Word of God Speak

I'm in the computer lab in McCormick working on a physics formal lab report and need a distraction from the noise of those around me. I popped out my oh so comfy and noise blocking earbuds and tuned in to Pandora (This is a free radio thingy online. You can create your own station by choosing a genre, artist, or song. It's really great and you should check it out if you haven't used it before. Go now. Or after you finish reading this post. But do it!). The first song that came up was Word of God Speak by MercyMe. I've listened to it before multiple times, but it really hit me today.

With the Bible study on my heart it really spoke to me. I know I'm not in the Word as much as I should be. I was doing pretty good for a little while and then homework started piling up again and it took precedent over what should come first. I admit that I was wrong and I know better, but I don't always do what I know I should.

My prayer today is that His Word pores down on me. That it drowns me in Him. That I will put Him first so that all else may fall into place. I pray for time each day to spend in the silence with nothing but Him and His Word. I pray for a continual desire to do so. I pray that those around me feel this desire, this urge, this fire within as well.

Here's a link to a youtube video of the song and the lyrics are below. Enjoy!


I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

Hearing His Call

Sometime not long after I got home from the Flight in February Ben and I were talking about stuff. I believe I was telling him about something I'd read in Obadiah that weekend. One thing led to another in our discussion and he ended up suggesting that I start a Bible study. I told him that I really didn't think that was for me.

When I said this I was kind of lying. More than once in the past it was put on my heart to start a Bible study, but I've pushed it away every time. It's been three years since the first time. I was just a junior in high school and didn't really feel like I was old enough to do something like that. I can't remember the other specific times, but I know there were others. The main reason I told God no way is because I hate being put in the spotlight. I really do. I like doing things well, but I don't like people telling me about it. About how good I am. It's like when Seth mentioned me talking to Bev about being put in the rotation for praise team. As much as I like to sing and know that my voice isn't horrible, I really don't want to get in front of people. I don't like people telling me how great the speech I gave was and stuff like that.

Anyway, back to this Bible study thing. It looks like youth Bible study is being canceled for the summer. I'm not a fan of this but there's not really anything I can do. I kind of feel like this is even more conformation to lead one myself. I've even been led to a topic. I'm just afraid to go any farther with it. I don't know what ages to do it for. I don't want to exclude anyone. I don't want to be the youngest person there and leading it but at the same time I don't know that many younger who would want to go. Another problem I'm having is my lack of knowledge on the subject I'm being led to. In a nut shell I'd like to expand on these seven truths about Satan that we touched on in BibLit. It would be something about understanding the ways of Satan and guarding oneself against him.

I'd really appreciate the prayers off all of my few but faithful readers. I'd also like to know if anyone is interested in it or not.

Step of Faith

I believe all or at least most of you who read my blog know that I've been praying for William a lot and that I'm worried about Him. I've been feeling a tug to talk to him since before the Flight but I couldn't figure what to say, when to say it, how to say it, etc. I just finished writing a letter to him (written by hand and soon to be mailed with a real stamp *gasp*). I'm asking for prayer that he receives the words and the Truth in it with an open and willing heart. I pray that the words in it are not my own, but that they are His and that William realizes this. I poured a lot of myself out to him. I pray that he doesn't use these confessions against me at some point. I pray for him. I pray for His will in this situation. Thanks everyone.

Schedule

School starts back Monday and I'm not ready for it. I got my subbing certificate in the mail today which means I can start subbing! I love that I can get closer to doing the job that I really want to have. The sad thing is that I want be able to sub now until May. I have classes everyday thanks to being a science major (Labs and lectures never match up and then throw in the other classes I have to take and you get one messy schedule.) so I can't sub during the school year. I was really hoping that next semester I would be able to work it out where I don't have classes one day or that they would be late enough that I could still sub that day.

No such luck.

They (Sorry Mrs. Summers. I know I'm using the infamous "they" but I don't know what else to use.) have the summer and fall class schedule up online. Being the anal scheduling freak I am, I have already drawn up two possible schedules. This was withing about 2-3 hours of me finding this and working nonstop. Now I would like to come up with alternative 3 in case Mr. Bardole doesn't like them. All possibilities include classes every day. Guess subbing is out for the fall semester too. At least I'll get to sub during May.

