Another Creative Late Night

I got my guitar last week, and boy do I look forward to praticing it every night. I'm still learning notes, so I haven't gotten to the chords lessons yet. I will say, however, that my patience of learning Yankee Doodle and Rockin' Robin is wearing thin. That 3rd string is getting easier though, and I'm definitely enjoying the whole new world of creativity and expression that I'm experiencing.

After practicing last night for a good hour or so, I sat on the couch and ended up inadvertently taking a powernap (read: fell asleep). So I woke up around 9pm, and realized that I needed to get to work... soon. You see, we had a software upgrade rollout this morning, and I had to prep the database for it, finalize code changes, etc. Well, after I was able to pull myself away from wrestling(I enjoy the sportsmanship but not the storyline or language, and yes, I'm trying to stop watching it), I got to the computer and just started knocking things out.

I work so much better in the quiet of the night than in the workday. I know, if you read the first chapter of Genesis, it states quite frequently that, "And the evening and the morning" in reference to the days. It gives you the thought that God works well in the evening too. Creative juices just seem to flow better. It doesn't state that He created the earth from 9 to 5, just kind of gives speculation that the evening was His choice time for working. Brother Rusty Strange pointed that out years ago in a service, and I don't think I'll ever forget it.

This doesn't suprise me, then, that we have similar characteristics, since we were created in His image. Sure, our nature, given the history of humanity, is not like that of God, but some of our desires, we look to have at least the creative thing in common :)

I like that. I like knowing that my Jesus is where I get some of my attributes, and where I should look to get all of them from. He's just too good to pass up :)

Talking To Myself

I just picked up this new hobby. You're probably thinking "What!?". I know, I've seen and heard others talk to themselves, and I usually think the same thing "step back slowly and no one will get hurt...", but it's a simple idea that's based in Psalm 42:5

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

It's no mystery that I can be a bear about my feelings, or be down just because, but the scripture depicts David talking to himself. He, inside, is feeling down. Whether it be because of something someone has said, or something Satan is whispering in his ear, he's just not happy. His joy is not present.

Now, what does David do? He talks to himself. "Why are thou cast down, O my soul?" is the start to a conversation. He's now ready to listen to what he's thinking, but will rationalize it out loud. He then tells himself, "hope thou in God". He is effectively preaching to himself, bringing himself up out of his depressed state.

The joy of Jesus Christ is something that I tend to not look at, simply because of the day and time in which I live, distractions aplenty and a myriad of unbelievers does not help me. But if David, who has been hated by many, can make a stand through God, surely the Lord can help me.

This is one of those nuggets of gold that the Lord has given me. I will treasure it, and I will try not to talk to myself too loudly.

Lackadaisical Am I

Well, after another day of stress (I tell you, I'm gonna crack soon), I've come to the conclusion (yes, I've just come to it, so save the smarmy-ness) that I need help.

After a couple of the sermons that my Pastor has taught over the past few weeks, one aptly titled "Cleanup Your Life", I decided to act on it. So I've made a list of things I need to take care of, a "Cleanup Your Life" list, if you will.

What is this list, you ask, and what does it contain?

It's a list of outstanding things in my life that need attention. From the computer I've been trying to get installed in a family's home, to a website that needs a designer (I'm not designing it, I just was lax on getting the designer informed of it, my bad), to fixing many other small problems that have just seemed to snowball. I've got an easy 30+ items on this list (mind you, a few items are like "Get splenda at Wal-Mart"), with more coming as I think of it. Like today, one item I'm gonna get completed is going to Payless, and grabbing a pair of sneakers. I've put it off for awhile, wanting sandals, hoping the wife will crack (she's tough, I tell you), but sneakers have been fine for me all my life, surely another pair can't hurt? I can always get sandals some other time, or another year.

I'm glad that Jesus is always working on me, and I'll tell you, I am not the smoothest clay in the land, but if He'll just keep working on me, it won't be so bad. After all, the pretty pots at the shops aren't raw clay from the ground, it's refined and worked by a skilled potter. He surely is a skilled potter, and I, as the pot, do not like the fire of the kiln that I seem to find myself in as of late. But it makes me better in the end, and more suitable to God, and that's what matters.

