Changing us, Calling us...

Music has always been a major force for me. Both in life situations, worship, and in God pouring out His word over me. I thought I'd share a few songs that have really impacted me recently in massive ways. Please please please listen to the lyrics. Actually watching the video isn't necessary, but listen to what they say. I know, I know. It's like 15 minutes. But if you're reading my blog, I think you can spare 15 minutes with this in the back ground. ;) Even if you're just checking emails. :P

First song: Tear Down the Walls by Hillsong United

The first time I heard this song, it was being sung by the excellent Jeff Henry (middle school minister at my church) during our "back to school bash". They had heard it at youth camp over the summer and as I heard 300+ students screaming out these lyrics, it floored me and never left me the same. I love this song and every time I hear it I just want to get up and scream it. :) And yes, a little dancing in front of the mirror while lip-syncing to it has occurred. :P Song and lyrics. Sing along with me. Possibly even in front of a mirror. ;)

Tear down the walls see the world

Is there something we have missed

Turn from ourselves

Look beyond

There is so much more than this

And I don't need to see it to believe it

I dont need to see it to believe it

Cause I cant shake this

Fire deep inside my heart

Look to the skies hope arise

See His majesty revealed

More than this life there is love

There is hope and this is real

Cause I dont need to see it to believe it

I dont need to see it to believe it

Cause I cant shake this fire burning

Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising

As Your glory floods our hearts

Let love tear down these walls

That all creation would

Come back to You

Its all for You

Your Name is glorious

Glorious

Your love is changing us

Calling us

To worship in spirit and in truth

As all creation returns to You

Oh for all the sons and daughters

Who are walking in the darkness

You are calling us to lead them back to You

We will see Your spirit rising

As the lost come out of hiding

Every heart will see this hope we have in You

*************

Second song: Burn for You by Fee

This second one has really inspired me recently and made me beg the question, "Am I just singing this? Or do I really, REALLY mean it? And if I do, how will that look in my life?" More about this in the future, hopefully, but in the meantime, enjoy the song. And ask yourself the same thing I asked myself.

There's a stirring in my heart

Unexplainable

There's a calling on my days

Undeniable, yeah

And there's a fire in my bones

Uncontainable

And it's causing me to burn

It's causing me to burn

It's causing me to burn

For you

I'll go anywhere

I'll do anything

At any cost for you

My King

There's a passion in my heart

For the world to see

Revival fires burn

A great awakening

And there's a raging fire inside

This soul of mine

And it's causing me to burn

It's causing me to burn

It's causing me to burn

For you, yeah

Oh, burn for you

Yeah, burn for you

To the ends of the earth

To the ends of the earth

To the farthest part

Til every heart has heard

To the ends of the earth

To the ends of the earth

To the farthest part

Til every heart has heard

There's a stirring in my heart

Unexplainable

And there's a calling on my days

Undeniable

And there's a fire in my bones

Uncontainable

And it's causing me to burn

It's causing me to burn

It's causing me to burn

For you

Burn for you

Yeah, burn for you

Oh, burn

Burn for you

Yeah, burn

Burn for you

To the ends of the earth

**********

Third song: Arms Wide Open by Hillsong (again)

I first heard this song from my sister. She's always nagging me to listen to some song or another, but for some reason I relented and listened to it. I'm so glad I did. We played it on repeat for about three hours as we reviewed Greek and Latin nouns. It's now one of my most favorite songs in the world and I love the part they all scream out. And to mean it! Do we mean it? And yet again what does that look like in our lives if we TRULY live that way?

Take my life I lay it down

At the cross where I am found

All I have I give to You oh God

Take my hands and make them clean

Keep my heart in purity

That I may walk in all You have for me

Oh here I stand

Arms open wide

Oh I am Yours

And You are mine

Take my moments and my days

Let each breath that I take

Be ever only for You oh God

Oh here I stand

Arms open wide

Oh I am Yours

And You are mine

My whole life is Yours

I give it all

Surrendered to Your Name

And forever I will pray

Have Your way

Have Your way

Oh here I stand

Arms open wide

Oh I am Yours

And You are mine

**********

So scream them out load to the sky, lip sync them in front of the mirror, whisper them a thousand times in the night, but above all, MEAN them. Words are worthless if they have no meaning behind them, and so are our lives.

Sisterly affection...

Surprise, Surprise. Janessa got a new camera for her birthday. Happy Birthday, love. :) We were messing around and had some fun. Enjoy. We did. :)

PS: My hair has since changed. Again. So for the record I don't look like that exactly. :P

Monday, Monday, Monday.....(said with a deep voice that rumbles)

So yes, I have a long post comin' your way today, cause it's Monday. :D Which happens to include pics. Huzzah!

1. KA trip.

Which was awesome. Here's some stuff from it.

