Awakening

A Change of Plans

2008-06-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

"The invitation has been on the fridge for over a month. You ironed a shirt to wear, found the recipe for the cookies you want to take, and wrote to two faraway penpals about this party you're looking forward to. Then you wake up with a sore throat and you have to stay home... don't you hate that?..."

~Bethany Notgrass

Well, just recently, my sister and I planned on going to some friends' house to help bake some goodies for the baby shower (being thrown for our mothers) the next day, and speding the night there so that we could get up early and set up for the shower. But the night before, my throat started hurting. I came down with a cold and couldn't go help bake. So my sister went without me. (Thank God I was well enought the next day to go to the baby shower!)

Another thing I had planned was a trip with my grandma to pick up my cousin. While we were there, we were going to go to a mall and spend the night at a fancy hotel. Then, as it turns out, the days got mixed up, and they were leaving a day earlier than we thought, the day of the baby shower. My sister and I were really disappointed. It may seem small when looking back on it, but at the time... how could that happen?! We really were excited about this. And we were hoping that we could meet our friend at the mall while we were up there (Cherise).

Have you ever felt like yelling,"God, what are yo-" You stop yourself. You remind yourself over and over that he really does know what he's doing.

Sometimes he might change even bigger things, too. All that time, you wanted something so badly, you can almost, almost tase it. Then - wham - "ouch!"

"It's so hard to avoid trying to fit God into your plans, rather than fitting our plan into God's"

~Bethany Notgrass

2008-04-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

LEV 19:22 With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the LORD for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.

PS 32:1 Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

PS 55:19 God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear them and afflict them--

men who never change their ways
and have no fear of God.

I can't believe that no one's posted about this yet. Maybe they have and I just haven't seen it.

But getting on point here.... I told you that I would put this on here, so I better do what I said.

No one's perfect (though it's fun to pretend). Sometimes we'll be doing one thing, and next thing you know.... "dang, I shouldn't have done that." Learning the hard way is...... hard. Take the last part of PS 55:19, "men who never change their ways and have no fear of God." It sounds like not fearing God and not changing go hand in hand. If a man doesn't fear God, he doesn't have a very good reason to change.

In the last year, I have changed so much. I've realized a lot about what is sin and what is not. When you get to a certain age, it's easier for you to see and understand that what you've been doing is wrong. It comes with maturity usually. Of course, God does the work, but it's easier for you to understand and except when you're older. God knows when you're ready for the changes.

The mistakes I've made
That caused pain
I could have done without
All my selfish thought
All my pride
The things I hide
You have forgot about
They're all behind you
They'll never find you
They're on the ocean floor
Your sins are forgotten
They're on the bottom
Of the ocean floor
My misdeeds
All my greed
All the things that haunt me now
They're not a pretty sight to see
But they're wiped away
By a mighty, mighty wave
A mighty, mighty wave
Your sins are erased
And they are no more
They're out on the ocean floor
Take them away
To return no more
Take them away
To the ocean floor
~Audio Adrenaline

2008-02-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

Sorry, that other post is saved as draft. I will hopefully be putting it back soon, so we can continue our conversation.... OK?

Scripture anyone?

2008-02-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

I need to read some more scripture. Got some good ones for me?

Very muchly meant to live...

2008-01-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder how people can be happy with their lives, not doing what they planned and dreamed. Most kids my age have no idea what they're going to be doing when they're older, but I most certainly do. Have you ever wanted something so bad, that it's all you think about, dream about, and are trying to reach out and grasp it? That's what music is for me. It's a God-given gift, and I want to use it. It drives me crazy when the people around me think that I'm your average, and that I'll change my mind about what I want to do. I've already had a glimpse of what pursuing the path of music is like. It's a lot of work, but it definitely pays off. What I want to do is bring people to God through music, and he is the only one who can help me with that. I want to show other people what music really is.

Blessed Be Your Name

2008-01-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

I have been listening to this song over and over and just wanted to share it with you...

Blessed... blessed... blessings!

2008-01-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

I feel so blessed right now. I AM so blessed.

