Ashes

Ashes

Breathing deep the scent of the rain in the grass,
And the whisper of wind through the skies,
I sit cross-legged on the sandy, white beach.
I lay down, close my world-wearied eyes.

All my burdens are heavy within me,
Their weight like thick stones on my back,
But the one thing that keeps me from fading away,
Is the One Thing that I'll never lack.

I see Your footprints across the damp, sticky sand,
Hear Your breath in the sweet, gentle breeze,
Feel Your hands on each slope, on each crevice of land,
Know Your presence is all around me.

So the stones fall from my shoulders like ashes.
I am new, I am healed and restored.
I will rest for eternity in the palms of Your hands,
And lift up my heart to You, Lord.

March 20, 2010

Featured Artist: Britt Nicole

Yesterday I reviewed the secular rap/pop artist, Ke$ha, and found her music to be inappropriate for Christian listeners.  Today, I will be searching for a possible Ke$ha replacement... a Christian artist with a similar sound, honorable lyrics, and a godly lifestyle.  The artist I chose for this week is Britt Nicole.

Quick Bio-
From my sources online, Britt Nicole (Brittany Nicole Waddell) grew up in a small town in North Carolina.  Her parents divorced when she was younger, resulting in the inspiration for many of her songs later on in her music career.  She was raised singing in the church with her brother, and she even turned down a prestigious college scholarship in order to pursue her music.  Ever since she was signed with Sparrow Records, Britt Nicole has risen drastically within the Christian music industry.  Her first single, "You", made it to the top ten on the R&R chart, and "Believe" was the 21st most played Christian song in 2008.  Britt Nicole's music has also reached a level of fame within the secular music industry, featured on MTV and NBC's "The Biggest Loser." 

While Britt's musical style is different than that of Ke$ha's, most of her songs are considered to be within the pop genre, and "Holiday" features her rapping in a similar style, but minus the explicit cussing and sexual innuendos.  Britt Nicole is focused on bringing people, especially young Christians, closer to God through her music.  Ke$ha has been quoted as saying that she is against pretension, and she wants people to learn how to take themselves less seriously and be unique.  Britt has a similar goal, only hers is pointed towards shining for God.

"It's about stepping out and being who God has called you to be and not being afraid of that.  I believe when we look different and carry something different, people are going to see that and want it too.  They are going to see the love of Christ in us and they'll desire that. I believe people will come to know God if we as Christians do just that."

Britt's lyrics have a similar approach to how she views life as a Christian striving to be an example to a lost and lonely world.  The chorus to one of her well-known singles, "The Lost Get Found", says,

"Don't let your lights go down.  Don't let your fire burn out.  Somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.  Why don't you rise up now?  Don't be afraid to stand out.  That's how the lost get found."

"Say It", a song from Britt's first album of the same name, stresses that we don't have much time left to change the world, so we need to use what we have while we have it.

"Life is short and quickly passing by.  Father, will you help me make the most of what is mine?  With eyes open wide, I'm taking You in, making the time mean all that it can.  I don't need a sign.  I just need to begin..."

Britt has struggled with the pain of divorce in her personal life, and she has also felt the strong calling from God for her to reach out to young people across the world.  Britt has moved beyond her comfort zone, eager and prepared to share her faith to the ends of the earth.

"I don't want to be selfish anymore.  I don't want to be safe anymore.  When God tells me to step out and talk to somebody or believe for what seems impossible, I want to do it."   

I have to say that I have a bit of bias when it comes to this artist... I have all of Britt Nicole's songs on my own iPod, and I've met her personally and she seemed to be a remarkably sweet Christian girl with a fire for God.  Her concert was filled with fun music, and yet after the concert ended, I found myself feeling only admiration for the passionate, young artist.  I definitely recommend Britt Nicole's music to Christian listeners who are looking for a role model with fun, modern sounds and a heart for Christ.

I would like to end this post with a final quote from Britt Nicole.

"My fans want a pop record.  I'm a pop artist and they love fun music.  When they come to my concerts, they want to have fun and I love that.  That's my personality to have fun, but the heart of who I am is to worship and see people's lives changed and to reach those who are hurting.  It's what I believe God has called me to do." 

If you have any comments or opinions, then feel free to comment below.  If you would like to recommend a secular or Christian artist for next week, then you may also comment below.

Reviewing: Ke$ha

Today's secular artist that I will be reviewing is Ke$ha.  The reason I chose this artist to be this week's review is because of her interesting performance on American Idol last St. Patrick's Day.  Singing her new hit, "Blah Blah Blah", Kesha paraded the stage wearing a bedazzled Indian headdress, accompanied by TV-wearing dancers.