Me, trying to get some last minute editing done! I like this pic. It's funny and cute. And my hair looks awesome. :P In case you were wondering, yes I cut it. Again. I can't help it! I love it short!

Lunch on Saturday, I have the grey hat on. Oh, how I miss you guys!

Some of us goofing of as Pirates vs. Ninjas. XD I was a Pirate!

Samii, StoryGirl and me! *Sorry SG! I forgot your name! Eyi!

2. A new book.

Yup. And you have to buy it. It's just too amazing. Here's a vid on what it's all about.

This book has changed my life, and I'm only in the third chapter. Here's a tid bit for ya.

It's easy for American Christians to forget how jesus said his followers would actually live, what thier new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the sake of the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily....

But who do you know that lives like that? Do you?

3. Discussion

Last night Mom, Dad, Janessa and I had some powerful discussion on what we (as a family) believe as Baptists. It was challenging, encouraging, and heartening to be fed the truth. Time after time, we pulled out our copies of God's Word and checked what we believe to what we know the Bible says. How amazing is it to know that God has an answer to everything? Whether or not he decides to make it known to us...

Here's a bit that was especially powerful for me.

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

Romans 8:28-30

I don't know how to keep going on miscellaneous things today. Today is just too thoughtful to fill with random musings. Last night's talk left too big an imprint on me to be spouting off about Sharpies and shopping sprees....and after that video..I don't know if I want to. God has a bigger calling on our lives than the best deals at the grocery store. Are we responding to it? And I leave you with this. A video that did more than change my life...it's changed my future.

Miscellany Monday

I found this amazing blog the other day.

Actually, I take that back. I've been following it for weeks and absolutely love it!

So I decided to link up and do their Miscellany Mondays for fun. Who knows? Maybe I'll get more followers. ;)

So here we go.

1. Have I ever mentioned how awesome my dad is? Well he is.

Saturday evening, I was bored (how in the world I have no idea, since I had a good book to read, a book to write and plenty of friends to chat with) and wanted to see the movie, Prince of Persia. So did Ness. And Mumsie. But they were seeing it on Monday (today) with some friends. Who aren't my age. Bummer. Daddy was exhausted from work and decided to see it Monday.

Well, typical me, I had a pity party for myself (yes, the good 'ol fashioned Janae pity party). I wanted a date THAT night with Daddy and at NIGHT. Not during the day like everyone else on Monday. Why? Cause it doesn't seem like a date, that's why! I got over it eventurally.

But guess what? Daddy surprised me today. Instead of going with everyone else, he's taking me to the showing at 9:35 pm. A Date. At Night.

Isn't he awesome? I love you Daddy.

2. I have to find raisins. I promised my friend Jared I'd make him oatmeal raisin cookies (seriously) in return for reading one of his novels early. And we don't have raisins. Kroger here I come.

3. My lavender plant finally has roots! YES! I've been working on a cutting of it and the poor thing would not root! Well, today I was commenting on how pitiful it looked and low and behold, there was a root. Herb garden, thou shalt be complete!

4. Sweet Tea is the nectar of the gods. I'm dead serious. I live off of that stuff. I think I went through a gallon and a half today. And no, I wasn't doing anything strenuous to deserve so much liquid. I was reading.

What!? It makes me thirsty!

5. Happy Memorial Day. Even with my extensive vocabulary and penchant for words (yes, yes I know, please don't applaud), nothing I could say could sum it up quite as perfectly for me as the song they sang in church yesterday.

"...this is the land of the Free, because of the Brave..."

Updates galore! Part 1

So...I have quite a few things to post, but I'll go in chronological order, so bear with me. :D I'm also doing separate posts, because my computer is acting up and wont let me move pics around. Gr.

First off: Baby Jared! Here's some more pics. NOTE: I didn't bother to do my hair in any of these pics, so it looks fluffy and odd. Bear with it. ;) I'm getting it cut soon for summer.

Okay, this has to be my absolute favorite picture this year. XD Jared fell asleep on me first, and then I fell asleep too! After the long drive to NC and then a day out with friends to the movies and mall, I crashed on the couch whilst Janessa and a friend played Modern Warfare! XD
A little dark, but isn't he an angel?!!? Almost always sleeps on his side....

Departure day. His little onsie has a whale on it and says "Little Squirt" !!! How cute!

Catch Up Part 2

Okay here is the Ball and my new polonaise. Not many good pics of the dress, but bear with me.
Janessa, Lissi and Me.
Me...again. ;)

Me and Elijah, Lissi's brother dancing. This is the best shot of the dress.

Catch Up Part 1

Okay here we go. I'm gonna dive head long into this, because we have a lot of ground to cover. Starting with: Red RiverAwesome pic by Lissi. me in the background.

Another by Lissi.

Dadio. Our cook for the weekend.

