Christy Nockels: Let It Be Jesus

I had no idea who Christy Nockels was a few weeks ago.  And now my husband and I are super big fans!  Thank you so much, Fly By Promotions, for introducing us to this beautiful album!!

Let It Be Jesus (released today!) is Christy’s third solo album and it is beautifully performed, completely worshipful and an absolute pleasure to listen to.   I wish I could somehow include a sample right here for you.  Because I know you would love it as much as we do.  However, you can listen to a sample from the link above and see for yourself.

Two of our favorite songs are Let It Be Jesus and Find Me At The Feet Of Jesus.  What powerfully worshipful songs!  Can I put those two words together??  I hope so.  Because the songs on this album are more than worshipful.  They truly lead my heart in a powerful way to the feet of Jesus. 

Christy has been a worship leader for many years and an integral part of Passion Conferences from its inception in 1997.  I can only imagine how many hearts her music has touched. 

Let it Be Jesus is a keeper friends. Seriously. I hope Christy makes many more albums!  And I hope you’ll give this album a try.  You won’t regret it!!

If you would like the chance to win a free download of the entire album, please leave a comment below.  I’ll be drawing a winner on Friday. 

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Flying Boots and Hallway Makeovers

We have two hallways.  One leads to the bedrooms, the other to the garage.

The bedroom hallway is close to 40 feet long.  I should have painted it when we moved in, because I’m pretty sure it only had primer on it.  However, I kept pushing it off.  (Because it’s 40 feet long.)  Twelve years and the-constant-abuse-of-three-active-boys later it was still occupying the bottom spot on my to-do list.

So when the wall directly across from my oldest son’s bedroom received a shoe sized hole, eh hem, I decided it was time. 

A very nice friend of the family gave my son lessons in drywall repair.  And for the next two weekends, my son got plenty of painting practice. 

To my way of thinking, if you are going to pitch a boot and have to touch up one repaired place, you might as well repair the rest of the dings and dents and paint the whole hall. 

That, and whatever else needs to be painted. 

He did a wonderful job!  No joke.  And had a great attitude while making things right.  Plus, I’m pretty sure his boots won’t hit the wall again anytime soon! 

The paint I picked out was white with a touch of blue/grey in it.

While my painter was busy, I cleaned our dusty hall spot lights.  I know it’s hard to see any difference, but trust me.  It is much brighter and looks worlds better.  No more scuffs, dents and handprints.  We’ll see how long it lasts.

Because I’m a true slave driver we had all the painting supplies out, I decided the garage hallway needed to be freshened up, too. 

That hall was dusty mauve when we moved in.  At the time, I painted it a neutral beige which looked some better.  But it still felt dark. 

Since we liked how the bedroom hall turned out, we decided to use the same light blue/grey.

Painting walls with high ceilings are a bit of a pain.  I hate ladders.  But using an extension rod and roller makes it SO much easier.  If you have high ceilings, I highly recommend picking up an extension pole from your local paint department.  (Wal-Mart stocks several lengths and they are very reasonable.)  I also recommend a rectangular paint pad with wall guard.  It makes cutting in go much faster.  And at those heights, that’s a good thing!  You can even put it on the extension pole, at least for certain angles.

I think it made a big difference!  Don’t you?  It’s so much brighter! 

It sure is exciting what can happen when a boot hits the wall!  I can hardly wait for one of my darling boys to let something else fly!  Lol!

Grace of God; A STORY of EASTER TRADITIONS (Review)

Grace is defined as God’s kindness towards us even when we don’t deserve it. 

The most beautiful example of grace is God sending his son Jesus to die in our place.  He completely and freely paid for our entrance to Heaven  INSPITE of the sin in our lives.  He was and continues to be kind to us even though we don’t deserve it.

Why is it then, when He provides such a deeply personal and compelling example, that grace is so tough for us to give and receive in our relationships with friends and family?

I think the key lies in being vulnerable enough to do two things:

1. admit our own failures
2. appreciate the need for and extent of God’s grace in our own lives.

The film Grace Of God: A STORY of EASTER TRADITIONS allows us to quietly watch as God weaves grace into a hurting congregation after $30,000 goes missing.  Unable to locate the missing money on their own, and hoping to avoid a public scandal, the church staff hires a private investigator.  The unsuspected thief, as well as the cynical private investigator, both find grace in the end.  And it comes, largely, because so many people are willing to become vulnerable and admit their own failings.

This was definitely a different kind of film. It wasn’t overtly about Easter.  And it wasn’t so much entertaining or what I would call a fun family film.  Instead, it played out kind of like a courtroom drama as the investigator worked his way through interviews with everyone who had access to the church safe.

The film provides an opportunity for each of us to examine our own heart.  I found it convicting in a number of ways.  Although the person who took the money was definitely guilty of stealing, (and of unbelievably bad judgment) we were reminded that we have ALL stolen in various ways.  We ALL fail in different ways.  And we are ALL in need of grace from both God and others.
  
Watching this film would be a great springboard into a small-group study or discussion of integrity and grace.

Here are a few details about the film:

• Released on DVD March 24, 2015
• 99 Minutes // Genre: Family, Inspirational // Rating:  NR
• John Ratzenberger (not a main character), Julia Parker, Vincent Duvall, Erin Bethea Kelsey Sanders, and Lorenzo Lamas

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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Easter Fun 2015

Last week, a family friend graciously offered to bring Mom out to Indiana.  Mom used to babysit him when he was little and the two of us grew up like siblings.  It was fun to catch up with him.  And it is WONDERFUL to have Mom staying with us again!

I can’t remember the last time we celebrated Easter together.  So it was really special. 

Saturday, my youngest son had his first soccer game of the season.  My oldest son and his girlfriend came along to cheer and we all froze together on the sidelines.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  I need to get my car stocked back up with hats, gloves, scarves, and sleeping bags. 

When we got home, we made tacos, watched the basket ball game, and decorated Easter Eggs.

This year, I decided to blow eggs out and use permanent markers to color on them.  I had blown out a dozen or more before the soccer game.  So they were all dry and ready to go.

I have to say, this was the most fun we’ve had decorating eggs in a long time.  We each grabbed an egg and sat around the coffee table in the living room, watching the game while we colored, talked, and ate jelly beans. 

My Dad’s mom introduced us to the process of blowing out eggs when I was little.  All I remember is my cheeks hurting from blowing and blowing!  Lol!  But it wasn’t bad at all this time. 

I had my son do the blowing!!  Live and learn.

Then Sunday after church, we had a traditional ham dinner with Mom and went for a walk in the evening.  The spring flowers are just beautiful!  My son went to his girlfriend’s house.  So we may or may not have texted him a picture staged to show my Mom raiding his Easter Basket.  Ha!

What did your family do this year to celebrate Easter?