I am Moving to Iowa!

It was 8 years ago that I packed the back of my truck and my friend Hilary and I took off on an adventure. We were leaving our families and friends in Iowa and headed to the great state of Texas.  The last 8 years have been some of the most challenging, yet most beautiful years of my life. Austin brought so much to my life...an amazing church, an amazing ministry, an amazing community of friends and families that I have gotten to live life with, and a love for tex-mex and breafast tacos.  Most of all I am thankful for Jesus and what He has done in my life over the last 8 years. He has truly changed my life in so many ways.

Over the last several months I have felt God nudge me a little, well actually...more like a big ole shove, and I started praying and surrendering my life in Austin to God, being willing to go where He wanted, do what He wanted. As I prayed, He kept laying Iowa on my heart but I started closing my arms to Him and pushing back. IOWA?!?! REALLY?!?!? I'm pretty sure I even praying something like this..."God send me to Africa, send me to Asia, the Middle East...NOT IOWA!!!"  But as He kept pursuing me in my pushing back I couldn't help but see how He was confirming ALL OVER THE PLACE that I was supposed to go back to Iowa.

So...I AM MOVING BACK TO IOWA!!! It is all so bittersweet. I am so so so excited to be close to my family. I'm excited to reconnect with old friends. I'm excited for something new. BUT when I really sit and think about all that I am leaving and everyone I will be leaving here in Austin, my insides hurt a lot and I just sit and cry for a little while. This has been my home for the last 8 years.

But this is what I know...I know that I am supposed to go back to Iowa. God has so kindly confirmed this and made it so clear through His word, through my community, through my heart change, through many many different circumstances and I know that His plans are GOOD. He has something for me in Iowa and I'm excited to see what that is! Jesus is worth it. He is worth leaving my comfort here in Austin. He is worth leaving my good good friends who I do life with on a daily basis. He is worth leaving the Austin Stone Community Church where I have had some of the most amazing experiences. He is worth leaving the multitude of stores and restaurants that have spoiled me so much. He is worth leaving an amazing job where I get to love on special needs kiddos and orphans. He is worth it all. Being obedient to His calling is worth it. HARD...but worth it. I have to trust Him and choose to believe it. Lord, MAKE MY HEART BELIEVE!

So I will move July 26th! My time in Austin is coming to a close very quickly. If you think of it, please pray for me.  Please pray that the details will all come together how they should and that God would continue to provide the finances I need to make this move. Pray for my heart as I am definitely grieving leaving my life here. God has been so good and so faithful in this whole process and it has made me love Him more deeply and trust Him more faithfully. For that, I am truly thankful and again...He is so worth it.

Iowa City, here I come!

7in7 Day 1: Standing Beside

I wrote this song with a heavy heart today as I found out a dear friend of mine was shot and killed. My heart breaks for his wife and son. I want to wrap my arms around Anita and just hold her for awhile. She has been on my heart every since I found out the news this morning. So I wrote a song to her.

Standing Beside

I know you can't see through these tears
But I'm here for you

I know you don't understand
But I know what is true

HE'S STANDING BESIDE, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE
HIS EYES NOW SEE, WHAT WE CAN ONLY DREAM
NO TEARS, NO PAIN - NO FEARS, NO SHAME

I won't tell you time will heal
'cause your time stands still

There will be a day when you'll be there
And you'll see him again

HE'S STANDING BESIDE, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE
HIS EYES NOW CAN SEE, WHAT WE CAN ONLY DREAM
NO TEARS, NO PAIN - NO FEARS, NO SHAME

hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Knowing You, Jesus

Lots of people have asked about the new song we sang on Sunday. It's taken from an old song & some of our amazing songwriters added a bit to it.
Here are the lyrics:

Knowing You, Jesus

verse1:
All I once held dear built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain now I count as loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this

chorus:
Knowing you, Jesus
Knowing you
There is no greater aim
In your presence here
My joy is found
There is no higher gain

verse2:
Now my heart's desire is to know you more
To be found in you, and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness

