There's a Mountain I L-O-V-E

My family is scattered from coast to coast (and even some in other countries!). "Sure, who doesn't have distant relatives all over the place?" you say. No, it's my immediate family. "Oh, well you must not be too close then." Actually, we are. Letters, facebook, email, phonecalls and any other form of communication you can dream up keep us very tight-knit. "It must not be a very big family then." Wrong again. I became a part of it 9 years ago and it has continued to grow non-stop since then. No, this family would not be recognized in a court room, hospital, or bank, but the same blood courses like a fervent river through all of our veins and the relationship we all seek binds us forever in the depths of who we are. We call this place Hollymont. For those who have lived this name, it rolls off the tounge no different than the words "mom" or "dad." It is a part of us. It has shaped us and driven us to become true servants of the Lord. I have watched so called "bad girls" morph into gentle and terribly beautiful women of God. Every part of this place, nestled in Eastern North Carolina hills, amazes me, but the aspect that I have come to adore the most and am constantly astonished by is the openness. There is an open-door policy in place and it is seldom violated for anything less than changing clothes post-shower. Your flaws are accepted as a beautiful part of who you are and you are encouraged to let your heart, mind, and soul flow freely. There is no stiffling of child's questioning cry and to be the concept of being ignored is completely forgotten. No matter where you come from or where you intend to go, you are welcomed with ,quite literally, open arms. Upon first arriving at camp, without fail every single car is bombarded by loving counselors, CITs, and often even other campers. There is no escaping the love that this place embodies. Most of my best friends come from this oasis. Many of us have remained very close even after one of us has stopped going to camp. The masterpiece that God created in those mountains has sprung countless friendships of the strongest degree from its depths. When the World is cruel, as it nearly alway is, Hollymont and the relationships I have built not only with other campers, the counselors, CITs, and other staff members, but also with some guy they call Jesus, will alway be there to remind me that my worth comes not from others but from the Lord. There is so much comfort in knowing that if I were to need a place to stay, a meal, a ride, or just someone to talk to, that I would have it, no matter what. You know that old saying, "God will provide?" For me, there is not a place on this Earth that that is truer than at Camp Hollymont for Girls.

Whip My Hair

If anyone can tell me why a ten-year-old girl singing about throwing hair from one side of your head to the other is so addictive, you will be my new hero. It slightly is ridiculous how much I enjoy whipping my hair. I think an intervention may be necessary if I continue down this path. In fact, just now, my cousin, sister, and I made a video of us whipping our hair. As much as some people hate it, I am somewhat obsessed with that song, partially because I am so impressed with Willow Smith having pipes like that! Yeah girl!

A verse for now: "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

New Addition

This morning around 5:25 a new baby girl was welcomed into the world! Aurora Grace [insert last name] was born to my friends Heather and Sean! Yes, they are very young and no this is not an ideal situation but so what? All we can do is give this new little family our love and prayers. God is doing something crazy awesome with this, I know! I find it a bit "ironic" that she was born to a young, unmarried mother on Christmas day. No, they haven't physically travelled a long way but it has been a VERY long journey. Coincidence? You decide. This little lady is going to be someone awesome someday! In fact, she is someone awesome right now and she's only 6 hours old!

A verse for today: "I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory." Psalm 63:2. Kind of sounds like something out of a Leonard Cohen song to me haha :) I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and remember the reason for the season! Remember that you are loved by me, but more importantly by the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Mighty God, Lord of Everything, Emanuel, Great I AM, Prince of Peace who is a Lamb, Living God, Saving Grace, Ancient of Days, Alpha, Omega, Beginning, End, Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and Friend.


*Thanks to Michael W. Smith for the piece of his lyrics I stole.

...And to all a good night!

Tonight I have nothing more to say than I am thankful. Thankful for you! Thankful for my wonderful family! Thankful for the beautiful people (inside and out) that God has surrounded me with! But thankful, most of all, for the wonderful gift the Lord gave every person on this Earth: Jesus. I know, there will be somebody who reads this who says they don't need Jesus or want him or believe in him or whatever but ya know what? Ya got him anyway! "For God so loved the WORLD..." He doesn't single out one group as being too "dirty" or "weird" or "unspiratual" for his love. In Romans 3:29 Paul reaffirms this. God's love can be matched by no one. Some people say prove it. I think the only thing I can say is that I can't. I, as a human being can not prove a love that I can't even fully wrap my mind around. All I can do is tell that person what I know to be true and try to describe my own experiences and (whether or not they want it) I can pray that God will make himself clear to them. In Matthew's Gospel (10:19-20) we are told not to worry about what we will say or how we will say it. So tonight I give thanks for everything and everyone in this world. I give thanks for the trust in the Lord that we are so gracioulsy allowed to have. I give thanks, for the beauty of his undying love for us that we are completely undeserving of. One of my new favorite phrases: "Oh what a God we've got!"

