Forgiveness

You bring restoration, You bring restoration

You bring restoration to my soul

You've taken my pain

You call me by a new name

You've taken my shame

In it's place, You give me joy

Lord, You've taken my pain

and You call me by a new name

You've taken my shame

and in it's place, You give me joy

You take my mourning, turn it into dancing

You take my weeping, turn it into laughing

You take my mourning, turn it into dancing

You take my sadness, turn it into joy

I'm building up my Spotify playlists and came across this gem.  Restoration is one of my all-time favorite worship songs.  It always makes me feel so...comforted.

Speaking of feeling comforted, I was doing my reading for this week's prayer group meeting last night.  The topic?  Forgiveness.  There was a brief synopsis given by the author followed by scripture that points to why we are commanded to forgive and the peace it can bring to us.  This was paired with writings on the importance of praying about those we are working to forgive as well as for those we are working to forgive.

Holy moly, talk about perfect timing.  Forgiveness is always at least a small struggle for me.  It's not that I hold grudges; it's that I guard my heart too much after the fact.  Once I pass the initial hurt or anger, I don't allow myself to fully let go of what happened.  Now don't read me wrong.  I think it smart to remember what happened so as not to let it smack you in the face a second time.  But holding onto it and limiting yourself because of it?  Not smart. 

Forgiveness is also something that happens to be a current, larger struggle for me at the moment.  I see it holding me back in my every day interactions and sucking up some of the potential joy I could be experiencing.  Last night's reading was precisely what I needed to snap me into "go mode".  No more sulking in unforgiveness for me!  How gracious is He that He gives you exactly the medicine you need to help cure your struggle.

Wednesday Worship

You are good, You are good when there's nothing good in me

You are love, You are love on display for all to see

You are life, You are life when the darkness closes in

You are hope, You are hope you have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace when my fear is crippling

You are true, You are true even in my wandering

You are joy, You are joy you're the reason that I sing

You are life, You are life in you death has lost it's sting

And oh, I'm running to Your arms, I'm running to Your arms

The riches of Your love will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace

Light of the world, forever reign

You are more, You are more than my words will ever say

You are Lord, You are Lord all creation will proclaim

You are here, You are here in Your presence I'm made whole

You are God, You are God of all else I'm letting go

And oh, I'm running to Your arms, I'm running to Your arms

The riches of Your love will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace

Light of the world, forever reign

My heart will sing no other name

Jesus, Jesus

My heart will sing no other name

Jesus, Jesus

My heart will sing no other name

Jesus, Jesus

And oh, I'm running to Your arms, I'm running to Your arms

The riches of Your love will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace

Light of the world, forever reign

Failure Notice

A few weeks ago at work I was trying to contact some folks at various schools regarding an upcoming information session we were hosting.  I apparently had a few incorrect email addresses and after several failed attempts at redirecting the email, Mailer Daemon ended it with this:

"This is a permanent error; I've given up.  Sorry it didn't work out."

Seriously?!  Sounds like I just got virtually broken up with by an internet server... I kinda like it, though.  Very direct.  Very 'to the point.' Very matter-of-fact.  Maybe I'll take a tip from Mailer Daemon and, should I ever have the occasion to break up with someone again, simply end it with "Listen, this is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.  Here's a box with all your stuff in it.  G'bye."

Hmm. Sounds harsh.

She's a Lady...

...woah, woah, woah, she's a lady.  She's got style, she's got grace, she's a winner.

1971 Tom Jones, anyone?

Oh, I'm the only old soul amongst my readers?  Ok.

Anyway, piggy-backing on yesterday's blog topic, I thought I'd share this wonderful website I came across.  It holds some great reminders, encouragement, and truth about being a lady:  check it out here.


Some of my favorites include:

Ladies and Gentlemen

So lately I've been doing a bit of thinking about guys.  I think this stems from several things.  With spring engagements flying around like crazy, 'Save the Dates' being delivered to my mailbox, and almost every last one of my single girl friends being snatched up into the dating world, it's only natural my mind tends to wander that way...

