A Christmas Present for YOU :)

AKA: Free Music Alert
EDIT: This is all legal of course, forgot to mention that!
Ok, I decided to do a blog telling all of you the various places I have found free music lately. I checked them all so at the time of this post they are available! The links aren't always organized the same, let me know if their are problems! And merry christmas to you all! Thanks for reading!

Get Your Back Off the Wall (3oh!3 remix)
By: Family Force 5
From: Dance or Die With A Vengence

In case you are not aware Jesus Freak Hideout is an awesome christian music site, and it does have a couple new downloads every now and then.

If you sign up at gotee.com you have access to a bunch of cool downloads, in return for their spamming you, so if you can find a way to deal with the spam go for it. After you sign in, click under artists, all current artists have at least one download, and a couple former artists have some too.

There are a ton of free downloads on amazon if you are or happen to know a member whose login info you can borrow, not always the best of stuff, but there are some cool albums representing music from other countries. And right now they have a 25 days of free christmas music going on. That is like a free christmas CD, thanks amazon! {note about the link, it might only work for the day, so if it's not working go to amazon click on music and scroll down until you see a little square that says 25 days of free and click on it, it's under the heading "Featured in the Music Store"}
Here is a link to the free songs page.
This a link to a free House of Heroes Ep, and if you look under "customers who bought this also bought" you should see other free albums. Just keep scrolling and clicking and hopefully you'll find something you like.

DFTBA Records
Mostly some Tom Milsom (he's from youtube, DFTBA is a record label for talent off youtube) stuff including his "trock" EP which is music based on the world of Dr. Who

Masters of Song Fu
This is a music writing challenge thing, no major artistis but you might be able to find some cool stuff. There is a 1 song per artist for each challenge, and then the final songs done by a "master"and a "challenger".
This is one song I liked. I know, by Hank Green

A Paper Towns song, (for you Jillian)
If you want to hear the song first here is the you tube vid.

A Dusting of "News"

Sorry the pic is kinda pixilated, I sent it from my phone {:) exciting!}.

Anywho, I set up a blog email today, so if anything bloggy requires email, I am set. pennedinorange@gmail.com

On other fronts I recently read An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns both by John Green. I enjoyed each immensely, although I think Paper Towns is the favorite, Katherines was very good as well.

I wanted to blog since I set up the email, however nothing is presenting itself. Perhaps a poem...

restless

stubborn

enemies at heart

change is needed

yet detested

How unfair

It can bring color

appreciation

sometimes strife

Yet always always

good or bad

is greeted with gripe

Remember fair change

when next you feel upset

For good things will come from all

Especially without gripe

Not a great poem, but it shall stand... It goes with the pic.

Exhale of Thought

    Ah, my happy little narrowly read blog. I am typing this because I cannot stand to read any longer. I have been reading early posts of a blog for several hours now, and my reading filament is toasted. I like reading other peoples "archives," If I like a blog or person enough I sometimes decide to just read it all. However, only when I am up late and am wasting time. Then once I start I must continue.
   I wonder if someone will read this several years from now on a quest through my blog, unlikely. But if you are doing that just now, I very much appreciate it. Future me must have done something to gain your notice. However there are much better things to do and to read than this. I encourage you to stop now and go do one of those things (but feel free to comment, because that would be nice).
   I finished reading Looking for Alaska by John Green yesterday, I quite enjoyed it, and look forward to reading his other books.
   I don't think in order, or in nice flowing thoughts either, so I hope the choppy-ness isn't bothering you all together too much. Now I've lost my thought.. Ah there it is. I've been thinking quite a bit lately about what I should do with my life. Probably because I start my first semester of college shortly, and have no idea what to study. Seemingly what you study need not corealte with your job, but I'm having difficulty finding something that both I like, and has meaning and value. Perhaps I shouldn't be thinking about it at all, but my track record of just knowing and following that is awful. I would like to avoid that bumbling path. I think I'm getting a bit cynical* on that frount, I need to work on that.
   Well, I fear I've typed at you long enough. Thanks for reading.



*It took me way too long to think of that word, I had to use handy-dandy thesaurus.com

Internetational

The internet is a crazy cool tool we humans have to communicate, share, and interact. What are things you think should be done with it? Websites you think should exist, or other things that could be done with it?  I was thinking about this just now, and I wanted to know what other people thought (yay internet!). Leave your ideas in comments! :)

Cave-Time

    I have finally come to realize the meaning of my quite solitary fall. If you remember this summer I complained in several blogs about how I was not doing anything. And how I needed to be doing something. I was so used to being up and out and with people, that I could not stand anytime going, as I thought, un-used.