While I can admit that Kesha's pop/rap style is unique, I am not a big fan of her musical style.  I found some of her music on YouTube and Pandora, and then began to research the young artist.

Quick Bio-
Kesha was raised with her brother by her single mom, who was also an aspiring musician.  The family was extremely poor, often relying on nutritional supplements to help them survive.  Despite the fact that Kesha was incredibly intelligent academically, reaching near-perfect scores on her SAT tests, she dropped out of high school at the age of seventeen to pursue her music career.  Kesha is possibly best known for some of her crazier actions, such as breaking into Prince's mansion to try to convince him to produce her music.  Understandably, the legendary musician declined.  Kesha's first number one hit was "Tik Tok," appearing at the top of the charts in eleven different countries.  For the past year now, Kesha has risen constantly as the new, young artist with the funny name.  Ke$ha. 

After checking out Kesha's biography, I introduced myself to some of her music through her YouTube account.  I started with the video for "Tik Tok".  Before you check this out, I would like to warn you that the shorts and skirts that Kesha wears in her videos are short, practically nonexistent.  The music video begins with a hung-over Kesha waking up in a strange bathtub in an unfamiliar house.  She proceeds to dress and brush her teeth with a bottle of Jack Daniels, before heading downstairs to frighten the living daylights out of a family with young children, before shrugging carelessly and taking off on a bike.  The rest of the video consists of Kesha partying with random guys who enjoy drunk driving, she gets arrested (and apparently escapes) from the police, and then she falls asleep in yet another strange bath tub, surrounded by empty liquor bottles and an abandoned shoe.  Nice.

Obviously, Kesha's moral values don't quite meet the standards of model Christian behavior, but what about her lyrics?  I decided to look up the lyrics from Kesha's album "Animal."    "Tik Tok"'s lyrics pretty much consist of everything described in the music video.  When I read the lyrics to "Blah Blah Blah", I stopped reading at the first verse.  Take a look for yourself:

"Comin' out your mouth with a blah, blah, blah, Zip your lips with a padlock, And meet me in the back with a jack and a jukebox.Don't really care where you live at,Just turn around, boy, let me hit that.Don't be a little ***** with your chit chat.Just show me where your ****s at."

Some of Kesha's other songs talk about getting high in a friend's basement, getting hungover and miserable, and stripping down for sex in a "hole" with several other people.  There may be an "iffy" song somewhere amongst this garbage, but I couldn't even find one song that would meet even my Neutral criteria.

In other words, Kesha's music does not in any way follow the guidelines of Philippians 4:8.  If anything, her songs not only rebel against God's Word, but they run frantically the other way.  Kesha supports drinking, casual sex, and wild partying.  And what does she have to say about her party-girl image and the controversy behind that lyric in her "Tik Tok" song about brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack?

"Everyone's really offended by that. But come on, brushing your teeth with Jack Daniel's: what girl does that? People are like, 'Do you really advocate brushing your teeth with bourbon?' I'm like, 'Yes, actually, I do, every day, for everybody. Especially eight year olds.' I mean, what are you talking about? Of course I don't. Come on."

Kesha claims that she wishes that people could "take themselves just a little less seriously."  From what I see, Kesha should care a little more about what her lyrics are saying.  If she doesn't want her fans to take her lyrics seriously, then why did she use them in the first place?

If you are considering adding Kesha's music to your playlist, or if you already have, then I would strongly, strongly recommend that you run away screaming from this girl's music.  Kesha's music is practically the opposite of anything Christian.  I have found nothing about her songs that is wholesome and honorable.

When I first decided that I would review Kesha's music this week, I assumed that there would be a few "iffy" songs and maybe one or two "Bad" ones, but I was appalled at the true quality of her music.  Sex, drinking, and cussing runs rampant through Kesha's lyrics.  Honestly, all I have to say about this artist is: RUN FOR THE HILLS.  Seriously.  This is not an artist that I recommend.

The Bad Song

The Bad Song is somewhat self-explanatory, in my opinion.  A song that fits into The Bad Song category is going to go against the guidelines of Philippians 4:8.  Before labeling a song as a Good Song or Bad Song or Neutral Song, then you may want to use this list that is based off of Philippians 4:8:

• Does the song have a deceitful message that contradicts something in God's Word?
• Is there anything in this song that does not honor God?  Is there anything that dishonors a gender, race, or Christianity?  Is there anything that is not honorable?
• Is there anything within this song that is flat out wrong or even questionable to your Christian morals and values?  Does the song go against something that you believe in as a follower of the Lord?  
• Does the song contain impure lyrics?
• Does the song have lyrics that aren't "lovely" and "excellent"?  For instance, are there any ugly or violent or angry lyrics?  
• Would you be ashamed to praise this song to a Christian leader who you admire and respect?  Would you be ashamed to praise this song to God?  Does this song praise anything that is not true, honorable, etc.?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then your song probably needs to be put into the "Bad Song" category... no matter how much you hate to admit it.  There are many Bad Songs that are catchy.  You may be thinking in your head right now, "Oh no, I can list several 'Bad' songs that I like, and I don't know if I want to give them up." 

