There is a God

I’ve been working my way through the book The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel. I’ve tried to read The Case for Christ a few times but always got bogged down with such scientific language, big words, long sentences, etc. I picked this one up and was immediately intrigued, maybe because he breaks down his “case” into different types of evidence – cosmology, physics, astronomy, biochemistry, biology, and consciousness – and a few of these topics really interest me. So, slowly but surely, I’ve been plugging away at it – and I’ve learned a whole lot.

I just finished the chapter called “Evidence for Astronomy: The Privileged Planet.” Wow. Things have been so fine-tuned for life to be possible on our planet that I can’t understand how people don’t believe in a Creator! Then today I heard a song on the radio that I’ve heard before but the lyrics really caught me this time. It’s called “There is a God”, by the group 33 Miles:

There’s a beauty to the dawn, a rhythm to the rain

A silence in the soul that I just can’t explain

There’s a breath of life I breathe, a beating i my heart

A magnificence, a scary sense of what lies past the stars

Beyond what we can see behind the mystery

I know that it could only be

There is a God; this is the proof

That all around the evidence is speaking the truth

From the center of my soul to the edge of the universe

Creation is crying out believe it or not

There is a God

There’s a debt that has been paid, a grace that I’ve been shown

A hope that I’ve been given that I have never known

There’s a love that conquers darkness a piece of life in me

There’s a life that’s not just here and now but for eternity

Beyond what we can see behind the mystery

I know that it could only be that

There is a God; this is the proof

That all around the evidence is speaking the truth

From the center of my soul to the edge of the universe

Creation is crying out believe it or not

There is a God

I believe it; I believe it

There is a God

I can feel it; I can feel it

There is a God

And the more I find the less I need to see

I’ve never been so sure, so sure of anything

Proof, evidence, mystery, universe… it’s totally what I’ve been reading about!

I am just so amazed at how God has created our world so perfectly. So many minute details have to be in place for life to be possible. Earth is positioned in the solar system in a place called the Circumstellar Habitable Zone, which is the region around a star where you can have liquid water on the surface of a planet. Closer to the sun, the water would evaporate. Farther, it would freeze. We also have a nearly perfect circular orbit around the sun, anything more elliptical would have dangerous temperature variations.

The position of our solar system in the Milky Way galaxy is amazing. First, a spiral galaxy’s “arms” are very dangerous, with lots of stars forming and others blowing up. And the nucleus of the spiral has a giant black hole. Too far from the nucleus and the heavy elements needed to form Earth-like planets aren’t abundant enough.

So here we are. In the safe zone between spiral arms, not too close but not too far from the center.

And then there’s the whole dimension of evidence that suggests the world was created so we could have the adventure of exploring it – take a solar eclipse for example. A total eclipse is possible because the sun is 400 times larger than the moon, but also 400 times further away. It creates a perfect match! And while solar eclipses are amazing to experience, they have also taught scientists about scientific discoveries and the nature of stars.

I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what all this one chapter in this book gives as evidence for a Creator. I found myself picturing our Earth (in the small habitable zone!) as a tiny part of the Milky Way galaxy (in the safe zone!) as a tiny part of a big, black universe. God is so big, and He put things together so perfectly… I love the last paragraph of the chapter:

“If God so precisely and carefully and lovingly and amazingly constructed a mind-boggling habitat for his creatures, then it would be natural for him to want them to explore it, to measure it, to investigate it, to appreciate it, to be inspired by it – and ultimately, and most importantly, to find him through it.”

There IS a God – and so much evidence for him!

Lifesong

Empty hands held high, such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life, I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say, and the things I do
Make my lifesong sing, bring a smile to you

Let my lifesong sing to you
Let my lifesong sing to you
I want to sign your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you

Lord, I give my life, a living sacrifice
To reach a world in need, to be your hands and feet

So may the words I say, and the things I do
Make my lifesong sing, bring a smile to you

Let my lifesong sing to you
Let my lifesong sing to you
I want to sign your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let my lifesong sing to you


I never realized how simple of a song this was until I typed it out! A two-line verse, a two-line prechorus, a chorus, and another 2-line verse. And a simple two-line bridge. Is that a reflection of how simple my lifesong should be?

“My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show that you really do have faith?” (James 2:14 CEV)
While my good works do not give me salvation and eternal life, faith without works is dead. So many people today claim to be a Christian but don’t live it. It’s the hypocrites that turn people away from Christianity.

I don’t want to be like that. I want to be different. Last Friday night I went to my home County 4H Fair to help judge, and my prayer as I drove up there was that I realize how much of a Christian bubble I live in, and here was an opportunity to shine my light to others.

Even in my own job, in a Christian bookstore, customers and employees alike will often test my patience. I have to hold my tongue when coworkers complain about anything and everything, and tell myself to be calm when people get upset when we don’t have a book in stock that they want.

