Me&MyGuitar

It's Been a While...

2008-04-09T08:52:00.001-07:00

I can't help but sing that alternative song that starts out with those words- and for the life of me I can't remember who does it. A little help anyone?

Anyway, it's been a LONG time since i last posted. 2 years actually. I started blogging on my myspace account, but that kind of tapped out as well. SO, I thought why don't I start fresh and try and keep at least a weekly update...or 2 weeks...so here goes, I'll give it a shot! First, let me update on what's gone on in 2 years...a whole lot!

2 years ago:

-I went to Africa
-I was working in HR at a retirement community
-I was playing music a lot in cafes and bars in Tempe, mostly.
-Just started the youth band at my church
-Was taking a class at a time to continue my ministry education.

Now:

-I went back to New Zealand last October :)
-I'm working as the Community Relations Director for the same retirement community
-I haven't been playing out as much, as a lot of my church activities have increased.
-The youth band is doing great! These kids are good kids, and I have that awesome privilege of speaking into their lives musically and spiritually every week!
-Just finished another class, and have enrolled and been accepted to Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, CA. I'll be moving there in late August.

I cannot tell you how excited I am!!! I've been reading Bill Johnson's book, When Heaven Invades Earth (He's the sneior pastor and founder of the school), andit has been faith building and challenging for me. I'll get into a little more in the next post. But I just wanted to give a quick update on life and will continue to try and update it as often as I can!

Be blessed!

Demo

2006-03-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have recorded a couple songs for my demo- you guys should chekc it out. There are also some pics of being in the studio which are always fun!
Anyway, here's the website address:

www.myspace.com/jacquereynolds

Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers!

Update on Showcase

2006-03-15T09:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I have decided on the 2 songs I am going to do at the Showcase.

One is called "God's Eye View" and the other is "Catalyst". They're both upbeat.

There are lots of thoughts going through my head about this...some excited, and some scary but then I just stop and say, God it just has to be in your hands...if its meant for this particular time, you will show me favor and you will make the way...if not this time, you'll still provdie me with leads and netowrking relationships that who knows what will come of those?

My friend Michelangelo has a recording studio and I am going to try and get a small demo together and make copies to give out as a networking tool that has some of my stuff on there. The demo will be done before the competition and then I will probably set up a music my space and put some of my stuff on here so ya'll can hear it and tell me if I suck or not! Seriously I need real honest opinions of it.

I need your prayers though people, because I have just come down with this really bad cold that is seriously kicking my butt and I need my voice and body to be 100% for this demo and compeition! Thank you Lord of rthis amazing opportunity, God if even one person is touched or changed by the music or lyrics then it has been worth it. May your favor be upon me, even if I don't recognize it as your favor. I try so hard to analyse what that favor is supposed to look like, so i just lay down all my expectations and whatever happens, I give all my agendas, plans, and glory to you!

Christian Music...

2006-02-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

SO, I have this opportunity to register for:
America's Christian Music Showcase- it's a competition for unsingned christian bands and solo artists! The competition is in April, so i am really pryaing about doing this! It goes all weekend, and there are also workshops and networking things to go to and all of that. The Grand Prize you get free registration and stuff to Music in the Rockies 2006- this is another conference/competition that would help my career ( they are responsible for singing Nichole Nordeman, Jars of Clay. Rachel Lamps, and others) and second place you get a spot on one of the Spirit West Coast Stages so the more I am thinking about this, the more pumped I am getting! So please be in prayer for me that if I am supposed to go, I would receive clear direction and that I would have God's favor if this is His will.

Long time

2006-02-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

I know I know, it's been way too long I haven't written...the truth is I have been blogging and stuff like that on My Space- it has blog, plus other stuff so I encourage all of you to get a myspace!

anyway, the update on the audition- I decided not to do it. I knew I wasn't going to pursue anything with this particular band, I really didn't care for their sound so I didn't want to waste their time or mine. So I decided not to do it. I don't have any other leads yet but I'll defintely let you all know! Anyway that is all for now, will update more later!