    However today I had some "cave-time" as I have deemed time at home, alone with myself. And then later my godmother and I went to walmart. And I had an exceptionaly good time, I listened to the walmart song, found everything exciting, and had a unusually great experience. I decided this was due to the fact I had been online most of the day and had excess energy. And then my thoughts returned to the lines I'd created in my head earlier, what was my cave-time forming me into? Because my cave time is definately shaping me, and I have spent much of it on the internet. I do not want to be shaped by the sites I visit, not that they are bad sites. Just that I would rather be shaped by God. Thusly I need to spend cave-time with God.
    In writing this, I have gotten away from what I started out to write, and come a conclusion I already knew along a different path than last time. So I suppose I should take it in this time.
    Going back to what I intended to write, I have finally learned the importance of time spent alone. Doing activities alone, and spending time alone with my thoughts. And just general quite time spent listening to the world around me, and of course to God. If I want to enjoy boundless time with friends, I need to enjoy cave-time as well. Even better, cave-time enhances my other-time actvities, because it sharpens my me-ness (er- personality) into a chrisper less others-based substance.  Ah the realizations that come after 3 months of rather forced cave-time. I'm glad it has been worth it.

Thoughts Escape as Typists

I have lost the battle to keep my thoughts imprisioned. They have fought victoriously and won my fingers.
Now the battle amoung thoughts ensues, which amoung them will manage to share themselves?
Thoughts are what separate humans from animals. We can contempalte and question. It is a beautiful gift.
And we share these gifts with each other,
resulting in the sharing of ourselves.
Interaction.
As necesairy as food and water.
So we need to watch what we let live in our heads, because thoughts travel.
And they make up our world.

Recomendations

Today I write in my web-log things to share with anyone reading.
I have recently discovered two really awesome guys who make comedic web videos, and music. Their names are Rhett and Link, and here are two of my favorite videos, one of them is from jelly telly, which is a kid's thing from the veggie tales people.





It was really hard to pick that second video, they have a grand selection of good videos, Check them out on youtube, or they have most all their videos on their site, which you'll notice I have to in my sidebar for your convenience :)

My second recomendation for you is Relient K's new CD, Forget and Not Slow Down. It is a very good album. It is cohesive and pure ear delight. There is an album review HERE and you can find at least some of the songs on youtube if you want to listen.

Well now that I have bombarded you with my preferences, feel free to suggest back, or let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy!

Tagged by Jillian

Well, as I have no other pressing blog ideas, and being tagged makes me feel special! Thanks Jillian!

TV/ movie characters I relate to :
Hmmm, ok I’ve got some:

~Lina Mayfleet from The City of Ember
   Because she is part of the solution, and she can see that there is a problem. I'd like to be part of the solution, and sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who can see what is going on. But I can also be very oblivious, and am usually a bit too shy for adventures.
~Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
   Because I love wit, and would like to believe I can be as clever as an amazing Jane Austen character sometimes.
~Leslie Burke from Bridge to Teribithia
   Because I can be pretty creative (at least I like to think so) and although my worlds usually stay in my head, and were more abundant when I was younger, I try to let them thrive.

Three Places (or Countries) I'd like to Travel to:
This one is easy:

~Australia
  I'm not sure exactly why but I really want to go there, I just feel drawn. Although I don't really know anything about Australia.
~Canada
   I technically went there when I was 3 or 4, and I have a couple picture memories, but that doesn't count. I want to go to Canada because I love the idea of Canada, and Canadians, and I want to be able to actually love the place and people in a more real way.
~England
  I love British accents and movies, and it is supposed to be beautiful there. Wouldn't it just be awesome to be in a place with so much history? I realize a lot of my reasoning is superficial, but there really is a deeper curiosity, and a broadening of perspective to see first hand what life is like in other countries.

Hit Shuffle on your ipod and list 3 songs:
 I was a bit picky, but not too much.

~Can't Stop, Jonathan Stiengard
~Home Tonight, Chris Rice (my ipod calls it Burn your Fire, since that is what my friend put in, haha)
~The World's Largest Song, Rhett and Link

Daily Must Haves:

~Activity
~Prayer
~Laughter
~Human Companionship, I get moody when left alone too long.

