A Prison without Walls.

Not long after my rescue
I let my failures get me down
My sin had robbed me of the joy I had in you
Then you saved me from that too

(chorus)
All I wanna do is talk about Your grace
I don't wanna go unless I go Your way
Get a little closer to You everyday
I'm gonna turn around and go Your way (X2)

What I thought of as my freedom
Was a prison without walls
I held on tightly to the shackles that I hate
But this wasn't freedom at all

(chorus)

I thought that I'd gone too far
Then I heard You call my name
Return to me child
I am eager to forgive
But leave behind the chains (X2)

(chorus)
-Go Your Way by the Supertones

I was listening to this on the way home from youth group tonight, and it made me
think of all the people that have fallen away.  My friends that think it's cool to
be a rebel, and they think that the way I'm living is repression.  It's not. 

"What I thought of as my freedom
Was a prison without walls
I held on tightly to the shackles that I hate
But this wasn't freedom at all


I thought that I'd gone too far
Then I heard You call my name
Return to me child
I am eager to forgive
But leave behind the chains"

God is always close, and He always wants us to come back.  He desires mercy, not
judgement!  I hope my friends come to realize that God gave us His laws to set us
free.  And if you know someone that is deceived, like my friends, keep praying! 
God has a way of working on people's hearts.

BEHOLD!

My brother has a blog! Go ahead and drop him a comment. He will be leaving for Japan on Thursday and will probably be gone for 6 weeks. His blog will be entertaining (believe me.... He has a good sense of humor) and it will cover his travels in Japan.

!!!!!

!!! OK my peeps, I tried on this dress at Macy's yesterday and I totally LOVED IT. Unfortunately it is many-much monies..... :'(

It was like it was made for me, and I felt like a princess or something...

I think I'll go to Macy's and try it on every once in a while....

Oh and if anyone is wondering, life is good for me. School is almost over and I'm looking for a job, so I can squirrel away monies so I can buy the dress. But what would I wear it to? I'm not sure....

Pirates

Well I saw it today, and um.... I think this pretty much sums it up.

So, to sum up the highlight of my day was going to Jordan's and Reece's Eagle Court. At one point I was laughing so hard that I doubled over and it took me about a minute to recover.... Jaho you probably know which part. lol.

Life

Today has gone decidedly better, and less painfully, than last year's today. I cannot believe it's been a year. How much God has shown me in that year! How much He has shown me through that trial.

Here are my thoughts about it from last year.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. " James 1:2-4

If you are in a trial, trust that God knows best. He's doing this for your good.

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

Summer.

I have some random things to say today. I think I should number them. Here we go.

1. Pickles are cucumbers soaked in evil.
2. Pickles are the opposite of raisins. Think about it... Raisins are dehydrated and pickles are weird and hydrated???
3. Raisins, I think, are highly overlooked. They are nummy.
4. Figs are very sugary.
5. Apples and peanut butter is really yummy.
6. Pears and light laughing cow cheese are really yummy.
   
7. I have a sunburn.
8. Sunscreen smells like Summer.
   
9. I won't be taking any classes this summer!
10. That means I'll probably be going to camp!
11. I have the highest grade in my math class!
12. I made friends with a dog named Bear, he's nice.
13. I have a stalker! He was Mary's stalker last quarter and yesterday morning he was walking out and he said, "See ya, Elyse!" even though Mary was standing right there. He only acknowledged my existence. I told Mary that she wasn't allowed to dump her stalkers on me.
    
14. Amelia's birthday is a week from tomorrow and I have something special planned.
    
15. A week from today there is no school.
16. I only have 4 weeks of school and finals week left.
17. Next Monday I will be done with high school.
18. That is surreal, since I only started in 2005.
19. I enjoy driving myself to school.
20. There are Russians working on Mary's yard....
    
21. Gabe is in Norway with his mother.
    
22. I need to catch up on Heroes.
23. I have a lot of homework to do.
24. But I'm almost done....
25. I'm learning how to love unlovable people, because God is placing them in my life.
    
26. He's been reminding me that I'm not very love able all of the time.
27. And He's reminding me that while I was being unlovable He sent His only son to die for me, so that I could learn to love others like God has loved me.
28. Because Christians are supposed to be Ambassadors for Christ.
29. God is reminding me to treat others as if they were perfect in Christ. He's reminding me that I was in their shoes and that I can be ruder, prouder, and more obnoxious than they are.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (New International Version) [with emphasis added by me for those of you who glaze over when Scripture is presented. And by the way, read this passage, k? Do it for me!]

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And on that note, I leave you. I think I will go watch some Star Trek.

All my love, Elyse.

Happy One year Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been a year, time really does pass quickly. Last year at this time I was in an E.R., unable to walk. Now, I can stand on my own two feet (notice my sweeeeeet vans!).

Anyway, I shall have another thing to celebrate next week, the one year anniversary of the joining of my ankle and metal.

