leslie follmar ~ sweet redemption

God's providence & an iPod

When I get bored with whatever playlist I'm currently listening to, I typically put my iPod on shuffle of all my songs. I've also decided to have a rule that when a semon comes up on shuffle play, I'll listen to it. Sometimes, I skip it, mostly because rebellion rises up in my heart and I don't want to listen to God's truth.  I know that I have the freedom to listen to music and am not bound my rules, but there's a difference between preference and hardness, I think we all know this difference.
Anyway, yesterday a message from Desiring God's 2004's conference "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ" started playing in my car. Low and behold, it was the message to single women, "We're Not on Hold". I seriously wanted to click "next." I just didn't want to hear any message about singleness, since I try not to focus on it. But I let it play on, and I discovered it was truly God's providence & sovereignty in having this message play.

I was challenged on several points:

• It's important to develop relationships with women in my church, even if there aren't any in my "peer group"
• If I spend all my time looking & trying to find a husband, how will account to God for my time? "Well God, I didn't serve anyone or use my time to disciple others younger than me because I was concerned about finding a husband and meeting my needs"
• I'm not single because I'm too old or too young, or not skinny enough or too skinny or not pretty enough or I'm too loud or too quiet or because there are hardly any single men at my church, I'm single because that's God's provision for me today
• My greatest need is to escape the wrath of God and Christ has already done that for me through the cross and resurrection & Him bringing me a husband is a much, much lesser need (that's Gospel-perspective!)

Mainly, I wasn't encouraged by this message because it was about singleness and ways to make singles feel better. I was so encouraged by this message because it was Biblical and Gospel-centric!

message by Carolyn McCulley

BP MS 150

Day 1 of the BP MS 150 got cancelled due to rain, lots and lots of  rain. And I was very sad about this, but day 2 went on without skipping a beat! I had a great time riding alongside 11,000 other cyclists, even though there was a lot of headwind, pain, and a few tears shed (yes, I cry), but it was all worth it when I crossed that finish line (and what a finish line)!! Plus, it was so cool knowing that I was taking part, even if it was a small part, in research for a cure of MS.
I'm now looking forward to purchasing my own bike, since I borrowed the one I rode, and riding more! I need to get my knee looked at, though, I just don't think it's hurting because of the bike's fit, I think it's all the years of basketball. If you've ever thought about doing something like this, don't hesitate any longer!

Here's a sample of some of the many news stories on this year's BP MS 150:

 

Cyclists ride into Austin (Click2Houston, 4/20)

BP MS 150 finishes in Austin (KVUE-TV, 4/19)

Bubbles and more for the BP MS 150 (News 8 Austin, 4/19)

Thousands cycle for MS cure (KXAN-TV, 4/19)

Six Biblical Guidelines for Loving Each Other Amid Differences

Such good counsel from John Piper:

1. Let’s avoid gossiping.
2. Let’s identify evidences of grace in each other and speak them to each other and about each other.
3. Let’s speak criticism directly to each other if we feel the need to speak to others about it.
4. Let’s look for, and assume, the best motive in the other’s viewpoint, especially when we disagree.
5. Think often of the magnificent things we hold in common.
6. Let’s be more amazed that we are forgiven than that we are right. And in that way, let’s shape our relationships by the gospel.

click here to read entire post:
Between Two Worlds: Six Biblical Guidelines for Loving Each Other Amid Differences

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BP MS 150!!!!!

Well, this weekend has finally arrived, the weekend where I ride a bicycle from Houston to Austin, a total of 180 miles! And I'm counting down the hours until the BP MS 150. I probably haven't trained as much as I should've...oh well. I'm pretty excited about this since I've never done anything like this before. I'm excited about being part of this huge thing with all these different people. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not a race, it's for charity and any pain I might go through is small in comparison to those who live with the effects of MS everyday.
Please say a prayer for me this weekend most of all for opportunities to share the Gospel. I struggle at times with events like these since the direct purpose is Gospel- or Christ-related, but I know Christ can be exalted through this, please pray that happens. Secondly, please pray that I make it to Austin and that my time on the bike isn't wasted by me thinking about worthless things.
I'll be riding from Katy (just west of Houston) to La Grange, TX Saturday, then from La Grange to downtown Austin on Sunday. I'll be posting my progess on twitter & facebook (follow me on twitter!)

I have reached my funrasing goal, but you are more than welcome to donate! You can follow this link to my participation site, your donation is VERY much appreciated! 

Last.fm Listens

Do you ever listen to Last.fm or Pandora and think, "yes! great mix of songs!"??
Well, I did this morning! This is what Last.fm sent my way listening to the Kari Jobe station:

Kari Jobe "Beautiful"
Israel Houghton "You Are Good"
Hillsong United "Saviour King"
Shane & Shane "The Answer" (acoustic)
Phil Wickham "Jesus Lord of Heaven"
Paul Baloche "Your Name"

Things to Ponder

These are some great posts/articles that were passed my way today:

•  Andy Naselli on D.A. Carson's "Jesus' Sermon on the Mount" "I suspect that there is no pride more deadly than that which finds its roots in great learning, great external piety, or a showy defense of orthodoxy."'

• The Modesty of Personal Restraint by Lydia Brownback "Are you as modest with your heart as you are with your clothing?" NEXT Conference on Twitter

• Losing our Virtue by David Wells "Worldliness is that part of culture "which makes sin look normal and righteousness seem strange."  (WOW!) MonergismBooks on Twitter

• Too Mature for Community by Jonathan Dodson "Consider how to make the gospel central, and community will follow" the Resurgence on Twitter

HT: Heather Humphrey & Cameron Morgan

Photo Shoot

I am so thankful for Michele Law for taking awesome pictures and getting them back to me so quickly! I'm not sure where any of these pictures are going to go yet, all of that is yet to be determined.   

"Sweet Redemption" update

I got rough mixes of all the songs on Saturday and have listened to them over and over again. It makes me very thankful to all the people working on this album that have to listen to the songs dozens of times.
I had a photo shoot on Monday, and I think it went really well. I found some great outfits from XXI that were cute, affordable and most of all...MODEST! Lots of people have been asking me what picture is going on the cover. All of that is yet to be determined.

Keep checking for updates, pictures, and FREE songs!

Thank you so much for your support!

"Sweet Redemption" photo shoot

I'm having a photo shoot for my upcoming CD, "Sweet Redemption" on Monday, and I'm stressing out a little bit about what to wear. Modesty is always the most important thing to me in picking something to wear, and for this it's no different. So, I checked out Christa Taylor's online store to see what might be good. She always has cute, modest, and trendy clothes.
I want to wear a few dresses in my photo shoot, but not look super dressy, and these are a few of the things I'm thinking of wearing: