psalm 96

As a cantor (on break for now), I have always loved the music in Mass.  Music is a powerful form of prayer.  The daily psalms never fail to remind me of a beautiful setting that I have sung or heard sung at Mass over the years.  Although I have never been one to memorize scripture, I can remember words set to song for years and years!

Today's psalm is psalm 96

PS 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 4-5

R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all you lands.

Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;

awesome is he, beyond all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,

but the LORD made the heavens.

R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

This psalm is a wonderful reminder of God's glory and majesty.  If you know the Lord, you want to sing to the Lord.  How awesome is it to praise our Creator through song.  Sing to the Lord in all seasons.  Sing to the Lord in thanksgiving.  Sing to the Lord and share His word with others.  

We are called to share His Word with all His people.  So today, who will you sing God's praises to?  Inspire those around you to Sing to the Lord!

goals

Well it's been a while. Turns out that blogging and "mommying"are not the best of pairs in those first months.

I think in parenting, marriage, and life in general goal setting is important.  It keeps us on track.  After all, aren't we all striving for one main goal-to get to heaven?

In many areas, goals give us an idea of where we are going.  In high school my goal was to attend college.  I knew that if I met my goal I would be attending college and seeking a degree. In college I wanted to graduate early, so this created a path for me to take certain classes, stay focused, and eventually graduate in 3 years.  These similar goals have been easy for me to follow in my academic and now professional paths.

In my personal life, I always knew where I wanted to "be" but wasn't always sure of how to get there.  I wanted to get married, but there is no path to finding a husband.  I knew I wanted to have children, but again there was no path to getting married and there was no path to planning children after marriage.  More of my personal life has been left up to God's plan.  It was when I let go of the need for a plan that some of these areas "fell into place." I always say I was just looking for new friends, after moving, when my husband came into my life.  I know that in God's hands is where I should be leaving all things, but I've always been a bit of a control freak.

My challenge for myself is to make (and stick to) goals in each area of my life.  This does not mean I am attempting to take control over everything.  I do know that by having a goal, I can then strive for it.  My goal to be in heaven one day helps define a path to follow-in the steps of Jesus.  My path has been set long ago by God but there are many paths to take.  I frequently think of the Casting Crowns song, Already There, when things are going "bad."  Even when my goals aren't being reached in my eyes, I know that I can always be on the path God set for me.  These new goals are not definitive and they have no end point.  By setting goals, I am hoping to stay on a path towards God and see more clearly when I am not following a path in that direction.

Marriage: pray daily with my husband

Parenting: increase patience with my son

Professional: seek knowledge

Life: seek God