Lydia!!!

Congratulations to Eric and Ashleigh and the rest of the Sanzone family!! You finally have your Lydia and she is beautiful! Praise God!!

Transitions

Jon and I are going through a lot of transitions right now and to be completely honest...I'm stressed out. I haven't been sleeping well and that alone has messed up my schedule and added even more stress to my life. This has been a time when I know I need to steady myself on Christ but it's so difficult. Tonight, at work, I've spent a good deal of my time praying and asking God to give me the strength I need to have more faith. I feel meager holding up my hands to the Lord with this tiny mustard seed of faith. In the grand scheme of things I know this dilemma is far from life changing but it still weighs heavy on my heart and I would appreciate your prayers concerning this particular need. I almost feel silly asking for prayer since I know others are facing much more difficult situations but if you feel led please partner with us in prayer.

We need a place to live. Monday we will put in our 30 day notice to our apartment complex and as of right now we have no place to live once those 30 days expire. The thought of moving forward without any safety net is terrifying and all of the worst possible things that could happen have been running through my mind. Please pray along with us that the Lord would provide a 1-2 bedroom apartment, within our price range that allows dogs. Seems simple enough right? We've been looking for quiet some time with no luck.

So God...I believe, help my unbelief.

Thoughts on Art

Moses- Michelangelo

I don't pretend to know everything there is to know about art but I certainly do appreciate it. What I find interesting in a piece of artwork brings me to search and learn more about. So I investigate, and read as much as I can. This particular statue is one I've been interested in for quite some time.

Michelangelo's works are some of my favorite. His paintings are beautiful (for example just look at the Sistine Chapel) but for me his sculptures are awe inspiring. Take this one of Moses. The intricacies of the fabric folded around his legs, the way his beard is brushed off to the side, and what about the beauty of the human form? One would hardly know that this was made out of stone. But does anyone else notice something...something different..?

Yes, Moses has horns. Odd, isn't it? I found the explanation to this very interesting. Apparently it is believed that this representation came from Exodus 34:29-35. In the passage we read about Moses coming down from Mount Sinai and that his "face was radiant" because he had spoken with the Lord. Through misrepresentation and an error in translation at the time of Michelangelo, artists began to depict Moses in numerous sculptures and paintings with horns on the top of his head. If you're interested you can read more about this at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Horned_Moses.

Here are a few other useless facts that I happen to find fascinating (yes, yes I know I'm a huge dork):

- Moses is the centerpiece of the tomb of Pope Julius II.
- If you notice Moses' torso, shoulders, and arms are larger, making them slightly disproportionate to the rest of the body. His face also has an overly dramatic expression. The reason for this is that when the statue was originally commissioned Moses was going to be placed on the upper part of the monument, where it would have been viewed from below.
- The face of Moses is also very similar to the face of God portrayed on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

(http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/michelangelo-sculptures10.htm)

What's been on my heart...

"O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

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"O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may seel ight, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
(The Book of Common Prayer)

Lydia

My family and I have good friends of ours who have gone on quite an amazing journey. I first met this couple (Eric and Ashleigh) when I was a freshman in high school. Eric was the youth pastor for Hill'n Dale Christian church and ever since then his family and my family have been close. Eric was an officiant at my wedding and two of his children were involved in the ceremony as well.

Back in 2006 the Lord began to stir in Eric and Ashleigh's heart the desire to adopt a little girl. Well after a couple of years and many amazing miracles Eric and Ashleigh are finally on their way to meet beautiful Lydia for the first time They leave today to fly to China. Anyway, they have been heavy on my heart this morning and I would encourage any of you who read this to lift up a prayer for safety as they travel today. Also keep them and the rest of their family in your prayers as they prepare for this blessed addition to the Sanzone clan.

Here is a link to their blog. If you get a chance you should read through their story because God's faithfulness is the center of this amazing journey!! Whew, I get chills just thinking about how awesome God has been in this situation and I can't help but praise Him!!

http://www.lettersforlydia.blogspot.com/

My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer

This video is related a bit to what I talked about in my last post. I have found lately that God has been teaching me more about prayer and I've realized how much I need to grow in that area. Anyway this message was one that brought a lot of conviction to my heart but that also gave me so much hope. So if you get the chance take some time to listen to this message by Jim Cymbala (the author of Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, Fresh Faith, Fresh Power) addressing vital need for prayer within the Body of Christ.

Waiting

Pentecost- El Greco

I'm in a season of life right now where I'm waiting. My husband is in school working towards his masters degree and we are just plodding along looking forward to being done and in full time ministry. Currently it seems like that day will never arrive. I'm also feeling this way in my job. I've been working nights for over two years now and I'm tired...I'm perpetually tired. Lately I've been praying for the Lord to show me if it is time to move on and I've heard no distinct answer from Him so...I'm waiting.

I think all this waiting is making my spiritual life seem dry as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm learning so much as I spend time in the Word but I'm anxious for something new and exciting. I think this anxiety could make me miss out on what the Lord desires for me to learn right now.

I'm reading a book called "Fresh Power," by Jim Cymbala (If you haven't read any of his books I would highly recommend them.) Anyway, this specific chapter I'm reading has been focusing on the Pentecost. As I read I was struck not just by the power of God displayed in his followers but even more so by what took place before the Holy Spirit descended. The disciples along with other believers were holed up in a room praying for days on end. "They all gathered together constantly in prayer..." As I read this I was convicted. I am certainly not in a place where I can say I am a woman of prayer. God has brought this conviction to my heart recently and it's beginning something new in me. We'll see where the Lord takes it.

I think the power of God working in our lives and our effectiveness in ministry are closely linked to the depth of our relationship with Christ. I'm so hungry for more of God and I'm desperate for less of myself. Those around me certainly don't need to see more of me. The girls I minister to, who have suffered horrendous abuse, do not need me. They need Christ, who is the ultimate physician. The church does not need more eloquent preachers, or modern songs. They need more of God. So while I'm waiting...I'll continue to pray: Father, less of me and more of You!