How do YOU measure a year?

My favorite thing about the New Year is looking back. Looking back on all the 525,600 minutes, all those those moments that have happened, all that God has done and all that He has brought me through and all that He has accomplished. It's the beauty of hindsight. New Years's Eve gives me that chance each year.

This past year has been a journey through the Word of God. Reading through the Bible in a year, Digging deep into the character and faithfulness of God has been nothing short of life changing. I didn't want it to end, but then my husband said, "You know, you can read it again." I know, I know, he is a genius! That's why I married him on this day 21 years ago Dec. 31, 1993.

Dec. 31, 1993

Well, in the last month of my daily readings, through prayer and meditation on His word, I knew God had something new in store for me. I prayed each day with anticipation of what it was. And true to His character, He revealed it to me.

To me, there is something overwhelming about God and His revelations to us......... and that is our response. Now that it has been revealed, will I be obedient to what God has been equipping me to do over and throughout this past year?

The answer is simple. Yes.

Sometimes God asks us to do things are comfortable and right in our zone. Then there are those times when we are pushed way out of our comfort zone and into a place of complete and undeniable dependence on God to see us through and for courage to even dare to step out.

That is the place I am in. It's scary for me, but I know that for me not to move forward in His plan would mean complete disobedience on my part and that's just NOT where I want to be. The funny thing is, my place of discomfort may be your place of leisure and what seems like a simple instruction to me, may be the hardest step of faith you will ever take.

Whatever our marching orders, whatever our call, the beauty and intimacy we share in saying yes to God surpasses the heartache of running from His will, even when the run away may seem easier, especially when we can run and so easily forget what He asked us to do in the first place. God does not forget His plan for us. God is faithful.

So here I go, ready to jump into 2015 following His call and looking forward to the next 525,600 minutes, those moments that will lead me to, Dec. 31, 2015 (Lord willing) when I get to look back again.

"In daylights, in sunsets

In midnights, in cups of coffee 

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife 

In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes 

How do you measure, a year in the life?" RENT~Jonathan D. Larson

So the answer for me in How do I measure a year in the Life? It really would be in Love, the true love and the glory of God weaved in and throughout each day, the love of a Father who sent His son so that we could have eternal life with Him. May these seconds, these moments all point to Him,....all of it, even the sweet moments sippin' on a cup of coffee. May it all bring Him glory!

Happy New Year Friends! 

May you hear His call, see His plan and follow with all your heart.

Christ was born for this!

And remember WE Are NOT Alone!



"You Are Not Alone" by Mia Koehne

Remembering My Dad

Paul G Grotelueschen ~ December 8, 1927- December 20, 2011

Three years ago, I jumped on a plane, landed in Denver, waited by a bus stop in the middle of a major blizzard (dressed like I was from Phoenix) to get to Colorado Spring just in time to hold my Daddy's hand as he was ushered into the presence of Jesus Christ.

I miss him so.

I remember him in those last days asking to be brought to the front of the church, because he wanted to sit up front. Well, I am sure my Dad is sitting front and center, kneeling at the foot of His Savior, Jesus Christ, worshiping the Father in complete Spirit and truth. 

He taught me so much.

What Do You Want....What Do You Need?

I heard this the other day. "When you're happy, you listen to the music. When you're sad, you understand the lyrics."

Whether you are happy or sad, I want you to hear and understand the lyrics.

I am in the beginning phases of writing for my new album.

What do you need to hear, what do you need to know, what do you need to learn?

I have some things that I want to say, but I am also interested in what you need to know.

Feel free to comment! Also if you can let me know your age range (you don't have to be specific) and gender, that would actually be helpful. Thanks!!

#FaceToFace

Honesty and the Million Dollar App

Because my husband and I are so smart, when a situation arose today where I had to make an airport run, but forgot my drivers licence, we came up with the brilliant idea that when my husband got home he would send a photo of my ID to my phone. That way, if I got pulled over I would simply show the police officer a picture version of my I.D. and explain to him that there really should be an app for situations like this. Made sense to me!

Good news, I now have a photo version of my license on my phone in case of emergencies and a brilliant app idea for the DMV.

The thing is this, as I was driving and waiting for my photo to come through, I began thinking about my husband going through my purse to find my wallet (ok, actually it's a fanniepack~because I predict they will be big in 2015.) I flashed back to a time in my life when the thought of leaving my purse unattended would bring fear into my mind....fear that my husband would find things that I was hiding....cigarettes, receipts, phone numbers.... fear he would find all the junk I worked so hard to hide from him.

