Friday, May 29, 2009

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!

"What a man desires in unfailing love" Proverbs 19:22a

Top 10 things I love:
1. Family/Friends
2. The Holy Trinity
3. Music
4. Culver's
5. Starbucks
6. The band downhere
7. Music
8. Reading
9. Dancing(but I'm not very good...lol)
10. Writing

Let's reevaluate this~ Where is God? Shouldn't this be my first priority? I put Family and Friends first, but that's what came to mind first. Not that that is a bad thing, mind you. But wouldn't you think that the God who created unfailing love would be the first thing up there? The God that, no matter what I do, he still unconditionally seeks me and holds me? Don't you think that that should be the most important?

It still amazes me after centuries of people turning their backs on him, he still loves them. Now, where else can you find that? I can't think of anywhere. Because even the most loving person in the world could get mad at you for something.

God loved us so much that he gave his ONLY son for us. (going to quote some downhere, be prepared! LOL) He came down to us, to know what it's like, to know what it's like to hurt. To be us. To be one with the dust.

I am glad that he loves me enough to save me even though I daily turn my back on him. It's not something I am proud of. But speaking with him daily has brought me closer to him and opened my eyes to his love. And humor. Man, does he have a good sense of humor,too.

Another great verse from my devos this morning to ponder on:

Romans 8:37-38, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The next time you feel alone, or hurt, or even happy for that matter, remember there is a GOD that has unfailing love for you. He's always there with open arms, waiting, paitiently for you to return to him.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Soft Spoken Words

I have been bumming the past couple of days. I am struggling on how to let go and let God do his thing while I worry about my bills and what I am going to do with my life. Will I ever get out of debt? Will I ever meet anyone to spend the rest of my life with? Then this little verse came along yesterday in the Word on the Way from my local radio Station:

"Give all your worries and cares to God; for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

I love how God comes at just the right time when you need Him. I mean, I know he's always there watching over me, but yet sometimes I feel broken and alone. But then simple words like those above come along and remind me that I am not alone and that he is watching over me and will provide for me.

People always think that if God was such a loving God that he wouldn't let bad things happen to people. The more I grow in Christ, the more I remember John 15:18-"If the world hates, keep in mind that they first hated me."

I retrospect, I have it good compared to some people. They are dying for their faith or not able to have the comforts that I have. I am rich comapared to others. And sometimes it's hard not to think about me, me, me. I am continually learning to turn my focus off me and onto Christ. Becuase I am free through Him. He saved me and gave me the things that I have. And through my temptations and trials, I can grow stronger through Him and allow the Spririt to work in me.

God is good~all the time. All the time~God is good.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was a blast. We spent the day with family and friends and grilled out. I made fruit salsa and cinnamon chips which everyone loved (recipe will be at the bottom of post). I'm glad I didn't have much to take home with me!

We played two two-hour games of croquet. That's what happens when you have 12 people playing and crazy courses set up. I mean, there was a hoop set up by the legs of the swing, we had to play up numerous hills and so forth. It was fun. We play a game called Poison. you go through the course, then head back to start, and then you are Poison. Once poison you can go and attack anyone without going through the hoops. I won the first game; that was exhilarating! I beat the top player in the family. YESSSS!

We had a alot of stuff to eat and I totally ruined my diet. huh. Glad it was only a one day thing.

Now it's back to the normal. Or what you call normal.


FRUIT SALSA and CINNAMON CHIPS

FRUIT SALSA:
1 pund strawberries, diced
1 package rasberries
2 apples peeled and diced
2 kiwi, diced
1 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP brown sugar
3 TBSP fruit perserves(jam)
OPTIONAL:
cilantro and cayenne pepper to taste

CHIPS:
10 10-in torillas
butter cooking spray
2 CUPS Cinnamon sugar mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray torillas with butter spray, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix. Spray again. Cut into wedges and place on cookies sheet in single layer. Bake for 7-10 min. Remove from cookie sheet and cool.

In a bowl, mix all the fruits in a bowl with the sugars and preserves. Add a sprinkle of dried or fresh cilantro to taste. Sprinkle with a little cayenne pepper for a kick. Chill in fridge until ready to serve.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Crazy Dream

I had this crazy dream last night about Ryan and the crew from Paranormal State from A&E.

It started out at some restaurant/house and I was busy putting stuff away and handing out applications to a couple girls. The line slowly went away and in walked Ryan and Aerie(pronounce AIR-ee, don't ask me who he was....he's not part of the real crew.)

