Alright so I just read in the news that we're due to get 4-6 inches of snow tomorrow! Yay! I hope we do. I just hope it does not effect us being able to get to church or care group, because it would be really sad to miss either one.
I do not remember the last time that I have seen snow 3 times in one year here. I know we're not breaking a record, but it sure feels like it!
So yesterday was my dad's birthday. I didn't get a chance to make a post about him, though. I love my daddy so much. He's such a godly guy and has such wisdom. A lot of people look up to him for wisdom and counsel. He's such a hard worker and is quite funny. =) And, he takes on quite a lot....he's been so busy, but he never lets anything come before God and him family. So yes, he's quite awesome.
But anyhow, yesterday we made him one of his favorite dinners and one of his favorite cakes. I really enjoy cooking =D Then after dinner, he open gifts and such. He got a very cool blue ipod. Fun stuffs.
Olivia, my mom and I had to go to youth group last night, but we didn't stay the whole time so that we could get back home to my dad. But for the time we were there, it was fun and quite entertaining. I got to rehearse a little skit I'm doing at the arts festival with Marissa and Kasey. It's going to be fun =D Oh and we played apples to apples....that was rather--different--as well, lol.
Uh, let's see. Olivia, my mom and I are going to a women's meeting at church tonight. We're bringing our friends Bethany and Lindsay with us and we're going out to dinner before hand. so that'll be fun to spend some time with them =)
Oh, and I woke up with a sore throat this AM =( I felt it coming on last night. Ah, well I hope it's not contagious or anything. Because I don't want to miss tonight or church or care group. lol
Alright, I'll stop rambling now.
I think too much. Seriously. I make myself so confused. And the thing is, in the first place I hardly understood the question I was asking myself. lol, so, now I need to try and focus on school. But I have this in my head. And I'm not going to be able to concentrate until I figure it out. But I'm not sure if I'll ever figure it out. haha! And it's not really a 'problem'. Like I'm not worried about anything. I'm just thinking about something in a totally different angle than I ever have before. And this angle is interesting. rofl!
so yes, you have a mind that is freakishly like mine if you just read that and understood it. Maybe I shall talk to some people tonight about it. If I can figure out exactly what I'm wondering. lol
Romans 7:18-8:1
18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
A thousand things are spinning around in my head right now. I just really want to talk about God. I want to just about every aspect of Him. About His perfect awesomeness. But here's the thing. First, words can not describe Him. Second, if the could, I would not be capable of describing him. Because I'm a sinner.
But anyways...I want to talk about so much right now. I really want to go on a missions trip. Like now. But I can't. I really want to go write a song that captures His amazingness, but I can't. I really want to sponsor a child. I really want to raise bucket loads of money to give to orphans in third world countries. This I can attempt to do. I wish that church was every day. I wish that I could go to Australia and visit Hillsong church. I wish that I loved God like I should. But I can't. I can never love Him like I should.
I want every single person who I EVER meet to look at me and know how incredibly much I love God. I want them to see God in me. Not to draw attention to myself, but to God. I want everything is my life to be drenched with God. I want to grow dramatically in Godliness. I want everyone around me to fall in love with God.
I want to be an obvious Christian that is obviously crazy in love with God and obviously has Him in every area of my life. Actually, I want it to be an obvious fact that He is my life.
And, I don't want people to get an inaccurate view of me. I don't want anyone who ever meets me to think I'm incredibly Godly, that I have everything down, or that I am anything worthy of any-type of admiration or praise. This is simply un-true and I'm incredibly un-worthy. No matter how much I ever love God, I will never be close to perfect. I will never be anything more than a wretched sinner in need of her Savior. But if you ever see anything remotely good in me, all glory goes to God. But you know what? Since I'm a sinner, sometimes I want that glory to be to me. Because you know what? I sometimes like praise. But that in it's self is incredibly sinful and I'm incredibly selfish. But, never let me get that glory. Never. Please.
Oh goodness. He died for me. For ME! He choose to die for me. Wow. That is the most incredibly humbling thing ever. Incredible. I can't stop saying it.
I repeat: I want to be an obvious Christian that is obviously crazy in love with God and obviously has Him in every area of my life. Actually, I want it to be an obvious fact that He is my life.
So there you go. That is whats on my mind.
I want to have a servant's heart in everything I do. I want to be completely selfless in every area of my life. I want to live abandoningly for Christ. Always. Oh God, help me.