New Song in progress

2006-01-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

I've started working on a new song last night, here are the lyrics and below it is the music- the interpretation of the song is up to the listener- whatever it means to you.

Verse1
I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired
I'm so tired of waiting for so many things to change
And I know in my heart it'll never really happen so why
Do I keep waiting for you to come around to come around

Chorus
All I want is for you to believe but I don't think
That you can see the person I'm trying to be
When you look at me all you see is misunderstandings
I'm just not the person you make me out to be

Verse2
I know some things just aren't worth fighting for
But just this once you need to stand for me
I know we've both done things and lost some trust
But just this once you need to fight for me

Chorus2
Can we give it one more chance, can we give it one more go
Baby don't give up on us, just once more for the road
I'll never give up on you even if you want me to
Cause my heart won't be beating, I can't live without you.

*Let me know what you think

2006-01-24T00:11:00.000-08:00

Cool Song Lyrics

2006-01-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

This song by Nada Surf has some cool lyrics I wanted to share, enjoy- it's off the album "The Weight is a gift"

To make a mountain of your life is just a choice
But i never learned enough to listen to the voice that told me
Always love
Hate will get you every time
Always Love
Don't wait til the finish line

Slow demands come around, squeeze the air and keep the rest out
It helps to write it down even when you then cross it out

But always love
Hate will get you every time
Always love
Even when you want to fight

Self-directed lives I want to know what it'd be like to
aim so high above every card that you get dealt. You...

Always love
Hate will get you every time
Always love
Hate will get you and I've been held back by something
You said to me quietly on the stairs
You said
Hey you good ones

Postponed

2006-01-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

Well, due to me having a naturally and habitualy "blonde moment" I locked myself out of my house on the night of my audition and had to re-schedule it because I couldn't get in my house to get my guitar and amp! Geez, what an idiot! Anywya, they were real cool about it and my new audtion is January 31st- which is cool cause it gives me more time to work on my solos and lead guitar which is what they are looking for.
I'll keep you posted!

Audition

2006-01-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

Well guys,

Keep me in your prayers, I am going tonight for an audition with a christian rock band- they are looking for a guitarist and I have been practicing my butt off! I just pray if it's God's will that I am what they are looking for and they are what I'm looking for!

Thanks!

My Space

2006-01-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

Just a cool note- you can check out myspace, it' got soem pics and stuff on there and it's cool cause can find people that you lost touch with.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=46010590

It's free and cool, so I hope to see you guys on there!

New Songs

2006-01-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

These are some new songs I am working on. Let me know what you think. Here are the lyrics.

The first one:

It's hard to sleep it's hard to be
Without you
It's hard to know what to do
Without You
I got so used to having you around
That I don't like being without you
Are you thinking about me cause I know
I'm thinking about you

Do you miss me in your sleep
Has my scent from your pillow gone away
Do you wonder if you would've said
Those things you never said
Would I still be there to stay

The Second one:

The more I bring you in
The more you shut me out
I don't want to be a part of this
Cause the more you bring me in
Is the more I shut you out
Why do you want to be a part of this

I might be the one who says I've had enough
But I'll be the one to be there when life gets too rough

If you believe in me and I believe in you
Together we can make these dreams come true

Well these are both works in progress. I will update as soon as my writer's block stops freezing up!

2006-01-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

2006-01-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

No room for doubt

2006-01-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

"A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory."

A new year symbolizes opportunity; a chance for new beginnings. Somehow every year, we get the emotional feeling or motivation if you will that we get to start over. It's a new year so we get to make a fresh start.

Why does it takes a recognized holiday for us to want to somehow redeem our past year's regrets or produce newfound goals or dreams.

Whatever our reasoing, or how we have come to that place, the fact that we are wanting to change in a postive way and try and become better people is a good step.

