The Power of Music

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 

To say that I love music would be a severe understatement. I am passionate about it. Music is such a huge and important part of my life, I can't imagine what my day to day life would look without it. (Just look at the name of my blog! :)

Whether I am driving, washing dishes, cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, working out, writing, reading, or just lying on my bed thinking, I will usually have music playing, or be singing myself. Just ask my family...it is a part of just about every waking moment of my day. ;)

Music is fascinating, powerful, and entirely underestimated by many people. Let me say it again, because it is so true:

Music. Has. Power.

Music can inspire, encourage, and brighten a day. Conversely, it can cause depression, frustration, stress, and dark thoughts when used for evil. My entire mood can be changed for better or worse, depending on what music I am around. Don't get me wrong, I am always responsible to act and react in a Godly way, no matter the surroundings. However, music has such a great propensity to affect even the little areas of life!

Because music holds such power, we need to be very, very careful with it. The Almighty Himself is musical; He proves it in the nearly 600 Scripture references to songs, singing, music, instruments, and musicians. Music is a good and holy thing when used in a Godly manner. 

However, for every good thing God has given us, Satan has made an evil counterfeit. So called "Contemporary Christian Music", or "Christian Rock", or any other form of worldly music tweaked the tiniest bit to sound spiritual, is not Christian. In any way, shape, or form. I'm being blunt here, but it's true. When all you do is take the world's fleshly music and change the words, there is no difference. I have seen videos of "Christian" concerts, that literally looked like a heavy metal performance. NO discernible difference, except you could maybe catch a random reference to God scattered through all the screaming, pounding thrashing drummers, and lights wild enough to give you an instantaneous migraine. It's really sad to me that so many Christians are fooled into thinking this is right and good. In Isaiah 5:20, it says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" What better example of this verse than music that feeds the old man, the unregenerate flesh, and calls it a holy thing!

As followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to discern between good and evil. To walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh. I realize that many who are deceived by the modern "Christian" music movement are sincere in trying to worship God. However, you can be sincere in doing something, but be sincerely wrong in doing it. Music is something that has led many people astray, because it is important to us as humans. We are made in the image of God, and God loves music. Because of that, we are born with an innate appreciation for beautiful melodies and harmonies. Just watch a small child when there is music playing. They will almost always be wiggling or singing or banging along! Music is so close to our hearts that it's easy to become caught up in the emotional side of it without stopping to think about whether or not it is truly honoring to God. 

An interesting thing to consider about the relationship between music and the way we were created by God: Just as God has three parts (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), so we have three parts--Spirit, Soul, and Body. The melody (tune) of music appeals to the spirit, the harmony (chords) to the soul, and the rhythm (beat) to the body. Satan's counterfeit godly music is dominated by the rhythm. The goal is to stimulate the flesh, not the soul or the spirit. True Godly music does have a rhythm, (obviously! ;), but it is not rhythm dominant. The goal of Godly music is to bring glory and praise to God, and to refresh and uplift the spirit. (Not the flesh). 

Here are some important questions to ask yourself, with an open heart, about the music you listen to on a regular basis:
1. Does the Holy Spirit lead you to listen to this music? Rom. 8:14
2. Can you pray while listening to this music? 1 Thess. 5:17
3. Does it bring glory to God? 1 Cor. 10:31
4. Does it offend other Christians or cause them to stumble in any way? 1 Cor. 8:13
5. Does this music appeal to the flesh, or to the soul and spirit? What draws you to it? Rom. 8:5
6. Does this music create Godly joy in your life? Isaiah 51:11
7. Would you be comfortable letting your pastor, your parents, and the most Godly Christians you know sit down and listen to this music? (Wow, that's a hard hit!) Heb. 13:17, Prov. 24:6
8. What doctrines are being taught through this music? Titus 2:1

It is my sincere hope that you will prayerfully consider these thoughts. Please know that my purpose was not to offend anyone through this post, but if you are offended...maybe there might be something you need to change? Believe me, I KNOW this is a delicate subject, and it can be difficult to let go of long-held beliefs (or lack thereof), on the subject of what is or is not Godly music. I have faced struggles with this at various times in my life, and sometimes it is not easy even to discuss it with people, because it seems that there are so many different opinions on the topic! However, in James 1:5 God promises that He will give His wisdom to those who ask for it with unwavering faith. He will guide and direct your steps! 

May the music we listen to, write, sing, and play be a source of encouragement and blessing to everyone around us. Especially The God who created music for us to enjoy!
Mykaela

