Have Your Way

So for christmas, my mom gave me this cd. Of all the songs, though I liked them all, this one stood out in particular. It's the last track of the cd, and meant to carry weight.
I'm sure many of us feel like we're carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. Like we can't do everything by ourselves, but we think we have to. Often, we ask for a hand, but it seems like no one's reaching out. We feel like nothing's going the right way, and everyone's just turned their back. We think, "there's no hope, so why carry on?"
But too often, we forget that it's not our life to live. Nothing is ever really in our hands alone. We feel stuck. Nothing's progressing. Nothing's working. Everything's broken. Everyone's left us. But it's He who "takes the broken things and turns them into beautiful".
So yes, life is hard. But it becomes significantly less difficult to bear when you lift it up to God. When you let Him have His way. We may feel like we're carrying the weight of the world. But in reality, who's carrying us? It's God. His will is perfect, His heart is great, His way is lighted, and His arms are open and strong. Strong enough to carry us through the thickest termoil, the worst adversity, the biggest ditch.
You may be reading this thinking, "oh, yea, that's so easy to sing about, so easy to write in a blog, but what about in real life? I can't find this in real life... I dont feel Him guiding me when I'm walking my lonely path..." But honestly, just try it. Stop searching for the answers. Stop praying for an escape. Trust the Lord with where you are, because He really will provide a way. Again, life is hard. But when we find the one who's willing to take our brokenness, take our pain, and create something out of it... Life really is beautiful. You may not be able to see it now. You may feel like it's taking an eternity just for you to even see a glimpse of light. But just take security in knowing that it will come. God's way IS perfect, and He loves you. So let Him have his way.

But you never said the road would be easy
But you said that you would never leave
And you never promised that this life wasn't hard
But you promised you'd take care of me

So I'll stop searching for the answers
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe that you will have your way
Just have your way, just have you way...

Also, when I first listened to this song, I was kind of wondering if she had a cold while singing it, because it seemed less clear than normal. So... in my "research," I discovered that she actually recorded this particular song while lying on the floor. She says that she normally records songs standing up, because it feels like it's more of a performance, a more horizontal message. But for this song, she decided to lay down because normally, she prays lying down. She wanted this song to be directed towards God as a prayer for her to let Him have His way in her life. This really impressed me, because this action could have cost her money due to the sound quality. But this action was an action from her heart, as a way of glorifying God. Yes, it may not sound as great as it could, but it doesn't matter. It's a prayer. It's just that simple. It doesn't have to be boosted through stereo systems, it doesn't have to be on the top 10 hits list. But it's not for US, it's not directed towards US, it's not to please US. It's a prayer for GOD from the heart. Just as it should be from ours...

I know you will
I won't forget

You love me

Have your way...

while I am waiting

During this week, I got bored and was searching stuff to do on youtube. Although I was bored, I still wanted to use my time wisely. There is this movie I've been wanting to watch. It's called "fireproof" and I think some of you guys know about it. When I was looking up the movie, I found a music video with this song. When I first heard this song, I thought about several people. I first thought of my friend who is struggling to wait on God. I later thought about the people currently in Haiti. Reading articles about the earthquake, I can only thank God for His hope in these people. Although people are dying and struggling, people still have faith. I read how people praise God when they found this 4-year boy who they thought was dead. I also read how injured people were singing Christian hymns. All the way here in the San Francisco, most of us are thanking God for getting us through finals. While we were struggling through finals...within the same week, people in Haiti were struggling to survive. I can't even wrap my mind on how lucky I am to be living where I am living. Finals are nothing compared to what people in Haiti are going through. This song is a good reminder of how God will never fail us. Even through the bleakest times, He will carry us through. It might take days, weeks, or even years...but God will be there. One thing I've been telling myself is to praise God for everything, not just my blessings. He deserves thanks no matter what.

"I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord"

I highly suggest for you guys to sing along with this song. Sing it LOUD and PROUD xD especially towards the last minute of this song. When I was doing this, I felt like I was making a promise to God out loud. I will serve and worship while I am waiting on Him through thick and thin.

Thanks for reading and please pray for those in Haiti!

Run

For this song, I highly suggest that you close your eyes and just take in the lyrics. It is a really good song, and I don't really have much more to say about it. Just that I think that at times, we all feel like we're stuck, and we don't know where to go in this great big world. But no matter what, keep pressing on, keep running, because life isn't a treadmill. It'll end, and it'll be a blessed ending for us...

Stoplights, breakdown, we cry, last try
Worlds collide, time to decide
Where you want to go in this great big world
Where you want to go in this great big world

Stuck here too long in this sad song
Lost in a street, everyone has
Vanished and you're all alone
But you don't know where to go
Yeah you're all alone
And you want to go home

Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run

Next page, new day, finding my way
Stumble upon the strength to move on
I am not alone in this great big world
And you are not alone in this great big world

Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run

Your free, free falling
A new beginning
This is our time

Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run

What Do I Know Of Holy?

