What is Your Anthem?

I really liked the question that I read today: http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/04/whats-your-anthem.html . Here is my response; what's yours?

So, I don't know if anyone else has used this, but the Anthem of my short 21 year life so far has been the old hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"(see below for lyrics) along with the verses: Hebrews 12:2-3 ("Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.")
Though you did not specifically ask why but just "what is your anthem," here's why for me anyways. This is my anthem b/c every time I think I can go through life on my own I quickly discover usually through a not so joyous situation that I cannot. I all to often lose hope in my situation (especially with working and going to school at GT). Then there's of course everything outside of the physical realm, relationships with family, friends, now ex-boyfriends. I know that when I do not focus on my heavenly Daddy who has carried me through so much I cannot make it. So this hymn and these verses help remind me of where my eyes should be looking.

(side note: I was first introduced to this hymn through a production talking about what Peter's life would have looked like nowadays; God spoke through the music so much that me, a very quiet and shy person, stood up in a front of a huge sanctuary (FBCW, GA) full of D-Now kids and rededicate my life or truly dedicate at age 13, talk about terrified and so unsure except about who LOVED me).
I hope that this at least encourages someone out there.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus:
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Take a Look

- cute and funny little kid, kind of an old video but oh well: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4921695367007985654&ei=mvrCSb-8I4L8rgL1oKX5Cw&q=6+year+old+ethan+piano+on+tonight+show&hl=en
- reminds me of a funny thing I heard a kid say in the bathroom of a restaurant. It struck me as funny when I heard it though it may not seem funny to y'all(I have a slightly offbeat sense of humor). Anyways, this kid is about 3 or 4 and in the stall, while mom is standing outside waiting for her to finish. The mom asks: "Honey(or whatever the kids name was) are you done?" response: "No I gotta go poopy" (not the funny part), Mom: "Well, do you need to go now or can you wait until we get done at the restaurant? Can you go at home?" (Notice the last question, now the funny part) Kid: "Yeah, I go at home all the time." I'm still not sure exactly why it's funny, but maybe it's the honest truthful answer to the question just not the type of answer desired, who knows.
- Next link is to a blog/article one entry that I found, it was interesting: Where have all the Cowboys/Worship Leaders gone? http://timgrandstaff.com/?p=18

Ok, the next 2 are about how God is working here and there:
- First off this week is Spring Break for Tech, this year I had to work and could not go on a mission trip with the BCM. This year there were 3 trips, Numbered, Asheville(aka Cyndi's Magical Mystery Bus Tour), and Beach Reach. The past 2 years I had been able to go on the Beach Reach Trip, I was really bummed about not going on a trip at all. However I have been blessed by being able to watch live feed of prayer requests and video feed of worship. Check it out and continue to be in prayer for them as they have one more week after tonight: http://www.bwebdesign.net/beachreachlive/
- This next blog has a small tie into the one above. Last year my group had the pleasure of sharing the bottom of a house with a group of girls from Texas and 2 amazing ladies who flew all the way from Utah! (They were the only ones from there group, what courage!) Anyways I facebook friended them and have kept up with them a little. One of the girls, Jarah, is over in Africa working as a mission trip. I've been reading her blog and it's been so encouraging to see how God is working on the other side of the globe! So go take a look: http://brightredcords.blogspot.com/

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

http://sciencedude.freedomblogging.com/files/2009/02/endofrain1.jpg
Just a really cool picture that I thought was worth sharing.

Two in One

Here's the before mentioned "free write," all thoughts are welcome, these are each a pairing of words from my head that kinda mean something to me.

Two and One
Steady and Change
Unique and Same
Country and (City)Classy
Antique and Modern
Rose and Wildflowers
Mountain and Beach
Sun and (Snow)Storm
Listen and (Speak up)Voice
Goofy and Serious
Raw and Callous
Overflow and Thirst
Impossible and Omnipotent
Concrete and Abstract
Shatter and Heal
Sacrifice and Gain(Win)
Death and Life
Mud and Crystal(clear)
Humble and Cocky
Clean and Dusty
Create and Disassemble
Rest and Energy
Free and Imprisoned
Forever and Now
Rooted and Floating(Drifting)
Candle and Blackhole
Read and Write(Express)
Terrified/Uncertain and Sure/Reliant
Desperate and Content
Serve and Lead
Balance and Teeter(Fall)
(Edgy and Soft)
(Alone and Surrounded)
(Redemption and Unworthy)
(Love and Denial)
*() stuff inside was added after original note/in creation of this blog

Reference for the Future and such

All of this has been found via friends and such.

- Using Children's energy to create energy(might be something to incorporate into personal property):
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Playing+around+and+around+...+This+merry-go-round+works+while+kids...-a0181672715

- Cool New Charity(started by a friend I look forward to helping this grow): http://www.the214project.org/index.html

- Challenge to Leaders (Catalyst video of Andy Stanley worth watching):
http://coffeeshopjournal.com/2008/10/11/catalyst-08-andy-stanley-closing-session/

- Nervous System (Really Unique Jewelry, that is customizeable, haven't had the chance to fully play with it but such an awesome concept created by nerds like me, albeit much much smarter): http://n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com/index.php

I believe that's all for those right now. Feel free to let me know what you think about them. In a bit I'm going to post another post that's really a "free write" that happened within 20 mins or so, it might get expanded, but I'm really curious as to what people might say about it.

Update-Learning

Just wanted to take a moment and update as some of you should. ;)
First off God blessed me and I made it out of that semester. It was definitely rough as the previous post stated but He loves me, I don't understand why, and brought me through it even helped me pull out Bs and Cs amazingly no Ds or Fs as I was worried about. He definitely had His hand in it all not just classes, if you need proof I can explain more later. I may not know why some things happened or what have you but I just trust that there was a reason for it.
I feel like I'm starting to learn again, I'm not sure what yet but I have a feeling God's got something on his mind that I need to learn or maybe even relearn.
Oh by the way I've had a great much needed break. It's hard to believe I still have the rest of this week before work starts back sounds to good to be true. Hope each of you have had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the start of a New Year!

Prayer & a Poem (not related)

I would just like to take a moment to ask for prayer. This semester has seemed really rough at points and I'm not entirely sure why it feels worse than those that have passed but I've been struggling lately and I hate it. I feel like I've been way too self-focused and let a lot of people down. So I humbly ask that you just say a quick prayer for me as I try to finish out this semester strong. Thanks.

This is a poem I saw on a blog(http://www.tommyadams.org/) I found through a friend's blog, just thought it was interesting and I must say I wholeheartedly agree with it's sentiment. Hope you enjoy it.
"The Mourning of Imagination"
I used to live in a land
In which dreams were but a whisper away
A fantastic world of beginnings
Where innocence went out to play.

A canvas untouched by the darkness
Where colors were named by the light
A garden of infinite beauty
That bent to the artist's delight.

A page of unyielding adventure
Where heroes were made of mere men
A place of such pure innovation
That flowed from the tip of a pen.

A symphony of majestic melodies
That bade me to move and to love
Where harmony dwelt with creation
And danced upon clouds up above

Now my dreams are another year older
And my vision has dimmed to be sure
The colors are drowning in sorrow
The battle has lost its allure.

The music has faded to silence
My heart beats with its rhythm no more
Afraid to move in the darkness
Fearing what life has in store.

Return me to that place I plead
Where dreams are but a whisper away
That fantastic world of beginnings
Where innocence goes out to play.