Can your life change because of a song?

I believe a person’s life can be changed forever because of a song.  This happened to me. When I was 13, I had an experience at summer camp.  I heard a song called ”Sing Your Praise To The Lord” by this woman I had never heard of before.  Amy Grant was her name.  This was 1982.  I grew up going to church and I believed in God but I never knew about a relationship with Him.  I found this song really “cool” because it was the first contemporary Christian song I had ever heard. It was not the typical church hymn. 

That song was written by Rich Mullins.  He was a great songwriter.  And, in my mind, that one song he wrote changed my life.  It introduced me not only to “Christian Music”, but to his music.  

One night I was listening to a Christian radio station in San Antonio and I heard a DJ come on and talk about God and the real relationship you could have with Him.  I was a teenager, hurting from regular teenage things, and I needed this love that would accept me.  That night, I made the decision to follow Jesus Christ and ask Him to be Lord of my life.  Tonight, as I am DJ-ing here at KSBJ the song “Hold Me, Jesus,” by Rich Mullins plays, it hits me:  I have a wonderful opportunity to impact someone’s life the way that DJ and that song impacted me.

Rich Mullins was a man of introspection.  By that I mean he could put words together and hit you where you live.  Just look at these words from his song, “Hold Me, Jesus.”

  Well sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

So hold me Jesus ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It’s so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

So hold me Jesus ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

Surrender don’t come natural to me
I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I’ve beat my head against so many walls
Now I’m falling down, I’m falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

I’m singing hold me Jesus ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

I fight constantly.  I don’t mean that I am always arguing with my hubby or friends; I mean I fight God.  It’s a struggle because I know I am called to be salt and light and there are days when, quite frankly, I don’t want to do it.  “I’d rather fight you for something I don’t really want than to take what you give that I need.”  I need His grace.  Yet I beat myself up about mistakes that I make.  I need peace. Yet I stay up an extra hour to watch a crazy television show that I know won’t add any value to my life.  (I mean, really, What part of reality television is our reality?)

So this is my little tribute to Rich Mullins.   He died in a car accident in 1997.  You know, the world only had him for a short time.  Heaven’s got him forever; I look forward to hearing the music he’s making there!  

What song has changed your life?  Hit the comments button, and tell me!

 

Sensory Integration Disorder/Special Cheers Therapy

Tonight’s show was on Sensory Integration Disorder.  My sweet friend, Courtney, and her 8 year old daughter, Emma,  were on to talk about their amazing story. They discovered Emma had Sensory Integration Disorder/Sensory Processing Disorder when she was a preschooler and went through so much frustration trying to find the right tools and therapy.  They found this wonderful place called Special Cheers, an occupational therapy center which offers hippotherapy (horseback riding).  For more information on Special Cheers, go to www.specialcheers.com.

One of the things that came out during the show was that many people who have a child with SID or SPD get accused of being bad parents.  They are NOT bad parents who need to “get control” of their kid; they are facing a disorder that is in desperate need of outside help.  An occupational therapist is a great source of help. 

During my research on this subject, I used several websites..  www.senoryint.com and www.sinetwork.org.  I  encourage anyone who has the time and curiosity to do the same.

If you heard the show, or have any suggestions, please feel free to add them to the comments section of my blog.

Traveling in rain

I’m waking up to more rain.  My husband says if a big palette of wood shows up, he’ll start building the ark!

I may need a boat motor to get through today.  I’m taking the kids to see my parents and sister.  It’s a 3 hour drive.  They don’t know it yet, but my sister is moving out of state.  She’s supposed to tell them tonight.  I think Ben is too young to understand but I think Rachel will be sad.  She and her Tia have really bonded.  I think it’s sad too, but I know that God has called my sister to greater things.

Last year, Tia and I had a breakthrough in our relationship.  We had not communicated on anything other than a superficial level in years.  She made an apology to me for some stuff that happened and the chains fell. We talk almost everyday now. 

She’s going to a ministry school out of state.  She wants to help women who are hurting and looking for healing in their lives.  There’s such a need for that.

I know this is God’s plan, and I look forward to what He’s going to do.  I think by moving she will be expanding her borders.

My kids will understand.

