Favorite Quotes

"She blazed, burned herself out, and then disappeared into the silent deep, sounding the echoes of remembrance throughout a hollow and shattered heart."
- from When Crickets Cry

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to The One Who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission."

~Hebrews 5:7~

"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
The purposes of His heart through all generations."

~Psalm 33:11~

"If this day
Could rewind,
I'd take it back
And let you shine
More than me."

"Honey, never love a musician,
Cause you'll never break away.
His face may disappear,
But his music in your heart stays."

"What, pray tell, has a higher clearance than the cranium within your individual's possession, canine?
English: "What's up, dog?!"

"I’m a dreamer in life and alive in my dreams. If I’m alive in my dreams then dea...th isn’t all that it seems. It’s for dreams that I long to sleep and if I can still dream then my body, sleep can keep. However, if life is a dream come true and my dreams all center around you, then take my body, my dreams and my sleep, I am all yours to keep, my desire is you and my dreams taught me that this notion is true."

~Rick Elmore~

"Back then I didn't realize that you can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good decisions for God until you undestand the Gospel that says 'Your choices don't make you who you are. ("Where you end up doesn't make you who you are.") What Christ did for you makes you who you are.'

"We're not struggling to be free, for when we are in Christ we're free to stuggle.

(Because what you've done doesn't make who you are- you are more because as Christians we are the sum of our Father's Love for us.)

"I am a bum, and I need a Savior."

~Mike Donehey~

"Faith is putting the mountains back into the mountain-maker's hands."

"Music is passion that reflects our souls."

"Grant us reprieve from the fighting so we
Could just rest our head on the shoulder
Of the One we're at odds with,
And oh so glad
For a moments rest.
Weeping, knowing we have been touched.
Weeping, knowing we have been touched.
We have been touched.

"Glory and honor
Wisdom and power
Grace and fury
Splendor and might
Matchless beauty
Endless light.

"Here with You,
Oh my oh calm is You.
Oh my only thought is You.
Oh my happiness is You.
To be with You.
~Daivid Crowder Band~

Like Jesus

The moment everyone in Jesse's family had been waiting for had arrived. Although everything had been kept as secret as possible, everyone knew why the prophet Samuel had come: to choose and anoint the new king of Israel. Six Jesse's son walked past Samuel, each more impressive than the last. Finally, Samuel had made his decision. Who would it be?? The intensity electrified the room like and uncontrollable invisible force. At last, Samuel reached for his flask of oil to anoint the new king. Suddenly, Samuel stopped, as if he were listening to someone.

 "But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Samuel put down the jar, turned to Jesse, and asked him, "Do you have anymore sons?"

Maybe you know the rest of the story. The father Jesse happened to remember David, and had him called in from the field, where he was tending to the sheep. Although youngest, David was chosen to be king.

1 Samuel 16:7 is one of my favorite verses. I may be seen as too enthusiastic. Someone may have a lot of piercings and tattoos. Maybe you have a personality "quirk" or look that is contrary to what people expect. But you know what? God isn't looking at that. He's looking at your heart. And ultimately, only His opinion matters.
What exactly is your heart? Your heart is the container of you thoughts, standards, viewpoints, opinions, ideas, concepts, loves, hates, desires, and beliefs. And don't get me wrong. Most times your appearance is a reflection of what's going on inside your heart, but other times, appearance is only a hiding game for what you really are. God sees through all the masks and get right down to business: what exactly is going on in your heart.
As Christians, it's not our job to judge others. I don't mean to not judge that actions of a person as right or wrong. We need to discern actions and be careful of being mislead. John 7:24 says, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement." I can't count how many times I have judged someone as stuck up because they are quiet or preppy, mean because they dress goth, threatening because of a lot of tattoos, or a alcohol/crack addict because of red eyes or black teeth, the list goes on. I probably sound paranoid, but I'm sure that if you thought about it, you could possibly come up with your own list of paradigms. The thing is that, when I've actually taken the time to get to know these people I've judged, I'm usually wrong. :p It's my job to love others no matter what, like Jesus did. Besides, what is my judgement (putting others in unfair or extreme catagories) other than the result of measuring people to MY expectations? Something to think about.
What about when others judge ME? My first inclinations are to either to fit in, rebel, or despise the judgers. But this thought made me stop: to think about the fact that judging people is a sin, so to it's my greater responsibility to not judge(look down on) them back, but to love them through it! Maybe I lost some of you, but this thought blew me away!
So I will say adeu for now, now that I have almost ran out of words! I hope this made you think about loving others like Jesus and loving the people who try to look down on you. I leave you with these thoughts, hoping that you will have a greater understanding of them now, as I am coming to know.
Romans 2:1-3
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? "
Luke 6:37
"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”