Things I'm confused about:

~What to study in school
~How to glorify God and live my life for him in everyday normalcy
~And I'm blanking out for a third...

Browse your DVD shelf and Randomly pick out 3 movies:
My collection is VERY small.... (Also mentally picking)

~Star Wars V
~Galaxy Quest (it's a hilarious star trek spoof)
~Sense and Sensibility

3 Things you wish you'd known earlier:

~God's Love
~That I'm not the most important person in the world
~Ignoring things doesn't solve anything

If you HAD to date a celebrity who would it be?

Well, muhahaha. I do not follow celebrities; I cannot seem to keep their names in my head. They are just people like everyone else. I don't date people I don't know, or have no desire to marry. So as I don't personally know any celebrities I can't pick.

If you were a celebrity what would it be for?

I'm just going to be completely fanciful here. Some amazing piece of art, or writing something influential that resonated in people, Singing in a Christian band, or my blog (hahahaha).

If you could give your blog a face-lift what would you tweak?

Well, I have changed the look several times recently, but if I could change anything, I would make my own layout to better use the space, and create my own background. In general I would want it to look more unique and polished.

Tagging:

For Tagging, I'm not going to suggest anyone because people that I am aware of who read this either don't get on a lot, have already been suggested by someone else, or I don't think would do it. So if you read this and want to do it, I TAG YOU! :)

Caws from the Crow

Well, today for your blog reading delight (assuming someone reads this, and it is not obscured by gnomes) I have a question for you. Who do you think lives in this little house? Or runs it as it is an inn. Who stays there on an almost permanent basis? Who visits weekly? The odd year? Who slips in once and never returns? I hope you are up to commenting in a creative fashion. :)

As you might have noticed I've been keeping my blogs short and including pictures. I hope this ups the interesting factor, I'll try to keep my thoughts ordered.

    On another note Hawk Nelson released their newest CD this week, and it is very good. I am greatly enjoying listening to it. It is rather weird watching text flow to the right instead of the left. However I like differences.

Random thought, if I were a mythical creature today I would be a white raven. Which does actually exist so maybe that is if I were an animal today.

-Sara

Go and Pray

I don't know if any of you have heard of this, but I wanted to make sure you did. See you at the pole is an annual prayer gathering at school flag poles. It is student led, and is held before school starts. Christian students come together and pray for their schools, classmates, for their country etc. It is an awesome event and it is amazing to think how many students are united in prayer that morning. This year's See you at the pole is this Wednesday, September 23 and the theme is Engage, go and pray. If you want to learn more visit the website : http://www.syatp.com/home/  It is an awesome event and I hope all of you who are able participate.

Then gather regert for the things that I can't change now.

    The title is a line from the title track of Relient K's upcoming CD, forget and not slow down. However the point behind it that i mean to address is that we can't hound ourselves about things we cannot change, but neither should we hold back in such a way as to create regrets. I must admit these thoughts come from watching a movie where the man character holds back so much he never expresses his true feelings. He ruins his own happiness and that of one of his friends. It makes me rather frustrated, so that is what i share with you. Not my frustration, but the reminder that we should not hold back everything. There are times to hold back, and for very good reason. But there are also times when holding back is simply an awful thing to do.

Perpetual Summer

The gift of time is a gift I continually waste. It seems whatever season of life we're in, humans are apt only to be wanting after another season. So I'm trying to use the time I've been given now and do things that are positive and help me grow with God. It's rather a challenge. But isn't it always?

I know it's been Forever...

Well I've had a busy summer, but now I'm settled in my new home and Life is SLOWLY getting normal, or I'm slowly adjusting to what the thing like normal is now. I had back surgery, so i am recovering from that. And I'm not in school this semester, unless i do some online classes, but i still have to check in to that. So that is weird. and as usual God is teaching me a million things at once, well actually it's less than usual because I'm learning more through my life than usual. ha ha. I'm sorry that i may never catch up on all your posts (especially you tuna, or maybe Crickl too) but anyways, i am back (haha i have to laugh because that is almost a pun) so hopefully I'll have more frequent postings. or more frequent subject matter i should say.
It's also been a long time on the poll, but please vote!