A bible verse for tonight: "Ask, and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you." Matthew 7:7

It's not exactly a wish list...

Tonight I'm at home bored so I thought to myself, "Why not go blog?!" So here I am, haning out on the computer since the rest of my family is either asleep or elsewhere. Tonight I'm just going to make a list or two of some songs(and artists) that I really like right now.

Phil Wickham
I Will Wait For You There
Heaven Song
Divine Romance

Daughtry
Over You
September
Tennessee Line
Home

The Script
Break Even
The Man Who Can't Be Moved

Candi Pearson
You Are My King (Amazing Love)

Chris Tomlin
Chosen Generation
Unfailing Love
Indescribable

David Crowder Band
Like a Lion
How He Loves

Carrie Underwood
Mama's Song
Jesus Take The Wheel

Brad Paisley
This Is Country Music

Matt Redman
Blessed Be Your Name

Katy Perry
Firework (These Lyrics kick serious butt!)

Chris Young
Voices

Glee
I'll Stand By You
Sweet Caroline
All of their Christmas stuff is great!

Casting Crowns
Does Anybody Hear Her

Also, I figured that since I'm posting other people's music, I would post some of my own! This song is called 'In Him'. It's based around John 3:16-17 and my relationship with God at the time.


As I sit and watch the sun sink low into the western sky
I start to ponder, did you really even have to die?
I find my answer in the words that I have known
Written by a guy called Johnny
They have been carved into stone

For He so loved you and I that He sent His baby boy
To be the greatest sacrifice and save us by choice
For He wants not to condemn our hearts
But to keep them close to Him
His motives are of nothing but grace for He wants us to live
In Him

He called my name and I stood up as scared as I could be
But I knew He was going to do something crazy in me
I'm just a kid who doesn't know a whole lot yet
But if He wants I can go on ahead

Because He so loved you and I that He sent His baby boy
To be the perfect sacrifice and save us by choice
And He wants not to condemn our hearts
But to keep them close to Him
His motives are of nothing but grace for He wants us to live
In Him

A verse to close today: Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Born to be Wild

Today I want to tell you a story. This is a story centers around this really great guy who lived a long time ago (it's a true story). He was a ladies man, but not a player. He had a tight-knit group of dudes who hung around him, but he welcomed anyone and everyone into his family. He was a bad boy without a Harley. He ruled the school with passion and faith to his people. His beginnings, however, were among the most humble I've ever encountered. He was born in a stable, and yes, by stable I mean the place where farm animals eat, sleep, poop, and just all around smell bad. And what a life he would lead after that! When he was twelve he was found hanging around with the big shots in town...in a temple! Later, he would shamelessly break laws (in the name of helping the less fortunate), tell the future, call others out on their sins, and take his place on a cross to suffer the most torturous of deaths so that those same scarlett sins could be made like snow. He did all this without actually having a place to call home here on Earth! Wow what a man! He was a rebel of the best kind! I can't fathom the kind of love that he must have for us; it's just mind blowing! This guy came into this ugly, messed up world so that you and I could have hope when we were born 2000 years later. The only thing I can think to call it is insanity in its most perfect form. Wow what a God we've got!

A verse for today: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

The Athens of the South

Today I want to give a long over-due shout out to Nashville. I seriously think this city is the coolest ever and I am so pumped to call it home! This past May, Smashville was...well smashed is a very appropriate word...by a HUGE flood. That Sunday my dad, sister, and I drove my mom into the city to the airport and let me tell you, it was quite an ordeal! To get home we had to cross the swolen Cumberland River. We made it over the only bridge that was still open shortly before it was closed. Of all the words that were thrown around in the aftermath of that storm, the yes's and no's are what have stuck with me the most. Yes, the Cumberland broke its banks, Yes the waters will receed. No, the walls at Opryland didn't hold, Yes, the hotel will reopen(and now is!). No, the Opry didn't get away without damage, Yes, the circle is unbroken. Yes this hurt, Yes, WE ARE NASHVILLE (props to a fellow blogger for that). Yes, there was opportunity for crime and looting, Yes, the biggest warning the police had to give was "Don't play in the water." Yes, many musicians lost a lot of equipment, No, the music never stopped playing. Yes, we lost homes, schools, parks, and even neighbors, No, we will not stop working until the job is complete. No, this was not a pretty thing, Yes, people were able to keep a sense of humor about it. Yes, LP Field had several feet of water in it, Yes, it was ready for CMA Music Fest one month later. Yes, NASHVILLE IS THE GREATEST CITY ON EARTH!

As I sing to myself...

