Songs

There have been two songs that have just been a really uplifting to me. I wanted to share them with you. The first song is called "Knowing Christ". A friend of mine sang this in chapel not that long ago and know that I have the words I want to share it with you all.

O to taste the goodness of the Lord,
Satisfying hunger in my heart.
O to feed on manna from above:
Strength divine the Spirit shall impart.

O to know the presence of the Lord;
O to taste, to hear, to feel, to see.
O to know the presence of the Lord,
Knowing Christ in full reality.

O to hear the cadence of His voice,
Speaking peace within my inner man;
O to hear the tender chords of love
Sounding out the guidance of His plan.

O to know the presence of the Lord;
O to taste, to hear, to feel, to see.
O to know the presence of the Lord,
Knowing Christ in full reality.

O to feel the comfort of His touch,
Graciously upholding me in need.
O to sense the everlasting arms
assurring me to trust His lead

O to see the glory of the Lord
Shining forth in splendor and in might;
O to see the high and lofty One
Now exalted greatly in our sight!

O to know the presence of the Lord
O to taste, to hear, to feel, to see
O to know the presence of the Lord
Knowing Christ in full reality.

I just really like this song because it talks about how we can know Christ. We can see it in His glory. We can feel it in the way He touches our lives. We can hear it through others. We can KNOW Christ in reality...if we would just take the time to know Him!

The last song is We Will Serve Him...this song just challenges me to serve Him for the rest of my days! (Its a duet...so thats why it says we...)

Here in the presence of the Lord
Here in this holy place
Giving Him thanks for all He's done
Quietly seeking His face

So many times we've seen His hand,
Guiding each step of the way.
God put us here to take a stand
To serve Him everyday.

We will serve Him for the rest of our days
We will serve Him with the highest of praise.
We'll be His witness no matter the cost
We'll be His beacon, His light to the lost
We will serve the Lord our God
For the rest of our days.

He is the light at break of dawn
He is the one true way.
He is our strength when hope is gone
Shephards us when we stray.

God gave to us His only son
The selfless sacrifice
How can we pay for all He's done
When Jesus paid the price?

We will serve Him for the rest of our days
We will serve Him with the highest of praise
We'll be his witness no matter the cost
We'll be His beacon, His light to the lost
We will serve the Lord our God...
for the rest of our days

Fear

Ok...so like most people I have a fear in life. Mine just happens to be a fear of snakes. Why? Well when I was about 8 I had two stupid older cousins who thought it would be fun to force their little cousin to hold their stupid boa constrictor, or whatever it was. So one of them held my hands in place while the other one placed the snake in my hands. I screamed bloody murder and pretty sure they both got busted. Ever since then I have had a MAJOR fear of snakes. I can't walk by the snake displays at zoo's without freaking out, and those snakes are in glass. For pity's sake I am afraid of stupid rubber snakes. Its sad I know, but so very true. So you can imagine the fear that hit me when I found out that the son of the family I stay with on Sunday afternoons has a snake. I about hit the roof. Jesse, the snake owner, assured me that the snake was downstairs and I would not be harmed. I was a little relieved, but not much. Well I am thinking about this snake, and I realize that I need to get over this fear, so I tell Jesse that I would like to hold his snake.
So I am proud to announce that this past Sunday, March 25th 2007, I held Jesse's Ball Python "Einstein" for almost and hour, and to be quite honest it was the coolest thing ever. I was able to get over the fear snakes and actually hold one. I actually enjoyed it too. It was pretty sweet and Einstein is soo cute and I can't wait to hold him again.

Thoughts for the Day

My friend Dan posted a great message by Josh Harris on his blog about the Flesh. Check it out below.

I think the part that got me the most was feeding our flesh. Sometimes I do things and I think "oh its just this once...it won't hurt me". But oh does it. Feeding your flesh only makes it stronger. I wish I would think about these things before I do stupid stuff. But sadly I don't. I needed this great reminder...hopefully it can be a blessing you your heart like it was to mine.

I have been reading this book called Authentic Beauty. It is a wonderful book and I would recommend that all women read it whether single or not single. It talks about some great things. She talks about how we are Princesses and our Prince should be Jesus Christ.

