"The Valley" (live version) by Ginny Owens
The pathway is broken and the signs are unclear,
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here.
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley if You want me to.
No, I'm not who I was when I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet.
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You,
Then I will walk through the fire if You want me to.
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that's not my home.
But You never said it would be easy,
You only said I'd never go alone.
So when the whole world turns against me
and I'm all by myself
and I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
and I will walk through the darkness if You want me to.
(So when I cross over Jordan I'm gonna sing, gonna shout,
gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down.
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You)
and I will walk through the valley if You want me to.
Yes, I will walk through the valley if You want me to.
I was listening to this song today and it really spoke to me... in more ways than one. I've heard the song like a million times, but I needed it today. I came to realize that stuff in my life that discourages me and gets me down at times are potentially things that can draw me closer to God, if I let them. There are "things" in my life right now that, honestly, I'm sick of. It's stuff I've been dealing with for what seems like a long time. When I pray according to how I feel, I tell God that I'm sick of "it," and I'm tired of feeling how I feel, and that if I had Him answer my prayers my way this would all be over and done with. But then I'm reminded of what this song says: sometimes we have to go through suffering because it will bring us closer to God. On the other hand, when I'm reminded of that message, I ask myself how I can even call the situations in my life "suffering" in comparison to what Christ endured. My life is like a walk in the park compared to that. As odd as it may sound, I am often comforted to know the extent of Christ's sufferings (not even including His actual death) such as His friends all turning their backs on Him and rejecting Him. It helps me keep my "suffering" in true perspective. Christ went through far more in His life here than I will probably ever even come close to going through.
"I'm so tired of living for the kind of love that only comes and goes,
but Your love- Your love lasts forever."
-from "Healer" by Ten Shekel Shirt
Jun 7, 2003
Aw, man. I'm so, so, sooooooo upset. I don't get to go to St.Aug after all tonight. I'm so upset. It's a long, frustrating story. The main jist of it is this: when something goes wrong with my dad's truck it gets fixed in like a day or two, but my car on the other hand.... a month and a half after the problem shows up we finally decide to do something! And, of course, we have to put it off long enough so that the one day out of the month that I really need my car is the day we have to leave it at the shop. And, of course, this all must coincide with other "driving delimas" for my room mate. AND, of course, my dear friend Eric WOULD stand me up! Thanks, Eric... 'preciate it! J/K. So, I now have the joy of staying at home and possibly eating out with the parents and being driven to and from church tomorrow. Ugh. Cars are so frustrating!
It's been far too long since I posted a Superchick song, so here's one for ya. It's called "High School"... a time of my life that I'm glad is over! This song is so true!
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be sororities, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
High school is like a big competition, beauty contest, prom court is the mission, there can only be one queen, one king, everyone voting, everyone competing, but these are the rules, the way of high school, if someone puts you down- that's so high school, someone talks behind your back- that's so high school, thinkin' you have to get them back- that's also high school
I know I'll be graduating early cause...
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be sororities, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
High school is like the state of the nation, some people never change after graduation, believing any light you shine makes theirs lesser, they have to prove to everyone that theirs is better, these are the rules, the ways of high school, if someone puts you down- that's so high school, believing they're too cool for you- that's so high school, and you believe it too- that's also high school
I know I'll be graduating early cause...
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be sororities, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
We've all got bad year book photos which we forgot to let go, and just like acne our insecurity should be something we left with the JV, so here's to letting go of year book photos and things we kept that hold us down, that was yesterday, there's always tomorrow, we are tomorrow, we are tomorrow
I know I'll be graduating early
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be CELEBRITIES, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be sororities, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
High school is like a big competition, beauty contest, prom court is the mission, there can only be one queen, one king, everyone voting, everyone competing, but these are the rules, the way of high school, if someone puts you down- that's so high school, someone talks behind your back- that's so high school, thinkin' you have to get them back- that's also high school
I know I'll be graduating early cause...
