It's Been a Long While...

Man. It's been a long while since I posted last. I'm hoping to get back to blogging because it used to be one of my favorite things to do and I miss it!

But wow, so much has happened since my last post. So many eye opening things that have really made me realize the power and sovereignty of Jesus.

I'm not a Bible shover by any means. I love and respect everyone and what they believe, but I do have this blog to share what I personally believe and the things that the Lord has done in my life. This joy that I have just can't be contained within my mind. It's the overflow of my heart I have to let people know somehow. And this is it :)

Happiness is something everyone wants. Everyone wants it. Everyone wants to find it somehow. Some find it in things, people, spiritual figures, and the list goes on. Throughout the past year, I've learned so much about happiness and contentment and how to achieve a lasting joy. I never really understood it before. Music was my go-to, my shelter, my support when I was upset, my fall back when nothing else seemed to be going right. But music was and is just a thing. It's not eternal. It's not something I can take with me when I go. It's something that God has instilled in my heart as a passion and something I love doing, but it in no way could bring me that happiness that God does. In this world it is so easy to place your faith in "things" or other people rather than God. But the downfall comes when those things go away. If you make something or someone your world, when they are gone, all you will feel is empty and alone. But you're not alone! He is there. He has always been there, waiting for you to find your joy in him and his goodness.

 In an inconsistent world, he remains a consistent loving God. His love never changes.


This past year has been the best of my life. It's really opened my eyes to all the things that the Lord has for me, and all the things that I missed before. I believe he uses situations in our lives to strengthen us and better equip us to accomplish his will for our lives.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

I was thinking about it today:

1.God....He knows us better than we know ourselves. He made us. He "knit us together in our mother's womb." Read this: 

                    For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,         

I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

       All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

                    before one of them came to be.

This guy, he knows everything about you. He knows everything about me. More than any person on earth could ever know. More than any best friend, more than any boyfriend, more than any pastor, mother, father, cousin, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, you name it!

2. You and me. All we know of ourselves how many years we have been on this earth. That's it. 

I'd say that the God of the universe has the advantage over us. Once again: He knows us better than we know ourselves. He made us. 

So, that brings me to....

3. So if the God of the universe made us this intricate human being, & knows us better than we know ourselves, why would we question his plan for us? I'm not saying this like I've never questioned it. I have. Sometimes I've done it and not even realized I was. But I always go back to those simple facts every time.

Why question his plan? He makes all things work together for our good. Whether we at the time may see them as devastating, humiliating, unfair, or whatever. These things don't happen to harm us or to cut us down! They make us better people and more prepared for what he has for us ahead. Without the pain, victory wouldn't be so sweet.

It's really easy to settle for what you already know, but it takes faith and courage to encounter what you don't.

The unknown is scary. Even the word unknown just kind of creeps me out. But on the other hand, the unknown can be exciting. It can be exhilarating to know that when one chapter of your life ends, another one is going to begin. That is where the unknown becomes a little less scary to me. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

  Jeremiah 29:11

He didn't stutter in that statement. He didn't say, " I think I have plans for you." He didn't say, "I'm going to leave you hangin." He said he HAS plans for you and me. Plans that are ten million times better than we could ever make on our own. Trusting these words is what can be difficult to us when things don't turn out exactly the way we planned. Although they may not have turned out the way WE may have planned, they always turn out the way God has planned.

I hope this has encouraged you just as much as it has encouraged me as I've studied and written this. I think we all need a reminder every once in a while; a weight lifted off our shoulders. Our own understanding will always fail us and trying fix things on our own will only lead us further away from him. We don't have to do this alone. He is there. 

Just a Thought

I really think that all the bad things that happen in your life are just a motivator for change. Change being you standing up and saying "That's how my life is not going to be."

Distractions.

Distractions. I hate them. I feel like I will continually be brought down by them, but with the Lord, I know I will get through it as long as I keep my eyes focused on him. Its so easy to get caught up in a guy or a hobby or church activities or whatever.
Something came to me today that I randomly remembered hearing one time.
It was something like:
"Don't get so caught up in the process that you forget your purpose."

I think as Christians, we get so caught up in the process, as in the church events and the planning for the events and everything or even just participating, that we forget why we are there doing that. And before we know it, all those events are just events, they aren't anything special. They just end up being the same things over and over and we just get so caught up in them that we lose sight of our purpose, and that is to proclaim God's name!