Ok, so full disclosure, I might be one of those "snatched up" ones as well.  That is to say, I may have gone on my fair share of dates in the last few weeks...

And I'm not gonna lie, unlike my usual push you away, don't call you back, tend to avoid you at all costs self, I've actually quite enjoyed myself this time.  Enjoyed myself enough that I called up my mom and gave her the lowdown.

In talking to her I was dishing about all the things that have highly impressed me with this one.  Like how he opens all my doors (if my speed-walker self doesn't beat him to it!), and thinks of creative dates, and walks on the outside of the sidewalk on busy streets, and walks me all the way out to my car to make sure I get in safely, and insists on paying for everything (although I do not expect, nor do I allow him to always do so).  In lamest terms, he's the epitome of a southern gentleman.

And hello, newsflash, shocker....girls like that!  Even for an independent one like me, I like to be treated like a lady.  With respect.

But I slightly digressed.  I was talking to my mom about how baffling it is that more guys don't act like that.  I mean...how hard is it open a few car doors?  To come and pick you up instead of meeting you out?  To oh, I don't know, act like you actually care about pursuing someone?  You would think more guys would have picked up on the 'treat a girl like a lady' tip and would put it to good use.  But unfortunately, chivalry seems to be dying with each coming year.  Bottom line, boys, you should start acting like gentlemen.  And mommas, start teaching 'em how to do so.

On a related note (and in an effort to write a fair post), when did girls stop acting like ladies?  Surely it's not that difficult to find clothes that cover more of you than that.  And surely you were taught better than to smack your gum in a nice restaurant or be quite so provocative with your flirting.  And you most definitely should have been taught to be confident enough in yourself to avoid going there for attention, attraction, or 'love.'

Call me old fashioned or an 80 year old at heart, but I find value in being classy, am attracted to the southern gentleman, and think it worthwhile to act like a lady.  And I think I might have just found someone who thinks the same.  But I'll keep you posted ;)

Lately.

Well hello, again.  Nice to see you.  I've been out of pocket lately trying to soak up these beautiful 'spring' days!  But what exactly have I been doing? Well...

• I went to the midnight premiere of 'The Hunger Games' (whatever, judge away).
• Happy Hour'd at PrimeBar for Gretchen's birthday.
• Made it to our prayer group meeting.
• Went to dinner at Eno's and out in Uptown:

• Did some wine drinking and canvas painting for Gretchen's birthday:

• Drove to Uptown in a Hummer limo and partied with some Swedes:

• Survived a tornado.  Or ten:

• Played in a beer pong tournament with my kickball team.  And Shannon:

• Went to see Titanic 3D.
• Attended the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's accompany performance to Casablanca.
• Got out of work early on Good Friday and hit up Six Flags.
• Hung some new shelves in my apartment:

• Ate at Twisted Root and finally tried their alcoholic milkshakes:

• Went country dancing at Cowboys Red River:

• Went to church and hung out with my parents on Easter Sunday. 
• Finally hit the pavement again after a two week sabbatical...

More 'substance-filled' posts coming soon.  Hopefully. 

LOVE vol.6

"I loved you, gray sweatpants, no make-up, so perfect.  Our love was comfortable and...so broken in."

Photo stolen from here.

Fabulous Friday

Always so fabulous.

Post on some of the fabulous things I've been doing coming...soon.  Sorry I've been too busy doing fabulous things with my fabulous friends to keep you in the loop ;)  Hope you are having just as fabulous of a Friday as me! 

Peace out.  Audrey love.

LOVE vol.5

"Bring me flowers. And talk for hours. And ohh I like you. And ohh I like how you make me feel.  Kiss my face. Your warm embrace.  And ohh I like you.  And ohh I like how you make me feel."

Photo stolen from here.