it's gonna be alright, child...

it's gonna be alright, child

even through the darkest night, child

i'll even use the darkness to teach you how to hear me

it's gonna be alright now

even if you don't see how

i'll even use your failure to help you to draw near me

so hear me

i am calling

child, come falling deeper in love with me

trust me

you must let go

or you will never know any deeper love in me

it's gonna be alright here

if you will let me hold your heart near

i'll even use your sorrow

to teach you how to love me

it's gonna be alright, child

i'll hold you really close and tight, child

i'll even use your woundings

to help you know more of me

so hear me

i am calling

child, come falling deeper in love with me

just trust me

you must let go

or you will never know any deeper love in me

why do you hold onto the things of your past?

let go and cling to me and love that will last

how can you know me if you do not trust my love?

let go, you'll find my love is more than enough

oh, hear me

i am calling

child, come falling deeper in love with me

oh, trust me

you must let go

or you will never know any deeper love in me

letting go will set you free

it's gonna be alright, now

even if you can't see how

i'll even use your failure to help you to draw near me.

Dennis Jernigan came and spoke/led worship at chapel yesterday. (If you don't know him, he wrote "You are my all in all").  It was an amazing time of worship.  He sang the song that you see above... this song really touched me and I could tell it had the same effect on the other people in the room.  God knew that it was just the thing I (and many other people) needed to hear.  The song is beautiful and I hope it will touch you as much as it touched me.

It's 2am...

Yes, I am still awake - well, just barely.  I'm basically just writing this post to attempt to wake myself up... I have a "Jesus and the Gospels" exam in 6 hours and I am attempting to study, even though my mind is kind of like mush at the moment.  It's not really working.  Oh, well... back to work.

Sorry I haven't written an update in awhile.  It's been on my list of things to do for the last week or so and things have been insanely busy.  I'll try to fit it in this weekend... love to all :)

Who knew?

So it's been a couple weeks since I last wrote.  Classes have now begun... dun dun dun ;)

So far so good.  I've been crazy busy with classes and study/practice time.  Pretty much, I've fallen asleep studying every night for the last week and a half.  I did get to go home this weekend, which was wonderful - got to spend some much needed time with my friends and family.  

God has been stretching me so much over this first month.  It's amazing how much can happen in that short amount of time.  This past week, I was able to start my private voice lessons.  My new teacher and I sat and talked for the first chunk of my lesson to get to know each other and when I told her I would be graduating in Spring 2010, she said, "Oh, well we better start working on your Senior recital repertoire."  Whoa.  Step back.  It just kind of blew my mind as I was leaving my lesson thinking... who knew that I would be here one day? ... getting ready for a senior recital... working on "O mio babbino caro"???  (If you don't know of this opera piece, look it up on itunes... you'll recognize it)  Crazy... yet God is awesome in that way.  He will take you places and teach you things you never thought you'd learn.  I'm learning so much by being here.  Even though it's been quite challenging at times, I know God is going to do a ton in my heart while I am here... even if it is through the struggles and drudgery (that's a word they really like to use here in the CBU music department!)

Things have been pretty overwhelming the last week and a half, but there are a couple songs we sing in choir that make me cry every time.  I really feel God surrounding me every time I sing them and it's an amazing, overwhelming feeling.  Here are some of the lyrics...

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give,

and I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit

Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and Thy power,

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Jesus, I can trust in You,

How I want to do Your will;

Come and take complete control,

Come and heal my wounded soul

Oh, when I am alone, give me Jesus.

You may have all the rest, give me Jesus.

And when I want to sing, give me Jesus.

And when I am alone, give me Jesus...

I hope you all are well and I pray that you would all keep your eyes on Jesus, no matter who or what tries to get in the way.  He is so much greater than everything else in this world...

My new apartment...

Since most of you won't be coming to visit me at my new apartment, here is a little tour of my new place!  :)  1. my bedroom   2. my bed and desk  3. living room and one of my roommates, Amy  4. living room  5. kitchen/dining area

1.

2.
3. 

4. 5.

And my favorite part... we have 3 closets! (2 of them are walk-ins)  Can you guess which sections are mine?  If you can't tell, you don't know me at all!  ;)

  

Yes the 2nd two pics are mine... my roommate and I have some differences when it comes to clothes :)

P.S. Click on the pics to magnify them... and now you've seen my place!!  :)

Lots of change...

For the past couple weeks, I've felt like I've been on vacation and am going to go back home soon.  I'm on such new territory that it just won't settle.  Well, tonight it started to set in!  I was talking to my mom and she was telling me about choir practice and it hit me that so much has changed - not just in my life but all around.  Not only have I moved away from the familiar, but things are never going to be the same again.  That statement seems so depressing, but it's just the honest truth.  Change is good, but so hard... never gets easier!  

... just my thoughts at the moment.

For those of you who are computer illiterate :)

Okay, so I stole this from my friend, Linda :) ...

Since some of you have notified me that you read my blogs habitually and want to comment but don't know how...

Step 1: Click at the bottom of the post where it says "0" Comments

Step 2a: If you want to make an account, go to "Choose an identity" and click "Sign up here." It will walk you through entering email and making a password.  Or...

Step 2b: If you don't want to make an account, just click the dot on anonymous instead.

Step 3: Next, just type your comment in the box, type the word verification in the other box, and click "Publish Your Comment"

Note: If you post anonymously, sign your name at the bottom of the comment section so I know it's you!

And you're done! :)  So comment away...

At the beach in Oceanside...

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

Come and make my heart your home.

Come and be everything I am and all I know.

Search me through and through

'til my heart becomes a home for you...

...nice day at the beach.  Time to relax, read, listen to music, journal, pray? GOOD.  Sunburns? BAD... very bad :(