ASKING...SEEKING...FINDING..................................VICTORY...MANSION...

It was Wednesday, August 10, 1983, twenty five years ago today. Our second child, Jessica Janette, was due to be born. I was miserable as I waddled around with a 9 lb. 6 oz. baby inside of me who was 23 inches long! Miserable was mild compared to what I felt in late morning when I heard the news. It's one of those days when I knew the minute I heard...similar but different to hearing that President Kennedy had been shot or that the Twin Towers had been hit...this news was really personal...my dear friend Sarah Saber, her husband-Mark, their three children - Kate (6), Adam (4), and Emily (baby) and their babysitter Kim (from our youth group) had been hit head on by a coal truck while heading south toward Nashville, Tennessee from Bloomington, Indiana. Mark, Sarah, Emily, and Kim had already been pronounced dead! Kate and Adam had been taken to a Kentucky hospital.

Questions...seeking answers to life questions...that's what I remember most about Sarah. Sarah was a seeker! Mark became a seeker, too!
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• Sarah: "How do I best serve this GOD who I know exists? As a wife? As a mother? As a daughter? As a sister? As a daughter-in-law?"..." "Can we get a group of mother's together and just pray, pray, pray?" "Patti, what do you think GOD would want me to do in this situation?" "What do you think this scripture means?"...
• Mark: "Can you guys come over and spend the night, so we can just sit out on the front porch like we have before and talk about life, GOD, and spiritual things?" "How much can I give? Never enough!" "Sikes, could you pray about another specific thing for me?" "How can Sarah and I become more and more like JESUS?"

I wish you could have known this family! Steve and I knew them for only a few short years...yet, they left their mark on us for eternity! Kate and Adam are now close to the ages their parents were at the time of this tragedy. I got an email from Kate the other day after I let her know that Steve would be talking about her family in his sermon this morning. In part, Kate said,
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"It's a day that comes every year but this year seems a bit tougher -- we are gathering as a family to watch home movies and have a meal together which will be nice. I don't have any wise words to share...only that parents are encouraged to instill faith and the importance of Christ into their kids at a young age. When I taught Sunday School a year ago I constantly heard parents say that they wonder if this time (4 and 5 year olds) mattered for their kids to be in church -- I know that my faith today is a result of the six years I had with my first parents -- and thank God for that! The early years matter more than anything I argue... Hope that helps...I'm so grateful they are remembered 25 years later..."
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I invite you to listen to a tribute made to their lives this morning by my husband, Steve, at the Pitman church of Christ, Pitman, New Jersey. Steve tells just a few of the amazing stories from these remarkable lives. Stories of faith, praying in faith, random acts of kindness, major league baseball, and McDonald's.... Steve also addresses 7 of the QUESTIONS we asked 25 years ago. Some of them remain unanswered. Some we can answer with confidence! You may read through them here. Then, take some time and listen to Steve (should be posted within the next few days) here at www.cochrist.org Then, click the link on the middle right to Online Sermons. Be blessed...be a seeker...ask the questions...
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1. GOD, why?
2. GOD, who are You?...Acts 17:24-25
3. GOD, who am I?...Acts 17:25-26
4. GOD, why am I here?...Acts 17:27
5. GOD, what must I do?...Acts 17:28-30
6. GOD, what is for sure?...Acts 17:31
7. GOD, will I be remembered? Revelations 14:13

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We smile when we think of or listen to 2 of their very favorite songs:

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Victory in JESUS:

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As I listened to this at the following link, I imagined Mark, Sarah, and the crowd of heavenly witnesses singing...in fact, today while Steve was preaching and talking about GOD being in control, there were two extremely large claps of thunder... At that moment, I imagined GOD calling Mark and Sarah over and saying come here and listen to Steve Sikes' give a testimony to your lives...CRASH! BOOM!

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http://www.woodlandsparkchurch.com/index.php?pr=Downloads&PHPSESSID=4e858388dd93847ca9a261ba2e678769

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Mansion over the Hilltop:

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I searched a long time to find a sample of how they liked to sing it.... and low and behold it was Elvis style...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-cRMgZ9FbQ

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WHO AM I? I AM YOURS!

