My Life in Music

I am a huge music lover. Music is definitely a big part of me, and I really don't know what I would do without it. I just wouldn't be myself if I couldn't listen to or play music. I have played piano since I was five and have been in choirs since high school. My parents probably have a lot to do with my love for music. My mom and dad always had music playing as I was growing up. My mom played the piano a lot when I was young and my dad loved to sing. My dad made me my first "mixtape" when I was about seven or eight years old and listening to music was one of my favorite things to do when I was younger. So, just for the fun of it, I thought I would answer some questions about music.

1. What was the last song you listened to? 

139 / Dead of Night - Leeland

2. What song are you loving right now?

Right now I am really into a capella music. So my favorite song at the moment is the version of She Used to Be Mine sung by Upper Structure. I love this song so much and I can't stop listening to it!

3. What was the last concert you attended?

It's been a while since I have been to a concert. I think the last concert I attended was a One Direction concert.

4. What was the best concert you have ever been to?

I went to a BarlowGirl concert years ago and it was so great. I remember that it made a huge impression on me. I think it was my first official "Christian" concert.

5. Name your favorite album.

One of my favorite albums will probably always be Young Love by Mat Kearney. I will never get tired of listening to it.

6. What is your favorite movie soundtrack?

The music to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will always be special to me, since it was one of my favorite book series when I was growing up. Watching all of the characters coming to life in the movie, along with listening to the soundtrack, was so magical.

7. What is a song that makes you happy?

There are so many, but one that comes to mind is pink skies by LANY.

8. Who are your favorite artists?

• Mat Kearney
• LANY
• Ben Rector
• Relient K

And SO many more.

9. What is your favorite genre of music?

I like songs in most genres. I like a lot of pop music, worship music, and "indie" music.

10. What song has meant a lot to you in the past?

The song Times by Tenth Avenue North definitely meant a lot to me since it talks about the all encompassing, ever-forgiving love of God. Actually, there were many Tenth Avenue North songs that got me through some hard times.

Good to me

Life is so busy right now. Probably the busiest it has ever been. It’s a challenge trying to get through this time in my life, but I am making it. Almost every day I wake up exhausted. Also, this year my allergies have been bothering me. My eyes are puffy and itchy, and I have hay fever-like symptoms, which isn’t very fun, of course. Even though it’s difficult, I am surviving. I would never make it without Jesus. I literally would not be able to get through each day without Him. I thank Him every day for helping me and for giving me His strength when I don’t have enough.

“I put all my hope on the truth of Your promise. I steady my heart on the ground of Your goodness. You are good to me. Good to me. ” -Audrey Assad

Standing on the Promises

Hello everyone,

Tonight I was thinking about the promises of God. He has given us a lot of amazing promises. And not only has He given us a lot of amazing promises, but tonight I was thinking about how He keeps them. He doesn't keep them sometimes...not only if He's having a good day...not only if He's "in the mood." He always keeps them. Humans will fail us, but He never will. His promises stand. They don't waver or change.

Who changes? I do. We do. We doubt, we question, we worry, and we fear. And when we do these things, our focus is shifted from trusting in Him, to focusing on our own efforts to solve our own problems. But when has relying all on our own strength ever ended well? We weren't created to carry our burdens alone. We need His help. I want to remember to keep trusting Him to keep all of those amazing promises.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." -Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

I am nothing without Him

When I was little, I remember singing this hymn with my parents. I sang it with all my heart, and though I don't remember if I fully comprehended it at such a young age, it helps me a lot today. Sometimes it will pop into my head when I am feeling down, or when I am confused and unsure of what to do.

Standing on the promises of Christ my King. Through eternal ages let his praises ring; glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:

Standing, standing,

standing on the promises of Christ my Savior;

standing, standing,

I'm standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.

(Refrain)

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,  bound to him eternally by love's strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, standing on the promises of God.

(Refrain)

Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit's call, resting in my Savior as my all in all, standing on the promises of God.