Dashboard jesus

Dashboard jesus
he sits with his head bobbing with the bumps
the american ideal of what faith looks like
a plastic figurine with light skin, silky hair and clean outstretched hands. (because you know, carpenters have very clean hands.)
you can pat his head for luck
"Help me to find free parking this morning..."
after the e-brake is pulled and you grab your things you pull him from the dash and put him into your dark, linty pocket.
Because you control him.
When you want something pull him out, pick the lint out of his hair and then ask him for presents
and when you get what you want just shove him back inside. Inside that dark pocket he can't see what you do. Which is good because you gave the bird to the cab that cut you off in traffic this morning.
Sometimes you don't get what you ask for. So when he doesn't come through you can just kick him across the street into the bushes
but you'll eventually rummage through the leaves to find him
because you'll need him to find you free parking tomorrow.
Do you have a dashboard jesus?
Sometimes I think I do
lower case jesus. a non-existent jesus. a made-up figurine. might as well be a rabbit's foot. severed animal feet and plastic, robe wearing, sandal sporting christs...both have as much power as cooked spaghetti.
Are you living your life under the rule of a Sovereign King? or is he just a toy?
I have been graciously convicted of how I sometimes don't view God with fear nor awe. He has been so kind and so patient to show me that I do not give Him the place He deserves.
'Jesus you are magnificent. and you are powerful. and you own me. I know there are times I let you down, but you have always reached down with your calloused, pierced hands to pick me up. You are my best friend, and you are my King. and your gentle touch always steers me back to the path that leads to you.'

-Sarah Morrison

Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (Exodus 4:10-13)

My way. Moses’ wanted it his way, he was too afraid of what might happen. He was afraid that he would stumble in his speech.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-- though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.

Does that sound like the same man?

Psalm 90 A prayer of Moses the man of God.

So what happened? From this, “Not me, Lord! Pick someone else!” to that overwhelming sense of something huge. Something Moses’ realized along the way. When exactly did that happen?

Exodus 5:22 –6:2 Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."
6:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." God also said to Moses, "I am the LORD.

Maybe what happened was just Moses’ realization that the One with whom he was speaking was and is the LORD.

Romans 1: 20-25 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

Perhaps that’s what happened to Moses’. His eyes were opened. God, over time cleared the muck from his eyes. Well, God also made the Israelites wander in circles for 40 years in the desert. Sometimes it takes that long. Sometimes people never get it.

They continue to walk around in circles; with their “dashboard jesus’” in their pockets. Let’s not be like them.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

And in verse 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Cats and Dogs

Right now Diesel and Chato are having a stare off. Diesel is trying to be as still as possible and Chato is starting to wonder if she really saw a cat....

Diesel will lean over so he can see where Chato is walking. I think he's wondering if he can jump on her and kill her.

Ha! Chato just came downstairs and Diesel was trying to go over to the sliding glass door. I said, "Diesel come back!" Then Diesel ran back and jumped up on the desk. Now Chato is pacing the floor trying to smell out where the cat is, and Diesel is still watching her..... Waiting for his opportunity to make his move.

Ah, good times good times

Good pranks, good times. So, since I'm a college kid now and I hang out with college kids, does that mean we are mature? No way. Amelia and I got up early and stopped at Albertsons, we bought a balloon that looks something like this. Except more awesome, I should take a picture and post it. Anyway, Amelia and I tied him to Mary's side mirror. She called me and said something like, "I'm guessing that it was you who vandalized my car.... I hate you, but not really because it made me laugh. Call me back..." I didn't call her back, because I knew she would be just a tad hyper. Anyway she called me the next morning and was like, "Elyse.... Um. You didn't call me back and ummm." Anyway, I felt really bad but it was still funny. I told Amelia I should have told Mary that I saw her stalker over by her car with an obnoxious yellow balloon, but I didn't. ;)

Anyway, Mary then "Miked" my car. She named the balloon Mike. I went to her house and we talked for a bit. She has a disadvantage in our little Mike war because she lives like 5 minutes away from the campus, while Amelia and I live about half an hour away.

Mike has gone back and forth and then on um... Wednesday, when I got out of English I went to Mary's house. Caroline assisted me in helping me hide Mike. I hid him in Mary's shower.

The next day she said she opened the door and he pretty much rushed out at her. lol. I can just imagine her face. After Amelia and I hung out with Mary for a while we went out and Miked her car.

We'll see how it all turns out, but Amelia and I have something good planned for the end of the quarter. Mweheheh....

Haaaaaaaappy.....

Happy Birthday Dad!

*SCREAM*

So I was just sitting here... Doing nothing. And my dad came down to check the fire, then he says, "You have an ant on your back!"

"GET HIM OFFFFFFFF!!!!!!1"

So he did and then he killed it. Then he said, "Turn around and let me see if there are any more on you." So I did and then he says, "There are three more!!!!"

I screamed and tried to shake them off... Then he says, "Just kidding."


...

Why does the sun shine?

