white lights in the .young oceans

i'm in bed next to a snoring dog.

i'll admit i kinda don't mind it. 

i kind of like it.

.her breath is warming my arm

she keeps me cozy 

this girl o' mine. 

but.. . i am stuck awake. 

stupid headache. 

stupid 11:30. 

stupid excedrin. 

______________________

so here's what's happening 

______________________

with each passing day 

it's nearing Christmas. 

I'm not such a fan. 

all the stores seem to forget that Thanksgiving is next
.. . not the December holiday. 

so this [pictured to the left] 

is how i'm adjusting 

.tossing up some white lights in my bedroom. 

total ghetto style.

when December does finally roll around, I won't be so shell shocked. 

we'll see how well this works. 

colored lights in a week or so, if needed. 
but i'm thinking that's just crazy talk. 

________________________________________________________________________________

Two reasons this hit my heart. 

1.  Love the way he describes the class. 

     .the discussion. 

     .the thoughtful back and forth. 

     .the questioning 

     .it is a snapshot into my daily life. 

2. the first This ______________ .. .watch it. 

______________________________________________________________________________

Young Oceans
give them a .Listen

Joyful about 2014.2015

My year is just about to start.. . and I am excited ... happy for so many reasons. 

September marks the beginning of 2014-2015. 
A brand new year that I have placed in God's hands. 
This year's class is going to keep me on my toes and I am looking forward to it.

Some more daily blessings. 

1. Falling leaves. 
Some on my lawn actually CHANGING COLOR already. 
The true mark of the season soon arriving.

2. More Bethel Music - This is what You Do. 

and 3. Rend Collective - Joy

Let me be singing when the evening comes

i can't even chose a couple of lyrics to highlight as my favorite.
for different reasons, every few lines hit my heart.
in the best way.
very. best.

Rend Collective has created a breath.taking version of this song. 
What a blessing.





lyrics.

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

i see .You

a while ago, i watched a strange
.. . albeit memorable and unique ben affleck movie .To The Wonder
one line hung on my heart since watching it. 

i've always believed it to be true.

even on the worst days, there will always be one, sometimes barely visible- but always there.

one message reminding me that these _ our pains, our sadnesses, whatever frustrations _ are temporary.

Our hope is in Him.

without a shadow of a doubt I believe that "we were made to see [Him]." [4:55]

while at my sister's church this weekend, we worshipped with a rend collective experiment song i posted somewhere a bit ago. 

i've listened to it probably twenty times since i have returned home yesterday. 

ironic, how in these two, almost polar opposite art forms. .. 

He is ever so clearly reflected.

.Build Your Kingdom Here
lyrics

Come set your rule and reign

In our hearts again

Increase in us we pray

Unveil why we're made

Come set our hearts ablaze with hope

Like wildfire in our very souls

Holy Spirit come invade us now

We are Your Church

We need Your power

In us

We seek Your kingdom first

We hunger and we thirst

Refuse to waste our lives

For You're our joy and prize

To see the captive hearts released

The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace

We lay down our lives for Heaven's cause

We are Your church

We pray revive

This Earth

Build Your kingdom here

Let the darkness fear

Show Your mighty hand

Heal our streets and land

Set Your church on fire

Win this nation back

Change the atmosphere

Build Your kingdom here

We pray

Unleash Your kingdom's power

Reaching the near and far

No force of hell can stop

Your beauty changing hearts

You made us for much more than this

Awake the kingdom seed in us

Fill us with the strength and love of Christ

We are Your church

We are the hope

On Earth

at the water's edge

it's beyond crazy how a photograph can capture a feeling.. . 

.almost as if i peeled the edges and crawled inside. 

every time i look at this, the sensation of the water creeps upon the tips of my toes. 
i think therein lies the Beauty of art.
We are able to find respite _ if only for a moment.
.transporting us to places where we think we can start anew. 
or rather 
just catch our breath ever so briefly.

[source]
photographer credit on left sidebar

repeat after me

He laughed for at least five full minutes.
had to leave the classroom to try to catch his breath
.. . and then started up again when he got back.

all because i had him repeat after me "big to small or small to big?"
.we were converting measurements.
afterschool practice work.
whatever it was that led to the perpetual giggles.
belly elementary school laughing.
the kind that you can't stop no matter what.

i was transported elsewhere.
away from anything else.
and for a glimmer. a mere glimmer.
i felt not a single weight or real worry.
and remembered what that was like.

a fresh breath.
and then it was gone.



.the favorite part of my day

still my song will sing Your praise unending

I have so much to write about.