Crushcrushcrush

I was taking a shower last night and I had Crushcrushcrush by Paramore stuck in my head. As I sang it part of the lyrics stood out to me. It's not a Christian song or anything, but as I repeated it over and over it made me think of our relationship with the Father. I'm going to break the song apart stanza by stanza and possibly even more than that. If you want to listing to it, here's a link to the music video on youtube.

I got a lot to say to you
Yeah, I got a lot to say
I noticed your eyes are always glued to me
Keeping them here
And it makes no sense at all

We should have so much to say to God. We should want to tell Him everything, ask Him for things and His will. His eyes are always on us. He sees everything we do and knows everything we think. And it doesn't make sense. We are flawed, fallen creatures but He loves us anyway.

They taped over your mouth
Scribbled out the truth with their lies
You little spies
They taped over your mouth
Scribbled out the truth with their lies
You little spies

This part made me think of people ignoring or misusing the Bible. "Scribbled out the truth with their lies" Jesus is the Truth. Satan lies and deceives trying to scribble Christ out of everything.

Crush
Crush
Crush
Crush, crush
(Two, three, four!)

I didn't really know anything to say to this part...

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone
Just the one-two of us, who's counting on
That never happens
I guess I'm dreaming again
Let's be more than this

It's great when we get to spend quiet time with God. Just the one-two of us talking and listening and just being with Him. Sadly, for many of us that rarely happens. We've had a long day at work/school/with kids/ets and we just want to relax do we sleep/watch tv/get on facebook/check the blogs/etc and don't make time to be with God. But that's so much more relaxing than any of those things. He takes away all the nuts of the day and gives us peace.

If you want to play it like a game
Well, come on, come on, let's play
Cause I'd rather waste my life pretending
Than have to forget you for one whole minute

How horrible would it be if we just completely forgot about God? If we shoved Him out of our life completely?

That's pretty much all I have and the rest is mostly repeating too.

They taped over your mouth
Scribbled out the truth with their lies
You little spies
They taped over your mouth
Scribbled out the truth with their lies
You little spies

Crush
Crush
Crush
Crush, crush
(Two, three, four!)

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone
Just the one-two of us, who's counting on
That never happens
I guess I'm dreaming again
Let's be more than this now

Rock and roll, baby
Don't you know that we're all alone now?
I need something to sing about
Rock and roll, hey
Don't you know, baby, we're all alone now?
I need something to sing about
Rock and roll, hey
Don't you know, baby, we're all alone now?
Give me something to sing about

Sing about Him! Praise Him with song!

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone
Just the one-two of us, who's counting on
That never happens
I guess I'm dreaming again
Let's be more than
No, oh

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone
Just the one-two of us, who's counting on
That never happens
I guess I'm dreaming again
Let's be more than
More than this
Ohoh ohoh ohoh
Oooh...

Scaredy Cat

I've been feeling like there's someone I need to witness to and that today was the day. But I can't do it. I'm scared. I think that it's not the right time. But if it isn't the right time to tell him about Jesus, then will it be? Ugh. At Bible study last night we read Exodus 5 and we talked about how sometimes you're supposed to deliver a message for God or about Him or something else along those lines but that it won't always get through the first time. Sometimes we will have a plan for a situation - we know exactly what we're going to say, how the other person is going to respond, etc. Sometimes God doesn't want the situation to go that way. Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. I don't want this situation to get worse. I guess I'll never know what could happen though if I don't take a leap of faith, but I afraid of falling.

Umm... Do You REALLY Want me to do that?

I think I here You calling. Telling me to do something that I'm kind of unwilling to do. I know I should listen and do as you tell me, but I'm really afraid. For now I will keep praying and seeking Your will.

Amazing Weekend

I want to tell you guys everything about this weekend, but I can't find words to describe it. A lot of you who read my blog were there and got to experience many of the same things I did, even though I'm sure god spoke to us in different ways. I feel so blessed right now. I've never felt closer to Him than I did this weekend. I'm so much more committed. I've realized that I really need to hand things over to him because He can do all things. I knew this before but I have a really hard time doing it. I finally handed a few things over to Him this weekend that I'd been holding in. I have confidence in the fact that He took the hurt and pain and guilt and the whole sin away from me. God has provided me with even more amazing friends and has brought me closer to some old amazing friends. I was so blessed serving Him this weekend.

