Berto..

Gloomy day. #photography #iphone #iphoneography #instagood...

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:15:51 -0800

Gloomy day. #photography #iphone #iphoneography #instagood #instagram (Taken with instagram)

My little goon. Love him. I might not go home. #love #lifeisgood...

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:09:52 -0800

My little goon. Love him. I might not go home. #love #lifeisgood #family #iphone (Taken with instagram)

My brain after midnight.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:42:52 -0800

So it’s been a while since I used tumblr. Since I blogged. Since I’ve written anything down of substance on… well.. anything..

I’ve been “busy”..

following Gods direction, building relationships, having 3 jobs, serving at my church alongside the youth pastor trying to make youth happen every Sunday night, having ALL my family be more than 600 miles away, and having most of my closest friends be that same distance as well, paying bills, trying to remember to eat, writing songs, filling up the gas tank… ok. So the list goes on.

That’s a synopsis of my life right now. Fairly normal if you ask me. So what am I getting at. Don’t worry.. there is a point to all this. At least I hope I make a point.

In all the busy-ness of my life. In all the wonderful things I am blessed to do. I find myself almost too busy to enjoy it. Too busy to write (which is crazy for me.) I honestly don’t really know how that is even possible. I honestly love what I do. From leading worship on a Sunday night at youth, to hours of editing pictures on Photoshop, even stacking boxes in the backroom at Target. I love what I do.

I think somewhere back a few months ago I forgot this little nugget of wisdom. This small little basic principle of life. Something so simple yet so easy to suppress and procrastinate to do….

REST.

I get completely absorbed with having things to do that I forget to stop, think, and rest. I don’t know why but it’s so easy for me to forget that. I think it happens to a lot of us. We get so caught up with trying to make a life that we forget to live one as well. I don’t want to wake up when I’m 36 and realize I didn’t take full advantage of every day in the past decade. (oh crap… that means I’m 26 now… ok.. I’m gonna throw up real quick.) ……annnnddd I’m back.. anyway.. I want to be busy. Honestly, I like being busy. But I don’t want to be so involved with the go go go of life that I can’t take a moment to breathe and let life run in slow motion. Let every sound around me cease so I can be still and really wait on God.

Maybe this is just me realizing I’m 26 and that life is happening way too fast. Maybe it’s the fact that I feel like I need a holiday right now or I might implode. I’m not sure.. All I know is that God gives me rest (Psalm 62:5) and peace, but only if I let Him. So… I need to do just that.

So take a breather every once in a while. I know I need to. Stop and thank God for all He gives you. Cause it’s quite a bit.

What makes this post ironic is that about 4 or 5 posts ago I said I wanted to write a post about Rest and how busy life can be ….that was in June. HA! Obviously I didn’t get around to it until 6 months later… but, that’s how important REST is! Don’t get caught up.

HAHA. awesome. photojojo: Know the Warning Signs of Art! We...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:28:14 -0800

HAHA. awesome.

photojojo:

Know the Warning Signs of Art! We hear doodling is the gateway to illustration.

By Team Detroit; via Devin Castro

Eight Days a Week - Beatles (cover)

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:27:04 -0700

Eight Days a Week - Beatles (cover)

Doing covers of some more songs. I just had to do this song!!

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:12:24 -0700

Doing covers of some more songs. I just had to do this song!!

Just a thought.

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:36:50 -0700

“Life is funny. God is wild. Just when you think you know.. You realize you have no idea.”

Thats what was running through my head while I was running tonight.

God likes to keep me on my toes. We have a good relationship. He has a great sense of humour with me. Letting me think I’m in control and then truly show me I’m not. it’s fun.

He also likes to reveal parts about Himself that show His grace, mercy, love, and compassion in my life. Just seeing His evident hand in my life. How could I not love God.

Life.. is.. GOOD.

picture I took at the Hillsong album recording for FAITH HOPE...

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:13:47 -0700

picture I took at the Hillsong album recording for FAITH HOPE LOVE.

Wed: schedule appointment for rest.

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:19:39 -0700

Time for rest always ends up being a needle in a haystack

I’ve been wanting to write a million things. a million posts. about a million things this week, BUT I just can’t find the time to sit, actually concentrate, and write out my thoughts. funny enough.. one of the posts I want to write is about Rest. the irony is killing me. or is it the lack of rest/breaks? either way. I’m very thankful for the busy, fun, humorous, incredible life God has graced me with. it’s a good one. I’m gonna find time to sit and write thoughts.. I will.. I WILL!! but for now… I’m enjoying all that I have the privilege to be a part of.

