One Less by Matthew West.......{Day 25}

31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me.....{Day ??}

Well, I have not posted my songs as much as I should.....but finally have a great song to post!  A new referral today, which means a new number for us (#30) and one less orphan!

So here is our song to celebrate:

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(This is not our agency that we are working with---but it does highlight adoption/orphans regardless).

31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me.....{Day 20}

Well obviously the "31 Days" can be taken loosely.  :)  More like 15 songs spread out over 31 days.  LOL.

Anyways, I have had a SUPER long week/weekend.  I have been prepping for a 5K fundraiser for Hannah's Refuge.  It is the first big public fundraiser for this non-profit.  Thursday was long.  Parent/Teacher conferences, book fair, and stuffing party for the 5K.  Friday was busy---more prepping and my hubby also had to prep for a appreciation dessert he was having for his worship team as well as a funeral/visitation that was taking place for a friend/church member.  I too wanted to go to this visitation.  Saturday was THE day.  Race went off without a hitch.  Enjoyable time at the dessert.  Tomorrow I plan on running 12 miles as I train for my half marathon, after Chris has preached!  Talk about many miles.  I am so blessed that when the miles are long, when they are stressful, when they seem to be never ending, that I get to come home to Chris Strickland as my husband!!! 

This song was also fun in college....good memories all around with this song.  Who can't smile and sing along to this?  If you can't, I have to say there is something wrong with you.  :)


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Steven Curtis Chapman - I'm Gonna Be(500 Miles) {Day 20}

Rest In Me - Derri Daugherty & Ellie Bannister -{Day 17}

31 Days of Songs ......{Day 15}

This is the first song on my running playlist when I do run with music.  It is very hard for me to listen to this song and not feel uplifted and happier about life in general and of course to thank my God, Creator for making many beautiful days.  :)


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U2 - Beautiful Day {Day 15}

MercyMe - Cover Tune Grab Bag - "Don't Stop Believin" {Day 13}

31 Days Of Songs That Speak To Me....{Day 13}

 

 

My hubby just asked what the "back story" to me and this song was.....the truth is there is no back story.  Anyways, no specific story.  My daddy was a rock in roll guy....I clearly remember our radio blaring at all hours of the evening (even when we were going to bed---he listened some channel called "Laser Rock", which was old 60's, 70's, and early 80's rock songs).  It really is just a song I love to blare with the windows down and sing at the top of my lungs even when you can't sing well.  

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If you want a good laugh and want to see some other previously favorite musical artists have fun and belt the feel good song, then check out this link:  <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DVZa2E3NZRA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

WARNING:  Watching this video may cause addictive behavior (watching one too many cover songs)  and wish you were back stage with Mercy Me.  Don't have too much fun!

Journey - Don't Stop Believin' {Day 13}

31 Days of Songs That Speak to Me {Day 11}

 

 

THROWBACK THURSDAY!!!!  This song was one of my favorites quite some time ago.  It was written in 1992, but not sure I heard it till 3-4 years later.  I heard it at college when my camp team roomie sang it with her boyfriend/fiance.....(not sure but at any rate--the man who is her husband)  :)  I thought first of all how beautiful the lyrics and how beautiful that they can sing together.  I had NO idea that I would marry a singer and it is a long time dream of mine to sing this with Chris someday to an audience that doesn't hear very well.  None the less the words and heart of the song speaks for itself.  Enjoy the hairdos of SCC and Geoff in the video, but more importantly enjoy the song.

 

 

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p.s.  I am fully aware that I skipped {Day 10} and I am ok with that.  :)

Listen To Our Hearts (Live)......{Day 11}

31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me......{Day 9}

Start your day off right with some Mandisa.  Even if my morning hasn't gone as planned or isn't meeting my expectations, I turn this up on my radio as I take the two big ones to school and it immediately turns the day around. 

'Cause His mercies are new in the morning!!

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Mandisa: Good Morning - {Day 9}

31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me {Day 8}

My all time favorite worship song.  I have loved it since Tree63 recorded it way back when.  Sometimes it is a hard song to sing, but I want it to always ring true for me and my family.

