November

Welcome, November! I am so thankful for a new month, a new opportunity to begin again. And yet, I so often set aside the fact that I don't need a new month or a new year to begin again--each day, each moment is precious, and through God's grace and help we can be refreshed and find new beginnings all the time.

If I mess up or use my time poorly sometime during a day, I tend to just continue the rest of the day in a similar fashion. I figure that if I've already wasted part of my day, I might as well just continue to goof off. I don't know if any of you have a similar problem, but I am sad to see how often I think like this. For example, I tend to think that if I already procrastinated on homework so far, I might as well make the whole day a procrastinating day, instead of trying harder to change the day around.

It's not that we don't need times of relaxation. In fact, it can be so easy to get too busy for periods of rest and times of renewal, which I think are really important. But I think that I need to spend the time I have for true relaxation praying to the Lord and reading my Bible, and even writing and reading, rather than getting distracted online (etc.). I never feel refreshed when I've spent my time foolishly. There is a difference between finding rest and dwelling in a mess.

May we spend the time we are given wisely, living for God. And may we remember all the mercies we are shown by God each and every day:

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not, they are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
~Lamentations 3:21-23

Bluegrass Festival: Why I Love Bluegrass

To be honest, it's hard to know where to begin. I'll start by saying that I have listened to many different kinds of music, and you'll find in my iTunes account music ranging from the soundtrack of Phantom of the Opera to the modern electronic music of Owl City.

However, to me, there is nothing like bluegrass.

Bluegrass is a step back in time, while still retaining a sense of timelessness. Listening to a CD of bluegrass or attending a bluegrass performance is like listening to history. It's not fancy like classical music. It's not what teenagers desire at a dance party. It's not even like the popular country music of today. Bluegrass brings to mind what Dustin Taylor of Huckleberry Flint mentioned: "just sitting around a campfire playing songs."

Bluegrass is engaging. It beckons you to get up and dance. It urges you to sing along with all of your heart. The fast rhythms and the amazing cooperation of instruments make bluegrass a delight to listen to. Banjos, guitars, mandolins, fiddles--the music they make together astounds me, and when I listen to bluegrass I want so much to be a part of it, to be a part of the community it creates.

Bluegrass is heartfelt. The lyrics, whether they are more about today or more about the tales of yesterday, are all about what it is like to be a human. There is a universal theme to bluegrass songs. Whether they are about what it's like to lose a loved one, what it's like to be denied love, or what it's like to be full of wanderlust (a desire for adventure)--we can relate. Often, the songs are sorrowful and painful, because this world is full of sin and problems. But there are songs that express hope, and ones that are just plain fun. They are true to life, and I love that.

Bluegrass calls to me like no other music does. It's personal in a way that is hard for me to describe. It's music to travel by, music to listen to on this journey of life, riding the rails and hiking the trails. It's compelling in all seasons of our life. Music is a beautiful gift that God has given us, and I'm so thankful for bluegrass and those who play it with all the talent they have been given by God!

On that note, I'll announce the winners!

Michelle won the iTunes download of her choice of a Cherryholmes CD!

Vince won the iTunes download of his choice of a Huckleberry Flint CD!

(I used the Random.org List Randomizer to choose the winners.)

For those of you who didn't win, I strongly encourage you to check out the music of Cherryholmes, Huckleberry Flint, and other bluegrass artists. Enjoy the music meant to draw people together and touch your heart. If you want any other recommendations for bluegrass artists, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts on bluegrass or on your favorite type of music!