2007-11-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)
And do not forget to do good and share with others, for such with sacrifices God is pleased.

lyrics

2007-10-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

Dare You To Move ~Switchfoot~

Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's hereEveryone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next
What happens next

[Chorus]

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to moveI dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before

Dying to be Alive ~Hanson~

I heard you crying
Somebody stole my soul
How could I be dying
I turned twenty five days ago

(bridge)

We're all on the ground,
just crying out
Somebody save me please
I won't sit around just thinking about
The troubles that tommorrow brings
Yeah

(chorus)
I'm dying to be alive, yeah
I'm dying to be alive, yeah
Let's not go through our lives
without just dying to be alive
Yeah

The people you've touched
The way you've touched them
I hope they've touched you too
'Cause in this life,
It's hard to tell
What is false and what is true

(Bridge)

We're all on the ground
Just crying out
Would somebody save me please
I won't sit around just thinking about
The troubles that tommorrow brings

(chorus)
I'm dying to be alive, yeah
Not trying to just survive, yeah
Lets not go through our lives
without just dying to be alive

Yeah
And we all come, tumbling down
No matter how strong
We all return to the ground
Another day gone, a day closer to fate
And soon we'll find it's a little bit too late
Too late

Na Na Na-naNa Na Na-naNa Na Na-na NaNa

Na Na-naNa Na Na-naNa Na Na-na na

The things you see
The way you see them
Will never been seen again
Let's go through life livin' on luck
Betting ten thousand to ten

Yeah Mistakes I've made in this life
I can't say why or when
But the thing that's strange is you only live once
I'll never look back again Yeah

I'm dying to be alive, yeah
Not trying to just survive, yeah
Lets not go through our lives
without just dying to be alive
Yeah

I'm dying to be alive, yeah
Not trying to just survive, yeah
Let's not go through our lives
without just dying to be alive
Yeah

And we all come, tumbling down
No matter how strong
We all return to the ground
In the days to come you'll say why did I wait
You can't just leave your life up to fate
You got to turn it around before it's too late

Stars ~Switchfoot~

Maybe I've been the problem
Maybe I'm the one to blame
But even when I turn it off and blame myself
The outcome feels the same
I've been thinking maybe I've been partly cloudy
Maybe I'm the chance of rain
And maybe I'm overcast
And maybe all my luck's washed down the drain

Chorus:

I've been thinking 'bout everyone
Everyone, you look so lonely
But when I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
I see someone else
When I look at the stars, the stars
I feel like myself

Stars looking at a planet watching entropy and pain
And maybe start to wonder how
The chaos in our lives could pass as sane
Ive been thinking of the meaning of resistance
Of a world beyond my own
And suddenly the infinite and penitent
Began to look like home

Everyone everyone you feel so lonely
Everyone, yeah, everyone you feel so empty

When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
When I look at the stars
I feel like myself
when I look at the stars, the stars
I see someone...

Real Gratitude

2007-10-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

"Thanks! Thank you. I really appreciate it. Thank you very much. It was really nice of you. Thank you so much. I want you to know how much I appreciate it. I am so grateful... There are many ways to say it... It's a good thing that there are so many ways to say thank you, because words of thanks are some of the most important that ever come through our lips. Three-year-olds should say it. Eighty-three year olds should say it. I should say it. You should say it. We should say it to people we live with, to casual acquaintances, to lifelong friends, and to people that we never expect to see again..." -Bethany Notgrass

Have you ever thought about how much we say it? You know that your mom never HAD TO pay to get you piano lessons. Your sister never HAD TO give you back your watch. Your great aunt never HAD TO send you that package... But yet, they do it anyway.God never HAD TO give you anything. Yet, he does.We are all sinners and we don't deserve all the things we have, but yet he gives them to us anyway.

"And what about accomplishments? We've been able to do cool things because (reaching around as far as necessary to pat ourselves on the back) we have worked hard or sacrificed, right? Well, sorry; wrong. That is definitely not the whole story. We can't forget the other people who are behind what we have been able to do. What about the mom who gave up the comforts to pay for piano lessons, and is not the one being applauded? What about the person who first showed you what it means to serve? Is she forgotten when someone compliments you on your wonderful attitude?..."-Bethany Notgrass

________________________

Gratitude by Nichole Nordeman

Send some rain, would you send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would you send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely you can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But maybe not, not today
Maybe you'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to You
with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If you never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight

Wrap us upAnd warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time

.Or maybe not, not today
Maybe you'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to you
With gratitude
A lesson learned in how to hunger after you
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight

Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams
In abundance or in need

And if you never grant us peace
But Jesus, would you please...

(Note: This was posted on 4gratitude awhile back, only I've made a few changes)

Our Statement Of Faith

2007-10-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

We believe: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalms 111:10)

There is one God eternally existent, Yahweh, and one mediator between God and man, Yahshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ). That Yahshua is God's only begotten son, who is the foundation of the kingdom of God and that all authority in heaven and up on Earth is given to Him. That Yahshua was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary.

In Yahshua's sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning crucifixion and death through his shed blood. His entombment and bodily resurrection on the third day. His ascension into Heaven where He reigns at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, and in Yahshua's return in power and glory.