(chorus)

bridge:
Your love is higher
Your glory brighter
My hope is set on you
My greatest longing
Is found in knowing
My hope is set on you

verse3:
Oh to know the power of your risen life
And to know you in your suffering
To become like you in your death my Lord
So with you to live and never die

(chorus)
(bridge)

7in7 Day 2: My Dear

So this song had me in some tears as I was writing it. Over the last several months I have had fostering/adopting on my heart so heavily. I feel the Lord is leading me towards this and I've been praying SO MUCH about this. So it has been on my heart a lot and so I thought I would write a song for my future babies.

My Dear

I am confident that you are mine
You have taken up my heart over time
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm

I wanna show you things that you will love
I will smile and thank the Lord above
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm

I wait for you, my dear
I love you so , my dear
I'm praying for you to come home, oh oh

But I will let the angels hold you tonight
I will trust that the timing is right
When I can hold you in my arms
And keep you safe from this world's harm
Oh oh oh, ohh, ohh, oh oh

7in7 Day 1: You Are Near

It's that time of year again. Where all of us artists go crazy for 7 days.
I've been SO sick the last several days and so don't mind the roughness of this recording.

This song is called You Are Near.



When I can't see the light
Let me shine for You
When I'm lost and in the fight
Help me cry to You

You are are near
Jesus You are near
Help me believe You
That You are near

When I can't find the way
Help me see Your face
When I've wandered far away
Help me feel Your grace

You are near
Jesus You are near
Help me believe You
That You are near

When I doubt you in fear
Help me stand for You
When I'm drenched in all my tears
Help me sing to You


You are near
Jesus You are near
Help me believe You
That You are near

Promise Cards for Christmas!

"These scriptures were the exact thing I needed to read today." 

"I have them sitting on my desk at work and I read them throughout the day. It makes working a little more enjoyable!" 

"I gave them to a friend who has cancer and she was so encourage by these promises and will sit and read through them while she is getting her chemo treatment."

It has been so encouraging to hear back from people who have purchased some promise cards & scripture cards to see how God has used them!  Each one has their own story and I love to see God's word be alive and active through these cards!

Christmas time is coming up and these cards could be a great gift idea...or a stocking stuffer!! Or they can be "just because"! Even if you got a bundle for yourself...that is ok too! 

These new and improved cards are now at a lower price!! $15!!

So here is the deal...

• It's a 4x6 index sized card 
• Promise Card: Truth on the front, scripture on the back.
  Scripture Card: Scripture reference on the front, scripture on the back.
  (they can also be made one-sided)
• Each uniquely designed & professionally copied.
• $15 for a bundle of 5 cards. (plus shipping)
• Put them in your bag, use them as bookmarks, put them on your mirror, stick them on the refrigerator, put them next to your bed to read at night or in the morning, pin them on the bulletin board at work, stick them in your car...the options are endless!
• Keep them for yourself or buy them for a friend!

Check out these slideshows of some examples: (each picture is front & back)

Promise Cards:
  

Scripture Cards:

If you are interested in purchasing a bundle, email me at emilyward527@gmail.com 
I will send you a list of all the promises that you can choose from, or you can let me know if there are specific promises or verses you want...or I can make a bundle for you!

Feel free to pass this along to anyone who would be interested...blog about it...tweet about it...get the word out!

**My hope and prayer for these cards is that they would not be empty words you read over and over and over but my prayer over each card that I make is that the Spirit of God who breathes life, would move powerfully through these truths and through these scriptures to encourage, inspire and change life. He is alive and active, His word is alive and active...let HIM move your heart.**

King of Love

We have a few new songs that we have been singing at church. They are SO good. I'm so thankful for the amazing songwriters that I get to work & sing with each Sunday. I learn so much from them!
Hopefully they will be on our next worship album so that y'all can get your hands on them and worship throughout the week!