Oh, this weekend has been amazing. God has been so awesome. He has given me lots of unending joy these past few weeks. I love weeks like that. I love joy.
Yesterday, I playing guitar for probably 4-5 hours.....I can not get enough of guitar. I adore it. I think I want to name my guitar Luke. I love the name and I love star wars, haha. Unless it's weird to name it a guys name. In which case, I have no good ideas.....because most guys names are more awesome than girls names. imho..... haha, so anyways.....
My dad informed me yesterday morning that I would be learning to change a tire. Well, ironically, later that day we notice our car's tire is flat, haha. But, yes, I changed it with very little help from my dad. Although, I hope if I'm ever alone and get a flat tire, that some kind guy can help me, haha. Because I'd be too worried that I'm doing something wrong and stuff =P
Today I was in 'Munchkin Land' as Chelsey calls it. It was good. It was interesting, but I enjoyed it. And, the kid's worship was awesome! I really liked it myself =)
And, after church, I when to Kasey's party. It was fun.... She's pretty awesome =)
I love it when people adore God. It makes me so happy to see that. It makes me adore Him more.....
I'm determined to make this another amazing week. I will not let it be wasted. period. God's time is too valuable.
Last random thing. I promise. I miss Adam and Emily Campbell. I love them. They are awesome. I can't wait until they come back!!
Oh...Adam. How to describe you? I shall not attempt. =P God has blessed you with some amazing talent....I love your music....you make me want to practice piano and get tons better. Your art is very interesting and very good! I hope that you use these gifts to honor God =) oh..this is getting cheesy.....um. Your mind and your thoughts constantly makes me think.... Thanks for being Adam and making me laugh. And thanks for talking about deep stuff...it's fun. Oh and thanks for not dropping my camera =P
Anyways, have an incredibly stellar birthday, my friend. And please don't hurt me for posting this picture =P
I know you probably aren't going to read this, but I'm posting it anyways.
This world's low standards make me very sad. It's especially sad to me to see people who are blinded by low standards. Christians can even fall for these low standards without even knowing it. And I'm not saying this in a self righteous way, I'm just saying it makes me sad. =/ I desperately want to reach these people and help them...help them see that God is so awesome and living for His glory is incredibly awesome.
Tomorrow shall be good.
Home alone, chemistry lab, mini movie meeting , Bells for pizza night= GOOD times =D
Today was another good day. I wrote 2 songs...lyrics and music. I babysat. That makes me happy =) Wish I could of seen BJ and Brandon, though =/
I'm trying to think of a name for my guitar. =D Ideas?
By: Tenth Avenue North
Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run
'Cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
'Cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go!
Yes, I love this song =)
Yesterday was simply amazing. It was amazing because God was amazing. He is amazing. I just can't help talking about Him. I'm madly in love with God and I can't get Him off my mind. Yesterday He helped me overcome a lot. Like yesterday was a huge breaking point for me. For once, I got all my school done. For once I did not procrastinate. For once I didn't feel any pain at the dentist. Yes, it's silly, but still. God's there to help with /everything/ right? I think the difference is that I completely trusted God and would not stop praying the entire day about everything. I relied on His strength and left everything in His hands. That is an awesome feeling.
This is the song that Matt, Adam, Will and I are entering in to the Playing For Others songwriting competition!
I wrote the lyrics and the guys did all the music. I'm so excited about it because they made this song more awesome than I ever imagined it would be =)
haha, Adam says my name weird =P
The song is titled 'An Angel'....
My God has me in His hand. Time after time He has proven to care for me and not drop me. He keeps His word! Why do I worry?
Tomorrow I have to go get 2 fillings at the dentist. Normally I don't mind the dentist, but I hate getting fillings. Our dentist tends to not numb you up quite enough. You know what makes it worse? I'm going right before lunch and I'm getting a filling on each side of my mouth. =/
On a more positive note. I didn't procrastinate today =) haha. That's a big thing for me, though.
I'm having trouble with titles, haha!
So. Youth Group was awesome....yes. The message was great. And my friends are great. I have so many funny quotes from this weekend it's crazy. Particularly a few things Nathan said =P
The other night Sophie was talking about the 'I Love Lucy' show. She was trying to tell me how Ethel was scolding her husband. But she said 'so, you know Esle from the show? She was scalding her husband.....' haha, THEN I was going to tell Olivia about it while I was straightening her hair the other day. Strangely enough, Olivia exclaims 'EMILY! you're scolding my hair!!!' right before I was going to tell her about this =P That made me laugh.