John saw Brian Regan on Thursday night. When he got home he told me the jokes. One of them was really funny. Brian Regan was saying how there's a baby monitor in his son's room. Brian and his wife were watching T.V. and he hears his son over the monitor, "Daddy, I have a joke for your career." So Brian ran upstairs and said, "What's the joke?" His son says, "Ok. Why don't dinosaurs talk?" "Well, I don't know...." "Because THEY'RE ALL DEAD!" Brian said he laughed for an hour. He talked about another time when he was watching the NCAA tournament and his daughter walks up to him, and sits really close to him on the couch. "Daddy, why don't you put something appropriate on for your daughter?"

lol.... Sounds like his children will follow in their father's comedic footsteps. Oh and for those of you who did not read my Brian Regan post and have no idea who he is, he is a comedian. Probably the funniest, EV-AR.

AND... I'm still working on homework. AND... I'm listening to an awesome mix on the compy. It has some of the most awesome albums on there.

I shall name my favorite records of all time in no particular order.

• Billy Talent II by Billy Talent
• Discovery by Daft Punk
• Eyes Open by Snow Patrol
• Plans by Death Cab for Cutie
• Post by Bjork
• Illuminate by David Crowder Band
• The Empire Strikes Back by Bad Religion
• The Ever Passing Moment by MxPx
  

Those are just off of the top of my head, but they are so well put together. I love listening to them. Some albums are like, "Meh, I like most of the album, but I don't like a couple of songs." No, these albums are all great and I love all of their songs.

The end.

137 Words about Brian and Cory

Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory.Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. Brian and Cory. The End.

heheh

I've met quite a few new people since the spring quarter started, one of them acts, SERIOUSLY, like this guy. No I'm not kidding. He talks to all girls like that, most of them respond to him like Anne Hathaway. Amelia and I just laugh. Hey, if you can't be entertained by the little things, eh?

I've been tagged!

1. How many candles on your last birthday cake?
Two. Seriously. OK, so that picture doesn't show, but I think I just had two.

2. How many siblings do you have?
Blood-wise? Three. I actually have four. I count Rob as my brother, I've known him since I was like three years old and he is basically my brother. So there. =P

3. How many first cousins do you have?
Ugh, I don't want to count. It would take forever. I'm thinking at least 15, probably more.

4. Name five smells you like.
Evergreen trees, a certain type of lotion that I like, but I can never say the name of it or where I bought it.... Umm... The smell of sweet babies and puppies. And.... Pink Grapefruit by Bath and Body works.

5. Name the four funniest people you know.
Kristy, Rob, John (when he feels like it), Mary and Caroline (I'm counting them as one).

6. How many different countries have you lived in?
Meh.... I'm lame, go ask my world traveling sister. I've only lived in one.

7. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Nothing. I'm pretty sure God picked out everything and put me together, so I'm not going to contradict Him! :)

8. Name the friend who has impacted you more than any other.

This is a toss up... Mary and Caroline and Allie. All three of them.

9. Have you ever volunteered your time anywhere?
Yuppers. Can you say AWANA child? I can.

10. Do you cry often?
Not really, only when my feelings have been hurt or when I'm really tired and irrational. But those times don't happen to often, so no, I don't cry often.

11. Something you are looking forward to?
Summer.

12. A friend you wish you could see again?
Seamus, but that would be kind of awkward since we were homies when we were wee. Um... Madeline? Yes, I wish I could see Madeline more.

13. How many people have you cooked a home-made meal for?
Two, that's when my Mom was in England and I had to cook for my brother and Dad. My Dad seems to think that he helped to cook, but I was like, "NUH UH!!! *head bobs and shakes*"

14. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully with some sort of degree, maybe I'll be working in a hospital. I have no idea where I will be though.

14. Tag five people: Umm... I'm rebeling and skipping this one, sorry.

Easter

I got some new sunglasses, I'm pretty psyched. I tried them on Chato, I think she was pretty psyched too. =)

Happy Easter!

He is Risen!

What Diesel Killed: The Mole and Bird issue

The Hunter.

MOLEY! Baby mole, it was... about 3 inches long.

Then I saw the bird, I thought it was more pine needles. Under close inspection I found it to be a bird. Notice the exposed backbone.
I didn't get so bad as to show him eating them, thankfully he hasn't eaten them. He likes to play with them though. Cats are gross. Remember when he did this?

!!!!

So today was the start of the spring quarter, it was pretty good. I really miss my old English teacher, he had such a good sense of humor and he had an excellent teaching style. I'm not too sure about my new English teacher, but it was only the first day. Math class is tomorrow night soooo yeah.

None of my classes are on main campus, so it is VERY different. I know like.... 6 people in my English class. My friend Amelia is in the class, which is very fun. And a lady named Stephanie and my family has known her family for a long time. We went to the same church. There's this guy in my class and he's probably about 20 years old. He makes me laugh. He has long-ish blond hair and a lip piercing, oh and glasses. He is VERY arty. When he talks he speaks in a quiet voice and says stuff like, "I'm a musician." He was making me laugh. He informed us of his musicianship when the time was right, we were all talking about ourselves. But he made me laugh. Another guy was sharing something about himself and he said, "I weigh 350lbs...." We were all like, "Oh." I mean, thanks for being open but.... What am I going to do with that info, eh?

So to sum up, I like my classmates and I'm not too sure about my teacher.