Thoughts on the New Year

     The end of a year. The beginning of a new one. This time around, the shift from one year to the next feels more significant than before. For me, this transition marks a lot of change that has happened and will continue to happen. In 2014, I turned 18, a weird milestone since I never thought that I would reach it. I began taking college classes. A whole lot of other things have happened that have made me feel so darn old! As 2015 arrives, I know it will bring with it more changes and unexpected twists and turns. In the spring, my brother and I will graduate high school, Lord-willing. This also means that my brother and I will be "graduating" from our church youth group as well. Which is sort of sad to think about. I've been in the youth group for five years and boy is it going to be sad to leave!
     But, of course, the biggest change looming ahead is college. Ah, the dreaded word. It seems that with this one step into that next chapter that all that is familiar and special to me is left behind. It's a scary and sad thought to think that I will leave all of my family and friends and everything that I've known for my whole life!
     So, the shift from 2014 to 2015 is significant. A lot of change is heading my way. Thinking back on all the indescribable memories that I've made with my family and friends in 2014 and beyond makes me wish so badly that I could go back! If only for a moment. I have these thoughts sometimes.
     But then the good Lord comes in and reminds me of His faithfulness. And His love. And His goodness. And His sovereignty. And I am reminded that my job is not to dwell on the past or worry about the future. My job is to be still. To look ahead with hope, knowing that my Father has a perfect plan for my life, hardships and all. He did not spare His own Son. He will provide. He will bring me through.
     So let the change come. Because no matter what familiar things I leave behind, my God and my Rock will always be at my side.


Here's some lyrics to a song I wrote while considering some of these things:

Sometimes I wish that I could start over

Looking back to the past is almost too much to bear

All the memories that have been created

Now they're just memories and nothing more

Every good thing must come to an end

And though it might be over, I'll never forget

I will open my eyes and look ahead

I will remember Your faithfulness

It's not over yet

It's not over yet

Brother, sister: God is not done sanctifying you. And He will be glorified as you draw closer to Christ. Happy New Year.

--Rye Bread

Isaiah 12 and some other tunes

     The title of this post is the main reason that I'm blogging right now instead of doing homework. You see, awhile back (a year ago at least) my friend and I came up with a little guitar arrangement. However, we really had no idea what to do with it. It didn't quite sound right by itself as an instrumental, so, what to do? Well, I had been reading Isaiah 12 quite a bit during this time and apparently so had a couple of other people in my church. They had found it to be and continued to find it to be encouraging, the same as me. I, of course, had no idea until one of these gentlemen told me that'd it'd be cool if I tried to put Isaiah 12 to music. And I immediately thought, "Hey that guitar arrangement would sound totally bomb!" Or something like that. So, after a little tweaking here and there, I got it to fit in a way that I liked. So, that's the sort of super long story behind this song. Without further ado, I'll post it. Hope it encourages your soul: Isaiah 12


     I will post another song that I wrote fairly recently, called "Lest I Die." This song is pretty different, style-wise for me. I've been experimenting a lot more with electronic/synth type stuff and I've actually been loving it. So, despite this different sound, this is probably my favorite song that I've recorded. And that's saying a lot because I've recorded quite a few. I just really love how the sound turned out. Also, I feel that this is probably my favorite song lyrically that I've written in a long, long while. The words really came from my gut, if you will. Maybe soul is a better word, but I think you know what I mean. Even listening to it now, the words still resonate deep within me. It's really a song about a struggle, a war, a battle. So anyway, here it is: Lest I Die

     And, as usual, I will now share with you a super rad band/group/musician. This group is called The Brilliance and I may have shared about them before. And before I continue, I just want to emphasize that the music I share on here is pretty much always something that I really really love. So it's not just some band that I randomly pick just for the sake of keeping my promise. Ok, back to real life. Their music is stunningly beautiful and it leans more towards a classical sound. Super rich and soothing. Plus, they almost always have solid lyrics. I say "almost always" just to give you a heads-up that in one of their songs, one of the verses is a prayer to Mary, Jesus' mother. Of course, this is unbiblical and implies that they may have some Catholic beliefs. But the rest of their music is great and quite soul-stirring. The name of that one song is "Now And At the Hour of Our Death," which I believe is a Catholic hymn, but don't quote me on that. Ok, anyway, I will now post a song of theirs called "Our God Alone." And actually, the "band" that I'm in, Something Greater, will be playing this song tonight, November 22, along with some other tunes, at an event called A Night for the Necessary Ones. It's at Sunnybrook Community Church at 6:00 pm. It's gonna be a great night! I encourage you to come if you can make it! Anyway, here's the song:










Later!