(Refrain)

-"Standing on the Promises" - R. Kelso Carter

I hope you enjoyed this post :) Happy Weekend!

~foreverfaith <3

June Playlist - Summer 2013

Hello everyone!

Today I thought I would share some of the songs I listened to this month. Hope you enjoy :)

1. Keep Looking Up - Landon Pigg

I love so much about this song. The guitar, the lyrics, the melody, Landon's voice...I could go on. :) It's really easy to listen to.

2. The Moment - GOLDHOUSE

I literally never get tired of this song. The lyrics are really cute and the sound is just so nice.

3. And The World Turned - Gabe Dixon Band

The piano is so awesome in this song. Also, the story behind it is really creative. I also love this music video and I think it depicts the song so well.

4. Don't Have Love - Holly Starr

This song is so fun and SO catchy. It makes me really happy when I listen to it. And the lyrics are simple, yet great. 

5. Overwhelmed - Rachel Platten

This song is so bright and happy. Rachel's voice is really nice and fresh. Also, it's a great reminder to not stay down and feel sorry for ourselves.

6. I Want Crazy - Hunter Hayes

I just recently started listening to this song, but I love that it is so fun and creative. I especially love the chorus, and isn't this music video enchanting? :)

7. Somewhere Only We Know - Keane

I can thank Pandora for getting me reacquainted with this song. :) I feel like I have heard it a lot off an on throughout the years, but it really is a great song. I also saw that the song was in the Winnie The Pooh (2011) trailer and it fit so perfectly. 

8. The Feeling - Ben Rector

I love Ben Rector's voice and I love the lyrics of this song. It also gets stuck in my head quite often. :)

9. Bloom - Moriah Peters

This song is just so nice and sweet. And how cute is this music video???

10. So Far Gone - Thousand Foot Krutch

This song has more of a quiet and reflective vibe. Not only does it sound very good to the ears, but the lyrics are so honest and meaningful: "I want to be lost in You. Like a ship in the night. I want to get lost in You. Underneath Your sky."

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope your week is off to a great start!

~foreverfaith <3

The Summer of the Swans

Summer of the Swans

Hello everyone!

Today I have a story about a book called The Summer of the Swans. Though it is a juvenile book, it is nostalgic to me since I remember reading it when I was a young child. A little backstory relating to my early fascination/obsession/passion for reading, is that I would often look at the list of the Newberry Medal winners (an award for outstanding children's literature) and pick out books to read that sounded interesting. I was curious to know what made a book good enough to win such a great award, and even at that young age, I wanted to soak up and learn as much as I could about life through the pages of those books. I couldn't get enough of reading. As I grew up, I navigated the library, finding as many books as I could that seemed thought-provoking. I loved the feeling of learning something new each time I read a novel.

All of these memories came back to me about a week ago, out of nowhere, as I remembered this little book The Summer of the Swans. I specifically recalled the big orange sneakers that Sara, the main character, was so upset about, and the color she decided to dye them. I remembered Aunt Willie hating motor cycles and I remembered what happened when Wanda, Sara's older sister, begged to ride one with her boyfriend. I remembered relating to Sara and her insecurities and her great love for her brother, Charlie.

The other day, I read this book for the first time since elementary school and I felt so happy rereading each of my memories from when I was young. But I also discovered some things I didn't remember when I was a child. I realized some of the book's themes, including the stage that everyone goes through when they feel like an outsider. The stage when you don't have the right body, the right clothes, the right friends, the right anything (I know the feeling all to well).