A summer Blog

All right. I haven't been on in so long, perhaps I've forgotten how to blog. haha :). Well, I've been busy, camp, back yard bible club, VBS, and this week basketball camp which I'm helping run so lots of stuff to do, i love it. yay! hmmm, I'm unsure what else to write. I'll never catch up on all your blogs, so I'm sorry for that, I'll probably be off again for a while, but maybe not. I love all this kids stuff, though I'm not as good with them as the majority of my friends, i just don't have as much experience. ah well, hat is what my life consists of, as the end of summer and of my life in youth draws closer,  very sad. No more thoughts on that yet.

Books Book Books

Summer is the time when I just kick back and read. In the last two weeks, about, I've read 7 books, and one of them I read twice. That's about all I've been up to lately, although that is all going to change soon, I have Camp starting sunday, and then soon after that things will be very interesting, but untill then i plan to fill the days with cleaning and reading. Hopefully I'll get my stuff all organized and such. Ah so much to do seemingly. Yet so little when I try to do it. Ha ha :)

Thoughts on Time

Well well, I have some time to kill, and I haven't posted for a while so, I guess that is what I shall do.
I'm not quite sure what to write about, so I’ll take that phrase I just used a second ago: I have some time to kill.
Where did that come from? I don't really want to kill time. I suppose I meant I have some extra, but there is no such thing as extra time with God. Time is something to be used, something needed to grow, grow closer to God.
Isn't it a crazy thought that God is outside of time? Like being outside a house? Yet at the same time he is inside us?
My head is getting a bit confused, and I’m not very skilled at articulating ideas, so I shall leave you with those ideas to chew on for now. :)

A Pensieve For You

Alright! I have some thoughts to share! Aren't you excited?
Today I went to Costco and printed some pictures and when I was at the counter to pick them up there was this guy, and we talked a little, and it turned out he was a Christian and he old me how he got saved, and he was a really awesome sweet guy, and we were all see you in heaven! And it was sweet. Then I was in line to get my Costco combo pizza and there was this guy telling me how I needed to get a tazer for self defense, and how much tazers cost, and how he carries a metal stick in his car etc. It was just a crazy side by side of these two characters. I haven't made and definite conclusions based on the side by side, but if you have any comments on it, well that's why I posted! One sweet man secure in Jesus, one aggressive, probably out of self defensiveness. Maybe hat is my conclusion, man 1 doesn’t have to watch his back because Jesus is, and the other is eaten up by having to watch his own... Just thoughts.

Slower Than a Dripping Faucet

I had two sets of thoughts, but maybe after I write the first the second will come back.
I feel like I’m watching life go by, as opposed to living it. Several of my friends are off on missions, leaving my world a little emptier. I feel like I should be off doing... something. I guess I’ve got anti-cabin fever, I need to find something to do with my time or I might pop! My devo reminded me I can't just rush off and do something FOR God, because it's infinitely better to work WITH him. However, i still seem to have nothing to do.

While I’m wondering what else I wanted to write, allow me to direct your attention to the bottom of my side panel to your right, there you will find a blue fox named mango. And a more tab that pops up things you can click and play with her with. Just one of those random add ons one finds when surfing blogs.

Well, the second thought has left me, off to be caught by Scribell (long story). But if you have any prayer requests, comment um. :)

Yay for a new look, etc.

Ah the joys of redecoration. Random summer days spent online and trying to throw marshmallows into one's mouth, while at a friend's house. -sigh- happy summer humdrum days.
I've been at my friend Tay's house for the past two days pretty much, just lazin' around. Taking this gift of life for granted as usual. Life feels pretty blah, like the waiting period before -hopefully- something awesome. Writing that gets me excited, maybe this is the calm before the storm, in cliche speak. I'm ready to get moving, but I know I'll long for down time later, maybe not.
Before I know it I'll be in a whole new place. Waiting here is rough, but I'll try to appreciate where I am and make the most of each day. Wow I'm counseling myself. I'll thake it that's the end of this blog then...
Catch ya later! :)

I'm working on learning how to skateboard. I can balance alright. However my cheap board doesn't roll that well.
Yesterday was my first fall, face first into the grass. rather embarrassing, luckily only one person was around. I picked myself up like nothing happened and kept going.
1 skinned knee.
So that's my story, just thought I'd share. :)

's goin' on (sgoinon!)

Well I probably won't post much now that it's summer, but I'll get on and comment and post when i can. Since I'm on today I thought I'd leave a quick thought for y'all, Lately God has really been showing love to me. He's been showing me my love (from him) towards people in my life, and complete strangers. And also he's been showing me how loved i am, and it's amazing. love truly is the best thing, it's gotten me happy tear-ie in the last few days, and I'm not a very tear-ie person, at least I try to not be one, so that is kind of intense. Well, I'm off! Thanks for reading. :)

Recom-ien-dation!

