Something Beautiful

Last night was the night I had been waiting for for a few months, the NEEDTOBREATHE concert!!  I had an absolutely awful day at work yesterday, I mean awful, so I was so grateful that we had a fun night planned.  Normally, our Friday nights consist of watching a movie and going to bed, but this was an event people.  After I got home from work, I put on my cute clothes and we headed out for a date night with Needtobreathe.  I can honestly say, it was one of the best shows I have been to.  They have such raw talent, it's amazing.  We had great seats, which is also a rarity for me at concerts.  Usually I am looking on from the top of Mt. Everest, but not last night.  No, I was 9 rows back!  It was a smallish theater, not the huge arenas I am used to and this made for a great concert experience.   I loved every single second of it.  I even think Brandon enjoyed it and he is not a huge music junkie.  Last night was truly a treat and I can't wait to see them again. 

P.S. Sorry the pictures are blurry.  I didn't want to use a flash in the middle of the show.

    

Music to my Ears: The Civil Wars

For your latest installment of Music to my Ears, I am digging The Civil Wars.  Their haunting melodies and simplistic style are so refreshing.  In a world of autotuned music and meaningless lyrics, The Civil Wars are a breath of fresh air.  Right now, I adore their new collaboration with Taylor Swift Safe and Sound.  I'm finding more and more that I really love folk-ish music.  I just love the pure sound, with no gimmicks, just the music.  So here are a few of my favorites from The Civil Wars.  Enjoy!

Drum Roll Please

Ok girls it's time to announce the winner of my very first giveaway, so excited!  I was so pumped about it that I had my hubby make a fun vlog for you to announce the winner, he is so goofy.  You even get a sneak of Piper (trying to eat the winner, what's new).  So...drum roll please..........

The winner of the new Elevation Worship album is k. elizabeth from A Million Little Somethings.  Congratulations!!  I can't wait for you to listen to the album!  Please send me your mailing address to cfbrown814@gmail.com and I will put it in the mail to you!  WOOOHOOO!

My Very First Giveaway

Hi Friends!  I have been wanting to do a giveaway on here for a long long time.  Since it is the holiday season and all, I am feeling in a very giving mood.  So here you go, for my very first giveaway ever on this little blog...

 

 Elevation Worship's Newest Album, For the Honor

My church, Elevation Church, has some of the most talented worship leaders in the world.  Back in February I had the privilege to attend the recording of this live album, For the Honor.  It was one of the most powerful nights of worship I have ever experienced.  They wrote every song on the album, which makes it even more special.  I thought this would be a great giveaway!  Also, proceeds from the album go to support Compassion International.  So here you go!  

How to Enter:

1. Follow this blog.

2. Go to the Elevation Worship Blog and tell me which video is your favorite (songs start about 3 videos down)

3. Follow me on Twitter 
4. Tweet about this giveaway, you can tweet @christina323 and @elevation_wrshp too

Please leave a comment for each entry.  I will draw the winner on Dec. 1.  So get to entering! 

Ain't No Party Like a T-Swift Party

Last week the night I have been waiting for for an entire year finally arrived...the Taylor Swift concert, duh!  I was so excited and I was in need of a night of fun.  Originally, she was scheduled to play in Charlotte in July, but she got sick so it was postponed.  My sister was supposed to go with me, it is one of our favorite shared joys, but when it was rescheduled for a Wednesday night she was not able to leave college to make the trip.  No worries though, my sweet Mom came with me!  Another thing that made me so excited about this concerts was that NeedToBreathe was opening for her.  Two of my favorite music artists on one night, I was in heaven.  P.s. we just bought our NeedtoBreathe tickets for their headlining show in March, super stoked about that.      

If you know anything about me, you know that Taylor Swift is one of my favorite people in the world.  She is so genuine and I can relate to any music she writes.  She knows how to speak to a woman's heart and express what we are all feeling.  Needless to say, her concert was amazing, even from three rows from the top of the arena.  I tried to convince Brandon to make the flight to NYC on Tuesday for her final show, but he said no.  Why you gotta be so mean?!  Anyways here are the best shots I could get from the top of Mt. Everest.