The Perfect Words

Psalm 45:1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

~~~~~~~~

An unassuming journal.

A pen with flowing ink.

A writer wildly passionate,

Finding a space to think. 

She puts the pen to paper,

And words begin to flow.

They tremble in her fingers

And they set her face aglow.

They tumble quickly from her mind

In waterfalls of grace.

They line the path she's treading

As she seeks her Saviour's face.

In words she finds expression

Of the galaxies inside.

In words she calls to question

The fears she cannot hide.

Her words are raw and richly full

Of love for Lord and life.

She finds in words a quiet lull

From the world's thunderous strife.

But human words cannot describe

The greatest Love of all.

The Love that chose to sacrifice

For men bruised by the fall.

The words for that can only be spoken

By the tongue of a Holy God.

And though she write with ink like an ocean,

Her words will ever be flawed.

In this she turns to the Holy Writ,

The only perfect Word.

So pure and undefiled is it,

Through countless years preserved.

In this great Word she finds at last

Fulfillment all complete.

Her future, present, and her past,

With perfect love replete.

So she writes with sweet abandon,

In the light from worlds above.

She pours her soul out on the page

As she shows a cruel world her love.

She uses her words, small though they be,

As a candle in the blackness.

The broken hearts of others see,

Her light of peace and gladness.

And though her words will never be

As perfect as she longs for,

She knows they will be when she sees

The King of Heaven her heart adores.

When her storm tossed ship comes to rest

On the shores of eternal glory,

She will finally have the words to express

Her soul's redemption story.

Fun Post: April Favorites

Hello there!

*fervently hopes no one thinks I'm super annoying for posting April favorites halfway through the month of May*

Ahem.

Life happens, and I apologize for this post's lateness. ;P Some of the things I've been loving this past month...

Reading...
Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar. This is my second time through this two book series, and I love it so so soooo much. <3 It's a fiction about an unusual young woman's adventures and spiritual growth in the Persian empire. I love the heroine because she is so... real. Her life doesn't go as planned, and unlike many "perfect heroines" she doesn't immediately grow and learn and become even more perfect. It takes her a lot of time and frustration before she begins to see God's Hand in her life. (He has been working all along, she just hasn't recognized it...sounds familiar somehow? ;) Anyway, awesome read that I would highly recommend, along with the one that comes after it, Harvest of Gold. :)

Wearing...
A new skirt I got at Goodwill; it's floor length, black lace ruffles. Guys. It's so me!! :O Also, a super soft and comfortable Curious George shirt that I got in Leavenworth. ;P

Learning...
Grieg's Wedding Day at Troldhaugen. As some of you already know, a church member has graciously provided me with a set of piano lessons, (my first ever!!). It has been so awesome, and I'm really going to miss my amazing teacher. Anyway, last month and this month I am learning this song, and it is pretty hard, but I love it! It's so fun to push myself to new heights and try something I probably wouldn't have previously gone for. :) When my teacher first played it for me though, I was thinking, "There is no way I can learn this song, what are you even doing assigning me this?!" ;P

Vacationing...
With the whole family, in Sunriver Oregon. How much more perfect can a vacation get?! It was amazing. We thought that Micah, (my next brother down), wouldn't be able to come due to work, but he was able to after all! We rode bikes, went in the hot tub that came with our house, got lost on the bike trails, picnicked next to the river, drank coffee floats from Brewed Awakenings (love that name ;P), and played games. It was so special. <3


Reaching out...
To over 4,000 people during Wenatchee's Apple Blossom Festival. It's a two week long celebration that people come from two and three states away to attend. It's like the Olympic games, traffic is insane, and my workplace becomes not much more than a bathroom and a place to come and be rude (thank you, Seattlites. ;P) Kidding, not all people from Seattle are rude. Just a lot of them. ;) Anyway, in the midst of all the craziness of parades, shows, etc., we had the youth group from Stanwood, Washington come over to help with outreach. And did they ever!! They worked sooo hard, walking miles and miles every day passing out tracts and witnessing. With thousands of people in town just for the festival, we had a very easy time finding people to talk to!! ;) So thankful for the many Gospel tracts that got into people's hands, as well as the personal evangelism that was done. Praise God!


Visiting with...
My friend Jenny. During the time that the youth group was here, Jenny "happened to be" house sitting for the pastor of a nearby church. That house was only 2 minutes away from my place--just down the road!! I was able to spend the nights over there to free up some bed space here, and it worked out so well. It was super fun and special to spend some time with her! :) There was one night when we had a discussion on how we would go about embezzling money without getting caught (which sounds dreadful until you realize that we are writers and were trying to help a friend with writing a fiction paper... :'D). Then there was the night that we watched Facing the Giants, and as usual, something got in my eyes and they ended up watering a lot. :') Heh heh. And of course there was lots of snacks and ice cream. I mean what would a visit from a friend be without junk food?! (Right Kimberly?? ;D Haha!) Anyway, I had a great time.

Drinking...
HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA. Ok guys, I have always had a chip on my shoulder about Kombucha. I thought it was weird and sounded gross and icky and I would never drink it. Ahem. Then a church member gave me a bottle of her homemade stuff, sweetened with fresh grape juice, and WOW. I'm hooked. ;P It's so good!!!!! I've never tried the store bought stuff yet though...

Watching...
The hills around Wenatchee slowly turn green. It looks like Ireland around here, and until the summer gets insanely hot, I'm going to continue to marvel at how beautiful the surrounding mountains are. Thank you, Lord!

Well, that's it for this month, folks! Hopefully I can get my next favorites post out in a more timely fashion. ;) Have a lovely week, everyone! 
Mykaela

Fun Post: March Favorites

Hello, everyone!
Sorry I've been a bit uncharacteristically quiet in the blogging world lately! :) I may be even more silent in April, just as a warning. ;P I have a ton of fun stuff coming up! Here are some of the things I've been enjoying this month!

