Open Hands >> My Life at the Moment

To give unselfishly
to love the least of these
Jesus I'm learning how to live with open hands
All these treasures that I own
will never satisfy my soul
Jesus I lay them at your throne with open hands

I lift my hands open wide
let the whole world see
how you love,
how you died,
how you set me free
free at last, I surrender all I am with open hands, with open hands

To finally let go of my plans
these earthly kingdoms built of sand
Jesus at your cross I stand with open hands

BRIDGE
You took the nails, You bore the crown
You hung your head, Your love poured out
You took my place, You paid the price
so Jesus now I will give my life

Open Hands by Matt Papa

This is how my life feels right now--I'm learning how to live with open hands. I'm learning how to let go of what I want, and instead, learn to embrace and live what He wants.

Because ultimately, that's what matters.

Letting go of my plans, letting go of what I think is best, letting go of the things of this world which I am so dearly attached to.

Learning to give my life to the one who gave it to me

When I put God into a box and take Him out when I deem it "necessary" or when I want something, then that's not living. That's just existing.

I'm learning to live.

I want to give my life to God--I want to have my life be fueled by love for Him. And I want to become what I was meant to be. I don't want to just exist in this world--to just get by day and day and do what I want.

I want to do what he wants for me.

All these treasures that I own
will never satisfy my soul
Jesus I lay them at your throne with open hands

Psalm 55:22a:

Cast your burden on the LORD,and he will sustain you

There are things on this earth that can fill me up temporarily, but nothing can sustain me but God. Nothing. Repeat that with me. Nothing can sustain me but God.

Learn to live that. Learn to give your life to Him.

Learn to live with open hands.

Fonts

NOTE: Not all pictured

Enjoy--I'd love to see some of YOUR hated/favorited fonts. ;)

It's my blogaversary! :)

One year ago today, manyrandommusings.blogspot.com was created, then titled "Random Musings". (Aspire came later.)

And in that year's time, I have written almost 200 posts (this is my 199th), and I'm 5 followers shy of 200.

I have received numerous comments, some wonderful, some witty, some sweet, and I'm extremely grateful to all my faithful followers and commenters--you make blogging fun. :)

I've found out my love for graphic design, and also learned some HTML and CSS.

But most importantly, I've been blessed to be blogging. Putting my thoughts out and spinning my ideas through form of pixels on a screen that others can remark upon, be it good or bad. I've gone through a one year journey and transformation--don't believe me? Just look at some of my earlier posts. ;)

This has been a wonderful year--it's hard to believe that a year ago, my blog was barely established, and hosting a generic template as well as paragraph posts. And now--at least I hope--Aspire has become a place where you can come and experience something. Where you can laugh at some of the stupid things that my family and friends and I do. Where you can be touched by something deeper. Where you can enjoy looking through someone else's perspective, if just for a bit. Where you can view variety of many random musings.

But hey, what does my URL say anyway? ;)

This has been an amazing year--and I can't wait to see where Aspire is in another year's time

Thanks for being there. :)

Nostalgic

hannah nicole, 2010

Pics of Sam! :)

I promised I'd put up pics of Sam, so I will...

...except, not on this blog. (hehe, hehe...) You'll have to go check it out here to see them. ;-)

As Lynnette said...the OTHER pictures. AKA--I'm linking up.

What am I linking this time?

Oh, I put my hand over my face in shame. Er...embarrassment.

That's right. It's the OTHER pictures. Y'know, the ones you don't post for a reason. So as I sit here, getting ready to put them up, I'm again wondering, what on earth am I doing?

Come join in here. Heh, heh...We're all dorks together. ^^

Look! it's the blurred dorks! -_-

But I'm tired...

Um, Caleb...?

 Alriiighty then. 

"Grace, I'm gonna get a picture of you." "Okay, wait, let me put this in front of my face so I look like I'm eating it."

   Look! It's the...fishtank?

(I have an excuse for this one! honest! I was checking out the timer on my camera...