But good intentions only go so far. It's quite a dichotomy of realizations. On one hand, we have to know that we can't do it on our own, we need God to gets us through, to guide us, we truly need His wisdom and His strength, His power to change us. But we have to know and believe in ourselves that we can do it- we can have the victory so to speak, and become whoever we choose to be.

A winner in any race, any contest must focus on the "prize" or victory to win. They must be focused and driven to the point where in their minds they are already celebrating their win. Not with cockyness, but with confidence.

As we focus on whatever "victory" we are striving for, act and walk it out as if you have already won. God has already given you the victory over your own self-doubts, others, or whatever. Remember, you have nothing to prove to anyone. Focus on Him and your victory, enjoy His involvement in your life, enjoy Him being with you all the time, and think about your priorities- should they be re-arranged at all this year?

Practice Protection

2005-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

Fear no evil because He has conquered ALL evil.
It has power to hurt only those who do not place themselves under his protection.
This is not a question of feeling, it is an assured fact.

All you have to do is to say with assurance that whatever it is cannot harm you, as He has conquered it. Not only in the big, but the little things of life, be sure of His conquering power and ability. Know that all is well. Be sure of it. Practice it. Learn it until it is unfailing and instinctive with you.

But practice it in the quite small things, and then you will find you will do it easily, naturally, lovingly, trusingly, in the big things in life.

Perfect Love

2005-12-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

"Lord, give us that perfect love of you that casts away all fear."

Never let yourselves fear anybody or anything.
No fear of His failing you.
No fear that your faith will fail you.
No fear of poverty or lonliness.
No fear of not knowing the way.
No fear of others.
No fear of their misunderstanding.

This absoute casting out of fear is the result of a perfect love, a perfect love of Him and the Father. Speak to him about everything. Listen to Him at all tmies. Feel His tender nearness, substituting at once some thought of Him for the fear.

Discouragement, depression, all those bad issues in your life are around you and surrpise you in the form of a fear.

The fear may have been but a small one, but if it gets in, then in comes rushing despondency, doubt of Him, and so much other crap!

pray for that perfect love of Him that does indeed take away all your fears.

Today...

2005-12-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

Fill your world with love and laughter. Never mind what anguish lies behind you.
Forget, forgive, laugh, and love.
Treat ALL as you would treat Him, with love and consideration.
Let nothing that others do to you alter your treatment of them.

Group Homes Outreach

2005-12-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

last weekend, our church had an awesome opportunity to minister and reahc kids of all ages. We had around 150 kids from ages 2-18 from group homes (meaning they have come from or getting ready to go into Foster Care)coem to our church and we had planned a whole day for them. We had gotten all of them Christmas Presents and had a bunch of activities planned to do with them. Just a day to show them the unconditional love of God they probablyt don't get to see on a day to day basis.

The first half of the day was with all the little kids. Man, they were so cute, and I had to fight back the tears thinking about how these little kids don't deserve a life like this- being tossed around, not even knowing when their real birthday is, being robbed of their innocence. They were ecstatic when they opened their presents, and I fought back the tears. When it was their time to go, they all gave me big hugs and kisses from the tiny ones, and as I watched them drive away, I cried, praying that the real love of Christ would be so deeply rooted in their hearts they would never forget and embrace His love for them.

The second half was the teens, and I was prepared to face some hard, rough kids, that had emotional walls built up. We were there to show them that no matter what they have been through, what they say or how they act, it wouldn't phase us, and we were going to show love that would break those walls down. I had a group of about 10 girls, from 13-18, and they were the best. God opened their hearts, and we all seemed to hit it off right away, except one of the older girls, Sarah. she seemed a little skeptical, and so I tried to think of any common ground to start a conversation on. I noticed she had a tattoo on her neck and i asked her about it. Then I told her how I want to get one and I want it to be a guitar and all that. Who knew that was all it was going to take! Her eyes lit up and she said, "Really? I play the guitar too! Well I try, but that's really cool!" So that was a great connection we made. We ended liking the same secular bands and at the end, I was able to run out to my truck and give her my Hawk Nelson CD (christian punk band) and she was really appreciative. All the girls and I had os much fun being silly, and they all gave me hugs and took their picture with me. I can't contact them, but I did give them my cell number and told them if they needed anything to give me a call.