Do you know a common excuse that people use to justify what they listen to?  You may have used this excuse many times.  "Well, I like this song, but all I really listen to the beat, not the lyrics."  Don't lie to yourself.  When you say this, you are not only lying to your own heart, but you are lying to God.  It is impossible to only listen to the music.  Impossible.  The words are pouring into your head each time you play that song, no matter what you try to focus your attention on. 

I was attending a high school chapel session one day when a speaker came and starting talking about some of the inappropriate music that we listen to (we being young Christians), and he asked us why we listen to some of the bad songs that we do.  One student used the exact same excuse: "I just listen to the beat and tune and stuff.  I don't listen to the words."  The speaker announced soon after that we were going to play a game.  He would play a short clip of a popular song from the secular media, and we were supposed to finish the verse.  Fun, right?  He played probably four or five songs, and we were able to finish all of them, singing out the words with pride at our vast music knowledge.  But towards the end of this exercise, my friends and I looked at each other with a sudden shame.  Why were we grinning, proud of our accomplishments?  The words that we were singing were not good at all.  They talked about sex, alcohol, and even suicide.  So much for only listening to the music part.   

See, the deal is, you can say that you're going to ignore the words to the song and only listen to the instrumental side, but the words are entering your head either way.  They're there.  And you know them.  Think about your favorite song with not-so-great lyrics.  You know the words to that song.  When you hear the song on the radio, you know when the bad parts come on.  You can probably even sing most of the song without the music.  Don't kid yourself.  Don't justify it to yourself.   

When you are purposely listening to a song that flat out disrespects God's Word and Philippians 4:8, then that means you are disrespecting what God has asked you to keep out of your mind.  There are some songs that are going to be up to you to decide for yourself whether or not they are "Bad," but then there are some songs- many, actually- that just are Bad, no doubt about it.  You can't change it.  They're not good.  They're not iffy.  They're not neutral.  They go against God, and so they're Bad.  

"Okay, I get it.  I've been listening to bad music.  But I really do like some of it, and I don't know how to summon the will it takes to stop listening to this kind of music.  I don't know if I can stop... I don't even really like most plain Christian music!" you might be thinking.  And that's tough.  It's hard to change the music that you like, and it's even harder to delete a song that you've listened to a million times and that you still enjoy after all this time. 

But you know what?  You can do it.  Don't say you can't, because you can.  You have God on your side, and He can always help you.  No temptation goes beyond what you can bear. 

If you have the problem of feeling like you can't stop listening to Bad Songs, then please keep reading over the next few weeks.  On Saturdays, I'll be reviewing some of these secular artists... but on Sundays, I'm going to be finding some possible replacement Christian artists who have good music and similar sounds to artist featured the Saturday before.  Contrary to what you might think, not all Christian music sounds the same... and not all Christian music contains a simple, boring, four-chord progression.   

As unified brothers and sisters in Christ, we can work together to be set apart from the world.  We can help each other to stay away from music that turns our thoughts and our hearts from God.  Believe it or not, worldly music is hindering to your relationship with Christ. 

It's always a struggle to overcome temptation, but you can do it.  If you need a prayer, some advice, or if you have an opinion or Bible verse to contradict or support today's post, then submit your comment below or send me an email.  I would love to hear from you.

And this ends this week's "Song Choice" series.  I hope this has opened your eyes to some of the things that you're putting into your head.  Researching this has sure opened my eyes to this issue, and I am absolutely glad that I have begun this topic.  There are some songs that I am going to have to delete from my playlist, and there are some songs that I am going to have to pray about.  All I know is that I'm striving to glorify God, and I am willing to make any sacrifice to reach the place where He wants me to be.  Nothing is worth disappointing my Savior and my Father, not even music.

The Almost Good but with a Little Bit of Bad Mixed In Song

Today's topic has actually had me struggling to write what God wants me to write.  I actually wrote out a survey, passed it out to a couple of kids at school, and even posted it on a forum at SusieMag.com.  I got some great responses from other young, Christian teens that helped spur me on to go ahead and write this post, a day late. 

