My New Love

What started to be a “want to hang out” turned into a full blown crush, which turned into spending quite a bit of time together.  Yes, I’m totally still in the honeymoon stage, but my fingers are numb and my heart is happy.  Granted, I really only know a few chords and am not really even sure how to “strum” properly, but that’s okay.

I find myself in a stage where I’m learning and re-learning so many things that this fits right into the mix. I must go through the pain, develop those callouses and take time in order to learn the chords, which will turn into a song.  The song may not sound pretty at first, but with some hard work, pressing into those strings, and commitment, I know that I can be more than a conqueror and make something beautiful from the pain.

The same is true for the place I find myself in life.  I find myself at a crossroads where I can either press in and dig deep with God or I can be complacent while letting root issues stick around.  To be honest, I’m sick and tired and absolutely hate those roots in my life and the destruction and pain they have caused.  I need and want to go through the pain with Jesus at my side to dig out any and everything that is destructive so that I can bear good fruit and so prove to be His disciple.  In this, I need support, I need prayer, I need people because Christ created us as a body with Him as the head.  Thus, I need Him and I need the rest of the body to help me in this.  I recognize this and ask if you would join me in this journey in whatever way.  A journey where I am committed to this path toward forgiveness, healing, restoration, and new life because I know that in the long run it will all be worth it.

Top 25*

Turn it Up by Aaron Lines (258): Happy summer music and a happy someday.

Everclose by Matt Wertz (247): I fall asleep to music on repeat.

Good-bye My Lover by James Blunt (229): I know hurt.

Ever the Same by Rob Thomas (173): Chill happy

Girl Next Door by Saving Jane (164): Sometimes I feel like this.

Home by Michael Buble (162): I love home and the feeling of being home even when it’s not a place.

When You Say Nothing at All by Ronan Keating (160): Songs from movies make me happy.

I Always Liked that Best by Cyndi Thompson (153): I like that feeling…

For All Time by Soluna (146): So…what? I like love songs 🙂

Crush by Mandy Moore (145): I love being sparkled

Kiss the Rain by Billie Myers (141): I know what it’s like being far away

That’s Where it is by Carrie Underwood (141): Once again…I like that feeling

You’re Like Coming Home by Emerson Drive (130): Home is where my heart is

Take You Back by Jeremy Camp (126): I love Jesus

My Jesus by Todd Agnew (123): I want real, authentic life

Have a Little Faith by Mandy Moore (112): All about faith, hope and love

You Said by Shane and Shane (112): I say a little prayer for you

The Lover after Me by Savage Garden (102): Sometimes it hurts

Misconception by Matt Woods (97): I listen to catchy songs on repeat

On a Night Like This by Dave Barnes (95): I believe in love stories

Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me by Chris Cagle (93): Real love, real life

Every Little Thing by Hawk Nelson (91): I want to be that girl

You’re Beautiful by James Blunt (90): Tragic, but powerful

Summer Girl by Jessica Andrews (87): I wear flip flops

Everything There is To Know About You by Mark Wills (84): I love asking questions

*Disclaimer: Just to clarify the playcount totals are from my computer only and not the combined totals from both my computer and iPod.  So, in all reality I’ve probably listened to Turn it Up over 500 times. hehe 🙂

I’m Letting Go

Go here and listen. This song makes me happy 🙂  I heard it on the radio today. 

This song brings me back to November.

I love singing all the parts in this song (“a broken heart can’t be that bad…when it’s through, it’s through”–name that song!).

” God, I feel like hell tonight” = fave line in this song.

I’m waiting to say this.

My pump up song.

I can’t help but smile when I listen to this. Definitely a “most played” and happy summer song.

I’m waiting to play this again too!

I want to be that girl <><

White Chocolate Goodness aka Oreo Truffles

Oreo Truffles

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)

1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)

white chocolate bark

1. Crush cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.

2. Roll the mixture into 1″ balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.

3. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry.

4. Enjoy!  

Makes about 36 truffles.

Notes: Also, it helps to freeze the uncoated balls for a few minutes to keep the mixture from starting to fall apart in the melted chocolate. If this becomes a problem, dip them in the chocolate, let dry and then dip again. They are also good dipped in regular milk chocolate bark. And for an extra twist, use the mint oreo sandwich cookies.  Also, if you have extra chocolate you can always make a few chocolate covered pretzels or strawberries or bananas!

*I LOVE white chocolate and oreo…so these are amazing!  A nice mix of hard white chocolate with a soft inside 🙂

Sexually Charged Culture

I listened to a sermon entitled “Sexual Sin” by Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, today from his “Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions” series.  This series came out of the “Ask Anything” challenge.  Basically, people were allowed to write in answers and then vote for their favorites.  The top nine questions make up the sermon series.

Now that you have a little background…I’ll get to a few of the thoughts that stood out from the sermon I listened to tonight.

1. Don’t try to manage or tolerate or suppress your sin.  Put it to death!  Legitimizing, justifying, and judging sin hinders us.  Sin leads to death.  Sin separates us from God.  Jesus died so that we could put sin to death.  (See Colossians 3:5-8)

2. Driscoll suggested fasting from television, your ipod, the computer, the radio, ect. for a few days and then returning to see just how “sexually charged” our culture is.  For me, the hardest part would be the internet…I use it FAR too much.  I waste time looking at things that are really not worth it in the long run such as Steep and Cheap, REI, Facebook, and my e-mail for the hundredth time.   I’m pondering doing a variation of this challenge.  I’ll keep you posted.

3. Number 3 of “How to Resist Sexual Temptation” consisted of living as a new person with a new mind.  This included not viewing men or women as potential sexual partners but as brothers and sisters in Christ.  I think you could rephrase this to not seeing men or women as potential boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, cuddling buddies, friends with benefits, ect.  Personally, I’ve found myself with a little crush that turns into a downward cycle of temptation that does not honor that person as a brother in Christ but sees him rather as someone who I could date, kiss, cuddle, befriend ect.   I could add a lot of disclaimers to this and further the thought, but I think for now I’ll leave it at that.

4. Who or what do you worship other than God? Sex? Television? Sports? Relationships? Success? Money? Good looks? Weight? Books? Authors? Pets?
Worship the Creator not Creation

p.s. I’m impressed with my newfound skill of in-text links! 🙂