--Rye Bread

New post...finally

Tear-Filled Eyes Hey everyone! If you`re wondering, to your left is a random song that I felt like recording, so if you want to check it out, go for it! :) Anyway, there has been quite a bit of stuff going on in my family`s life lately. Such things as T-bird and I doing drama (it`s been super fun and I encourage you all to come to the performances), everyone doing school, school, school, birthday parties, basketball practices/games, youth group and AWANA, and in a week from today T-bird and I will be attending the IGNITE conference with a bunch of awesome friends. But it seems all this was kind of put aside and forgotten when we got a call Monday night and were informed that my mom`s dad was in the active stages of dying. Scary thought. And not something we often like to think about and dwell on. After all, we would rather think ourselves invincible than what we really are: weak. The scariest thing of all about this phone call though was the state of my grandpa`s soul. It has been very apparent his whole life that he has not put his trust in Jesus. So, really, that was the most shaking thing to think that if my grandpa dies tonight without Jesus Christ as his mediator, he will face God`s wrath. Eternally. A word we will never fully grasp until we are experiencing it. But. There is still hope. While he still draws breath, and he does as of now, God is still able to save him. And while he is not audibly responding to most things, one thing that Mrs. Henn told me and T-bird the other day that I found so encouraging as I thought about it was that when our bodies are dying, the last thing to fade away is our hearing. Did our Creator not design it that way? So that even while living out his final days, God can still use vessels like us to speak truth to his ears? Wow. Our God is so good. Our God is so kind to even use us as ways to plant seeds in people`s lives. So, anyway, that`s kinda what`s been going on in our life. But God is always faithful. And He does all things well.


--Rye Bread

Jars of Clay

   No, I have not joined the band Jars of Clay. ;) Just something that has been on my mind a lot lately is what do we look like to the world? Or, even more importantly, what are we supposed to look like? We are not supposed to look amazing or talented or any of that. Because if that`s how we look, who`s getting the glory? Us or God? But if we look broken and filthy and messed-up, people see that there`s no way that what`s inside of us is us. They see that it`s something powerful, something beautiful that`s at work. That`s why we have this treasure in jars of clay. Check out 2 Corinthians 4. You should read 5 too. Two really good chapters. =)

I`m not that impressive
I don`t want them to see how great I am
I want to point them to the Potter
Cause I`m just the clay
I`m just the clay

I want them to see that I`m broken in every way
So they can better see that what`s inside of me isn`t me
Isn`t me

Look at me, filthy me
And see how beautiful is God Almighty

Just some words to a song I`m writing. Still working on it. :) Always look like a twinkie, not a ding-dong.


"Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD."


--Rye Bread

Thoughts on a Friday Night

It is Friday night and I got an extra shot in my starbucks drink so I am very awake and ready to post. This post is just me thinking of different things tonight. Thinking about the insane summer we've had. Thinking of how God loves us even though we don't deserve it. And one of the ways He shows His love for us is through affliction. Well, why does He do that?! we wonder. Why doesn't He just shower us with blessings and say, I love you? I'm not saying He doesn't do that, but if that happened all the time, why would you need to depend on God? You could say, "I'm doing great on my own. I don't really need God in my life."

Oh, but you do!! He's the reason you're breathing right now! He's the One in control of your life! So I think one of the many thousand reasons God afflicts us is to remind us that we desperately need Him and that we need to trust Him. Without Him, we are nothing and we can't do anything on our own strength. He is our great God and our Rock. Here's a few lyrics to a song I wrote about pain and affliction in our lives:

It might seem like the pain's too much
But God is just showing His love
He'll give you the way of escape
He won't let you drown

So when dark times come your way
Rejoice on that day
For God is lifted high
And we are brought down



--Rye Bread