Think about that :) I totally did today. It hit me hard!

Today

Today was wedding day in the life of Katie King. No, obviously not for myself, but two of my friends. Today really made me think of what love should be like. I mean, I know what kind of love I want, and what I don't but, seeing two people who are really in love looking into eachother's eyes puts it in a whole different perspective; more like a "its better doing, than just saying" thing. If that makes sense. The Lord wants us to be happy, and told have a marriage that revolves around him, that is two people working as a team to get closer to him.
I'll just say it. I love weddings. The excuse to eat cake is pretty awesome, but getting to see the real deal up close and personal is awesome to me. It makes me excited for the day that I will get married. (Not to mention, I've been getting so many great ideas haha!)

But anyways, recently I've been thinking, and just tonight, the second I got into my car, I prayed and thanked God for who I am now, and who I am not anymore. God took certain people out of my life to help me grow stronger in him, and I'm just SO thankful for that. What an amazing God.

Here's a little bit of the song that I sang at Jen's wedding today, which was an awesome pick on her part.

"And as I stand here before you
I can't help but adore you.

Here we stand in this moment now
I give my life
I give my heart this is my vow
To you I swear
And I promise to
Give all I can
All I am
I give to you"

My song forever:

"I've read somewhere statistics show the man's always the first to go
But that makes sense because Iknow she won't be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench if they've got any
I hope she takes her time
Cuz I don't mind waitin on a woman"

-Brad Paisley

...but for right now, I'll keep waiting for that guy.

Interesting

So, today. hm. Interesting and amazing things happened. Oh and some, well one gross thing.


Well, for the gross thing: I sliced my finger on a knife today. I wish my reaction could have been videotaped. I cut it and even before the pain hit I RAN to my bathroom yelling, oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. Blood gushing, and me crying were the best parts. It didn't hurt, but the funny thing was the reason why I was crying was because I HATE blood and it makes me wanna puke. Oh how lovely. I need cutting gloves or something....

Okay the interesting/AMAZING thing that happened today was that my friend Kevin that I'd been talking to for a long time about becoming a Christian told me tonight that he just recently accepted Christ. He thanked me for my help, and he sent me a Bible verse he said that he saw that reminded him of me, and it was my Hebrews 3:13 verse! TOTALLY a God thing. Praise the Lord, for another soul has been won! :)

I've been sitting in my room for the past 4 hours working on music, and I mini writers block right now. Hopefully some rest will do me good and prep me for some more writing tomorrow!

Dad and I wrote another song last night and I love it! Its way different than anything I have done, awe will hopefully get that recorded sometime this summer! I'm excited! :)

Let It Be

I know Lenon and McCartney weren't exactly role models but "Let it Be" did speak some truth.

"Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, there will be answer, let it be, let it be."

Sometimes we just need to "let it be" and let God deal with our situation. Although the writers may not have written it to be interpreted that way, in a way I am thankful that they did write it. There IS an "answer" even though we may not see it at the time, God does, and he knows what he is doing.

Right now I am going over the study of "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" and wow, its just as good as it was when I did it last year. Sometimes I just wish people would give it a chance and not "judge a book by it's cover." The book title in itself seems a bit extreme, but man, its some good stuff. Its purely about pleasing God, and ahh its just so good. So if you think you are up to the challenge, pick up this book. You will not be disappointed!

Future.

Rejection. Its what we all feared when we were young. Some may still fear it.
I've come to realize in my many failed relationships that I don't want someone that is like that in the aspect of Christ. So many guys are so afraid to truly show their colors; to stand out, to be real, to be vulnerable. Maybe that's why I haven't found that one that's really "wowed" me yet. And you know what? I'm totally okay with it. Patience in waiting is the best lesson that God has ever taught me.

I bring it up because its my hope for the future. Its amazing to think of what's yet to come and where the Lord will lead me. And the best thing is that I don't have to worry. :)

I was driving home to Nashville today and heard this song. Just before it started the radio announcer stated that this song was good for any prospective husbands. To me this is a prayer of a real man that is not afraid to be vulnerable. I love it.

"So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone"

-Sanctus Real
"Lead Me"