Reading...
Atonement Child by Francine Rivers. This is a reread for me (perhaps I should say a re-re-re-re-reread? :P) I think I have read it around 6 or 7 times since I discovered it a couple years ago. It's that good of a book. While I definitely don't agree with all of Rivers' doctrine, for the most part this is an extremely gripping and beautiful read, with a really sweet message. It focuses a lot on more mature issues such as abortion vs. pro-life, etc., so I would recommend it for older readers (13+). 

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper. I would say caution with this book. It is a heartbreaking account of one girl's journey through being taken from her homeland into slavery, and eventual escape to freedom. While it was an interesting read, it has some mature content, and I was saddened by the author's obvious non-Christian viewpoint. I wish that someone with a godly worldview could write a similar story through the lenses of God's Word. :( Wouldn't recommend this one.

Thankful for...
My dad's very successful and spiritually profitable trip to Jamaica for a week!! He and the other men that went with him were able to witness to hundreds, made some very good contacts, encouraged and taught the local pastors, and saw at least 1 soul saved! Others are still being worked with, so please pray about that! We are so thankful for our opportunity to reach Jamaica through our ministry to the workers in the orchards here. For 5 seasons, we have held services and Bible Classes with these men, and finally Papa and Bro. Chris were able to visit!! And the timing couldn't have been more perfect...God had been working for years to orchestrate the details of this trip perfectly. So amazing how He works! 

Enjoying my first...
Ice skating experience! Would you believe that I am getting on towards 21 years old and had never gone ice skating before this past month? ;P Since I used to rollerblade a lot (before I broke my ankle), the motion was easy for me to grasp quickly. I only fell twice or maybe three times, and none were serious, just a temporary loss of balance. ;) A quick gravity check, so to speak. Anyway, I would definitely go again! I am not anything like graceful or adept at it, but I did really enjoy the movement and the smoothness of the ice. Super cool to try a new adventure! :)

Returning to...
My mountain for the first time this season!!!! This past week the snow was finally melted enough that my mom and I were able to climb Saddlerock again. I have missed doing that so much during the winter! The feeling of reaching the peak again is so energizing. And the cool thing about climbing? You get all the hard work over with at the beginning. ;P It's all downhill after that! (literally.) :D

Looking forward to...
Vacation, as I mentioned in last month's favorites. We are leaving in 2 days, and I am sooo excited for the time of recharging. :) Right after we get back, my dad's 3 siblings and his mom are coming for a week's visit! His brother and sisters have not been out to the West Coast since my parents' wedding almost 22 years ago. So yeah...it's high time for a visit. ;P We are very happy about the fact that we can spend some time with them. Cue the late night Shoot games! ;D (If you don't know what Shoot is, you obviously have never hung out with my family for more than about 30 minutes. Haha! It's a game played with Rook cards that we are pretty crazy about. :)

Wearing...
My spring wardrobe. I'm pushing the season a bit, as Spring is still very much in it's trying-to-get-there stages. I've spent a couple Sundays at church shivering and cursing my outfit choices. But hey, that's part of every season change, right?? ;P You pull out the scarves and boots on the first 55 degree day of autumn, and dump them on the first 55 degree day of "spring". At least I do. ;) 

Watching...
"Planet Earth II". Oh my WORD you guys!!!!! This is a documentary type movie made by BBC, and it is absolutely....indescribable. Seriously, I don't even know where to start on how astounding this is. The filming, the music, the narration; everything about it is absolutely spectacular. There are so many creatures and plants that I've never even heard of, and they are brought up close and personal in the most sharp, clear, stunning videography I've ever seen. While there is a small amount of evolution/climate change garbage, it really is pretty minimal. Don't let the word "documentary" scare you away...this is a must-watch. It will make your jaw drop at the wonder of God's creation! I have watched the first three episodes so far, and can't wait to finish it. If you live in my area, you can get it from the library...you should totally check it out! :)

Loving the little things...
Such as naps. They are so awesome for powering back up after a long morning. I find that 26 minutes (also known as a NASA nap ;) is perfect for me to wake up rested. Also loving a new clay mug I got for 99 cents at Goodwill, lovely for drinking Aeropress and warming my hands on. Sparkling Lemon Bai drinks. Flowered lace black flats. My bluetooth speaker that I can listen to in the shower. Taking pictures with little Miriam. Texting ridiculous pictures to certain friends of mine. Pictures such as me drowning my sorrows in a can of whipped cream, or making a face like one of the Whoville city council members on Horton Hears a Who. Hahaha! Nothing too crazy, you know, just very me. ;P 

Well, that's a wrap for this month, folks! What have you been loving about the month of March? I hope April is even better! :) Have an amazing week!
Mykaela

The Little Things (And why I'm thankful for them)

Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

I'm sure many of you have heard the phrase, "Enjoy the little things", or "It's the little things in life that count", etc.? Most of the time, these sayings are used by those who do not have a relationship with God, so really all they do is enjoy them. (For a short time.) We as Christians should be not only enjoying those little things, but also thanking the One who gave them to us! So these are good statements, they just have to be in the right context. :) 

So I know that nothing God does for us is truly "little"...he loads us down with His benefits. However, there are some things in life that you can't help but smile at--because that thing that happened was not necessary. Maybe it was even something tiny and simple, a ray of sunshine that suddenly flashed through your day. Maybe you couldn't find something for the life of you, and suddenly you found it in the unlikeliest place. Well, you could call that coincidence, but really think about it. I truly believe that so many things we chalk up to "chance" is God showering yet another blessing onto that day's pile...and we don't even give Him credit for it. That's really sad!! When a friend drops by with a plate of cookies, or a passing stranger helps pick up some dropped papers, do we neglect to thank them? Of course not! And yet how many times do we ignore the little gifts God gives us, with the assumption that it was just a random happenstance? :( 