...sadly, that was the best pose I could come up with. *palmface*)

Ooooh...

This is my "I'm tired and the sun's in my eyes so why on earth am I taking a picture of myself?" face

  Caleb, wait, just smile, please!

Okay. I confess. I couldn't put up the REALLY dorky one of me...so this will have to suffice. (just gives you and idea of HOW dorky the other one was. ^^)

Head over to Lynnette's blog and link your dorkiness up!  

A beautiful sight, We're happy tonight...

hannah nicole, 2009

Memory's Window {a poem I wrote}

 I'm in the poetry unit of my language arts book, and I had to write a poem (heh, heh...really? no...^^). It started out simply, but it became something much...deeper than I originally realized.

I'd love for it to be read and critiqued. And as always, please don't copy without asking. It is my work, after all.

Memory’s Window
Hannah Nicole, 2009
 

The gleam of golden hair eludes me,
Ever-present power of memory—Gone.
The past is still, the clouds surround me,
Sun is dimmed by darkness’ throng.

Childish laughter, dancing, twinkling of eyes,
Windows to yesterday lifted again,
Clouds unveiled, beams of light,
And I gaze in wonder at was once been.

My eyes stare at those of mine own,
A matching pair, less wearied by life’s age.
This younger self, entwined in memory,
A rose’s blossom, untouched, unstained.

The golden glow of sun-browned hair,
Shining blue orbs, untainted by life’s stain,
A soft youthful form, rounded and pure,
Rosy cheeks, innocently gained.

Now compared to this wraith-like hold enclosing me,
Once compared and now let be.
Life laughs at me cruelly,
And I lean towards ambiguity.

As I stare at was once,
The vision shimmers and—laughs—at me,
And leaps! Through the beams of sunlight play,
Leaving me alone, in lost, listless misery.

I reach out, cry out, sit in the dark,
Holding onto my fears and complaints.
My pain once felt, now held threefold,
My purposes built only for mine own gain.

The curtain blows softly, allowing a glimpse, but a glimpse,
Not of what was, but what could still be.
Happiness, laughter, songs and smiles,
Tender loves and joys given mercifully.

I glance at the vision, try to see it clearer,
But the wind again shifts and the curtains settle closed,
And I wonder as to why, the feelings were different,
And what happened to change agonies hold.

A light shines brightly—powerfully—strong,
Sturdy and wholesome, beatific and great,
A voice whispers quietly, yet echoing, echoing,
And a song reverberates, reverberates.

The chorus of angels began in the quiet,
Windows once closed, flung open again,
Darkness gone, light now surrounding,
And joy now replacing the harsh—harshest pain.

Be still, be quiet, and listen again,
Remember the tender mercies of youth,
The beauty that lived in everyday life,
The joy that sang, and resonated truth.

Why so? Who sang the beauty forth?
Who brought it to life and gave purpose anew?
Who danced in the stars, and created the earth,
And who made and blessed each one of you?

Realization washes over me like a wave,
I cry as I realize what was once had, and then gone,
The days of youth, held each with a purpose,
The joys of the Trinity’s song.

And then the fanfare leaves, the herald is gone,
A quiet and misty room is all that is left.
The curtains sways softly, and closes again,
The light that fades, yet the darkness bereft.

But the dream not in vain, the memory not tainted.
The truth resonates still, untouched by the flesh,
Faith holds hope and dreams, loves and wonders,
Childlike innocence caught again in the mesh.

The room glows softly, and the echoes remain,
Wisps of the vision float in the room.
Untouched, untainted, faintly intangible, yet seen,
Life given purpose again, and gone is the doom.

I smile and gaze around me, my heart light and free,
My soul dances and leaps, my heart now sings.
Memory’s window has opened and changed me,
God has given a vision, which has made real a dream.

Did you know...?

click on the pic to view it larger.

just downloaded a kit from kevinandamanda.com...and thought I'd have some fun. :)
and yes, I went overboard on the shadows, but it was fun. ;)