If you still haven't checked out the Seeds Family Worship music, you really need to give it a go. It's my favorite kids' music by far and I love that it embeds scripture straight into my head. Of all the nefarious tunes my children hear throughout the day and repeat over and over and over again, at least some of it is scripture set to awesome music.
They have released a new cd called Seeds of Character and extended my coupon code for a few months so we could get 20% off the new cd or any of their previous cds. (I don't think the coupon code can be used on clearance items.) Don't forget that when you buy a cd, you will actually get two copies--one to keep and one to give away. Click over to their store and use coupon code SKELLEY.
No, I don't get any kickbacks or free stuff for plugging their music.
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Friday, May 20, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Want to Know
As I was washing baby things yesterday, I took an extra moment to caress the flannel blankets that my Grandma made for my son. I fingered the crocheted details bordering the edge and thought of her sitting in her living room on the porch swing she had for a couch. Feet on an avocado-green ottoman, gently gliding back and forth as she went around and around each square of flannel to add her handmade touch.
I had the gift of sharing a home with her as a teenager, but completely wasted that time with her. I was so absorbed in the narcissistic universe that is teen drama that I missed out on so much of what could have been a precious inheritance of her wisdom and skill.
She's been in heaven for almost ten years now. She took time a long time ago to make a set of baby blankets for each of her grandchildren. My "girl" blankets are soft and loved, but the "boy" set was still crisp and stiff. As I took them out of the dryer, I said a little thanks for her thoughtfulness.
I want my children to know her. And that made me think of Easter. Christ conquered death and the grave, that's what I've been telling my girls for the last week. We can live forever with Him in heaven because He holds the key. And when we get there, we'll see all those people who have gone before us.
I want to know if those relationships will still matter to us when we get there. Or will we just be so overcome with adoration and worship, that it doesn't matter who we're with? They are all family and we are united in our worship. Or will those relationships be fulfilled in a way that can only happen in the presence of God?
When I was younger, I would hear older people praying for Christ's quick return and wonder what kind of crazy thing they were praying. "Don't come too soon, Jesus, I've got things I want to do!" But I understand now, and I'm sure the longing will only get stronger. Come, Lord Jesus, come. I want to know.
I had the gift of sharing a home with her as a teenager, but completely wasted that time with her. I was so absorbed in the narcissistic universe that is teen drama that I missed out on so much of what could have been a precious inheritance of her wisdom and skill.
She's been in heaven for almost ten years now. She took time a long time ago to make a set of baby blankets for each of her grandchildren. My "girl" blankets are soft and loved, but the "boy" set was still crisp and stiff. As I took them out of the dryer, I said a little thanks for her thoughtfulness.
I want my children to know her. And that made me think of Easter. Christ conquered death and the grave, that's what I've been telling my girls for the last week. We can live forever with Him in heaven because He holds the key. And when we get there, we'll see all those people who have gone before us.
I want to know if those relationships will still matter to us when we get there. Or will we just be so overcome with adoration and worship, that it doesn't matter who we're with? They are all family and we are united in our worship. Or will those relationships be fulfilled in a way that can only happen in the presence of God?
When I was younger, I would hear older people praying for Christ's quick return and wonder what kind of crazy thing they were praying. "Don't come too soon, Jesus, I've got things I want to do!" But I understand now, and I'm sure the longing will only get stronger. Come, Lord Jesus, come. I want to know.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Still Thankful
Happy belated Thanksgiving! We had a great day feasting with family and friends. J said it was the best Thanksgiving dinner he's had in a few years. I ate myself miserable and sat up half the night wishing I hadn't had the second helpings. The kids played well, the home team won the game, and the weather turned cold. Definitely a good day.
Since we don't celebrate Halloween, I try to really emphasize Thanksgiving once fall hits. This year, we made a Thanksgiving tree. I picked a branch out of the yard and put it in a big canister full of rocks. We wrote (or drew) things on foam leaves that we were thankful for and tied them to the tree. By the big day, it was a little Charlie-Brown-ish, but we could see how much we have to be thankful for.