Last year, shortly after I first started this blog, I published a post entitled, "The Story of the Toy Firetruck, (and why it meant so much to me)". You can read it here. In the spirit of that post, I would like to just take a minute to thank The Lord for a few of the "little things" He's given me lately. :)

• A few days ago I was in a hurry, and rushed out the door to work without grabbing something to eat for lunch. It wasn't a crazy long shift, (5 or 6 hours, I think), but long enough that I would probably have to either mooch something from a coworker, (haha!) or go out. 1 hour into my shift, a guy from a local sub sandwich delivery place shows up at the front desk. He cheerfully says, "Hey, I have some free sample sandwiches for all the staff here, would you like one?" Umm. Yes. ;) So I got a free "sample" sandwich, (it was about 5 inches long, so a totally fine size for a small lunch!), and didn't have to go out in the snowy weather. Thank you, Lord!
• I recently purchased some pajamas that are soooo soft, I seriously look forward to getting into them when I get home from work, etc. They feel like clouds. :) My mom really wanted some as well, so last week I ran to the store where I got mine, to try and find her some as a surprise. Well, they were out. As was another store of a similar kind. I had just about given up hope, (and was out of time to look), when I thought of checking this random store in the mall, because I vaguely remembered something about them having pj's at some point. You guessed it! They not only had them, but they were on end-of-winter sale for FIVE BUCKS. Thank you again, Lord!!! :)

I could go on and on. Like I said, these are not life changing things! Would I have died of starvation without a sandwich? Of course not. Would my mom have perished without those cozy pajamas? Nope. But God still chose to let me have those little, fun blessings, because He loves me! And I think that is so special, that God cares about giving good gifts to His children, even when we are naughty wandering little sheep that won't quit falling into mud puddles, wandering off the path into thornbushes and pits, and becoming so focused on ourselves that we can't even take a second to thank the kind Shepherd who leads us! Today, I'm challenging you, as well as myself, to look for those little things. Notice when they happen, and don't just ignore them...praise The Lord for them! I'm not saying we should fall on our knees wherever we are and burst into the Hallelujah chorus. But just say thank you. That's all. :) Love,

Mykaela

Fun Post: January Favorites

I can't believe the first month of 2017 is already over. It feels like we just had New Year's!? Crazy how time flies. ;) Anyway, in January I've been:

Reading...
Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright. I love this author, but for some reason had never got around to this book. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as some of her other books, but I do really love the descriptive way in which she writes. I would definitely read it again! :)
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. This series is kind of an old favorite of mine. While I don't love everything about either of these authors, their books were a big part of my childhood, and rereading them really takes me back. :)
I know I've been reading other books this past month as well, but I'm totally blanking out on what right now, and for various and sundry reasons I can't actually check my bookshelf, either physical or my library checkout history. Yeah, anyway. ;P

Drinking...
100% white grapefruit juice. I think it's Welch's brand, but anyway, Grocery Outlet has the little cans for 25 cents each. They are such a nice, refreshing pick-me-up for so little money!! :) Also, the sparkling Lemon Bai drinks are amazing. So yummy.

Playing...
A LOT of racquetball. As in, nearly every single day of the week, I've been going to the gym with a couple family members to play. It is WAY too much fun to be such amazing exercise!! I really enjoy it, even though both my parents are still skunking me every time. ;P We have never had a gym membership before this, and I've really been enjoying the ability to go early and work out before anyone is up. Also, the variety of machines, etc., helps to keep me motivated. As does the accountability from my family. ;)

Looking for...
An alto saxophone. If anyone knows of one, on Craigslist or wherever, for a good price, let me know. I'm trying to make good on my goal of learning a new instrument this year, and I really, really love the sax. :)

Visiting with...
Some friends from Oak Harbor, (where my home church is), who came over for a youth retreat. We've had a blast while they have been here. Playing signs and Never Have I Ever (which I had never played before. Heh. Heh. ;), having devotions and outreach together, and enjoying the snow here. (They don't get much snow over there. Actually pretty much all they ever see is rain. Ever. ;P) 

Taking...
My very first piano lesson ever!! A family in my church is generously making a way for me to take lessons from an amazing teacher, free of charge. What a huge blessing!!! :) I am so excited to be taking piano lessons, finally! (And I had specifically prayed about that, around a week before I randomly get this call about "Do I want to take these piano lessons off their hands". God answers prayer, people. :)

Visiting...
This tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant a couple towns over. I took my parents out to breakfast there after hearing amazing things about the place online...well, the reviews were not lying. At all. The guy is a 5-star chef, (literally, he got sick of the rat race at his 5 star restaurant and decided to "run away" by starting over in a tiny little town with one stoplight.) Anyway, my mom and I decided to split a plate. When it came, it was about the size of a serving platter for a family of four. At LEAST. We both stuffed ourselves, took a box home, and fed all four of my youngest siblings breakfast!! Unbelievable taste and portion sizes. ;) I seriously think you could take 6 adults to this place and get 2 plates. :O It's called Take-a-Break cafe in Dryden, Washington. Try it out if you are ever here, but don't go without me, please! ;P

Listening to...
A lot of music from this album from the Galkins. So, so pretty. <3

Loving...
The blizzard we've had today. (6+ inches just today, with up to another foot and a half or something by Wednesday?!) My memory foam pillow. Chocolate chip cookie dough. String cheese, melted. Quotes by Corrie Ten Boom. My homemade toothpaste and face scrub. Hanging out with friends. Playing games with my family. Getting my hair cut short(ish). Kebron's impression of Pigeon Toady from Storks. ;P Chatting with Kimberly. The new website they are launching at work. My new piano arrangement book from James Koerts, my favorite hymn arranger. 

