:::mandy dawson:::

On the way home from the house of prayer tonight, I was listening to Christmas music.  It started off with the usual Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  LOL.  At least it was a jazzy version.  Anyway, the very last song was a contemporary medley beginning with O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and ending with What Child is This.  I have no idea who these girls were, but their voices sounded like they had a poppish background.  The singing on this recording was a bit poppish, but not overly or annoyingly.  Anyway, I digress...

While I was listening to the unknown to me pop girls sing these old, traditional hymns, I was struck at the depth of truth these old, traditional hymns possess.  It started to blow my mind that all over the world people of every kind are listening to pop girls sing THE VERY TRUTH OF GOD.  Now, that is awesome.  You know, it is very possible that these girls knew the weight of the truth they were singing, but its also possible that they do not.  Regardless, the message speaks for itself, and therefore there is tremendous value in these pop girls singing the old, traditional hymns. 

Posted some good news in the baby journal tonight!

Today was my first day of recording for the CD.  It went very well, and we got the basics for 4 songs, and have 5 more to go.  I was very nervous having not been able to practice as much as I wanted, but all in all it was great.

Tyler, Mom and Dad came out for the trip, and we've had a good time together.  Tyler is just sooooo adorable.  I love him.  Today, he said, "Mandy, you're my best friend! Nana, you're my best frined.  Papa, you're my best friend.  We're four best friends."  It was so awesome. 

Right now, I'm sitting in the prayer room which is my favorite place and I never have enough time to hang out in here.  I sure wish I did.  Maybe tomorrow.

We hosted my friend, Bob Schrecengost, at City HOP this weekend.  We had some great times of worship and ministry.  He's coming back this weekend for 4 more meetings, which is exciting.

Next week, we are leaving Tuesday to head out to IHOP-KC!  Thursday, I go into the studio to begin recording my CD!  Yay!  Its going to be so surreal.  This week, I'm practicing and doing run-throughs of the songs so that I'm prepared.  I'm also resting because I don't want to be sick when we get there.  Sometimes when I get so busy and I'm going run, run, run and fast, fast, fast, I'll get sick. 

So, here's to rest and worship and being in God's presence and balancing all of that so I can stay healthy and hopefully turn out something special in the recording studio next week. 

My deep thoughts for the day are posted in the photo blog of all places!

Yay!  Dan had the weekend off from his studies, so we've been catching up!  At lunch today, after church, I got my mom to snap a few shots of us.  They look exactly the same, but for the second one, I took the sunglasses off my head.  LOL!

Remnant Ministries, who hosted the Shout of Judah conference in Cincinnati and with whom I am part of the worship team has posted mp3s of our Friday night worship set online.  At the conference, we enjoyed such a sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.  The Lord ministered very much to my heart, and afterward the conference, I am feeling more passion in my heart to know Jesus!  Check out all of the songs on this page:  http://www.remnantmin.org/theworship.html

Listen to 2 mp3s of a worship song that I led here:  The More I Seek You and Take Me Deeper (Spontaneous Worship).

I created a photo blog.  I love, love, love taking photos--especially of Tyler and Lilly.  Man, I've got some great shots of them, lately.  I also love taking up close photos of my face for some reason  LOL!  From time to time, I'll mix it up with some nature or scenic or city shots, too.  I'm hoping for a photo each day...as if I needed another blog for you to keep up with!  LOL!

 
This is the last photo we've had together.  Christmas last year.  I was 5 weeks pregnant.  My hair is different, now, and Dan shaved his beard, so hopefully we can get a new pic, soon!  LOL!  Maybe earlier than this Christmas.

Ten or so years ago.  Amazing how time flies.  Sometimes my heart longs for those days when things were less complicated.

I've been busy this week recording 4 new songs, and painting a gift for a very good friend's birthday present.  I'll be posting my new songs periodically throughout the next week.  I'm leaving tomorrow to sing with the worship team for a conference in Cincinnati!  Yay!  Its gonna be a great time.

This painting is for a woman who has let me inside her life over the past year and absolutley showered me with pure and true love.  Every time I leave her presence, I am filled with awe that she loves me.  She is 73 (I think).  My heart has been so wounded over being abandoned by my grandparents when I was 7.  Through the years, I was so aware of the grandmother shaped hole.  God has used this beloved grandmother to heal my wounded heart.  I'll be forever grateful to have known her and experienced her love.

When I found out it was her birthday this week, I wracked my brain of how to express myself.  As I thought about writing her a song, these words popped into my head.  *I know they sound a little corny, but I like to think of it as more poetic*  "Because of your love, my heart has bloomed."

Instantly, the picture of this painting was formed in my mind.  Because of Your Love, My Heart has Bloomed.

 

Just yesterday, on my way to the House of Prayer, I began singing the verse to this new song in my car.  I do love to sing in my car.  Sometimes, I look forward to a long drive just to be afforded time to sing! 

Today, I added the chorus.  It might still be a work in progress only being about 24 hours old, but I like it and when I sing it, I feel a lift in my spirit, mind and soul.  It is my desire to set my mind on things above; on all things that are worhty, pure, righteous and holy; on Jesus who is lovely, beautiful and wonderful.

Have a listen.  I SET MY MIND ON HIGH 

I am okay.  Not sure why the silence.  I have a lot to say, but I have just felt quiet, still.  Today is the first day in a long time that I feel a bit chatty! 

My soul is healing.  God is that good and powerful that He heals my emotions.  Last week (I think) on Sunday morning, I began singing from Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Also, Jeremiah 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,  Streaming to the goodness of the LORD—For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd;  Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all.

I was struck by the truth that I will sing in the height of Zion and stream to the goodness of the Lord and He will heal my soul (mind, will, emotions) and it shall be like a well watered garden.  In this garden of my soul where the river of God is flowing, fruit of the Spirit will spring forth and I will be filled with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, patienc, hope, faith.  And I will have known the grace, glory and goodness of God.  This is the ransom Jesus has made for me.  Without His redemption, my grief and sorrow would be mine to bare, and that I could not endure. 

Jesus paid the price so my soul will be like a well watered garden.  Hallelujah! 

Oh, I'm working on the song and the painting of this concept.  Its so powerful.  I can't get over it! 

While there has not been a lack of deep thoughts, I have honestly been so innundated with the process of miscarriage that these thoughts are all kind of still internal.  I think the day is on the horizon that I will be sharing some of what I have learned throughout this experience.  One thing that I know that I know that I know--God is ALWAYS good to me.  Could I even make it through a day without His goodness?

With the creation of all these journals, baby journal, baby prayers, and now the inconsequential, I feel that I have neatly organized the places for all of my thoughts, experiences, desires and prayers.  I like to reserve this blog for deep thoughts, emotions and revelations of God, hence its new name, deep calls out.  Its tough to break in here with the trivial--so the inconsequential will be the place for that.  As for baby journal--I do like having all things related to baby and trying to conceive be sequestered to their own space.  This way, if you want to subject yourself to all things baby, you will know in advance what you are getting yourself into.  As for baby prayers, one day, soon, I'll begin writing prayers, again for the children we will one day have.  More than anything, baby prayers is a place for me to speak the truth of God's word concerning the His promises.  This is the place where I come to God asking for Him to shore up my faith and stregnth by the encounter of His truth.

So there you have it--the method to all of thee different journals.  More deep, baby and inconsequential thoughts to come.