Today I just want to share some lyrics to a couple of the song I've been sort of obsessed with lately. The first one is "Rescue" by Newsong and the second is "Amazing Love" by Chris Tomlin. All copyrights go to their respective owners.

RESCUE
You are the source of life
I can't be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of You

I need You Jesus, I need You Jesus

My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do
Lord I put my trust in You
I need You Jesus to come to my rescue
Where else can I go?
There's no other Name by which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You

My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do
Lord I put my trust in You

This world has nothing for me (I will follow You)AMAZING LOVE
I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

You are my King
Jesus You are my King

A verse for today: "He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30

A few corners of my memory

Tonight I am thankful for the amazing friends God has given me. How about a list of stuff that has happened with those wonderful people? I think yes!

Scenario one:
It's my friend Tanner's birthday party at Rockland Park and a couple of us have to go to the bathroom. It was dark by this time so we are the only ones there so Tanner decides to come hang out with the girls in our bathroom. This was repeated while later when we came back.

Scenario two:
I'm at Camp Hollymont in Asheville, NC with some truly amazing girls. There is one girl, named Meg, who was rather tired on a particular day. While we were standing outside the dining hall waiting on lunch, one of our friends, Megan, walks up behind Meg and puts her arms around her shoulders. Meg proceeds to lift Megan off the ground piggy-back style and run out of the building and down a wheelchair ramp, put Megan down, and run back up. We were all quite confused on what had just happened. I can't speak for them, but I am to this day.

Scenario three:
The last words in my high school's alma mater are "HHS All Hail." When our football team played Mount Juliet High School, we found out that they have not only the same colors as us, but also the same alma mater. I feel that I must mention that our school has one of the most well-known student sections, called the War Team(we are the Commandos). When Mount Juliet played their (our) alma mater before the game, the final notes were seemingly muted by a thunderous "HHS ALL HAIL!" from the Hendersonville High School War Team. Even our principal could not contain her laughter. Talk about school spirit.

Scenario four:
I had to leave camp early this year, which also happened to be the year that Megan and I got super close. The night before I left we were sitting in devotions and I had somehow managed to locate a sharpie. Not a good thing. She walked out of devos with "I love you" scrawled down her arm multiple times. The next day she had me go over it again.

Scenario five:
One night in drill practice my MCJROTC instuctor starts talking about paying homage to something or another. He kept pernouncing the 'H' in homage really hard. We tried to tell him about it, going so far as to sound it out bit by bit for him. At the end of it all, he was saying it the same way. Gotta love em.

Scenario six:
In 8th grade my friend Victoria and I used to leave PE and go walk around the school. One day we were sitting at the bottom of the stairs talking when I got the bright idea to roll up them. She video taped it. It was possibly the coolest thing I've ever done.

Scenario seven:
One day at lunch I was being my normal fidgety self and twisting up a catsup packet. It busted all over my hand. One of our assistant principals comes up to me and says, "That's what happens when you pick your nose." I was speechless.

Scenario eight:
We on the National Guard bus on the way back from a drill meet with MCJROTC. I was sitting with this guy Ethan and we were both tired so we went to sleep. I woke up 10 minutes from home to him asleep on my shoulder. It was adorable.

Oh so many more memories :) I really really really love my friends.

Tonight's Bible verse: "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” - Matthew 18:20

Blogger Status: FAIL.

It's official: I am a bad blogger. It's been days since I last posted (I'm afraid to see how long exactly, the post may be covered in dust by now...) Tonight I am going to be a jerk and not write anything new, but I am going to post something that I wrote a while ago. It's sorta old so the grammer as annoyingly messed up but I'll do it anyway. This was written over a year ago btw.

Recently at a celebration for my grandparent’s 50^th wedding anniversary my grandfather made the statement that GOD was his friend and he called him Gus. Now at the time we all gave him odd looks, which I might add were filled with the utmost love and compassion. A few weeks later, as I was sitting on a bus on the way home from a band competition, what my Grandpa said came flooding back to memory. I am not sure how I ended up deep in thought on this topic, my wandering mind I guess, but I began to think of judgment day. My thoughts were not of whether or not I would be “let in the cool kid club” so to speak, but more of what it would be like. I have never quite wanted to let myself believe in the “God will smite you and your little dog to” type thing. I have always wanted to believe in a loving, forgiving GOD who doesn’t quite overlook your failures but takes into consideration that you’re only human and tried your best as much as you remembered to. So when I thought about the view of Judgment Day that seems to be most widely accepted, you know the one where the Big Man tosses you by the collar of your shirt into the pit of despair then cocks his head back and cackles like the wicked witch of the west, my mind wandered back to my Grandfather’s wisdom. The man upstairs likes to come down for dinner. His true desire is to be our friend and on the day that we stand on his turf at the mercy of THE king he isn’t going to speak in a big booming voice like the wizard of oz, he is going to sit down with a cup-a-joe and ask us what we’ve been up to, just like a friend you haven’t seen in a while. The only difference is that he will already know the answer. I am so glad for the relationship I get to have with my best friend, the king of all that is.