I can’t change other people’s attitudes and lifestyles, just my own. I am not responsible for them. I’m not perfect; I never will be. It’s tough, because I am such a people-pleaser. I want people to like me. But that should not be my goal. In everything I say and do, my goal needs to be to just want to make Jesus smile. At the end of my day all I want is to hear him say “well done.” What about you? How are your priorities? Just something to think about…

I Promise

Tonight our church youth groups had a special mother/daughter banquet and father/son grill (in separate areas of the church!). They’ve been talking about guys and girls and purity stuff since the winter retreats in February, and tonight was a “grand finale” of sorts. We each had a speaker and the kids worked with their parents on purity commitments. Then each parent prayed out loud for their kids’ future spouses. It was very cool. The last thing of my evening with the girls was a song I sang for them. It’s from the first CD by Jaci Velasquez:

Lord You know my heart, and all my desires
And the secret things I'll never tell
Lord, You know them well

Though I may be young, I see and understand
That at times like sheep we go astray
And things get out of hand

So I promise to be true to You
To live my life in purity
As unto You
Waiting for the day
When I hear You say
Here is the one I have created
Just for you

Until then, O Lord, I will be content
Knowing that true love will come someday
It will only come from You

‘Cause I have seen the suffering that loneliness can cause
When we choose to give our love away
Without a righteous cause

So I promise to be true to You
To live my life in purity
As unto You
Waiting for the day
When I hear You say
Here is the one I have created
Just for you

The girls all had some sort of visual item showing their commitment, most were rings, necklaces, or bracelets. As I watched them sign their papers and put on their jewelry, my heart just went out to them. The majority of them are in 7th or 8th grade, and I know they are going to face some tough temptations when they get into high school and college. I can only pray that they will remember this night and the promises they made…

I looked up the word “promise” on dictionary.com and it said a promise is “a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one.” I think about the world we live in… and how often promises get broken… and how a lot of people don’t even seem to care. It saddens me so much. How are these girls possibly going to stay strong when the world tells them to take the easy way out?

I do find comfort when I think of “promise” and how it relates to the character of God. I searched on BibleGateway for the word, and it appears 221 times in the NIV. Almost all of them talk about the promises God has made!

“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” –Numbers 23:19

So when it later says… “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13) – it must be true!!

God is faithful… He will watch over these girls.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

Ok, so much for doing this every week…

There is an endless song; echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come, I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love!
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes in the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You, knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love!
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I can sing in the troubled times, sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step, and fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up, sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord, when I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath, sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels, and the saints around the throne


I love music. I love listening to music, I love playing music, I love singing music. I’ve loved it since I was little, when my mom would play her guitar and sing “Grandpa Tell Me ‘Bout Those Good Ol’ Days.” I joined band in 6th grade and played clarinet until I graduated. I was in a children’s choir at my church in middle school, and I sang in the adult choir all throughout high school. My senior year I was thrilled when a choir started at my school and I could actually get credit to sing.

During college I experienced huge praise and worship gatherings of believers and learned amazing praise songs. I eventually asked for and received an acoustic guitar one Christmas. I then was able to lead music for my Summer Project in Boulder Colorado.

I now sing and/or play on Oakwood’s praise team almost every week. Rocky got me a djembe (type of hand drum) for Christmas this year. Every day at work I have the radio going in the back room while I work.

All for what?? Years ago I identified music as being one of my core passions in life. But why has God given me such a strong passion? I feel like everything has to have a reason, a purpose. How do I grow and develop this passion, and how will it be used? Will it be used to further the Kingdom?

I love singing and leading on Sundays, but does my involvement mean anything? There are lots of people in the church who can sing. Why me?

Maybe that’s why this song has struck such a chord with me. It’s message is so simple! I want to serve and impact people, but it’s really Christ who I’m serving. And to express my love for Him, how else but to sing?

You Never Let Go

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back, I know You are near

And I will fear no evil, for my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go, in every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles, but until that day comes
We’ll live to know You’re here on the earth

And I will fear no evil, for my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go, in every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me

Yes I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles, but until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

This is a song that has continued to come up at various times during the last month, and I had thought about writing about it, but never gotten around to it. Finally. Here we go.

One month ago we had the high school youth group retreat for our church, and Rocky and I went along. We had a great time hanging out with the students, and we led the music. We introduced this song to them, and they seemed to like it.

Over the weekend, and the next week or two, my thoughts about this song focused on an angle that might not be what you first think of when you hear it or read the words. Usually I think of this song as being an encouragement during rough times; that God will never let me go when I’m hurting. But as the chorus points out, He is there through the calm and through the storm, in every high and every low. He is with me during the good times in my life too. That is something that I don’t think of very often. It’s easy to call on God when we need help, when we need something from Him. But what about the good times in life? Do we realize that He is there too, holding us up?