That man is created in the image of God, but is born with sinful nature. That because of sin, all mankind is in rebellion against God. That salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary. That man's only hope for redemption is through the atonement made by the Messiah. That salvation is by grace through faith and that faith without works is dead. In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by indwelling the Christian believer is enabled to live a more godly life.

We believe in the spiritual unity of all true believers in our Saviour and Lord, Yahshua the Messiah.

The Bible is our tool to be used to facilitate out thirst for knowledge that we may learn what we seek in earnest of our Creator, Savior, creation, history, and His Will. We accept its teachings as the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.

Note: Since Jesus refrained from such labeling "Catholic,""Protestant,"" Baptist," etc in scripture in reference to his faith, our family has been unwilling to adhere to any particular label of Christian faith as well. And, since we believe that labels tend to inhibit spiritual growth, we prefer to remain "non-denominational."

A BEAUTIFUL ANOLOGY!

2007-10-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn'texist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Wouldthere be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn'twant to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customerleft the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkept.The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did,there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber. " What happens is people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

I'm thankful

2007-09-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

James 1:17 (New International Version)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

I'm thankful for...

...my wonderful family. My dad who provides for us. My mom who teaches us. My older sister who makes me laugh really hard. My brother who gives me hugs. My other brother who is, well, I don't know that I can put hime into words, but he is awesome. My baby sister who is so darn cute that "I could spit" (okay, they're all cute.) They are so great. Even when we don't quite get along. I love them. Another thing I'm very thankful for: that none of us are sick.
I'm thankful for my animals. My dogs, cat, rabbits, chickens, fish, is there anything that I'm forgetting? Oh yeah, my brothers. haha. And I'm very thankful that we found Hamilton (my Holland Lop rabbit.) He's so cute.
I thankful for the food on our table, the water from our faucet, the roof over our head.
I'm thankful for my wonderful friends (hey, daisy, austin, ashley, beth, this is you guys!) And for all the fun we had this Summer. The berry fights, the "tramping," the music playing! And well, for daisy and austin, the blogging (thankful for the computer.) :)
I'm thankful for the plays that I will get to be in the year. I can't wait. And I'm thankful that hopefully my sister will teach tap this year.
I'm thankful for my piano and my guitar. And I'm thankful that my new piano teacher isn't as terrible as I thought she woul be. I'm thankful for my guitar teacher, too.

And a lot more.

Now it's your turn...

Faust Midas and Myself

2007-09-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

SWITCHFOOT LYRICS

"Faust, Midas, And Myself"

This one's about a dream

I had last night

How an old man tracked me home

And stepped inside

He put his foot inside the door

And gave a crooked smile

Something in his eyes

Something in his laugh

Something in his voice

That made my skin crawl off

He said, "I've seen you here before

I know your name.

You could have your pick

Of pretty things.

You could have it all

Everything at once.

Everything you've seen,

Everything you'll need,

Everything you've ever had in fantasies."

"You've one life,

You've one life.

You've one life left to lead."

I woke up from my dream

As a golden man

With a girl I've never seen

With golden skin

I jumped up to my feet

She asked me what was wrong

I began to scream

I don't think this is me

Is this just a dream

Or really happening?

What direction?

I'm splitting up!

This is my personal disaffection

What direction?

What direction now?

I looked outside the glass

At golden shores

Golden ships and masts

With golden cords

As my reflection passed

I hated what I saw

My golden eyes were dead

And a thought passed through my head

A heart that is made of gold can't really beat at all

I wanted to wake up again

Without a touch of gold

What direction? Death or action!

Life begins at the intersection.

I woke up as before

But the gold was gone

My wife was at the door

With her night robe on

My heart beat once or twice

And life flooded my veins

Everything had changed

My lungs had found their voice

what was once routine was now the perfect joy

You've one life

One life left to lead

____________________________________

Here's what I found about Faust:

Faust (German for "fist") or Faustus (Latin for "auspicious" or "lucky") is the protagonist of a classic German legend in which a medieval scholar makes a pact with the Devil. The tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical works, such as those by Christopher Marlowe, Goethe, Thomas Mann, Hector Berlioz, Franz Liszt, Oscar Wilde and Charles Gounod.
The name "Faust" has come to stand for a charlatan alchemist (some claim "astrologer and necromancer") whose pride and vanity lead to his doom. Similarly, the adjective "faustian" has come to denote acts or constellations involving human hubris which lead eventually to doom.

(-Wikipedia)

Acts 20:7-12

2007-09-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

AC 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.