Heaven was Needing a Hero

This is one of my favorite music videos on YouTube. It always makes me think of my hero, Aaron (click on his name and you can read my blog post about him)

Does Anybody Hear Her?

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

If judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

He is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

~Casting Crowns

Questions

Technically I wasn't tagged, but Katie did this and I thought it was fun!!

1. High heels or boots? Heels for sure! Although I much prefer flip flops!!

2. What time did you get up this morning? I actually got to sleep in til 7! It was wonderful!

3. What was the last film you saw? "Finding Nemo"

4. What is your name? Hannah

5. What is your favorite TV show? I don't really watch TV

6. What do you usually have for breakfast? I'm not a big breakfast person

7. What is your middle name's initial? E

8. What food do you dislike? I'm not a huge fan of sushi...or anything with a lot of cheese, or fried food.

9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Umm...I don't have a certain CD...I usually listen to the radio or a play list.

10. What did you do tonight? It's not tonight yet...but I'm gonna be working...

11. Favorite Clothing? Hoodies!!!

12. Anywhere in the world on vacation? Israel

13. Are you an organized person? Sometimes. I wish I was more organized than I actually am.

14. Where would you retire to? In a cabin in the middle of no where!

15 What was your most recent memorable birthday? I don't remember. Each year is memorable in its own way.

16. What are you going to do when you finish this? A homework assignment, probably chat with friends, maybe take a nap, then go to work...

17. What is your Birthstone? Peridot

18. Person you expect to read this first? Probably Kyle since he gets emails about my blog...

19. When is your birthday? August 27

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night!!!

21. What is your favorite shoe style? Flip-flops...but bare feet are the best!!!

22. Do you own any animals? No, but I want a cat!

23. Any news you'd like to share? I just found out that I'm considered a Junior!! WOO HOO!!

24. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Lots of things, mainly an astronaut, a nurse, a teacher, a pianist...

25. What is your favorite flower? Pink tulips

26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? March 12!

28. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Pink

29. How is the weather right now? It's been REALLY cold, but today it's actually pretty warm!!

30. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Kyle I think...

31. Favorite drink? Coffee

32. Favorite restaurant? Subway and Buckheads. Steak 'n Shake and Cheddars are good too! :D

33. Hair color? Brown

34. What was your favorite toy as a child? My doll....I don't remember what her name was, but I took her everywhere!!

35. Summer or winter? Summer!

36. Chocolate or vanilla? vanilla

37. Coffee or tea? COFFEE!!!

38. Wish you were still young? Sometimes

39. Do you want your friends to comment on this? Sure!

40. When was the last time you cried? Ummm...within the last month...I don't remember when exactly.

41. What is under your bed? Shoes, books...whatever was out this morning, I just shoved it under there.

42 . What did you do last night? Went to a basketball game!

43. What are you afraid of? Life in general! :P

44. Salty or sweet? Hmm...depends.

45. Best quality you have? You'd better have my friends answer that one!

46. How many years at your current job? At LEE's about 5 months...McAlister's about 2 weeks!

47. Favorite day of the week? Friday

48. What four people will you tag?
Kyle
Jason
Elizabeth
Katie

49. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Yuppers!

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar - now who"ll make it two _
Two dollars, and who"ll make it three?

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three". . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody,pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow;
"A thousand dollars - and who'll make it two?
Two thousand - and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going - and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand -
What changed its worth?" The man replied:
"The touch of the masters hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He's going once, and going twice -
He's going - and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

~Myra B. Welch

The Real Reasons

Today I was attempting to go to my internship which is in Louisville. In order to get there I have to cross the Ohio River via the Sherman Minton Bridge. I was about 1/2 a mile from the exit ramp onto the highway when suddenly there was a HUGE backup.

Last night I had made brownies for class, and had meant to get milk at Walmart, but I had forgotten to get it. I was planning on stopping at a gas station, but with the backup I simply decided to stop at a Save-A-Lot since their milk would probably be a lot cheaper. I was hoping that by the time I got out of the store order would have returned to the streets. As I was checking out I saw through the window that traffic was just as bad, so I asked the cashier what was going on. He said that the bridge was closed because someone was trying to jump off of it! I was like, "Wow, ok...ummm...I'm not going to make it to my internship." I called the teacher and told him what was going on and he was fine with me not coming...so now I'm stuck with brownies and milk that I don't need!


Anyways, I started thinking about why this person was jumping off the bridge. Well, not necessarily why he was jumping, but why he chose to attempt to kill himself by jumping and why he got caught. I think there could be several reasons behind this particular choice of suicide attempts.

First of all, and probably the most likely was that he was wanting to just get attention. He honestly wasn't going to jump but everyone wants their 10 seconds of fame, and he got it, but in the process managed to inconvenience a lot of people.
Another reason could be that he was to the point of suicide, but didn't really want to commit suicide. What he really wanted was someone to talk him out of killing himself. Because honestly, if he really wanted to jump the bridge, all he had to do was pull off to the side, get out of the car and jump before anyone had time to really notice or do anything about it.

The final reason that I could come up with is that he was going to jump, but as soon and he got out of his car and got to the edge of the bridge the fear of actually taking the plunge scared the life out of him (no pun intended).