 

Stand in Line

All these victims
Stand in line for
The crumbs that fall from the table
Just enough to get by
All the while
Your invitation
Wake on up from your slumber
Come on open up your eyes 

                        -NEEDTOBREATHE

Needless to say The Reckoning has been dominating my car rides lately.  Let me just say, the car is my jammin' out place.  It's where I pretend I'm on stage and sing my lungs out.  Music really speaks to me and whenever I hear a new song or new album I really try to listen to the lyrics and try to get the meaning out of the words.  Well I was listening to Slumber today on NeedtoBreathe's new album today and I've heard it several times already, but when I was really listening today the lyrics above got me thinking.  

We are all these victims.  We stand in line to accept only the crumbs that fall from the table.  We are only looking for enough to get by, but is this what Christ wants for us.  I think not.  We can get so blinded by our need to survive and forget how much more God wants for our lives.  We continuously settle for the bare minimum in life and forget that the greatest invitation is waiting on us each day.  We don't have to settle for the crumbs because Christ has an entire feast waiting on us, we just need to wake up and open up our eyes.  

It's amazing how a few lines of a song can really speak to a much greater picture.  It triggers things that you may forget in the daily drum of life.  This is something I want to work on.  I want to continuously seek out God's will for my life and to never settle for a ho-hum world.  I want to wake up to the excellence I know is waiting on me. 

Music to my Ears: Acapella and New Albums

It's been a while since I have posted in Music to my Ears, but this week is a great week for music. First, one of my favorite genres of music is acapella. While in college one of my favorite annual dates with Brandon was going to see the Grains of Time, our school's amazing acapella group. Then when I graduated college and an amazing new show came along, The SingOff! Well folks, it is back for it's third season and it premiered last night. If you didn't watch you need to start because it is ah-mazing! I fell in love with the all women's group Delilah. Talk about girl power! Loved it. Here is a video for your viewing pleasure.

In other music news, the new NeedtoBreathe album, The Reckoning, debuted today!  I preordered it so it automatically downloaded into my Itunes.  I am currently listening to it!  Anyhoo, happy listening!

Freedom is Here

Last night Brandon, my parents, and myself had the privilege to go to the Hillsong United concert in Greensboro!  It was beyond amazing.  If you don't know who Hillsong United is, they are a worship band from Australia who writes most of the popular worship music used all over the world.  They have such a heart for Christ and for worship.  It was so freeing to be in a huge arena full of people worshiping the same amazing God.  We are so privileged to be able to worship freely. There are so many people across this world who cannot openly express the joy they have in Christ.  We get to do this whenever we want, which is something that is too often taken for granted.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend a major worship event like a Hillsong United concert I highly recommend you take advantage of it.  The experience is priceless. 

Project 31 Day 6: Jaded Beauty

Day 6: Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?

 Every day the world's idea of beauty impacts my idea of beauty.  Women are bombarded on a daily basis with what the world believes is beauty.  Size 2, blonde, blemish and cellulite free, sex kitten, quiet and unheard, the list goes on and on.  I think one of the main ways that the world has jaded my idea of beauty is that beauty is only a physical characteristic.  A woman's beauty is not seen in her confidence or ability to stand up for herself, her independence, or her intelligence.  

Growing up, I was a goody-goody and a little nerdy.  These adjectives are not a part of the world's definition of beauty.  I grew up thinking that I could not be both confident and strong and be beautiful.  I did not see my beauty until I was much older, like in the last couple of years.  I still struggle with trying to fit into the world's narrow keyhole of beauty and often wonder why I even try.  I still have days where I let the world define my beauty.  I don't want to be defined by the world's sense of beauty; I want to be defined by my creator's idea of beauty.  Being a virtuous, faithful, strong woman of the Lord who sees herself as fearfully and wonderfully made.  For I am a masterpiece in the eyes of my Creator, whereas here I might be ordinary or lacking in the beauty department.  I want to be fearless, inspired, healthy, strong, bold, not size 2, sex kitten, unrealistic, and expected.  