Over the last few days, I have shared stories about a life well lived. My cousin, David Watkins could answer the question "Who am I?" with "I AM YOURS!"
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Today, I have on my heart two families who are dear to those of us in our Tuesday moms class. Two of our sisters in Christ, made the decision long ago to answer the question "Who am I?" with "I AM YOURS!" They have been LIGHT and SALT to their husbands, to their families, and to us. What wonderful memories have and are taking place in these two families this weekend.


1. Linda, we love you and are praying for you. Those of us who cannot be there physically want you to know that we're still there! I love the Daddy and Mommy of this family! I love this family! Those of you who are in our moms class do, too. Greg and Linda are mentors to so many - deeply loving people who came to know Jesus as adults. Yet, what a heritage they have given to their children and grandchildren! Today, their youngest child, son Andrew (bearded, in front), will marry his sweetheart, Lindsey. Many of you have traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to be part of this wonderful celebration! Congratulations, Andrew and Lindsey! We are so thankful that you both already answered the question "Who am I?" with "I AM YOURS!" Today, you will answer it to each other, "I am yours!"



2. Carla, you have prayed for the day when your Sherwin would become a United States citizen. Sherwin, you have made two huge decisions in your adult life. First, you chose to answer the question "Who am I?" with "I AM YOURS!" Now, on a little bit lesser but still very important scale, you can add the answer "I AM A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO WAS BORN IN THE PHILIPPINES!" Congratulations, Sherwin! We deeply love both of you and pray for your little family as you grow from 4 to 5 in the next few days or weeks.
Yesterday, I shared David's story and his last words in this life: "crown...crown". Then, Janet commented about how that had ministered to her and suggested that we all see/hear a video featuring music by the group CASTING CROWNS. As a mother, I have loved going to different christian concerts over the years with my kids. I went with Caleb to hear Casting Crowns at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington, Indiana several years ago. I can get a little excited at a concert. Steve and I went to a concert several years ago and after I held my hands up for most of the 3 hours - I came home with black and blue marks all over my arms. I believe I would have gotten REALLY excited if I would have been at the following "white glove" concert...Janet, thanks for this link! I had to watch the "You catch me when I'm falling" part several times before I saw what you were talking about. WOW!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT7x3VnrqbA

Robe and A CROWN!!!!!!

Over the years, I have been blessed to know some great christian singers. There is a group of men who used to hold down jobs during the week and then be "weekend warriors" in song for the LORD. Now, they are a full time, world traveling, acapella gospel singing group led by a wonderful brother in Christ, Gary Miller. They call themselves VOCAL UNION. They have sung in the White House, Carnegie Hall, and even in the Steve and Patti Sikes living room when we lived in York, Nebraska. They have also stayed with Steve's parents, Papa and Mama Sikes. I would love for you to become acquainted with their music. Today, please listen to them sing: A ROBE AND CROWN. It will prepare your mind for the AMAZING story that will follow.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nx46XM4N6k
  

As we read through the first part of Christ's SERMON ON THE MOUNT, this week in Matthew 5, you might be startled by how the chapter ends: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." How can that be? I understand that my heavenly Father is perfect, but how can I be perfect?

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After further study, it is encouraging to know that He is saying here:

"Be mature...be equipped...be complete...grow up!"

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This is a summary of a chapter with some very hard teachings. In other words, Jesus is telling the huge crowd that following Him in these teachings will mature them in their christian walk, equip them for the journey, and complete in them what He designed them to be via his teachings of the Be Attitudes, salt, light, loving one another...even our enemies...even when it seems too hard...

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In October of last year, my husband Steve spoke to the church here in Pitman on being equipped for this christian life:

• Lesson 1: Equipped through Jesus Christ
• Lesson 2: Equipped through Holy Spirit Grace Gifts
• Lesson 3: Equipped through Suffering

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In the 3rd lesson, Steve used two major illustrations: one of our LORD JESUS CHRIST and one of my cousin, David Watkins, who I told you about yesterday.
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GOD, equipped my cousin David through great suffering. As a young man, David's father had to have a heart transplant and his mother had many health challenges. Then David's own health challenges came and then went into remission for a while. Here David is posing for a picture for Steve in front of his mantle. Not long afterward, he found that he was no longer in remission.