What I mean by "The Almost Good With A Little Bit Of Bad Mixed In Song" is pretty self explanatory.  This kind of song- to save screen space- will also be known as "The Iffy Song."  Have you ever liked a song because of its catchy tune, and then stopped to listen to the lyrics and thought, "Whoa... I didn't know that was in there!"  There have been so many instances like this in my life.  One of my favorite songs is "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz... but it has the "d-word" in the lyrics.  Another song that I enjoy is "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, but it takes God's Name in vain at least twice.  There are so many other cool songs like these two that are so fun, so likable, so catchy... but then there's that teeny-tiny little thing that makes them iffy. 

So are they okay to listen to?

This is a tough one for me because I do like some of these "iffy" songs, and I am almost afraid that if I say that it is a sin to listen to them, then I will not only be a hypocrite... but I'll have to stop listening to these songs.  And I love these songs!

This week, I have been praying constantly to God that He will show me the truth about the music that I put into my ears, and what I have decided to do today is put up a short series of questions below and let you decide for yourself. 

1.  Does the "iffy" part in this song turn you away from God at all?  I mean, has this song put a naughty phrase or word or idea in your head more than you would think about it than usual?  Have you found yourself singing along with the lyrics, even the "iffy" ones? 

2.  On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst, how bad is the worst part of your song?  Is the word "hell" used inappropriately once or is there a raunchy paragraph about a sexual encounter?   Think about it... some words and some lyrics are worse than others. 

3.  How do you feel about the fact that you, as a follower of Christ, are listening to a song with an "iffy" part that does not glorify God while there are people who are being tortured and killed right now around the world because they are standing up for God as outspoken Christians?  Does this song set you apart from the world or make you blend in more than you should?

4.  Can you get a clean, radio-edit version of this song?  For example, "Teardrops on My Guitar" by Taylor Swift can be purchased without the one cuss word.  In my small opinion, the edited version of that song is automatically moved to the "Neutral Song" list. 

5.  What do your parents think about this song?  Do they disapprove of what you're listening to, or do they say, "I think this song is okay for you."  Their opinion does matter.

I think that for the most part, the "iffy" songs do need to go.  Jesus wants us to serve Him with our lives, and that may involve sacrificing the fun things that are a part of blending in with the world.  The Lord has called us to be Set Apart.  Jesus made the sacrifice of being beaten, mocked, and murdered on a cross for you and for me.  The least we could do is sacrifice a few awesome songs that don't glorify Him.  Think about it. 

I'm not going to sit here and say, "Every single "iffy" song out there is bait from the devil, and if you listen to these songs, then you're a horrible Christian!"  Ultimately, your song choice depends on your heart.  My song choice depends on my heart.

However, I do strongly encourage you to sit down and talk to God.  Get His opinion.  Let Him speak to you and help you to decide how to clean up your playlist.  After all, He does know best.

The Neutral Song

What I consider to be a "Neutral Song" is a song that doesn't have anything bad in it... it pretty much follows the guidelines set in place by Philippians 4:8... but it doesn't really have anything that good in it either.  Its message isn't phenomenal, but it isn't bad.  It's just a nice song.  It's okay.  Basically, you aren't corrupting your mind, but you aren't really improving your thoughts either. 

In my opinion, there is no right or wrong when it comes to listening to Neutral Songs.  It is up to you.  You probably won't get anything out of it, but that doesn't have to be an issue.  Sometimes, it's okay to just lean back with a pointless song and stop thinking about the message.  It also may have a lot of talent in the instrumental and musical area, but not so much meat in the actual lyric area.  And that's okay. 

There are going to be times when we need to be fed by song lyrics, but Good Songs aren't always necessary.  Music doesn't have to be some intense process where you feel like you're constantly having to gain something out of the content.  It doesn't always have to be that way.  Adding Neutral Songs to the mix isn't going to hurt a thing. 

Some examples of Neutral Songs are "Our Song" by Taylor Swift, "Bella Luna" by Jason Mraz, "The Little Things" by Colbie Caillat, "Love Bug" by the Jonas Brothers, and "L.O.V.E." by Nat King Cole. 

There can also be Neutral Songs in the Christian music industry.  Unless an artist is strictly worship or simply amazing, there are going to be fairly empty, neutral, fun songs in the album... and that is fine!  "Gibberish" by Relient K comes to mind, along with Veggie Tales' "Everybody's Got A Water Buffalo," and "Sore Eyes" by Brandon Heath. 

And always remember that you can get something from every song.  There is always a hidden meaning somewhere amongst the lyrics, and if you are out to search for something to impact you, then you will find it if you look hard enough.  Every one of the songs I mentioned above has a meaning... and just because they are not life-shattering, they are not completely empty.  You can find something.  Just know that you aren't required to search out a meaning with Neutral Songs.  They can always be just for fun. 