One also cool thing that happened was we served them food and stuff and I was teasing my girls by saying they better give me a good tip. Well they got a peice of paper out and wrote TIP on it and all signed their names and gave it to me as a joke. We all laughed, but I inside I was saying, thank you God, this way I won't forget their names, and I can pray over that every night that even though these girls have been robbed of a normal childhood and gone through so much, they can still meet God face to face and exsperience His amazing presence. I think I was more impacted by all these kids lives, than they were mine. I'm really going to look into volunteering for group homes like these, because these girls will get passes that let them go shopping or go different places and as a volunteer I could take them to those.

God, do not give up on these kids, big and small! Place them in loving homes and place people that love you and show your character in their lives. Give them a second chance so they get to know you and all you're about. May these kids cling to you when they don't have anything else to hold on to. Let them not give up, but to keep seeking you until they find you!

Sick

2005-12-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

I haven't been feeling good so I haven't been able to update, but I'll get back at it in a day or two. God Bless!

First things first

2005-11-30T08:03:00.000-08:00

"A human being is only interesting if he's in contact with himself. I learned you have to trust yourself, be what you are, and do what you ought to do the way you should do it. You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it."

I hear a lot from different things how trust is so important in relationships- romantic relationships, friendships, with your family, etc...but do you trust yourself? If you can't trust yourself, be prepared that you are going to have heck of a time trusting others.

When you first and foremost trust God that He is in control and you trust Him with your life- the good, the bad, and the ugly, all that is His has now become yours- you can have that assurance and confidence that, with His guidance, encouragement, and love you can be what you are meant to be, and do things like no one else will do, because you are differnet. Embrace God, so you can fully embrace all you are supposed to be, so then you can embrace others.

Cool Quote

2005-11-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

At our Thanksgiving Service for the residents at my work, the Chaplain read something from a book by author, Max Lucado- just thought I'd share it with all of you, hope it encourages you.

"God loves you simply because He has chosen to do so.
He loves you when you don't feel very lovely.
He loves you when no one else loves you.
Others may ignore you or leave you,
But God will love you.
Always.
No matter what."

I will post again on Friday, taking a break on Turkey Day

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, remember what's it's all about; life that is, and take the time to appreciate it.

Thankfulness

2005-11-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

"Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies."
Charles Jefferson

A friend of mine was having a bad day and being pretty grumpy and she just had this notion that she needed to sit down and literally write down all that she was thankful for, to change her attitude. Well the first few things, were pretty surfacy and obvious, and her attitude did not change. By page 3 of filled thanks, her persepctive and attitude had done a 180 degree turn.

I tried that the other night. sitting out on my patio, bundled up, cause it was just a little chilly, and had my journal out and being out there was just going to be between me and God. I took a break from all my other worries or thoughts and just thanked Him for everything- everything he's done and given, and all that he has been to me. I tell you what, you try that, and you can't help but feel an amazing gratitude towards God. It is a very humbling and eye-opening exercise.

So thanks God, for EVERYTHING you give and dor for me every day, but more importantly, who you are to me- you have ALWAYS been there, and are always there. Thank you Lord. Thank you.

Try it...just see what happens. If it doesn't happen right away, keep thanking until it does, because it just means your heart hasn't caught up with your mind yet!

Hope

2005-11-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."

When you don't know what else to do or say, all you have is hope. But that hope is not a weak or timid hope. It is the strength and confidence that will get you through when you know you have done your best.

Hope is the expectation of future certainty. God will see you through anything, and when you don't think you can make it, He will carry you.