Church was great too, but I was exhausted. I did not get very much sleep the night before. I frustrate myself sometimes. So there was this new girl that was visiting, and they sat right behind us in church. Afterwards, I was going to go talk to her and introduce some other girls to her. Because I know what it's like to be the 'new girl'. Well, I did do that, but I don't think I made her very comfortable. I just get upset when I act awkward around people. Oh well, I guess I tried. Anyhow, I hope she comes back. She seemed very nice :)
Care group was last night. I did child care with Marissa, so I missed the discussion time, but that's ok. =) At least I got to stay for worship. I love worship. And I love kids too. So yeah, it was fun =P
So, I'm entering this song writing competition with Adam, Matt, and my friend Will. I'm really excited to see how the song turns out. I finally finished writing it and today they're supposed to get together and write the music to it. I don't care if we win, but I just think it's fun! Actually, I want Nathan and Wesley to win.....because their money will be used for Awake =)
Today, I am a determined person. I'm determined not to waste another day doing nothing. I'm determined not to do what I do oh so well: procrastinate. I'm also a happy person, because I sort of go the day off school. =)
Last night, my dad told me I gotta start keeping track of everything I buy. Because I gotta start paying taxes this year. Even though I only breed hedgehogs. But I'm hoping that I'll get a 'real' job this year.
Because, when I get a real job, then I can sponsor a child. Which I /really/ want to do. And I can start taking some extra music lessons....like piano and violin. Which I /really/ want to do as well. And, I can get paid on a regular basis, which would be nice.
I just love music. I just realized that this is getting long(sorry). And I gotta go to some other stuff. But lastly, thanks for being such great friends. I mean it. Each of you are incredibly awesome.
Um, I just wasted your time. If you skipped just to the end to read this, I don't blame you =P This ends now.
Today has been awesome!! I'm so happy right now! Lots of good things keep happening. some of them minor, but still, it's enough to make me so happy =D
One reason why I'm happy is because I finally got the go ahead to do my book/Bible study! I'm so excited about that. Now I just have to figure out all the little details. =D
Oh and Happy Valentines Day! In honor of today:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails....
^I love that verse^ =P
So here are a few videos from the concert. They took like forever to download!
Anyhow, the first one is Above the Golden State. The second is Mile 7. And the third is Building 429. I don't have any good videos of B429, because I took a lot more pictures of them....
Tonight is youth group. I'm really looking forward to it =D
So tonight, Sophie and Olivia just randomly started playing some pretty old music that I always listened to when I was growing up. Oh, and does it bring back memories or what! I grew up listening to Avolon, FFH, Selah, Plus One, Zoegirl and DC talk are mainly what I remember.
So anyhow, there was a song sung by Plus One called 'I Will Rescue You'. This song reminded me of this boy, Tyler Farver that I've been praying like crazy for. I don't know him, but he's a Rebelutionary and he got in a very bad ATV accident. The doctors didn't expect him to live. Yet, through a miracle, he's alive today. However, it seems like he takes 1 step forward, then 2 steps back. Anyhow these lyrics reminded me of him. I thought I would post. Maybe one of you could use this song tonight too :-)
"I Will Rescue You"
When your days are dark
And your nights are cold
When you've just about
Lost all your faith
When your will is gone
And your heart is torn
'Cause nothing is going your way
When the world has
Got you trapped
And you can't find that open door
If you're ever in a battle
And you just can't fight no more
I will rescue you
I will rescue you
I will shelter you from the rain
I will dry your tears
Cast away your fears
And bring you to brighter days
Whenever you're lost and confused
Like a fairy tale come true
I will rescue you
If you ever feel
That you can't go on
When your life just
Becomes too hard
And the dreams you thought
Were within your reach
Suddenly seem so far
When the world is on your case
And you don't have
A place to run
If the storm keeps getting stronger
And you cannot see the sun
I will rescue you
I will rescue you
I will shelter you from the rain
I will dry your tears
Cast away your fears
And bring you to brighter days
Whenever you're lost and confused
Like a fairy tale come true
I will rescue you
And it don't matter where you are
I'll be by your side
I'll be the rock that you can lean on
I'll be your guide
Psalm 37:4-7
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
I can't believe that I haven't posted in five whole days! haha Well, I'm just been really busy =)
Friday night I had Marissa spend the night. We didn't fall asleep until like 3am.... Fun stuff =D We tried to cook a cookie, because our oven was broken:
Last was Building 429. They were really good. the main singer, Jason came out before hand and told us about a missions trip he went on. That was really, really touching and sad, but also happy. I makes me want to go on a missions trip even more. And it makes me want to sponsor a child. Actually, I really think I am going to sponsor a child. =)
Miles 7 was funny too. They were slightly awkward acting, haha, hence the somewhat strange picture =P 
Lastly, I met B429. Their manager was rushing everyone along, so I only got a picture. I didn't really get to talk to them =/
Excuse the red eyes....I'm too lazy to fix them all =P Videos coming soon =)
This post is probably not worth your time. Unless you're bored and have nothing to do like me =P
We had this family over today whom we haven't seen in a few years. They randomly called the other day and asked to come make valentines at our house. haha. yeahhhhh, that was interesting...
