Thursday, June 21, 2007

Birthdays and Weddings

Laura getting an evil look from her boyfriend's sister, Faith. Yep I said it, James and Laura are official.
Paul looking out from the depths of the amazon.
James and Phil wrestling on my couch...if you look closely you can see an arm or two belonging to the other man.
Kristen caught in the act of stealing cake.
Happy Birthday Ambers! My roomie being apprehended by security. ;)
Me, Khaley, and Kim chilling on the decked out Hawaiian porch.
Mark and Heather's wedding day.
Jared and Leigh...soon to tie the knot.
The guys.

My beautiful brother Aaron.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Tiger, tiger





Tigers are a very frightening thing. Given the choice I'd rather have a pet lion rather than a tiger. There's something very dark I feel in the nature of a tiger. Anyway, dream last night...I'm at my grandparent's and there are several peops with me hanging out in the front yard. Someone spots a tiger sort of creeping around in some tall grass, so we run for the front door and have to hold it shut while this beastie tries to get in (cause the door won't lock). After a while the tiger gets bored and goes roaming some more. Eventually it goes down the road with a kill in its mouth and we go outside to watch it. It meets up with two more adult tigers at the neighbor's house. Then little babies come out and they're all just sitting by a pond where two men are boating around. I don't think this dream was anything other than a be careful to what you open doors to sort of dream. And the grandparent's house is usually referencing a generational thing.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Psalming It

Returning from a visit in Nashville, I popped the Life of David cd's into the player and consumed them on the way home (not all but the first few). So my life feels absolutely crazy right now...friends are getting married left and right, people are moving, things are exploding, and trying to figure out where I fit into the scheme of things after being gone for so long is too much to tackle. There is this inner frustration, like I'm either gonna burst into song or blow up my car, and what I hope comes out of me is Jesus. I'm having dreams warning me in one direction, I'm having spiritual guidance in others, I'm just trying to be a somewhat normal person, and all the while praying that in the midst of this confusing time I'm walking in God's will. SO yeah, I pop in the cd's and begin a mouth-watering journey into the life of a man I can identify with. Ever feel alone? Ever feel like you're the only one of your kind? It's nice when you do feel like that if your deepest connection and comfort can really come from God's heart. I love David's heart, and most of all I love the way God loves him. Because I can read it and feel it on such a personal level, those perceptions and feelings become my own. For example, Bickle was saying how David wrote one of the earlier Psalms because God had delivered David out of like a 16 month period of straight rebellion. But David doesn't say, "You delivered me because of Your great mercy," no he says, "You delivered me because You delight in me." That really touched me. So I've been using that lately. Like I'll say, "You're allowing me to go through this because You delight in me." Or, "You've promised me this because You delight in me." I also loved the part about David's core values...how he measured success. His primary indentity was as a lover of God and he knew God loved him. When Nathan said he'd be king, his focus wasn't on the position or glory or honor, it was the fact that God liked him. Bickle goes on to say that David's application process were the prayers and thoughts he had toward God during those hidden years. David was very faithful through the mundane. He cultivated his servant's attitude and when he became king still showed those same qualities. Anyway, there's so much in these sessions and I've only said a few things I'm trying to keep hidden in me for good. I'm sure I'll post more once we get into the battles and compromises.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Weddings, Wine, and Inspiration

So my weekend was busy with the wedding, traveling, and hanging with friends in Charlotte. It was good to catch up with people, dance, and celebrate two people's long-awaited union. Can't say I'm exactly back in my game, ya know feeling like I've found the American groove again or anything like that. Not sure I really want to. It's been hard. But, I will say I woke up this morning early early and felt like playing the guitar, my beautiful taylor I missed. So I made coffee, sat down and started messing around. A phrase had been on my heart for the past few days so I took that and worked with it until I got this new song. Well, after spending the morning at Morningstar, just listening to worship and getting some prophetic ministry, one of the things they said was that this is a new day, a new season, and that I'd be filled with praise and a new grace. I felt this was, is very true. And when I started writing, it was an enjoyable thing, not a burden or a frustration. Anyway, all that to say I'm posting the lyrics and if you pop over to my myspace you'll see a humiliating pic of me after the wedding when I'd had a little too much to drink and the girls' screwed me over that night. ;) And also, for those I've talked to about my plans for Nashville and such I will say that it's a no go. After meeting with Rick and talking to my father, they both sort of gave me the same wisdom. It would be a step back, a no-fit on the armor, that I ought to stay plugged into DP...which I was sort of feeling anyway. If I'm to be sent out by DP, I guess I oughta remain under them, Rick and the rest. So...here are the lyrics, which I hope to do sometime in worship.

You wake me up with a song
You are singing Your praises into my soul
With a kiss you draw me from my slumber
Your holy touch still it lingers

I'll strum this harp with all my heart
Just to catch You God in my song
I'll out strum the things that don't belong
And open up a window to all You are

Prechorus: (which is just me singing craziness)

Chorus:
You make me sing hallelujah
You make me glad just to know ya
for all wisdom, all honor,
all goodness, and power
come from You

Yeah, it sounds cool with the melody....had fun singing it....sang it all day.