Tenth Avenue North: Times

Another day, another Tenth Avenue North song. Todays tune is Times. And of course there is always a video for you to enjoy!

I truly love how much raw emotion is in this video. Read the verses, they are just wonderful. The song is about someone who is seeking God. We all need God, but sometimes we stray away. Let me repeat that WE stray away. God is always with us, it is us who wander away. Even through our mistakes and through turning away, God is faithful.

Then the second part is about how God is saying He will love you no matter what. There are 4 kinds of love in the Greek language: storge (store-gay) is the love of a parent to their child; eros (air-ohws) a sexual love; Phileo (Fil-lay-oh) is the love between friends; Agape (uh-gop-ay) unconditional love. Only God can give unconditional love.

1st Corinthians 13:8 says, "love never fails." and Lamentations 3:22 says, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail." Lord is not talking about Voldemort (oops, did I say the forbidden name...kinda like Macbeth.) Lord is talking about God. God's love is never-ending, it is so hard for us to comprehend. He is our father. Fatherly love is pretty much the closest you can humanly get to agape love. Speaking of fatherly love, if you have 10 minutes check out this video:

There is nothing you can do to make God love you less. Just a reminder.

Quick note: that is a picture of my sharpie tattoo on my wrist. Design adapted from Danielle Freiermuth and tattoo project credits go to Kate Rabago. It means his love is never ending (infinity sign) and the cross is a reminder of how he loved me so much he sent his son to die for my sins so I wouldn't be condemned (john 3:16.)

Surprises of Today!

Today was marvelous! I couldn't ask for a better day, let alone a better life. It was a day full of excitement and camp friends! I got picked up by Todd and taken to my friend, Lauren's play. The musical was Thoroughly Modern Millie. I loved it bunches! Lauren was amazing. I also got to see my friends Elle, Danielle, and Hannah! It was exciting! After the musical, Todd and I went to the MOA! It was a blast.

The day was full of shrieks, hugs and over excitement which I always love. I ended up sweeping Hannah off her feet and carrying her back to her seat during intermission. It is so amazing how much we all bonded throughout the summer! I appreciate friendships like that!

Hopefully I'll post pictures later! That was just an FYI about my awesome day full o' fun!

Tenth Avenue North: Satisfy

Good Morning! Ok, well it most likely isn't morning when you read this, but still. So this morning I'm going to continue the Tenth Avenue North Series, tonight I shall post about my day which is packed full of fun plans and surprises! Today I'm going to focus on the song Satisfy.

One of the reasons this is a morning post is because of the verse that goes with it: "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all of our days." -Psalm 90:14. We truly need God to fill us up every morning. Before I go any further, listen to the song:

Satisfy. My good ol' friend Mr. Webster says satisfy means, "to make happy; to gratify to the full; to put an end to doubt." We all like being satisfied. When we are satisfied we are completed, filled with a sense of satisfaction. There is only one true source of satisfaction, God! My awesome plans that you will find out about later, it may please me, but cannot fully satisfy me.

We need to rely on God first thing in the morning and last thing at night, as well as every moment in between. When we don't rely on God we turn to other things to fill us up, such as addictions, love from others, things of that nature. We need God to satisfy us. Just a thought!

So today, start out with God as the first thing on your mind!

Tenth Avenue North Series

Recently, I have fallen in love with Tenth Avenue North and the meanings behind their songs. I've decided to do a mini-series on some of their songs. To start off with the song I am most in love with currently, "You are More." First off check out what the lead singer has to say about this song:

My favorite quote from this, "You can't live for God until you learn to live because of God, and you can't go and make good choices for God until you understand the gospel that says the choices you make don't make you who you are. What Christ has done for you makes you who you are." SOOOO TRUE! Every one of us is more than our best deed or our worst deed. We are worth God's love! "We are not struggling to be free; if we are in Christ, we are free to struggle!" We have to rely on God!

Here take a second and listen to this song. I encourage you to Google the lyrics, really get an understanding for the song. Also pay attention to the video!

Man this video hits me hard every time I listen to it. Seeing all the words and phrases on the chalk board...so many resonate with me. They do with everyone in some way or another. This song is about guilt. It is reminding us that we are forgiven by God if we ask for forgiveness and because of God's love, we don't have to worry about it any more. Our sins have been forgiven. There is no reason for us to feel guilty. Listen to what God has to say, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1st John 1:9.

I always think of Tenth Avenue North as the voice of God. Here God is saying, "you are worth so much more than your sins, don't let Satan get you down or use your past to hold you back." This happens to me so often, where I am so caught up in my past. My past has been forgiven.

I also love when the water starts pouring down the chalk board. Literally washing away the past of other's (our) sins. It symbolizes how God makes up pure. At the end it repeats, "You've been remade." God has re-made us. He has taken away our sins and created us into His children.

Don't let the past hold you back, confess and trust in God!

The Standard Intro Post...

Hola! That is hello in Spanish in case you were wondering. So I have decided to embark on this journey of blogging. Well, it isn't really a journey...more like people reading (or lack there of) my thoughts. I've had a few blogs before, but deleted them for various reasons. So this here be my official blog.

What will this blog be on you may ask. Well on life of course. It will be about different things happening in my world and my perspective on things. We'll see what becomes of this blog.

As for a background about the story behind this blog. It is called Swimming the Race of Life as you probably already know. It also has one of my favorite verses at the top. 1st Corinthians 9:24. That is the verse on my shoulder at EVERY swim meet. I have changed the wording slightly (replaced run with swim) but it still holds the same meaning. It says, "Do you know that in a race all the swimmers swim, but only one wins the prize? Swim in such a way as to win the prize!"

Taken literally this means, kick your butt into gear and swim fast. Get that prize. It sounds like something my coach would say. In fact, he quite likes my verse! Spiritually speaking though, it takes on a completely different and deeper meaning. It essentially is talking about swimming the race of life...hmm...sound familiar? In life I could just complete the race, like most of the people...or I could try my best to win that prize. How do I do it? By following God. In order to win the prize I am living my life for God, not for this world.

So my blog, will be full of fun stories, interesting stories, life lessons, and yes about God and how I'm striving toward him and how you can to. Feel free to comment or ask questions at any time! I'd be more than glad to answer!

First post: success!