until you came along || jj heller

I tried to live this life on my own
But emptiness was beating down the door
Yeah it rose up like a flood
Until my dying days were done
They are no more

Nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came along

Falling in love with you was easy
You were always meant to have my heart
I was broken all to pieces
You were there to be the missing part

Nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came...

And I never wanna go back
To the way things were beforeYou saved me and you made me yours

Now nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came along

Now nothing makes sense without you
It's like waking up in the dark
I didn't have a song
Until you came along

onlyyy during finals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGjHK5X8mzE&feature=player_embedded

i watched this twice, and i am crying HYSTERICALLY.
trust me, it's worth a study break. WOW, stress reliever.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

thankful [2011]

today i'm thankful for...

* family
parents who always want the best for me, and the most amazingly crazy siblings in the world.

* friends
honestly, i am convinced i have the best friends in the world, who point me to God constantly.

* health
so thankful that almost all the signs of mono have left my body.

* warm houses
hahaha, imagine if we had to sleep outside?!

* my puppy
can't believe i'm saying this, but a cuddly dog just makes life better. it's true!

* sunshine
iiii could not live without it...

* music
 what is it about music that warms you up, or energizes you, or provides the perfect background for midnight studying?

* the season of life i'm in right now
i'm trying to really relax and focus on how blessed i am in this current season of life. i'm living at home with my family right now, and just trying to really slow down and enjoy them.

* the excitement of what's to come
at the same time, realllly starting to get excited for what's coming next as i start college and embrace all the new and unknown.

* the Bible
God's word is sooo refreshing, how it reaches out and speaks to me. every. time. so amazing!

* my Savior
the fact that he came down to earth and gave himself up for me, so i could enjoy him forever continues to grow more precious to me every year. he is my friend, my comforter, he loves me, he died for me, shedding his blood on the cross to save me.

psalm 16

The other day I was reading Psalm 16, and its deff up there in my favorites.
I was really encouraged by these verses:

"[2] I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'
[4] The sorrows of those who run after another God shall multiply...
[5] The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot
[8] I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be shaken. [9] Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure...
[11]You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy..."


We can find it hard to not put other things before God, and seek after other things for our joy.
But we can find satisfaction and peace for everything in Him alone.
Seeking after things of this world will only end in despair and hunger.
Praise the Lord that he has supplied us access to himself through the Gospel!

exodus 14

i was reading in my quiet time this morning from exodus.

the israelites have finally gotten out of egypt after the ten plagues.

they escape to the red sea, and God tells moses:

"I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them [the Israelites],

and I will get the glory over Pharaoh and all his host,

and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord."

[vs.4]

i was so struck by how passionate God is about his glory in this sentence.

he PLANNED for the egyptians to pursue his people.

the israelites panic when they see that they are being followed,

but GOD already KNEW. he is so worthy of trust.

he allows the people to cross through the parted red sea on dry ground,

and then when the egyptians go through, he sends the waves crashing down.

his purpose in changing pharaoh's mind was to be able to magnify his glory.

"I will get the glory OVER pharaoh" is really scary.

i was really struck by how passionate and furious this phrase sounds.

God will stop at nothing to bring himself glory.

but he is kind and loves his people.

he is the only being worthy of receiving all the glory,

and that's why its right for him to plan things for his own glory.

his people find joy when he is praised and magnified.

therefore it is kind of God to glorify himself.

anticipating

"The purest and most exhilarating joy is the delight of glorifying God, and so anticipating the time when we shall enjoy him for ever."
~chs

something beautiful - [NEEDTOBREATHE]

In your ocean, I'm ankle deep

I feel the waves crashin' on my feet

It's like I know where I need to be

But I can't figure out, yeah I can't figure out

Just how much air I will need to breathe

When your tide rushes over me

There's only one way to figure out

Will ya let me drown, will ya let me drown

Hey now, this is my desire

Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful

To touch me, I know that I'm in reach

'Cause I am down on my knees, I'm waiting for something beautiful

Oh, something beautiful

And the water is risin' quick

And for years I was scared of it

We can't be sure when it will subside

So I won't leave your side, no I can't leave your side

Hey now, this is my desire

Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful

To touch me, I know that I'm in reach

'Cause I am down on my knees, I'm waiting for something beautiful

Oh, something beautiful

In a daydream, I couldn't live like this

I wouldn't stop until I found something beautiful

When I wake up, I know I will have

No, I still won't have what I need

Hey now, this is my desire

Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful

To touch me, I know that I'm in reach

'Cause I am down on my knees, I'm waiting for something beautiful

Oh, something beautiful

psalm 71

[14] but i will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. [15] my mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge... [19] your righteous, o God, reaches the high heavens. you who have done great things, oh God who is like you? [23] my lips shout for joy, when i sing praises to you, my soul also, which you have redeemed.

|| chs ||

"One moment will suffice, if Jesus speaks, to make the despairing happy, and the unbelieving full of confidence... This is the standing miracle of the church, performed by Christ today even as aforetime. Paralysed souls who could neither do nor will, have been able to do valiantly, and to will with solemn resolution. The Lord has poured power into the faint, and to them that had no might he hath increased strength. He can do it still."

Choose

lately i've been really encouraged by this song by Christy Nockels.

Let me be in love with what You love Let me be most satisfied in You
Forsaking what this world has offered me
I choose to be in love with You
I will choose to be in love with You

Let me know the peace that's mine in You
Let me know the joy my heart can sing
For I have nothing Lord apart from You
I choose to call on Christ in me
I will choose to call on Christ in me

For in the fullness of who You are
I can rest in this place
And giving over this, my journey Lord
I see nothing but Your face

Let me know that You have loved me first
Let me know the weight of my response
For You have long pursued my wandering heart
I choose to glory in Your cross

I will choose to glory in Your cross