What are some Neutral Songs that you love or hate?  Do you agree that there are Neutral Songs at all, or do you think that they should be Good or Bad?

The "Good" Song

I thought I would start out with "The Good Song" because it is fairly easy to describe.  In fact, you probably know what kind of song that I am talking about. 

In the secular music industry, there are songs that carry great messages, no matter if they have a "Christian" label or not.  There are Good Songs in every genre of music.  No cussing or dishonorable topic, a good message, complete truth... they might even have lyrics, no matter how unintentionally, that will carry your thoughts to God. 

This may be an obvious example, but "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood is a good country song with a great message.  "How to Save A Life" by the Fray is also a Good Song.  If you really want to go out on a limb, songs like "Dreams" by Van Halen have a good message, and the same with "In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley, "Let It Be" by The Beatles, and "Man In the Mirror" by Michael Jackson. 

When you find a Good Song, even if it is by an artist that doesn't always produce the best music, then you can put that specific song on your playlist guilt-free.  However, you must be careful.  It is so easy to say, "Well, this is a Good Song..." because you like the song, and not necessarily because it is actually a Good Song.  Google the lyrics to your selected song choice... look up the meaning behind the words.  If the song is dishonorable, deceitful, untrue, or impure, then it doesn't make it into the list of Good Songs.  In fact, if it is "iffy" at all, then I wouldn't put it up there.  Instead, wait for Wednesday's post.   

Pretend that you are placing your song before God.  Is He going to turn away and close His ears, repulsed and ashamed, or is He going to enjoy the music?  If God would refuse to listen to your song, then you need to clear it off of your playlist.  As Christians, we are supposed to be "Little Christs," and listening to music that Christ disapproves of is not imitating Him.

I realize that it is difficult to only listen to pure and honorable songs... sometimes it seems like there aren't that many great Christian songs out there.  When you struggle with this, try to remember the sacrifices that Jesus made for you.  He suffered and died for you.  Don't you think that you can sacrifice the music that you listen to for Him? 

What are some Good Songs that you have found in the secular music industry?  What are your guidelines for a Good Song?  Leave a comment with your opinion.  

What do you shove into your head?

To begin my weekly posts about finding the right music that pleases God, I would like to talk about finding the right kind of songs, minus the artist.  What I am about to say may be somewhat controversial.  If you disagree and want to share your opinion, then leave a comment.  I don't mind at all.

Unless you have a personal conviction to stay away from secular music in general, then I believe that you can sort through secular music with an open mind, and find songs and artists within the secular media that do not turn away from the guidelines set into place by Philippians 4:8, which paraphrased says: Everything that you think about should be true, right, honorable, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise.

In other words, there should not be a deceitful or wrong message in the lyrics of your selected song, and the message should be honorable (so random sex, drugs, and clubbing should be out of the picture).  The song should be pure- or innocent- so if it is going corrupt your thoughts, it needs to go.  Lovely and excellent: a song that goes like this (and I'm making this up as I go along), "I want to die, I want to scream, I always kill you in my dreams..." probably isn't a good choice.  And finally, the song needs to be worthy of praise.  This doesn't necessarily mean that it is has to be a praise song, but it should be a song that you can praise to others and say, "Hey, I like this," without feeling a twinge of shame at the truth behind the junk you're shoving into your ears.

While I am talking about specific songs, without any regard to the music artist behind them, you may feel the conviction to judge the music you listen to by more than just the song itself.  You may not feel comfortable judging a song by only its lyrics without including the person or band who performs it, and that is okay too.  On Saturday, I will be including the artist in my search to find the "right" music, but during the next few days, I will be looking at each specific song's message, without any influence from its artist or the other songs in the album.

Now that we have our guidelines, I would like to divide the different types of secular songs into four different categories:
1. The Good Song
2. The Neutral Song
3. The Almost Good With A Tiny Bit of Bad Mixed In Song
4. The Bad Song

Every day for the next few days, I'm going to talk about each category of song, list a few examples, and then ask you to challenge yourself: do you believe that it is okay for you to put this into your mind and into your heart?  I'm going to try (and I emphasize on try) not to preach at you and tell you what is right and what is wrong.  It is ultimately up to you to decide what you will listen to when it comes to music.  Music is a huge passion of mine, and I want to give you the facts so that you can choose for yourself what you believe to fit the guidelines of Philippians 4:8.

Reaching the Moon

In hopes of reaching the moon, men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet. -Albert Schweitzer

How true is this?