So true. So so true.

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:32:00 -0700

So true. So so true.

seize the day.

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:07:29 -0700

seize the day.

Took this shot in Feb. at the Santa Monica pier, CA. California....

Mon, 23 May 2011 19:40:23 -0700

Took this shot in Feb. at the Santa Monica pier, CA.

California. I can’t wait to see you again!

Take all of me

Sat, 14 May 2011 23:45:02 -0700

The lyrics of this song came out of a very honest point I had in my relationship with God. I knew I had lost trust in Him. I knew I had been planning my own plans and they weren’t with Him. I knew He still loved me. He still loves me and I am His. I had to give up who I was and hand it over to God. His control at times seems chaotic, but trust me it’s still good. He’s still glorified. Surrendering all to Him is easier said than done, but completely worth it.

Sooo here are the lyrics…

- Take all of me -

Precious Blood
that bought my sin
cleared my past
and loved within
within my heart
removed my pain
restored my hope
brought life again

though I’ve been lost
through selfish gain
I’ve ran so far
God your love remains
Your Love surrounds
Your Love prevails
Your Love protects
it NEVER fails

How could I
ever repay
Your love so strong
in every way
I lift my hands
they’re Yours for good
I worship You
You oh Lord

Jesus take my heart and take my life
I surrender all I am and all my pride
let Your Love fill my heart with your desires
and Your Spirit burn in me an endless fire
take all of me

I seriously just found my dream home. less white, more log cabin...

Mon, 09 May 2011 23:25:08 -0700

I seriously just found my dream home. less white, more log cabin style, but still.

A song my buddy Aizaiah and I wrote, performed, and recorded for...

Mon, 09 May 2011 02:00:31 -0700

A song my buddy Aizaiah and I wrote, performed, and recorded for our 2011 youth Winter camp a few months ago. Song called - Elevated.

Found this in a little box in my closet. I like it.

Sun, 08 May 2011 00:24:52 -0700

Found this in a little box in my closet. I like it.

Hurry up and wait.

Tue, 03 May 2011 02:10:27 -0700

“Hurry up and wait.”

Story of my life… But its an important step that is leading me, and has been leading me, towards the exact place that God wants me to be.

It’s funny because sometimes we can (and when I say “we can” I mainly mean myself) tend to wonder why things are going a certain way, usually negative. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever really wondered.. “ugh why is all this good stuff happening to me?” It’s usually the negative we stop and question. What I’m trying to say is that I’ve noticed doors shutting in my face over and over in the past few months or maybe even years, and I’m starting to understand that it’s not that God doesn’t want these things for me. Obviously I know God has great things in store for me, but rather the doors are shutting because I keep trying to open them. And it’s not as if I am sitting around thinking to myself “how can I undermine Gods work in my life so that I can try to do it myself?” No not at all! I don’t think that and I hope no one thinks that! BUT I know there have been times where I have thought… “hmm this looks like fun, I’m just gonna go for it” without really seeking God’s heart in it and His direction in it. That’s where I shoot myself in the foot.

Patience.

I feel like that word is forever haunting me. I’m pretty glad it is though. I’ve come to understand that the times I’m not patient are the times I try and open the doors on my own. It’s funny too, because I think God lets things happen at times Just to see what I do. Every time it ends the same way. Opportunities disappear, doors close, relationships end etc… Basically, I don’t get what I thought I was going to get. ha. Patience is key. It always has been and I guess my head is just really thick that it takes a few times for me to really understand that. I’m getting it though. God is good. He does want whats best for me. and I’ll wait for as long as I have to for whatever it is He’s got up His sleeve for me.

So one thing I always try to remind myself of is that patience doesn’t really mean you get what you wait for. It also doesn’t mean you complain while you wait. It means you WAIT. So be patient and be faithful because God is patient with you and faithful to you.

I’m pretty much talking to myself, but if this rings true in your heart than run with it.

theworldwelivein: Misty Merced (by Chauncer)

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:24:53 -0700

theworldwelivein:

Misty Merced (by Chauncer)

up top the space needle in Seattle. I got up just in time to get...

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:48:37 -0700

up top the space needle in Seattle. I got up just in time to get this shot and watch an incredible sunset.

on my sisters wedding day. The flower girl and ring bearer...

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:33:57 -0700

on my sisters wedding day. The flower girl and ring bearer became friends.