Always a good time

Alright, needless to say I'm am super incredibly excited for the rest of this album to come out. The song has shot to #3 on the charts, and it's a ton of fun to blast on the radio on these gorgeous summer days. I realize I have shared quite a bit of music lately, but honestly, it's so much fun. Kind of a side note, I heard a cover of this song the other day and it was good, but I'm obviously biased and no one can sing like Adam Young. His voice kind of makes the song. Well, and Carly's. Enjoy!

Honestly

New favorite song.



The lyrics honestly express what my thoughts and feelings have been lately. It's music like this that brings hope in the darkness. For me, it's always nice to know that someone else is going through the same struggles I'm going though. It's always nice to know that I'm not alone.

Stand strong

 "Hold on when everything is shaking. Stand strong when the ground is falling through."

Though at first glance this line might seem like we have to stand in our own strength. But as the song goes on we find out that it's only because God is there that we have the strength to go on. It's not my strength, but His. Because I have been saved; because I know that the Lord Jesus died for me and paid the price of my sin, and rose again; because I know that it's because of what Jesus did on the cross that I am now I child of God, that I keep going. When the nights seem so long and lonely, and I don't know if I can go another step, it is His love that I cling to. It is the love of God that causes me to smile even on my hardest days or darkest nights. Without Him, I am nothing.

Merely a facade

So last night was, well, not exactly the best night I have ever had. I couldn't stop tossing and turning, wishing that I could just shut my brain off and sleep. There was a lot on my mind, and a lot I was worrying about. And suddenly this question popped into my head: Why is it so hard for us to voice our doubts and fears? Even as I asked that question though, I realized I already knew the answer to it. I know why it's so hard. We do it because we don't want others to know what's going on inside. We won't want them to know that we don't really have it all together. It's merely a facade, as we put on our own parade, unwilling to let anyone see behind this masquerade. Even now I can think of so many things I haven't told anyone. No, they're not exactly deep, dark secrets (though there are one or two of those), but they're definitely feelings and thoughts that I have never expressed out loud to anyone. Sometimes the words will be on the tip of my tongue, but something always holds me back. I'm afraid of what it will sound like when I say it out loud, and I can almost hear the words laughing at me in my head. This masquerade is a game we all play, but really, who are we fooling?

Grace

A little something that's been on my mind lately: the grace of God. It's so hard for me to wrap my head around sometimes, and I can't help but be in awe of what God's grace means for me. For me personally, it's so easy to get caught up in thinking that I have to "work harder, live better, be more good," to earn His grace. But that's the beautiful thing. God's grace is not something we earn, but it's something that is waiting to be freely given to us. Though His grace is free and neverending, we have to first choose to accept it. To accept it, we have to come to the point where we realize that we truly are sinners, and there is absolutely NOTHING that we could ever do to get ourselves into Heaven. It is through Jesus Christ, God's Son, and only through Him that we can come to God. Like the verse in Hebrews 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone."
What a beautiful verse. For us, the grace of God means life! But for the Lord Jesus it meant death. Like I said before, it's something I cannot fathom. To think that God would send His Son to die my death for me.

Covers

Alright, so I figured this was bound to happen sooner or later, and I thought "Why not sooner?" This post is all about covers. Covers of songs that I love. Amazing covers of songs that I love. (Get the point yet?). So here are quite a few of my absolute favorites.

I already really loved this song. Best cover of it I've heard so far.



So Beautiful.


This gives me chills.


Mmmm yes.


So good. So very, very good.
 

Because acapella is just so good, and he does such a fantastic job.

Boys clothes

So yesterday I went shopping with one of my best friends, and, needless to say, we had an absolutely fabulous time. I have decided that a lot of what I wear this summer will probably be coming from the guys section in the stores (: Here's some really neat stuff that we found yesterday!

Perfect for surfing, or hiking through mountain streams.

Why do I feel like their shoes are always cooler?

Love this color.

Well that's all for now! I'll probably be posting more later though (: Have a great evening!

Summer day

Today was a gorgeous summer day. I woke up early and went out to breakfast by myself and ended up with some delicious iced coffee and a lovely cup of fruit. It was fun to be out that early, and to see all the business people dressed up in their suits and ties, ready to head into work. Since I had gotten up early, I had merely thrown my hair into a messy ponytail and wiped the smudged mascara off my face. Though it's June, the morning was actually fairly cool, so I wore my favorite orange sweatshirt with rolled up jeans. Thankfully I could dress casually because I didn't have to work this morning. After the coffee and fruit I ventured off to my favorite music store. It's a little hole-in-the-wall sort of place, and it has all kinds of sheet music. I could honestly spend hours in there if I could. But after that leisurely morning, it was time to go to work and be productive. After that I had the evening all to myself, and it was the perfect type of evening for a raspberry smoothie. I drove around with my smoothie, and I very well would have been happy to just continue driving forever. I literally drove around town, going nowhere, just enjoying the windows down, the fresh air, the sunset, and good music. It was one of those magical summer evening that you never want to end.


P.S. This is one of the songs I love to drive to.

Pining away

Mmm the weather has been so lovely lately I look for any excuse to get myself outside into the fresh air. o far it's been in the 60s with the morning and evenings barely fifty degrees. I know it's supposed to be summer, but fall was always my favorite season. Tonight I snuggled under a blanket with a piping hot cup of coffee and fresh chocolate chip cookies, and enjoyed the sunset with some really close friends. It felt so amazing. I've been doing a lot of traveling lately, and when that happens, I don't get to do as much blogging, but then again it's super nice to get away from technology. If I had to choose, I would so prefer a mountain climate to anything else. I love the crisp, fresh air and the sweet pine trees, and the towering white-capped peaks. Ahhhh I'd give anything to be in the mountains right now. I love to just lose myself in the forest because it's one of the best places to think. There's a song I know that goes "So you say that you're a loner, but I know you hate to be alone." That just fits me so well. I like to tell people that I'm fine by myself and that I just want to "get away," but the truth of the matter is, well, I hate to be alone, haha. Why is it that we're like that? Can't we just admit we don't like to be alone? We all wanted to be needed, and to know someone wants us around. We just want to know we matter.


P.S. I love, love, love this song so much. The piano music is definitely the highlight.