7in7 Day 2

I'm a mess.
I've cried every day of 7in7 and it's...day 2.
This is hard. I put entirely way too much pressure on myself and it's ridiculous.
Yesterday I got a verse and part of a chorus. No music or melodies...every time I tried I would get so frustrated.
I realized that I wasn't letting myself write a bad song. I wanted it to be perfect and amazing.  I put these standards on myself that are completely ridiculous...I expect way too much and I just need to give myself grace.
So I'm gonna try and shake it off...let God teach me what He wants through this process...because I'm pretty sure that is what is going to be the biggest accomplishment, more than coming up with some songs, it will be how He is teaching me how to die...to a lot. He's showing me my heart and to be honest, it's ugly.
I've believed lies about myself, I've completely disregarded how God has created me and I've wanted to give up about 777 times.
Today I spent most of the day in College Station with Aaron and the guys for Donna Stuart's CD Release Concert/Worship night. Both Aaron and Donna said things that I needed to hear tonight. So thankful for them.
So I'm going to choose to not give up. I'm going to give myself grace. I'm going to write some really bad songs. I'm going to start over tomorrow.
I'm also going to get some inspiration from the fact that Christmas has overtaken our house. Surely a Christmas song will come out of this.

7in7 Day 1

So I've agreed to do this 7in7 thing.
It's where you write 7 songs in 7 days.
WHAT?
yeah.
Today is day 1 and I'm wearing a cute outfit. I've somehow convinced myself that by wearing a cute outfit...it will help.
So far...I've managed to get nothing down...but I look cute. 
Point proven that looking cute will not get me 7 songs in 7 days.
I started reading through some blogs to get some inspiration and came across this blog of a couple who has documented their life after losing their son right after he was born. I was drawn into this story and found myself filled with all kinds of emotions and feel compelled to write about it. So...we'll see what comes out.
I'm praying. I don't want these 7 days to be about me and what I can do and how I can write a song. But I want to be led and I want these songs to not be from me.
Oh pray with me!
I may or may not be posting songs on here. We'll see how vulnerable I feel!

I Love My Hair

So a friend told me about this video and she said..."For some reason I can't stop thinking of you when I saw this..."
This is my new theme song:

History of Redemption pt 1

I'm memorizing 7 pages of scripture. I'm insane.
I have down 1/2 of a page. 6 1/2 more to go! insane.
I'm surprised that I'm actually getting it. It's hard. But God is revealing Himself so much in this process and I love it. I actually love it. I love having His word in my mind constantly.
So here is what I have memorized so far:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)

Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good.  And God separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4)

And then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.  And God saw everything that He had made and behold - it was very good.  And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.  The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 1:26-27, 31; Genesis 2:22,25)

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."  But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate. (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:4-6)

His word is so good. Why don't I memorize scripture ALL the time?! It's powerful.

My Scattered Heart

"The stars are brighter when the night is darker

Your grace is deeper when the lies are stronger

The lower I am, the higher You are

Come save me & heal my scattered heart"

Shout Hallelujah, You God-Worshipers

I read this today from the message version of the bible. Take it in...I love it. LOVE it.

Psalm 22:22-31
Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with hallelujahs:
Shout hallelujah, you God-worshipers
Give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore him you daughters of Israel.
He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around.  He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.
Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life.
And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God is here praising him. 
"Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!"
From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, 
Are running back to God.
Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him.
God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.
All the power-mongers are before him
--worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
--worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
--worshiping!
Our children and their children will get in on this
As the word is passed along from parent to child
Babies not yet conceived
Will hear the good news --
That God does what he says.

Things That Make Me Smile

Lake House Getaways:

 Time away to rest, write, worship, be.

Hammocks:

Swinging in them. Sleeping in them. Reading in them.

 Sunsets:

 Overlooking the lake, with guitar in hand, worshiping a beautiful Creator.

Sunrises:

Marveling at its obedience to bring light to the dark.

 

 Lizards:

Still a little unsure of how I feel about this guy. 

 Funky Mailboxes:

 So I thought they were cute.

Small Town Texas Restaurants:

Full of stuffed wildlife & waiters giving out phone numbers.