Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award / Sunday Morning

My sweet friend and fellow blogger, Sarah awarded me, or my blog rather.

 

Questions:

1. If you could have a "flower pen name" like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies what would it be? This will probably be the longest answer. I would say Zinnia for many reasons. It's a fun name. Who wouldn't want to sign off as Zinnia. Also, it was my grandmother's favorite type of flower, so it's kind of grown on me. (Well, not her favorite but one of her favorites.) The flower, when looking at flower meanings, represents thoughts of friends and lasting affection which I think suits me (my sister agreed). Plus the flowers bloom in March, which is the month I was born. So there was just to much going for it to not choose Zinnia. I know, TMI. (The translation, for those of you who "don't speak text" : to much information.)

2. What is your favorite ever Bible verse and why? Galatians 2:20 which says "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

3. What are the blogs which inspire you most? My top 5 would be the following.
1. Maidens of Virtue is very good, I find the three sisters' posts very inspiring or funny or just a good read. I am currently enjoying the short story series very much!
2. Echoes of Now Miss Jade Valcarcel is an incredible writer, I find her blog very sincere and moving. (She's also a writer for Set Apart Girl.)
3. Fruitfulness at Home A blog (also written by three sisters) of some friends I also like to reed and see Michelle's photography
4. All She Has to Say has good, applicable lessons from another young Christian lady, encouraging and sometimes funny.
5. Desiring God Blog has encouraging, helpful posts like this one.

4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go? I guess one of the "I" places, Israel, Ireland, maybe Italy. =)

5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian.
I am so thankful to be raised in a Christian home. It has blessed me more than I know. So since I was raised going to church I've heard the amazing Gospel story countless times, and when I was younger I said "the sinners prayer" every time I had the possibility. I have no idea how many people came up to my parents and said, "Congratulations, your daughter just accepted Jesus as her Savior today." But, as you may have guessed, they didn't mean much. Of course I loved God and wanted to go to heaven, I knew I was a sinner, but I loved me more. I lived for me. I remember vividly the day when I was thirteen years old and I truly cried out to God that He had to save me and wanted to let my flesh die in Christ and I wanted to live in the Spirit. It wasn't until I turned sixteen that I started to really grasp surrender and of course it is an on going process as the Lord continues to work in me until the end. Philippians 1:6

 

~Rules~
Put a link to who gave you the award. Post the award to your blog. Answer the questions. Choose 5 blogs to receive the award. Let them know you've awarded them.
The Questions: 1. If you could have a "flower pen name" like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies what would it be?
2. What is your favorite ever Bible verse and why?
3. What are the blogs which inspire you most?
4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian. Have a blessed weekend!

I also saw this musical tag on Sarah's blog. It was so funny that I thought I'd just pair it with this post.

RULES 1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 20 friends. (Since this is an old tag this doesn’t really apply anymore, but if you’re reading this you’re absolutely welcome to steal it as well! Please do!) 5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.

 

QUESTIONS
If someone says "Are you okay?" you say… 
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op.71A - Coffee (Arabian Dance)

Am I okay?  I guess I just need some coffee, or (more likely) I need to dance!

 

What would best describe your personality? 
Shackles (Praise You) by Mandisa

I guess I feel shackled? (That's a real word right?) "Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance! I just wanna praise You, I just wanna praise You!"

 

How would you describe yourself? 
Drifting to Far From the Shore by Aaron Weil Band (Basically an unknown singer who does Christian Bluegrass.)

. . . Um. Drifting? That's bad.

What do you like in a guy/girl?
All the Fun by Paul Overstreet
I guess I like all the fun!
 

How do you feel today? 
Crucified by Salvador
I feel that everyday. (Gal. 2:20)

What is your life's purpose?
There You Go by Caedmon's Call
To get going!

What's Your Motto? 
The Ninety and Nine by Andrew Peterson
Good motto.

What do your friends think of you?
Don't You Want to Thank Somebody by Andrew Peterson

I guess they think I oughta be more thankful.

What do your parents think of you? 
Be Thou Near To Me by Selah
Haha.
 

What do you think about very often? 
For I Know the Plans by Word of God Speak
I'm always planning.

What is 2 + 2? 
Beauty and the Beast from the soundtrack

Haha, the one song from that soundtrack I have on my ipod! Well, it is four words right? 

 What do you think of your best friend? 
Sinking by Michael Peacock

They're sinking?

What do you think of the person you like? 
Lord I'm Gonna Love You by Keith Green
I'm just not sure how to comment on that one.

What is your life story? 
Circles by Alison Brook
Spinnin' in circles!

What do you want to be when you grow up? 
(I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo by Glen Miller
I want to be a gal in Kalamazoo! (Not really.)

What do you think when you see the person you like? 
Someday Soon by Francesca Battistelli
Haha. Yeah, that's right! (Perfect song.)

What will you do at your wedding? 
I Stand Amazed by Bart Millard

I guess I will.

What will they play at your funeral? 
A Prayer by The Blind Boys of Alabama

That will work.

What is your hobby/interest? 
He Will Come by Mandisa
I just keep " Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" Titus 2:13

What is your biggest fear? 
As You Therefore by Nathan Clark George

Um, speaking gibberish is a big fear of mine, since I do it quite often. "What is your biggest fear? As You Therefore!" Does that make any sense? Well, that's about how I speak somedays. =)

What is your biggest secret? 
Esengo by Selah
From what I could tell by searching the internet it means "glory". Which doesn't make much sense. . . again.

