This might have been written by yours truly... Maybe...

Rescue Me

V1:
Breaking dawn awakes my heavy heart,
Pulse is dancing to a different beat.
I've fallen down many times before,
This time I hope that you can hear my plea.

No more anticipation,
Come on set me free.
Cause my heart is racing,
And now all I need is a..

Chorus:
Pick me up,
Dust off those dirty knees.
Lift me up,
Your arms are all I need to,
Wipe away my broken dreams.
Take my hand come on now Jesus rescue me.

V2:
God of creation I am on my knees,
Bowing down to you at your perfect feet.
I want to be near you, I want to see,
That your love has totally captured me.

No more anticipation,
Come on set me free.
Cause my heart is racing,
And now all I need is a..

Chorus

Bridge:
I want to know you,
To love you,
To see you,
To hug you,
To be with you,
For all of my life..

Repeat Bridge

No more anticipation,
Come on set me free.
Cause my heart is racing,
And now all I need is a..

Chorus

Take my hand come on now Jesus rescue me..




<3
love, Lauren..

Reaching.

Dang it's been a long time since I've posted.. Whoopsies.

Things have been interesting lately. I'm still amazed at just how much my life has changed in the past few years. I guess I ought to get used to it because there are still many more changes to come. I'm not too worried, just mostly curious about how things will play out. I've never been a big fan of change, so it's definitely been a learning process.



I have recently had my eyes opened. Lately, it seems I have been making some lame decisions, and sinking into a lifestyle of laziness and apathy. ..Okay maybe it's not that bad, but it's definitely been significant. Today I stepped back and was like, "Whoa, crazy person, what's the dealio?" ..lol Mostly this just has to do with school. I'm the kind of person if I don't want to do something, it's going to be hard to get it done. However, I also hate not finishing a job. It'll annoy the crud out of me if I don't do something I need to, but if I am not interested I won't even want to begin. With doing online courses, this has definitely been magnified since I am practically on my own with getting things done. I guess the only way for me to successfully get through this semester is just by sucking it up and getting the work done. Bleh.

It's interesting how just some time with friends can open your eyes and encourage one to stay positive. I guess that is that, really. I am thankful for the friends that are in my life, though the count may not be large I'm blessed. :)
Hi Lisa! :)

I guess that's all I have to say.. I want to do this more often. I've been writing some songs lately, so I might post them here if I feel like it. We'll see.

Here's a song that I'm loving right now. Hope the lyrics bless you as they have been blessing me. Also, I just want to say that Leeland's new cd is SO legit. I'm totes loving it. Czech it out.


The Door- Leeland

"As the rain falls from heaven I'm lost in your love
Your overwhelming Jesus
And were walking together holding hands
Oh it's just you and me Jesus

Life is good here, food is growing
On the beautiful branches
There is rest and there is peace
Inside the shade of your garden

Jesus your the only one for me
There's no way I'm leaving you
Your the love, the way, the life, the truth
Your the door I'm walking through

Angels are lifting songs of praise
Oh there just singing your story
And nothing can take me away from this place
Lord I'm just lost in your glory

Your love is the reason that I am here
And I'm running to you cause you're all I need

Jesus you're the only one for me
There's no way I'm leaving you
Your the love, the way, the life, the truth
Your the door I'm walking through

Jesus your the only one for me
There's no way I'm leaving you

Jesus your the only one for me
There's no way I'm leaving you
Your the love, the way, the life, the truth
Your the door I'm walking through

Jesus your the only one for me
There's no way I'm leaving you..


<3

Let Your love make me whole..

The Motions- Matthew West

"This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break, At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way..

I don't wanna go through the motions I don't wanna go one more day without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
I don't wanna go through the motions.."


Grace and peace. <3

Set me free. <3

Small- JJ Heller
"Cardboard cutouts on the floor
People wish that you were more like what they wanted you to be
Eventually they won’t have much of you at all in their theology
The walls are closing in on you
You cannot be contained at all

I don’t want to make you small
I don’t want to fit you in my pocket
A cross around my throat
You are brighter than the sun
You’re closer than the tiny thoughts I have of you
But I could never fathom you at all

Broken moldings all around
Broken people hit the ground
When they discover that you’re not here for our benefit
You love in spite of us
You use the least of us to prove the strong aren’t really strong at all."