Sore Fingers & A Smile

It's been about a week since I started learning how to play the guitar. I've found that I do enjoy it, as it is so dynamic, yet very pleasing. It's simple at times (for an absolute beginner, that's a good thing), but also challenging. I haven't even thought of giving up on it, ever. It's just rewarding to learn something that will keep you enthralled for the rest of your life. I thank God for that.

With learning the guitar comes sore fingers, as any guitar player can attest. I guess the fact that I am not allowed to baby them doesn't help (programming sure helps...). That's all good and fine thoug, because if you can believe it, I kind of like it. It's not like when you get sore after working out, you don't wanna do it again. It's more like I just got my fill and am waiting abit to go back and get refilled.

It's been a treat, I will say that. God surely is looking out for me, I just continue to pray that I please Him.

Stay Tuned

The Lord has been blessing me and I am so happy He's given me a desire to praise and worship Him through a method I never considered before for myself.

I've been pining over saving up the money and how long it will take to get the cash to buy a good guitar that I won't need to replace for some time, but then I also see that means I won't be able to learn until I've got one... catch 22 there. Well, it seems I've got a friend that has an acoustic guitar gathering dust in it's gig bag, and he's fully willing to let me learn on it. So yesterday, he stopped by, and I had in my hands a what will be my learning guitar.

Many thanks go out to him, it's a great gesture to show someone you care that they learn. I really appreciate it.

I spent the first part of my night in my induction class (taught by yours truly with help from various websites) on Stringing A Guitar. I'm glad strings were included in the kit, except that now I need to go replace them, but hey, I learn by doing, and I can now say I've strung a guitar. That wasn't so bad.

Then came the fun part for a true beginner - Tuning A Guitar. Did I mention I don't have a musical ear? Well, the Lord had blessed me with being able to borrow a guitar, and the fact he had let me use his complete kit (tuner, strings, picks, chord book, etc.) did not hurt one iota. I think I spend 2+ hours just plucking the strings to get them tuned, looking for that green light on the eletric tuner to appear. I started out ok, but then broke the low E again after too much tightening, so I get to go buy more strings tonight. I don't mind doing that, as I would take a trip to the music store just to get picks if need be (and I will :) ), as I really enjoy it there.

Well, I did get the rest of the strings in tune. It was an ordeal for a newbie, and honestly, I am not sure what they expect you to do by yourself without a musical ear... I'd be lost, that's for sure. But I'm learning! I've got at least 2 songs picked out that I want to learn to play, so I can stay focused on what I want to do.

The 2 songs I've chosen are My Savior My God by Aaron Shust (and his short but sweet Give Me Words To Speak intro), as well as Blessed Be Your Name performed by Rebecca St. James. I've currently got tons to choose from, but for some reason, I'm feeling those the most right now.

Stay tuned (pun-intended) for more information :)

Me? Musical? We'll See About That.

So a couple weeks ago, a buddy of mine got back from Florida after doing some work for a business friend. He had got enough money to buy a guitar, so we went out to some music stores. He's been wanting to get a one since back around December, and feels that God is leading him in that direction. Well, after about an hour at the first store, he had his own electric guitar. They didn't sell music books there, though, so that meant an extra stop.

Fine by me, I'm justing wanting to help him out.

We stopped by Willis Music and looked around. I kept browsing, just looking at the guitars, and thinking, "Ok, that's a nice one... that one too... and that one...". Well, the (unbeknownst-to-me store manager) told me to feel free to pick up and play anything or everything. I've never taken a musical class in my life and certainly haven't attempted anything since that recorder they let you use back in elementary school. Having a feeling drawing me to just let loose a little bit (my friend was over doing something else, and I found a nice place back around with a tiny bit of privacy), I picked up the first guitar I've held with an intention of playing, ever. Sure, I've strummed a bit before, but that was something my sister's then-fiance` was all about, guitar.

Well, I just felt something good, something right. I might not have any musical talent (yet), but I have a deep desire to learn to play the guitar. I could feel the ability to play from my heart and worship God, even though I didn't know what a pick-up was (not my truck...).

Since then, I've been back to the store once, and I spent that one mainly looking and playing with the acoustic guitars.