I'm Thinking

1.) I'm so thankful for Beckah Shae and Misty Edwards.  These beautiful women are so in love with Jesus.  I wanna be like them when I grow up.  Their music helps me stay on track in my thought life - their phenomenal voices are just a plus.

 



2.) BJ Higgins was a winner.  Reading I Would Die For You, the book his parents wrote about his short but impactful life, brings me to tears.  His willingness and obedience inspire me so much.  I an learning to listen at all times, knowing that God can use me whenever, wherever, and however He pleases.  I want to live and die for His glory!  Check out prayforbj.com.





3.) I need someone to go to the movies with me.  What have y'all seen lately?  I've been told Monster's University was awesome.  What about Man of Steel?  Opinions, people



4.) Ultimate Faith Challenge is gonna be awesome.  I'm headed to Moberly to take part in the youth internship at Family Life Fellowship, where my parents went to church before they had me.  It will be a week of serving and encountering God!  I'm thinking you guys will get a glimpse of my journal entries when I get back?  I'm sho exshited. :) I'm also still trying to come up with a legit reason to take my boots with me...

 



5.) The third addition to Michaela's family of Abort73.com t-shirts has finally arrived.  They call this color Sangria.  My vocabulary is officially enlarged.  I look forward to the many opportunities Father will bring my way through this shirt.  God, end abortion and bring revival to America.

Find Your Inspiration

   I was babysitting five of my little cousins yesterday.  And we got bored.  So we watched Chicken Run.  And I was inspired.  By this:

Bunty: Oh, face the facts, ducks. The chances of us getting out of here are a million to one.

Ginger: Then there's still a chance.

 

   So many times I find myself complaining that there is nothing new to write about, nothing to ignite my passion, nothing to inspire me.  I blame my apathy on my surroundings, when in reality it's not the things or the people around me, it's simply the way I look at them.
   When I look for inspiration, I find it.  I find it in the colors of the leaves on the trees, a laughing child, or worship.  Inspiration is lurking in the kind words of a stranger, hiding out around each unexpected twist and turn of the road, and right out there in the open of the big, bright, blue sky.
   Don't sit there and wait for something big to happen.  Get out there and make it happen.  Keep your eyes and your heart open.  Be inspired.

You Still Hear

It fills the atmosphere whether or not you listen you still hear...

Music by Beckah Shae

   Music.  It makes more of an impact than you think.  What you listen to infiltrates your thoughts, attitudes, and even actions.  Don't believe me?

   I have seen this in my own life.  I mostly listen to Christian music, but I like a little bit of everything.  When I listen to secular artists I find myself focusing more on what they sing about - which tends to be boys and relationships.  You all know that I -and you- have much better things to think about.  For some reason, these songs also seem to get stuck in my head much easier, solidifying their messages in brain.  In the same way, though, when I listen to music with a Christian message that is what I tend to think about.  Songs about God's grace, power, and love keep me focused on that.  When challenging and inspiring songs get stuck in my head, I am convicted all day.

   Still don't believe me when I say music makes a big difference?  Test it for yourself, then.  I hereby issue a challenge to all of you, no matter what kind of music you currently listen to.  For the month of April, 30 days, listen to only Christian music.  Only music focused on God.  Do it, and see what kind of impact it makes on your life.

   Don't think there is any Christian music you'll like?  I think you are sadly mistaken.  Try listening to K-LOVE radio, and look up bands like tobyMac, Beckah Shae, Skillet, and Francesca Battastelli on YouTube.  There are soooo many Christian artists out there that I know you will find someone you love.

   So, are you willing to jump out of your comfort zone and take a chance?  Only Christian music, starting April 1st, for 30 days.  Are you in?  Let me know in the comments!

Disclaimer: I am not  saying that all secular music is awful, bad, sinful, or whatever.  I still listen to it, and there are songs that I love that are not Christian.  I am not saying "never listen to secular music again"(just for the month of April).  Maybe God is telling you that, but I am not.  Just so ya know....

Perfect People

   Stop for a second and think about that girl.  Yeah, you know who I'm talking about.  She's popular, fashionable, and quite possibly tall and blonde.  The girl everyone wants to be like.  She's got it all - the beauty, the friends, the guy.  The perfect life.  She's got it all together.  She's happy.
   Right?
   Maybe not so much.  Have you ever thought about what her life is really like? who she really is?  Have you ever cared?  You might be surprised by what you would see.
   That girl's beauty is all a mess of expensive clothes, hair product, and make-up.  She doesn't think she's pretty without it.  She's spent hours in front of the mirror to make herself beautiful, never believing she truly was.  She has spent her life getting people to like her, but she still doesn't know which of her "friends" she can trust.  She feel she must have a boyfriend to be loved and important, always wondering when this one will ditch her.
   That girl wakes up every morning and paints a picture of perfect for everyone to see, hiding what's real underneath.  She pastes on a smile and coats herself with confidence.  On the inside she is crying and falling and failing.
   Will you show her what truth is?  Will you live what's real?  Will you demonstrate true friendship?  Will you you teach her happiness?  Will you tell her she's beautiful?  Will you tell her she's loved?

   Or will you let her live her perfect life?

Check out Perfect People by Natalie Grant.  It's an amazing song!

Are We Sleeping?

Yes, you have to watch the video before you read the post. Listen to the words!!

