Romans 5:12

Sin came through Adam, Eve picked the fruit and ate yet God blames Adam??? Sin affects and infects all of mankind; we are all born sinful and broken. Sin is not a state of actions that occur once you know the difference b/w right and wrong. Sin is something you are born with and those actions later on are a symptom of the greater deeper reality…

The entire world is trying to solve, fix or work through the fact that something has gone wrong in humanity, evidenced by all the self-help books, step studies, etc. How does God fix this? In order to take care of the bad side of the scale something has to absorb the wrath. Jesus Christ absorbs God’s wrath toward sin...my sin is covered by the broken body of Jesus Christ, justification and life. (Romans 8:30-39)

The debate can go round and round trying to place blame and developing creative excuses regarding the fall of man. Bottom line we are born sinful and broken but we are also forgiven by the blood of Christ.

“Christ in me the hope of glory, you are everything..." is this a true statement of my life? Honestly, my heart’s desire is for God to be my everything some days are easier than others.

Sweetly Broken

Ever have those days when there is a stirring within yet you are left without words? A flood of different emotions at times can be overwhelming. Don’t have much to say but this song has been playing in my head today, it’s one of those that just messes with you and causes me to respond.

Sweetly Broken by: Jeremy Riddle

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of it's suffering I do drink
Of it's work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

Just thought I would share something that I read this morning:

Don’t think for a moment that Satan is going to slow down when he sees you in the way.

Lord God, Your Word tells me that I must be self-controlled and alert. My enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Please empower me to resist him, standing firm in the faith, because I can know my brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings (1 Peter 5:8-9). How I praise You that the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:8-9). Please lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).

The Lord has been encouraging me to put things into perspective lately. It’s not about Erin, bummer I know, it is not about you either. I hate to be the barer of bad news. Even as I sit here writing “Brady’s song,” happens to come on and I am reminded that I have a choice. When I find myself in the desert place, the wilderness, in darkness and in suffering, in times that are plentiful, in abundance, when he gives and when he takes away...do I choose to say blessed be His name?

Viva La Tejas!

There a couple things I am still trying to figure out here. Like, how come they do not have a pledge to the state flag? Do they even have a state song? I know there is a bird, flower, tree and all that but what about the important things. Why is there no “Texas State Fair” in Virginia, it’s just not the same with out Big Tex and his “Howdy Y’all!” Oh wait I forget Virginia is a Commonwealth not a state, what the heck is a commonwealth anyway?

It might be true that this Texas flag was the first thing to be hung in my apartment. You see it’s an arctic winter year round in my apartment so the flag is over the A/C vent to bring me warmth. It is a beautiful sight when I lay my head down at night and when I get up in the mornings. Sometimes I cannot help but burst into song…”Texas Our Texas,” “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” “All My Exes Live in Texas (it’s true),” “Yellow Rose of Texas,” “The Eyes of Texas are Upon You...sounds like,” “Luckenbach, Texas” the list goes on, best of all….Fighting TEXAS AGGIE War Hymn!!!!!

I am enjoying this season they call autumn here in Virginia, in Texas we call it football weather but it last longer than a week or two up here. Speaking of football, I went to a high school homecoming game last weekend and it was kind of sad. The stands were full but it reminded me of my Middle School days at Travis, seriously the stands were about that big. The homecoming court was not dressed in gowns, there was a couple dresses and a tie or two but mostly pants and dress shirts. Not a mum to be seen/heard…those honestly were a waste of money but that is what homecoming is about right? Half-time was not the same with out the Drill Team doing the traditional kick routine; they do not even have drill teams up here. Ashley could come up and teach the cheerleaders a thing or two about jumps, cheering and just being crisp…my sister was a rock star MHS cheerleader and is still a rock star!

We will continue with this Texas v. Virginia theme for just a moment…

This is Erin back home in the Lone Star State let’s say last spring and then again about 3 months ago. Gig Em’ life is good, then excited about the future but wanting to hold on to home (not wanting to say good-bye to family and friends). “Remember the Alamo!”

God of this City, King of these people, Lord of this Nation…

And this is Erin again 3 months ago when a so called friend packed my last box and kicked me out of Texas and after I dropped Mom and Daddy off at the airport. Those were a rough couple of weeks and still have those days at times but life is really not that bad. I just thought it was a funny picture.

You’re the Light in this darkness, You’re the Hope to the hopeless, You’re the Peace to the restless.

Greater things are yet to come; Greater things are still to be done…

In Better Hands

A couple months back my sister sang this song in big church and I recently heard it on the radio. If I had only paid closer attention to the lyrics earlier…

"In Better Hands"

Natalie Grant

(see the playlist at bottom of page to hear the song)

It's hard to stand on shifting sand

It's hard to shine in the shadows of the night

You can't be free if you don't reach for help

You cant love if you don’t love yourself

There is hope when my faith runs out

Cause I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down

It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground

So take this heart of mine there's no doubt

I'm in better hands now

I am strong all because of you

I stand in awe of every mountain that you move

Oh I am changed, yesterday is gone

I am safe from this moment on

There's no fear when the night comes 'round

I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down

It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground

Its like the world is silent though I know it isn’t true

Its like the breath of Jesus is right here in this room

So take this heart of mine there's no doubt

I'm in better hands now

I'm in better hands now

Jesus you are my rock and I strength in your hands. Thank you that when my faith seems to run out I find hope in You!

Something missing?

How precious is this little red head? Last week Brady turned 3 and I am officially the worst aunt in the world. It totally broke my heart to not be there with the rest of the family celebrating. I find it hard to believe how fast the past 3 years have flown. The little monster has grown so fast and it seems like every time I talk to him he is learning/doing something new! What a joy Brady is to us and we look forward to Blake’s arrival!!! As much as I enjoy pictures something just does not seem right about the family picture…something is missing. (And on that note I better stop, my eyes are burning)

A Keeper

I am not one for those forwarded emails but I received this from a friend this morning and well…it is ok. So the “story” is fair but the bottom line is so true.

A Keeper

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, work shirt and a hat; and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things: a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress... Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, re-heating leftovers, renewing; I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But when my mother died, and I was standing in that clear morning light in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it, it's best we love it... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken... And heal it when it's sick.

This is true: For marriage... And children with bad report cards. Dogs and cats with bad hips... And aging parents... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it. Some things we keep, like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special... And so, we keep them close!

In deed there are some people in life who are special and worth keeping close. Over the past 83 days I have come to realize that even with 1400 miles between friends and family…some things make life important!