A New Look and a New CD

Lots of people have heard about the strange allergic reaction I had around my eyes a month ago. Under an allergists care I was being treated with steroids and allergy pills, but there was no indication what the allergen may be. I had some strange side effects to the steroids, beginning with a rash that started on my face and was spreading down my torso. Then I had a few other quirky things happen so we decided steroids were not the best treatment option. I had a strong feeling it was not a pollen allergy and so I just took the Zyrtec to appease the Dr. He asked that if it flared up again I come in to see him right away. Last Sunday night I put some Vitamin E under my eyes, which has been my practice for a couple of years now. I've known for some time that I'm very sensitive there and can't use most lotions without getting itchy and uncomfortable, but have never had any real swelling. Vitamin E is the only thing I've found which was safe... until now. This is how I woke up Monday morning:

No... my nose was not swollen too, I just held the camera about 5 inches from my face to get this shot, which should also account for why I look rather cross-eyed. I propose that, should I one day be engaged, you show these pictures to my future husband and tell him this is what I look like in the morning. If he can find the humor in it and love me still - he's a keeper!

The new theory is that I've recently developed an allergy to some ingredient in the Vitamin E capsules. The allergist and I have narrowed it down to Gelatin. Being the curious type that I am, I popped another one open and rubbed it on my arm just to see if I would have a reaction there. Sure enough, I had little red bumps that were barely noticable in the morning. As the day went on it began to itch and by the next morning, despite several washings, it was noticeably spreading and more bothersome. The funny part is, last time this happened I kept putting more and more Vtamin E on to soothe the discomfort, not realizing I was multiplying it! My new find is chapstick - that seems to be ok and has helped to soothe the discomfort. I've also used some prescription strength hydrocortisone to take down the swelling and redness. The Dr said it's pretty much the same reaction someone would have from rubbing poison ivy under their eyes if they were allergic to it (which I am not!) So as you can imagine, after a week of treating myself with the irritant I was looking much worse than this picture after just one exposure to it. I'm convinced this isn't a food allergy, that it's just a contact allergy. I'm believing I will be able to enjoy Jello in the future, but there's only one way to find out...

On another note, my beloved Miss Keri has yet again blessed me by sharing a great music find. Before she left for vacation last week she dropped off the newest Na Band CD : Looked Upon. After about 3 days I decided this would be well worth adding to my own library and had one placed on order which I was hoping would arrive before she came home and wanted hers back :-) I would highly recommend this CD to anyone in the world! These people have incredible music gifts! Musically it is the best CD I have heard in a long time. But the words are just excellent! They are so gospel centered, and performed with an evident genuineness. I'm provoked to love God more and pursue more diligently what it means to worship in spirit and in truth because of examples like this! Here is the last verse from one of my very favorite songs on Looked Upon:

Stretch out Your arm, victorious King
My reigning sins subdue
Defeat the pride that dwells within
Keep Calvary in my view
A guilty, weak, and helpless soul
Into Your hands I fall
Lord, be my strength and righteousness
My Jesus, be my all
My Jesus, be my all
My Jesus, be my all
taken from "Jesus, Be My All (How Sad Our State)"
words by Isaac Watts (1709), additional words by Devon Kauflin and Bob Kauflin 2008

Thank you Keri for sharing your passion for Jesus and appreciation for music with me! I'm so glad I have you as a friend, a sister, a neighbor, a care group carpooler and a worship team cohort. You are a blessing to me and I thank God for you!

"Good" Songs

It's been a while since I've posted anything and there are a few reasons for that; one being the fact that my camera died, and with it some of my enthusiasm for posting. So you missed the last picture I snapped before it went: Xavier grabbed body wash instead of shampoo to clean his hair and used about three times as much as I do to clean my whole body. He used this thick substance to form a mohawk all the way from his forehead to the nape of his neck. That was the night I resolved to trim his hair because it stood up a few inches!