God knows me inside and out-and loves me anyway! :) 

2011 Rebel

The book I've been reading recently is the best. It's about a spirited, imaginative young woman living in the late 1800s. She longs to break away from society's hold, marry for the right reasons (not just wealth), and follow her dreams, (Something that is considered scandalous.) Hmm... this book reminds me of my favorite movie (Becoming Jane Austin)....and my second favorite movie (Pride and Predjudice). Haha I guess you can tell I favor plots that have strong woman characters, those that rebel against proper society's limitations and seek independent lives.

Sometimes I almost wish I could have lived during that time period. I can see it now... My character would be a young woman of propriety and secret intellect in the late 1800s. Misunderstood and patronized by my rich parents, I would join the women's sufferage movement to express my independence and gain freedom. Eventually, I become one of the speakers at rallies, stirring the courage and conviction of women everywhere! (Always narrowingly escaping police.) After the great day of women's independence comes, I would go to college to be a teacher. In time my rich parents would see my potential, gifting me with enough money to start a children's home. It is there my character would meet and marry a wonderful evangelist who would help me continue the ministry and grow God's kingdom.

So is my life in the 1800s.

Umm yeah...something like that. The plot isn't quite finished for publishing.

No sufferage to fight for anymore. Bummer. But when you think about it, there are still limitations that today's world tries to put us, not specifically women, but young people in general. Call it low expectations. We're not expected to be great. We're not expected to do much with our youth. In fact, the way the world portrays us most times, Generation Y is bumming around on our tech stuff, becoming over-weight, dumbed down. I don't know about you, but I think that's wrong! We do have alot of potential, and I can see it everywhere. We are a generation that can do great things through Christ's strength and when we give our best. We are made to be more than what's expected. You can be that someone who stands up and turns things around. I can be that person too. So there. Looks like I've found something good to be a rebel for. 

Here is the song "Rebel" by Lecrae. This has been my life song for about two years. It doesn't get old!

Hope you enjoy it and that it makes you think too!

I refuse to be average. It's not my goal to be the exception, because I believe that everyone can be great when they are their best selves. Instead, I will strive to be the example. (1 Timothy 4:12) For Christ and everything I stand for and believe in.

I am Generation U!

(U: uncomprimising)

In His strength,

Heather A.

Wake Up Call!

As you probably know, today, August 23rd, 2011, there was a catagory 5.9 earthquake that hit the eastern side of the United States. Where were you when it happened? Maybe you were grocery shopping, disciplining your cat, singing in the shower, or just chilling on the beach. Although I didn't personally feel it, I think I was shopping at the time. What I think is pretty neat about it is that wether you were disciplining you cat or shoppping, this is something that made us all stop. One mutal event that made the easterners stop and think about both each other and the fraility of our existence. Well, it made me think about it, anyway. I mean, here we are, all doing our own thing, and suddenly this earthquake hits. We aren't in control anymore. Nothing matters but surviving. We realize that anything could happen and that scares the mess out of us. It scares us for our own lives and the lives of those closest to us. For me, this earthquake made me wake up a little and realize just what is important and Who is really in control here: God. 

Beauty In the Forgotten

There is a lot of beauty in the forgotten things. The old things in life have a story to tell. One that is worth looking for and listening to.

Below is my grandparent's family clock. It's over 100 years old! If only this clock could talk. It's been with the family through the depression, the hippie faze, and the farm years.

 This is a chess set I found at my local antique store.

There are treasures everywhere, even in this little town!

Any editing tips for this picture would be appreciated, thanks.

The quiet beauty and wonder of the spider web. 

 Old cars are the best!

