So last year for Christmas, my sister graced me with an awesome painting she'd made. It's pretty awesome, so I decided to recompense with creativity in kind, and wrote/recorded a song for her this year. The subject matter is to reflect how she has this way of exuding grace and love to everyone she comes in contact with, and is really a reflection of Jesus to everyone she meets.

Lyrics and a link to the recording are below.

blessings abound in you even if you don't know why
the heavy heart made light with a glimpse into your eye
they say it sounds a little strange and breathe another sigh
but this is just the way you are

and they can't escape it // and they can't explain it // but they can't deny it
and they cannot buy it // but you cannot hide it // and they need to find it

Your grace // your light // your love
A touch // of heaven // above
Your grace // your light // your love
running // around // with us

and though it's hard to see the end from where you are
you know the burden's so much lighter for your presence
cause we're all a little strange and we're all a little lost
but when they see the way you are:

they can't escape it // and they can't explain it // but they can't deny it
and they cannot buy it // but you do not hide it // and through you they find it

Your grace // your light // your love
A touch // of heaven // above
Your grace // your light // your love
running // around...

Your grace // your light // your love
A touch // of heaven // above
Your grace // your light // your love
running // around // with us

Light of Your Eyes -- Listen

Last night brought with it the passing of a dear friend and brother in Chris Kuykendall. I'm over at his family's house right now, and they asked me to pass on information, for which I'm dusting off this old blog site.

UPDATE: The funeral service will be held at Gateway Church in Southlake, at 1pm Monday morning
For now, the family asks that any gifts or donations in Chris's name be sent to Faithful Men Ministries, which, as I understand, is a ministry Chris's mom works for. The contact information is: PO Box 612241, Dallas, TX, 75261-2241. Phone numbers are 817- or 877- 399-1047

Any more information is sure to find its way onto Chris's Facebook page quicker than I can put it here. Scores of people have already swarmed there to reflect on his life, as well.

I blogged some thoughts about this Easter weekend over on onlythebroken.org Go check it out!

Do you ever find yourself sitting around asking, "I wonder where Matt is right now?" Now, those days are over. If you're logged into this site, you should see a link at the top labeled "My Current Location." If you click on it, you'll be taken to a website that will find the location of the GPS chip in my phone and show it to you on a map. Remember: you have to be a registered user of cytael.net and signed in to see the link. Also, since updating my position constantly would drain the phone's battery something fierce, the web map updates only once every 15 minutes.

Hear me when I call, God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

How long, oh you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Think on these things.
But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him.

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Think on these things.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, oh LORD, make me dwell in safety.

--Psalm 4 (loosely NKJV)