What do you want right now? 
Fofar Sodger/ Trip to the Skye/ The Birdie by 25 Years of Celtic Music

I want the birdie, I want a trip to the skye, and I want fofar sodger? Translation please?

What do you think of your friends? 

Take Another Run by Paul Overstreet
That's right, let's not give up, dear friend. We can take another run at it.

What's the worst thing that could happen?
It's Been a Long Time by Mark Shultz

The worst thing that could happen is waiting to long until it's to late.

What is the one thing you regret?
The Jug of Punch by Celtic Wonder 

Uh. . . yeah, hmmm. 0_o

What makes you laugh?
Suddenly by Daniel Bashta

Surprises? Sudden changes?

What makes you cry?
Carol Ann by Michael W. Smith

Carol Ann, you make me cry.

Will you ever get married?
1945 by Jamie Grace

Right. . . I would have gotten married if I live in '45?

What scares you the most? 
The Parting Glass by Shaun Davey
Saying Goodbye. True.

 Does anyone like you?
Here For You by Branded
My daddy! (It's a daddy, daughter song.)

If you could go back in time, what would you change?
What Wondrous Love is This by Fernando Ortega
Through God's amazing love I can know that I needn't change a thing. All things work together for good to those who love Him. (Isn't Fernando Ortega the greatest ever?)

What hurts right now?
The Chasing Song by Andrew Peterson

My legs are a little sore from running around.

What would you want to say to the person who tagged you (if you were tagged)?
Love Enough by Andrew Peterson
"In stubborn spite of our stubborn spite we are loved nonetheless, we are loved all the more and I believe there is love enough for the taking." Sing with me, Sarah, I know you listen to Andrew Peterson's music.
 

What will you name this post?
Sunday Morning by Javen

Well I hope you all have a great Sunday morning! Oh, I forgot to tag/award people. Here we go:

Rachel @ Rachel's Blog
Reina Laaman @ Reina Laaman

Abeeda @ Abeeda's Journey

Sarah, Jenny and Julia @ Maidens of Virtue

and Heather @ The Things I Love

 

Have Fun,

Ashlin

Silence is Golden?

I hope the silence on the blog has been "golden". It's been a little nice for, not doing my e-mails or reading up on blogs for almost a month. It's been a while, hasn't it? I didn't mean to take a break but somehow the end of  March slipped past me without so much as waving goodbye and of course the beginning of April came and went just as silently. All the while I've been telling myself to get back on my blog and do something, but I couldn't write.

Sometimes I cannot write because I have nothing to say. And other times I have too much to say and I can't seem to find a place to start or the right words to fill the empty spots that need filling. The words are just a little too far out of reach, when the idea is near enough to be seen yet distant enough to be intangible. So I was silent, not because I had nothing to say but because I had so much to say.

Am I making any sense?

How does one describe One who is utterly indescribable? Is there a word that means joy but is beyond incomprehensible joy? A word that encompasses the thunder of every waterfall, the dance of every brook, the laughter of every baby in the nestle of every daddy's arms? 

Is there a word that means passion? A word that gathers the roar of every lion, the blast of every volcano, the peal and crash of every wave that ever exploded against a seashore?
Is there a word that means intimacy and warmth? A word that bottles the softness of every sunshine, the promise of every rainbow, the twinkle of every star, the tiptoe of every doe and fawn between every forest's autumn leaves? 

Is there a word that means love? A word that means kindness? A word that means power, bigness humility, purity? 

I know of only one such word. It is the most awe-inspiring, breath-stealing, unequivocally magnificent word in this language or any other. Ironically it is a mere five letters, yet it carries a truth and meaning so big, so life-changing, so nation and eternity altering if only given the chance. 

It is the word of words. The single word that every human life right along with its every human hope and struggle is answered by and resolved in. It is the beginning, and it is the end. It is the fullness of life, the gateway to eternity, the hope of the ages. It is... 

Jesus

                                           -Bruce Marchiano

There is no greater joy on earth than to know Him. To truly know Him. Not to know of Him, to read daily about Him, to sing or pray to Him (though those may be amazing), but to know Who He is. To have an intimate relationship with th Creator of all things, to be one with Christ, to have the Spirit within you, is mercy too great to be taken so oft for granted.

Jesus. He loves you so much more than you know. He loves us so much that God "made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) I hope you stop and come in to the presence of Him who loves you so and just draw nearer to him. Because it is easy not to. It is easy to forget how great a God we serve.

I read this in a devotional this morning: Psalm 5:3 - In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch.

David had an incredible sense of expectancy about God. God was the great reality in his life. He knew the promises of God, he appealed often to them, and then he "watched" for God to show Himself strong. And God loved him for it.

We have to make it a habit. We have to choose to seek God, but when we do the reward is beyond anything we could compare. I remember something my dad said once during a devotion we did that has stuck in my head. We were reading in Daniel and he said, "Do you think Daniel just happened to pray three times a day? No, of course not! He had to make a decision to seek God through prayer every day, 3 times a day."

But that's the gift we've been given. Eternal life is not heaven, heaven is just a perk that comes with it, a relationship with Jesus Christ is the gift. If you don't have that I pray you find the Way the Truth and the Life today. For He loves you and wants you more than you know.

.~.~.~.~.

Well, I feel like I'm back in the blogging groove. We'll see! I just heard this song I hadn't previously heard on the radio and I had to remind myself that it is okay to keep smiling like a maniac. This is your God! He is your adopted Father!


Have a wonderful day,
Ashlin