That's a wrap for today...my brain is too tired to contemplate anymore. ;) What have been some of your favorite parts of January? Are you holding up on your New Year goals? :) Have a great week!! Love,
Mykaela

Sunday Snippets: A Farewell to 2016!

Psalm 65:11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Here we are, by the grace of God, at the close of another year. And what a year it has been! As the verse says, God crowns each year with His goodness. Today I'll be doing a recap of my year, both with this blog, and personally. I hope this year was a blessed and growth-rich time for each of you as well!

First off, I have some sad news and glad news. The sad news is that this will be my last "Sunday Snippet", as such. Don't worry, though! Lord willing I am going to be doing posts a couple times a week still, with at least one of them being basically what Sunday Snippets has been--a post based on a thought or idea from a passage of Scripture, and how it has encouraged me. :) I am not sure exactly what kind of posts I will be replacing them with, or if I will do a specific weekly post? I'm still working out blog plans for the New Year, based on the feedback I got from my recent survey. (Thank you so much to all who completed that! :)

This year's most popular posts were kind of a surprise to me as far as their order. I had several wonderful guest posts this year, that were towards the top in popularity! If you see one you missed before, you can check them out by clicking the titles:

5. Facing Crossroads

I think this topic is pretty near and dear to people's hearts. Everyone has had to make a tough decision before!

4. Through The Word in 30 Days

My journey through the Bible in a month.

3. In The Right Place at the Right Time

A wonderful guest post by Elizabeth.

2. Boredom is Illegal!

Another wonderful guest post by Kimberly.

And the number one post for 2016 was....

A Faithful Servant!

Like I said, that one really surprised me that it was number one, because it was a very short post about a good quote I found on Pinterest. Nothing huge. But you guys liked it. ;) I'm thinking about doing more of this type of post this next year.

January 1, 2017 is the one year anniversary of when Making Music for the Master was started. I was so clueless about blogging at that time; actually I kind of still am...but to those of you who still read my poorly formatted, not-too-well-written posts, and continued to encourage me in growing this blog, thank you so, so much. You are each such a blessing to me!

Besides starting the blog, in 2016 I have moved 2 hours south of where I used to live, thus not having to drive two hours to church every week. ;) How awesome is that?! Also, I love living in a bigger city...once I got used to driving in traffic. I transferred my job, so I now work at a huge four-story library instead of a one-level, quite small one. 

I took a trip to Oklahoma to see Kimberly, and had quite a number of firsts on that trip! ;) My first roller coaster. My first earthquake. My first time eating gravy over fries over a burger over Texas toast. My first time spending 30 minutes laughing at a set of magnets. (inside joke. I promise it was funny. ;) My first time ziplining. My first time going through a cave, 50 stories underground. It was a good trip. 

I turned 20...crazy stuff. My thoughts on that here.

I helped host a group of 20 from Alaska who came to help out with a mass outreach here. A highlight of my year, honestly: those few days were so, so special and fun! The day after they left, my dad, Mercy, and I went on a 10 day trip to Wyoming--another highlight. (It's been a good year with lots of highlights, what can I say?? ;P) Then we went to the missions conference at my home church. Always a blessing.

This holiday season I have applied for a full time job, spent a day in the hospital, got my wisdom teeth removed and laughed at my craziness afterwards, went to visit family in Oregon, and worked as a receptionist at the library headquarters. 

God has been so good this year! I think one of the biggest areas I have grown in is that of prayer. It has become more of a habit for me to pray throughout the day as I work on different tasks, etc. An area I want to grow in this next year is that of patience with my siblings. Some of them can be hard to get along with...who knew?! ;) 

My top favorites from this year?

Songs:

Mary Did You Know. Never a favorite before, but this arrangement...wow!

Jubilate Deo by Dan Forrest. Especially this movement.

Though You Slay Me. So pretty!!

Books:

Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare.

In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar...can you tell she is one of my favorite authors? ;P

Movies:

(Not endorsing everything in every movie. Or book, either. Obviously.)

Finding Dory. I don't care that everyone hates on the Disney sequels. I loved this! And I loved Cars 2, and I loved Monsters U, and yeah, just get over it. ;)

War Room. While I don't love everything about this movie, it was a really good encouragement. 

Ben Hur. I'm only putting this on because of how pleasantly surprised I was by this movie. I always thought that the Charlton Heston classic had spoiled me for enjoying any other Ben Hur. And while this version completely slaughtered the original storyline, as a movie I did enjoy it! There was a surprising lack of garbage in it.

As we ring in the New Year, let's not forget to take time to reflect on the old one, ok? Take some time to plan for how this coming year can be one of spiritual growth, most of all. I love New Years, because it is a time of gratefulness for what is past, and hopefulness for what is to come. Isn't it good to know that God is in control of your life this year? :) I love you all, and thank you once again for an amazing year with this blog. I hope to continue making music with you for as long as The Lord allows!

365 new days. 365 new chances to serve The King!

Love,

Mykaela

POLL POST!! :)

Hello everyone!
I'm not sure if you guys knew this, but I started "Making Music for The Master" on January 1st of 2016! That means that we are coming up on a whole year of this blog being in existence, which I think is pretty cool. :) I'm very excited about this anniversary, and am trying to think of ways that I can possibly update the blog in new ways this coming year. 

This is where you as my awesome readers come in. I don't have a massive following, (that's never been my goal). However, I do want to write things that are pertinent and that you all enjoy. No one wants to read a boring blog. ;) Also, I will be attempting to build up the readership a bit more through better planning, more user friendly layout, etc.