They started chatting with one of the guys I was working with and setting up the recording booth in the living room part of the house. They came to record some stuff for the show and I had no idea they were coming. I got all flustered when I saw them (in real life and in my dream I think Ryan is a cutie.)Lindsey the girl that I worked with came in and started talking to me and Bob the guy that was going to be handling the recording came over to talk to me and asked if I would set up the other mic over where I was standing since there wasn't going to be enough room in the booth for both guys. I said sure as soon as Ryan smiled and looked at me. I felt like I had turned fifteen shades of red. We talked, well he talked while I listened and nodded and shyly answered him back. I told him that I had to get some stuff in the back room. Lindsey came around and I pointed at my stomach to signal to her to look behind me-that was Ryan.

They recorded the stuff, packed up the equipment and lounged in the living room. There were about ten people there and I headed to the couch. Aerie was sitting next to me. I wasn't really talking; I was more taking in the whole scene. Ryan had just walked in the room, looked at me, and walked over to talk to someone. I felt my heart sink. I thought he was going to sit next to me. Oh well. After a little bit, he said nothing and sat right on my legs that I had curled next to me. I felt the butterflies. For a little bit, he didn't say anything. Then he turned to me, played with a piece of my hair and I shyly pulled my head to my shoulder. He said something to me and I can't remember what he said. We started talking, then he said something that must have upset me. I got up and walked out the room.

I thought for sure he was going to follow me, but it was Aerie that slowed me down with his hands on my shoulders. I didn't need to turn around to know it was him. We talked and I told him that I didn't want Ryan to come looking for me right now. I know he was going to, but I didn't want to talk to him. We made it over to the bleachers across the street from the house and sat down. I heard voices and told him I think Ryan is coming. So we hid below the bleachers. But the voices kept getting louder. And they didn't sound like Ryan-at first.

I decided to peek out and see what was going on and where all these people had come from, when seconds ago it was just Aerie and I. I looked out and there were a bunch of teenagers and adults looking around the bleachers. Aerie asked what I was doing. I told him I was checking out what the people were doing. He told me there wasn't anyone there. I insisted that there were about twenty people hunting for something. Then it hit me. I wasn't seeing people. I was seeing spirits. Aerie came out from under the bleachers and I blurted out that we need to go and get Ryan.

Before I could explain, Ryan came around the corner. I told him we needed him and he was like, "Why? Guess Aerie's company is more important than mine. I thought you liked me." I told him this isn't about us right now. There are people searching for something and we need to help. At first he thought I was crazy and we started arguing. Then he finally listened when I told him I was seeing spirits. They are looking for something and I don't know what it was. We needed to get the crew here right now.

Aerie went and got the rest of the people while Ryan stared at me. He finally came out of his trance and asked me what was going on. I couldn't fully tell him so I tried to mingle with them. When the rest of the crew came, I found my "abilities" were getting stronger. I ran my hands in front of the dumpsters that were by the bleachers. I frantically putzed with the lock on the bright yellow one. "In there. She's in there," I finally mustered. They were looking for Hannah, a dark-haired cheerleader that disappeared. I stepped back and told them that I wasn't going to be able to open it; I would pass out at the smell and dicomposed body.

It was starting to look like it was going to rain, so Katrina and I decided to head over to the church that was next door. We couldn't get the lock to open, so we headed back over to the crew. They had all started walking back, and for some reason, a powerline had fallen, and everytime I tried to get away from it, it kept blcoking me and moving in front of me. I heard Ryan yell my name, but before I could do anything, the powerline hit me and I went flying back. All I remember is Ryan brushing my hair and calling my name as I slowly faded to black.

Then I woke up.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Funny, Funny

God has a sense of humor. A very dry, British sense of humor, if you will.

Today at church I sang one of my songs that I wrote on Friday. There was a wedding yesterday and they had moved the piano way over so I had to roll it back. I decided that I was going to play on a couple of the other songs for worship and we practiced them.

Well, a little bit into my song, I thought that I was feeling things. I couldn't tell if the piano was moving or not. Strange, I know. The piano is on a piano cart thingy and when you step on the sustain pedal, you can feel the piano "push" sliightly forward and then back again when you let off. Well, this time, if felt like it was rolling. Sure enough, it was. I had forgotten to turn the wheel to keep it in place. I turned around and looked at the worhsip team and two of the guys were smirking and I ended up giggling a little through my what was supposed to be serious song. I kept pulling it back, grasping the sustain pedal with my toes(I like to not wear shoes on the worship stand or when I play piano). And not once did I miss a word or beat.

Bob came up to me and was like "That takes real talent to pull that off."

