when peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, "it is well, it is well with my soul." ...though satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul. ... my sin-oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!-my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and i bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! ... And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul. 
-Horatio G. Spafford.


do you ever just take a minute and let an old hymn really sink into your spirit? the songs i grew up singing back in the day, before the awesome trend of jumbo screens with lyrics, must have drilled deep down into my heart. when i hear or sing them now, they seem so much more meaningful to me than they did when i was young. my worship leader has taken to including one or two of the "old classics" in our otherwise very contemporary worship time. i am totally loving it. i've always thought that hymns get a bad wrap. maybe the style of the music they are sung to could use some tweaking, but the heart of the worshipper is still in the words. these songs are especially comforting and special to me in times when i have a lot going on..i find myself humming "jesus paid it all" or "blessed assurance" while washing the dishes, chopping up various items for the kids' lunches,  finishing up some last minute work for school... or while i am just attempting to peace out somewhere, trying to calm my mind & flush out some of those irritating worries that like to try to creep their way in. 
soo...yay for hymns! :)

this is what makes me smile:
celebrating Jesus.