Saturday, September 10, 2011

From Uncertainty to Promises

Vs1. You put a song in me
You gave me the words to write
While I sit among your creation
in awe of your beauty
Your love is radiated in the light

Ch. Im in awe of you God
You have spoken to me
You told me to swap
My doubts, questions, and uncertainties
with reassurance in what I know to be

Bridge:
I know you are faithful
I know your grace is given each day
I know you are the protector
and have gone before me
and made the way
I give you my uncertainties
because I have peace in what is known

Vs2. You have changed my mind set
I once was trapped with asking why
but you changed me Lord
You have worked in me
Let me tell you who our God is
cause He is worthy to be praised

Ch. Im in awe of you God
You have spoken to me
You told me to swap
My doubts, questions, and uncertainties
with reassurance in what I know to be

Bridge:
I know you are faithful
I know your grace is given each day
I know you are the protector
and have gone before me
and made the way
I give you my uncertainties
because I have peace in what is known

Vs3. As the trees sway in the wind, I feel you
As the light shines brighter
and I cover my eyes, I am reminded of your prescence
With ever breath I breathe
I extol you Lord
Your beauty is over taking me


Chorus
Bridge

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Distorted Mirror

I woke up today not liking what I see
I look in the mirror that reflects the reality of what I see
My body is covered with cellulite and fat
My face looks like a bruttle attack
My hair is to dark I have always wanted blonde
Nothing looks good it’s just all wrong

After spending hours choosing an outfit to wear
I walk to class in solemn and despair
I always leave early so I cannot be seen
Because who would want to see someone that is not confident
In who God has created me to be

Day after day I have to wake up and face my worst critique which is me
I cannot stand what I see
I seem to look bigger every time I move back further and further

I come to realize it was the mirror not me
I was looking in something that made me appear
To be something I had never seen
It made me look bigger than I actually was
And revealed to me all of my flaws

I came to realize that my mirror was deformed
Because comments were always made
About how our mirror made them look three times bigger and shorter
They said our mirror was depressing to look in
And especially for us since that was the focus each and every morning

This mirror is a battlefield of the mind
Daily I have to take it on and remind myself that it’s a lie
I have to learn how to rebuke the devil
And speak God’s word about beauty that is deceiving

Maybe this is a bigger lesson to be seen
Because if mirrors are just a reflection that we see
Could it be that my eyes were so flooded with worldly standards
That when I look I am really comparing myself to someone who I think is better
So when I look I am not seeing myself
I am looking with worldly eyes
That say you can never be as good as me

But what I look and compare myself to is a lie
I am looking in a mirror that is deformed
I am so far away that I cannot see me
All I see is other people that I wish to be
We are daily looking in mirrors that are deformed
Because we are not seeing ourselves
Instead, we see others that we wish we could be
Our beauty is missed and replaced with lies
that our deformed world thinks are fine

My Shelter

(c. Rebekah Gardner, 2008)

V1. We all are in search of a security; we all just want to feel safe
I need someone to uphold me I need a place to rest
We want to feel the love of others
We want to feel protection
I want to take shelter under your eagle’s wings

Ch. God you are my shelter
You are the place I find refuge take me in your loving care
You are my rock, my foundation
You are my shelter
You are my shelter

V2. How shall I feel when you are my shelter?
The ways of the world shall come and go
People will not always be there for comfort
Yet God is my ever- present help in times of trouble

Ch. God you are my shelter
You are the place I find refuge take me in your loving care
You are my rock, my foundation
You are my shelter
You are my shelter
V3. You are the preserver of life the one that upholds me with your hand
The strength to the weary and the dwelling place
If I walk through the valley, you are with me
If I pass through the fire, I will not be burned
And if I pass through the river, it will not sweep me

Ch. God you are my shelter
You are the place I find refuge take me in your loving care
You are my rock, my foundation
You are my shelter
You are my shelter

Engraved

(C.Rebekah Gardner, 2009)

Vs. In the valley of despair
Seized by my own trial
That I have fallen in
Held by the devils very hands
He imprisons me there
With lies, that never ends


Bridge: I want the name of Jesus
Engraved all over me
So when I face this trial
I will have a reason to sing
Ch. I put my hope in you
I put my strength in you
The devil has no hold
He comes to steal, kill, and destroy
With the armor
And strength of God
My goliath will fall to the floor

Vs. God’s power is sufficient for me
Look to the cross and see
His death and resurrection
Proved that even death itself
Cannot be nailed to Calvary
Not containable by anything

Bridge: I want the name of Jesus
Engraved all over me
So when I face this trial
I will have a reason to sing
Ch. I put my hope in you
I put my strength in you
The devil has no hold
He comes to steal, kill and destroy
With the armor
And strength of God
My goliath will fall to the floor

Vs.3 Even when I feel weak
God surrounds me with strength
Nothing is too big
That God cannot destroy
The pain that I feel
Is only a shadow compared to yours