I wanted to share one of them with you called, King of Love. It was written from an old hymn and with a new bridge that is so strong to end the song with...here are the lyrics:

The King of love my shepherd is
Whose goodness never faileth
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth
From heights above to cavern low
With constant love He feedeth

Corrupt and foolish oft I stray
Yet in His love He sought me
And on His shoulders gently laid
He brought me home rejoicing
In deaths dark vale I fear no ill
With thee dear Lord beside me
Thy rod and staff my comfort still
Thy cross before to guide me

Thou set a table in my sight
Abundant grace bestoweth
All of Thy kindness my delight
From heaven's storehouse floweth
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd may I sing Thy praise 
Within Thy house forever
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever

My lips will praise
Oh King of love
Who sealed my heart
For realms above 
In sin and shame
Came mercy's flood
I run to You
Oh King of love

I just love it so much. I love the picture of my Shepherd gently laying me on His shoulders and bringing me home. There have been so many times that He has come after me like this. I stray so easily. So thankful for this good Shepherd.

My Girl Crush

I'm supposed to be working on a lesson I'm going to be teaching but it just seems impossible to actually do any work right now. The 2% achiever in me is NOT at work right now. Instead I've been watching youtube videos of Pink. I love her so much. She is so bad ass, her voice is so rock star, her hair is mesmerizing, her body is ridiculous...I may have a slight girl crush. I'm pretty sure we would be friends.

Check out these videos:

The end of this video is ridiculous with her voice...


I'm sorry but she is actually singing with all of her acrobatic work. What?! I'm thinking I'm going to do this routine next Sunday...


And just for fun because I just saw these pics that my sister just posted on facebook and they have nothing to do with Pink but they are ridiculously cute...this is my nephew Max...

Oh give me those dimples. I can't even handle it. I love being an aunt so much.

My Hands Float Up Above Me

In our backyard we have a little shed/house type of thing. I recently decided to turn it into a little art room/music room/quiet time/worship room.
It's been so good for me.
I've spent a lot of time out there and I've been creating a lot. The dreamer in me has come out even more.  I love sitting by myself with a good playlist on.  All of my different colors of paper, different colors of paint, my sharpies, the things that my mom & sisters have created on the walls, I love it. I can sit for hours creating things. Then I turn around & pick up my guitar and sing some songs & write down some lyrics & melodies.  I've even just gotten down on the floor on my face & prayed. I've stood up & twirled around & danced. I've raised my hands in the air crying begging God to change my heart so that it looks more like His. Begging Him for restored relationships. Begging Him for peace & contentment. It's just me & Him & I love it. It has filled me up so much this week.
Tonight I turned the lights down and was spending time singing and worshiping, with my hands up in the air and I looked over at a piece of art that my sister created for me and gave to me.  It was so sweet & I felt like God just gave me a little hug. Here is the piece of art:

Such sweetness.

Not For a Moment (After All)

This song is on repeat. SO good. Not For A Moment (After All) by Meredith Andrews

I absolutely love the vulnerability in these words. I have just worshiped through this song over and over again and I find my heart stirred, my soul broken down, head full of all the stuff going on in my little life...only to be reminded of God's faithfulness and His goodness that He has never left me, He won't ever leave me and He is always there no matter what is going on in me and around me. I have Him. I get Him. He is enough. He will never forsake me. Never.

You were reaching through the storm
Walking on the water
Even when I could not see
In the middle of it all
When I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did you forsake me
Not for a moment did you forsake me

After all, You are constant
After all, You are only good
After all, You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

You were singing in the dark
Whispering Your promise
Even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
Carried for a thousands miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake me
Not for a moment did You forsake me

After all, You are constant
After all, You are only good
After all, You are only good
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

Every step, every breath You are there
Every tear, every cry, every prayer
In my hurt, in my worst, when my world falls down
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

After all, You are constant
After all, You are only good
After all, You are only good
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

Earnest the Old Man

I just had the most hilarious conversation with an old man.
I was in Home Depot getting some wood to make some art projects, so I was walking around with two long wood boards. This is how the conversation went: (Imagine a man with a belly in his late 70's with no teeth.)