When I was little I wanted to be just like the princess Ariel from the little mermaid. I wanted to be beautiful and I wanted her long red flowy hair. I wanted to grow up and find myself a prince Eric just like she did. I wanted him to be cute like prince Eric and I wanted him to be perfect. But then one day reality hit, and it hit hard. I realized that I was never going to be a princess like Ariel because she isn't real. She's just a fairy tale like all the other disney princesses. Sometimes its hard to realize that I don't have a boyfriend...but as I read this book, I realize that maybe I am not ready to date. I have not yet become Christ's princess and He has not yet become my prince. There are things in my life that I need to work on before I think I can completely go into a relationship.
I need to become His lily white princess, and then I can become a princess for the man of my dreams. Just some pretty awesom things that I have been learning that I wanted to share. I hope it makes sense.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

This is like my theme song...Actually its probably my favorite song from the musical Wicked. It does describe me in a way. All this stuff happens...but then I find out that he could be that boy...but I'm not that girl....but thats ok. My guys coming. He just got lost, and is too dumb to ask for directions! =)

Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I'm not that girl

Don't dream too far
Don't lose sight of who you are
Don't remember that rush of joy
He could be that boy
I'm not that girl

Ev'ry so often we long to steal
To the land of what-might-have-been
But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in

Blithe smile, lithe limb
She who's winsome, she wins him
Gold hair with a gentle curl
That's the girl he chose
And Heaven knows
I'm not that girl

Don't wish, don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
There's a girl I know
He loves her so
I'm not that girl...

Education

In one of my classes we have been discussing the age of pre-schoolers. One of the more popular things to do now is send your child to pre-school at an early age. Parents do it for a couple of different reasons. 1) So the mom can go back to work. (In some cases this is ok...and no I am NOT against women working...if I was I wouldn't be trying to get a degree.) 2)because the want their kids to get a good start on education. Now, I can understand a parent wanting their child to learn at an early age. It makes things easier for them, per say, as they get older. But why do parents feel the need to send their child to pre-school to learn these things? I am not at all against pre-school. I actually think its a wonderful thing. The problem comes when people start sending their kids there at the age of 2 or even 3. If you are a family where the mother has to work and you have no choice, I see that as fine. But unless you can't help it, I think sending children to pre-school that early is wrong. Here's why.

Many pre-schools today are set up in non-christian environments. It is a proven fact that children learn a lot of what they do in the early years, mostly before three. Thats when their personality begins to take form. If you are sending your child to a non-christian environment at that young of an age, that can be a problem. You child may grow up to learn things that you don't want them to learn. (language, music, that sort of thing) Now I realize that these are 2's and 3's we are talking about, but don't under estimate the power of their minds. The pick up EVERYTHING they hear or see. Its just the way they were created. Also it do you really want to miss out on those first years of your child's life? They are so cute at that age and they do totally hilarious things. Do you really want to miss out on your childs childhood? Do you want them to only have memories of school? I have some memories before the age of four, and all of them are good. I wasn't in school, I was at home with my mommy.

I am not saying that early childhood education is bad. If it was I wouldn't be minoring in it. The bad part is when we send our children so early. All they want is mommy and daddy, not some teacher like me. So in conclusion, I just ask you to think this one thing...would your child benefit from pre-school before the age of 4 or 5?

Christmas Break

Christmas break was awesome. Above I am seen with my best friend since 1st grade Beth Williams. We went to Denny's on New Years Eve to bring in the new year with my brother who was working the late shift that night. We had a lot of fun. We were bored so we used my new cell phone to take pictures of us! =) It was just a great break to spend some time with her, which is something we hardly ever get to do at school because of our busy schedules.


The above picture was taken at my church on New Years Eve. This is my pastor's son Stephen. He is the cutest baby in the entire church and I love him to death!! =) What a cutie. I didn't get to babysit him while I was home, =(, but thats ok, maybe this summer I will get the opportunity.


This picture was taken, yet again at Denny's resteraunt. This is my friend Katie who came to see me this last weekend. We went to Denny's for lunch on Sunday afternoon. We had a blast together, and I was so sad when we had to leave each other. I love her so much.

Now I am back at school hitting the textbooks. I hope that all of you, my faithful readers, are doing well. Leave me a comment if you read my blog. I would love to know who does such! =)