So many things to share about the start of school.

So i'll start slow.

.with just one song.

be on the look out for new posts coming soon.

This song has been on repeat in my car.

i start the day off with it.

and end with it on my ride home.

.The LYRICS. help to direct me where i should be .focused.

i could listen to it for several more weeks.  

morning and evening 

He Said

.I might let you bend, but I won't let you break.

while setting my alarm

strange how the second i'm setting my alarm,
in a pretty low. low. Low spot.  about to most likely cry myself to sleep.. .
i hear this.
just set out before me.


[[sigh]

                                                                   [LYRICS]

.His. child

Source: laurenlyblog.tumblr.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

heart.strings

just found this today.
i think i'm a bit behind the times.
.i have a feeling i should have know about it.


but it's salve for my soul.



Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Bon Ivers {about the lyrics: stacks}

more gungor please.

please be my strength.

it's Your .love that's Keeping me.

i  pray Your glory shine.

and all would know that You.. . 

that You are my Strength 

that You and You ALONE 

that You keep bringing me back home

that YOU ARE MY STRENGTH 

so Bright.

through All the ages 

into the sky.

You're Amazing.  

creation cries

You have Never changed.

Upon. Jesus

my mom loved this song.
it came to mean a lot to me in the past few years.
the lyrics so simple.
so .powerful.

as the firelight in the night

Best get to know this man.

and .his music. 

Jesus help me believe. ..

have Your way

I'm beyond happy this has become part of the regular rotation during worship at my church. 

I don't need to tell you why, just listen. 

Your Spirit

I may be weak

but Your Spirit's strong in me

my flesh may fail

my God You never will

acoustic link 'Give me Faith' ::  Elevation Worship

You'll be holding my hand.

These last couple of months have been so very hard. 
more than that. 
and it surely will not end here. 
i'm way too old, and grown to believe that. 
naivety is a thing of the past. 
unfortunately, i know all too well, that bad things come around all too often 
and knock you off your feet. 
the last couple of years, that is exactly what has happened.


i don't know what the future holds.
i have absolutely no idea what is coming next. 
.where i will be in a year. 
.who i will meet or not meet in the coming months. 
what i will be doing in the next few years. 


as i drove home, i heard this song, 
one of my favorites: 
one that i've prayed before: 
and will continue to pray every time i hear it. 
eyes shut. 
.tears running down my face.
hands not positioned @ ten and two.
.almost slamming into the car in front of me. 
it's hard to keep both hands on the wheel when all the lyrics resonate with you. 
like an eavesdropped conversation between you and God. 




Don’t know where to begin, it’s like my world’s caving in
And I try but I can’t control my fear
Where do I go from here?


Sometimes it’s so hard to pray when You feel so far away
But I am willing to go where You want me to
God, I trust You


There’s a raging sea right in front of me
Wants to pull me in, bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise if You want them to
I will follow You, I will follow You
I will follow You


I will swim in the deep ‘cause You’ll be next to me
You’re in the eye of the storm and the calm of the sea
You’ll never out of reach


God You know where I’ve been, You were there with me then
You were faithful before, You’ll be faithful again
I’m holding Your hand


God Your love is enough, You will pull me through
I’m holding onto You
God Your love is enough, I will follow You
I will follow You

though the earth give way

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Psalm 34:18
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
_____________________________
Psalm 46:1-5

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

how can i thank you?

this song.. .these lyrics ... are so hard @ this very moment.
but even at this darkest spot
where i want to kick and scream like a three year old for God allowing my mom to be taken away:

i can't imagine my life without Him.
without His presence.
without His love.
His mercy. forgiveness.
i think about people who don't know of His grace
.. .and I can't help but want to "tell it on the mountain", sharing with the whole world.
and for that i am grateful.


[try your best to ignore the old.school video - it's the only recording I could find]

When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes
You are good, so good
In the heat of the day with each stone that I lay
You are good, so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell You I'm grateful again
When the moon rises high before each kiss goodnight
You are good

When the road starts to turn around each bend I've learned
You are good, so good
And when somebody's hand holds me up, helps me stand
You are so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell You I'm grateful again
'Cause it's more than enough just to know I am loved
And you are good

So how can I thank You
And what can I bring
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a king
So I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell You I'm grateful
For holding my life in Your hands

When it's dark and it's cold and I can't feel my soul
You are still good
When the world has gone gray and the rain's here to stay
You are still good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
And the storm may swell even then it is well
You are good

So how can I thank You
And what can I bring
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a king
So I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell You I'm grateful
For holding my life in Your hands