Back in the day, I would use the guise of "You NEVER go into a women's purse" to keep him from looking when the fact was, I just didn't want him to stumble upon the truth of my life. Well, if anyone knows the story, eventually, by the grace of God, he did!! THANK YOU JESUS!! Here's a link if you want a listen to our story CLICK HERE

Fast forward to today. I LOVE that I have NOTHING to hide from my husband. I love that he can go into my purse, my wallet, my closets...anything of mine and I do not have to fear that he will uncover my lies.

There is a beauty that comes from truth and openness in a marriage. Honestly, my husband has no desire to go through my stuff ever, BUT the fact is that even if he did, it wouldn't matter because sharing my life with him, being open and honest is so much more freeing than the work and heartache it took to lie, steal and deceive.

I was a person in the past that worked very hard at my craft of being a liar and deceiver. It took a while to undo those habits and learn to tell the truth. Jesus made it possible for me by breaking down a lot of walls and habits in my life and extending grace and forgiveness to me.

I love being open with my husband, sharing life, victories and my failures with him, knowing that as I speak truth in love he will always love me. How much more with my Lord and Savior.

I know a lot of people that can probably relate to the difficulty in opening up completely to a spouse or to anyone, but there is beauty in this vulnerability in that we learn and experience grace. And through this, learning new habits that lead to an abundant life.

I am glad that we have a Lord that will bring our darkness to light. It's just a matter of time. But why waste one more day living in disguise when today could be your day to take a step into a more abundant joyful freeing life. #SpeakTruth

"You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence." Psalm 90:8

One of my favorite places to make that first step is through a program that I walked through and still attend today, Celebrate Recovery. If this is something that might help you with ANY hurt, habit or hangup, check it out and find a location near you. Blessings!

Love you all!

Mia

Bob & Mia Koehne ~ Married December 31st, 1993

Christmas CD/Greeting Card

Friends!

Happy Advent as you prepare Him room this Christmas.

It's here. My first Christmas CD "Behold Your King!" I am so excited to share this project with you. The fun thing about this CD is that it is more than just a CD, it's a gift that you can share...easily and practically.

It comes inside of a specially designed Christmas Card along with an envelope so that you can send it to your family and friends. Not your typical Card/not your typical CD. But more than that, it has songs that celebrate the birth of our Savior, Emmanuel,

God with us.

The CD has 6 songs, many of which you will recognize and some that you may not.

1. Hark The Herald Angels Sing

2. This Christmas (God's Baby) ~ An original song by my dear friend, Lori Anderson

3. Infant Holy Infant Lowly (Click the link to take a listen)

4. What Child Is This (Click the link to take a listen)

5. Come and Adore ~ My new arrangement of an old song

6. O Holy Night

My hope is that you have a wonderful celebration of the birth of Christ.

Know that you are not alone, Christ came for you in the joy and the pain of the season. I pray that this music would bring hope to your celebration and be a reminder that we have a God that sent His son to walk this earth SO THAT we can have eternal life with the Father. Merry Christmas! Christ was born for YOU!

So pause, be still and BEHOLD...YOUR KING!

TO ORDER YOUR CD/Christmas Card visit the Mia Koehne Music Store

Soli Deo Gloria

In Him, Mia Koehne

www.aboutmidnight.com

Forgive ME Lord!

So........ I am doing a little prep work for....you guessed it, MY NEXT ALBUM! While I was researching, surfing, turning many pages, I came across this hymn. I don't think I have ever sung it, BUT I would not be surprised if I had and merely sang right over the words and paid no attention. Lord, Forgive me! Well, it pierced my heart. So I thought I would share the lyrics with you this day.

Forgive us, Lord, for Shallow Thankfulness 

By, William Watkins Reid, Sr.

Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness,
For dull content with warmth and sheltered care,
For songs of praise for food and harvest press,
While of Your richer gifts we're unaware.

Teach us to thank You, Lord, for love and grace,
For life and vision, for a purpose clear,
For Christ Your Son, and for each human face
That shows Your message ever new and near.

Forgive us, Lord, for selfish thanks and praise,
For words that speak at variance with deeds;
Forgive our thanks for walking pleasant ways
Unmindful of a broken brother's needs.

Teach us, O Lord, true thankfulness divine,
That gives as Christ gave, never counting cost,
That knows no barrier of "yours" and "mine,"
Assured that only what's withheld is lost.

Forgive us, Lord, for feast that knows not fast,
For joy in things that meanwhile starve the soul,
For walls and wars that hide Your mercies vast
And blur our vision of the Kingdom goal.

Open our eyes to see Your love's intent,
To know with minds and hearts its depth and height;
May thankfulness be days in service spent,
Reflection of Christ's life and love and light.