David Watkins

August 7, 1966 to May 7, 2007

As you listen to minutes 20 through 23 on the "online sermon" you will hear about the last 24 hours of David's life and what these statements made by David have to do with it. As a mom, may you think again of the eternal importance you make in raising your children to follow Jesus. May you be eternally blessed!
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1. "He gave us LIFE. He gave us HIS life. He gave us His LIFE. Thank you, LORD."
2. "Who is that man standing in the corner?"
3. "Crown...crown!"

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You can hear Steve's whole or partial sermon online by going to http://www.cochrist.org/ and clicking:

• online sermons

Then, scroll down to October 28, 2007. Click on it to listen to the whole 23 minute sermon OR fast forward to minute 20:00 and listen to the last 3+ minutes. I believe it will be something that may encourage you for the rest of your life. Whichever way you choose to listen to it...here are some of the power point slides that will give you some of what we saw as Steve talked.

THE PLAN:

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...The Father equipped the Son...

Mark 1:11-12, 35; Hebrews 5:7-10

...The Son equipped the Apostles...

Matthew 5:48; Mark 1:17; John 17:4-8

...The Apostles equipped the disciples...

Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 1:28-29

...The disciples (evangelists, pastors, teachers) equip the church...

Ephesians 4:11-16

...God through Jesus equips us...

Hebrews 13:20-21; Ephesians 4:8-10

THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST HIM...

NOTE: Today, I will begin using larger font on the blog to meet the needs of a dear sister in Christ from Missouri with cataract challenges.

We talked in our Tuesday class about the 9 BeAttitudes in Matthew chapter 5 being in 3 groups of 3's. Here they are in "Patti's words"...

FIRST GROUP:

1. Pour me out...empty me of me...Jesus emptied himself! Philippians 2:5-8

2. Cry over my sin and the sins of others...Jesus wept! John 11:35

3. Allow God to fill me up and control me...Jesus was led by GOD! Matthew 4:1; John 6:38-40; Romans 8:14

SECOND GROUP:

4. Crave spiritual nourishment...Jesus is the Living Water and the Bread of Life! John 6:32-38

5. Forgive and care for others...Jesus forgave and had mercy! Mark 5:19; Luke 23:34

6. Keep all my focus and intentions pure...Jesus is pure! I John 3:3


THIRD GROUP:

7. Work for peace - between people/GOD then people/people peace will happen...Jesus did! John 14:27

8. Expect trials, hardships, and persecution...Godly lives are persecuted! 2 Timothy 3:12

9. Expect that people will lie about you, insult you, and persecute you falsely...Jesus is the truth and the satan is a liar! John 8:42-48


Being a christian does not guarantee a life full of health and wealth.

Being a christian does not mean a life void of suffering.

Jesus led a pretty tough life, yet He asks us to follow Him.

Matthew 5 says that we are the light of the world when we "live the Be Attitudes!"

Jesus lived the Be Attitudes and He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

Life is hard, but God is good all the time!

Pictured here are all of the grandchildren of Valentine and Viola (Granny) Carron of Crystal City, Missouri on the day of "Granny's" funeral in August 2003. She lived to be 95 - over thirty years longer than Grandpa. Each of their 3 children had three children. I'm the oldest grandchild and the one in red who stands out the most. The two women next to me and the one with the pearls are all "Carron" sisters. Then, my brother, Steve is in the middle in the back with my sister Pam at his left. The three at the right are children of our Aunt Shirley: Amy, Mark, and David.

Here is Aunt Shirley Watkins with her 3 kids (Amy, Mark, and David) at her mom's funeral. I talked to Aunt Shirley on the phone last night. She's been hurting for quite awhile: physically and emotionally. God has put her whole extended family on my heart. Before I tell you "why", I need to share a side story...

On Tuesday, my new friend, Nicole, shared with me how hard it had been to imagine her young son being "taken by God" through all his times of being in and out of children's hospitals, being fed through a trach, not having all the answers...

Steve and I shared with Nicole the Bible story from Genesis of Abraham and Sarah who didn't have a son until they were 100 and 90 years old. This was the same son that God had told Abraham about when he was 75. God had told Abraham that Isaac would be born and his descendants would be many. Then, Abraham waited another 25 years for God's promise to become true! But God's timing and circumstances don't often make sense to us mortals. Some time later when Isaac was a young man, God asked Abraham to sacrifice him on an altar on Mount Moriah (close to the same place where God allowed His only son to be crucified!) Please read this very short story to "get the picture":

Genesis 22:3-14
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
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4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
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6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
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"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
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"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
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8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.
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9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
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11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
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"Here I am," he replied.
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12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
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13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
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14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
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We finished off the story by telling Nicole that the Israelites had come from Abraham, Jesus had come from Abraham, and that Abraham was called "the father of the faithful." One day, many years later, GOD chose to actually slay His Son as a sacrifice for all of mankind.

