Tomorrow!

I love fridays. They're so short. It's amazing.

We had incredible worship time this morning. It's like, all of a sudden in the last two weeks everything has just CHANGED. Like, everyone is going through stuff individually & having major breakthrough, & we may not even know what everyone is going through but it's affecting us all as a group...in a positive way! It's just been awesome to see people changing & growing & the effects it has on all of us.

After school I had lunch with Lydia & we had such a great time just talking about what God is doing in each of us lately. It was really encouraging, I love our chats.

Oh! I also found out that I get to play drums for this youth thing in March, it's called The Gathering, & basically all the youth groups in Kenosha get together & worship & stuff, & I get to play! I'm so excited. I love playing for worship, but this is doubly exciting for me because I really have a heart for the youth. I guess I feel like it was long enough ago that I can offer some sort of wisdom, but not so long ago that I can't relate, you know? Anyway. I'm REALLY excited about it. We have our first rehearsal monday after school.

Now I'm doing laundry & cleaning my room to prepare for my Mom coming tomorrow! I'm so excited!

Dear Thursday,

You are always such a weird day because of Prophetic Worship. Haha. We met at Teresa's house for class & discussed chapter 5 of Humility. Then Teresa made us all go around the room & assess ourselves to see how we're doing in the humble department. Anyone who wasn't humble before sure is now. Oy. After class the girls had some prayer/discussion time & it was just...really great. I think everyone really opened up alot, & I'm excited to see what God is going to do in the next 3 months. We had a short Ear Training class & no Theory (since we ran so long at Tre's), so that was nice.

After school I met Tate at Starbucks & we talked about all the crazy things Skilletfans do on the road. There was much laughter. Hahaha. He's a cool guy, really enjoyed hanging out.

My Mom gets here in 2 days! Aaaahhhh I'm so excited! I should go clean instead of write this!

Back To High School!

Been a goooood day! Kal gave us an assignment last week to basically analyze a song Teresa wrote, "Obedient Response." We had to pick three words to define, find the synonyms for three DIFFERENT words, & then find the original Greek/Hebrew for two additional words, plus find two scriptures that tied in to the song & then summarize it all in a paragraph. Let me just post the lyrics of the song here for you; it's amazingly powerful.

Obedient Response

Eternal Word, faithful and true

I’ve resolved that I will follow you

Divert my eyes from worthless things

I will focus on the vision you bring

I will run the race that you lay out for me

My whole life one long obedient response

To You, my King

‘Cause I cherish all you’ve said

And I’m so grateful for the things

That you have done for me

I won’t give up when hard times come

I’m devoted so I will press on

My soul’s consumed, hungry for sight

You’re my counsel and your Word is my delight

I will stay the course that you have set for me

My whole life one long obedient response

To You, my King

‘Cause I cherish all you’ve said

And I’m so grateful for the things

That you have done for me

So here I am, I wait for you

You renew me with your perfect Truth

How sweet your words are to my taste

Satisfying me in the deepest place

I will keep your Word alive inside of me

My whole life one long obedient response

To You, my King

‘Cause I cherish all you’ve said

And I’m so grateful for the things

That you have done for me

Gaaah, love it. Such incredible lyrics to work with, so it was a pretty easy assignment. ANYWAY, this morning for worship Kal decided we would do this song & then just use the words from our assignments to really go deeper in what we prayed out & such. One of the words I defined was "eternal" (lasting forever; always existing; outside of time), & I was thinking about the first line of the song. "Eternal Word"...I was just totally in awe of God's Word & how it really IS outside of all time, & what it has endured already. And then, the third verse says "I will keep your Word alive inside of me." We actually have a part in keeping the Word of God alive? That's AMAZING! So I prayed out & said...well, basically that. And then it was just awesome because God just SPOKE. We ended up worshipping for like 2 hours & He just really highlighted different aspects of His Word & it's eternal endurance. It was just incredible how the prophetic words that came just built one on top of another & Kal tied it all together at the end by saying that we have to put the Word in us by memorizing it & such, but that unless we DO something to outwork it, our knowledge doesn't matter. It reminded me of Jeremiah 20:9, where Jeremiah is crying out to God & saying that His Word is like a fire in his bones, that he tries to hold it in but he CANNOT. That's what I want! I want the Word to be pouring out of me all the time, in all my conversations. Man. Such good worship today.

Gary wasn't in to teach us Bible Review today, so we had a free period for an hour & a half. I had a really nice chat with Lydia about some of the stuff we discussed in Pursuit of God yesterday, it was great.