Two weeks later (two weeks ago), we also sang this song at the middle school youth group retreat. At that point I started focusing more on the “lows” as I came down with a cold the first night we were there. My voice sounded horrible and my nose was stuffy. For the next week I would wake up in the morning and my throat would hurt so much. Yet this song kept playing… There will be an end to these troubles… Lord You never let go of me. I am still sick. I’m on my way to recovery, but it’s been a slow process. He’s still there with me. He will never let me go.

And Saturday night came the true test of my faith. I got a phone call that my mom was on her way to the hospital. She had had a blood clot in her leg earlier in the week, and had been on blood thinner, and Saturday evening her coworkers at the post office found her passed out on the floor. They were taking her to the hospital in Grand Rapids to run some tests and do a cat scan to see if the clot had moved. I had never felt so scared in my life. I was freezing cold and shaking, trying to pray that God’s will would be done.

That was the last I heard until Rocky and I were half way there, and while we were praying aloud in the car, she called from her hospital phone. Immediately I felt warmer and more at peace. In her typical fashion she said she was fine and we didn’t need to come, but we did anyway. One of her coworkers also came with my brother.

We sat with her in her little space in the ER for a few hours while they did some blood work. There was a snow storm coming and she kept insisting we leave so we could get home ok, but we stayed a little longer. Finally they told us the results of the blood tests were fine and normal, and all they needed to do was a cat scan of her chest. Rocky and I left around midnight, in much better spirits than when we’d gotten there.

Just after we got home mom called, and the cat scan showed the clot had gotten into her lung, so they were officially going to admit her to the hospital. So once more I was filled with incredible fear. I don’t understand blood clots and what they do or how they are fixed. We went to bed praying for peace and rest and healing. Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear? I think the cough medicine helped knock me out.

We went to church and I tried getting a hold of her to find out how things were going, but left a message on her phone. Being exhausted and sick, Rocky and I went to take a nap. Less than an hour later my phone rang and it was my mom with great news. She was still going to be there for a few days while the doctors worked on getting it to dissolve, but we had a lot to be thankful for. She could have had major damage to her heart when the clot passed through, and it could have made her lung collapse, and she could have even been gone already. But she’s fine. There was no damage to her heart at all, and the doctors were very positive that things would dissolve and she would heal well. Still I will praise You! Still I will praise You! Rocky and I slept for 4 more hours.

I got word today (Tuesday) that she was coming home tonight. Please continue to pray for my mom’s complete recovery. She also had no medical insurance.

God is good. He is holding on to me (and my mom!) in every high and every low, and will never let go. What a great reason to praise Him.

We Are One in the Spirit

Ok, another song that’s not from this week’s service…

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love

All praise to the Father from whom all things flow
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love

GEMS is a nationwide, non-denominational group that gives girls everywhere the chance to meet the Savior. We have a group at our church that meets every two weeks. We sang this song at our GEMS meeting on Thursday night.

Being the music person that I am, I absolutely loved the arrangement on the CD we sang with. The song is in a minor key, and it started very mysterious sounding, almost Enya-like, then came in with heavy electric guitars, almost Evanescence-like!

We also had hand motions for it, things like putting our hands together in the middle of a circle for we are one in the spirit, acting like we are shoveling for we will work with each other, and covering our eyes for save each man’s pride.

The final verse is what really got me. While the tempo doesn’t slow down, we sang the last verse in what might be considered… half time? Two beats where there were normally one? And we had very slow, deliberate motions of lifting our hands and bringing them back down. On the final all praise to the Spirit who makes us one we all raise our hands and grab hold of the people beside us, and sway to the music. I looked around the sanctuary at all of the girls there and was overcome with the sight.

Looking out over our group, I realized that a third to a half of our girls did not attend our church. They came with friends and attended school together, but came from various church backgrounds. Within my 7th and 8th grade class alone, I discovered I had girls from a Christian Reformed Church, a United Reformed Church, a Community Church, Resurrection Life (a large non-denominational church), and an Assembly of God/Pentecostal church. And here they all were, holding hands raised to God, singing we are one in the Spirit, and they’ll know we are Christians by our love. WOW!

If only that unity could carry over into the rest of their churches. Sometimes denominations get so frustrated with each other because of petty theological differences. But who cares if when you get baptized you are sprinkled with water or you are dunked in a river?? All that matters is you believe in the Lord Jesus! Yes we need to try and understand these other parts of the Christian life, but we should not get so worked up about them that we miss the big picture, the main point.

I can only pray that I might instill this sense of unity in my girls during the time I have with them…

I Will Lift My Eyes

Ok so my song for this week is not one we’re singing in church. I even had a different song from our service all picked out to write about. But God had other plans, and every time this song came on the radio the last week it’s just tugged at my heart… it’s by Bebo Norman.