Man:   HEY!
Me:   Hi!
Man:   What are you doing with that?
Me:   I'm working on a project.
Man:   By yourself?
Me:   Yup! It's just an art project. I'm not building anything!
Man:   Oh! Are you married?
Me:   Nope! (I can tell this guy is a stinker & was just wondering where this was going to go.)
Man:   You aren't?! So you don't have a honeydoo?
Me:   (laughing) Nope I don't have one of those! (not really sure exactly what a honeydoo is)
Man:   Well let me tell you something...
Me:   Alright...let's hear it!
Man:   My wife and I have been married for 59 years and she is the most amazing, beautiful woman that has ever walked the earth. Let me tell you what works...
Me:   (oh goodness.)
Man:   You don't go to bed mad. You don't wake up mad. You do things together, you go places together. You laugh. You let the woman do the bills cause the man doesn't know what the hell he is doing. You have kids. You hold hands even when you are old. You don't marry a smoker, you don't marry a drinker, you wait for Mr. Right. Got it?
Me:   Yup! Got it!
Man:   You know you are just so beautiful...you just have this glow. You just seem like a really nice person....what's your name?
Me:   Well thank you sir. Thank you so much. My name is Emily ... what is your name?
Man:   Emily. I like that. That is beautiful. My name is Earnest. I don't like it though. You know? I didn't have a name until I enlisted in the army.
Me:   Really? Wow.
Man:   Yeah, I was Unknown Smith. People just called me Smitty.
(he then proceeded to tell me the story about how back in the day in Austin, there was a bad flood when he was born and something about leaving the hospital and his parents never gave him a name.)
Earnest:   So...do you want to get married?
Me:   Oh yeah! definitely someday!
Earnest:   So why aren't you married?
Me:   Well, I just haven't found the right one yet, I'm praying for him and trusting that God will bring us together when it's time.
Earnest:   That's good, that's good. You don't want to end up with a dud. Well you know...my son is a billionaire.
Me:   (ok...tell me more) Oh yeah?
Earnest:   Yeah, he is a good one. But he's married. He married a dud.
Me:   Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Earnest:   Where are you from? (oh here we go again with someone thinking I'm from somewhere exotic) Are you from Colorado? (Oh. NOT what I was expecting!)
Me:   No! I'm from Iowa. I moved to Austin about 6 years ago.
Earnest:   OH! Well, I'm so glad you are here.
Me:   Thank you so much Earnest.
Earnest:   You are just so beautiful.
Me:   Thank you so much! You are so sweet.
Earnest:   You know I'm getting my bridge fixed tomorrow for my teeth.
Me:   That's so great!
Earnest:   Yeah, I woke up one day and my teeth were gone. I looked everywhere for them and I couldn't find them anywhere and I figured I probably just swallowed that damn thing. Then a week later my beautiful wife yelled at me from the laundry room and said, "Ernie, what the hell is this?" And you know what it was...it was my teeth. She found them in the sheets!
Me:   HAHA!! that's great!
Earnest:   Well you have a super great day. You know when people ask me how I'm doing, I say "Super great". Sometimes people are surprised that I say that because I'm old and busted. But I've always lived by having a positive attitude and so I say "super great".
Me:   I think that is so good! I can tell that you enjoy life!
Earnest:   Well, I'll let you go...you know, you should remember me and maybe we'll run into each other again someday. You just remember Earnest Smith.
Me:   Earnest, I will never forget you. Thank you so much for talking with me and making my day!
Earnest:   Bye sweet girl.

Oh my heart. I should have taken his picture. I hope that I run into him again. I should also tell you that he told so many other stories. I'm pretty sure we sat on the plywood for a good 45 minutes. I love old people.

I'm a World Traveler

It's been a crazy couple of months. LOTS of traveling and fun! So thankful to have this time before I start my nannying job in September.