It's all about attitude, because even if you don't "succeed" at what you were trying to achieve or things don't go as planned, if you still have your hope and confidence, you have not lost the game. A friend reminded me this week to be confident. Sometimes we just need that little reminder.

From the Skillet song:

You Are my Hope
You are my strength
You're everything, everything I need
You are my hope, you are my life
You are my hope.

Thank you God that you are my hope.

Remember

2005-11-16T15:38:00.000-08:00

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. "

Be there for each other...Don't let distance, difference, or busyness get in the way.
Be willing...be available...be fun...be listening to the unspoken.
Reach out...and don't be offended if your hand isn't taken right away, just be there.

Don't forget to tell your friends how much you appreciate them, even if you do or don't see them often. Remember how much they mean to you.

Yes, you will get on each other's nerves sometimes, you will go too far, you will push buttons. But don't forget to forgive. Because you will also be the first to be there for anything, to share in the laughs, and tears, the available ear, the unlimited hugs, and of course prayers. In the end, we know what really matters, so let us move forward and as it says in James 5, let's make the effort of working on these much needed relationships, so we may be complete and filled with joy and peace.

...Remember what it's all about

1 Cor. 13:

Love never gives up,
Love cares more for others than for self,
Love is not jealous and does not want what it doesn't have,
Love doesn't strut,
Love does not demand its own way,
Is not irritable, and does not force itself on others,
It keeps no record of when it has been wronged,
Isn't always "me first",
Doesn't fly off the handle,
It is never glad about injustice but is glad whenever the truth wins out,
Love trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Love is patient,
It never gives up, never loses faith,
Is always hopeful, and
It endures through every circumstance.

Thanks

2005-11-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

"If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow, you have no today to be thankful for." -Unknown

Lord, help me be thankful of today, this day that you have given me.

Noncomformity

2005-11-09T19:56:00.000-08:00

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are a few people in my life, a rare few that are an absolute inspiration to me in that they are who they are, no excuses. What you see is what you get, and they don't mince words. They will tell it like it is and they stay true to who they are, without wavering.

You know who else was like that was Jesus. He never felt like he had to answer to anyone or prove anything, except to the Father. He stayed true to himself no matter what anyone said or did to Him. He never made excuses for why he was a certain way, He just was who He was. He was not insecure. He was confident, and I think that is one of the mysteries that drew people to Him. They were curious about Him. There had never been anyone like Him before. And now, we get the awesome privelege that everything that Christ had/has, we can also have. Because when we have accepted Him, we receive all of that- it gets put into us!

My prayer is that I would allow everything that God has imparted into me, to be expressed freely and securely. Lord, may it not be my pride or ego that gets in the way, but put your security and confidence in me that I can do and be anything that is deep in my heart. That no fear of man or what people will think of me would ever hold me back.

My early New Year's Resolution is that starting today, and I will take it day by day (I know it doesn't happen automatically) I will not care what other people think about who I am. If I am misunderstood, which I hate to be, the fact is, sometimes, I will be, and that's ok, because I have nothing to prove. We are all judged, everyday, by what we look like, act like, what we do and say, and if someone thinks something about me that is totally off the wall, or they say something that is totally off the charts, what's done is done. I am who I am, no excuses. I speak this resolution or revolution rather, in faith, so hopefully 1-6 months from now, this will not just be a pipe dream or wishful thinking on my part, but a reality that I am living...living true to myself and God. It is easier for me to put thoughts down in written words than to say it, and it can be pretty therapeutic. This blog started to be for other people, anyone who wanted to read it. But I know part of it is just for me.

Thanks for taking the time to read this :)

Poem for the day

2005-11-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

My friend Cindy posted this poem and it is awesome so I thought I would share with y'all. (you like that, y'all?)

Anyway, hope it makes your day as it did mine.

"Portrait of a Friend"

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,
nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.