How foolish I am.

For the longest time, I've made it my prerogative to do things on my own.. If you know me well, you would know that I can be a very independent person. However, I am human.. And I often overlook the fact that I NEED to break that barrier if I am ever going to get anywhere in my relationship with Christ.

I have been walking alone for the longest time. Every once and I while I would grab His hand for a short time and then let go.

I overlook the fact that letting God take my hand and be my strength is all that I need.

SO.

I'm taking a stand.

I'm tired of making promises that I NEVER keep.

Remember the whole "I'm going to read the Bible in a year" thing? Yeah, I'm still in Genesis.

I'm sick of sitting here feeling sorry for myself, because I have nothing to be sorry for!

I am a chosen person, loved and wanted my my Creator, and set apart to do His will!

What is stopping me?

It's time I shed that awful skin that I've been hiding under, and begin my journey of letting God control my life.

I'm ready already. Let's get this party started. ;)

Grace and peace.

I shine because of you today. <3

I can't believe earlier this year I had planned on getting a tattoo yesterday for you.

I kind of still want it..

I don't know what I'm going to do, but I feel like you have been/were such an important part of my childhood I need something to commemorate that.

I need to do something to finally let go.

I'm tired of keeping it all in, but I don't know if I trust myself to let it all go.

I dont want to forget you.

I miss you so bad.

I hope one day I'll get to see you again.

I love you.






I heard this song for the first time today and cried cause I thought about you.

I hope I get to experience this with you when I get to Heaven.

Brian Littrell - Welcome Home You

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said “no way”
But I laid it all down, gave everything
In my head rang the words that my Father said
You’re never far
I will be where you are
And when you come to Me
I will open My arms

Chorus:
Welcome home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know, son, it’s good just to see your face

When I look at you holding my heart
I will give to you all that I have
Son, I know there’ll be times you will feel all alone
I will share with you the words my Father said
You’re never far
I will be where you are
And when you come to Me
You can bet I will open My arms

Chorus:

So I’ll be waiting for that day
Just to feel Your warm embrace
Your love has shown I will never be alone
For You will welcome me home
I’ll forever be, for you will say to me
Welcome home

Chorus:

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said “no way”

Grace and Peace.

SOTTP. <3

"I just want to feel good
and happy and alive.

 
                 
Because...

 
                 
...if I feel alive...

 
                 
...then it doesn't seem like she's dead.

 
                 
And if I'm not sad...

 
                 
...then it proves that I'm not like her."

<3

Jesus hugs.

"People aren’t confused by the Gospel,
They’re confused by us.
Jesus is the only way to God,
But we are not the only way to Jesus.
This world doesn’t need my tie, my hoodie,
My denomination, or my translation if the Bible.
They just need Jesus.
We can be passionate about what we believe,
But we can’t strap ourselves to the Gospel,
Because we’re slowing it down.
Jesus is going to save the world,
But maybe the best thing that we can do,
Is just get out of the way."

-from Casting Crowns "What This World Needs"

Don't you just love getting hugged by Jesus? I think Jesus hugs are completely awesome. They're those times when you just get to thinking, and God just hits you with something that on one hand sorta punches you in the kneecaps, but on the other hand gives such an amazing example of His love and grace, you can't help but love it. (Probably one of the only times a feeling of being punched in the kneecaps could be described as a hug.. but I digress.)

Let me describe my Jesus hug today.

I just got to thinking about how blessed I am to have such great examples of Christ in my life. I thought about a few people in particular (who shall remain anonymous) that genuinely inspire me to aspire to be more like Christ. Their life is a testament to their incredible faith, and I see in them the complete, pure, and unexplainable joy of the Lord.

And I can't help but want that more than anything else.

I want to be more than just a "Sunday Christian".

I want to learn to let go.

I want to learn to step aside, let God take the reins, and live through me.

No, it is NOT going to be easy. Yeah, it does mean that I will have to endure the vulnerability.

However, my God is ALWAYS there for me, and you. (Yes you.)