But then life goes on, and you realize that what others think of you isn't as important as you had originally thought. You realize that sometimes many of your insecurities are all in your head, and that there are more important things to life than worrying about the color of your tennis shoes. (Not that you won't ever have insecurities again - we're only human - but in time it really does get better when you are steadfast in looking to Jesus to find your worth.)  :)


"A picture came into her mind of the laughing, curly headed man with the broken tooth in the photograph album, and she suddenly saw life as a series of huge, uneven steps, and she saw herself on the steps, standing motionless in her prison shirt, and she had just taken an enormous step out of the shadows, and she was standing, waiting, and there were other steps in front of her, so that she could go as high as the sky, and she saw Charlie on a flight of small difficult steps, and her father down at the bottom of the steps, just sitting and not trying to go further. She saw everyone she knew on those blinding white steps, and for a moment, everything was clearer than it had ever been" (Byars, 1970).


The Summer of the Swans is a book about a girl who found herself after losing another. A story about love, loss, gain, and self-discovery in its unique little way. I definitely recommend this book no matter your age.

 I hope you enjoyed my post and I hope you have a great weekend! Thank you again for reading!

 ~foreverfaith <3

The Velveteen Rabbit

Hello everyone!

Today I am sharing a really amazing quote from the story The Velveteen Rabbit:

"Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long long time, not just to play with , but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'

'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.

'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.' 

'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?'

'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and our eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

-Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

Interpretation/Thoughts:

This quote really got me thinking. It made me realize a few things. If everything in our lives had been perfect and if we had never needed to experience various hardships, would we be able to appreciate and understand the wonderful things in our lives? Would we be able to fully comprehend the greatness of beauty, grace, or love? Would we feel as deeply? Would we be the same people that we are now? Would we be able to say, "I cried, I was hurt, and I fell down, but that's how I knew how to appreciate laughter, healing, and standing back up?"

The imperfections and scars that the Skin Horse refers to should not hinder us or make us feel insignificant, but they should be reminders of how far we have come. Reminders of what it took for us to not only be able to receive love but for us to be able to give love as well.

Whatever our scars are, we shouldn't allow others' judgements or our own judgements to hold us back from living a full life. Why feel insecure or ashamed by what makes us who we are? Those scars are proof that we have "become." They are proof that we haven't given up, but that we are still going. They are proof that we are not perfect, fragile, porcelain dolls on a lofty shelf, but that we are picked up, beautifully loved, and beautifully and completely Real.

Thank you for reading. :) Hope your weekend is wonderfully real.

~foreverfaith <3

My Current Favorite Free Apps - Summer 2013

Hello everyone!

Today I thought I would share with you guys some of my favorite free apps on my iPod touch. There are some pretty cool, convenient apps in the app store :) I hope you enjoy reading about the ones I use!

1) Games:

Happy Jump

-Happy Jump – It’s official. I am obsessed with this app. I know…it’s not good…but when I’m not doing anything, it’s very likely that I will start using this app. Example: when I am in a waiting room, waiting for my family, waiting for anything. It’s so addicting. And so cute.

Snoopy Coaster

-Snoopy Coaster – I love snoopy. And I love cutesy little game apps. This makes for the perfect, potentially addicting app. It’s super fun.

2) Fashion app:

Polyvore

-Polyvore – This fashion app is really handy for checking activity and it’s pretty decent for looking at sets from people you are following. I love Polyvore so having it on an app is awesome. There are a few features that are missing, but it has the major necessities.  Thumbs up from me for a Polyvore app!

3) Music app:

Songza

-Songza – I actually found out about this internet radio app through a Blogilates video on YouTube. Some of the stations have really unusual songs and I listen to it whenever I am in the mood for something unique. I actually only find songs worth bookmarking every once in a while. But what I think is cool is that the app gives you station options based on the time of day and your mood.

4) Image apps:

WallpapersHD

-WallpapersHD – This app is my favorite for finding great iPod backgrounds. The app has a good selection of images and it is very easy to use.

InstaFrame

          

-InstaFrame – This app is great for making your pictures square for instagram and has some unique, fun frame shapes like hearts and flowers. I definitely recommend it!

5) Life apps:

Bible

-Bible (YouVersion) – This app is so handy and I love it. If I can’t quite remember an entire verse, I can look up what I remember in the search bar and find what I was looking for. I also like the daily Bible verses on the home screen.