Blessed  Be Your Name

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Blessed Be Your Name {Day 8}

Worth The Wait - 33 Miles {Day 7}

15 Month Waitaversary & {Day 7}

Today marks 15 months waiting to see Chloe's face.  At least there was small movement this week so that we did not have to post the same number. The family that got their referral this past week waited 22 months for their little girl.  We are now #31.  Hopefully by the end of October we will be in the 20's (please pray!!!!).  I also pray we do not have to wait 7 more months.  But we will wait as long as God will have us wait.

So the only song that seems to fit on a waiting anniversary is 33 Miles' "Worth the Wait"

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31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me {Day 6}

Well, I am going to have a Double Header so to speak and mention my other favorite Mercy Me song today.  The words speak for themselves:

The other side of the world

She is just a few days old

A helpless little girl

With no family of her own

She is not to blame for the journey she is on

Her life is no mistake

Won't you lead her to My cross?

Chorus:

Won't you be My voice calling

Won't you be My hands healing

Won't you be My feet walking into a broken world

Won't you be My chain-breaker

Won't you be My peacemaker

Won't you be My hope and joy

Won't you be My Love

 

It is a major calling for the church to reach out and be His Love to the broken world we live in.  I don't think enough of us are doing it.  But Chloe, we sure our trying.  Love you little girl that we haven't met yet. 

 

 

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{Day 6} MercyMe Won't You Be My Love

31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me {Day 5}

 

Today's song selection comes from Mercy Me---one of my all time favorite bands.  My hubby has many times been asked if he was Bart....they do have a small resemblence.  I can't find a pic with hubby holding a mic.....but he is usually doing that too.  :)

 

 

Anyways, I love Day 5's song.  Like the Mark Schultz song, fairly new.  Heard it for the first time at their concert at Six Flags (Awesome!) and then really meditated on it a few times after that.  Most of the things alluded to in the song are huge old testament moments/stories---like Daniel and the Lion's Den, David and the Giant, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abindigo and the Firey Furnace----really big miraculous stories of God being present in the midst of possible trouble (Lions, and Giants, and Fire--Oh My!)---then moving on to raising people from the dead.  Mixed in with all these miracles, is the line "you hold the orphan's hand"!  Just sprinkled in there.  So when I start to question or doubt Him on this very long journey, I am so encouraged when I think of my God, Chloe's God, OUR God who has all things in the palm of His hand and miraculously wants to show me and His people what He is all about---the fact that He has her hand and 147 million other orphan's hands in His hand makes me awestruck and then to think we really are one of the 6 billion orphans he came to rescue/love.  Because we are adopted into His family as well and The Great I Am holds my hand too.  Please check out Day 5.  

http://stricklandsentiments.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-5.html

{Day 5} You Are I Am--- MercyMe

31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me {Day 4}...

31 Days of Songs that Speak to Me.....

Well I remember doing 31 Days of Discipline last year and by golly it was hard.  :)  Who wants to be so disciplined to blog 31 days in a row?  But anyhoo, I have seen that October is the annual 31 Days series for many people and even though I am a few posts behind, I thought I would join in on the fun {again}.  For those of you that know me & my hubby---he is the music guy.  He leads worship at our church, he sang to me at our wedding, he loves trying to talk to me about music and stuff I don't quite understand.  But he isn't the only person who enjoys music in this house.  (Had I not liked music at all, I am not sure we would have been compatible).  And our dear daughter Eden can be found listening to Christian music for hours on end in her room by herself (she's a daddy's girl for sure!)  But lately, and especially while I run, I clearly see God speaking to me through music---mostly the wonderful lyrics of encouragement I hear while we are in this season of stretching and waiting......So I thought I would give 31 Days (-3) or perhaps my 31 Days will spillover into Thanksgiving. 

The new song I heard tonight for the first time while running was Mark Schultz's "All Things Are Possible".......what a testimony.  I ESPECIALLY loved the bridge:

 

My God is Strong and Mighty.
My God is Faithful.
My Hope is in the Lord,
For He is Able!

What a perfect motto to keep repeating over and over and over again.  In my worship, in my prayers, and in my heart.  I know it to be true, but the song echoes how we sometimes are weak and forget, yet He is faithful!  Enjoy!

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What is even cooler is to hear the story behind the song.  Go here for that.  I am not going to lie, probably 30/31 songs that speak to me right now concern God's faithfulness, adoption, going through a hard time/wait, etc.  Just keeping it real! 

{inspiration/creator of the 31 Days phenomenon is The Nester} 

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