How often are we so busy with our everyday lives that we cannot simply sit back and see the beauty all around us?  Today's American culture is focused on moving forward.  Our minds are fixated on the thoughts of bigger and better things: CDs to iPods, VHS to DVDs, bikes to cars to airplanes... the more luxuries that our world can create, the further ahead we strive to become.

Sixty years ago, the thought of reaching the moon seemed like an impossibility.  Now we look past the moon to bigger and better things... we wonder how to explore new planets, new galaxies.

And look at our hectic schedules!  How often do we stop for tea time like some of our ancestors did?  Since when do we actually sit down and enjoy a peaceful sabbath day?  We have to make it to school on time, take the kids to soccer practice and violin lessons, study for the huge exam on Friday, meet a friend for lunch...

A common saying in Kenya is, "Americans have watches, but Africans have time."  I found that this was unsettlingly true.  I arrived in Kenya feeling used to the normalcy of rushing about everywhere I went, but peace and calmness ruled the lives of these Kenyans.  They had tea times every day.  They didn't sit an exact time for the start or end of a meeting.   They stopped to talk to one another, to experience things that I never experienced when I was flying out the door, speeding in my car, arriving at my destination in a stressed frenzy.

I have to admit, I have a busy life.  I'm gone all day, even on days when I don't have school.  I'm constantly driving my car along the busy highway, glancing at my watch to see how late I am this time.  Believe it or not, I don't like to be late.  I never seem to have enough time.

Have you ever wondered that same thing?  Why don't I ever have enough time?

I strongly believe that this is not what God wants for us.  He set aside a day of rest for a purpose.  I don't think that the "sabbath" was meant for strict rule-following and legalism.  However, I do think that a day of rest was meant for our benefit.  Humans were not created to rush, rush, rush, without ever stopping to take a break.  That is not how our bodies and minds were made to function.

When you hurry through your life, always looking ahead, how much of your time are you spending on things that actually matter?  How often are you able to truly spend time with your loved ones?  Can you actually enjoy your day without feeling constant stress?  Can you look outside and breathe in the scent of the air and admire the trees and the sky and the flowers all around you?  Are you taking the time to read this?  Do you ever stop to enjoy the little things in life?

For Christmas, I bought one of my friends a day-by-day calendar.  Each day features about ten or fifteen things to be happy about.  My friends and I enjoy reading the things on each page.  Some of them are silly, but some you would never think about, like a rare warm day during the winter months or a smile from a neighbor.

If you want to truly appreciate God's creation, then take a day and spend it outside, simply admiring the earth around you.  For one day out of each week, stop looking forward.  Stop striving to reach the "moon" in your life.  Take some time to relax in prayer and focus on what God wants you to see.  Ask Him to give you peace despite your hectic life.

I, out of all people, realize that it is extremely difficult to take time out of a busy schedule to simply relax, but it is what everyone needs.  God meant for us to have rest.  He didn't have to give us a sabbath day, a twenty-four hour period without work.  Rest is a gift from the Lord, something that we should not take for granted.

Have you taken for granted the gift of rest?  Do you fail to see the flowers that bloom at your feet?  Don't spend your life in a pointless rush.  Take the time to view the world around you with Christ's eyes.

Feel free to comment with your opinion.  Do you have a solution that helps you to keep from taking rest for granted?  Do you have no trouble with this issue at all?  What are some of the little things that you have missed when you've been striving forward too hard?  Do you have any verses that help you when you struggle with being too busy?

If you have any extra questions, comments, or critiques, feel free to send me an email.        

Quick Update

I am one of those people who loves music.  It doesn't matter what genre, what artist... so long as it sounds good, I will thrive in it.  This passion of mine can sometimes be my downfall.  It can be hard to not want to listen to the secular artists with amazing sounds, but terrible messages.  However, when I stop and listen to the actual words of a song, I suddenly realize the anti-Christian message that I have been pushing into my mind all along.  These song are pleasing to the ear... they make you want to jump up and dance.  But are they healthy to our spiritual walk with Jesus?

Philippians 4:8, NLT, says, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." 

There are times when I have to sit back and ask myself, "Is what I am listening to honorable?  Is this song pure and admirable?  Is there truth in these lyrics?"  If the answers to any of these questions are no, then it is definitely time to begin to clean out what has piled up on my Pandora channel and my iTunes.

Every Saturday starting with next week, I am going to write a review on a popular secular artist.  I will give you my opinion on whether their songs follow the example of Philippians 4:8.  I will use examples of their song lyrics, their lifestyles, and their personal quotations.  I will also share Bible verses that contradict what this featured artist is promoting.  I hope that not every secular artist that I feature will fail my Bible litmus test.  However, I do fear that there are artists who will fail horribly... and some of these I probably listen to on a weekly basis.