Just Add Vinegar?

I read a devotion to my kids this morning about obedience.  In it there is a story of a little girl who follows a recipe for cake.  This cake has a little vinegar in it.  The girl doesn’t understand why a recipe would call for that, but she obeys and puts it in.  Later, her daddy says, “What makes this cake taste so good?”  And she replies, “Vinegar!”  The lesson goes on to say that many times God puts something in our lives and asks us to obey, but we often don’t understand why.  Why did a guy I dated in college die from hemophilia at the age of 20?  Why did I go through such a difficult bout of depression when I was engaged to be married?

This lesson about vinegar challenges me.  There are times in my life that things go sour and I think, “Ugh! Why can’t this just stop?” 

Today is one of those days.  I want to go to the KSBJ 25th Anniversary concert, but I can’t go if it is raining because I have to go with my kids by myself.  My husband works late tonight and can’t attend.  Going anywhere in the rain by myself with the kids is not a great idea!

I wanted to spend a fun day at home with the kids.  We were going to put on a puppet show.  Instead, I got two very fussy, bickering children who can’t seem to go 10 minutes without screaming or saying, “Meanie! You are a meanie!”  Several time outs later, and I feel like I could be a meanie!  Sigh, I am a good parent only through God’s grace.  Yet somedays they really test me!

Then I realize there is a reason for the vinegars of life.  It is to compliment the rest of life.  Honestly, what is a salad without a good salad dressing?  Or a brisket without a good barbecue sauce?  And how can anyone treat a sour load of laundry?  Vinegar!  1/2 cup of vinegar, wash again, and life is as good as new!

Now, excuse me while I deal with my 4 year old son.  He’s screaming, “Meanie!” at his sister again!

Chocolate Vinegar Cake

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups cake or all-purpose flour

Sift above together into a mixing bowl.  Melt 2 squares bitter chocolate.  To the dry ingredients add:

1/2 c shortening

1 1/4 cup cold coffee in which 1 tsp. baking soda has been dissolved plus 1 tsp vanilla

Mix slowly until the flour is all wet, add melted chocolate and 2 whole eggs, beat 4 minutes. 

Have pan buttered and oven heated and then add 1 tablespoon vinegar.  Stir just long enough to mix it into the batter and IMMEDIATELY pour into pans (loaf cake–9×12 inch or so) and put right into the oven as the leaven begins to work (as soon as the soda and vinegar get together).  Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees, until the cake springs when lightly touched with a finger. 

I got it!!

I’m so excited!  Just a day before my birthday Chuck Pryor came in while I was filling in for Susan O’Donnell and made the announcement–I’m the new Sunday Night talk show host!  This is a dream come true for me.  It’s funny how God knows our dreams and sets things in motion without us ever really asking.  What a great birthday present!

This all started when Chuck emailed me and asked me if I would consider trying out for the Sunday Night show.  I had been filling in for both the Morning and Afternoon Show for almost two years.  I had never done an hour of live talk before; let alone a call in show!  I was thrilled and a bit nervous.  A friend of mine said, “You go in there and tell him, this is where I shine.”  It’s good to have friends who see things in you that you don’t see.  I thought about that as I went to meet with him.  I got up the courage, said it to him, and as I did I prayed, “Lord, please let that statement be so!”

So my first show was Father’s Day, June 17th.  I chose to do a show on Santa Maria, a great organization here in Houston that helps women get off drugs and alcohol; and allows them to take their kids to the rehab program.  My husband said, “So, you wanted to start with something non-contraversial?” (LOL)  That show was amazing.  We had so many calls and many of the people were so broken.  It made me realize my friend was right; I could do this but it was not me who would shine.  It was Jesus living through me.  Everything I do is for Him.  Not me.

So, here I am, planning show after show.  Every show I do I think about the listeners.  What would they like to know about and learn about?  How would they ask my guests a question if they were in the room?

Then, I was given web blog training.  I will be getting a Sunday Night show page in a couple of weeks.  But until then, I can start my own blog.  They showed us how to do that yesterday.  So here I am, blogging!  What a kick!

Every Sunday is an opportunity to give Houstonians information about things that affect their lives.  I look forward to doing just that!