Music Monday: [Jenny & Tyler: Faint Not]

Fun Fact:  I love music.  

Interesting Fact: I don’t know much about music.  

Entertaining Fact: My first impression of a song comes from the music, then the lyrics.

With those facts in mind, as I listened to Jenny & Tyler for the last couple of weeks I just loved their music. It was encouraging because although I am a ‘sing in the car at the top of my lungs kind of girl,' I wasn’t in that mood. Jenny & Tyler made me smile because their music connected to how I was feeling. I wasn’t sad but I wasn’t happy go lucky. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew everything was going to work out {yeah for hope}. I just needed to be patient and keep being obedient.

I had time this weekend for the first time to attentively listen to the lyrics. Ahh I am so excited. They really hit on a lot of things I have been processing through. …

Lies, comfort, hiding, failure, no easy fix or answer

Forgiveness, His strength, His comfort, His promises.

But don’t just take my word for it…CHECK THEM OUT 

& see if they connect with anything going on in your life.

So if you are interested in listening to their whole album 

go to http://www.noisetrade.com/.

Type in ‘Jenny & Tyler’.

P.S.: Its free which is great

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Sunday! We hope you all had a wonderful [rainy] weekend! Here are some little tidbits to get you started off on your week! :)

[BTW, if you're in the EC area and didn't get a chance to splash around this last week, there will be opportunities for you this week it looks like!]

+ Check out this awesome and oh-so-easy recipe for a grilled chocolate banana melt! Yummm!

+ Here's a nifty little tip for you... how to not have to pay for a Redbox EVER again! [We're not sold on the  ever part, but these codes have definitely done their job for us in the past!]

+ As extroverts ourselves, we're always wanting to work on the way we relate to our lovely introverted friends. Here's a nice little graphic with 12 ways to care for an introvert. [Introverted readers out there... whaddya think?] :)

+ Enjoy this little quote:

"I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God- it changes me."

C.S. Lewis

+ And last, but certainly not least, click here for a FREE download of Jenny and Tyler's album, Faint Not. You just have to enter your e-mail and zip code, and they'll send it right to you. Fully legal and fully awesome! [Psst.... they accept tips as well!]

Get listening as tomorrow we'll be kicking off our first Music Monday! See you tomorrow!

Freedom Friday: Human Trafficking Stats

Good morning!

Yes, it is Friday!

I hope your weekend starts out well.

If you are looking for something to do tonight 

and
you live in the lovely city of Eau Claire

remember tonight in HHH100 

 Nefarious ! 

There will be a screening at 7pm!

All stats and images taken from the CNN Freedom Project. Specifically here.

Truth Tuesday: Fear

She does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen, for she is settled in her mind that Jehovah will take care of her.

[Psalm 112:7]

So here's the truth about fear: it's a lie. 

“And avoid fear, for fear is the consequence of every lie.” -Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Fear is merely the consequence of a lie. Let me break it down for you.

If I'm afraid that I won't have a place to live, or won't raise all the money we need to raise, or won't find a car, then I am just believing the lie that those problems are bigger than my God, that He can't (or won't) handle them. If I'm afraid that I don't fit in with a certain group or might be rejected by someone, I am believing the lie that what others think about me is more important than what God thinks about me.

Usually it all boils down to believing the lie that God is not big enough, good enough, ________ enough to take care of the situation, to take care of me. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[Philippians 4:6-7]

I don't know about you, but often fear and anxiety look pretty much the same in my life. If something is consuming my thoughts, chances are I'm fearing. But God knows what is best for me. He is good. And He wants me to just be thankful, and then let Him know what's going on, asking Him for help. And then He gives His unfathomable peace that guards my heart and mind from all those lies that want to come in and make me fear.

So as you're going into the middle of the week, choose peace. Choose to be thankful, and to come before God with your fears and anxieties- your lies. Let Him take those lies and replace them with His Truth and His Peace.

Birthday Girl

First things first, today is a very important day here at 'Things That Make Us Tick,' for it marks the day of birth for KC! Happy birthday lovely! You are truly a blessing to me and those around you. So glad that we get to embark on this next journey of life together! :)

Golly, I love this lady!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Weekend Wrap-Up:

[Definition]: The period from Friday evening through Sunday evening, esp. regarded as a time for leisure.

Oh weekends!

It may not always be true when it comes to “time for leisure” but a combination of  work/homework + unexpected adventures + friends can make for an entertaining weekend. 

Here are some steps we took to spice up our weekend:

Step One:

Tune vocal cords and perfect dance moves.

{because for some reason this song pathetically is too catchy.}

Step Two:

Quote this video for hours of laughter
             {if you really enjoy it, make sure you check out the rest of the episodes}

Step Three:

Spend some time getting in touch with your crafty side and release some bottled up whatever is going on in your life.

     HB suggests these bits to be [cooler, smarter, craftier, wiser, funnier, trendier, insert awesome adjective here]

           

+Watch this short video tutorial to learn how to make a little book out of a file folder!

             + Be trendy and sew lace on your backpack.

Step Four:

            Check out this list of 25 series to read if you like the Hunger Games
             or re-read the Hunger Games

Step Five:

            Go to a talent show and enjoy how unique and awesome everyone is.
             Learn this rap and be reminded [not to us, not to us, but Your Name be the Glory]

[Bonus Step]:

            Take a [baby] sneak peak at our Sunday afternoon photo shoot... more to come [we promise!]

[Photo credit: The beautiful Andra Delores.]

Freedom Friday: Nefarious

For all you readers who live here in the EC, Nefarious is coming to town! 

There will be a screening on Friday, May 4, 7-9pm, in HHH 100. 

What is Nefarious?

Nefarious, Merchant of Souls, is a hard-hitting documentary that exposes the disturbing trends in modern sex slavery. From the very first scene, Nefarious ushers you into the nightmare of sex slavery that hundreds of thousands experience daily. You’ll see where slaves are sold (often in developed, affluent countries), where they work, and where they are confined. You’ll hear first-hand interviews with real victims and traffickers, along with expert analysis from international humanitarian leaders. 

From initial recruitment to victim liberation—and everything in between—the previously veiled underworld of sex slavery is uncovered in the groundbreaking, tell-all Nefarious, Merchant of Souls.

Watch the trailer:

This is going to be a hard, but good film to watch. Hope to see some of you there!