As I looked across the table at Nicole, her eyes were filled with tears. She said, "Thank you for giving me this story. I won't forget it."


I have story after story of my Granny Carron and my Aunt Shirley. They have both been "light to my world". Yet, there has been alot about life that has been hard for them and their families. Recently, for Shirley, not counting her own multiple medical challenges:

She buried her husband John on 11-14-02.
She buried her mother Viola on 8-26-03.
She buried her son David in May of last year.

Today would have been David's 42nd birthday. He left behind a christian wife, Hope, and 3 amazing children. He left behind his mom, brother, sister, extended family. He left behind his wonderful church family - the East Grand church of Christ, Springfield, Missouri. David suffered terribly, off and on, for several years with liver cancer. He had been very healthy and "buff", earning the runner-up title to Mr. Missouri years before. Not long before he died, David wrote our Jessica a letter that she had been "light" to him because of how she had endured her suffering. David and Hope have certainly been "light" to us!

In the Bible's story of Job, there is a man named Job who experienced terrible suffering himself and to his family. At one point he says in Job 13:15 "Though He (GOD) slay me, yet will I trust in Him..."

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That was David's "theme" verse! The first time he shared that with my husband, Steve, was enough for Steve to come home and type the verse up and hang it in his office.

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My understanding of that verse loops me back to the BeAttitudes.

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Abraham and Job understood that verse.

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Jesus understood that verse.

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Grandpa Carron, Granny Carron, and Uncle John understood that verse.

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David understood that verse.

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Last night after I talked to Aunt Shirley, I then called Hope to give encouragement and to see if she could send me an email picture of their family of 5 to share with you. No answer. There was no answer at Mark's and I couldn't find Amy's number.

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Tomorrow, I would like to share with you another part of the Watkins family story.

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Until then...be blessed by clicking on the link below as you listen to another David sing a song called No Night There! It is introduced by Joni Eareckson Tada who was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident years ago. She paints and writes with her teeth. She inspires many by how she lives.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQijZ0OpaU&feature=related

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Today is a tender day...

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a day that brings a rush of memories...

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a day that brings a rush of tears...a day to TRUST GOD!

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BREATHE

What a day! I love seeing our moms group on Tuesdays. Women who love each other and have loving Jesus in common. We met together for an hour and a half, the kids were taken care of and we shared "God Stops", dug deep, talked about growing spiritual families where mommy and daddy strive to think of the other first...we split into groups and brainstormed uses for LIGHT and SALT. Let's take some time to BREATHE right now...smile, when you think about your day...

• Was there something in class that touched you today?
• Something that met your need where you are right now?
• If not in class, what about at lunch and around the pool at Nicole's?

Bless you Nicole! Not only did she hostess all of us with our kids today but Nick had arranged with Steve for Steve and I to come to supper. So, Nicole fixed supper for us and Steve and I sat around the table with her, Nick, and Zach talking about spiritual things for hours during and after dinner.

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Several of you have emailed me today with many things on your hearts. One sister added at the end of a long email, "these past couple weeks have been very interesting and I'm trying to put me aside and just see God work in many ways." Here is a response I gave to one sister. I think it is appropriate to share with everyone.

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My dear sweet sister, you are feeling overwhelmed...

1st: BREATHE!!!! In and out, deep breathe...breathe in with your nose and out with your mouth...keep it up and IMAGINE that you are in a tree swing....swinging back and forth....breathing in means you are swinging backwards and breathing out means you are swinging forwards...now close your eyes and keep breathing and swinging for a few minutes, a half hour, an hour....take time for yourself...

2nd: Be Inspired! "Inspire" means "the breath of God".....as you practice the above breathing exercise...IMAGINE that GOD is the tree of life that is holding up your swing...and He is the oxygen that you are deep breathing into your lungs...enjoy these times with Him...later, after you are relaxed, you may choose to do this and meditate on ONE scripture...just know that on an airplane, the stewardesses tell you that "In case of an emergency, make sure you have your oxygen mask on correctly before assisting your children with theirs"...you are a better wife and "mommy" when you take time to deep breathe....