Gratitude Diary

-Gratitude Diary – This app is so great for documenting quick things that I am thankful for throughout the day. It’s great because sometimes you forget good things that happen and you can go back and look at them when you need some encouragement or just want a reminder.

Bible Verses

-Bible Verses – This app is really nice for giving you a random, encouraging Bible verse each day. I think there is a verse for each day of the year.

6) Organization apps:

SkyDrive

-SkyDrive – This app is so handy. It connects with your outlook account and stores documents that you upload. You can get it on your computer, apple device, and android device.

Documents

-Documents – This app is also extremely convenient. I just recently downloaded it so I am still learning about it. I know that you can create and modify .txt documents on it and it can connect to other accounts such as Dropbox and SkyDrive.


I hope you enjoyed this post! Do you like any of these apps? What is your favorite app to use?

Hope you have an amazing weekend!

-foreverfaith <3

Pressing On - Bible Reflections

A verse that inspire hope and a promise for the future:

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12-14

I just love this part: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize..."

I press on.

Toward what is ahead.

Sometimes I feel like we can dwell on the past so much. We have regrets that we keep reliving in our mind's eye. But we have so much more than the past. We are forgiven, and we can move on from what is behind.

Something that I want to work on is looking at the positive things that I have now and the positive things that will come instead of looking so much at the regrets of the past. An approach I used so much was that I focused on what I needed to get over more than focusing on what I was going to do in the future to live a victorious life through Christ. I am not perfect, but I need to concentrate on Him and the blessings I have received through Him. Because at the end of it all, the Bible says that I will receive the prize. So why do I keep looking back at yesterday? It's time for me to press on and take hold of my future that is promised in Christ.

La Luna

A few hours ago, my family and I watched an amazing Pixar short film called La Luna. I don't think I've ever seen such a cute little movie. In such a short time, the film captured so many beautiful emotions and images: reflections, glowing light, family, and more. I loved how I felt like I was the little kid in the film, experiencing the same new and wondrous things. For around 7 minutes, I was in another world where life was warm, accepting, and full of hope. Maybe someday I can create something similarly beautiful. A story? A drawing? A song?

La Luna by foreverfaith017 

The Christmas Story

     Around this time of year, it can be easy to get caught up in all of the busyness. With shopping for presents, wrapping presents, decorating, cleaning, visiting with family and so much more, sometimes the real reason for this season gets put on the back burner. Though all of these things are great and important, I don't want Jesus to be on the back burner this year. I want to make sure to thank Him and remember the amazing reason that He was born. :)

(This video is just too cute) :)

And Live!

I remember singing this song (Come to Jesus by Chris Rice) during VBS at my church when I was volunteering as a group leader this past summer. The children watched a video with hand motions as they sang the song, their sweet little voices ringing into the air.

As the song played, I remember looking around at the children in the room and just being absolutely overwhelmed with such emotion at the sight of rows of wonderful, innocent little children raising their arms up to Jesus.

I don't know how to describe the emotions I felt as I witnessed such an amazing experience. It was a once in a lifetime experience; a moment captured in time. I never want to forget it. And I am SO GLAD I could be a part of those children finding out what it meant trust and follow Jesus.

Faith

     Today was a really windy day which caused me to remember a time when I made a discovery about the wind. It was about five years ago, when I was struggling with faith. Trusting in what was unseen. I remember I was in the front yard getting ready to go somewhere. The wind was so strong, rushing through my hair and clothes. It seemed so urgent and sure. Like it was trying to make a point. And that's when it hit me. Faith was like the wind.

     You can't see the wind but you know it's there. You can feel it. Hear the sound. You can see its effects. You can see it rustle the leaves on the trees as they dance and twirl. You can hear it as it weaves through the grass. Wind is invisible, but it sure is powerful. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain in what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 finally made sense to me.