What's a Girl to Do?

I'm in need of some advice from trusted friends. I have one group of friends that we'll call group A. I love them dearly, BUT (there's always that huge but in the way) they don't care for many of my other friends. For the sake of simplicity we'll call these other friends group B. Group A often talks bad about B. This puts me in such an uncomfortable situation. I want to remain friends with group A, but I often feel uncomfortable and out of place when they start talking about someone(s) in group B. Many times I will just get rather quiet when they start in like this, but sometimes I will try to defend the person(s) in group B being attacked. I'm not sure how clear this is coming across.
I guess to attempt to sum this up - I feel torn. I don't want to lose group A because they mean a lot to me, even if they don't realize it. If I was ever put in a situation where I had to choose I would have to choose B. I need advice on what the most Christian way to handle the situation when next I'm put in it. What do I say, how do I act, etc.

Catching Up Part I

First off, I'd like to note that this is part one of Catching Up. The number of parts has yet to be determined. This the first part shall be about the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert and the little events surrounding it.

This story begins Monday, December 22 in Bicknell. Ben and I headed to pick up Lynette and do all the fun stuff one does in Bicknell (i.e. go to the bank). I realized when we were at the bank waiting on Ben that I forgot the maps and stuff so we had to stop at my house on our way through. Then the real journey began. We made our way up 67 to 231 and on to 70 to get to our lovely hotel in Plainville. We relaxed in our room for a little while but not too long because Lynette and I (but most her) decided we were hungry. We looked through the giant Indy phonebook for Chinese restaurants and eventually found two on a street very near Conseco. We happily headed out to fill our rumbly bellies.

Once we got in Indy and on the correct street it didn't take Ben long to realize we were about 800 blocks away from the one restaurant and about 100 away from the other... Oops. Luckily Lynette spotted a B-dubs so we went around the Circle and on our way back to B-dubs Ben spotted a nice parking garage. Our food was delish and B-dubs was warm unlike the outside. Sadly I forgot the tickets in the car... Ben was quite the gentleman and went back to get them. Then it was finally concert time!

The concert was amazing. I can't really describe it other than that. Thankfully pictures are worth a thousand words and I have plenty. I believe it has yet to be decided how many words a video is worth, but I've got plenty of them too. I hope you enjoy these!


I can't remember the song that was going on but you can see the twinkly lights - ie snow. They were tres pretty.










The awesome lasers and light show and fog and people rocking out. All in all, amazing.









The "drunkard" singing. It was a really good and also touching song.










The strings rawking out. They are so talented. The videos later demonstrate their amazingness more.









Pretty purple and blue stage.

Opening set of the show

*I tried to upload a couple other videos but it's being cranky so I'll get them up soon.*

After the concert we booked it back to the car and then to the hotel. I read a little, Ben watched tv, and Lynette texted for a little while before sleeping. I guess we didn't get to sleep early enough because we didn't leave as early as planned. Weather wasn't bad up there when we left but dad had called and said it was icing at home already. Everything was fine on 70. We got on 231 which wasn't too bad until after we stopped for gas. By the time we got back on 67 it was definitely slick. I was planning on stopping once we got in Spencer which was just a couple miles away but suddenly I see a silver Cavalier sliding across the road toward me. I tried to get over and avoid her but it didn't work. She bounced off me and the high schooler driving it got it to stop down the hill. We had to wait on the cop to show up. He had us pull way over on the pull off. Once he finally got done with his report I was very ready to get to town, eat, and wait on the roads. He told us to stay until the highway trucks went through, but it wouldn't have mattered because we were blocked in by two semis and three coal trucks. After about two hours of waiting we finally could get out. Although I would have liked to sit down and eat, I really just wanted to get home. Wouldn't have mattered because we had to wait in traffic on the other side of Spencer for around two more hours. After we got out of that we were free and clear the rest of the way home.

Thankfully the only thing that happened to Dean's car was a small dent in the driver's door and some paint scraping. The girl that hit me just had a busted headlight.