A Few Notes from my reading today

This is the second post today, be sure to scroll down and read the first one.

Psalm 10:17 Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear.

What I would like to call to attention here is the bold words "Thou wilt prepare their heart". This stood out to me because of a recent conversation with a friend about our heart conditions, and that we can be honest with God and tell Him when we don't feel right, or like doing what we should. When we are being honest with God, it can take some humility. Not an easy thing to admit that we don't feel like doing something we should. But the good, and wonderful thing about it is that He is here to help us. He of all people (not that God is a people) knows we aren't perfect.

Psalm 30:2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and Thou hast healed me.

Do I slip? And not have the desire to seek His face (Psalm 27:8) sometimes? You bet. A lot of times even. But as Psalm 30:2 says, we can cry to Him, and He heals. We can even rest in Him that He will heal, fix, mend anything that needs to be fixed.

Psalm 94:18 also fits into this whole thought pattern.

And Psalm 81:10 ...open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

This verse is so much more than just physical needs, it is spiritual needs as well. If we know we aren't right spiritually, or lack understanding, let us ask, resting and expecting even, that He will fill us with everything that we need.

On a different topic, we all know that God's mercies are new every morning, right? Lamentations 3:22 & 23 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. We also know that His mercy endureth forever (Psalm 136). So, if He gives new mercies every morning, and they endure forever, wouldn't it make sense that they just keep adding up??? Just something to think about.

Birthday Shopping Spree

Ok, time to confess. I did it twice. All in one day. I... gulp... went shopping!

It started with a birthday. (these things really get me into trouble sometimes).

Actually, I enjoyed myself, really, I did.

I had a friend who was going to have her birthday party this Saturday (last Saturday), so when work took me to Denver on Thursday through Friday, It worked out for me to be there. (of course, it would have worked out anyway.) The work load just made my weekend seem really long and full.

So the shopping crew took off Saturday morning...and did we ever shop. "How does this look..." "What do you think of this..." "What one of these do you like best..." Etc, etc.

Did you know three girls can take forever to shop? We were gone for more than TWO hours!

Then we came back to earth and had a party, but we were having a party already anyway, because, as all of you may know by now, wherever we go, that's where the party's at. (Note: Not trying to be boastful by saying that, it's just that, well, we love to have a good time.)

Then we went out for a nighttime excursion of shopping! Glutton for punishment you may say of me, but as I said, really, it can be enjoyable.

We worked on a slightly drastic different band logo, too. Will show all of you when I have a jpeg of it.

Also, keep an eye out for information, reviews, and small talk about bands, musicians, songs and more. I'm not exactly sure of when I will start posting on some of these topics regularly, but I am planning on doing song and artist reviews regularly.

For now,
Matt

First Crop of Birthday Pictures

Good evening all, I have gleaned in the very first of the crop of birthday pictures from the last two weeks. These ones were contributed by Uncle Greg. Thank you Uncle Greg!

Now, should I try to insert a slide show? OR all the pictures separately? Or just one picture with a link to the album?

I think I'll try embedding a slide show.



Anyway, I hope to have a few more to show you all. These particular pictures are only a few from the first party.

There are other things I should post for you, but can't quite grasp the concepts in my mind at the moment, so maybe later.

Matt

New logo, two parties, faith like children, and the reason of a band

First, lets get the logo up on the screen so that it can be seen.

Band Logo:


This logo was created using Blender, which can be downloaded freely at www.blender3d.org. One of these days, like maybe today, I am going to figure out how to change the defaults on the blog to just include it as the banner, with some editing of course.

Two Parties

An amazing close relative of mine had a birthday last week, and then another this week. So it goes to show that people ARE aging faster these days. They both were great parties. The first was all out huge (over 45 people). Two bands included. Lots of people + lots of music + lots of food = lots of fun! No, we weren't one of the bands. I mean, we were there, but we just aren't exactly a band... yet.

It was a very special time of personal sharing, through music and words. Everybody participated in the music. One of these days I will edit the recordings from this party and post a few of them.

The second party was a smaller gathering some dear friends got together who were not able to attended the first one. Some of the same guests, and some new ones. Again, music was part of it, and we all enjoyed singing together again.

Me and my cousin took interviews of party attendees of the first party, hope to get that edited and maybe even available (possibly through request) soon.

I would like to extend my thanks to all the attendees, musicians, and most importantly the hosts, for making it all possible. And, we could never exclude sis, for having a birthday to begin with.

