Mark here. Been a few weeks since my last post. I have been busy at work etc.

Wanted to make a quick entry to mention that today is Liz and I's two month anniversary. Yay!! I will write a longer post later but needless to say, it has been an amazing two months! I have experienced a joy I never thought possible with a girlfriend. I love you Liz so much!!!!

That is all for now. More later this week. Swof out.

MmmBop

Yesterday I was looking through youtube for the old old songs that I used to listen to when I was in primary school… best-ness…

Among others there is one particular singer I will never forget…That’s Jordan Taylor Hanson… more known as Taylor, the middle sibling of the band Hanson. And of course, my favorite. When I was younger, I daydreamed about us Mmmboping through life together. But God had different plans for me. There is no one I would rather Mmmbop with than Mark Swofford. Taylor felt the same, got married and has four kids already (all with weird names by the way). It all worked out : )

You have so many relationships in this life
Only one or two will last
You go through all this pain and strife
Then you turn your back and they're gone so fast
And they're gone so fast
So hold on to the ones who really care
In the end they'll be the only ones there
When you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care?
Can you tell me who will still care?

Chorus:
Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du

Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du

Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose
You can plant any one of those
Keep planting to find out which one grows
It's a secret no one knows
It's a secret no one knows

In an mmm bop they're gone.
In an mmm bop they're not there.
In an mmm bop they're gone.
In an mmm bop they're not there.
Until you lose your hair. But you don't care.


Can you tell me? You say you can but you don't know.
Can you tell me which flower's going to grow?
Can you tell me if it's going to be a daisy or a rose?
Can you tell me which flower's going to grow?
Can you tell me? You say you can but you don't know.

What I am thankful for

Mark here. Was trying to think of a blog topic and then I suddenly starting feeling really blessed. I thought: I should talk about all the things I am thankful / blessed to have. Good sometimes to just sit back and realize how much God has blessed us.
So here is a list of things I am thankful for:

Jesus Christ - First off, Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit. Without him, my life would not be the same. I try everyday to put him first in my life, and am thankful that he forgives me when I fail at that task many a time. Quite often as a Christian, we fail him & fall on our face. This happens more than we like to admit. But the reason God is #1 is that everytime we fall into that pit, we can know that as we look up his hand is always there to pick us back up. As my Sunday School teacher reminded us recently, nothing we can do will make him love us any less or more. From the moment we are saved, from that day forward, we can receive his full and wonderful love everyday. Praise be to him!

Liz - A new addition to the list but wow what an addition! I love this girl with all my heart and mind, and now I can't imagine life with her. She is my rock and my constant from day to day. She is the most amazing, beautiful, sweet, caring, loving, smart girlfriend I could ask for and is better than I could ever imagine is possible. Will expand on Liz in a future post to come soon....because otherwise this section would be really, really long : )

My family - All my family is amazing but this goes out especially to Mom, Dad, Tim, and Nikki. I love you guys more than I can ever express. I have gotten so used to having such a great family....that I forget not everyone has such good luck. They have been there through the good and bad (and good and bad jokes lol), and I am so grateful for them. As I think on this, sending special prayers out to those whose family situations are not so great and praying God puts a special hand on those people.

Friends - To all my friends, I am so grateful for being with me for the laughing and the crying....and the craziness and stupidity lol. From the friends I've had since high school, to my church friends, to work friends, to new friends, to Facebook/Twitter friends even! Everyone has meant something to me in their own special way, and I am so thankful for all of them. Wouldn't trade them for anything!

The Byrd family - Even though I have know them only a short time, they have been a blessing in my life. And this even though I have only met 4 out of the 6 on Skype lol. (James & Liz are the lucky in person members!) I can see the love of family and the love of the Lord in their lives, and can't wait to meet the Greg, Kim, Lottie, and Emma in real life someday soon!

America - I think people, like myself, who have lived in the USA their whole life forget how great we have it. Are we are a perfect country? Of course not. But I love this country and don't have any urge to leave. I heard Rush Limbaugh say once that can you think of many other country that has only been around 230 years....and risen to such a position as ours. Does that mean other nations are bad or that you can't live wonderful lives in another country? Again of course not. But for me, I am proud to be an American! As an American, I love our Constitution, Bill of Rights, democracy, freedom (religion, speech), voting, political discourse, and natural beauty. I'm sure I am forgetting some things, but those are some reasons.

Church - I am so grateful for First Baptist, the worship experienced there, and all the people I have met throughout the years. From friends to Sunday School teachers to just random church members....and of course the love of my life, Liz : ). I have been in different classes with different teachers and all have blessed me in their own unique way. Each and every service, worship time, musical etc is a gift from God. And also to the churches I have visited over the years, thank you for your blessings of worship.

And for now for some things I am thankful for that are little more light hearted:
Disney & Walt Disney World - How can you not love Disney World?!
Disney fan community - From websites, to podcasts, to books, to magazines...all informative and some of the nicest people you will meet in the online universe.
TV - While I understand how it has led to less exercise, less social interaction etc....man there are some good shows!
Sports - Something to watch/experience that requires no thought if you so desire.
Free roads - I have to take two toll roads to get into Rockwall. Weak.
Air conditioning - Two words: Texas summer

That's all I got for now. Hope you enjoy. Swof out.

God's Will vs Mine

I was raised to be strong. I was raised to follow a strong Lord. Off on my own though, I have trailed on a path that has led me to be in a continuous battle with my flesh. I woke up around 4 this morning, and have been searching for versus to battle my will. I need to redirect my strong will to the course God has predestined me to follow. The spirit led me till two this afternoon, to these verses of truth that I have read before, and are even highlighted in my bible. My struggles are not a matter of ignorance, but the lack of ability for me to release control. Here they are:

· "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14:6

· "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord.
'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

· "Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways." Psalm 128:1

· "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14

· "... whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father...." Mark 8:36-38

· "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

· "You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways." Isaiah 64:5

· "But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
"Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,' says the Lord God." Ezekiel 18:24-30

· "And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

· "But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me.
So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels.
Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!
I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries." Psalm 81:11-14

· "For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’" Psalm 95:9

· "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways,
As a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching God.
'Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’" Isaiah 58:1-3

· "You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words.
I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word.
I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies." Psalm 119:57-59

· "To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You....
Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day." Psalm 25:1-5

· "Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land;" Psalm 37:34

· "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Corinthians 1:27-30

· "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil." Proverbs 3:5-7

· "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 16:18-19

· "...for men to search their own glory is not glory." Proverbs 25:27

· "...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.... And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-2

· "I say... to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly...." Romans 12:1-3

· "...be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

· "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:5-8

· "When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments... lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them... your heart is lifted up ....then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’...

· "...you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth....Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 8:10-20

· "For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:16-17

· "'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9