so what's all this about? well...This changes everything.

On August 2nd, Matt Papa will release his new album, "This Changes Everything." While you may be wondering what "this" is, you are sure to find out by the first track.

Because Matt and his band desire to reach others for Christ above anything else, the CD revolves around nothing less than the selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love of Jesus Christ. The unbelievable reality that Jesus Christ, who had never sinned, would die out of love for my sins and your sins can be found throughout the entirety of the album. Whether you have been a Christian for fifty years or don't know anything about Jesus Christ, this is a message of hope, joy, and purpose...don't miss it. Furthermore, this reality should change everything about our lives. Not just who our friends are, how we spend our time, or what we do with our lives but everything.

The opening tract, "Our Sovereign God"reflects upon God's power and rule above all things.  My personal favorite, "One Thing," is a reminder that Jesus is the only "one thing worth everything" and that a life sought after Him is more fulfilling than anything. Released as a single a few months ago, "It is Finished" is a beautiful portrait of the love and mercy that flows from Jesus' blood on the cross. "What Are We Waiting For" was a much needed reminder for myself that while I may worry about God's will for my life, His ultimate will is that I go and tell others about him. "O Fount Of Love" is a beautiful hymn that exposes the adoption process a believer goes through when he or she is transformed from a slave of sin into a son or daughter of God. While these are just a few of the tracks found on the album, all of the songs remind me of how un-fulfilling the ways of the world are and how sufficient and fulfilling Jesus is! I pray this changes everything about me.

Even if you aren't usually into "Christian music," I encourage you to check out  "This Changes Everything." Whether you buy one song or the entire album, you may experience a sense of hope, joy, and purpose you have never experienced before.

So...log onto itunes on August 2nd to purchase your copy of "This Changes Everything" or check out mattpapa.com right now to pre order and receive some exclusive and exciting offers! I am making you one of the only promises I can't make in life...you won't be disappointed because This (Jesus Christ) changes everything.

If you still have questions, listen to Matt talk about the heart behind "This Changes Everything." Cool hair, huh?

I (sort of) made a cake...

So long story short, I made a cake! Well, actually me and the girls I have been babysitting made a cake together and I either helped with or watched each step so I feel like I may be able to make it on my own if I had to. (In addition to the delicious Oreo pie we made this week that I almost ruined the pudding while making.)This was a big deal for two reasons

1) I am notorious for being less than domesticated (they even told me so.)

2) This was the best cake ever...Why do you ask? It was rainbow!

My sister had made her own rainbow cake yesterday and when she sent a picture to us we decided we  wanted to make a cake too and thought why not make our own rainbow cake?

So we searched for "rainbow cake recipes" and this was the first one that popped up!
Click Here

We used traditional food coloring instead of the gel and we actually didn't have icing at the time so their mom got them some on the way home so I didn't actually get to help with the finishing touches. Although it did crack after we took it out of the oven and the blue and green kind of mixed into one color, I wanted to share some pictures because it is such a fun, simple, and yummy recipe.

"Can't touch this" 

My Mom didn't believe I had any part in baking  a cake. Here's the poof Mama. :)

 Bless their hearts, they were hungry!

"Finished" product.













Happy cake baking!

music...one way God speaks to me.

Music is one of the many ways in which God speaks to us! This is something I have become more aware of as many of the songs I have recently listened to give me such peace and joy as well as a better understanding of who Jesus is and who I'm not! I just wanted to share a couple of my favorite songs right now. I pray they would encourage and speak to you as they have done to me!

"Christ is Risen" Matt Maher

"Oh Glorious Day" (Living He loved me) Casting Crowns

 

 "Glory to God Forever" Fee

 

 

 "Your Love Never Fails" Jesus Culture

"It is Finished" Matt Papa

"All I need is You" Hillsong United 

"I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." -Psalm 104:33

"a peace that passes all understanding..."

 I have felt God's peace and presence in my life recently more than I ever have before. I never knew that my convictions could be so freeing. Over the past couple of months, He has shown me two specific things. 1) I give too much of my attention to material things...I must find my fulfillment in Christ alone and not those pair of shoes I am "dying" to have. 2)I shouldn't "serve God" to make myself look like a "better Christian" (I don't believe there is such a thing) but rather I should feel so compelled by His death for a wretch like me that I want to display "thank you" to Him in every aspect of my life.

While these are things I have heard preached time and time again, God has shaped them into the desires of my heart. As he convicts me of areas in my life that need transforming, yes, there is regret for my sin, but there is excitement knowing that God in his grace can change me from the inside out. With that being said, this requires me too put one hundred and ten percent of my faith in him and not in my own strength like I try to do all the time. Even the smallest glimpse of Who He is and who I am not can compel me to trust His ways and not my own. While my faith may be small, (maybe even smaller than a mustard seed at this point), it has to be in Him...noONE or noTHING else. There have been several instances lately in which I have seen how even if we try to plan things on our own, even down to the finest details,  God is the most beautiful and ONLY perfect planner there is! Nonetheless, there are things in my life I still worry about and therefore am ridiculous enough to try and control on my own.

I am sorry if this post is all over the place but as the Holy Spirit constantly reminds me of my constant need for the Lord, I have to write about how HE he is changing me! I know that I have been consumed with my own selfish desires for far too long and it is my desire that He becomes my number one desire.

"So as to live the rest of the time in flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
1 Peter 4:2


Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
Matthew 22:37