Friendship isn't a big thing....

....it's a million little things.

A tribute to all the friends with which God has blessed me:


Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you.
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through.
But we'll keep you close as always.
It won't even seem you've gone,
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong.

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them.
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end.
Though it's hard to let you go,
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know.
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show.

But we'll keep you close as always.
It won't even seem you've gone.
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong.

The Eye of the Beholder

What has happened to this world's perception of beauty? No longer do we find beauty in an honest day's work. We have become jaded to the sights of mountains, trees, and rainbows. The sound of classical music might annoy us more than it draws us to worship. When we describe a woman as beautiful, how does she look? A size zero body? Tanned? So much makeup that you have no idea what their natural skin tone might be? Hair dyed to within an inch of its life and curled under at the ends? Fingernails filed, shaped, and painted in any imaginable shade? Eyebrows plucked off and redrawn? What are our perceptions of a good-looking guy? Tall, muscled, tanned, dark haired, carefully groomed, manicured fingers, striking eyes?
This definition has been force-fed to us through all types of media - books, magazines, bill boards, TV, movies, songs, etc, etc. Ick!
Do you want to know what real beauty looks like? Let me tell you:

The rough, calloused, dirt-encrusted hands of a carpenter measuring boards and hammering nails; those same hands later blessing and serving food to his family or disciples.
The small feet with a stubbed toe or a splinter, limping to his mother; those same feet, now matured, dusty and hairy, walking the roads of this earth and then the path to the cross.
The messy, crimson blood dripping from his hands, feet, and forehead that fell because of my sin.
The warm brown eyes that could capture a person in a moment forever, and, when bloodshot and full of agony, still managed to look tenderly down at the crowd at his feet; eyes that clearly said "I forgive you."


Oh! To be that beautiful...it's beyond my human imagination. This world has no idea what true beauty is. Let them compete with the picture of my Jesus. To me, the winner is clear.

The Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future

Okay, it's one ghost. Ghost, actually, or Spirit, as some people feel more comfortable calling Him. In any case, God has been with us in the past, is with us in the present, and definitely holds the future in His capable hands. This song is by one of my favorite artists and I'd like to share it with you, since it's been my heart cry the last few weeks. It is "Lord (I Don't Know)." How human it is not to know. What can we do but cry for peace from the Author of our life story?

You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what's been done
You hold the present and all that's to come
Until your everlasting kingdom

Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the rock of all salvation

Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Oh, Lord, you are the author
Redeeming what's been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come

Lord, we don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt