So over the past 2 years I have been attempting to teach myself to play the guitar. I love worship and writing and to be able to do both of those things along with instrumentation would be amazing. I was doing pretty good but stopped playing for a long time after my dad passed away...his guitar is now mine and the only song I actually for real know how to play, he taught me. So it was hard for awhile...recently I started taking actual lessons and as I have been practicing I am reminded by something my dad told me when I started to try to play and what my mom has reminded me of a bunch of times since then...
When my mom was pregnant with my sister, her and my dad prayed over her in my moms belly everyday that she would play the piano and sing and everyday they prayed that I would play the guitar and sing. When I told my mom I was going to start taking weekly lessons she reminded me of those daily prayers and she said "I know you can play because we prayed for it and believed it...it's a promise!"
As I think about that, I see the fulfilled promise in my sister's incredible piano playing. I am also amazed at the way the Lord reminds us of His promises through His word and through our daily lives, and I am again reminded that God is always faithful, always true, and always steadfast.
His goodness never fails to completely overwhelm me!!!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
It's True...writing, writing, writing
So hi all! Sorry it's been a while since my last post. So what has been going on in the last month?
Just a warning...this is gonna be a long one. Snuggle in and be prepared... :)
This past month, I have been reminded again and again of not just Gods goodness, but His kindness. He is gentle and caring and genuinely delights in our happiness (in Him of course). I have just realized, after thinking about all the things that have gone on, the Lord has so blessed me. He has given me encouragement, hope, creativity, release, and so many other things.
I ended March with a great weekend getaway to Oregon. It was a great time to just hang out with my wonderful friend Katherine, whom I love. We drove for hours and hours and hours...about the 12th hour cabin fever set in, as we began to say all the stores and street signs we saw in different types of accents and laughing soooo hard we were crying. I'm gonna be posting some pictures (which can all be found on facebook...I think) for your viewing pleasure.
Just a warning...this is gonna be a long one. Snuggle in and be prepared... :)
This past month, I have been reminded again and again of not just Gods goodness, but His kindness. He is gentle and caring and genuinely delights in our happiness (in Him of course). I have just realized, after thinking about all the things that have gone on, the Lord has so blessed me. He has given me encouragement, hope, creativity, release, and so many other things.
I ended March with a great weekend getaway to Oregon. It was a great time to just hang out with my wonderful friend Katherine, whom I love. We drove for hours and hours and hours...about the 12th hour cabin fever set in, as we began to say all the stores and street signs we saw in different types of accents and laughing soooo hard we were crying. I'm gonna be posting some pictures (which can all be found on facebook...I think) for your viewing pleasure.
Following my return trip (alone mind you...so sad), came the day of my birth. My birthday was pretty low key and relaxed. Overall really good. I was blessed by all the happy birthday wishes and my good friends and family. I was a little worried about the day, seeing as it was the last day that my whole family (daddy included) had dinner together, since exactly one week later, he was gone. To be perfectly honest, for whatever reason, I totally didn't even realize that it was exactly a week until like a month before my birthday when I was actually looking at my calendar. I guess (April) 8 + 7 (days) = (April) 15 never really pushed its way into the smart side of my brain...so after that I spent like 3 weeks worrying about how sad it was going to be going to dinner without him, and even more then not going to dinner is not going to Shiki. Shiki is my most favorite restaurant and I have gone there on my birthday since we moved to Orange. Last year was the 14th birthday dinner we had at Shiki. I haven't been there since my birthday last year and our last family dinner. I have wanted to but the idea of having to tell Richard (our resident server and chef at Shiki) that my dad died kills me. I still don't know if he knows. So the whole idea was scary and stressful.
We ended up going to PF Changs...second favorite place! We also went to Disneyland! I love Disneyland and not only did we go to Disneyland but we went to Disneyland with Danna kids...Danna kids make everything instantly better (I'm semi-biased about the Danna kids cause I love them so much but the idea goes for any kids and babies...they make everything better). We had a great time taking the train and wandering around. All followed by a movie with my momma and 2 of the best friends ever. (AGAIN...the Lord has blessed me abundantly!!!)
We ended up going to PF Changs...second favorite place! We also went to Disneyland! I love Disneyland and not only did we go to Disneyland but we went to Disneyland with Danna kids...Danna kids make everything instantly better (I'm semi-biased about the Danna kids cause I love them so much but the idea goes for any kids and babies...they make everything better). We had a great time taking the train and wandering around. All followed by a movie with my momma and 2 of the best friends ever. (AGAIN...the Lord has blessed me abundantly!!!)
Next came "the day"...the one year anniversary. This was another day that I noticed Gods amazing kindness. We were blessed by all the thoughts and love that were sent our way, they were all greatly appreciated. First of all, it was a completely amazingly beautiful day. We went to Peter's Canyon and were reminded again of the beauty that the Lord has created that is all around us. I felt a great sense of peace while I was there, just for the half hour we there. I felt like I was just resting in Him. I knew that same way I knew when I came home that day and my mom told me what happened, that no matter what I fall into His arms. I felt it when I fell down that day that He caught me and I knew at the park that He would always do that. I will ALWAYS be save, protected, loved, comforted, and gently nurtured in the arms of my Lord. It was good day! The icing on top was that I got to have my weekly Caden time at church later on too...again kids make everything better
And last but not least...the last update I have is a new project I am working on. I am working on a book. It's a kids book about loss (specifically of a parent/father)...seeing as that is what I have experienced. My dad was working on a book and that was one of the things we really had in common. We both loved to write and express ourselves that way. I was approached my a friend who asked about what my writing goals were. I said I would have to pray about it and get back to him.
So I was praying about it a couple days before the 15th and while I was praying I was reminded of something that Collette told Carol during the summer after my dad died. She looked at Carol and said, "Grandma, I bet Uncle Guy is swimming in heaven." After I remembered that, I just got to thinking that swimming forever was the greatest thing that Collie could thing of. I mean to be able to swim forever was incredible...
That birthed "Where did daddy go?" (tentative title of course)...the idea is putting daddy being there one and not the next into word pictures that kids would think, "that's the greatest thing ever." For example one of the lines includes riding a bike as fast as wants. All the things that kids wish they could do all the time put that into the concept of heaven and being with Jesus to help explain the "what happens after" someone isn't there anymore.
I am really excited about it and I'm really pleased with the words and writing that I really feel like the Lord has blessed, brought about, and really made happen. I am currently working on layout, illustrations, and publishing...so it's really exciting. If anyone knows of a good illustrator that needs some cheap work...let me know. I can draw a house like it's nobodies business but trying to draw something else...yeah not so much.
So that is what the Lord is doing and working and making happen. I promise it won't be another month til my next post...
So I was praying about it a couple days before the 15th and while I was praying I was reminded of something that Collette told Carol during the summer after my dad died. She looked at Carol and said, "Grandma, I bet Uncle Guy is swimming in heaven." After I remembered that, I just got to thinking that swimming forever was the greatest thing that Collie could thing of. I mean to be able to swim forever was incredible...
That birthed "Where did daddy go?" (tentative title of course)...the idea is putting daddy being there one and not the next into word pictures that kids would think, "that's the greatest thing ever." For example one of the lines includes riding a bike as fast as wants. All the things that kids wish they could do all the time put that into the concept of heaven and being with Jesus to help explain the "what happens after" someone isn't there anymore.
I am really excited about it and I'm really pleased with the words and writing that I really feel like the Lord has blessed, brought about, and really made happen. I am currently working on layout, illustrations, and publishing...so it's really exciting. If anyone knows of a good illustrator that needs some cheap work...let me know. I can draw a house like it's nobodies business but trying to draw something else...yeah not so much.
So that is what the Lord is doing and working and making happen. I promise it won't be another month til my next post...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
It's True...He does the rest
God is so incredible.
I love that all we have to do is come to Him broken...and He does the rest.
I have been having trouble sleeping for just about a week now and I feel completely exhausted. It's 7:30am and I haven't been to bed yet. About an hour ago I pulled out my bible (finally...after tossing and turning for hours...) I read a few chapters, and of course, was almost instantly feeling more encouraged. As I started talking to the Lord, I just said "something just isn't right."
It seems like all it took was that simple realization. Something just isn't right and I know it's me... I believe that as soon as I did that, the Lord gave me this little ditty...which perfectly describes where I have been and what the Lord desires of me (and all of us).
This is my repentance, my prayer, and my desire...
Oh to be near You
to sit by Your side
to hear Your sweet voice
In You I abide
Though I may run
and sometimes I hide
nothing is secret
You see the inside
No matter the distance
or wrongs I have made
When darkness surrounds me
Your light will not fade
So give me the strength
to remain in this place
wrapped up in Your glory
and eternal embrace
I love that all we have to do is come to Him broken...and He does the rest.
I have been having trouble sleeping for just about a week now and I feel completely exhausted. It's 7:30am and I haven't been to bed yet. About an hour ago I pulled out my bible (finally...after tossing and turning for hours...) I read a few chapters, and of course, was almost instantly feeling more encouraged. As I started talking to the Lord, I just said "something just isn't right."
