Blessings

I'm uncertain as to how to sum up the last few months. I've basically written book reviews but nothing personal. The blog took a backseat to book reading, summer pursuits, and my physical problems.

I have been struggling since the first week of July with a motion feeling, akin to floating on a boat. It comes and goes, but it's mostly on all the time to one degree or another. Along with the floating sensation are constant headaches, which are an absolute puzzle to me. I have a headache all the time. Some of the time it's just a mild ache, and I hardly notice it's there. Other times it's a hard throbbing.

I've been getting adjustments at the chiropractor. I've seen my family doctor. Neither one knows exactly why I'm feeling this way. Oh, there are some medical test options I can choose from, but I don't love the options. I currently have an appointment with a specialist, but it's a month out and I'm not sure that it's the right direction for me. So I wait.

It's always been near impossible for me to proclaim God is good when I'm suffering. I believe in the sovereignty of God, but when it came down to saying those words while I'm grappling with feeling horrible and wanting my circumstance to change, I stop short of saying it.

I know the Lord is working something in me, though. He's changing me. He knows my great need to learn how to trust Him, to surrender to whatever He gives me. In my daily prayers I've been giving this physical problem over to Him, asking Him to help me be surrendered to His will. If I believe God's will is always for my good and His glory, then I should be able to say that having headaches and a floating-on-a-boat feeling is good for me. I don't want to bring shame to His name by responding with despair.

I've recently learned the song written by Laura Story called Blessings. It's currently my favorite song because it speaks of asking God to remove suffering or making circumstances better, but we don't realize that the hard things God brings are really His mercies toward us. Sometimes when I'm awake at 3:30 AM because my head is spinning, I will turn on this song and sing softly. And it's in those moments I know that God is changing me because I'm drawing nearer to Him.

Finding Freedom in Prison

I'm sorry there's no Chat Pack vlog today.  I ran out of time, and I'm not about to whip out the Flip Video at this point in the day. 

Instead, I have something of higher quality for you to view today.  I'd like you to watch this video from Revive Our Hearts, which was something they showed us at the True Woman Conference.  God is using this prison ministry to change women's lives, bringing them freedom even in imprisonment.  It's very moving.

Stacey Smith, who you will see in this video, was one of the workshop speakers at the conference.  I wish you could hear her whole story.  She is a trophy of God's grace. 

You will see the women performing a song in sign language, and that's one of the ways Stacey worships the Lord now.  She said that she had used and abused her body to do so much evil that she wanted to use her body in a way that brought glory to God.  She decided she could learn sign language to minister in music.

I hope this uplifts your spirit and causes you to glory in the Lord because of his healing power.

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Yes, It's a New Post

... and yes, it's a Vlog.

Count Me In

Okay, guys.  Time for a quiz...

True or False?  Liz loves making videos.

If you answered false, you've NEVER VISITED MY BLOG BEFORE.  {gaaaaaassssp}  Where have you been all my blogging life?

Alright, enough of the sarcasm.  If this is your first visit to my blog, I sure am glad you stopped by.  Don't be a stranger.  Come back.  Tell your friends.  Subscribe to my feed.  And I am NOT afraid to beg.

Seriously, people, the answer to the quiz is true.  I do love to make me some fun videos, or at least attempt to make some fun videos.  Do you know what that means?  I'm going to be joining the I See What You're Saying - Christmas Edition "vlog" carnival over at 2nd Cup of Coffee on December 30th.  (FYI, a vlog is a video blog.)

All you have to do is make a video...about anything.  It can be Christmas oriented or something else.  Just make a video, post it on your blog, and then hook up with Mr. Linky on her site that day.

I'm helping spread the word for Linda, just in case you might like to join all of us vloggers over there in a couple weeks.  That way you'll have plenty of time to come up with a video idea by then.  Trust me, I know how hard it can be to get the video material flowing.  Your video doesn't have to be on any specific topic, so the possibilities are endless.  Go on over to Linda's, if you need some ideas.

Got Talent?

If you've hung around here long enough, you know I love creating videos and viewing other bloggers' videos.  I think videos are a fabulous way to get a sense of the person behind the written words.  Well, I've been thinking the last few weeks that it would fun to get my readers involved with a little video participation and maybe get to know you a little better.  You'd enjoy that too, wouldn't you?