I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship,
from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces
and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.
I can only love you and be your friend.
--Unknown

2005-11-08T20:22:00.000-08:00

All That Remains- 1st audio post

2005-11-08T19:54:00.000-08:00

The slow song is a worship song, my friend Jaclyn just wrote, these are the words- awesome song!

When you speak, I am listening
When you move, I'll respond to you
When you ask, I'll surrender all of my life

Holy Spirit, fan into this flame
I want to live with your spirit in me
Burn away all of the dross
Till all that remains is you

I say more of you and less of me
Copyright Jaclyn Moolman 2005

The next audio blog the upbeat one is a new song I am working on called Superman. Here are the words:

Will you be my superman, will you take me by the hand
You don't have to jump tall buildings to impress me
You don't have to wear underwear on the top of your clothes to impress me
You just gotta take me to the place where your mercy and grace
overflows with a thousand souls praising you
where every knee will bow every tongue confess that your holiness
is worth the rest of my life given to you

Will you be my superman, will you take me by the hand

You don't have to catch speeding bullets in your teeth to impress me
You don't have to fly in the sky like a bird or plane to impress me
You just gotta take me to the heights where your glory and praise
is filling my life it's all around me, it's overflowing.
Copyright Jacque Reynolds 2005

This should help you understand the words!

2005-11-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

2005-11-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

Perserverance

2005-11-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I remember hearing that phrase, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." I think that can sound kind of callous though, as if we are mahcines that can automatically turn our thinking from being discouraged or down when situations around us suck, to an energized, inspired being. That doesn't always work because our emotions are involved. Sometimes we run into a wall and no matter what we do, that wall seems to stay up, staring back at us. So what do we do?

Someone once told me, no matter what happens to you, and the situation you are in, you are never stuck. There is always a choice. There is always something you can do about it. Imagine starting your day with the attitude and confidence that nothing anyone says or does, or what the day brings is going to shake you. You are going to have a great day. Start your day with that attitude, and don't let anyone or anything take it away from you. It's like what Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." and that is so true. This verse has always been a help to me, when I lose perspective and try and get through things on my own, without God's strength, and guidance. It's puts everything back in place. He's got everything under control, and taken care of. I am just along for the ride.

Romans 5:3 (NLT)
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our hope, our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Forgiveness

2005-11-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

"To err is human; to forgive, infrequent. " - Franklin Adams

Holding onto something is always actually harder to do than to just let it go. The same is true with unforgiveness. It takes more work on my part to dwell on it, feed off it, and to labor on it. Whereas, if I surrender it and say, well whatever, what's done is done, another day another dollar, and let it go, now I don't have so much work to do. Now, even though you forgive, it doesn't mean things always go back to being the same. That takes time. Sometimes there will be a reconciliation, and sometimes not. I think once people have been hurt they are guarded, or at least more guarded than they were before and it takes a while before they will let that perosn in again. Sometimes time and space is all that is needed. But the most important part is forgiveness. If you stay in unforgiveness, you get stuck. Stuck in life, in your heart, stuck emotionally. It's no fun for anyone and too much of a burden that you were never meant to carry. So today let down your burdens, there's someone to give you rest.

Give

2005-11-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

"Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully."

Imagine the outcome if this statement was put into application. Just think about how many people you could impact and change if you did that to for everyone you met in one day.
Giving people a little more of your time, a little bit better customer service, a smile you normally don't give them. Going that tiny extra mile, for everyone you come across in one day- don't you think you would feel a little more satisfied and joyful inside yourself- knowing you were perhaps a better person today than yesterday.
Imagine how you would feel if you were given a little more than you expected in a day, how special you would feel, how someone really made your day...you could make someone else feel that exact same way...we have so much power to impact other people's lives for the better...or for the worse.

There's something inside all of us

2005-11-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

"I have a right to my anger, and I don't want anybody telling me I shouldn't be, that it's not nice to be, and that something's wrong with me because I get angry." -Maxine Waters

What is it in us that sometimes makes us want to hurt others? We have all done it, we have all said something to someone, knowing deep inside that what we say is going to either make them angry or hurt them. Why do we do that?

