I can't ever stay with one thing, can I?

I must ask again for your feedback. And in this case it is most desperately needed because I made such drastic changes.

I started a different blog a few days ago so I could post essentially what I post here but without the pictures/real names of other people so that I could share it with more people (like the forum I administrate). But it turned out so nicely that I decided to make this blog like it.

I'm not so sure I like the title for forever....or the background. I may just keep it till I'm sick of it and revert back to the lovely purpleness. But right now I'm in love with the books, the quote, and the title.

So tell me what you think. (That's a nice way of saying: PLEASE COMMENT!!! =P)

Verse Of The Day

For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So then death is working in us, but life in you...Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:5-12, 16-18

Live Fully, Laugh Often, Love Always

The Song You Sing

We all have excuses// why living in fear//something in us dies//
Like a bird with broken wings//its not how high he flies//but the song he sings
(Courage Is, The Strange Familiar)

Crazy Jesus People

I was thinking about the word "Jesus" last night. Isn't it sad how much that word is thrown around?

"Jesus freaks!"
"Jesus is a crutch"
"Jesus, Mama, are you sure you want to do that?"
"I don't like that Jesus thing"
"She's one of those Jesus people"

It means something different to different people - and some people take it as offensive.

You people who are still doing awana quizzing (or still remember it) can tell me the reference in the Bible that talks about how the Gospel is foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block for the Jews. (or was it the other way around?)

At any rate, unsaved people don't know the depth to the word "Jesus". But as Christians, think how much we can pull from that one word. Think how much meaning there is in that single word - "Jesus".

He is our refuge, our strength, our redeemer, comforter, friend, brother, GOD, Lord, master, savior, and everything else. Our ALL. Every part of us depends on Him (or should) and our life comes only through Him.

Will I Love You?

One of my friends recently got me into Robert Pierre's music. He's a Christian artist, and he's 17 years old. I think he made his first album when he was 15 or 16. He sounds like Chris Tomlin, except better. (in my opinion :P)

I was listening to "I will love you" a few minutes ago, and a particular line made me think....



I'll live a life that says//You give me every song
With my every breath//I'll make Your mercy known
With every soul on earth//or all alone
I will love You//I will love You.

It's easy to say we'll worship God with all the other Christians. But if No One on earth was a Christian - would you still love God? Okay, so realistically that probably won't happen. But there are real situations in life where I'm the only Christian in a group, or the only one who holds a certain view. Do I still live my life to show that Jesus gives me my song, my breath, my life?

Not only that, but do I really love God? With everything in me, striving to put Him first?

The more I realize the fallen-ness of myself, of the world, the more I stand in awe of God's grace and love. And the least I can do is return what human love I have as a living sacrifice for Him - whether with every soul on earth, or all alone.

This is where you comment

What do you think of the little picture I made up at the top? Can you read the verse? Does it look nice? Yes, I'm picky and I want to know. :P

Tournaments Do Weird Things To Us

Verve Tournament was last weekend!!! =D

Seriously, who doesn't love giant pieces of chocolate cake the size of your head and half-crazed line dancing to live bluegrass music and winning piles of trophies?

Okay, so I didn't win piles of trophies. Just one. (It's shiny and extremely sharp on the end. ::grin::) But other people did.

I love how speech tournaments end up being some of my best, most memorable weekends. I've only been to 2 and already I'm getting them all mixed up. But oh, I love it.....running frantically to a round, tournament pizza, meeting new people, slippers, blazers, breaks, skits, sharp trophies....

My Illustrated Oratory got 2nd place, which was extremely surprising. My dramatic only got 13th, but it was still loads of fun.

I ::cough:: will admit I memorized my speech the night before the tournament. And I was pretty nervous about it too.

So, a friend of mine and were having a conversation on gmail the other day about memorizing speeches. (this was pre-tournament as I was frantically trying to memorize)

Me: Thing is, I tend to do a good amount of forgetting when I'm extremely nervous.......
Friend: ah
hmm.
so don't get nervous! =D
Me: That's a good point.

About a day later, I sent an email to my sister and asked her to pray for my speech tournament. She wrote back and gave me this verse:

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.

I honestly thought this was the coolest verse in the world that God could have given me. Not only did it say "I will go in the strength of the Lord" (as in, He will give me the words, strength, and calm nerves for my speech), but "I will make mention of your righteousness..."

If you've seen my speech, you know that it's on Chinese characters and their connection to the Bible - and that the climactic point (and pretty much my thesis statement) is righteousness.

Is God amazing or what?

It was absolutely amazing how peaceful I felt during the rounds. Yes, I messed up, which usually caused my heart to go ::kerthump:: and my face to turn pink and I would fumble with the boards to pass the time while I remembered what came next. But that only happened once or twice, and for some reason I could still keep going smoothly and enjoyably.

It's amazing the peace God gives you when you know you are doing it for Him, that there is nothing to be afraid of, and that His joy is your strength. =)

I'll post more pictures soon!