 

Music to my Ears

Hey everyone and welcome to another installment of Music to my Ears!  I know that I am way late getting on this train but I am falling in love with NeedtoBreathe!  And I just found out that they are opening Taylor Swift's tour, which my sister and I will be attending in two short weeks, eeek!  Anyways, this song encouraged me today, so here you go, Something Beautiful.

The Good Life

I went to eat at Chick-fil-a last night and as I was ordering I hear the customer beside me ask the cashier how he was doing.  The cashier's response caught my ear and caught a cord in my heart.  He said "I'm blessed, so I'm good".  Now, the common response would be the expected "I'm fine", but his response really struck me and I felt convicted.  

This past week has been somewhat stressful and I find myself becoming pessimistic and dwelling on the things I lack.  Does anyone else have moments, days, weeks like this?    I know we all deal with it, but it is our mindset that can determine how we work through it.  By the cashier saying he's blessed, it made me realize that I have been so focused on what I don't have that I forget about how blessed I am.  I think if we could train our minds and actions to answer to automatically filter out the negative thoughts and focus on the blessing, we would have much better days, at least I would.  Easier said than done, right?  It is mindblowing to me how the Lord can use a simple action from a somewhat routine experience to speak to me.  Furthermore, to solidify that God was trying to tell me something I hear the above song on my way home, Good Life by OneRepublic.  I mean this really is the good life, what do I have to complain about?  I love these lyrics, particularly:

Hopelessly
I feel like there might be something that I'll miss
Hopelessly
I feel like the window closes oh so quick
Hopelessly
I'm taking a mental picture of you now
'Cuz hopelessly
The hope is we have so much to feel good about

Thank you Lord for speaking to me through unordinary yet ordinary means and I pray that I would continue to listen to your calling and to seek you through my mindset and actions.  I pray that I would focus on the blessing, so that I may be a blessing to someone else.  Thank you for your steadfast patience with my selfish heart and I pray that You would continue to mold me into the woman You want me to be.    

Project 31 Day 3: Stay Beautiful

Day 3: Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?

 Ok, I know it said "someone you know", but I have to write this post about someone who is inspiring from far away.  It might sound cheesy, but Taylor Swift really does inspire beauty.  She is as genuine as she is talented and obviously gorgeous.  She truly is a positive role model for young girls and does not fall into the mainstream life of stardom.  Even though she is a couple of years younger than me she is inspiring to me.  She is not afraid to be herself in an industry that so often calls women to be objectified and to fit into a sexualized mold.  She inspires women of all ages to be comfortable in their own skin and to believe that beauty is not a one-size-fits-all quality.  Her songs are positive, without cursing or derogatory lyrics and she is not afraid to speak her mind, which is something I would like to be able to do more often.  Her music is so relevant for women and for what women struggle with.  I really do admire her for taking the risk to be a different type of female celebrity and for being a fearless woman.  Taylor Swift is my favorite musician and a woman that inspires beauty from the inside out.  So, even though I do not know Taylor Swift personally I do respect her platform as an artist and what she stands for when it comes to beauty.  Keep it up Taylor because you are inspiring the beauty within me and so many other women around the world.  I'll see you in concert July 8!

 

 

Music to my Ears

This is The Church by Elevation Worship.  This is my prayer and represents a desire to serve others for our Savior. 

We are the change
the world is waiting for
We've got a love
the world is desperate for
We will lead
and take to your streets


Now's the time for us to rise
and carry hope and let love shine
and show this world that mercy is alive

Now's the time for us to rise
and carry hope to hopeless eyes
and show this world that mercy is alive

We're not afraid
we will abandon all
to hear your name
on lips across the world
we will run
in the wake of your love

Fill our hearts with your compassion
let our love be active here

Music to my Ears

Here you go!  This is a new band, Wind & Willow, who hail from right here in NC.  My favorite part is that this was filmed on NCSU's campus, brings back memories.  It's long, but worth the listen.  Plus there is a free download HERE to try to promote their music.  Enjoy!

Music to my Ears

Here's another edition of Music to my Ears, for your listening enjoyment.  This is Taylor Swift covering Mumford & Sons "White Blank Page".  I think this is amazing and she's my favorite!  

Music to my Ears

Here is one of my favorite songs from Elevation Worship.  Thought I would share it.  Enjoy!