I'm really paranoid that my hedgehog is going to kill her babies. Arh! I know I need to trust God, but I really don't like death =/
Tomorrow Marissa is coming over to spend the night. I'm excited =D
I'm going to a concert on Sunday. I'm excited about that too =D
I'm frustrated because I was in the middle of typing up a long post on a forum I was on, then all the sudden it stopped working. lol, oh well.
I sent a letter to a really cool person the other day. I don't know him, but I sent him a letter to encourage him and let him know that I was praying for him..... because he just got in a really bad accident. He probably got my letter today. I hope it cheered him up a bit =) http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2009/01/urgent-pray-for-tyler-farver/
I really want to go play guitar....I think I will in a few minutes.
I'm working on like 3 posts for D2D, but it's taking me a while. I have all these good thoughts for it, but when I sit down to type, I forget my main points and I just start rambling(like I am now =P)
Alright. I'll stop. Good night folks.
Snow TWICE in one year? haha! Yeah, I'm glad we got it again....we didn't get quite as much as last time, but that's ok =D
Picture might be coming soon...we'll see ;)
Can you believe it's already February!?!
I'm happy tonight. I'm glad I am, haha! Tonight I had my guitar lesson.....and that always cheers me up. I learned one of my favorite songs ever and I learned some new chords and I'm working on some finger picking for the first time. I like =D
My God is so awesome. He really is absolutely wonderful. =)
Also. Morgan, my friend, is amazing. I love her so much. I think she really stands for love in an amazing way:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
I need this verse today. Yesterday was not a very good day. I was lazy, and my day was very unproductive. I wasted God's time. I invested in things that brought very short term pleasure, instead of long term and eternal. And because of that, at the end of the day, I felt 'empty'. I realize that I was depending on my own strength, rather than God's.
I am reminded of a verse that I like a lot:
Romans 7:14-25 and 8:1
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!
I feel like this in a few areas of my life. No matter how hard I try, I keeping doing things that I don't want to do. I keep messing things up for myself and everyone around me. But there is my problem: no matter how hard I try. I can't do it by myself. I need God.
I don't have a good excuse for today to be another bad day. I'm praying that God will help me keep focused on what I need to do. And that He'll give me a servant's heart, because I have to go do something later today that I really don't feel like doing....
I've had so much going on the past few days. Friday we had our friends, the Taylor's over. haha, they're awesome. I always am on like a sugar high or something when they're over =P We watched the stupidest movie on the entire planet. It was really /that/ bad.
Saturday I did nothing all morning but then we went to the Bell's for dinner. We stayed until like almost 1 AM.... Yeah, then when I came home I had to take a shower and all that good stuff, so I didn't get to bed until pretty late.
Then of course, I got up early for church. Church was great. I really liked it when that guy shared his dream. Awesome. I love it when we stay late after church. I actually get to talk to people then. And yeah, Nathan is supposedly going to give me an music appreciation day. But he's gotta try something new himself....like escargot =P
We had an early care group last night. It was very good, even though mostly everyone wasn't there. But we had a visitor, so that was nice!
Oh, and the SUPERBOWL!!! I am a happy girl. I stuck to my feelings and rooted for the Steelers. I know I'm pretty much the only one, but that's ok. I was born in PA, so I had to stick to my roots =P We went to the Malaments and the Sheas were there too.....and I was the only one rooting for the Steelers. But I was nice about it =P
Now it's morning and I've got to do school. ugh! I don't want to do it :/
Oh, but I have baby hedgehogs now. And the mom didn't kill them yet, so that's good =P
Alright. I should go do school now. *sigh*