A is thankful for mermaids, fairies, ladybugs, Chick-fil-A, rainbows, her best friend, her mom and dad, the new baby, cousins, herself, pink, and various toys in no particular order. C scribbled on leaves and we left them open to interpretation, until one of the last drawing sessions when she handed me a leaf and told me it was one of her cousins. I obliged and wrote his name on the leaf to identify his portrait.
The grown-ups in the house are grateful for employment, good health, kind neighbors, loving family, precious daughters, each other. Above all else we are humbled by the opportunity to thank our God for His loving kindness, His constant nature, His gift of salvation, His personal involvement in our lives.
We've been singing a Thanksgiving song this month cut and pasted from the psalms. Perhaps you know it..."I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad!"
Since we don't celebrate Halloween, I try to really emphasize Thanksgiving once fall hits. This year, we made a Thanksgiving tree. I picked a branch out of the yard and put it in a big canister full of rocks. We wrote (or drew) things on foam leaves that we were thankful for and tied them to the tree. By the big day, it was a little Charlie-Brown-ish, but we could see how much we have to be thankful for.
A is thankful for mermaids, fairies, ladybugs, Chick-fil-A, rainbows, her best friend, her mom and dad, the new baby, cousins, herself, pink, and various toys in no particular order. C scribbled on leaves and we left them open to interpretation, until one of the last drawing sessions when she handed me a leaf and told me it was one of her cousins. I obliged and wrote his name on the leaf to identify his portrait.
The grown-ups in the house are grateful for employment, good health, kind neighbors, loving family, precious daughters, each other. Above all else we are humbled by the opportunity to thank our God for His loving kindness, His constant nature, His gift of salvation, His personal involvement in our lives.
We've been singing a Thanksgiving song this month cut and pasted from the psalms. Perhaps you know it..."I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad!"
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Progression of an Idol
Our home group is studying the Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande. Our latest chapter was on the progression of an idol. To me idols are pretty serious business. If you have an idol interfering with your worship, its akin to cheating on God, prostituting yourself to some other lover.
Sande points out that conflicts reveal our idols. First we have a desire, maybe even a healthy desire. For example, "I desire peace in my home." Not a bad thing. It all starts to go bad when we elevate that desire to an unhealthy level and make it a demand. When that demand is not met, say two small children decide to hold a pep rally in the living room, we begin to judge. "My unhappiness is your fault. You are to blame for my anger and annoyance." Then we punish. It doesn't have to be physical; it could be withholding affection, giving the silent treatment, lashing out, or hiding in the bathroom. Whatever it is, we communicate that they will pay for our displeasure.
And that's how it becomes an idol. We're no longer trusting God to be our only source of peace, joy, security, meaning, value. We're saying what He did at Calvary isn't enough. "In addition, God, I must also have ____________ in order to feel loved, valued and happy. And if I can't have that, I can't possibly be held accountable to love others." We become consumed with thoughts of this desire turned demand, we nurture it and it becomes a defining characteristic of our personality. "Yes, I'm the frazzled mom that can't possibly be satisfied with life right now; have you seen what I put up with all day? I'll find my satisfaction later when my sleep isn't constantly interrupted."
Looking at it this way, it is obvious that idols run rampant in my heart. And their plurality doesn't make them less significant. Father God, show me the idols that I run to instead of You. Ground me in the truth that You are enough and that my worth, my satisfaction are all about You, not others.
Sande points out that conflicts reveal our idols. First we have a desire, maybe even a healthy desire. For example, "I desire peace in my home." Not a bad thing. It all starts to go bad when we elevate that desire to an unhealthy level and make it a demand. When that demand is not met, say two small children decide to hold a pep rally in the living room, we begin to judge. "My unhappiness is your fault. You are to blame for my anger and annoyance." Then we punish. It doesn't have to be physical; it could be withholding affection, giving the silent treatment, lashing out, or hiding in the bathroom. Whatever it is, we communicate that they will pay for our displeasure.