Me and Sam, serving at the resturaunt.

Me, Sam, Evan, Janessa, and Lissi.

July 4th Celebration

Well, my family decided to celebrate the 4th of July in a little different than the normal American family. Especially in the fact that we do re-enactments. So, last Saturday, we went down to Mansker's Station for the day and "par-tehd". :)

This is the official Mansker's Station jam band. Minus Daddy (dead center) who picked up the guitar, sa down and started playing with them. Ms. Laura is on the extreme right. There were guitars, dulcimers, madolins, and a violin.

The Lovely Daddy. Pardon the Sprite cans. The site fed the volunteers lunch. :)
Here is Janessa (in the blue jacket, dead center) dancing a dance called the Whipporwill. This is one of our favorite dances and it has a lot of twirls. Sam is in the background in the blur dress.

Here I am (in the red jacket) and so is Sam. By the way, that jacket is brand new and I love it! It's a long gown that I made from a linen tablecloth. It has two pleats in the back and tripled pleats at the side. Very fashionable. ;)

Me and Sam again.

Me in the background with my partner. Now you can see me from the front.
This is one little pic I like to call:

Clash of the Centuries

We have an Abraham Lincoln impersinator new here and they had him come and speak. He was very good and we all love him. He is very funny and sweet. At the dances, he tried to get partners for the standing girls left. One time he has come out and borrowed 18th century clothes and fought in an Indian Skirmish we had. It was a lot of fun and he claimed to be representing Abe's grandfather. ;)

Hope you all had a safe and wonderful 4th of July.

God Bless.

Part V cont.

Okay, so on our way back from Ohio, we stopped in Lexington, KY to go to the Lexington Horse Park.

They had these monstrous chairs made from old cross country jumps and we had to get a picture......or more.

Daddy and Mumsie

Janessa and Me acting grumpy...well just me acting.

Us two posed all nicely.

Definately a Christmas letter pic.

Oh, come on. They are too real! Have a little imagination!!

Janessa riding a barrell.

One of the horses shown to us. I can't remember is name because they all looked alike. I just like these two best.
This was a "Horses of the World" show.
Some of the riders practicing their show jumping.

Even more to come

Part V: OHIO

When I hear the word "Ohio" I think of that patriotic song they make you learn the states to in elementary school where they go..." Ohhh-Hyyyy-Yo!".

Anywho, sorry for keeping you guys waiting for so long. Been really busy. But today I have a triple installment because a lot has happened since June 15th. (That was appearently the last day I posted in case you were wondering, which you weren't. So I should shut up now.)

For you lovely education (of nothing inparticular) I will provide you with some marvelous pictures of my time in Ohio. Meet my wonderlous (yes, I ended that with "-lous") family.

Here are two of my adorable cousins (the one on the left is taken, sorry). Andrew (left) is the second oldest and Stephen (right) is the baby. He graduated from highschool this year. (That's why we went to Ohio)
Here they are with their parents: (l to r) Andrew, Aunt Marilyn, Stephen, Uncle Martin. Uncle Martin is my mother's older brother.
Here they are again: (l to r) Uncle Martin, Stephen, Mumsie, and Aunt Charlotte, Mumsie's sister.
And here we are. SHOCKER!!!!! Janae got her hair cut!!! Yes, if you haven't already seen me, I got my hair cut in Ohio. It's a cute little bob and it feels great. Now back to the pic. Me, Stephen, and Janessa.

And this pic, I just couldn't resist!!!!! This is Lizz, Andrew and Stephen's sister (she's in between them in age) She is a hairdresser and is the one who cut my hair there. This is at a Relay for Life event we went to and that Lizz participated in. Our grandmother died from cancer. Her shirt says "Running With Scissors" since she ran with a bunch of hair dressers. We had just eaten a frozen custard/slushi thing and our tongues were, obviously, blue. Lizz is awesome!!!!

More to come.

Part IV: The Creation Science Museum

Okay, this place was absolutly amazing!!! If you have never been, you have to go! We went the week after the camping trip on our way to Ohio. Here are some pics.


This is Daddy and Janessa at the Garden of Eden part. (Adam and Eve are in the background.)
Here is the exhibit of the Ark. This was pretty cool! The men are supposed to be building the ark but their voice over hears them complaining about the work and saying that it's never gonna rain. :)

Here are some of the most important figures in the Old Testament: Abraham, Moses, and King David.
Dear Reader,
We are terribly sorry to say that soona fter this picture was taken, my dear sister, Janessa, was unfortunately, consumed by the terrible beast shown in the above picture. We feel this lose deeply as we ourselves only barely escaped with our lives. Funeral Services will be held some time in the near future and donations can be made in place of flowers, at the Foundation for Better Safety Against Pre-historic Animals or the F.B.S.A.P.A.