Good Tunez!

Needing some music to lift your spirits?
Here are some albums and songs you should consider listening to! =)

• On the Rim of the Visible World - Jason Upton
• Songs for An End Time Army - Rick Pino
• Holy - Matt Gilman & Corey Asbury

Those are my favorite *new*albums. Of course, listen to ANY Jason Upton or Rick Pino cd and you will be sure to feel blessed!

I would say the same about Matt Gilman and Cory Asbury, but they are NEW so I dont think they have any other cds!

Wait...Cory Asbury does! But I havent heard it yet, but I am sure its fabulous.

Okay well thats it for now.

Best Friends Forever

I can still picture it clearly.
My friend and I hanging out in her bedroom listening to "Don't Speak" by No Doubt while declaring that we were going to be best friends forever. Clearly this was destined; after all, we had matching BFF necklaces from our favorite accessory store. :)

Fast forward 12 years and I would never believe that we once had so much in common.

Her body is covered with tattoos much like our rooms were plastered with posters of cute boys when we were younger. Her wrists decorated with spiked jewellry and her clothes painted black. You could find her at a local punk band's concert with a cold beer in hand, surrounded by similarly dressed friends who all, ironically, believe in non-comformity.

Me?

I am deathly afraid of tattoos; not afraid of the pain, but the commitment! I unapologetically listen to Celine Dion and thoroughly enjoy top 40 pop music. You can find me at the piano tinkering away, or outside on the patio in the warm summer night, with perhaps a glass of red wine , and friends who make me laugh so hard it hurts.

It's quite fascinating to think that we as children have this built-in, deep sense of longing for a friend for life. We are too young to quite understand that sometimes our interests change, o rthat barriers arise. All we simply know is that we found a good friend, and we want to be with them every step of the way.
It's simple faith and love.
No wonder Jesus said that we shoudl be like the little children.

When I met my friend, we became inseparable. Sleepovers, 4 hours phone calls, camping, swimming, trips to the 7/11 for slurpees. Attending church, youth group and bible camp. Learning how to apply make up and go to movies by yourself. It was one of the best times of my life.

Then we grew up...and life happened.
We both made choices that drew us slowly away from each other. So slow that you couldn't even recognize the gap until it was too large to seal up.

When I think about it today, it saddens me that we're not hanging out. I had always imagined her being my bridesmaid, and going through life together.

But on the same note, I am incredibly and eternally grateful for the relationship that I will always look back on and smile upon.

And so if I can draw upon these memories for the rest of my life, then in my mind, we will always be "Best Friends Forever."

=)

xoxo
Danae

Let There Be Light

Gensis 1: " In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Okay, now time for YOU to open your Bible and read the rest of Genesis chapter 1.



As you read it, try to picture the Lord as he is creating the the waters, and the earth and as He is calling out, "Let there be light."

Do you think He was having fun? I do.

God has really been speaking to me lately about the gift of creativity.

About 2 years ago, I had my grandparents over for dinner. I made them my special pot roast (secret ingredient: coca cola!) with all the fixings like potatoes and carrots, and of course, gravy. They loved it and asked, "Where did you learn how to cook like that?" The only answer I could come up with, was that somehow I inherited my cooking skills from my mom. It wasn't something that was necessarily taught, but moreso learned through experiences cooking side by side with her. The more time I spent with her, the more I learned how to cook.

When we spend time with Jesus, the more we are WITH Him, we become more LIKE Him. And who is He?
He is the Alpha and Omega!
The Beginning and the End.
The author and perfector of our faith.
He created the heavens and the earth....each creation exquisite and beautiful in detail, all proclaiming His glory and majesty.

We were made in His image, so is it surprising that we would be creative beings?

When I say creative, I don't mean for you to think that you need to be a painter or sculptor. When I say creative, I mean use your gifts that God has given you and blow the labels "normal" or "average" right out of the water.

The "world" has dominated in the creative for too long. I was trying to find some new christian music this morning, and it was hard to find an artist that not only I could identify with, but that I would love to play their songs without thinking in the back of my mind that I wish I was listening to something else. I love "up-tempo", energetic music with contagious beats and vocals that can riff like warm butter. Some websites recommended "ZoeGirl" as an alternative to Lady Gaga. Really???
I am going to be brutally honest here.
I am not going to listen to something just because its "christian" if it's not as good as the music that I hear on the radio. If I won't, then what about the people who are searching for the Lord? What can they look forward to listening to??? What could I reccomend to them?

I feel that we, as christians, need to take back the creative territory. It's time for us to step out of the shadows and use the gifts that God has given us.
WE shoudl be having MORE fun then the world because God is GOOD, and He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Anyways thats just on my heart right now.
I feel very strongly about this, and it's a message for me - time to step it up!!!

Xoxoxox
Danae