And that's how it becomes an idol. We're no longer trusting God to be our only source of peace, joy, security, meaning, value. We're saying what He did at Calvary isn't enough. "In addition, God, I must also have ____________ in order to feel loved, valued and happy. And if I can't have that, I can't possibly be held accountable to love others." We become consumed with thoughts of this desire turned demand, we nurture it and it becomes a defining characteristic of our personality. "Yes, I'm the frazzled mom that can't possibly be satisfied with life right now; have you seen what I put up with all day? I'll find my satisfaction later when my sleep isn't constantly interrupted."
Looking at it this way, it is obvious that idols run rampant in my heart. And their plurality doesn't make them less significant. Father God, show me the idols that I run to instead of You. Ground me in the truth that You are enough and that my worth, my satisfaction are all about You, not others.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
I'm reading--ever so sporadically--Radical by David Platt. It's definitely getting some buzz in the blogosphere. I don't think I'm to that part yet. But I was overcome by this vivid picture of Christ's love for me:
"What happened at the Cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus' hands and feet but about the wrath due your sin and my sin being thrust upon his soul. In that holy moment, all the righteous wrath and justice of God due us came rushing down like a torrent on Christ himself. Some say, 'God looked down and could not bear to see the suffering that the soldiers were inflicting on Jesus, so he turned away.' But this is not the case. God turned away because he could not bear to see your sin and my sin on his Son.
One preacher described it as if you and I were standing a short hundred yards away from a dam of water ten thousand miles high and ten thousand miles wide. All of a sudden that dam was breached, and a torrential flood of water came crashing toward us. Right before it reached our feet, the ground in front of us opened up and swallowed it all. At the Cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God, and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, 'It is finished.'
This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his Son, God in the flesh, to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in him will be reconciled to God forever."Thank you, Jesus! Hallelujah!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Seeds Discount Expires Tomorrow
Just in case you've been meaning to go get yourself a Seeds cd, I wanted to remind my loyal readership that my discount code expires tomorrow. So if you want yourself some good music, take advantage of the 20% off and enjoy!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
New Seeds Album
So the folks over at Seeds Family Worship are working on album #6, "Seeds of Character." Looks like they fund the production price of each album by getting backing through pre-sells and donations. They asked if I could help spread the word about this new project, so I'm giving it a shot. All six of you should go look at their project page by clicking on the little widget on the side of my blog. For whatever editing reason, I couldn't get the whole of it to display. All the more reason to go look at the real site, which is much nicer than the cut-off version I can show you.
If you aren't familiar with Seeds, this would be a great opportunity to learn more. I really love their music for families. All scripture, including the reference, authentic music (no synthesizers) and no obnoxious children's choirs. I listen to it sometimes without the girls in the car. Oh, and I think the discount code they originally gave me is good through the beginning of August. So if you want to buy an existing album from their store, use code SKELLEY and get 20% your purchase. If you're in the market for quality family music, I haven't found any better than Seeds. (Please let me know if you do.) End shameless plug.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Seeds Discount!
Interrupting the regularly scheduled blog posts to bring you....a sweet deal!!
I'm also trying to talk her into bringing Seeds to our neck of the woods for a live event. Feel free to join the campaign.
We now return you to your regular postings, already in progress...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Seeds
I think everyone should know about Seeds Family Worship. It's great because it is Scripture set to music that both kids and grown-ups can enjoy. That is not an easy task to accomplish. I do have to fight for my turn with Seeds over Veggie Tales, but it pays off when I hear my preschooler singing Philippians 4:8.
The cd's are really reasonably priced at $12.95 and come with two identical cd's...one to keep and one to give away. How awesome is that?! You can check them out at seedsfamilyworship.net. Here's a YouTube sample. Enjoy!
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