   Are we sleeping here in America?  We're supposed to be advanced, privileged, smart, and progressive, but what are we really missing out on?  Have we deceived ourselves?

   Bethlehem slept while God's Son became human.  They dozed on the night off Christ's birth.  What should've been the greatest of celebrations was just another silent night.

   Where was Jerusalem when their Messiah was crucified?  They shunned and ignored Jesus during His ministry.  They were silent while He bled and died for their sins.

    What about us?  United States of America, will it be another silent night?  We call ourselves "Christian," but we are far from Godly.  We've been duped into doing, saying, and believing whatever sounds and feels good at the moment.  What lies and tricks are really behind it?  We accept whatever new philosophy is out there.  "Save the trees," but kill the children?  We pay God no attention, but He is coming - soon.  Will we be sleeping?

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping
United States of America
Looks like another silent night 

-Casting Crowns

Flash Mob - Hallelujah!

   Have you seen this video?  I love Handel's Messiah, and the Hallelujah Chorus is breathtaking, but this just made it even better.  It's amazing!  Now I really wanna do something like this - or at least go caroling. ;)

Trip To NY

Finding all the K-LOVE stations from here to Rochester.

This is the first snow we had seen all year - in a ditch on the way to NY.  It really started snowing on our way home!

They have amazing rest stops in Illinois!

We a lot of windmills.  They were really cool, but Mom vetoed my idea of getting one for our backyard.

This flag was gigantic!

I read Bella to Mom in the car.  It's an amazing book.  You should read it - or just watch the movie.

Yes, Teddy still travels with me.

Did you know they grew grapes in Pennsylvania?

This is what Flash looked like most of the we were there.  I have become a talented kicker-of-balls-for-dogs.

We went on a couple of hikes with Flash in the woods.  Yes, more ball-kicking - this time it was Grammy Joy's turn.

An aerial(ish) view of the city after our hike.

Some of the goodies at my grandparent's coffee shop.

I adore this painting at the Coffee Connection.

Relax and enjoy your drink!

All the coffee is roasted at the shop!

Those are big bags of coffee beans - they weigh as much as me!

Just a warning: unless you LOVE coffee, do not try eating a fresh-roasted bean.

Hand-made merchandise from Peru!

A Fruitless Hunt

   Well, not entirely fruitless.   While the only thing I accomplished on Saturday was to cripple a doe, my brother got his first deer!  He's been waiting a long time, and I know how great it feels to shoot your first deer.

Jonathon refuses to have his picture taken, but here's a really-not-good wonderful shot of his doe.

   In the morning I saw a doe, and really thought I hit her, and so did my dad, but then no trace of her could be found.  Here's me, the ever optimistic, happy hunter.

   In the afternoon we sat in a different stand, and these are some pictures I took after I almost feel asleep just sitting there, plus a video of my view.

   I had the randomest (is that a word?) songs popping into my head -and sticking there- all day!  Want to know just how odd my playlist was?  Here's three of the songs:

We're learning this song in choir - the alto part is hard.

Absolutely love this song!  All of Beckah's music is amazing.

   Right before dark we saw two does together, and (after I fixed the gun so it would fire, which took like a whole entire minute) I shot at one.  I knew for sure I hit that time, since we could see her leg flapping when she ran off.  We searched til well after sunset, but there just wasn't enough blood.  I'm sorry, poor doe, it was a bad shot. :'(
   So, (even though I can not seem recover my gun-aiming skills) it was a wonderful day.  I love sitting in the woods, and the time alone with my dad is awesome - plus the chili at lunch was really good.
   Do you all have any hunting stories?  I would love to hear them.  Comments make my day!

Courageous

"We could be the generation that finally breaks the chains."

   Casting Crowns' new song, "Courageous", inspires men of God to make a stand and take action.  Once again, Casting Crowns has hit the mark with their lyrics, and this song is both convicting and encouraging.

    The clips in the video are from the new movie Courageous, made by the creators of Fireproof and Facing the Giants.  It comes out this Friday, and you should all go see it!  Since it's only playing on Friday I can't go, but I am so excited to watch it!  If it's anything like their other movies, it will be amazing.

Worth Dying For

You've gotta believe, He wants you to see, that you are someone worth dying for!

   This is an awesome song by a great band.  I love their name, it has a cool story behind it too.  Watch this video, listen to the words of this song, and take them to heart.

DecembeRadio and Beckah Shae!

   Shy and went to the DecembeRadio and Beckah Shae concert at Culver last night, with RU 2:20 and more of the Cornerstone family.  It was awesome!  Beckah shared some of her life story, and it really touched me.  She is such an amazing woman of God!  I love Beckah's laugh, and how she kept talking to her husband (in the back doing the sound). :D  Here's some pics!  (OK, a lot of pics...)

Put your love glasses on!

Beckah invited anyone who wanted to come up and dance during LIFE!  Do you see my sister?

DecembeRadio!

Brian playing the mandolin - I think that's what it's called!

Stephen - and Shy's hair.

The guy in the red was shaking his head -hard!- for such a long time! 

DecembeRadio and Beckah Shae did an encore together!

The design on my t-shirt.  Thank you sooo much Julie for getting it for me!  1 John 3:18

Beckah's signature up close.   Ephesians 3:16-19