God, my God, I cry out, Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear, and take my doubt
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let Mercy sing Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring is all of me
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
So hold me now

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

My grandpa passed away last weekend. He’s not my true blood grandpa, he’s actually a step-grandpa. You see, my dad’s parents got divorced (after 4 kids) and my grandma remarried when I was a year and a half old. I still see my other, real grandpa (who has since remarried too), and I’ve just grown up used to the fact that I have a total of 3 sets of grandparents.

Divorce is very common on my dad’s side of the family. Between his parents and 3 other siblings, only one original couple is still together. Even my oldest cousin has been divorced and remarried. As far as I know, none of them are Christians. They’re all great people, but I don’t think they have made Christ the Lord of their lives. I worry about my dad at times. I know he made a commitment to Christ awhile ago, but I don’t see him living it every day.

And so it’s with a heavy heart that I’ve thought about all of this the last few days, and this song continues to pop out at me. I’ve heard it many times before now, I even have the lyrics memorized from when Rocky and I had thought about introducing it to praise band a few months ago. So why is it striking such a strong chord with me now?

The psalmist wrote, “I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” This song has such a simple message, and is the prayer of many people’s hearts… God my God, I cry out! Your beloved needs You now… I guess that’s how I’ve felt recently. As I wrestle with mid-winter blues and the stresses of work, and realizing it’s been two years since my dad first told me he was filing for divorce, and now losing Grandpa Jim… whom I really didn’t know all that well, but seeing my grandma hurting so much hurts me too.

All I can do is cry out… God be near, calm my fear, and take my doubt. And all it takes is lifting my eyes? That doesn’t sound so hard. I think of the Israelites when they wandered in the desert for 40 years, and one time after their complaining God sent poisonous snakes to bite the people. Then Moses made a bronze snake and set it up on a pole, and all the people had to do was to lift their eyes to the snake and they would be healed.

It sounds so easy. Do I have the faith that God will truly heal my hurts, and all I need to do is look up to Him?

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all


There are many old hymns like this one that I know so well I often just sing the words without thinking. And this one in particular has lots of old English language that usually just skims over my brain without comprehension. I mean, come on – “Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art”??

So I took the time to slightly rewrite the verses to try and better understand them – they are no longer in poetic form and definitely don’t rhyme, so as hard as it is, I try to read it without hearing the tune. Maybe it could be thought of like a letter…


Be my vision, for you are Lord in my heart. Everything else means nothing to me – everything except you. You occupy my best thoughts during the day and at night. When I’m awake or asleep, your presence is the light that guides me.

Be my wisdom, and my truthful words. I am always with you, and you are with me, Lord! You are my great heavenly Father, and I am your child. You dwell within me, and together we are one.

I do not desire riches, or praise from people (which is empty of meaning anyway!). You are my inheritance, today and forever. You, and only you, have first place in my heart. You are the High King of heaven, and my greatest treasure.

You are High King in heaven, and have won my victory! Please let me experience heaven’s joys, for you are the bright Sun of heaven! Your heart and mine are one in the same, and whatever comes my way, please continue to be my vision, for you are ruler over all.


I started to wonder, what does it mean for God to be my vision? What am I asking for? Another word I think of in relation to God as my vision is God as my guide. Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

I do desire for God to teach me and guide me. I want to do his will. But sometimes I’m scared of where that will take me. If I ask God to be my vision, then I’m asking to see right into his very heart and to make his desires mine. It might be out of my comfort zone. It might be things I’ve never done before or places I’ve never gone. Is that a risk I’m willing to take?

I just noticed that each of the verses to this song have something to do with God and me being closely knit together… Thou my best thought… Thy presence my light… I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord… Thou in me dwelling… Thou and Thou only first in my heart… Heart of my own heart… Intimacy with anyone is a scary, vulnerable thing, but intimacy with God? To be so close that His thoughts are what occupy my mind day and night? To be so close that when I speak it’s really His words coming out of my mouth?

If I truly pray the words to this song, where will that take me?

Why a blog?

Well I've been out of the blogging scene for a little while, but now I have motivation and a definite goal in mind. I've never been good at keeping a diary or recording the everyday events that happen in my life. So instead, my goal is that this blog will be more of a reflection, a place to simply post my thoughts. I've decided to get more involved in God's Word this year, and really study the applications to my life.

I plan to do that through music. I absolutely love music, and I'm involved in the praise team at my church. Every week or so I'd like to pick a song we're working on for Sunday's service (or maybe just one that's caught my attention from the radio) and really research it and look at the meaning of the lyrics. I want to find Scripture that matches, and just ask myself what this song means in my life.

Let's see how it goes...