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be sororities, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
High school is like the state of the nation, some people never change after graduation, believing any light you shine makes theirs lesser, they have to prove to everyone that theirs is better, these are the rules, the ways of high school, if someone puts you down- that's so high school, believing they're too cool for you- that's so high school, and you believe it too- that's also high school
I know I'll be graduating early cause...
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be sororities, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
We've all got bad year book photos which we forgot to let go, and just like acne our insecurity should be something we left with the JV, so here's to letting go of year book photos and things we kept that hold us down, that was yesterday, there's always tomorrow, we are tomorrow, we are tomorrow
I know I'll be graduating early
High school could be a mini-me of the rest of society, there's always a prom queen, there'll always be, always be CELEBRITIES, and sadly some will be eternally keeping score of popularity, but just cause they all do doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school, doesn't mean we have to act like we're in high school
Jun 6, 2003
I went for my day of training for my new job today. Aside from the fact that we had to sit and watch endless hours of videos, it went really well and I really think I'm going to enjoy the job. I think I'll like the fast pace of retail. Sure, it'll stress me out at times, but it's way better than having a job where you never have anything to do. And what could be better than getting to wear a headset microphone thingy?! I might get to work tomorrow, but if not then I'll officially start on Monday. Anything to get me out of this house!! Anyway, nothing really exciting to post about other than that. But for those of you who were praying about me getting a job, thanks!
Jun 5, 2003
Okay, even though it's not Friday (yet) and even though this isn't something I normally do, I'm going to do The Friday Five, which is a list of five questions that is posted every friday for people to answer on their web pages. This one's from last week, but I liked these questions... kinda thought-provoking. So, without further delay, here's the Friday Five.
1. What do you most want to be remembered for?
I guess this isn't really something to be remembered for, but it's sorta the same. My thing would be that I want to live so that no one could find anything bad to say about me. Sounds a little crazy, but I guess what I mean is just that I want to have "a good name."
2. What quotation best fits your outlook on life?
I'll have to think about this one. I know what my mom's is... "better safe than sorry," and when it comes to umbrellas and jackets it's "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it." Man, I've heard that my whole life! Hmmm.... I'll answer the other questions and maybe I'll think of my quote by then.
3. What single achievement are you most proud of in the last year?
I would have to say that completing 31 credit hours and 50 practicum hours is my greatest accomplishment this year. Gee, only 2 1/2 more years like this one... except even tougher... the end is nowhere in sight!
4. What about the past ten years?
Getting saved! (Not that that is something I can take the credit for) 10 years ago at children's camp I got saved, and I've never regretted a moment of it.
5. If you were asked to give a child a single piece of advice to guide them through life, what would you say?
I suppose I would tell them not to worry about the future, but rather focus on what you can do right now. And also, I'd tell them not to believe all the lies about how easy it is to get college scholarships!!! It's all a conspiracy! There's not really any money! They just want you to work your butt off writing useless application essays for the heck of it!
Okay, now for my quote from number two. I guess number five helped me think of one. Matthew 6:34a "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things." The verse before it is a good one to live by, too. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
1. What do you most want to be remembered for?
I guess this isn't really something to be remembered for, but it's sorta the same. My thing would be that I want to live so that no one could find anything bad to say about me. Sounds a little crazy, but I guess what I mean is just that I want to have "a good name."
2. What quotation best fits your outlook on life?
I'll have to think about this one. I know what my mom's is... "better safe than sorry," and when it comes to umbrellas and jackets it's "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it." Man, I've heard that my whole life! Hmmm.... I'll answer the other questions and maybe I'll think of my quote by then.
3. What single achievement are you most proud of in the last year?
I would have to say that completing 31 credit hours and 50 practicum hours is my greatest accomplishment this year. Gee, only 2 1/2 more years like this one... except even tougher... the end is nowhere in sight!
4. What about the past ten years?
Getting saved! (Not that that is something I can take the credit for) 10 years ago at children's camp I got saved, and I've never regretted a moment of it.
