Music... Simple but Powerful

I love music.

I could end this blog right there. I mean I volunteer at concerts, my car is very rarely quiet, when it is quiet songs are playing my head, I sing to myself. I just love music. God made music for a reason.

Reasons being that we can worship Him with our mouth, heart, and well your entire body. Also He uses music to reach to the deepest parts of our souls and minds, touch parts that we didn't realize we had.

God uses music. Music is life. The very air we breathe, our very heart beat, the train, the tapping of my keyboard. It's all music. We walk and talk in rhythm. Our life is rhythm. We talk in pitch for the most part.

Stop and listen... what do you hear... I can tell I hear the song, "Tonight," by TobyMac. A great song.

Do you just listen to song or do you REALLY listen to the words?

Those very words can change your life. I believe God uses music to tell us something.

That's why I supported my local Air1 Radio in Kansas City. Even though it wasn't alot, it's honestly a sacrafice for me, and that's what I felt God telling me to give. I volunteer for Air1 Radio. If Air1 Radio didn't exist, I wouldn't have met the people I have, the bands that I have. I wouldn't have designed or sketched out ideas for them. Then MIKESCHAIR wouldn't have created a design that was inspired by my design.

OR

The situation I was or am in right now, God wouldn't have told me to deal with it, and make sure what I am doing is for the glory for him and nothing else. He wouldn't have prevented me from suicide or cutting by playing, "How He Loves" by David Crowder Band. His love is just so overwhelming and my cup is overflowing with his love and yet he has so much more to give.

So next time your favorite song comes on the air or on your Ipod, really take the time to listen to the words and maybe see what God is trying to tell you. Maybe even pray that song. Like I pray this song called, "I Will Go" by Starfield, perfect when you are truely opened to being used by God no matter where he wants you to go.

If Only It Were Longer...

Ok, so I pretty much just got back from a retreat, or InterVarsity's Fall Conference.

It happened this last Friday(8th), and ended tonight(9th). Like my title says, I wish that it was at least another day longer.

Even though it was shorter than what I am use to for retreats, I got to get to know the people that are apart of the JCCC InterVarsity Chapter. I am so happy that the people were able to come were able to get off work even if it were last minute, I was happy to see them there. There were ummm.... Rebekah, Caylee, Beth, Andy, Jon, Jake, Jason, Joey, and me!!! And yes we did have all those guys with names that started with "j's."

At first I can honestly tell you that I wasn't really sure what I was going to get out of being there. I can tell you that I needed this break. I can tell you honestly that what I was happy about at the beginning of the retreat wasn't the same thing I was happy about at the end.

To say the least, I had things on my mind that was a hinderous from what God wanted me to listen for. Whether it was certain people, certain to-do's, certain events, or anything else. I learned very quickly that it was not what I needed to focus on. I needed to focus on what God wanted to teach me this weekend. And I do feel that God is going to continue speaking to me, even tomorrow. I will seriously cry if what the sermon is about is anything we discussed.

Because I was doing all of this avoiding, I missed out on some great times... like going to the gazebo and singing worship, which I heard the end and it sounded like fun. Even though it was the end, you could really tell that God was there. Even as we were worshipping this amazing God that created the stars we stared at, the leaves that changed before our eyes, the friendships that bonded and grew; He was dancing and singing over and with us.

Even though I did spend alot of time alone, I did something I really haven't done in the longest time and I missed it. I painted, I sketched, I colored, and I just enjoyed God's creation through it, whether it was taking Andy's face and turning it into Jesus and using multiple mediums, or even painting a fall inspired by what I saw. It was beautiful. I was in awe. I AM in awe. How a God so large and powerful would take time to put sooo much details in the world we live in and make it so the leaves when they die turn into something absolutely goregous!!!

Ahhhh!!! That's it! There are so many things in life that when they die or something bad happens, something beautiful typically comes out of it. It's so much like us. Before we know Christ, we are ugly sinners. When we know Christ we take that dead 'skin' off and underneath in a beautiful new creation, but we also keep a peice of that 'dead skin' so it can be a testimony of what God has done in our lives.

(crazy, I, too, and still learning from God even from my experience this weekend)

I have learned soo much about my new friends. I love them all so much. They are all beautiful, inside and out. It's very true. It's just really funny how different the people from the JCCC chapter are, but yet we all have one thing in common and that's Christ. That's what makes us really get along. We are so open with one another. I just hope that we will continue to get to know one another. This group, this semester, seems to very ministry oriented. And I LOVE IT!!!! We can help each other, we all reach different people. We all have people around us we can minister to, and those people are around for a reason. Like I learned how open all of these friends are to doing God's will, even if it means stepping out of a comfort zone. AHHHH!!!! Sorry, but it's just so exciting what God's gonna do with us the rest of this semester, it seems that a fire is lit; I pray that it will never go down. May reach out to those we said we would.