So, this song is courtesy of Annie. When I heard it, i fell in love. At the same time, it's convicting. The second verse hits home. All too often, we talk the talk without walking the walk. "I knew all the stories and learned to talk of how You were mighty to save. Those were only empty words on a page." But honestly, these stories, and that fact are just a glimpse of the real picture... They're just a fraction of the pixel.
I was looking through some pictures recently, which I just posted on fb (;D), and it just hit me. The sunset is SO beautiful, no camera can ever capture it. But here in this picture, it's just displayed in a way that brings me awe. I'm not trying to be prideful in my picture taking, but i'm so glad that God provided this artwork for me to even view with my own eyes.
And when we think that we've got things figured out, we really don't. We are so small in this great big world. What do we really know? We think we know so much. We're put into institutions and compete for better SAT scores, but what are SATs but just mere tests. They may determine our college, but they don't determine our life. It's sad how we can just think that God's power is limited to textbooks, to tests, to earthly things.
What do we know of life? "And the God who gave life it's name"... I love that line... We don't know anything. We always say how life is hard, but God is the one who gave it it's name, who gave us life. He is amazing, and we can never comprehend his majesty at all. We think that life is all about us, that it's meant to bring us pleasure, but who is it really for? Who are you living your life for?
Yes, he is mighty to save, but lets not just say it. Lets live it...

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

Rescue

So, a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across the band, Chris & Conrad, courtesy of Katarina =P... anyways, so I was listening to this song, and it was so nice to hear. It reminds me that when all is lost, when all fades away, we will always have this love, this security, this God.
I'm sure we all go through tough times, and we all stumble sometimes. But when we fall, he always comes to our rescue. We all have times when we feel alone, but we're really not. We feel isolated, but we're really surrounded. We're wrapped up in God's love, so much that we can barely move. It reminds me of those cold winter days... God is our thickest blanket, and he keeps us warm, even when the weather tries to break us, when the winds try to plow us over, when the rain tries to drown us. He's the shelter through the storm.
I particularly love the chorus, bridge, and coda. I believe that it really relates to us highschoolers, collegers, etc. I've had my ups and downs when I've felt like no one cared, when no one wanted me, when everyone seemed to be walking the other way down a crowded street. But every time I feel like I'm lost, and like no one wants me, this song reminds me that even during these times, all I have to do is look to God. He just wants to wrap his loving arms around me, arms that are far bigger, far better, far warmer,far more secure than any arms I could search for on this earth. In addition, his arms are always open for me to run to. They're unconditional. So, if they're so great and so available, why should I ever run away? Why should I ever fret? Why should I ever fear? What more could I ever want? He comes to our rescue... every time...

When no one could find me
and everyone else had already moved on
You kept on reaching out
You never gave up on me even when hope was gone

You've got me falling
More in love with you
You've got me wrapped up
I can barely even move

You came to my rescue
So I could make it home...

alive again!

Hi!

Well...I recently stumbled upon this song. I love this song! It explains exactly how I was before I met God and after I met God. It feels like my life before I came to church was all a blur. My life then compared to my life now was totally different. I am now more aware of what's happening in my life. God gives me a lot of purpose in what I do everyday. He's the reason why I look at certain situations in different perspectives. I try to make sense of who He is and what He has done for me. I do feel alive because of Him. In truth, I don't really know how to explain this feeling. I guess the thought of having someone so powerful writing out my story specifically for me gives me the push to actually to attempt to follow this amazing story He has put so much work into. He has multiple goals for me and it's my duty to reach them through however He planned it. I know it's hard to do sometimes, but isn't life more than just the easy way outs? If I my life was easy peasy lemon squeezy, then I all can say is "what am I learning from all of this?"

"Now I'm breathing in and breathing out I'm alive again." This part gets stuck in my head all the time. It's like taking in what I learned from God and actually applying it to my everyday life. I need to keep breathing. Before God, I was just breathing in. I was learning, but where did I take all this learning to?

Late have I loved You
You waited for me, I searched for You
What took me so long?
I was looking outside
As if love would ever want to hide
I'm finding I was wrong

Up!.....that was how I was before. Enough said. =)

Thank you for reading to the end. I was attempting to make it short and simple....I wonder if I failed ): Oh wells =P

Keep posting! I read every single post and they all mean something to me (just in case you guys didn't know xP).

How He Loves us SO!

Just thought this is awesome. =].
Worshipping in another language (even sign language) is really awesome :D. God knows our hearts, and one thing I learned at Urbana is how He's not only the "English God", but the God of all nations! yay!