Tuesday, August 26, 2008

...all other ground is sinking sand.

The Lord is so good. Always steadfast. The only constant. Why do we so often forget to keep Him as our anchor? He has never failed...
I have been a wayward child,
I have acted out,
I have questioned sovereignty,
and had my share of doubts,
And though sometimes,
my prayers feel like the mountain of the sky,
the hand that holds won't let me go,
and is the reason why
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
I will not be moved
Bitterness has plagued my heart,
many times before,
My life has been a broken glass,
that I have kept restored,
of all my shattered dreams,
and though it seemed,
that I was far too gone,
my brokenness helped me to see,
it's grace I'm standing on.
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
I will not be moved
And chaos in my life,
has been a badge of war,
and though I have been torn,
I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand,
I will not be moved
"I Will Not Be Moved" by Natalie Grant

Saturday, August 16, 2008

people never crumble in a day

Earlier today I was having a conversation with one of my friends, and he played the following song for me. He was talking about how the words resonated in him, about how he hadn't realized he was messing things up until it was already done. It's by Casting Crowns, and while it's completely unlike any music he listens to, he heard it somewhere and said he couldn't stop listening. The words have been running over and over in my mind since our conversation.


Slow Fade

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Thursday, July 24, 2008

finished the race...

2 Timothy 4:6-8
"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."



That's one of the main Scriptures that was focused on at Bryan's funeral and burial today. Not only did the pastor share about Bryan's life and how he did fight the good fight to his very last breath, but he also emphasized the message that Bryan tried to pass along to everyone he met: are you ready to go at any moment?

People always say that they have time to get their lives in order, that after they've done such & such or experience this & that, then they'll work on things. We often forget that we have no guarantee that we'll live until we're 90, when in reality we could die tomorrow. And then we'll have eternity to deal with the decisions we did or did not make, and all that those entail...

Bryan's life was a testimony to his Savior. The amount of people he reached is a testimony to him. His crown of righteousness is well deserved.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

author unknown

This is in honor of Bryan, who fought every day. It reminds me of his approach to life, that it's too short to not make the most of the time we have...


I'd rather be the ship that sails
and rides the billows wild and free;
than to be the ship that always fails
to leave its port and go to sea.
I'd rather feel the sting of strife,
where gales are born and tempests roar;
than to settle down to useless life
and rot in dry dock on the shore.
I'd rather fight some mighty wave
with honor in supreme command;
and fill at last a well-earned grave,
than die in ease upon the sand.
I'd rather drive where sea storms blow
and be the ship that always failed
to make the ports where it would go
than be the ship that never sailed.

Friday, July 4, 2008

just some thoughts for today...

I've learned - that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I've learned - that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.
I've learned - that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned - that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned - that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something.
I've learned - that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do.
I've learned - that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do about it. But do the best you can do.
I've learned - that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned - that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides.
I've learned - that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I've learned - that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.
I've learned - that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned - that you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I've learned - that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I've learned - that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I've learned - that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I've learned - that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I've learned - that learning to forgive takes practice.
I've learned - that there are people who love you dearly, but just don'tknow how to show it.
I've learned - that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I've learned - that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I've learned - that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned - that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I've learned - that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I've learned - that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned - that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned - that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I've learned - that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.
I've learned - that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned - that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I've learned - that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned - that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned - that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to.
I've learned - that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned - that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.
I've learned - that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I've learned - that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
I've learned - that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I've learned - that there are many ways of falling and staying in love.
I've learned - that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.
I've learned - that no matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most.
I've learned - that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I've learned - that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I've learned - that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.
I've learned - that the paradigm we live in is not all that is offered to us.
I've learned - that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I've learned - that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.
I've learned - that although the word "love" can have many different meanings, it loses value when overly used.
I've learned - that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.


Sometimes...many times...life will throw something at us that we don't understand. Maybe we never will.
But I just reminded myself that God's there. And that's enough.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Jamaica, round 8

so, it's been a while....a lot has changed in my life, yet i just haven't really felt like i've had much to write about. isn't it funny how that works?

i'm leaving for jamaica at four on friday (tomorrow), for my eighth trip down there. it still feels completely surreal that i'm even going, but it couldn't have happened at a better time. i'm looking forward to being there and escaping myself for a while. i know that i'll spend my time learning, loving, and making the most of each moment i have...all things that i lose sight of in my daily life here in fort wayne.


this is my backyard down there :)


i'll write more and post pictures when i get back. have a wonderful week!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

2008

so, there are so many puns for this year. and i'm pretty sure the majority have been made by my friends, and it's only 1 day into the year. which brings me to my next thought...

one day of 2008 is already over (or about to be for me). it's been a great day. but time really does not wait for anyone. i probably need to remind myself more often to make the most of everything. that's pretty much that.

happy new year!