Nicole's solo

my dad recorded the second service performance from Sunday's service. It was fun to do and I'm glad the song went well with the pastor's sermon because I chose this song 2 months in advance. Of course it's all God to tie things together. The lyrics are why I love this song so much. I provided them below. (you can also see most of them on the screen behind me, but I'll just add them below anyway) Enjoy.

The pathway is broken, and the signs are unclear
and I don't know the reason, why you brought me here,
but just because you love me, the way that you do,
I'm gonna walk through the valley, if you want me to

Cause I'm not who I was, when I took my first step,
and I'm clingin' to the promise, you're not through with me yet,
so if all of these trials, brings me closer to you
and I will go through the fire, if you want me to

it may not be the way, I would've chosen
when you lead me through a world that's not my home,
but you never said it would be easy,
you only said I'd never go alone,

so when the whole world turns against me,
and I'm all by myself,
and I can't hear you answer
my cries for help,
I'll remember the suffering, you're love put you through,
and I will go through the valley, if you want me to.

What to sing

I've been asked if I wanted to sing a song during the morning services at my church in September.  The nice thing is that I could choose any song that I want to sing.  That's pretty exciting.  I was told that the pastor will be in Corinthians at about that time but I don't necessarily have to choose a song that's entwined with his sermon; just something that I'm passionate about singing.

Songs that came in mind were by Ginny Owens.  I've always liked her songs, mostly her old ones cause I haven't heard much of her new ones, but her singing range is something I could sing and she kinda has a blues feel in some of her songs so that's what attracted me to her.  I added some Ginny Owens songs in my playlist below if you want to listen.

Another song that came in mind was a spanish song.  I don't know how well that will go down with the music pastor but I'm sure it will be fine.  The spanish spoken is actually very easy to understand cause it's repeated a lot.  And it's not like a simple translation can't be put up on the screen.  It's called "Con Mis Manos".  I fell in love with this song when I first heard it at Urbana 2006.  I've sang it a couple of times in college when I helped sang on the worship team.  It's a very short song but sounds very beautiful.  Whatever song I pick, the worship band may or may not play, but if there was a song the band could play, this one would be great if they did.

I'm sure if I sing this song, some people will come up to me after wards and start speaking spanish.  I really need to get on the ball with that in general cause my spanish is still not good.

If you happen to be reading this and a song pops into your head that would probably be a nice song to sing, please let me know.  I need all the help I could get.  And if not, prayer would be nice too :)

This is why you're home

I don't know why I moved home after college, but apparently most college graduates do.  To be honest, I really didn't want to move back home.  There was a setup where I could have easily lived in a house with a good Christian college friend and it would be cheaper rent than the apartment I was living in and a little more space.  I told her that I would give her an answer accordingly so that if I did say no, she would still find time to find another roommate.  But obviously, I told her no.  When people asked me why I was moving home, I said to save money.  I am saving money (to mostly to pay off some debt) but that was not the full basis of why I moved home.

Moving back to the central valley is nice and calming than the fast lifestyle of Southern California, but of course it can get boring and mundane at times.  Especially, the first couple of months when I was still getting to know people or re-getting to know people.  I was trying to be social but no hard enough. But now that it has been 9 months since moving back in, I can start to see why God placed me back into my hometown.

I have seen a change in myself that I have not seen while growing up.  I have become more close and honest with my parents.  Though sometimes the truth is really hard for them to hear, that is what's necessary to grow in a relationship with the ones you love.  I know that being an adult and more mature doesn't hurt either when I converse with my parents, but of course I will always be their daughter and often get told what to do (even though I hate it, but that's how it is. Well...especially when I'm living with them).

I recently read a book called "The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition" by Dr. Gary Chapman.  It mentions in the book that Dr. Chapman had many singles reading the original five love languages book (which is intended for married couples) that would come up to him asking if he could write one for singles.  The singles edition is not only for dating relationships, but also relationships with family, roommates, classmates, coworkers, and singles with children.  Basically, I take that as everyone else you have a relationship with.

He mentioned that how you want to show love to your future spouse or others you date really depicts how you love your parents or have a relationship with them.  And throughout the book, there are many examples that start with learning a love language with your family first then moving onto others.

Here's a little excerpt from the family chapter:
  "When there is mutual love and honor between parents and adult children, both experience a positive state of emotional health, which in turn positively affects their physical health, which results in longer, more fulfulling life." -Dr. Chapman

I kinda hate quoting so much from this book, so I went to God's Words.
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12 ESV

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Eph 6:1 ESV
and ultimately...

"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Matthew 22:37-39 ESV