The moral of the story is first of all, don't commit suicide. Secondly, if you need help, it's not that hard to find...if nothing else go to a church because there are a lot of them out there and most will help people with needs. And finally, if you want to get famous, PLEASE don't do it in a way that's going to inconvenience a LOT of people.
I know this was a really random blog post, but I had to get it out of my system!

That Night

That night the Lord appeared to [Isaac] (Genesis 26:24)

It was the same night Isaac went to Beersheba. Do you think this revelation from God was an accident? Do you think the time of it was an accident? Do you believe it could have happened any other night as well as this one? If so, you are grievously mistaken. Why did it come to Isaac the night he reached Beersheba? Because that was the night he reached rest. In his old land he had been tormented. There had been a whole series of petty quarrels over the ownership of insignificant wells. There is nothing like little worries, particularly when there are many of them. Because of these little worries, even after the strife was over, the place help bad memories for Isaac. Therefore he was determined to leave and seek a change of scenery. He pitched his tent far away from the place of his former strife. That very night the revelation came. God spoke to him when there was no inner storm. He could not speak to Isaac when his mind was troubled. God's voice demands the silence of the soul. Only in the quiet of the spirit could Isaac hear the garments of his God brush by him. His still night became his shining night.

My soul, have you pondered these words: "Be still, and know" (Psalm 46:10)? In the hour of distress, you cannot hear the answer to your prayers. How often has the answer seemed to come much later! The heart heard no reply during the moment of its crying, its thunder, its earthquake, and its fire. But once the crying stopped, once the stillness came, once your hand refrained from knocking on the iron gate, and once concern for other lives broke through the tragedy of your own life, the long awaited reply appeared. You must rest, O soul, to receive your heart's desire. Slow the beating of your heart over the concerns for your personal care. Place the storm of your individual troubles on God's altar of everyday trials, and the same night, the Lord will appear to you. His rainbow will extend across the subsiding flood, and in yours stillness you will hear the everlasting music.

By: George Matheson taken from: Streams in the Dessert complied by L.B. Cowman

Calling

Lately I've really been struggling with knowing what God has for me. I've been debating a million things in my mind, I've been wondering if what I was doing is what God wants for me or if I'm just doing what I want to do. WHY am I here. Is teaching really what God wants me to do or am I just rushing ahead of Him? I know at one point I thought that teaching was God's call, but it just seems like everything I've done so far hasn't been right, so maybe teaching isn't right either. I've learned that the worst place to be is outside of God's will, so I don't want to be in that boat once again. I was doing a lot of praying about it. Then the other day in church Pastor had us turn to a verse in Romans 10 and on that same page was the following verse that I had underlined and starred previously so it was hard to miss : "
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Romans 11:29) It was like, BAM! There was my answer. When I was in high school I knew that God had called me to teach, so why was I now questioning what God had called me to do? He wasn't going to take it back just because I had made some mistakes, He still has a plan for me. So I thought I would take a minute to share my calling with everyone because I don't think I have ever written it out.
I got saved when I was 15. Prior to my Salvation I had wanted to be a concert pianist. I had some pretty big dreams and goals. My parents knew all along that it wasn't what God wanted me to do, but at that time in my life I really didn't care, I wanted to be a pianist, no matter what. Soon after I got saved mom asked me if I had surrendered not only my heart, but also my plans to Christ. It was one of those "OUCH" moments. I really started thinking about that, I still had a huge desire to be a performer, but was that what God wanted for me, or did He have something better? Sometime that Spring, I really don't remember when or what the circumstances were, but I finally said, "Ok God, whatever You want for me, that's what I want to be." Throughout my life people had said that I would make a great teacher...mainly because I loved people, I've always been good at explaining things, and I've never had any problem getting up in front of people that I don't know (or do know) and talking. It was about this time that I had really started to enjoy both science and history. I began to lean more and more towards teaching. That year I had Mrs. Ericson as my Biology teacher, and I remember thinking, ''WOW! I want to be just like her someday!" She was and still is my hero in teaching. She impacted my life in so many ways that I don't think it's possible to write them all out.
Another reason I feel God has called me to teach is so that I can reach out and help teens who are just as lost and confused as I was before I got saved. Without giving my entire testimony (perhaps one day I will) I'll just say that I had grown up in a Christian home, made several professions of faith, but yet I never truly understood that Christ had died for ME. The other thing was that I had seen so much hypocrisy in church that I wanted nothing to do with it. This is probably the biggest reason for wanting to teach, I want to help teens see that God isn't that way at all, that He desires to have a real and living relationship with each and every person on an individual basis, and most importantly, He loves them beyond their wildest imaginations, and He wants to call them His child. I want them to see that no matter what may be in their past, that God still has a plan that He wants to implement in their lives.
"When a man finds the will of the Lord for his life, there always seems to be an evident relationship between talents, or gifts, or preparation the Lord has given him." ~Nate Saint

Tag

Well, techinically I wasn't tagged, but Karis did this on her blog and I thought it was fun!

BIOLOGY

Are you right-handed or left-handed? right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? wisdom teeth, gull bladder...