Things have been pretty "ordinary" here as of late, but I'm always amazed how the Lord kindly draws me to himself even in the "mundane". One of the ways he's done that lately is through songs that are full of truth. I've loved music as long as I can remember. Several months ago at one of the worship team rehearsals Thom shared a quote from a popular artist; something to the effect of : If ever asked whether I am religious I reply Yes, I'm a Musician. The point of him sharing that was to highlight that we are not primarily musicians - rather we are saved sinners, Christians who happen to be musicians for the glory of God.

Music definitely used to be an idol for me and can be still more than I realize I'm sure. I used to identify myself (and others) by what kind of music I listened to. I thought that should inform how someone dressed, spoke, acted, who they hung out with... What used to define a "good" song in my mind was the bass line, the drums, the singer, did it make me want to dance? There have been so many times that a song from my past will pop into my head and I'll just start singing it unconsiously and the Lord kindly says - You're singing the World's song - and realigns my thoughts toward him. He alone deserves my song! Some of the best CD's I know to help with this are the Red Mountain Church CD's (which I keep borrowing from Keri rather than buying my own - I'm feeling the itch again Keri). Here are some of the lyrics which have been on my lips and in my heart these last few weeks. It's only by God's grace that I now view these as gooood songs!

**Lord dissolve my frozen heart by the beams of love divine, this alone can warmth impart to dissolve a heart like mine. Oh that love how vast it is, vast it seems though known in part, strange indeed if love like this should not melt the frozen heart.**

**Oh when Great God thy light divine hath shown on this dark soul of mine, then I beheld with trembling awe the terrors of thy holy law, the terrors of thy holy law. Should vengeance still my soul pursue, death and destruction are my due, yet mercy can my soul forgive and bid this dying sinner live, Lord bid this dying sinner live. Does not thy sacred word proclaim salvation free in Jesus' name? To him I look and humbly cry, "Lord save a wretch condemned to die, Lord save this wretch condemned to die!"**

**There fastened to the rugged wood by holy loves resistless claim, and life deriving from thy blood, never to wander wide again, there may I bow my suppliant knee and own no other Lord but thee**

**Finished are the types and shadows of the ceremonial law, finished all that guilt had promised, death and hell no more shall awe, It is Finished! It is Finished! Saints from hence your comfort drawn. It is Finished! It is Finished! Saints from hence your comfort drawn**

**A robe is provided their shame now to hide, in which none are clothed but Jesus' bride, though it be costly yet is the robe free and all Zion's mourners shall decked with it be**

**What mighty sum paid all my debt when I a bond man stood, and has my soul at freedom set? Tis Jesus' precious blood. What stream can sweep away my sins just like a flood, nor lets one guilty blemish stay? Tis Jesus' precious blood!**

Favorite Song Poll

God has been so kind to give me these Sunday afternoons as "alone time". But I have to confess - when Gene asked if he could spend time with Xavier every Sunday my heart was not joyful! Sunday afternoons are my only down time usually and I love getting to spend that with my little guy, but it's something God's called me to sacrifice right now and he's been giving me something so much better. He's been regularly calling me closer to him in these times.

Someone approached me today and asked what my favorite Christmas song is. It seemed a bit random, but it turned out to have a point. So today I left church with that question fresh in my mind. I was so excited to get home and break out an old hymnal that my mom gave me from her piano bench a few years ago. It was so sweet to read over the lines of the old familiar songs. Just the tune makes me giddy like I used to get singing them at Christmas Eve services. I love Christmas music. I have to restrain myself, but I love waiting until after Thanksgiving to play Christmas CD's so I don't grow overly familiar with them. I love that season of deeper consideration of how far Christ came to save his people.

So here are the ones in the running. I'm hoping to get input from others as to what their favorites are. You may vote for one I have listed or tell me your own. Maybe I haven't thought of it.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
Joy To The World
O Little Town of Bethlehem

Each time I open this old hymnal I find new treasures. I enjoy the fact that I don't know the tune to most of the songs. It allows me to focus more on the words. Here are two excerpts that delighted my heart today:

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
from The King of Love My Shepherd Is by Henry W. Baker

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart with tears two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.
from Beneath the Cross of Jesus by Elizabeth C Clephane