Fourteen.

Frustration.

I hate it. I like to know what is going on ahead of time and to be absolutely sure about it happening the way it should.

Currently, I'm dealing with frustration. May 10th is a Thursday, the day I have piano lessons each week. This one happens to be the last one before my piano recital. Well, my choir teacher at school, Mrs. Harris, is apparently having some sort of after-school rehearsal that day for two performances which happen to be another one of my problems. These performances are Friday and Saturday, May 11th and 12th. Our choirs are singing with the Arkansas Symphony. ...Big deal and I'm excited about it, but as you may know, the Young Warriors Weekend is on that Friday, too. During the service I am in a human video and will be singing with the worship team. Well, these two events obviously conflict with each other, which brings frustration into my life. [Sigh....] I asked my choir teacher if it would be excused if I just missed the Friday night performance without losing a ton of points, on account of another event that is very important to me and that I'm already committed to being apart of. She said that it wouldn't be excused and that the only religious excuse for missing one of the performances is for this Jewish girl that isn't supposed to be out after sundown for some holiday or something on Friday. Then she told me to "see if I could get it worked out." [Another sigh....]

So I got home and told my mom that she said it wouldn't be excused and reminded her that for the past 5 years I've had straight A's in Vocal Music and that one B or C isn't going to make me cry or anything. She said she'd right a note explaining that to the teacher, so I was fine with that.... Until I told her about maybe not being able to go the Thursday after-school rehearsal because of piano lessons, which is the day before the Symphony thing.

Right now, I'm waiting for tomorrow to see what time the rehearsal will be over on the Thursday, so that if we're done by at least 5:30, I can switch lessons with Jonathan (we have the same teacher...I go at 5:30 to 6 on Thursdays and he goes from 6 to 7).

I hate not knowing things! Its like a kid waiting ever-so impatiently for his mom to get home so he can ask about spending the night with his best friend. The poor kid is just tired of not knowing; he's just ready to be able to call his friend and say, "YES! I can come over!"

{God, help me have peace and a calm spirit about all of this. I don't want to be a worry-wart (After all, who wants to be a wart? HA! [That was my comic relief portion of the post, in case you didn't notice.]). Let me find out what I need to find out and make the best decisions this week. Thank You for being with me in the fire, even if it is only a little-bitty fire.}

Pray that everything works out and that I can make it to the Thursday rehearsal, piano lessons, the Young Warriors Weekend, and the Arkansas Symphony performance on Saturday, which is a lot, I know.

Thirteen.

Over the past few months, I have really began to develop some meaningful relationships with certain people in my life. When I say that, friends like Brian Harte, Jonathan Pillow, Stephanie Ott, Jill Jacobs, Chris France, and John Rennard come to mind. I cherish these relationships.

I wonder, have you ever really thought about relationships? Have you taken the time to realize how important they are in the development of your character?

Just think about it.... God made a lot of people. And we have the opportunity to find the right people to share and combine strengths and build one another up and to walk together towards Christ everyday. Thank God for friends because without them I would be a helpless individual, stranded in the middle of loneliness, wondering how I'll ever give God what He deserves by myself.

Even Jesus had close friends. In fact, I bet if He was writing this blog he would've listed names like John, Matthew, Luke, Mark, Judah, Peter, and Paul. They stuck together and stood up for each other, gave each other a hand when needed, laughed together, prayed together, and ate together. That's friendship, isn't it? People who love each other enough to sit down and talk over a meal, or share a few laughs, or pray for each other.

That's what I love about hanging out with those friends. They spend time with me and make an effort to show me that they care about me. And all the way, they help me grow. These friends are the kind of people that don't talk behind my back or lie to me. You wonder how I know? Its because we share a thing called trust. And trust is great! To know that around these people I can be comfortable.

Thank you friends for investing your time and energy into my life! You make me feel safe when I'm around you. You make me feel loved and you grow me closer to Christ. Thanks! I cherish your friendships!

Twelve.

I've been thinking all day about a good topic for this week's blog, but couldn't think of anything. I thought about talking about music, but couldn't decide what to say, so I finally decided to put one of my songs (and Jonathan's) on here. Jonathan and I wrote this song last summer and made a few adjustments recently. I'll probably put more of my songs on here as time passes. Tell me what you think and maybe I will show you how it goes sometime.

[I couldn't get the chords to show up right, but so you know and if you even care, it's in the key of G.]

Here's Our Song

Words and music by

Jonathan Pillow & Timothy Hill

Verse 1:
When the righteous see our God in action; they’ll laugh, they’ll sing!
They’ll know God’s Spirit’s alive in every generation.
They’ll laugh and sing for joy!

Verse 2:
All the nations bless God with a passion; they love to praise!
‘Cause God gives power and strength to all who worship.
We live to praise You, Lord!

Pre-Chorus:
Listen, Father, to the sound of all Your people’s praises!

Chorus:
Here’s our song, O God!
We lift You up with

All our hearts and souls!
We live to praise You, Lord

Verse 3: (2x)
Let all God’s children prepare their hearts for worship; they live to praise!
They’ll spend their lives in constant acclamation.
We live to praise You, Lord!

Bridge:
Ha – llelu – jah! (4x) (We live to praise You!)
(drums only)
Ha – llelu – jah! (2x)

Tag:
We live to praise You, Lord! (3x)
We live to praise You, Lord!