Here is a short version of where I've been:

I went back to my hometown in Iowa for 10 days. Lots of good family time. I just love Iowa. It's beautiful.

Then when I got home from Iowa I housesat for my friends who have an AMAZING house! It was a week of feeling like I was by myself at a resort. I loved every minute of it.

After I got back from housesitting I went to Chicago for my friend Christy's wedding. I was so sick before I went and was nervous I wasn't going to be able to make it...but I survived! It was so so good to be there and she was absolutely beautiful!

As soon as I got back from Chicago I got in the car with my friends and we headed to our girls getaway trip to the beach! Port Aransas got a good taste of us crazy girls! So much fun!

After getting back from Port A, I drove to Mexico. One of my best friends and her family lives there and it was so so so so good for my soul. We laughed, we cried, we had fun. It was SO needed for both of us. I loved getting to spend time with her sweet boys too. They are the cutest kids ever. Guillermo, Cisco, and Silas. Love them so stinking much.

Now back to real life. boo.

New Music

I LOVE music. I'm always looking for good music to add to my playlists. I spent several hours today watching youtube videos, listening to samples of music on itunes.
My tastes range from folk/singer-songwriter, country, pop, rap, hip hop, worship.
I love what music does to my insides. It's quite magical. Melodies, lyrics, beats, harmonies.
Love it so much.

So what songs are you listening to over and over again that I need to add to my playlist?
Leave a comment and let me know some good music that I must have!

It's Friday. Get Excited

I have quarantined myself to my room for the past week. In the midst of all my travels this summer I have caught pink eye and tonsillitis. boo. I was supposed to fly out to Chicago on Wednesday to be with one of my best friends who is getting married on SUNDAY! I postponed my flight and I leave TODAY! I figured it would be better to be at home in my quarantined room resting instead of infecting the bride and the whole bridal party.

My friend Jamie just posted about what she is excited about today and I thought I would join her in sharing in some exciting things. 

1. I feel SO much better. I'm not completely back to normal...but definitely better. I'm so thankful. I've had some peeps praying hard for healing in my body and I'm thankful that God answered & is quickly healing my body. He is so kind. 

2. I fly out TODAY for Chicago! I absolutely LOVE Chicago. Being from Iowa, this city was our vacation city growing up. I'm excited to be in the city but most of all that I will get to be with 2 of my best friends! Mich (Christy) is getting MARRIED!!! My other friend AJ is the maid of honor and I'm a bridesmaid. It's going to be so much fun. I have shared so many fun memories with these girls and I can't wait to spend the weekend with them!

3. I get a massage tomorrow. We are having a spa day with the bridal party and AJ got me a massage! When I was at the dr. this week she said that I needed a massage, so this is perfect! I can't wait. This summer has been a rough one and I think it's all building up in my shoulders and neck. This massage will be wonderful! 

4. Monday when I get back into town, Jamie is picking me up at the airport and we are heading to Port A with 15 of our other girlfriends for a week at the beach! These girls are some of the best girls I know and I'm so thankful for each of them. I'm excited to have a fun & memorable time with them. What happens in Port A...stays in Port A. 

5. My August 2012 playlist. I get made fun of for my playlists. I have one for each month of songs that I'm listening to over and over that month. I have to say that my August 2012 playlist is pretty amazing. 

Here is what I'm reading that you should get on board with (you can click on the pic & it will take you to amazon): 

Jesus Calling: 

A Place of Healing:

The Calvary Road:

Made to Crave:


Here are some songs on my August 2012 playlist:

Lovely - Sara Haze

Winter Song - The Head and The Heart


We Are (Live Acoustic) - Kari Jobe

Here - "I will rest in You"

I have been listening to this song over and over. So. Beautiful.
I love when music gets to the depths of my soul, it is only because the Spirit goes there first.
I've been wrestling and all out fighting the war in me with my thoughts, with my feelings, with the outer pressures of different things weighing on me. It's exhausting. When I first heard this song, I feel to my face and cried.  I had been trying so hard to carry all of this myself. I'm not quite sure why I quickly forget that God wants me...all of me...all of my burdens. Every single one of them. He wants me to come and lay them before Him. There is rest in Him. There is peace in Him. There is healing in Him. I want to breathe Him in and breathe Him out. Just breathe.
Hope this encourages you.