3rd: Just BE!!!!! God does not ask you to "fix" things...He only wants to live inside of us and be a blessing where He plants us...you have and are already BEING who He wants you to be...you are ministering to the kids in your neighborhood in a HUGE way...by allowing God to work through you to listen to them, to open your home to them, to be there for them is amazing...you are being what you are to be...Be the attitude and aroma of Christ...I see Christ in who you are...not what you "do"...

• don't ever forget that your neighbor's daughter sees something amazing in you...she sees Jesus in you...you found a piece of paper she was writing on when she stayed at your house and on it she said that you were somebody that she really wanted to be like...then, she left 20 post-it notes around your house encouraging you and thanking you...
• don't ever forget that that neighborhood boy likes to come to your house because he sees Jesus in you...he may not know it...but light attracts, encourages, and gives healing...you are light in your neighborhood...

Thank you for the kind words...just so you know...He's still working on me...
Patti

So, for today let's just BREATHE!

The following singing group may or may not be your "style" but one thing I know, the first times I heard these songs on the radio a little over a year ago...I wept. They ministered to me in a great way during a very hard time last year. When I shared the words with my son Caleb, he went out and bought me the CD. They are sung by a group called BIG DADDY WEAVE. If you let them, they may weave some fresh wind straight to the center of your spiritual lungs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70xy8sPEE4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43OsCozWl2o

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

GOD GAVE ME A SONG THIS DAY!

God,

You never cease to amaze me! How can this dirty lump of clay, Patti Klein Sikes, be the receiver of such grace, mercy, and song. Your timing is impeccable...often coming at the 11th hour and 59th minute...but always just at the right time. That's the way it has been this week with Your gift of song. Today's song is certainly no exception. Here I've been talking about how to pull these concepts together to go forward the rest of the month in our Master-Full Moms class. I am speechless at how You have answered!

My desire has been to spend this summer with You teaching us the following...but, it hasn't been me at all...it is evident to me, that these thoughts are Yours:

1. Teaching us as individual women to step out of the darkness (masks, excuses, selfishness, sinfulness, unsubmissiveness, and unsatisfied lives) and walk by Your Spirit via the Sermon on the Mount...be-attitudes, salt, light...all the way to maturity...
2. Teaching us to live in harmony with one another...with our husbands...with our children...in our families...in Your church...
3. Giving us individually a song to sing...giving us songs to sing with our husbands...giving us as mothers songs to sing to and with our children...giving our children songs to sing...giving our families songs to sing...

So, what did You do? You led me to a song today that I have never heard before - a song about darkness to light, harmony, us...Your creation, and us...Your church...The Redeemed. Not only that, but it's written and sung by my favorite musician at a place where I have been with Crystal as she sang there with her childrens' choir in the Crystal Cathedral. For today, all I can say is, "THANK YOU! YOU HAVE GIVEN ME A SONG!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FnJPllet0E

THE ABOVE LINK IS TO THE SONG, THE SINGER, WRITTEN AND SUNG BY GOD THROUGH HIS INSTRUMENT, DAVID PHELPS:

1. The music began at His command and the Singer drew His breath.

The melody rose and dawned on the land and pierced the emptiness.

And from a barren and lonely place life began to spring.

And on the stage of time and space GOD threw back His head and began to sing.


CHORUS:

Let there be light!

Invade the darkness!

Fill up the void!

Replace the noise with sweet harmony!

And let there be joy and echoes of laughter

And the Singer sings on and still writes the song of the redeemed


2. Now, though beautifully sung, the song went unheard

And darkness returned again

But GOD had a plan in the second verse to win back the hearts of men,

A star rose up in the eastern sky that night in Bethlehem.

And as the baby JESUS cried, GOD sang out His song and the angels joined in.


CHORUS:

Let there be light!

Invade the darkness!

Fill up the void!

Replace the noise with sweet harmony!

And let there be joy and echoes of laughter.

And the Singer sings on and still writes the song of the redeemed



And everytime a soul receives that joyful Christmas song

He rises from His throne and all creation sings along.