"It's the difference that sets the world free!" (CC What This World Needs)

Grace and peace.

You are the branch within my reach. <3

I feel totally in over my head. I have a book to read tonight, and do a reading guide by tomorrow, and a huge presentation Thursday, that I'm struggling to find content for. Also, I have a paper due for gov tomorrow. It's only one page, but I am not sure how I'm going to do it. Haven't had the best night in the world, and am pretty stressed. It's been an interesting day, to say the least.


God, give me strength to face the day.


Grace and peace.

Purpose.

More To This Life- Storyside B

Round and round this world we go
Forming truths from what we know
It could never be foretold
What will happen tomorrow
Things we see right now will change
Our lives will never be the same
Praying hallowed be thy name
And I am lifted from my shame
And I know this will not be in vain

A moment in time has passed before my eyes
There's more to this life, there's more to this life
I'm struggling to fight the reasons we cry
There's more to this life, there's more to this life

Time will tell as hours go
The truth inside will soon unfold
Revealing secrets as we grow
Into a brand new tomorrow
The plan is already in place
Transcending love through time and space
Strong and humbled by His grace
Catching tear drops from my face
And I know I will not be ashamed

A moment in time has passed before my eyes
There's more to this life, there's more to this life
I'm struggling to fight the reasons we cry
There's more to this life, there's more to this life

And if it's peace you seek
Let me wash away the blood that's drawn
And soak up all the tears upon my sleeve
And if you'll kneel with me
Well I will pray for our forgiveness
To the only One who'll truly make us clean

A moment in time has passed before my eyes
There's more to this life, there's more to this life
I'm struggling to fight the reasons we cry
There's more to this life, there's more to this life

"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 188:24

<3 style="text-align: left;">That song and verse have been on my heart for a while now. As I continue to go through my days, I realize more and more what a gift "today" truly is. There's another quote that I love that says, "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow's a mystery, Today is a gift". I just think that that is so true especially in my generation today. We get so caught up in "life" that we don't realize how special it is to even have what we have, not to mention our lives. We perceive "life" to be something so materialistic because the ways of modern society. What we need to realize is that Jesus is our life! If it weren't for HIS sacrifice, "life" as we know it would be practically nonexistant..
So, this has been a hard thing for me to get used to, and I'm sure it will continue to be that way for a long time. However, it's been simply amazing to see how much God has opened my eyes even in the past year. I have fallen down so far, so many times, but every time I have been pulled back up to my refuge in His arms.
I am not promised a tomorrow..
Therefore, let today be a gift.
Let today be my opportunity to be the face of Christ.
Let today be a blessing.

Grace and peace.
<3lauren>

Square one.

I'm beginning my reading tonight. I'm a good 20 chapters behind, but I'll knock those out tonight and pick up where I ..need to be. lol

Last night was a blessing. Ellie and I talked for a good while about things that are going on and things we are trying to get right. (Mostly our walks with God.) We talked about baptism, and how our lives have been changed since we decided to begin our journeys with God. We talked about our 08's and our philosophys going into 09. We talked about goals and keeping each other accountable to help meet the goals we've placed for ourselves.
I didn't begin my reading last night, but I talked to God for the first time in a while. I felt good afterward, a little less ..weird than before. Seeing as how not having this part of my life around has put me in a funk. It's almost like I've just seen someone from my childhood who I was really good friends with, but now it's weird cause I don't know what to say.. hah yeah. It'll get better. This too shall pass.

Anyway.. today is the day.

I'm GOING to do it this year.

Today Dr. Burkes (el presidente) talked in chapel about reading the Bible through in a year, basically issuing a challenge to those students willing to accept it. We signed our names to a piece of paper and got a nifty little schedule to keep track. I'm going to go by a different schedule, but it's cool to know there are a lot of other people taking this challenge with us.

So yeah.. today was just.. good.

It's going to be just fine. :)


Kari Jobe- The More I Seek You
"The more i seek you,
The more i find you
The more i find you, the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feet
Drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath, here your heart beat
This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming.."

Anyway, I suppose thats about it for now. I should get on my homework. :)

Grace and peace.
<3 Lauren