Come and rest here
Come and lay your burdens down
Come and rest here
There is refuge for you now

You'll find His peace
And know you're not alone anymore
He is near
You'll find His healing
Your heart isn't shattered anymore
He is here

Breathe in
Breathe out
You will, you will find Him here

I will rest in You
I will rest in You
I will rest in You
I will rest in You

The Broken Heart - Valley of Vision

O Lord,

No day of my life has passed that has not
proved me guilty in your sight.
Prayers have been uttered from a
prayerless heart;
Praise has been offered praiseless sound;
My best services are filthy rags.
Blessed Jesus, let me find a covert in your appeasing wounds.
Though my sins rise to heaven your merits soar
above them;
Though unrighteousness weighs me down to hell,
your righteousness exalts me to your throne.
All things in me call for my rejection,
All things in you plead my acceptance.
I appeal from the throne of perfect justice
to your throne of boundless grace.
Grant me to hear your voice assuring me:
that by your stripes I am healed,
that you were bruised for my iniquities,
that you have been made sin for me
that I might be righteous in you,
that my grievous sins, my manifold sins,
are all forgiven,
buried in the ocean of your concealing blood.
I am guilty, but pardoned,
lost, but saved,
wandering, but found,
sinning, but cleansed.
Give me perpetual broken-heartedness,
Keep me always clinging to your cross,
Flood me every moment with descending grace,
Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,
sparkling like crystal,
flowing clear and unsullied
through my wilderness of life.

Journeying On - Valley of Vision

Lord of the cloud and fire,

I am a stranger, with a stranger's indifference;
My hands hold a pilgrim's staff,
My march is Zionward,
My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord,
My heart is in your hands without reserve.
You have created it,
Redeemed it,
Renewed it,
Captured it,
Conquered it.
Keep from it every opposing foe,
crush in it every rebel lust,
mortify every treacherous passion,
annihilate every earthborn desire.
All faculties of my being vibrate to your touch;
I love you with soul, mind, body, strength,
might, spirit, affection, will,
desire, intellect, understanding.
You are the very perfection of all perfections;
All intellect is derived from you;
My scanty rivulets flow from your unfathomable fountain.
Compared with you the sun is darkness,
all beauty deformity,
all wisdom folly,
the best goodness faulty.
You are worthy of an adoration greater than
my dull heart can yield;
Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to You,
tightly entwine itself round you,
be allured by you.
Then shall my walk be endless praise.

Set Lists: 7/15/12

Here are the set lists from the Austin Stone Community Church on Sunday 7/15/12:


DOWNTOWN CAMPUS:
Worship Leader: Jeff Johnson

• Forever Reign - Hillsong (Reuben Morgan and Jason Ingram) 
• Never Once - Matt Redman (Jason Ingram, Matt Redman, and Tim Wanstall) 
• One Thing Remains - Jesus Culture (Christa Black, Brian Johnson, and Jeremy Riddle)  
• 10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman (Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman)

Sermon: "The Greatness of God in an Age of Narcissism" - JR Vassar 

• A Mighty Fortress - Christy Nockels (Christy Nockels and Nathan Nockels) 
• Solid Rock- hymn (William Batchelder Bradbury, Edward Mote, and Vineyard Music Group, Jeff Johnson, Aaron Ivey)

ST. JOHN CAMPUS:
Worship Leader: Matt Wheeler

• God Undefeatable - The Austin Stone (Aaron Ivey, Ross King, Matt Carter)
• Here For You - Matt Redman (Matt Maher, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, and Tim Wanstall)
• Forever Reign - Hillsong (Reuben Morgan and Jason Ingram) 
• Love Came Down - Bethel Live (Jeremy Edwardson, Brian Johnson, Ian McIntosh and Jeremy Riddle) 