Ok.. so It's What Day 3 Now, and It's Time

So, I feel like this social media fast is getting easier from everyday not using it. Along with it being easy, I hit these obstacles like people telling me they're surprised I am even doing it. Surprised that I can do. Surprised that it would be that hard.

I try telling them, it may not be hard for you... and I honestly didn't think about til I did this fast... I AM addicted to Facebook, and before this, I could see myself growing an addiction to twitter. I am a little sad though that I am not sure where I can figure out how Aaron Shust and Matt Hammitt's boys are doing. All I know is from my perspective, all I can do it pray. Pray that what ever is going on good or bad that God knows the situation and their needs and that's all I can pray. I can also praise that many others are praying and the power of prayer is going to impact the life of these families.

I can tell you that is getting easier, but also I sometimes catching myself just casually, like it's no big deal about to hit the Facebook button on my phone, but control myself and scroll down and hit that doodle jump button... just so you know doodle jump is this totally awesome, totally addicting game. Maybe I'll have to fast from that too soon. hahaha.

I totally heard that my blog got a shout-out from Sean Copeland, from Air1 Radio morning show DJs Sean and Mandy. I want to say thanks! I give you guys a shout out and I'll have to wake up alittle bit earlier to hear how you guys are doing on your fast.

So I know I have been wanting to grow closer to God and you know since the beginning I have learned that I have kind of placed God off that highest place of my life and put Facebook there.  You may think how could you do something like? The answer for me is simple. It's where, in, problably the first time in my life, I actually know what's going on. I, you could kind of say, never intentionally thought myself as God, but I could look at people's profiles and know what's going on, I would who was in a relationship and I would even consider myself a stalker to some bands, all thanks to Facebook, it makes it easier. It gets me thinking sometimes, I need to stop, and I have.

My friends tell me all the time, oh yeah, I am hardly on facebook. On the outside I think, ok that's cool. On the inside most of the time its, yeah, I'm jealous, I wish I could do that.   And there's one word in that is key... do you know what is it? Could. Of course I could, but am I willing to do it. I am thinking after this week, I will most definitely be willing and able to take time from Facebook and log onto my faithbook.

I haven't read the Bible straight through and I think that's my new goal that will try to accomplish.

If you haven't started the fast, feel free to start now. It's ok. I NOW think any break from Social Media is a great idea and definitely worth the time away.

Lord,
I just praise you for giving me the strength thus far to keep from Tweeting, or Facebooking. I praise you for the support I have from some of my friends. I also praise you for the lessons you are teaching me through this fast whether it's what you have just taught me or what you will teach me. I pray that you would not only continue to give me strength through the rest of this week, I pray that you would give it to all the others who are participating. I pray that you would a peace of mind and maybe even during this week, show us a talent that we may not have even realized we had. Bless the rest of our weeks, and lead us away from any kind of temptation.
AMEN.

Day Two and God was Definitely With Me

Hey guys sorry I didnt post something last, I was at UMKC for a worship service with totally awesome friends. But I did want to say, like it says in my title, God was with me. He brought into my day, people from my work who just so happened to be Christians and we had talked for a while about what we thought. Then its been on my heart to learn sign language and at work God had brought a deaf guy and his mother and his mother taught me some things like "have a good day." Then one of my new managers knows sign language and she will start teaching me sign. And I am so excited about all of it. God really made it easy for me totally easy for me to forget about Facebook and Twitter. Like Air1 DJ Ashton said "I may never go back to Facebook" as for me. I won't be using it as much. We'll see how the rest of the week goes.

It's Day 1 and I'm Still Alive

Hey guys. So DJs from Air 1 Radio, the positive alternative, are challenging their listeners to take a fast this week, Monday through Friday, from social media. Social media being Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

I do have to be honest with you and this morning I did go on Facebook, and I felt really bad, and really... disappointed in myself. It made me realize how addicted I really am to Facebook. Something I was just like, "Oh, I need to check this and I can get off," kind of thing. And my realization it has pretty much taken over my life.

I really want to take time this week to really dig into my Faithbook. Haha. Yes I know how cheesy it is, but it's true. Too many times have I said that I am going to read God's word, pray, meditate, and listen to God. All those times I have said it, I usually didn't do it. Sad, yes. I love this God soo much that I just can't take like an hour to read, pray, or even worship this God of ours.

I will be trying to keep you up to date to what's going on... and how I am honestly doing. I can tell you though that it's going to be great taking time doing a social media detox.

And I challenge you to do it with me this week.


Dear God, I just pray that you would be with all the people who are participating in this fast. I praise you that they are wanting to take the time to get deeper into your word along with this amazing detox for our mind. Lord remind us about the priorities in life. I also pray that you would lead us from the temptation, and keep us strong. For you are a powerful God and you love us so much. And I can say for me if not all of us that we love you and we are doing this not because some pretty awesome DJs told us to, but because we want to draw closer to your heart and your will. AMEN.