Just As I Am

I love singing the old hymns in church. It takes me to my childhood when I would stand next to my grandma and we would share the Hymnal as we sang on Sunday mornings. When we sing those hymns, some times I can hear her voice still singing along. She didn't have perfect pitch, but I would some times stop just to hear her sing, because it was this sweet, soft, high voice.

This past Sunday took me back to those days as we closed with "Just As I Am". That song was used frequently as the invitation back home. It always felt like the perfect way to end a powerful sermon. As we were singing on Sunday, a line jumped out at me:

“And I’m welcomed with open arms, praise God, just as I am"

It stopped me in my tracks. But as we sang it a few more times, it became the most beautiful thing I could sing. It made me think about my own faults, my failures, my imperfections...and then we sang that line again "And I'm welcomed with open arms, praise God, just as I am".

As I read those words "open arms", I see Jesus on the cross...His love stretched out and held up with nails. The beauty of that image is that we are made perfect in spite of our imperfections, and He awaits us with open arms, ready to love and be loved.

Makin' It Count

It's been nagging at me for the past couple of months. You know, like one of those little things that just won't leave you alone. It kind of looks like the green dude on the Mucinex commercials...and just as annoying. The big 3-0...peaking behind your shoulder, whispering in your ear. Now granted, I do have a little over a year before I hit that milestone, so it's not as close behind my back as what it seems. But over the last couple of months, my brain as automatically started thinking "you're hitting 30"...and when the brain comprehends that, then you have all of these thoughts that start coming up, and you really start evaluating your future. What does it look like? Am I doing things now to make for a good future? I was telling someone that something about 30 is really like becoming adult. Not that 26 or 28 or 29 isn't...but 30. It makes you think about life and what you want out of life.

Today, I had an "ah-ha" moment, as I became inspired by one of my friends. You see, at the beginning of this year, he created this list....10 Things to Do Before I'm 30. (And come to think of it, he was about the same time away from 30 when he created that list as I am to mine.) So as I had this "ah-ha"moment this afternoon, I started to think, "why not just embrace this year instead of getting caught up in worrying about life?" So thanks to my friend, Anthony, I am going to think about my top 10 list. I have maybe 3 things right now that I will probably put on the list, but beyond that, I have no idea!! I do know that it'll involve singing, traveling, personal growth goals, etc.

Any ideas? I'd love to hear!
And once I have the list, I'll be willing to share :)