Sermon: "The Greatness of God in an Age of Narcissism" - JR Vassar 

• 10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman (Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman) 
• God I Look To You - Bethel Live (Jenn Johnson)

WEST CAMPUS:
Worship Leader: Jimmy McNeal

• Love Shines - The Austin Stone (Aaron Ivey, Philip Edsel, Matt Carter)
• God Undefeatable - The Austin Stone (Aaron Ivey, Ross King, Matt Carter) 
• Always - Kristian Stanfill (Jason Ingram and Kristian Stanfill)
• Love Came Down - Bethel Live (Jeremy Edwardson, Brian Johnson, Ian McIntosh and Jeremy Riddle) 

Sermon: "The Greatness of God in an Age of Narcissism" - JR Vassar 

• How Great Thou Art - hymn (Stuart Wesley Keene Hine)
• Forever Reign - Hillsong (Reuben Morgan and Jason Ingram)

Set Lists: 7/8/12

Here are the set lists from the Austin Stone Community Church on Sunday 7/8/12:


DOWNTOWN CAMPUS:
Worship Leader: Justin Cofield 

• 10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman (Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman)
• One Thing Remains - Jesus Culture (Christa Black, Brian Johnson, and Jeremy Riddle) 
• Hallelujah What A Savior - The Austin Stone (Philip Paul Bliss, Matt Carter, Aaron Ivey, and Halim Suh)
• The Stand - Hillsong United (Joel Houston)

Sermon: "The Restoration of Peter" - Ben Stuart 

• Always - Kristian Stanfill (Jason Ingram and Kristian Stanfill) 
• God Undefeatable - The Austin Stone (Aaron Ivey, Ross King, Matt Carter)

ST. JOHN CAMPUS:
Worship Leader: Matt Wheeler 

• Come Thou Fount - hymn (Robert Robinson and John Wyeth)
• One Thing Remains - Jesus Culture (Christa Black, Brian Johnson, and Jeremy Riddle) 
• Never Once - Matt Redman (Jason Ingram, Matt Redman, and Tim Wanstall)
• The Stand - Hillsong United (Joel Houston)

Sermon: "The Restoration of Peter" - Ben Stuart

• Before The Throne - hymn (Shane Barnard)
• 10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman (Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman)

WEST CAMPUS:
Worship Leader: Jimmy McNeal 

• Stronger - Hillsong (Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan) 
• Love Came Down - Bethel Live (Jeremy Edwardson, Brian Johnson, Ian McIntosh and Jeremy Riddle)
• Praise to the Lord - The Austin Stone (Aaron Ivey, Logan Garza, Matt Carter) 
• Jesus Paid It All - hymn (Samuel W. Beazley and M. S. Schaffer)

Sermon: "The Restoration of Peter" - Ben Stuart

• Love Came Down - Bethel Live (Jeremy Edwardson, Brian Johnson, Ian McIntosh and Jeremy Riddle)
• Always - Kristian Stanfill (Jason Ingram and Kristian Stanfill)

Let the Countdown Begin!

A flight has been booked for me to go home to Iowa for 10 days in two weeks.
I cannot wait.
There is something about going home to the place that I grew up; spending time with my sweet nephews and my niece; having silly, running to the bathroom, crazy times with my mom and my sisters, that is just so good for my soul.
The last couple of months have been really hard. Dealing with health issues, being jobless, and a multitude of other things that seemed to all end up happening all on top of each other at the same time.
God is definitely teaching me so much during this season, and it's good. Hard...but good.
Sometimes when things get hard, I just want my family. Thankfully, I have the time to spend a good chunk of time with them, and all the kids are out of school.
They even said they are saving me some sparklers. I have a feeling some sparkler dances are in our near future!
I can't even handle these pics, and I can't wait to hug all these babies (not so baby anymore though.)

It's gonna be a good time!