I think sometimes, people, including myself don't let themselves feel angry, they're afraid of it. Afriad they may hold on to it too long, or feel like they shouldn't feel angry, like it's not ok.

God can't deal with a feeling or a situation that we don't acknowledge, and he can't deal with a feeling we wish we had. He can only deal with and heal what we do acknowledge and what we are really feeling. He is not fake. He's real.

That's where I'm at today.

Love defined

2005-11-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

"I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." -Vincent Van Gogh

What a quote- I've never thought of loving people as an art, but when you think about it, it's pretty true. Art is something that needs a lot of care, gentleness patience, and practice, if that art is going to be worth something. And sometimes, it takes even more of an art to love people when they are doing or being something other than lovely! It takes an art to look and see past their "junk" and see the best in them. But that's how God sees us, hence the quote at the very tope of my blog. whenever I am confused about the right way to treat someone or if I am at my end with someone, I read this verse and it always brings me back to the true guide in how to love people.

1 Corinthians 13:

Love never gives up,
Love cares more for others than for self,
Love is not jealous and does not want what it doesn't have,
Love doesn't strut,
Love does not demand its own way,
Is not irritable, and does not force itself on others,
It keeps no record of when it has been wronged,
Isn't always "me first",
Doesn't fly off the handle,
It is never glad about injustice but is glad whenever the truth wins out,
Love trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Love puts up with anything,
It never gives up, never loses faith,
Is always hopeful, and
It endures through every circumstance.

Integrity

2005-11-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion when no one else is watching.

This metaphor refers to the integrity of a sport's player, but really the truth in this statment could also be applicable anywhere in life. When I am at work, the job God has provided and entrusted to me to do the best job I know how to do, not just once in a while, but every day...even when the boss and management is not watching, am I consistent? Do I work just as hard? even if I know no recognition will come from it, am I still willing to go that extra mile for my residents, in my daily workload?

Or in my prayer and worship life...am I willing to pray and worship just as hard and fervently at home alone in my room, or in my garage with my guitar, as I do on Sunday mornings in front of my congregation, pastors, and other Christian friends?

Is my integrity consistent? Is yours? If it is not, than it really isn't integrity at all, but merely the appearance of what you want others and yourself to believe.

In the end, you have nothing to prove to anyone...you don't have to explain yourself or answer to ANYONE...except God. Wow, now right there, that takes a lot of pressure off me, that I tend to put on myself way too often. Now if only I could remember that on a daily, sometimes hourly basis!

who am I today

2005-10-31T14:59:00.000-08:00

That is a tricky quote because sometimes, it can flucuate throughout you day. When I am being optimistic, which I think I am for the most part, I have a hard time being patient with others atound me when they are so pessimistic. but then I wonder if I come across that way to others when the shoe is on the other foot.

But I guess that is part of getting the most joy and success out of life- is taking and seeing the good out of anything and going for it. If you are constantly seeing the good in things, think about how much more fulfilled your life will feel, and how much more at peace you will be.

Easier said than done I know...but the funny thing about that is the more you practice it, the more permanent it becomes as a part of your daily thinking.

Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent.

Who are you going to be today?

2005-10-31T08:59:00.000-08:00

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

You choose how to see things...food for thought.

Dreams

2005-10-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

What do you think of this quote? Do you agree with it? It can be looked at in many different ways:

Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.

My guitar for real!

2005-10-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is actually what my guitar looks like! Thanks Luke for trying to find it! I wanted this guitar for almost 3-4 years and had it cut out from a magazine, used as a bookmark in my Bible and I finally got it almost 2 years ago. Her name is Jen...isn't she a beauty?

Alright it's getting there

2005-10-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

I've put more work into yours than I have mine...but I've found some cool things I can do with mine now.

My Guitar

2005-10-28T15:46:00.000-07:00