Wow. The sight of the "blogger" block is...intimidating. You know the one I mean. The one where you click on "new post" and BAM there's the big. blank. block. It's a canvas every blogger uses to paint their piece of beauty into the world. Well... I can't promise anything beautiful. Everything in me that has a glimpse of beauty comes from an echo of the God that says I'm Beautiful. It comes from the longing for something beyond myself and the world as I know it. I've glimpsed beauty, the heart of Love, and it's my goal to pursue it.
What's your heart's goal?

Blessings,
Forever Alive

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~

Edited Me*

Vulnerability

Isn't what it used to be

A time to grow up

A time for change.

Because being just me

Can bring on pain.

Which do you want,

'Mam

The edited or me?

The latter will cost you,

But the first one is free.

Free of the "awkwardness" you would feel

From listening to my thoughts,

Or from feeling that I may effect the "coolness" you've caught.

Because if you spent time with the me

I'd be the one

That you'd call the freak.

"Impaired from portraying the

Superciliousness you seek."

So what do I do?

Just throw me away?

And hope that a "normal" me

Comes up someday?

But wait-

To please you,

To be someone you'd love

I'd have to have nostrils

Catching rain from above.

Yes you see me as a misfit.

But there are others like me.

Others who are wild, creative, original and free.

Free of your sham glam

Free of your prim.

And if you ask me,

I'll be one of them.

So NO you can't have the

Edited me.

Because I'm made better than that,

No one gets me free!

*This is something I wrote a little while back. Looking back on what I wrote, I know that this could come off as if spoken in a frustrated tone. Well, really, it was sad, but anger is best expressed on paper, eh?

Old Friend in Disguise

There it was...crawling there threateningly about 1 1/2 feet above my head. Circling, circling round and round on a knob, moving close enough to the edge for me to determine exactly what my foe was: a yellow jacket.
It looked at me menacingly...or maybe it was just lost....and proceeded to attempt its flight onto my head. You would have thought someone had just jumped out of the closet with a bloody dagger, the way I screamed! Maybe I scared the evil bug, but either way it decided to fly into the next room instead. I quickly beckoned the nearest knight(my dad) to save me from the bug's next ambush. After capturing the presumed monster, he offered his analysis of the situation: the "monster yellow jacket" was my old friend the Firefly.
I was releaved and slightly embarrassed. I was just saved from a firefly! haha
 So here is an ode to everybody's childhood friend, the lightening bug.

Fireflies by Owl City
I hope I didn't scare my friend to bad!

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.