5. If you were asked to give a child a single piece of advice to guide them through life, what would you say?
I suppose I would tell them not to worry about the future, but rather focus on what you can do right now. And also, I'd tell them not to believe all the lies about how easy it is to get college scholarships!!! It's all a conspiracy! There's not really any money! They just want you to work your butt off writing useless application essays for the heck of it!
Okay, now for my quote from number two. I guess number five helped me think of one. Matthew 6:34a "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things." The verse before it is a good one to live by, too. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
The devotional journal that I've been using this year is almost finished, and although I enjoy it, I've been using the same program for quite a while and think it's time for a change. If you guys have one that you have used and would recommend, leave a comment for me. I'd like to hear which ones you think are good. I have till mid-August before I'm done with this one, so I have a while to decide, but I'm really looking forward to something a little new. Let me know what you think.
I should mention that Saturday night (the 7th) at 8:00 at Anastasia Baptist Church in St. Augustine is "The Edge" (which is a praise and worship service) and all who are interested are invited. And for future reference, it's held the first Saturday of every month, so if you'd like to become a regular, you're more than welcome. I couldn't begin to say enough about it. It's the number-one thing that I look forward to every month. My super room-mate from school (Laci) and I always go, and we usually are able to round up a couple of friends, too. Did I just use the phrase "round up"?? Where am I, on a farm? Anyway, just thought I'd put that little plug in. Hope to see some of you there!
Jun 4, 2003
Mr. Chuck Sowers spoke tonight at Alpha and Omega. He talked about the importance of Christian fellowship in the form of small group type meetings and the importance of encouragement (all from Hebrews 10:23-25). Something that he touched on a little but that I thought about quite a bit was the cool way God's "system" of encouragement works (he didn't call it a "system"; that's just how I see it). Like how if one person (person-A, to prevent confusion) is encouraged by another person (person-B), and person-A tells person-B, then person-B is encouraged by knowing that he encouraged person-A. Okay, so that didn't prevent any confusion whatsoever! In simpler terms (hopefully!) it's encouraging for you to know that you've encouraged someone else. That's really my only point. If I drag it out any longer I'll only be rambling! And, most likely, will have someone in utter, hopeless confusion! Oh, but do take note, as mentioned previously, Megan is now employed! G'night!
Jun 3, 2003
Jun 2, 2003
LIFE'S A PARADE
I do not feel that I can do adequate justice to this analogy, but I hope you can understand the concept of it anyway. Mrs. Linda reminds us of this analogy often in Sunday school, and I feel it is a really great one. She explains that life is like a parade. We are spectators standing on a street corner who can only see one float at a time. God, however, is the one up in the helicopter who can see the whole parade from beginning to end. Do not be misled, however. This is not to say that we are "only" spectators and have absolutely no control of events in our lives. The analogy merely implies that we only see one event at a time while God knows the past, present, and future all at once. Continuing the analogy, it's like if I see one bad "float" come along, I might assume that the rest of the parade can only get worse. God, on the other hand, knows that the best floats are yet to come. Hopefully this made a little sense. It's just something that helps me grasp the concept of God knowing our futures.
I do not feel that I can do adequate justice to this analogy, but I hope you can understand the concept of it anyway. Mrs. Linda reminds us of this analogy often in Sunday school, and I feel it is a really great one. She explains that life is like a parade. We are spectators standing on a street corner who can only see one float at a time. God, however, is the one up in the helicopter who can see the whole parade from beginning to end. Do not be misled, however. This is not to say that we are "only" spectators and have absolutely no control of events in our lives. The analogy merely implies that we only see one event at a time while God knows the past, present, and future all at once. Continuing the analogy, it's like if I see one bad "float" come along, I might assume that the rest of the parade can only get worse. God, on the other hand, knows that the best floats are yet to come. Hopefully this made a little sense. It's just something that helps me grasp the concept of God knowing our futures.