What I need from you is a quick feedback response. I have created a survey, (don't worry, it's only 8 super easy questions ;), to help me get responses from you guys. I would love it if you could fill that out! You can find it here, and I'll also send it out via email. 

Speaking of email...if you would prefer to write me an email to give feedback instead, please feel free! My new blog email is makingmusic4themaster@gmail.com

I am so deeply thankful for each and every one of you, and the special ways in which you contribute to this blog, and to my life! This blog wouldn't be here without you guys. (To quote Monsters, Inc., "I wouldn't have nothin' if I didn't have you!") ;P 

Most of all, I am thankful to God for allowing me to start and keep up this blog. It has been such a blessing to me as I study for the posts, and interact with you all...even to meet some new friends through it! I hope to continue Making Music together for as long as The Lord allows. God bless you all! Much love,
Mykaela

Sunday Snippets: 5 Ways You Can be a Godly Giver

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Sorry about the late post this week...the last few days have been a bit crazy with work, etc. :)

I can't believe that Christmas is less than a week away!! I'm always a bit sad when the Christmas season draws to a close; it's my favorite time of year. (As if I haven't already said that. ;)

In this season of giving, so many have a really wrong idea of what it truly means to give in a Godly way. We as Christians need to have our focus on the right things, at Christmas time just as any other time! So what does this mean in practice? Here are five characteristics of a Godly giver. (Note: this verse is usually applied to the aspect of giving to the church in tithes and offerings. However, today I'm going to broaden the application out to include giving in general. :)

• Godly givers purpose in their heart beforehand what they can give. They do not go into debt in order to give extravagant gifts that are beyond their current means. They also put thought into what they do get. Whether they make homemade gifts, or buy them, they consider what they are doing and think about what the recipient of the gift would like or need.

• Godly givers do not give grudgingly. Someone with a Christlike attitude is not going to be saying, "Ugh, I guess. Here. You owe me." They give without expectation or demands for a return gift.

• Going hand in hand with the last one, Godly givers do not give of necessity. They don't only give to someone when that person has done something nice for them, or to "pay off a debt". They give because they truly want to be a blessing to another person!

• Godly givers are cheerful in their sharing. They understand that there is a very specific blessing reserved for those who give in the right way. They give with a joyful heart, knowing that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

• Godly givers do not just give at Christmas or other holidays, nor do they give only to those who are nice to them. They give unselfishly, no matter the person or the circumstances.

Think for a moment about the greatest gift of all time, given by the Father to the world. God did not give His only Son with a sour attitude, but with a love that we can never fathom. Jesus did not give His life grudgingly or of necessity. He owed us nothing. Less than nothing. In fact, we all deserve to perish anyway. And yet He still gave His all in order to rescue us. With such an example before us, how can we not give in the same way? 

This Christmas, I want to challenge you to strive to be a Godly giver. The THINGS you are giving do not matter! If all you can give is a smile, or a hug, or a listening ear...do it with a cheerful heart. God loves and blesses those who give as He did.

I have a four day weekend for Christmas, so I am really excited about that! I look forward to spending time with my family. I hope all of you have a blessed week! What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? <3

Mykaela

Fun Post: November Favorites

I was wondering why I felt like I had just written a favorites post, and then I realized it was because my last one was so ridiculously late, I might as well have just combined it with November. But I didn't. So here we are. ;) I've been...

Reading...
Through the Bible in 30 days! (I posted on that here). Finishing the last verse in Revelation on November 30th was one of the most exciting, fulfilling things I've ever accomplished. It felt so, so good to know that I had stuck it through all the way! I've also been reading Counted With the Stars, by Connilyn Cossette. It's the first book in a series, and this author is a new one for me, but so far I am really enjoying it! The book is about a young Egyptian girl who makes the decision to take refuge with the Hebrews when they leave the land after the devastating plagues. Interesting plot line! 

Writing...
My first Christmas song! I love Christmas so much, and the wonder of God being born as a man is so amazing to me, I figured it was about time that I write about it. ;) 

Travelling...
To Salem, Oregon for Thanksgiving. I had a really good time there, as always. My extended family is extremely large, so we always have a Thanksgiving celebration in a nearby church. They kindly let us use their facilities, which include a MASSIVE gym and industrial kitchen. Since there are usually around 30 or more in our party, it's really nice to have a place like that to spread out, play ball, talk, eat, eat, eat... ;P

Munching on...
Pretzels in ranch. GUYS. THIS IS AMAZING. I can't stop, I need an intervention! ;D And my brother Malachi recently discovered that if you mix mustard and ranch, it makes an EVEN MORE amazing pretzel dip!!! We need to market this stuff. ;)

Listening to...
A LOT of Christmas music. Papa did me the wonderful favor of hanging a hook in the ceiling above my shower so I can hang my bluetooth speaker up while I'm getting ready in the morning. ;) After I listen to several chapters in the audio Bible, I turn on Spotify and hum along to my favorite Christmas playlists! :D It's a lovely way to start the day.

Wearing...
A ton of fuzziness. ;) I have a thing with soft, cozy clothes, and whenever I'm not working these days, I am wearing the coziest, softest things I can get. I have a genuine cashmere sweater that I got at Goodwill for around $4, and am LOVING it. While I could never afford cashmere at retail price, I love the fact that I can still get it cheaply once in a while! ;) Today before I went to work, I actually remembered to switch out my laundry, (don't judge) so when I pulled my furry socks out of the dryer, they were still hot!! Ahh. It's the little things. ;)

Practicing...
A song called "Do You Have Room". A lady in my church asked if I could accompany her on this song, and it is sooo pretty! The best version I can find at the moment is this one. Very sweet words, and the piano accompaniment lends itself to so much feeling and interpretation. :)