So... do you have a talent?  Sure you do.  Everyone has at least one.  Maybe you sing, play an instrument, do celebrity imitations, or know how to whip up something special in the kitchen.  I don't know what your "thing" is, but I sure would love to see it.  That's why I'm hosting the Got Talent? blog carnival on Friday, November 21st.

All you have to do is create a video of you, your spouse, your kids... goodness, it could even be your dog, if you're that desperate... performing a special talent.  Just be sure to keep it clean.  You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you like.  Then on November 21 I'll put up a Mr. Linky, and you can link your blog post up to the carnival.  (I sure hope I can figure out how to do a Mr. Linky, or we're going to be in big trouble.) 

Please don't be shy.  Really.  We'll love whatever you do.  Just relax and have fun with it. 

I'm giving you about 10 days to put it together, so do some brainstorming and then get recording.  I'm still mulling what my video is going to be, but I've got a pretty good idea.

Do me a favor?  Spread the word about Got Talent? by grabbing the button for your blog sidebar and linking to my blog.  Feel free to blog about it, too.  I'd be ever so appreciative. 

I'm so excited!  I can hardly wait!

 

<a href="http://discoveringliz.blogspot.com/2008/11/got-talent.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Got Talent? Button" src="http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/discoveringliz/Blog%20pics/GotTalentButton.jpg"/></a>

 

 

 

 

P.S.  If you don't have a blog but would like to make a video anyway, you could always provide the link to your video on Vimeo, YouTube or wherever yours is hosted. 

I Missed Out!

I am so disappointed that I did not get in on the I See What You're Saying carnival over at 2nd Cup of Coffee on Tuesday.  I just didn't have time to get my own video recorded, although I tried.  I have had webcam issues*.  I love doing videos, so this would've been the perfect carnival for me to get involved in.

Well, even though I didn't get to make my own video, I have been checking out all the other videos that entered.  You have GOT to go check them out for yourselves.  They're HILARIOUS! 

There wasn't a theme or anything.  It was basically introducing yourself and talking about anything you wanted to.  I didn't know there were so many funny bloggers out there...you know...besides Big Mama, Ministry So Fabulous, and Discovering Liz.  {Oh, I jest!  That's my blog.  And I'm not that funny.}

So if you're ready to meet some new bloggers and laugh a lot, go over there right now and then tell me which one is your favorite.  I have only seen a handful, but right now my favorite is His Girl's Blog.

*Webcam Issue - If anyone knows how to get the sound to record at the correct level on the Cyberlink Youcam software on my HP Pavilion dv2000, I'd be ever so grateful for the knowledge.  It records muffled, no matter how high the volume is up.  Stinky!

I Love This!

I had my first opportunity to hear Patsy Clairmont speak two years ago at a Women of Faith conference.  Before then, I had probably heard of her name, but I didn't know anything about her.  Except that she is funny.  Oh my, is she ever!

I had forgotten how much I love her until I clicked through a link on her blog the other day to view a video segment of one of the stories she had told at a conference.  She has a way of telling a story that grips you and then moves you both to tears and laughter.  I love to listen to her!

She tells an amazing story about God and the way He works.  It's another reminder of how personal God is in His relationship with us.  Please watch this because it is so worth it!

Video of the Week

I've noticed that there are several bloggers who have their special blog thing on certain days of the week. Some do Wordless Wednesday. Some have a photo scavenger hunt. Some do a show & tell. Others do recipes. I decided that if I'm gonna get serious, I need to have my own blog thing, too.

So I just decided...like minutes ago...that I'm gonna post a Video of the Week on Mondays. There is such a vast array of funny, touching, and crazy videos on the web that I'm going to find my favorites and post them here on Mondays.

How does that sound?

Okay... so this first one I came across on another blog the other day. I have been playing it randomly for a laugh and passing it on to friends because it just CRACKS. ME. UP! I guess you might say it even inspired me for this whole idea in the first place.

All you Carrie Underwood fans will just have to forgive me. This is a spoof done on her Jesus, Take the Wheel. I hope whether you're a Carrie Underwood fan or not, you can enjoy a good chuckle with me.

So here is my first, official...

Cletus Take the Reel

Some Musical Fun

Enjoy this video of a performance by a men's a capella group from IU. These guys are pretty fun. This is their Sitcom Medley.