OK, so right now I'm reading Sinner, by Ted Dekker. He is a christian author, although at fist glance you might not think so. Anyways, i recommend that all you read it, it's crazy and really makes you think. His circle trilogy is really good as well, and a fourth piece of it comes out September. So check it out!

Sara wants to feed aquifina to the goldfish. Then sara becomes a jedi knight.

OK, so if you haven't heard of this you type in your name and a verb in the google search box.
ex.
Sara likes
Sara hates
Sara wants
needs
does
eats, etc.
and see what the results are, it's funny!

it's kind of a time waster... but ah well i call it the google name game.
And that is where my title comes from.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways... I'm taking my final exams starting this week. ugh. today i was trying to study for physics, and my thoughts are thus:

God created a beautiful mathematical universe. It could not have been another way and been the same and I think it is very glorious, its one of the top ways I see God in the world.

However my small brain cannot comprehend all of it! Or perhaps I'm not fully applying myself...
whichever it makes my head feel full and a bit achy.

So why must i try to learn this. why can't I just be exposed to the wonder?
Ah well, it'll all be over soon.

A question for yall.

I'm having a rough time trying to love someone. I'd rather just ignore their existence most of the time. But I know that is not what God wants. So I'm sure most of you have experienced something similar, so do you have any tips?

Dentistry

I just went to the dentist. my thought:
we actually pay people to scrape gunk off our teeth with various implements; usually made of metal. I know that its beneficial, and I enjoy going to the dentist, however when looked at literally doesn't it seem absurd?

-sigh of happiness-

The world is so huge and big and it is very amazing when I rediscover that there is life beyond my circle of friends and that there is more to life than my city. Why yes i was going through people's blogs today, and discovering new ones, however did you know :) . But really i am filled with amazement and love right now, because GOD IS AWESOME. This may or may not be my general response to all happiness. :) but it is very encouraging that people in other places have the same issues, listen to the same songs, and love God as well. :) so thank you all for being an encouragement to me, though you don't know who i am and may never find me. there is a serrious thought behind this... slightly hard to distinguish i realise, but hopefully you got it.

* I wrote this yesterday.

A poem. ^_^

wanta come
wanta come with me
with me
with me- where i go?
where i go
whenever
whenever- i go?

will you
will you- come with me
with me
with me- where i go?
wherever i go
will you go with me?
with me
with me- wherever i go?

would you
would you- stay with me
with me
with me whenever i go?
whenever i go
would you stay with me
with me
with me- wherever i go?

you'll stay with me
with me
with me where i go
when i go
you'll stay with me
with me
with me-- always.

She came to the path
and seeing no guide sat
alert
waiting
waiting
^^^^^^The anxiety began not long after she sat down.
Could you not keep watch for one hour?
^^^^^^No. Apparrently not. but she did not know which way to go. ^^^^^^She sat; then stood. Sat, stood many times. paced in ^^^^^^circles, 'round and 'round the place where the path diverged. ^^^^^^North or south?
Can you not wait even one hour with me?
^^^^^^I must sit she thought.
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
^^^^^^I will see him. he will come. He is here? Where! Breathe, ^^^^^^Relax. I must wait.
And so she sat
waiting
waiting
_____________________________________________
Ignore the (^)s spaces would not stay, and the format is important

because no one wants to read something long

Just a short post to say:
Everyone has a choice of how they will face their day. So choose to face yours with joy in God.

Rejoice in the lord always, i will say it again rejoice! Phil 4:4

When someone irritates you say this to your self "they are perfect in Jesus".

~The Breastplate of Saint Patrick~

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the

Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession

of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism,

through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial

through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension,

through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.

I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim

in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels,

in hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets,

in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors,

in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through the strength of Heaven:

light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire,

speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,

stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.

I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me,

God's host to secure me:

against snares of devils, against temptations of vices,

against inclinations of nature, against everyone who

shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils):

against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose

my body and my soul,

against incantations of false prophets,

against black laws of heathenry,

against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry,

against spells of women [any witch] and smiths and wizards,

against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul.

Christ to protect me today

against poison, against burning, against drowning,

against wounding, so that there may come abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right,

Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length,

Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the

Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the

Oneness of the Creator of creation.

Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord.

Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

I found this at http://www.theseason.org/breast.htm and wanted to share it to celebrate the day. I know it's long, i haven't read it yet either... :)

Vectors on sleep, and intoxicating flowers

The title is just a jumble of my day so far. I really should not be typing this, i should be working on my essay, but i haven't posted in a while so i decided i should. i'm not quite sure what to type so i'll just do a thought poem i think :)
weights pull me down
heavier heavier
the things of this realm
the musts
and have to's
somewhere in the swirl i
must
find time to be with you
alone
i don't ever want to be alone
so it's good that i'm not
help me to remember that you are always near
keep me in gear
as i pedal
and you steer.

Hebrews 11

This is what I read last night, read it out loud with passion and emphasis. It is amazing, it's my second time through hebrews and i can't believe i missed it the first time. :)

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Be Passionate!

Ok, in the catholic tradition today marks the beginning of lent (the forty days leading up to Easter) and usually people give up things like sweets for lent, or types of food, and it's kind of like new years resolutions sometimes it doesn't work out. You're supposed to give up or take up something that will improve you.
Recently God has really been putting passion for him on my heart. So for lent this year I’m going to make it an awesome me and God time. I'm telling you all this in case you'd like to do something between now and Easter too. Making more time for you and God, doing crazy God things, I’m really excited!!
WooHoo God!!!! This is going to be so cool, relationship building with the coolest guy ever! Yay!

3 things about my day? got 'um

Well, lets see. What have I got for you all today. I guess just thoughts on blogs. Would we write differently on here if we knew exactly who was watching? Like if I knew for certain that someone in my family would find this one day would I change what I am typing now (the answer is yes, because originally I was typing something else haha)? Just a thought, because sometimes I sit down to type something to post online, and it is just me and my computer, and I go into journaling mode, and have to remember people will read this. and it should be aimed at them.

I feel random so I am going to allow a topic switch, if this bothers you it will probably happen again in this post and in the course of this blog, so be prepared.
Today I am Thankful for:
+jello
+planes (all types, paper, full scale people holding fly in the air type, the kind in math, etc.)
+glue
+people
+the ability to rock back and forth and side to side

I just flipped open my bible and this is the verse I found, I pray it helps somebody out there, or you needed to hear it.
Isaiah 30:1 "woe to obstinate children," declares the Lord, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance but not by my spirit, heaping on sin upon sin;
Usually when I am looking up random verses it is because I want to share one with someone. and I always avoid the negative verses. that is what I was thinking about as I typed that up. Do we avoid the side of God that says "No" and admonishes us? I think most definitely we do. Just thoughts, I hope God grows them in your head and in mine, and we can make some sense out of then, but for now I'm off to bed, or rather the idea of getting ready for bed.
:) goodnight!

P.S.
Hey! I just did my planned bible reading for today (going through Hebrews right now) and the first bit totally matched thoughts on Isiah above! So if you're interested, Hebrews 12:1-14! Anyways, really going to bed now. :)

whoops, forgot to title this one...

Well, I've looked at a lot of blogs today, and it just amazed me. I'm not sure I've ever realized how many people are out there. There are so many of us! And there are people in other countries on other continents who listen to the same music and love the same God I do. Yet there are way more who are different. And all of us are so small in comparison with the world we are in. It is such a conflict. I get so wrapped up in my own little corner of the world and so bogged down with the tiny tiny things that seem so big. I'm in a state of amazed confusion, I don't know what the best attitude is. God is big and I limit him for my own comfort since I am small, and I do the same to the world, even though in comparison with him it is minuscule!
To explain my perspective, I'm visiting my sister this weekend I'm in another state. I miss my friends back home, but it is interesting finding life goes on with out them, as so often i try to make them my world.
God is so AMAZING! I can't understand, but that is ok. I just need to trust.

PostSecret

I just visited the PostSecret Blog and most of them made me sad. A couple were happy, but most of our secrets are negative I suppose. Maybe one day I'll make one of those cards. Probably not, I'd make a happy one if I did, but I don't really like those books and such. Well, I need to go to bed. I hope somebody reads this sometime, otherwise I'm talking to myself! haha :)

Post Numero One

Hey! I wanted a place to share stuff with people so first off you should check out iamsecond.com it is pretty cool.

Anyways, I'm not sure how often I'll up date but I'll try to keep it frequent. :)