Laughing at...
Myself. ;P I got my wisdom teeth out a few days ago, and my dad got some priceless video. Once I got sobered up after the surgery, I was dying of laughter...it seriously was like I was 3 years old again, with no filters! ;) From thinking my stuffed animals had jealousy issues, to telling my dad the definition and pronunciation of "Challah", to laughing and crying hysterically because I "couldn't wipe the corner of my mouth...it's like there's a log in there!", the whole thing was ridiculous. Crazy stuff. You can watch it here. :P


Well, I hope you guys had a great November! We had our first snow yesterday, around 4 inches, so winter is upon us! :) What were your favorites this past month? Any extra special plans for Christmas? Have a great week! 
Mykaela
P.S. Bonus points to anyone who knows the technical term for the coffee drink pictured at the beginning of this post! ;) I love pictures like this. They make me happy.

Fun Post: 20 Thoughts On Turning 20

As some of you know, I turned 20 on October 4th. As an ancient person now, I have some thoughts for all you young'uns. ;P (I am totally joking...my dear great-grandma, who is 96, always says, "I will do _______ when I grow up." That's how I want to be at 96. :) Anyway, I don't have it all together in any way, shape, or form, but I was pondering some things yesterday, and thought I would share them. If only to get them written out for my brain's benefit. ;) Hope you enjoy!

1. Your relationship with the Lord isn't going to suddenly get better as you get older. You have to work on it. You can't just coast along, reading His Word once in a while, and praying at mealtimes and expect to have a close relationship.

2. You have to treasure every day, not just the "special" ones. Though I always love my birthday, I was thinking about how I need to love every day for the blessing that it truly is!

3. You need the advice of those older than you, now more than ever. This process of growing doesn't end until you're with The Lord! Those who have spent their years in growing closer to God truly do have wisdom that you don't yet. 

4. You are not old. ;P There are a lot of people who would give anything to go back and start at their 20th birthday again. Right now is the perfect age! Just as 30 will be the perfect age then! And 40 after that! :) Make the most of the opportunities you have during your current stage of life.

5. Don't be a stick in the mud. Go on adventures!! Be spontaneous once in a while! For goodness' sakes, do something you'll remember for the rest of your life. :)

6. Tell others about Christ. And if you already are doing this, do it more. It will never be a waste. 

7. Drink more water. While I very often fail to take this advice, please do it because it's really important. ;) 

8. Learning new things is awesome! I think sometimes I forget that even though I'm out of school now, I need to be constantly learning new things, preparing myself for whatever God brings into my life. From life skills to being patient with siblings, it is good to have a thirst for knowledge!

9. Don't take anything for granted. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...Don't take anything for granted.

10. I AM NO LONGER A TEEN?!?! What in the world...I no longer have "-teen" at the end of my age? It feels so weird to be 20, I dunno guys... ;P

11. Save! Don't squander your money!! Looking back, I am realizing that if I had been a bit more frugal with my money, and put more away, I would have a lot bigger nest egg than I do right now. It's always good to be prepared for whatever may come along! 

12. I am learning to not sweat the small stuff. I'm LEARNING. ;) But seriously, loosen up a little. If it won't matter a year from now, it's not a biggie.

13. Life is too short to drink bad coffee, watch bad movies, or read bad books.

14. Life is also too short to hold grudges. Let it go.

15. Learn to acknowledge those who are usually overlooked. Smile and say hello to the janitor. Look into that homeless woman's eyes instead of looking through her. Show the love of Christ.

16. Smile!!

17. Be confident. Act in a way that is pleasing to The Lord, and be who He made you to be! Hold your head high (but never your nose). You are valuable and loved by God! Lift up others who struggle with trying to change to meet others' expectations. Let them know who they can be through Christ.

18. Give generously. Of your time, your money, your talents; just give. And if you get hurt, keep giving. Your reward is yet to come!

19. Save everything that you can for your future spouse. :) Don't give away anything that you would be disappointed to learn your future husband had given away. It will be worth it!

20. Pray. Everywhere you go, any time of day, talk to God in your heart. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)

There you have it! Random advice that I've learned in my two decades of life. :) Most that I am still working on. 

Funny story: yesterday I was at work, and a patron came in who comes nearly every day. His name is Jonathan, and he is such a sweet guy with a ready smile and laugh. Jonathan has a developmental problem, so he is simple but so so kind, and I love seeing him come in and chatting with him. Jonathan is absolutely amazing at remembering names...if he meets someone one time, he will remember them and their name forever! Anyway, yesterday he came with a young man who is a friend of his (and works at the home where Jonathan lives), and as they were checking out, Jonathan mentioned that someone he knew had a birthday that day. I told him that I had just had a birthday on Tuesday, and asked him to guess how old I was. His friend laughed and said, "That's a dangerous trap!" ;) Anyway, Jonathan guessed 30, and then hesitatingly went down to 25. Oh, dear. Do I look that old?! :P Haha!! Anyway, when I told him I was 20 now, he congratulated me and said happy birthday, etc. His friend, though, was totally blown away! I asked how old he had thought I was, and after I had promised that I wouldn't be offended, he said, "I legitimately thought you were 25 or 26. You are just very mature, I guess." As promised, I was not offended, but I thought that was so funny! ;)

Anyway, I've rambled long enough here...I hope you all are having as gorgeous an autumn as I am! If you need some incredible music this week, listen to Dan Forrest's Jubilate Deo. I think I'm in love. You can read in the description of the video what the different movements mean and everything...basically it's Psalm 100 in 7 or 8 different languages and music styles, representing the whole earth praising The Lord. It's too beautiful...I don't think I could even take going to a concert of it live (though that is now a dream of mine), I think I would probably go into cardiac arrest from the sheer incredibleness of this piece of music. :) If you want to hear my favorite movement, you can find it here. So much amazing. I hope you all have a lovely week!
