Monday, February 18, 2013

Something Good for Something Better

I absolutely LOVE Easter.
I grew up in the church, and Easter never fully "hit" me till my sophomore year in college, when I started going to Resonate and we did a big Lent devotional, fasted the weekend of Easter, and had a Good Friday "experience". 
It wrecked me forever (in a good way). 
I wasn't really thinking about giving up anything for Lent, until my good friend Amy reminded me what it was all about.
Giving up something good, for something better. 
Lately inspiration has been coming a bit slower than a desire to be either someone I am not, or somewhere in life I have not yet reached. I don't know at what point I let comparison steal all my inspiration and replace it with resentment, but it has happened, and something must be done.
I was thinking about everything that I say inspires me. 
Blogs
Pinterest
Really really GOOD photography
Artists 
Cool graphic design
A really good album/record
Awesome makeup
Fashion magazines 
Fashion designers
Runway shows 
A great outfit 
Cool nails
A beautiful wedding 
Unexpected pops of color
I realized as I wrote this list out in my head, that the Lord wasn't on the list. Sure, some people are inspired to do the things on the list because of the Lord. He doesn't set up parties, plan weddings, design graphics, come up with great crafts, or have an antique store. He did however set up the party known as life, orchestrate the greatest love story (And soon to be wedding) ever told, design the beautiful graphics known as gifts and talents given to everyone on the planet, and come up with some fantastic ways to enjoy the life He has given us. It made me really sad to admit that I have never actually been inspired by "God" Himself. I think taking a break from the worldly inspirations around me daily might help a bit with that. Till then, here are some really amazing "new" tunes that have been affecting me. 
This band regardless of the weird name, made my jaw drop. I don't know how I never thought of taking my violin to this level, but the idea of an electric viola somehow being manipulated by a laptop was a really good idea. Oh and replacing a guitar with a banjo was also a really good idea. 
Something about this song, just makes me think about those angels with all the eyes and wings that are described in Revelations that are super creepy but mighty and amazing at the same time. 


Have you let your inspirations go to the wayside because you wished you had someone else's? 

Saturday, February 9, 2013




I know it has been so long since I have posted. It has been a crazy few months with the holiday season, starting school back up again, and making some big life decisions. It has been a weird winter season for me. I read an amazing book this past winter called Love Does by Bob Goff. It is a sort of memoir and collection of short stories all rolled into one. Bob Goff is an amazing man who pursued the Lords plan for his life, despite peoples opinions. He taught himself to block negative comments, the word no from peoples mouths, and the lies that can come into our minds abut who we are as a result of failing or being rejected. I love this about him, because there is a verse in Proverbs that talks about not looking to the right or the left, but keeping our eyes forward and focused. Reading Love Does was a serious landmark for me. It is one of the most encouraging and affirming books I have ever read in my life. As a creator, dreamer, and musician it has been a crazy journey balancing my talents and God's calling vs. peoples perception of my calling and opinions about where I should go/what i should be doing. Some of the things I listened to from people where true, and I did a good job about listening to what they had to say. There were however parts of my life where peoples opinions should not have been said like they were, and I have been devastated, confused, and unsure about who I am, since. The stories Bob Goff writes about were all parts of his life that were landmarks. Those Landmarks were beautiful, because he knew no ones words except the Lords, mattered. He didn't care if a test told him he couldn't be a lawyer, he knew it was what God called him to. So Bob sat in front of the dean of a law school's office until the dean told him to buy his books. Bob knew the woman he was going to marry the moment he first laid eyes on her, and he didn't give up on her until she said yes. Accepting our callings and who we are going to live life with, are huge! I realized as I read this I haven't really been told by the Lord what I will be doing in life as clearly as I might have thought, and hearing from Him takes patience and time. It can be really discouraging for someone who is creative naturally to have a lack of inspiration for a long period of time. Sometimes however, a lack of inspiration is just God saying, time to keep moving forward. As much as I love creating, I have closed my Etsy shop for the time being to spend some time focusing on moving foward. It will hopefully be opening back up again in April or May. I also need to be focusing on what I am good at and keep getting better. Practice makes perfect right? Blogging will be happening a lot more, and I am making it a priority to at least have one post up a week that is inspiring, and one that includes a new tune, of course. Anyways, if you love a good book and need some encouragement and inspiration, I suggest grabbing a copy of  Love Does. You won't regret it!