After lunch we went to Central High School & got to spend time with some of the students in the Campus Life program. It was so weird being in a high school again...it's been 5 years since I've even set foot in a high school. Haha. Wait, I lied; we went to a school in Cadillac. But that was a small Christian school, this is the first time I've been in a proper public school in a long time. Anyway, we had some worship time with the students & got to pray over them & just have some time getting to know them. It's so awesome to see high school students so on fire for God & so ready to make a difference. I just love it. It's so encouraging to see, & makes me wish that I had stepped out even more than I did in high school. People knew I was a Christian, sure, but I never made any effort to really be a witness to my unsaved friends. To talk with these guys & really see their hearts for God was just phenomenal.

Tonight I'm having dinner with Luke & Heather (homegroup leaders) with John before homegroup, so that should be fun. I want to have a new outlook on homegroup. First semester I didn't really like going that much, but after I saw how God moved in the homegroup in Cadillac, I realized that it COULD be like that EVERY time, if I would change my attitude. So instead of just going because I have to, I've spent some time together with John just praying for people in the group & just really seeking God on it. I'm excited to see how we all grow together, & it will be good to talk to Luke & Heather about their vision for it tonight.

In the meantime, I'm going to try & catch a nap. Haha.

Nothing Exciting...

Today has been frustrating. Not for any particular reason...just kind of everything piling up I guess. We had Pursuit of God with Kal in the morning, followed by class with Teresa where we continued from what Kim taught yesterday in Exploring Worship about prophecy. I talked with Teresa at lunch, & that was pretty good too. She is going to put me in touch with her husband's cousin who is a filmmaker; he's currently working on a documentary about trafficking. So we'll see what happens...

Worship team practice was good this afternoon, we started arranging "Yours Is The Kingdom"...not my favorite worship song, but it's kind of fun to play. Hard. But I think once I get it down it will be good.

Tonight is like my only free night this week & I am dedicating it to homework. So, I apologize for the short post, but my Mom is coming this weekend & things must get done before then. :o)

First Practice.

Today was great. My team led worship, & a bunch of the local alumni came, & Brian Cowen took some pictures during worship. Musically everything sounded great, spiritually it was totally refreshing, & it was just a really great time together. I loved it.

Class was alright...it was kind of a flexible day because Brian was in doing photos. And JL wasn't there to do God's Lavish Grace, which was a bummer. But Kim taught a great Exploring Worship class about having faith to step out prophetically. Really really good.

I had my first rehearsal with the Pleasant Prairie worship team tonight. I think it went really well...we just picked a 4-chord progression & had some free worship time. Maybe it was because I played this morning, I dunno, but I just felt so...ON tonight. Came up with some cool new fills on the spot & just let myself get lost in the worship. I was hardly thinking at all, I was just feeling everything. I get to play for the first time on sunday March 21. I'm excited! And glad that I have alot of time to rehearse & learn new songs before then.

With everything that's happened today I'm surprised I feel as chill as I do. It's nice.

Excited!

Just found out this morning that my Mom is coming to visit on saturday! Yay! I can't wait to see her.

I've been doing alot of reading this weekend. My friend Aryale gave me the book "Captivating" by John & Stasi Elderidge when I left for school & told me to read it when God tells me to. It's amazing. I don't know that I ever realized before that my want to control my life & have everything in order & know everything that's going on comes from the fall of man. When God curses Eve & says her "desire will be for her husband," He isn't saying that she'll be sitting around pining away for him while he's at work. He's saying that she will want to be "in control." Kind of comforting to know that it isn't just a personal flaw...it's in ALL of us. So, now the fun part is that I have to die to myself & give that up. I have to let myself be out of control in order for God to work. Ugh. I'm not so good at that. Luckily I have grace.

It's been awesomely overwhelming how much God has been speaking to me lately. It's strange though, almost like...I barely have time to process one thing when He's on to the next. Not an hour goes by where He doesn't say SOMETHING to me, & if I don't pay attention He just keeps at it until I listen & do whatever it is He's telling me to do. It's kind of amazing, actually. But then sometimes I just feel schizo that I have this voice in my head. Haha.

I feel like I have SO much homework this week...so what am I doing? Writing a blog. Of course. I should go write my papers now.

Quick Update...

I fail at writing this week! Aaahhh! It has been such an insanely busy week I've barely had time to think.

I went to see Switchfoot live in Chicago on tuesday with Kate, Matt, Lydia, & Dan. I forget how much I love them. God speaks to me so much through their music, I just love it. It was a great show & Matt took a couple of good videos, which can be found on my youtube if anyone's interested.

The rest of the week has been pretty uneventful in the way of news...school has just been BUSY. We have alot of assignments due next week, so I know what I'll end up doing all weekend...

Monday Brian Cowen is coming in to take photos during our worship time for next years promo materials...I'll be playing drums in worship monday morning, so who knows, those of you thinking of doing the school next year may see my lovely face on your brochures. Haha.

I think I'm going to go take a nap. I can't even think straight anymore.