It seems like all it took was that simple realization. Something just isn't right and I know it's me... I believe that as soon as I did that, the Lord gave me this little ditty...which perfectly describes where I have been and what the Lord desires of me (and all of us).
This is my repentance, my prayer, and my desire...
to sit by Your side
to hear Your sweet voice
In You I abide
Though I may run
and sometimes I hide
nothing is secret
You see the inside
No matter the distance
or wrongs I have made
When darkness surrounds me
Your light will not fade
So give me the strength
to remain in this place
wrapped up in Your glory
and eternal embrace
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
It's True...He sees me
"You are the God who sees me"
~Genesis 16:13
God sees me. I love reading the Bible, when you get to a verse that you've ready 1000 times and it just leaps off the page at you. Well this was one of those moments.
The last month has been a little crazy and somewhat discouraging in the fact that I have been sick, with various things, over and over and over again...pretty much non stop. I have been trying to just plug on through but it's been tough.
Reading that one verse today just encouraged me and made me feel a huge sense of peace. God sees me. He sees my sickness and He sees my heart. He sees every inch of who I am, which is incredibly encouraging when you feel like every time you go into the doctors office they look at you like you're crazy...
God not only sees me but He sees whatever it is that is wrong with me as well. He knows what the problem is and He knows how to fix it. He sees me. I'm just in awe of those 3 words...like I really am. Simply because I am so small...just one person, seemingly insignificant (according to the world's standards) and yet God sees me. He takes the time to see me and know me and not because I'm super great and have done anything to do deserve it. Simply because of how fantastic and because of how big He is.
~Genesis 16:13
God sees me. I love reading the Bible, when you get to a verse that you've ready 1000 times and it just leaps off the page at you. Well this was one of those moments.
The last month has been a little crazy and somewhat discouraging in the fact that I have been sick, with various things, over and over and over again...pretty much non stop. I have been trying to just plug on through but it's been tough.
Reading that one verse today just encouraged me and made me feel a huge sense of peace. God sees me. He sees my sickness and He sees my heart. He sees every inch of who I am, which is incredibly encouraging when you feel like every time you go into the doctors office they look at you like you're crazy...
God not only sees me but He sees whatever it is that is wrong with me as well. He knows what the problem is and He knows how to fix it. He sees me. I'm just in awe of those 3 words...like I really am. Simply because I am so small...just one person, seemingly insignificant (according to the world's standards) and yet God sees me. He takes the time to see me and know me and not because I'm super great and have done anything to do deserve it. Simply because of how fantastic and because of how big He is.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
It's Ture...more promises
Well, it appears that I have been subconsciously worried about all sorts of things....Most of my reading and promises have been related to the Lord providing, whether it be financially, with in relationship, rescue, forgiveness, grace, sleep, rest, etc. The Lord ALWAYS provides what we need and He ALWAYS knows what we need. He doesn't forget about us...even if we try to stay away or get lost or wander around in circles for awhile. He still remembers us and He still remembers His promises.
January 3
Psalm 3: 3
But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
Psalm 3: 5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
Matthew 3:11
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
January 4
Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.
Genesis 8:22
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
January 5
Psalm 5: 11-12
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Matthew 5: 4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Genesis 9:11
I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
January 6
Psalm 6:9
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
Matthew 6:8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:25
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matthew 6:32
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
January 3
Psalm 3: 3
But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
Psalm 3: 5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
Matthew 3:11
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
January 4
Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.
Genesis 8:22
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
January 5
Psalm 5: 11-12
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Matthew 5: 4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Genesis 9:11
I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
January 6
Psalm 6:9
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
Matthew 6:8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:25
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matthew 6:32
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Christmas Quilts
So for this Christmas, as part of my grieving process, I decided that I wanted to get crafty...I decided to make quilts for my family out of my dad's old t-shirts, jerseys, and other things. He so much and actually had a lot of stuff to choose from. I definitely didn't have a shortage of clothes to pick from.
So for about a month, all I did was work, eat, sleep, and quilt...It was really difficult and really emotional at times but it was also really good. One of the hardest times I remember was when I was cutting up his aloha shirts...most of them were dry clean only and when you only a wear a shirt for a couple hours at a time and like 3 times a month it doesn't get dry cleaned every week or so. I picked up one of his shirts and started to cut and I just got a huge whiff of him. The shirt still smelled like him because it hadn't been dry cleaned and not wore before he died. It made me miss him like crazy and I just sat there smelling that shirt for like 20 minutes.
I had lots of moments like that through out the process but I also had lots of release and healing as well. So...here are my quilts. Well some of them anyway. Not pictured are my moms and Tiffany and Richards.
