Sunday, May 22, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Dancing In the Moonlight...
Let's take a little journey down memory lane...
The warm weather turnaround here in central Illinois has had me thinking. As I walked out of my house this morning to head to my car on my way to work, I took in the humid, warm weather. It reminded me of a warm July day last summer.
My best friend and I decided to attend the 4th of July celebration in downtown Springfield. We sat on the lawn of the Capitol Building with our families and prayed for no rain. After all, rain would put a damper on our activities. As everything was held outside, the rain would have ruined all of our fun.
We walked around, from food stand to food stand, visiting with friends we bumped into along the way. We stopped to take pictures and to listen to the music, provided in part by WIBI!
However, a little later in the evening, the dreaded rain came. Not only did it rain- it POURED. Individuals were huddling under tents and running for cover in all directions.
Sporting a lovely white outfit with tiny red stripes, I decided to bolt for a tent. Unluckily for me, the side of the tent I was standing under decided to be the side that hosted to run-off from the rain.
I had two choices:
1) I could get upset that I was getting rained on. After all, I'd taken the time to get ready. I'd avoided the dirt and tried to stop the sweat forming on my brow throughout the afternoon. Then, the rain ended up ruining all the activity, and I was cold and sopping wet!
OR...
2) I could enjoy it. I could welcome the cool water as a break from the hot, humid weather I'd been in all day. I could take the chance to dance in the rain while other people stood under tents, not enjoying the moment.
I took one look at my best friend, and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing. "Let's go."
And we left the tent to dance in the rain.
Despite the stares and the unbelieving eyes, I found myself enjoying the rain that I'd so carefully avoided. I was completely soaked, and I didn't care.
It was such a freeing feeling. Just letting go.
How many times have you been able to do that? Just let go, I mean. Life's given us all some pretty not-great situations, but it's all about how you respond.
Instead of being upset, learn to dance in the rain and the darkness.
It's been said that life is 10% what happens to you, and it's 90% how you react to it.
I'm learning to dance in the moonlight and in the rain, rather than crying in the darkness.
How will YOU dance your way through the rain in your life today?
In His Love,
Lex <3
The warm weather turnaround here in central Illinois has had me thinking. As I walked out of my house this morning to head to my car on my way to work, I took in the humid, warm weather. It reminded me of a warm July day last summer.
My best friend and I decided to attend the 4th of July celebration in downtown Springfield. We sat on the lawn of the Capitol Building with our families and prayed for no rain. After all, rain would put a damper on our activities. As everything was held outside, the rain would have ruined all of our fun.
We walked around, from food stand to food stand, visiting with friends we bumped into along the way. We stopped to take pictures and to listen to the music, provided in part by WIBI!
However, a little later in the evening, the dreaded rain came. Not only did it rain- it POURED. Individuals were huddling under tents and running for cover in all directions.
Sporting a lovely white outfit with tiny red stripes, I decided to bolt for a tent. Unluckily for me, the side of the tent I was standing under decided to be the side that hosted to run-off from the rain.
I had two choices:
1) I could get upset that I was getting rained on. After all, I'd taken the time to get ready. I'd avoided the dirt and tried to stop the sweat forming on my brow throughout the afternoon. Then, the rain ended up ruining all the activity, and I was cold and sopping wet!
OR...
2) I could enjoy it. I could welcome the cool water as a break from the hot, humid weather I'd been in all day. I could take the chance to dance in the rain while other people stood under tents, not enjoying the moment.
I took one look at my best friend, and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing. "Let's go."
And we left the tent to dance in the rain.
Despite the stares and the unbelieving eyes, I found myself enjoying the rain that I'd so carefully avoided. I was completely soaked, and I didn't care.
It was such a freeing feeling. Just letting go.
Tristen (left) and myself (right with no face) dancing in the moonlight :)
How many times have you been able to do that? Just let go, I mean. Life's given us all some pretty not-great situations, but it's all about how you respond.
Instead of being upset, learn to dance in the rain and the darkness.
It's been said that life is 10% what happens to you, and it's 90% how you react to it.
I'm learning to dance in the moonlight and in the rain, rather than crying in the darkness.
How will YOU dance your way through the rain in your life today?
In His Love,
Lex <3
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Video from AgapeFest 2011
How about a little video footage that my dad was able to catch at AgapeFest 2011?
You'll notice my mom loses her phone, and my dad gives it back to her somewhere in the middle. Apparently, she was pretty excited. :)
Also, keep in mind that this is festival sound, so it is going to sound differently than it would've had we been performing indoors.
AgapeFest was such an amazing experience for me, and I'm so grateful that God blessed me with the opportunity!
Woohoo!
