but the answer is so clear and simple:  I’d be willing to do just about anything so that my children would have a better future and a more healthy life than me. Not that my life has been unbearable, but I think we all want the next generation to experience a life that is better than our own. I know I do. And I’d be willing to sacrifice much for the sake of my descendants’ future…

So, here’s a follow-up question: How do you think we can make that dream a reality?

More on those favorites – and television – and deserted islands…

Posted on
23

Here are some more answers to some of those random questions you asked me a few weeks ago! I thought I’d compile a few for you today:

Samantha Choate: Since you have been writing songs which is your favorite and why?

Easy. Forty More Falls – hands down. I worked on that song for nearly five months – refusing to give up on it. I followed a lot of the rules of songwriting and it shows. This song was a huge challenge because I so deeply believe in its message and wanted to write in a way that would melodically and lyrically represented that sentiment.

Steph: What’s your favorite thing about Drew?

His eyes. No. Wait… His personality. Yes. His personality… He’s got that charming funny smart handsome captivating thing going. And it keeps me going. You know – like the type of guy that Matthew McConaughey always ends up playing? That’s Drew.

Groovewoman: WHY is Christy Nockels one of your favorite artists? You said she’s your favorite artist, but why? What is it about her that makes you rank her into your favorite category?

Her heart. I don’t claim to know much about her life, but I do know that she’s got a voice of sweet syrup and a heart to worship God. She’s humble. She’s honest. She’s genuine. She’s not the “performance” type that shows off – she just gets up there and pours her heart out to God. That’s something of value. And it inspires me deeply.

Oh! And I have a question for you. Hmmm… If you were flying to Tahiti, and the plane had to make an emergency landing on the water near some random deserted island (which we know is possible – thanks to the Hudson River Runway scene), and all of you had to live on the island for a few years (can you tell I’m going through LOST withdrawals), and you had an infinite battery in your laptop, and you had a DVD player on your laptop, which television series would you wish-upon-a-thousand-stars you could find tucked away in the luggage of the plane?

Most Wisely Used?

Posted on
13

I’ve only recently given myself permission to dive into songwriting. One of the main reasons why this is late coming is the fact that I’m a Christian and a worship leader but I’m not really a worship songwriter. Counter-intuitive, right?

Let me explain: In the past, I’ve seen writing worship songs as the only suitable form of expressing my writing abilities. And, since I’m intimidated to jump into the realm of worship songs, I just haven’t written much of anything. (Does this make sense? I’m not sure if it makes sense.)

A few years ago, I served at a retreat where our speaker encouraged us to see God in people – all people – because we bear His image. She used the example of creative types: artists, musicians, poets, etc. She said God’s first relationship with mankind was as Creator – even before He was Redeemer. As Creator, He made us in His image. And we can easily see the “creator image” in creatives – artists – around us. She finds beauty in all forms of art, Christian or Non-Christian, because we are image bearers. And, in that moment, she gave me permission to just… create.

Soon after that, I started writing more – about anything and everything. About life, love, and faith. And, I like this place. I feel ALIVE in this place.

BUT.

I recently read Friesen’s “Decision-Making and the Will of God.” There’s a question from Chapter 23 that gave me pause:

“Where can my gift be most wisely used to effectively serve God?”

This is the question I’m currently wrestling with. Am I most effectively serving God by writing songs about how much I want to go to the beach? About where we might move when this is over? About a tough friendship in my life? About how much I love Drew? About how crappy life can be sometimes? About some guy named Hector who can’t get a job…?

HOW is God glorified in Hector?

So, here I sit, again thinking that my creative energy might be most wisely used in writing songs to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ – to give them words to sing to their God.

I don’t know what to do. But, I know one thing: If I stop writing altogether, I think my soul will shrivel up and die.

Thoughts?