Then, on the following Sunday, I will write a review on an admirable Christian artist who has a similar style, good music, and shares lyrics that follow the guidelines of Philippians 4:8.

What I am trying to do will help me improve my personal choice of songs, and it will hopefully give you a glimpse of the truth behind what you might be playing into your ears.  I hope to encourage you to strengthen your spiritual walk with the Lord by only putting admirable things into your head.

To do this, however, I would like your help.  If you have an opinion- agreement or disagreement- on what I write about an artist, then tell me.  If you would like me to review an artist on this blog- secular or Christian- then ask me, and they will most likely come up in a future blog.  Feel free to comment on each blog post, or send me an email at [email protected], and I will try to get back to you soon.

Try to prepare your hearts and minds to accept the fact that there is a chance that what you are putting into your thoughts may not be wholesome, and ask the Lord to give you the humility and the strength to realize the truth about what He wants you to hear.  Pray about the artists that you listen to, and stay tuned for next Saturday and Sunday.

Stuck in the Desert

Recently, for those of you who have not noticed, I seem to have come to a dry spell with my writing.  My stories, my songs, and even my blog entries have unfortunately become few and far between.  I've lost my inspiration over the past several weeks.  I need a new muse to reawaken that writer's fire that I'm used to feel burning deep within me.  Despite this frustration, I am confident that I will soon find that part of me that will give me the inspiration to pick up a pencil and write away into the night once again.

I think that we as Christians sometimes go through these "dry spells" as well in our walks with the Lord.  Sometimes it may seem unusually difficult to force yourself to sit down and open your Bible or pray for more than a few minutes at a.  It can be easy to become so focused on our own busy lives and our own struggles and our own sorrows that we lose focus on our almighty, all-powerful, all-loving God.

If you are going through a dry spell in your walk with God, I want to encourage you with the verse I have provided below.

Psalm 63:1
O God, You are my God,
earnestly I seek You;
my soul thirsts for You,
my body longs for You,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water. 

In this passage, King David was feeling lost and alone.  He was searching for God in a place that seemed to be void of strength and hope that comes with the Lord.  And when he was actually in a dry place- hiding in the desert from his enemies- he probably felt spiritually dry at that moment.

The world in which we live is sinful and filled with people who do not understand what we are going through as children of God.  We live in a dry and weary land.  As Christians, it can be incredibly difficult to get through a single day without feeling like our hope is fading away.  We search for God, we long for Him, but the anxiety and pain of the world continues to pull us further and further away from that goal.  And that makes it so much more difficult to stay strong in Him.

The next three verses in Psalm 63 are impacting and thought-provoking.

I have seen You in the sanctuary
and beheld Your power and Your glory.
Because Your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify You.
I will praise You as long as I live,
and in Your Name I will lift up my hands.

I think this is beautiful.  Despite the fact that David was alone in the desert, both spiritually and physically, despite the fact that his enemies surrounded him, and I'm sure that he felt void of hope, he still trusted God.  He was struggling so hard to find the Lord in this difficult, difficult situation.  Despite all of that, he trusted God.  He had seen God's work before, and He knew that God wasn't going to leave him.  David said confidently, "I will praise You as long as I live."

How amazing.

As Christians, we should strive to be like David.  No matter what trial we are going through in our own lives, let us strive to praise Christ for as long as we live, because truthfully, His love is better than life, and His security will overcome every struggle we have.

Psalm 63:7 says, "Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings."

You may be going through the hardest time in your life right now- the driest spell you have ever had in your walk with the Lord.  You may be going through a smaller dry spell, and you just feel like you're growing weary and tired of struggling with each step.  No matter what you're going through, God is going to be there for you.  He treasures you.  You are the apple of His eye.  Stay strong.  You are in the shadow of His wings, and you are not in this dry spell alone.  God is near.  

What God Promises

This poem was on an old newspaper clipping that I found amongst some of my preserved notes and cards.  The words are so beautiful and encouraging. 

God didn't promise days without pain,
Laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain.
But He did promise strength for the day,
Comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
If God brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.
-Unknown

Big

The universe is very big.
It's filled with many things.
I cannot help but feel amazed
At the sight of everything.

When I see a newborn child,
When I touch a flower...
This can't have happened on its own.
Is there a Higher Power?

The sky is like a giant bowl.
The mountains are so tall.
I see the stars, the galaxies.
A child, I am so small.

I am weaker than a lion.
I am shorter than a tree.
I am a frail and sinful being,
So why did He make me?