(Pictures taken by Heather Aycock)

Love's No Fool

I like to step outside myself and see
the bigger picture...

Is someone saying something to me
because they want me to
hear it... or because they need to be
heard?

The quiet of the mountains and only
sounds of birds singing

leads to thoughts so deep and far they
see way ahead.

Vision to look beyond all the
brokeness inside one's heart,

and sing new...and not feel like "the
day the music died."

To live somewhere noisy full of bells,
whistles, trains, and
trucks, and cars... is to overcome the
commotion...

and see beyond what you hear.

Or maybe to love beyond it all...

even if being in love makes you feel
like the greatest fool of all.

By Suelinda Milstead

To Forget Me Not...

We all forget things. Registration dates, chores, and people's names are just a few of the things I've forgotten lately. But something I've had a hard time recalling lately is the past. What I did two days ago to some of the biggest miracles that happened at youth camp last year to most of my childhood is sometimes a fog. This scares me a little. Scratch that. It scares me AloT. To forget your past is to forget yourself; who you are. This can come in handy in situations. For instince, it helps to able to put anger out of mind, while still having a feeling of cautiousness. Ok, it Is kind of hard to explain. But don't worry. I dont have a memory problem. It's just that I live so much in the moment that other things fade in comparison. Call it extreme focusing.

Someone I sometimes (shamefully) forget is God! He's been with me through it all, blessed me so much and is even died for me, and I have the impertinence to take for granted His love and the fact that he's always there for me. As you know, it's easy to get caught up in the moment, friends, and especially busyness. In a world of nouns (people, places, things) trying to get my attention, I always come back to the realization that He's the only One that satisfies. Thankfully, God, being perfect, has never forgotten about me. Everyday He listens, reveals new things, and lets me enjoy the beauty of the world He has created. So even when I forget about the dates, chores, or even the past, I take comfort that I've got Someone holding me together!

Yes, I'm a Christian!

I love God. For who He is, for what He's done for me, and definitely for He's doing in me. I've never known a love like this. You may be in question about this. Hey, you may not even believe in God. But in His Word, the Bible, He tells us that if we seek Him, He will let Himself be found. Believe it or not, He loves you so much and wants you to know Him. When you're honestly looking for God, it will become something you can't push away!

Like I said, I've never known a love like this. I know what it's like to feel lost and hopeless and alone before surrendering to Him. And don't think I don't know that you've felt that way at times too. But after you give in to Him it's like life becomes so much...richer. satisfying. Maybe a corny illustration,but kind of like a Clarion Clear commercial. All of a sudden you can see life more clearly. Can I even go as far as to say that God is my technicolor in this gray and white world? Yes :) I guess I'm in love. 4 years of adventures and it never gets old.

I realize that everyone is looking for something to fill the emptiness in themselves. The longing for something more that you restle with in the night. Look at it this way. Imagine that you have a bucket. The bucket has the label "water" on it, but you pour coke, pickle juice and your favorite drink into it instead. Then, after filling it to the top, you're told that you're suppose to water a garden or give a baby a bath with the contents of the bucket. Would you do that? No! In the same way, you can't fulfill your purpose unless you you're filled with the right thing. The right thing that will give you the ability to achieve you destiny and fulfill your deepest needs is Jesus. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one come to the Father except through me." let Him fill you with Himself and His love. You will never be the same.

I know that if you've read this far, you're probably thinking, "What about the bad things in life? How can that kind of life exist in the cruel world we live in?" Yes, bad things are in this world. In fact, they thrive. Just tonight I was watching a news report abou the starving people in Africa. (Don't read this if you're easily disturbed.) The child had flies or maggots on his face, too weak to keep them away due to the starvation and heat. Kids and adults are literally skin and bones over there. Maybe the hard things we experience in our everyday lives aren't as life threatening or major, but regardless, following Christ makes the difference. He gives us strenght to keep moving forward, comfort to the dying, and hope of life everlasting. I won't get into all the details of bad happenings in the world, but I will say that I Know I can trust God through it, and that He is completing His will, wether I can see it or not.
So, for these and other reasons, Yes, I'm a Christian!
<3
If you have any questions, fill free to ask! I will do my best to help you find the answers.