What is the last heavy item you lifted? Ice bucket at work.

FOOD-OLGY

What is your salad dressing of choice? Well, I'm really not a dressing person, but if I had to choose I would probably go with ranch.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Buckheads!

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? Ice cream

What are your pizza toppings of choice? It really doesn't matter. I like everything, and sometimes just cheese. :)

What do you like to put on your toast? Butter, jelly

RANDOM-OLOGY

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? No, that kinda ruins the whole point of living.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? First name? Well, I kinda like my name...

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? Hey! I'm a poor broke college student, I'd do almost anything for $1000!!!

DUMB-OLOGY

How many pairs of flip flops do you own? Like a millionish...Come summer time I don't ever wear anything that's NOT flip-flops!

Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Umm...well, the last time I had a personal encounter with them while driving was in September at a ID check-point.

Last person you talked to in person? Brittany

Favorite Month? May

CURRENT-OLOGY

Mood? Sleepy

What are you listening to? The hum of my computer and people going in and out of the door

Watching? computer

Worrying about? School bill, future...all things that I should really be trusting God for.

RANDOM-OLOGY

What’s the last movie you watched? Finding Nemo

Do you smile often? Yeah!!

Do you always answer your phone? Nope! If I don't have time, or don't feel like talking to someone I simply ignore it...if they leave a message then I try to call them back.

If you could change your eye color what would it be? When I was younger I wanted my eyes to be blue, but now I like my brown eyes.

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? I don't go to Sonic! :P

Do you own a digital camera? Yup!

Have you ever had a pet fish? I had 3 but I killed all of them in some way or another! :P

Favorite Christmas song? I like most of them...I could name some that I HATE...I like, "O Come All Ye Faithful."

What’s on your wish list for your birthday? It's too far away to think about.

Can you do push-ups? Not very well, but yes.

Can you do a chin up? No, not really.

Do you have any saved texts? Yes I do! :)

Ever been in a car wreck? Yup!

Do you have an accent? It depends on which part of the country I'm in!

What is the last song to make you cry? "Never Let Go."

Plans tonight? Cards for Christ and then church

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yes!

Name 2 things you bought yesterday: Ummm...I only bought one thing...a Blizzard from DQ.

You ever been given roses? Yes

Current hate right now? none. I mean, dislike maybe, but not hate...

Met someone who changed your life? yes

What were you doing 12 AM last night? Crawling into bed.

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? "Fire alarm?! Shoot what time is it? (2:30 am) Man! I've gotta get outside fast!!" [needless to say, it was not a fun wake up!]

TECHNOLOGY

How many televisions are in your house? 3 or 4 but they are all used for school

What color cell phone do you have? Blue

What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it? Kyle - "Not even a review sheet? That stinks...I'll be praying"

Who was the last person to call you? Jess

If any of you want to do it feel free...it is a lot of fun!! :)

My New Job

On Friday I started my new job at McAlister's! I think I'm going to have a blast working there! Right now I'm a "runner/busser."
When a customer comes in they walk up to the counter and order what they want and then sit down. That's where my job starts. I deliver the food, which is an interesting job because I have no idea where these people are sitting! They are given a number, but sometimes I walk all around the restaurant trying to find the correct number. Let's just say I get my exercise that way!
The second part of my job is refills and making sure people have everything that they need. I have to pay pretty close attention to peoples drink situations and if people have empty plates and stuff I take them away. It's a lot like being a waitress, which was what I really wanted to do originally.
Finally, I buss the tables once people leave. Clearing dishes, wiping down tables, sweeping floors, etc.
I really like this job, I think it's because I'm doing a LOT of interaction with people, which is what I enjoy doing anyways! :)
The negatives to my job are: I'm constantly on my feet which is fine for the first hour or two, but after that I start hurting. Today we were really busy and after my shift I got into my car and it was like, "Ahhh!!! Relief!"
The other HUGE negative is that a lot of times people leave tips, and we aren't allowed to keep them! THAT STINKS! One table left me a $5 tip, but could I keep it? NO! ARG!
So there are some positives and negatives, but overall I think I will like the job! Everyone seems to like me, and so far I like everyone too!! :)

Is it Just Me??

This morning when my alarm I really didn't want to get up. After all it was early, it was dark outside, and no one else was up in my room. I really wanted to reset my alarm for about 30 or 45 minutes later. Mmmmm…sleep. The problem was that I knew that if I did that then I wouldn't have my devotions. I reasoned, "I'm so tired because yesterday was an insane day. Surely God will understand, after all the reason I was so busy yesterday was because I was busy for Him, I wasn't just goofing off all day." But the other side of me was arguing, "Hey! The 'spiritual' stuff you were doing yesterday won't carry over into today...each day you have to be renewed and you need to spend time with God TODAY! Don't live your life relying on yesterdays experiences, live life moment by moment with Christ." Thankfully I listened to the better side of the argument and got up and had sweet fellowship with my Savior. Sadly, that's not always the case for me...sometimes I do reset my alarm. I am wondering if I'm the only one who has that problem every day, or if anyone else also struggles? How do you overcome that problem?

Psalm 139

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.