Faith Like Children

Matthew 18:4 - Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)

Ok, now this may sound all simple and basic to everyone, but just read the verse, it's OBVIOUSLY very important!

Why do children come and ask their Mommie or Daddy to do something? Because they can't do it themselves! Children (of a certain age) are absolutely unable to do most "important" tasks by themselves. And we must come to the same realization ourselves! We can't save ourselves from hell, that is why we go to God for salvation. We can't be "good" or live "right" or love people or love God by ourselves, that is why we go to Him. And, like when the little one asks his Mommie or Daddy and trusts that he/she will take care of it, we can do the same, and even more with God. If we are failing at loving people, we can ask God for help, and pretty sure can anticipate having that help.

This faith in God includes a resting and trusting, in God.

Try it sometime, something you are trying so hard to attain, love for others, love for God, whatever it may be, ask God for some help, tell Him you can't do it, and then rest in His power, because He can overcome ANY weakness in your life, You NEVER can.

Reasons of a Band

This one may sound like a no brainer at first, too. And it is, I know it, and every other Christian should know it, too. I just have to remind myself, and maybe this can be a little bit of a safety valve thing, I'm letting you all know that I know it!

We are not in music to glorify ourselves. Now I know it may look like that sometimes, and I'm sure that all of us at times forget that and start singing for ourselves. By no means am I perfect. But we can all come back to the "heart of worship".

Ok, reasons for a band, or more correctly, music.

1) PRAISE and WORSHIP!
2) To teach. What? Yes that's right, to teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
3) To express feelings.
4) Other reasons that I'm sure I will add when I think of them.

From reading those four (three really) points above, it can give us a pretty general guide, and we can ask ourselves why we are writing or singing a particular song, doing a particular thing, or whatever the case may be.


Well, it has been nice talking to (talking at?) you all again.

Matt

Our Emotions Vs God's Emotions

Ok, this is a band blog spot, sure, but it is a CHRISTIAN band's blog, so get yourself ready, 'cuz I'm ready to talk about something.

Our emotions are controlled by many many things, including God, but mostly it seems we control our emotions. They can be effected by what we eat, what we listen to, watch, and of course, our minds. So when we doubt God, based on our emotions, we need to recognize that we don't really know God, all we seam to know is our emotions at the time. That doesn't mean we lost God, or God gave up on us. It just means we looked at circumstances and "gave up" on God.

So, when our emotions tell us to doubt something God has seemed to lead us in, then what we need to do is not focus on our circumstances (like what we ate for breakfast, or much worse), but focus on God.

Now I make absolutely no claims as to being able to do this, at all. I am the worst offender at looking at my circumstances, ones that don't even indicate a difference, or alteration of the good things that God has for us.

Now, we also have to be careful to not get a "high" from our feelings, because, obviously our feelings can mislead us, as pointed out above. That is why He puts things together and leads us. And then is when our down emotions try to wreck it.

I guess this is just something I'm trying to learn, and so I figured I'd share it with you all. It is important to not allow fears to come in to our hearts as we think, because that makes it to where we can't read our Bible and learn anything. Even little worries.

Well, a little more than emotions, but let me get back to that and say that God's emotions DON'T go up and down with ours unless it is sorrow that ours are going up and down.

The Rise of the Band

We are a new band. A non band even. Just a band in aspiration. Well, whatever, we think we are a band, but we aren't, and I really don't mind, just playing.

So, what are we thinking? Nothing, we don't.

As I aspire to get something going, I figured I would let you all, my loyal not so fans, read and keep up with it. If any of you want to be groupies, shoot us an email.

So, I want to pull this thing together, I don't even know if I will be in it, but I want to see a band rise. Rise from the dust. You see, if a band rises from the dust, it will be good, because only God can take dust and form it into anything ALIVE! And that is what this thing has to be, alive.

As, (if) we grow, we will keep you posted. I have officially been part of helping plant the idea in several minds. Great minds, I'm sure. I believe.

This reminds me of the first "band" I was part of. It lasted as fast as it started almost, and really lived up to it's name. 30 Seconds. In no way related to 30 seconds to Mars. We called it 30 Seconds because that is how fast we formed it. And that was over 2 years ago that it seamed to stop, actually, never went. So, 30 Seconds lived and died.

But now, why not again? Why not for better reasons? Why not with a purpose other than myself? Not even with me in it, maybe.

Well, it is certainly late here, and this band manager (without a band) has to move on.