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VIRTUOSO

There was a period in my life that I immersed myself in the study of giftedness. As the director of gifted education for our school district in Texas, I was sent for much training to learn more about how people think; to see the many ways that people can be gifted; to comprehend the joys and challenges that come with giftedness; to understand that one can be gifted and still have a learning disability; to see some truly gifted people at work - some who became my mentors.

I soon found out that our little school system had one of the largest populations of gifted in the state of Texas. Among my students, I saw amazingly different gifts: one could read at the age of 18 months; one could lead any given group with remarkable inspiration; several could do high level mathematics without knowing how they did it; there were artists, poets, musicians, inventors, authors, critical thinkers, creative thinkers... Over the years that I was there, I had the students learn/experience using their gifts via a program called Future Problem Solving. It was beautiful to watch them see community problems and then harmoniously use their gifts to solve those problems. The year after we moved away, some of them went on to win the International Competition of Future Problem Solving.

More amazing to me, was that many of these young people were part of the church group who my husband, Steve, preached for. I saw young people who weren't leaders at school, yet once they became christians were gifted by GOD in leadership or administration among GOD's people. I also saw those who were not in the "gifted program" at school becoming "spiritually gifted". Young people, no matter what their abilities or disabilities, who would give their lives to JESUS and be given spiritual gifts by Him to minister in His Kingdom.




This week, I have seen women, no matter what their giftedness, striving to listen for a song that GOD has given them. Have you noticed the comments?

• GOD gave Brenda and Lexi songs to calm Lexi.
• GOD gave Stephanie two songs: Somebody Prayed for Me (after someone actually prayed for her online); then, through the challenges of another week-He's Still Working on Me.
• GOD gave Carla a song during the same week that her baby dropped and the birth of her third child is around the corner: "I've Got Confidence...God is going to see me through..."

I can just imagine JESUS starting His Sermon on the Mount with "a one, a two, a three, a four..." I can imagine Him thinking that if His followers, who each have been gifted by Him, would learn how to start each new day with His first 4 points, His first 4 steps, His first 4 Be-Attitudes...much like a master choir or orchestra...oh what sweet family harmony we would make! There is something about the blending of gifts led by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD that makes for amazing harmony! We are His instruments! He made us AND wrote the song!

Today, please read what is below before listening to the song:




SONG: VIRTUOSO

(meaning: Highly Gifted Master; Ace; Champion;
Savant; Sensation; Superstar)

GOD, You are my VIRTUOSO!

1. I am selfish...LORD help me to be selfless....poor in spirit...

2. I am sinful...I confess my sins to You, LORD, thank You for seeing me sinless by the blood of Jesus...I mourn for the lost...

3. I want control...LORD, help me to give the control to You...lead me, guide me, live right inside me...submissive...power under Your control...meek...
4. I am hungry/thirsty...LORD, let me feed on Your righteousness...satisfied...


R-"Blessed are the Poor in Spirit...those who Mourn...those who are Meek...those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness..."

E-God, I know that the words above come from the first verses in Matthew 5, as You began Your Sermon on the Mount. If I keep reading, then You tell me why these things are important in verses 13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

A-Jesus shone His light by living the Be-attitudes. His light automatically illuminated because He was: Selfless! Sinless! Submissive! Satisfied!

P-God, You made me. You've gifted me. You know what is best for me. You are the Virtuoso! Thank You for giving me a song to sing! I'm listening...






WORDS TO SONG VIRTUOSO
BY DAVID PHELPS...youtube link below:

1. A handful of dust...a worthless piece of clay

And you breathed the breath of heaven

Then there was a soul : the heart, the hands,

the voice that could sing of your perfection.

Life is a symphony that only You can play

You know I can hear it through the madness everyday

CHORUS:

Virtuoso! Virtuoso!

This heart is Your instrument! This life is Your song! Virtuoso!

2. There isn’t a note of mediocrity in all of Your creation.

And, all the beauty we create with human hands is only imitation.

Thunder crashes, waves crescendo on the sand...

The wind that’s whispering can only be Your hand

CHORUS: Virtuoso! Virtuoso!...............

3. A timeless melody of beauty and emotion...

Perfect harmony - inspiring true devotion...

No one else can play its chords so graceful, yet so strong.

You made the instrument and wrote the song!

CHORUS: Virtuoso! Virtuoso! Virtuoso!.....

CHORUS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt3zvmBL-Pc&feature=related


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