In His Love,
Lex <3
You'll notice my mom loses her phone, and my dad gives it back to her somewhere in the middle. Apparently, she was pretty excited. :)
Also, keep in mind that this is festival sound, so it is going to sound differently than it would've had we been performing indoors.
AgapeFest was such an amazing experience for me, and I'm so grateful that God blessed me with the opportunity!
Woohoo!
In His Love,
Lex <3
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
So, after much thought… okay, not much thought at all really, but some discussion… I’ve decided that some of my dear girlfriends need to be reminded of some things.
*****
How about some excerpts from a little book called, “He’s Just Not That Into You: Your Daily Wake-Up Call” (2005)… Do I agree with everything this book is about? Absolutely not. However, I DO agree with the idea that you were made for MORE than wishing someone else would notice your worth.
14: Don’t waste the pretty40: “Hey, let’s meet at so-and-so’s party/friend’s house” is not a date. Even if you live in New York.45: if I were into you, you would be the bright spot in my horrible busy day. Which would be a day that I would never be too busy to call you.56: Meeting someone you like and dating him is supposed to make you feel BETTER, not WORSE. That’s always a good rule to live by, no matter what the special circumstances (i.e., excuses) are.65: He’s just not that into you if he’s not dating you. “Hanging out” is NOT dating.101: Your lost self-esteem may take longer to find than a new boyfriend, so prioritize accordingly.152: Don’t spend your time on and give your heart to any guy who makes you wonder about ANYTHING related to his feelings for you.164: Don’t be flattered that he misses you. He SHOULD miss you. You’re deeply missable. However, he’s still the same person who just broke up with you. Remember, the only reason he can miss you is because he’s choosing, every day, not to be with you.191: Don’t ask yourself what you did wrong or how you could have done it differently. Don’t waste your valuable heart and mind trying to figure out why he did what he did. Or thinking back on all thethings he said, and wondering what was the truth and what was the lie. The only thing you need to know is that it’s really good news: He’s gone. Hallelujah.195: He might be lying in the hospital with amnesia, but more likely he’s just not that into you.231: We are all tired of operating from a place of fear. You want to believe you are better than all the crap you’ve been taking from all these men all these years. Well, you are.239: Freaks should remain at the circus, not in your apartment.247: When you think about it, making all those excuses for someone and trying to “figure someone out” takes up a lot of energy. Think of all the time you’ve opened up for so many other more positive things besides obsessing over HIM.251: A standard is setting a level for yourself of what you will or won’t tolerate. You get to decide how it’s going to be for you. You can now design the person you want to be in the future, and the standards you want to have. Make sure you know what you stand for and what you believe in.258: I WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SPEND MY PRECIOUS TIME WITH A MAN WHO HAS ALREADY REJECTED ME.
****
Okay, so now let’s talk about a guy who will never reject you. He’ll never keep you waiting by the phone. He won’t lie. He’s always wanting your attention and misses you when you don’t make time for him. He’s not clingy, and he’s not forceful. He’ll never yell at you, and he will NEVER leave you. He loves you more than anyone could ever fathom.
Guess who this guy is… Yep, you’ve got it.
Here’s what the bible says about us…
Psalm 139:14- “I will praise you because I am wonderfully and fearfully made.”
Psalm 45:11- “The King is enthralled by your beauty.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-…13- “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
****
Here’s the deal. He loves us with a love that we could never experience here on Earth. So, why in the world do we keep seeking it here? Why do we secretly look to men for our validation? Sorry, guys, but He’s the only one that can satisfy that longing- that hole that we all feel inside.
So, here’s what I have to say. It’s easier said than done, but… Put down the phone. If that guy wants you, he’ll call you. Just know that you have me and the rest of your girlfriends to show you a glimpse of the love and acceptance you’ll find in Him every single day.
I’m here, and I’m ready to love on you like Jesus loves on you. So, instead of calling that guy… Call me. I’ll remind you of what our awesome God thinks of you. And how you don’t need anybody’s else’s words but His.
In His Love,
Lex <3
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Opening Act 2011... And The Winner Is...
We did it!
More to come a little later on, but with YOUR help, this blogger is the winner of Opening Act 2011!
Here's a pic to hopefully tide you over until I can fill you all in on my experience at AgapeFest!
More to come a little later on, but with YOUR help, this blogger is the winner of Opening Act 2011!
Here's a pic to hopefully tide you over until I can fill you all in on my experience at AgapeFest!
Singing my competition song, "Rain Down" with The Mark Roach Band
WIBI Staffer, Craig; Myself: 2010 Winner, 'Kayce Kraut; Finalist, Crystal; WIBI Promotions Director, G.W.
In His Love,
Lex <3
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