Mykaela

Sunday Snippets: The Simple Truth

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Today will probably be a short post. I just want to take the time to thank God for the beautiful simplicity of His great Salvation. As I was falling asleep last night, I was thinking about this concept. There are more aspects and facets to the salvation of a soul than I will probably ever understand. The doctrines of imputation, justification, sanctification, etc., while all true and wonderful to think about, does God require someone to fully grasp and understand each of them before He allows them to be saved?? Of course not!

How precious is it that the God of the universe sent His only Son to do what no human could ever do (For all have sinned…), and though the act of fulfilling the covenant and fully keeping the law was something that we would never completely grasp, He still made His salvation so perfectly simple that even a child could understand it. Even myself as a 10 year old girl, steeped in the blackness of my own sin, had only to turn from sin and call on the name of Jesus Christ, and my life was altered forever! 

I feel like I’m not being very coherent here, but I guess all I’m trying to say is that I marvel at how complex and yet infinitely simple it is for us to be saved. It is the easiest and hardest thing you will ever do, to let go of your pride, selfishness, fear of man, and anything else standing between you and God, and simply ask. Ask to receive the free gift He has offered. Ask Him to save you. Call on the name of The Lord! It is so amazing to me that He has done so much…He has literally done everything for us except for the action of reaching out to take the gift!! Who could reject such an offer? Why would you want to? 

I think one of Satan’s greatest tricks is overcomplicating salvation. He wants it to seem like we aren’t good enough, don’t know enough, haven’t done enough…since when was salvation about any of that? We need to be careful when we present the Gospel that we tell it as it is—Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection paid the fine for the law we have all broken. All we have to do is turn from sin to God. That’s it. He hears the cry of our hearts and answers us! Praise God for His mercy in making such a priceless gift free for the taking. <3

Mykaela

Fun Post! August and September Favorites

Hey, all you fantastic people! :) These past two months have been both wonderful and hectic, which is why I'm lumping two months together in my Favorites post. I can't believe that August is over, and September almost??? What is happening? Also, I'm turning 20 in less than two weeks. WHAT is happening. :D I'm officially ancient now. ;) Anyhoo, here is a little peek into my happenings lately! I've been:

Travelling to...
Oklahoma to visit Kimberly!! I had an absolutely wonderful time. I experienced my first roller coaster, (AWESOME), my first earthquake, (not so awesome...that was never really a bucket list item, but now I can cross it off anyway. ;). I saw four states total, and generally had a blast. Kimberly and I have way too much fun together. We went zip lining, (see a pic of that on my new Who I Am page), rode water rides till we were wringing wet, and chose that time to take a cave tour, so we both got hypothermia I think... ;) We ate lots of junk food, of course, and sang loudly and badly through our Les Mis and Sound of Music playlists. Such fun! :)

Reading...
"The Penderwicks" series by Jeanne Birdsall again. This is a series that I can't fully recommend every page of, (due to some boyfriend girlfriend silliness at 13 years of age. Pssh.) It is, however, a very sweet series about a hilarious family...I have read them a couple times over the past few years, and always liked them. I've read a couple other books too, but they have flown my brain right now for some reason.

Baking...
Cinnamon Roll Cake with Cream cheese frosting. Oh my goodness, guys. I'm terrible. :O This cake is SO STINKING GOOD!!! You can find the recipe here if you don't have any thoughts of eating healthy. I do, but chose to ignore those thoughts for the occasion of this cake. ;P

Wishing For...
A Journaling Bible! I really want one of these (in KJV, obviously), so I can practice Bible journaling in a separate place from my main Bible. I have seen the coolest examples of people that are way better than I'll ever be, but still...doesn't hurt to practice, right?

Getting Excited About...
The group we have coming down from Alaska in October! We have about 20 people coming to help us do a mass outreach here in Wenatchee over one weekend. We are housing quite a few of them at our place, and some at a rental house. I think it will be really good! I'm excited to meet everyone, and get so much outreach done in a very short time. Also in October, I am going to Wyoming, Oak Harbor, and Sumas, WA, for various conferences and retreats. Really looking forward to that!

Loving...
The smell of fall in the air. Septembers here are the most perfect, glorious weather you could imagine. 70 degrees, sparkling skies with a couple of fluffy clouds, just enough chill in the morning to make the leaves start changing...perfection. I love fall. :)

Discovering...
A new coffee and cupcake place, about 7 minutes walk from work, that sells a 24 OUNCE hot Breve. (My go-to at any coffee shop). Ohhhh, snap. Most places don't sell anything larger than 16 oz. in hot drinks! And they are SO cheap, too!! Like cheaper than Dutch Bros., which is way cheaper than Starbucks. I am going to be walking down there on lunch break a lot. ;)

Learning...
"A Living Sacrifice" with the ladies at church. Such a pretty song, with gorgeous parts. I am working hard on perfecting the accompaniment, and have already memorized the soprano part so I don't have to be constantly looking back and forth between that and the piano section. Singing parts is just sooo fun and special for me. 

Listening to...
A song I found by Charlie Siem, entitled "Canopy". It is amazing. You can listen to it here. The first part, with all the pizzicato on the strings, makes me miss being in orchestra so bad!! 


Visiting...
Ikea, for the first time in over 5 years. Wow, guys. I forgot how incredibly large and interesting that store is! Just a word of advice from a friend, though...do not go to Ikea when your dad is gone, so you and your mom have to herd 7 children through Ikea in Seattle. Slightly stressful. Actually, a lot stressful. ;P

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And that wraps it up for today! I hope to be able to do a Favorites post for just October, but we'll see. It's going to be a really crazy month with travel and everything. I hope you all are doing great...what have been some of your favorites this past month?
Mykaela