I think it was God testing me in someway. I don't know how. Maybe it was to see if I could handle a goof in the middle of a "show" and not think twice about it. I wasn't embarrassed or anything. I thought it was hilarious. I looked up and shook my head and rolled my eyes thinking, "You have one sick sense of humor, G-O-D." I'm sure the congregation got a kick too.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Is it really worth it?

As I was flipping through my 500 emails this morning, I was wondering why I have all these devotions/studies I do a day. I mean, I have my daily morning email devotion, I do my big Bible Study sometime in the day, and then at night, I try to throw in my nightly devos. I was starting to think that that was too much "study time". But really, it's not. I am glad that God wants to work through me by pushing me to read and meditate on His word continually on a daily basis. And believe me~I need it.

Lately my focus has been on trying to steer away from gossip, judgement, and not letting what others think of me. You know? It's really hard. All around me there is gossip. I try not to get caught up in it and I still do. I tend to judge others before they even get to speak to me. And you know what? It's not my job to judge. I'm no better than the other person sitting next to me. I kinda makes me feel dirty just thinking about what I think to myself when I see someone. Not very Christ-like, is it? And as for letting go of what others think of me~in today's society, it's hard. You are always having people size you up: how big your house or car is, what kind of brand of clothes you wear, how flashy your cell phone is, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I have come to the realization that God doesn't care about those things. He only wants you. Only you. He's happy with just that. And the more you mirror Him, the happier he is. That means, letting the Obstacles of Grace such as Gossip and Judgement, go and be open to God and what he is whispering in your ear.


Let go. Let GOD.
Decolores.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

My thoughts


From what little I actually watched last night-Youtube and Photoshop claimed most of my time...- I actually think Kris is going to win. Don't forget, you don't have to have eyes to watch American Idol. My right ear was tuned into the whole show.

Don't get me wrong. I have always loved Adam through the whole competition, but last night, from what I did see, he seemed cocky and sure he was going to win. Like this was just another theatrical show for him.

Kris has always been in the back of my mind. I was surprised that he made it this far, and he beat out Danny(my choice) last week. But last night when he did, "Ain't No Sunshine" I saw the real Kris. I love the fact of how humble he is. You can really tell how much he wants this.

Danny had always been my pick. Adam second. And I didn't care who was going to win or lose that way. But last night, I think Kris has a good chance.

The song that Kara wrote for them suited Kris sooooo much better. I didn't like Adam's at all. That was the turning point, I think, that turned me off.

It's going to be a very close night tonight. Let's see if my predicitions are right. I'm going to guess Kris.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Well Worth the Wait!


From the moment I heard Lanae’ Hale on the Bethlehem Skyline Tour last year in Waukesha, WI, I couldn’t wait for her full length album to arrive.

It has been long awaited, but well worth the wait. From the driving beat in Back and Forth to the bubblegum Pop of “Let’s Grow Old Together” to the simple peace of the bonus track “Quiet Place”, Lanae’ has a well rounded debut album.

The first time that I heard the title track “Back and Forth”, I think I played it over and over. I forgot there were twelve other tracks that needed to be discovered.

With a wonderful blend of pop, worship, and rock, Lanae’ has captured the struggle of living in a world of me versus a world of letting go and giving in to God. With songs like “Here’s My Heart”, surrendering just seems a little easier realizing that God knows us and can change us, but without the surrender of ourselves, we can never be whole again. Then you go and feel your foot tapping and your head bobbing to the happy beats of “Beautiful Things”, “Burning Heartbeats”, and “Let’s Grow Old Together”.

And as a bonus, Lanae’ added “Quiet Place” from her previously released EP to finish off the album. Like a cool down from a workout, “Quiet Place” encourages you just be still, relax, and meditate.

I definitely have my favorites that are played over and over. A couple tracks took me a little to get into. But overall, Lanae’’s debut album is a hit in my book. I highly recommend it. If you enjoy unique voices in the stylings of Jewel, then Back and Forth is the album for you. Pick it up. Now.

Monday, May 18, 2009

I haven't blogged alot on here....I'm usually over at Xanga. Even on there I get in my moods where I don't feel like blogging. But lately, I have been trying to keep up with it. So much has gone on in my life and I need to spill about it. Even if its to an imaginary world in cyber land. Still feels good to get it off your shoulders.

More to come......

Ahoy! Thanks for stopping by. Sometimes life should be an open book and here you will find that true. My mind is always on full speed and I will be heading over many waves. I hope this journey is as much of an adventure for you as it is for me~ ~Mindy