Today I was yet again reminded of one of the grim realities facing so much of mankind. It is the issue of giving so much of ourselves away to others that we entirely forget to express the beauty that makes us who we are.

Their opinions of us, their lies and the dreaded 'what will think they think of us' saga silently plagues the subconscious corners of our precious minds until we make a decision to put our foot down and boldly say 'enough!'

In reflecting on where I have been and where I am going really reminded me of how much I have overcome in this regard and how much I still have to press on toward and continue to overcome.

It amazes me how the desire to want to bend to other people's opinions of us seems much more natural than retaining our own individuality.

There is an automatic default in all of us to the negative....have you noticed that? But, we are instructed to 'choose life;' the positive over the negative. Often, sticking with this decision is a tough one but it is worth it.

So....as I pedaled the elliptical at the gym watching the folks working out around me, I wondered how many of the people there could truly admit to being led by their individuality rather than someone else's opinion of them....or.... would they even be able to know the difference?

Ah, yes...that was the question that revolved 'round my philosophical brain today so I thought I would share it with you.....some nummy food for thought, shall we say.

Hi Everybody!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Over the past little while I have been thinking a lot about my journey with God up to this point....and boy has it been a journey! Years ago I prayed a prayer in which I said to God " I don't want anything but you and me God....just you and me." It's a long story and there's a very strong reason why I prayed that prayer. Well, since then, it has been amazing how God has been constantly staying true to that prayer. Sometimes, to be honest, I wish I never prayed it...but when the day is done I'm glad I did.

My passion for music is simply a tool God uses to draw me closer to him. Gloria Gaither once said, "God gives us a dream not so much to see what we will make of it, but rather to see what the dream will make of us." Boy is that true. God has been shaping and molding and pruning me for years and it's just gotten more intense since my CD came out. God hasn't forgotten my prayer and I'm thankful for that because though walking this journey alone with him is tough, there's really no other place I rather be.

I often feel like Peter who somewhat flippantly said "I'll go with you Jesus, even to death" and the next day was found denying Jesus. It's a constant battle between will and flesh, but it is one that is inevitable if we are called to serve God with our whole lives. Just learning what it REALLY means to trust God and have faith is taking on a whole new meaning for me. In fact, I'm often blown away by the awkward things God asks of me. They seem ludicrous in the flesh but perfectly normal in the Spirit. Just as my song "Abandoned Nets" conveys. 

Anyway, that's what Christianity is all about. There is SOOOOO much more to it than just attending church on Sunday. I pray that God continue to strengthen me to go all the way with him.

Barb