Jesus, Friend of Sinners

I literally hear this song every time I get in the car.  Yesterday I thought, Ok either KL-love REALLY likes this song, or God is trying to teach me something.  I had sung it a hundred times, but yesterday I just sat and listened to each word.  It broke my heart when I actually listened to the lyrics

                                     Jesus, Friend of sinners

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

Recently I learned that my cousin was in jail... my cousin who for years I've had a broken heart for, but this time I kind of thought... Maybe there just isn't any hope for him.  I would read his facebook posts and cringe at what I was reading, until finally I deleted him.  Now he was in jail, where he most likely needed to be. 

Shame on me!  Why do I think I deserved God's grace anymore than he does?  I don't!  And why am I putting limitations on God?  We taught the kids in VBS last week that God is amazing, and he can do anything! So why do I think He can't change this one heart?  In the world we live in now, I think those of us that are guilty of this way of thinking are only hurting God's ability to move and to change hearts! So instead of shaking my head at my cousin, or many others I can think of at this moment, I need to allow God to break my heart for what breaks His.  And to give me a passion for hurting people. Because under my cousins, hard, I don't need anyone, tough exterior, I have no doubt that he is a hurting person.  

I love this part and it brings me to tears as I read it, a great reminder...   

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet


Thank you Lord, Casting Crowns, and K-love for playing this song for me until I actually got the message. I pray that my cousin will have an incredible testimony of God' grace rescuing him from a life that he couldn't live any longer.  I look forward to the day that I can hear that testimony!

Y-E-S to VBS!

Pictures from Amazing Wonders VBS! 

Crossing the river God separated!

Flying through the hall ways!

waiting for our next adventure!

silly girls, Olivia hanging with her pals, Mallory and Avery

Fun game during recreation, it turned into a crazy water shooting mess by the end but they loved it!

Cotton Candy Face!

Adie's Cotton Candy Face!

Mr. Vern (Olivia's pal) took her up to sit in the plane, she thought she was pretty cool!

Why do my kids like to put their hands in their mouths so much? haha

Olivia standing next to the water fall ( I was very impressed with the decor around the church!)

Adi's 3rd Birthday!

We had a fun filled weekend with 3 birthday parties and a baby shower!  The festivities started with Adi's 3rd birthday party.  She was hilarious! This little 3 year old is always full of energy but it was elevated a bit this day. Watching her open her gifts were the best part. At one point she said "OH MY GOSH!!!!!" She is a such a sweet little girl and we adore her!  So thankful for great friends who live right across the subdivision!

Opening some gifts

Olivia taking a swing at the pinata 

Adi was enjoying this!

blowing out her candles :)

Ben eating his Ice cream pop!

Cute cupcakes made by Fresh Baked, and adorable Ice Cream pops made by Alison! 

The Bow came off in one bite!

Couldn't believe they are all looking, smiling and happy at the same time! 

Best pals! Thought this picture was perfect! Beautiful little girls with sweet smiles!

Nashville!

This weekend Nate and I went on a much needed adult only mini vacation!  We were able to stay at the Opryland Hotel (a place we've never stayed because of the price)!  We recently discovered that if you go during your birthday month, you can buy one night and get one free!  Nate's birthday was June 30th, and when he called they extended it for the weekend we wanted to go.  Not a bad deal!  Of course we've been there before, but staying there was so nice!

The fountain we were watching 7 years ago when Nate proposed to me!  

No we didn't stay there together before we were married.  When I lived down there he came to visit and popped the question while we were spending the evening there!

pretty pretty!

We decided to tour the Grand Ole Opry, it was so neat!  If you haven't done the backstage tour, you should! I'm not even a HUGE country music fan, but it was still so cool to see it!

Miss Mini Pearl! Yes, I was young, but I do remember watching Hee Haw when I was younger :)

Some of the dressing rooms

on the floor or each entrance.  

Nate and I making our debut on stage! So neat to think about all of the people who have stood right there!

While it was great having a weekend with just Nathan, we of course missed our kids terribly! 

We searched high and low for an inexpensive souvenir for the kids (believe me this wasn't easy).  

This is what we came up with. And they were a BIG hit!

 

Thanks so much to all three sets of amazing Grandparents, for keeping the kids while we were gone.  I know they loved every second of it! 

AHOY!

The Flights are booked, the resort reservations are made, and the Halloween party tickets are purchased!! And Ben is pumped about his new Jake costume! (Jake and the Never land Pirates for those of you without little kids at home).  Pretty sure he's a fan of his cool costume :) It will be hard to not let him wear it every day!

AHOY! 

4th of July

For the 4th of July we enjoyed an EXTREMELY HOT cookout at mom's house.  105 degrees is not enjoyable, but we managed and we had fun.  

The kids before we headed out into the heat

Bob enjoying his hot corn on the cob.

at least the kids were able to get some relief

Liam, Olivia, Jaycee, Sydney and Emma

Celebrating Bob's birthday!

Ben and Sydney celebrating the fact that we were inside with some of their best dance moves :)

An attempt to get all the grandkids in a picture and all smiling... 

didn't work well but at least they are all there!