God is Love

Life leaves you lots of things to ponder at the end of the day. Bittersweet, melancholy or merry musings. It makes me think of one of my favorite songs, "The Heart of Life," by John Mayer. It captures the truth about living in this world. I'm thankful for "the circle of [my] friends [who] will defend the silver lining" and I'm especially thankful for my Lord... "for God is love." (1 John 4:8)

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good

Oh, January, Oh

It's January today. I like this month.... January. This year's first month seems especially wonderful as the weather has given our chilled bones a reprieve from the usual piles of snow winter heaps upon us. It reminds me of "January Hymn", by The Decemberists:

I hope you are staying warm, where ever you may be. Happy January. =)

Happy New Year!!!!

As last year turned to the next,
to you and yours I wished the best.
Curious of what will come to be,
We allow ourselves new hopes and dreams.
So celebrate this year's new day,
for "auld lang syne" is what we say.

Today, the 1st of January, we start another year. Some people are looking forward to beginning new trends, setting resolutions and creating goals for the future. Others, while they may do some of these things anyways, see today as 'just another day.'
I would say that this is a definite attitude difference between youth and aged adults ...but I have noticed that this has to do with maturity of the mind rather than maturity of the body.  It also has to do with a person's fear of the future or of the unknown.
As Christians we do not worry that time is slipping away. We do not fear the future because God's word tells us what it will be like. It is not unknown to us. We know that though our time on earth will come to a close we will spend eternity in the heavenly places with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In all reality a new year isn't much to get excited about. It's a way to number the days and a time to remember the past and hope for the future but it isn't 'the end of  the world!' Really, considering the fact that the human race has been around for quite some time it is amusing that we see ourselves as so innovative and progressive.  "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity." Ecc. 12:8

Ecclesiastes 1:9, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." 

We just continue in our little cycles... the good times and the bad, the ups and downs, the ebb and flow. If you get a chance read Ecclesiastes... we are not on this earth to be innovative or progressive but to live for Christ. It is in him that we find all of the fullness of life, the answers to all questions and the reason to live. 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."  

So with that, as Paul the Apostle would say, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

Have a wonderful 2012!!!

Weather or Not, Happy End of 2011

It never fails. When something fun is supposed to happen or it's a time to celebrate... maybe a holiday or the like, there is something bad going on. Like tonight it's the weather. Freezing rain, then snow, then 50 mph gusts of wind. I was going to go to a church party but instead I'm going to watch a movie with the family at home. That can be equally as fun but it is still rather disappointing to have plans changed. 

Nevertheless, it is New Year's Eve. The end of another year. I can't even remember what happened this year. It seems like a month has past since Christmas. I think that with all of the change and unexpected occurrences I've experienced in the past three years nothing will shock me anymore. Maybe it's like a catastrophe callus? 

Sadly though, I have no doubt that my "ability" to forget the unpleasant past will likely leave me vulnerable to many more troubles.

Therefore, I truly hope that you are having a wonderful New Years Eve, eagerly awaiting the adventures of 2012. One must be hopeful... and dream for peace and happiness. 

And so with that, I am off to watch a movie with my extraordinarily wonderful family.

For Auld Lang Syne (times long past) my dear.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

A friend of mine, inspired by "Courtney Jo's Song", drew this incredible sketch.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICTURE

....to see more of Nate's awesome artwork click here:
The Sketchbook of Nate

New Song

Here's a song I just wrote. I've actually been working on if for quite possibly anywhere from 4 to 6 months (although I'm not exactly sure when I started scribbling down lyrics). I just found the tune for it a few days ago, I patched it up with a few more words here and there and added a bridge (which is the "different" sounding part towards the end). It's a song for my dear friend, Courtney. 

For My Sister

My dearest friend's brother posted this song on Facebook. I've always liked Mumford and Son's music... they always have a song that says exactly what you need to say.... "Sister don't let go of us."