Each night, in preparation for bed, I trade the shirt of the day for a simple, unattractive, and yet amazingly comfortable T-shirt. While over the years I've collected a wide variety of sleep shirts from which to choose, I know from experience that one specific option will afford me the most comfortable night of rest.

The other night as I slipped on this shirt I realized something really quite amazing not only in its simplicity, but in the fact that it was so obvious that I've never given it a moment of attention. One of the reasons this shirt is so comfortable is because it's made from cotton. Cotton, as is well known, is harvested from an otherwise uninteresting looking shrub and spun into thread and yarn that that is then used in the construction of comfortable, breathable clothing.

In Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord says "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Sounds pretty comfy, doesn't it? Of course,...

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What is it that defines a good person? Or an evil person, for that matter. What is the value of a conscience? Does it make someone a decent person? What is being nice? Is it the same as being kind?

I have a theory.

In the pure extremities of perception of the world, pessimists say the world is a horrible place, everything sucks and everyone's to blame because we all suck, too. Optimists say the world is beautiful, there's joy in every person and we are surrounded by nothing but opportunity. Personally, I believe both sides of the coin are truths. We live in a world that I believe is falling apart, and most of us are probably making it worse. In first-world countries, we make victims out of ourselves through affluenza, and in third-world countries we're dying of causes that in the first-world, we'd shrug off and cure with a diabetes-inducing cheeseburger. The world and the people in it are full of pointless tragedies. Life sucks. And yet, I love life. I love this world.

I'm getting to...

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I write music that is specific for medically challenged or special needs children and their families. My daughter Melissa was born in 1994 with congenital heart defects and spina bifida. My husband and I were heartbroken, Music was used all the time to defray the loud noises of the ventilator and IV pumps used to keep her alive. We found very little songs that were uplifting and spoke directly to us. She passed away in Sept. 2008 after 18 surgeries. I write songs to work through my grief and help others that have children in these same situations. The Lord is their only hope! Two songs have been recorded at Daywind Sound Studios on the Spirit Sent CD "Healing Hearts Changing Lives". These were Melissa's Song and On God's Watch. The CD was recorded in tribute to Melissa and her fight to survive. http://www.spiritsentmusic.com

The recording is owned by When Are We Going Home Ministry ...

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Hi CSN FAmily,
I haven't written for a while. Went on Christian Cruise and it was Fun,
But not Always RElaxing. I did get to see a good friend named Ang. We
met at our motel, and talked at the pool.Paul and I were stranded at the
airport and thought it would be dark before we would be picked up.
i got to talk to a REMARKABLY KIND Wonderful Man who was the driver
and also a Minister for Prisoners!
For some reason we got talking and God urged me to sing one of my songs.
It was STOUTHEARTED MAN! He enjoyed it. I am shy So this Took Alot out
of ME!
Then on the way to the Ship there were people about four or five who rode
with us from the south. They were Praising JESUS and joking around at the same
time. One of the ladys asked me if I was a singer for some Crazy Reason?
I said yes, but I wasn't the Guest to sing on the boat.
She begged me to sing a song so I sang STOUTHEARTED MAN again!
The Holy Spirit Helped me Through IT! They did like it and clapped! Jesus is Full of Surprises
I need you...

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Years ago, when i was gigging in an R & R band, i use to wear outrageous clothes and earrings. well, i was young and skinny and stupi..... oh no not really........ i thought i KNEW what i was doing..........anyway, the crowd that followed the band- started dressing like me. and I remember being upset, thinking I had to find something different to do, when one of the guys said to me, "you know, imitation is the highest form of flattery"........

when we IMITATE Christ, we honor HIM, we are telling Him "we want to be like YOU!!!!!"

Now, as songwriters for the Kingdom, as we write songs to praise HIM and HIM alone, it is so easy to fall into the trap... the TRAP of thinking ........ ooohhhhh, they're playing MY song. wow, that is a DANGEROUS place to be. when our song is played, it is so humbling, it's amazing isn't it.......to think any of us could be used to write a song that GOD will hear. and then when others sing it, (sometimes maybe off key, or maybe out of...

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