Hey friends!

I thought this photo might make you smile! I was playing with the camera on
my laptop and it has a ‘doubling effect’ feature…so you can make it
look like there are two of you mutated together!!! Pretty funny.. : )

Today I was reading in Paul’s letter to the Romans that sometimes he struggled to do the right thing. Isn’t that a relief! He wasn’t perfect…even though he was God’s messenger and apostle to the gentiles.

This crazy photo seems to represent how Paul was feeling…half of him wanted to do what was right and the other half warred the opposite way, wanting to revert back to the old ways of the flesh. Its the age old struggle of anyone trying to follow Jesus. So be encouraged – we all walk through the same battles and even Paul felt like we do!

This is how he explained it in Romans Chapter 7 (taken from The Message version):

"The power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions. I
obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes; I can
will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do
it. I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such
as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep
within me and gets the better of me every time.It
happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do
good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands,
but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts
of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take
charge. I’ve
tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there
no one who can do anything for me?"

We, with Paul, can sometimes get discouraged by the battle…With him we ask, "WHO can rescue us from our sinful nature?"

Thankfully he didn’t leave us without an answer…Romans 7:25 gives us the remedy:

"Is there
no one who can do anything for me? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does!"

So if you feel like the journey of following Jesus is too tough – don’t give up!! And if you have fallen down and your struggles have got the better of you, don’t give up! Forgiveness is total and gives a completely blank slate. You can start over again today – right now. Jesus looks at you and sees you as if you had never sinned at all. That’s the power of the cross.

I’ll leave you with this quote from an ancient Christian named Saint Josemaria Escriva:

"So you have failed? You have not failed. You have gained experience. Now, forward!"

Wherever you find yourself today, whatever you have done, keep fighting the good fight of following the Master. Whatever our failings, let us see them as past and gone, and stand up wiser and stronger from the experience, pressing onward into the bright future that His love brings.

Now, forward! Together we can do it!

Love,
Vicky

Check out these cases, and tell me if they aren’t just the coolest, slimmest and trendiest ones you’ve seen in forever??!

I found them online yesterday and am thinking about using them… I’ll let you know how they fair when I get one but they certainly look AWESOME! They are a hybrid between a soft and hard case, giving protection but easy to throw over your shoulder like  a backpack.. If you play drums, their cymbals cases rock too…  www.monocase.com

OK, most of your readers of this Blog are musicians or appreciators of music, so my Blog question today is….

"What musical gear have you discovered recently that you love and recommend?"

Lets help one another find great products to enable us to play, sing and do ministry better! I added a ‘Recommended Gear’ list to my Blog today for that purpose… Its a "lets not re-invent the wheel’" concept…these are things I"ve found to be awesome… and I want to hear your recommendations too!

My verse for the day on this theme is  Psalm 33:3  "Sing to the LORD a new song;  play skillfully, and shout for joy". Lets be skillful in our music, searching for the best things to facilitate our sounds and songs… If you aren’t a muso, feel free to recommend any other gadgetry you’ve discovered and loved… like cameras, phones etc… If you know much about the iPhone I’d love your advice as I am thinking it might be a worthwhile investment?…

Technology can be our friend! Lets help each other figure out what can help us rather than weigh us down with unnecessary purchases!

Vicky : )

Hey friends!

Well, so many people seem interested in my juggling hobby and are asking me "How do WE learn to do it! Is it hard??". So here’s me teaching you how to do it!

Let me know if you have success after watching!!!!!

Today I’m sitting in a coffee shop in Nashville, looking at very "English" gray weather, and glad to be warm indoors with a grande americano in my hand. I’m writing a book at the moment, and today is one of my ‘Book Days’…so I’m working on new ideas and chapter headings… Maybe I’ll put some excepts of the book on my Blog in the days to come, to get your feedback!

To inspire my book-writing I’ve been reading a lot the past few days. Mainly a book on St Francis of Assisi, as he is my hero! The book describes Italy in SUCH breath taking language that today I’m dreaming of walking those streets, looking up at the magnificent ancient buildings, feeling the warm sun on my face, and smelling the fresh Italian bread at the market, listening to the sound of ancient church bells ringing in the distant hills… I need to plan a trip to Assisi soon!

My Blog question for you today – If you could be standing anywhere right now (other than where you are!) where would you be??

Peace,
Vicky