Rick and Carol...All those white squares have little music notes on them...
special for Auntie Carol
Grandpa and Grandma...this took FOREVER!!!
Auntie Jamie
Lauren
Alanna...did you know that her hip bone comes up to the top of my rib cage!!!! RIDICULOUS!
Uncle and Auntie...Old Guys Rule...
Saturday, January 3, 2009
It's True...Promises
So, on New Year's Eve we got these "life journals" that have a reading schedule to read through the Bible in a year...it's been awhile since the last time I actually read through the entire Bible, so I figured 2009 seems like a great time to start it up again...
When I was praying on New Year's Eve, asking the Lord to prepare me for He had planned, I felt like the Lord spoke something very simple to me...this year I needed to meditate daily on the promises of the Lord. Promises of the Lord through out the scriptures and things that the Lord reveals as promises specifically to me for the next year through out my daily reading.
So, I started yesterday and next to my "daily promises" in my Bible I have started to put a big "P" right next to them and in my life journal I reference them so I know when the Lord gave them to me and where to look for them.
I have decided that I want to share my daily promises with all of you that check in on this lovely little blog of mine...so (almost) everyday (hopefully) I will post my daily promises and if I miss a day I'll post them with the day after...
So here goes...
January 1, 2009
Psalm 1: 3
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
Psalm 1: 6
"For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
The Lord promises blessing in season. There is always blessing that comes eventually...
Not only does the Lord promises blessing, but He also promises favor, provision, and protection. He promises to watch over the way of the righteous. Those seem like pretty good promises to me...The Lord brings fruit in season and He watches over the way of the righteous. Whatever he does will prosper!
January 2, 2009
Genesis 3:21
"The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."
Adam and Eve sinned against Lord. They turned and walked away from Him. Even through punishment (being sent out of the garden) the Lord provided for them. He clothed them. He continued to care for them, even in His anger and sadness, He was compassionate and kind to them.
Psalm 2:8
"Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession."
God desires to lavish us with good things, we only need ask. He tells us that all we need to do is ask...Just ask and it's yours. "I will make the nations your inheritance...Everything I have I give to you." God is just so amazingly good to us. We just need to tap into the goodness that is waiting right in front of us. All we have to do is reach out and take a hold of it.
Psalm 2:12b
"Blessed are all who take refuge in Him."
God provides. He brings comfort, blessing, and refuge. He is a shield in times of trouble. God blesses those who bless Him and nothing brings Him more joy then to be near us. When we take refuge in Him (through good times and bad) He is delighted and over joyed and pours those things out in abundance upon us! Again, we only need to ask and start grabbing onto the things that the Lord has waiting for us.
When I was praying on New Year's Eve, asking the Lord to prepare me for He had planned, I felt like the Lord spoke something very simple to me...this year I needed to meditate daily on the promises of the Lord. Promises of the Lord through out the scriptures and things that the Lord reveals as promises specifically to me for the next year through out my daily reading.
So, I started yesterday and next to my "daily promises" in my Bible I have started to put a big "P" right next to them and in my life journal I reference them so I know when the Lord gave them to me and where to look for them.
I have decided that I want to share my daily promises with all of you that check in on this lovely little blog of mine...so (almost) everyday (hopefully) I will post my daily promises and if I miss a day I'll post them with the day after...
So here goes...
January 1, 2009
Psalm 1: 3
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
Psalm 1: 6
"For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
The Lord promises blessing in season. There is always blessing that comes eventually...
Not only does the Lord promises blessing, but He also promises favor, provision, and protection. He promises to watch over the way of the righteous. Those seem like pretty good promises to me...The Lord brings fruit in season and He watches over the way of the righteous. Whatever he does will prosper!
January 2, 2009
Genesis 3:21
"The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."
Adam and Eve sinned against Lord. They turned and walked away from Him. Even through punishment (being sent out of the garden) the Lord provided for them. He clothed them. He continued to care for them, even in His anger and sadness, He was compassionate and kind to them.
Psalm 2:8
"Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession."
God desires to lavish us with good things, we only need ask. He tells us that all we need to do is ask...Just ask and it's yours. "I will make the nations your inheritance...Everything I have I give to you." God is just so amazingly good to us. We just need to tap into the goodness that is waiting right in front of us. All we have to do is reach out and take a hold of it.
Psalm 2:12b
"Blessed are all who take refuge in Him."
God provides. He brings comfort, blessing, and refuge. He is a shield in times of trouble. God blesses those who bless Him and nothing brings Him more joy then to be near us. When we take refuge in Him (through good times and bad) He is delighted and over joyed and pours those things out in abundance upon us! Again, we only need to ask and start grabbing onto the things that the Lord has waiting for us.
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