Verse for today! "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquitymercy and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:1-2. I love this part but seriously go read the whole Psalm, it happens to be incredible. :)

Oh how time flies...

I just realized that I have only finished one book that I've chosen to read since I started high school. Sure, I've started several and have a thousand more I would still like to read but, come one...just one? So, I have a goal: finish one book of my own choosing by the end of the year. Since I'm on this subject, I'm going to add another goal into the mix. I've had some ideas for a story/book/whatever floating around in my head and I am going to put something together on paper (or word doc.) for that by the end of the year. I know this is a short post but I'm working on a better one for tomorrow (yes, I am a perfectionist about this kind of thing.)

Here's a verse for today though!
Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." NIV.

That's all....for tonight!...

Liquid Sunshine

This is actually from yesterday, sorry!

H-Town has become a mess of cold and rain today. This is the day that the Lord has made. Today is also the day that progress reports came out at school. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. It's not really been my day but I've been trying to see things as God does. 2 summers ago I went on a missioin trip to Eluthra, Bahamas. It was only supposed to rain one day for a few minutes. Instead, the heavens released what seemed to us to be the down pour of the century...at least 3 times. The man that ran the Methodist Habitat where we were staying and working out of (his name was Abraham, ironically) called it "liquid sunshine". We all laughed when he said that but there is so much truth in that statement. What if we all looked life with that same kind of enthusiasm? What kind of message would we be sending if every Christian decided that everyday would have at least one good thing? This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made! Did Jesus ever go through a single day by just saying, "Well, yesterday was pretty eventful. I think I'll just lay low for today. Besides, it's raining outside and I forgot my jacket in Damascus." Not that I've ever read, but feel free to correct me! If He didn't do it, then why on Earth would we? I am the WORST about being negative to start the day, believe me, but it's something that is worth working at. Let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it! How about we put those words into our lives?


Today's verse: "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24


Also, I am going to post a some of my writing today. This song is called 'Back to You'. Hope ya like it!


In a thousand people I'm alone
In the freest space I feel enclosed
I can't breathe the oxygen I'm in


I walk beneath the cluttered trees
And finally I can see
Every beauty that you are


I feel your spirit in the stones, the leaves and the unpaved roads
And even in the roots that stub my toes
A dirt path twelve inches wide is where I find the steps of the most high
Your beauty unfolds and I have to sigh
When I breath in your lovely air
It takes me back to you


I'm a dreamer told not to fly
But that just makes me want to try
Somehow you calm the storm in me


I live for the Redeemer's grace
It calls me to this peaceful place
Somewhere between tomorrow and where I've been


I feel your spirit in the stones, the leaves and the unpaved roads
And even in the roots that stub my toes
A dirt path twelve inches wide is where I find the steps of the most high
Your beauty unfolds and I have to sigh
When I breath in your lovely air
It takes me back to you

Hello World

Well, I have officially entered the blogosphere. Or should I say re-entered, I had a blog once before but I've changed so much since then that I decided to make a new one. Well, as I said before I've entered the blogosphere. A good friend suggested that I do this so here I am! I'll just go ahead and jump off the deep end with post numero uno.


The little things that God does to show us what He wants us to do will forever amaze me. Yesterday, I was fooling around in my room when I noticed this little box that I think was given to me by grandmother some time ago. It has some cool little designs painted on it but what really struck me was the writing: "May all your dreams come true." How this little contraption, no more thatn 2 inches tall, could shake me up like it did, I have no idea, bit it did. Or I guess I should say that God did. Why it took me so long to discover the treasures that this little chest held, well that was purely God's timing. I've been writing songs a lot since July and I have absolutely fallen in love with it. I've also always had this dream of being a musician, I play guitar (what little girl hasn't?). Then, today, I got a package in the mail from my grandmother, the one who gave me the box. It had a dream catcher in it with a card that said "Follow your dreams." It's time for that to happen. I don't know exactly what I am going to do, but God will provide a way for what is His will. It is not going to be easy, but I will have my best friend and savior by my side, helping me along, pushing the car when the tank is empty and I'm worn out. I will not conform any longer to the ways of this world, even if it means going against everything I've ever known to be "acceptable." I will work for this dream, baby step by baby step and by golly if it's what the Lord wants then I'll get there with His help!

I also want to share a Bible verse whenever I write on here.
1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I'm sorta obsessed with this verse. It's just so...perfect! It is proof that God not only wants a relationship with us, but He wants to be our friend, our confidant! It's been echoing through my head over and over againg for a few days now so I thought it would be a good one to post :)