There is a God who made it all,
The earth and sky above.
Despite the fact that I am small,
He fills me with His love.

9-8-10

Fall, Rain, Fall

Fall, Rain, Fall

Fall, rain, fall... fall from the sky,
In delicate sheets of pale gray.
Bring out the green in the flowers and trees,
And streak across my window pane.

Fall, rain fall... fly through the wind,
And patter against the concrete.
Leave puddles and mud upon the wet ground,
Inviting to dogs and bare feet.

Fall, rain fall... pour from the clouds.
Bring that earthy, clean scent as you come,
And light up the sky with the Promise of God,
That will fade with the coming of sun. 

3-8-10

My Prayer

Father,

You are an amazing God.  You created me.  I was made in Your image.  The realization that the One who made me is the same God that put each star and each galaxy into its place... the same God that crafted the mountains and valleys... the same God that halted the waters and brought forth the rain... all of this amazes me.  I am in total awe of Your love.  I cannot stand under the power of You.  The slighting trace of You in my life is overwhelming.  You fill me to the brim with Your love, and it's almost too much to bear, Lord.  I am so small.  I am nothing compared to You.  I can only pray that my life will shine for You.

I know that I am not worthy of the love that You give me.  I am filthy.  I am caked with the grime and the muck that my sin has left on my life.  Without Your presence, my heart would be shriveled and smudged, a record of each wrong thing that I have done.  My life has not always been a light for You.  There have been times that the way I acted and the words I have said have been a distraction that may have led others away from You, Lord.  I am so sorry. 

I am the Prodigal Daughter... but each time I turn away from You, You always take me back again and restore me with Your very presence.  You breathe life back into my lungs, and I am able to feel new again, despite everything that I have done.  I cannot believe that You still love me.  Even when I feel worthless, You see my value.  You restore every part of me until I am a small replica of You.

I thank You for giving me life, Lord.  Without You, I am nothing... I would not even exist if You had not spoken me into being.  I am so grateful for the comforts that You have provided for me.  Because of Your mercy and Your grace, I have food to eat each day- enough food that I am full and there is still some left over.  I have a family and friends that love me for who I am.  I can be myself around them, and they will look past my flaws and see the beauty in me.  You have put these people into my life.  You have provided me with shelter, an education, and good health.  You have given me more than I could ever possibly want, but beyond that, You have given me the ability to go to heaven and live with You for eternity.  Thank You, Lord. 

I ask You to fill me with Your Spirit.  Give me the longing to spread Your love with the world, and take away my selfishness.  I have so much, Lord.  Help me to understand that there are people who are in need of my excess... people who need someone like me to help them.  Please give me wisdom in every situation, even in the hard times that are difficult to overcome. 

I believe that You are my Father, and I want to be a reflection of You.  Shine in my life, Lord.

In Your precious Name,

Amen.

What's Yet to Come

What I am about to show you is a poem I wrote about two days ago.  A close friend of mine was having some fears about ever finding the perfect guy for her... the future husband that God wants her to choose.  She said that her worst fear was looking back at the age of fifty or sixty and thinking to herself, "What have I done?  I didn't choose the right guy, and I made a huge mistake."  I think all (or most) young people have this fear, and we often need a reminder that even when we are unsure of our futures, God is sure... He can see ahead, and He's watching out for us along the way. 

So Ali, this is for you.  :)

What's Yet to Come

I am thinking hard tonight,
As I look out at the stars.
I cannot help but think of you,
And wonder where you are.
It feels so strange that I am here,
And you may not be far. 

I often think about my future.
What if you aren't even there?
So many things are yet to come,
And I truthfully feel scared.
I'm afraid that you will walk on by,
And I will let you, unaware.

Every girl longs to be loved,
And cherished by someone-
The one that's meant for her alone.
My search has just begun.
I am afraid, but 'till you come,
Jesus is my only One. 

March 1, 2010

The One I Admire Most

The One Who I Admire Most

Since I have been an infant cradled gently in your arms,
You've always taken care of me and kept me from all harm.
No matter who has come and gone in this life of mine,
You're the one who has been strong, a fortress by my side.
And eventually, I'll find that guy who captivates my heart,
But until then, you were made to play that vital part.
It's hard sometimes- I realize that- but you have been the best,
To help me through my hardest trials. I am just so blessed.
Of all of those that I admire, there are so very few,
But the one who I admire most is my only father: you.
March 2, 2010

I wrote this poem in honor of my dad, whose birthday is today.  I love him so much, and have been blessed by having him in my life.  He is a great example for me in so many ways, and I'm thankful that I have a father who is a part of my life and wants to spend time with me.