Bridge: I want the name of Jesus
Engraved all over me
So when I face this trial
I will have a reason to sing
Ch. I put my hope in you
I put my strength in you
The devil has no hold
He comes to steal, kill and destroy
With the armor
And strength of God
My goliath will fall to the floor

With You

(c. Rebekah Gardner, 2008)

V1. You are the lamp in the darkness of life
In you, I find provision and strength; with you I can overcome any obstacle
You carry me through
You are my rock through the shifting sand
My fortress, deliverer to the end
My shelter, safe place when I need you to be
My stronghold when I am spiritually weak

Ch. With you, I can attack any barrier that stands in my way
With my God, I can overtake this wall that is set in my way
Because God’s way is perfect and his word is pure
All things are possible through him that gives me strength

V2. You reach down from heaven and hold on to me
You rescue me from the waters that overtake me
You give me your shield to win in battle your word that is shaper than swords
You clothe me with you power and strength you empower me with you word
So I can rebuke the devil and live like I’m free

Ch. With you, I can attack any barrier that stands in my way
With my God, I can overtake this wall that is set in my way
Because God’s way is perfect and his word is pure
All things are possible through him that gives me strength

The Lord lives, praise him, praise him
He is exalted among the nations
He is the tower of our salvation
He is the rock in the wind of this world
He is the God of my salvation
Praise the God of Faithfulness

Recreating Fashion

Do you have a pile of clothes that you are about to give away? or some piece of clothing that is in your closet that you never wear? I want to offer you some fun and creative ways to add some sparkle and style to your clothing; some ways to make your old clothing a new unique treasure in your wardrobe. I know if you go in your room, you will discover a pile of clothes hiding under some laundry or stuffed in your closet that you never wear anymore. Why not have fun and save some money, by using your existing clothing and accessories to recreate your fashion pieces. Take for example, this plain black shirt, this is a shirt that you are about to give way because you are either tired of wearing it, or do not want it in your closet anymore. Here is a picture of a cute black top and jeans from the Michaels craft store that has been transformed with an iron on transfer. Girls, this is just one simple step and now you got a fabulous, stylish shirt.


Have an old hat that you never wear? Why not add some flare and your own style to the hat! Here is a cute hat from Michaels, that has been recreated with just a little bling and some paint. This is a fabulous military style hat that is always in style, and compliments most all face shapes!

Use your creativity and imagination, and you will surprise yourself with the fun and stylish pieces that you come up with! Remember girls, before you throw or give away pieces in your wardrobe think about sprucing it up with some remarkable embellishments!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Cancer Has No Hold On You!!

PawPaw: I love you!
I dreamed you would see me graduate
And watch me walk down the aisle
See me with my first child
You were always there for every special moment
Never thought anything different
I figured you would always be here
Cancer caught you off guard
And threw me in a loop
I slowly noticed how the chemo and radiation
Took hold of you
You hadn’t had hair before but you became
More bald than ever before
It was so shiny and clean
I could kiss your head
And feel the battle you were fighting
Each treatment begin to slow you down
But your attitude and faith
Remained through each storm
You are so very special to me
And I hope you know that
From my years of being a baby
I look back and see how you documented
Each time that we played and hung out together
I could always count on you to believe in me
By your kind words and support
You knew that I could do anything through Christ
I just had to believe!
I always appreciate the Upward Devotional books
I read everyone you sent to me
And knew it came straight from the heart.
You had a smile that illuminated my life
And gave me encouragement to stand
Firm in any barrier set in my way.
I could always count on you
To have chocolates and gum stashed up
For me when I came to visit.
Your spirit for life and family is contagious
I enjoyed every special moment I had with you.
I started writing this a couple of months after you
Found out that you had cancer.
I was devastated and writing was my release
To the pain and sadness I was feeling.
Cancer is a disease that is a battle
But it surely cant take away
Our memories and your sweet spirit.
Your memory begin to go
But you never forgot your family or friends
Just little details that didn’t matter
You became sicker and weaker
So you got a bed to go downstairs
When I came to visit you
I could see the affects of chemo
By your pale, white skin and brittle bones
But at the same time I saw glimpses of Hope
When you would smile at me
And say your not giving up
You fought harder than anyone I know
Today you stopped chemo and radiation
Hospice came in, and listened to your concerns
Truly only God knows the time and day he will choose for you
Pawpaw don’t be scared, and even though I am sad
I know you will see me again in heaven
I want to delete what I just wrote because
In the back of my mind I want to say I have hope,
And I truly do, but deep down I know that’s not God’s plan for you.
I know he is about to take you home to be with him
Yet it kills me on the inside because I am not ready to let go/
PawPaw I love you and miss you so much
I cant wait to see you one day
I know I will see you in heaven one day
We will go back to those times of fun
Your sickness of cancer will forever be gone
We can walk hand in hand with Christ as our Lord
I love you PawPaw