It is official, guys. I have no idea where I'm going after high school. At first it was clear. Graduate from high school, go to Evangel University for four years, get a Master of Writing from New York University. I was gonna be a cheerleader at Evangel, join the worship team, join CROSSwalk, train at Missouri Valley Gymnastics, get involved in music.
But then I heard about North Central's state-of-the-art recording studio. And One Accord lead worship at this year's Ohio Youth Convention. I love cheering and athletics and all, but how can I turn down the opportunity to record an entire album?
And then I remember that I can make music forever. But I won't be able to do a back handspring twenty years from now.
And then I remember that I chose to quit cheerleading, whereas music has been a non-failing passion of mine. Ugh.
This band has not made my decision for college any easier. Thank God I'm a freshman.
Under the direction of Jeff Deyo (the "Moving Mountains" singer-songwriter), here's One Accord!
The lead vocalist, (the main guy talking really) used to go to my church! Pretty cool, right? Hardly any OA songs are on YouTube, and I am not technologically talented enough to make my own videos, but here is "Adonai," written by Evan John and performed by all of One Accord (I think that's Morgan Meade doing the lead vocals)!
Isn't this song so beautiful? This is only one of ten masterpieces.
Wanna know my favorites? I loooooooove the title track, "Exhilaration." It's super catchy. I showed some of my friends who had not gone to Youth Convention this song, and ten seconds in, they're going, "whoa ohhhhh, whoa oh oh oh oh oh ohhhhhhhh..." and the message is not only fun, but energetic and lively. "You put the breath within my lungs. You put a new song on my tongue. Once I was bound by all my shame, now I have freedom in Your name! There's a fire bruning deep in my bones, yeah it's raging, blazing out of control, oh, EXHILARATION! I'm a new creation." Goes right along with my favorite Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17. I don't know if that's coincidence or not.
"The Bride Arising" is another favorite of mine. The harmonics = perfect (see? I told you I cna do math!). This makes me think of the Biblical book Revelation. "I see a church on a new horizon." Why? Because "we are Your bride arising! We are Your church united! We long to worship."
And then, of course, "Adonai." This song, this poetry, this music, THIS.
I've even got David Tennant on my side, guys.
This sounds like something David wrote and played on his harp. Does this not belong in Psalms? I think it does. It's so peaceful and takes me out of the 21st century for five minutes and twenty seconds. "The mountains shake, the hills they run, seas they calm before You, God. The sun stands still, the heavens sing, the cosmos bows before You, God."
The serenity I feel listening to this album is like...
(Sorry, I had to post the puppy.)
Overall, my reaction to this album is...
EXHILARATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There was a time when I didn't listen to Christian music because it felt like all the songs sounded the same. If you feel that way, here are some extremely unique Christian songs with powerful music and lyrics!
1. "Shoreline" by Deas Vail. "So You say I can't be alive until there is nothing when we're meeting eyes again."
2. "All of Me for All of You" by Deas Vail. "I fall to the bottom and reach up my hands to the Lord of forgiveness of this mortal man."
3. "Falling" by Paul Baloche.
4. "Two Hands" by Jars of Clay. "I am a house that is divided in my heart and in my mind."
5. "You Are My Vision" by Rend Collective Experiment translated from the Irish hymn written by St. Patrick.
6. "Alive (Mary Magdalene)" by Natalie Grant. "Who could speak and send the demons back from where they came with just one Name?"
7. "Promises" by Sanctus Real. "Hold on to the promises."
8. "Birds" by Deas Vail.
9. "Undone" by FFH.
10. "Love Came Down" by Kari Jobe.
11. "Wait" by Group1Crew.
12. "Moving Mountains" by Jeff Deyo.
13. "We Are" by Kari Jobe.
14. "Safe" by Britt Nicole (pretty sure this video has the wrong lyrics).
15. "On and On" by Chasen.
16. "For Those Who Wait" by Fireflight. "I know I'm not the only one."
17. "Light it Up" by For KING & COUNTRY.
18. "Steady My Heart" by Kari Jobe.
19. "Keep Your Eyes Open" by NEEDTOBREATHE.
20. "Back at My Heart" by Natalie Grant.
21. "True Intimacy" by Rend Collective Experiment and Laura Gaither.
22. "Desert Soul" by Rend Collective Experiment. "I love You, Lord. But I want to love You more."
23. "Christ Has Set Me Free" by Rend Collective Experiment.
24. "Forgiven" by Sanctus Real.
25. "Losing" by Tenth Avenue North. A personal favorite of mine by far. "Father, won't You forgive them, 'cause they don't know what they been doing?" I'm feeling some black pride right when the choir comes in.
26. "Break Me Down" by Tenth Avenue North.
See! Christian music isn't at all plain, once you find some good stuff. While it is okay to listen to non-Christian music, make sure what you're hearing is encouraging you and giving you a positive message!
Dreams. Those who have been reading for awhile or know me in person know I am a dreamer. Little by little I am living my dreams. Every once in awhile someone tries to ruin it for me. Every once in awhile I let them. Every once in awhile I'm strong enough to overcome that. But no matter what, I have a dream and I refuse to let it slip out of my hands.
My week was bad. Just bad. These three people have just been getting on my nerves a lot lately, and I'm like, "Oh my gosh." I try to blame it on the Physics (it really screws with your brain). But nope. It's more than that. You think you can trust someone with something you give them in confidence, but someone takes it from them... along with your personal thoughts and secrets. You're trying to confront someone about how irritatingly, stupidly, unacceptably, terribly, unnecessarily rude they are and they snap at you. You're talking to a friend about something and someone looks at you like you're the ugliest person they've ever seen. You get nominated for homecoming court during your first year of high school and some girl gives you a once-over and laughs at you. You're talking about a deep passion of yours and someone insults your guitar playing. You get called a ..... repeatedly by a kid who doesn't know how to shut his mouth. You hear one of your best friends talking behind your back.
So, I have been letting my emotions get in the way of my goals. People keep trying to ruin things for me. I'll put my input into something and it's almost always used against me. I, like all the rest of the world, am misunderstood. The thing is, I am easier to decode than most people. You just have to be willing to get to know me. I don't really keep secrets.
I'm the girl who dreams when she's awake, asleep and all that's in between. The girl who would rather be at gymnastics than a party (but unfortunately can't). The girl whose goals stop at dreams because she doesn't feel encouraged to take it further than that.
Some people tell me to go for it. Some don't want me to. Some tell me not to even try. Pretty much everyone I know knows that I'm pretty much destined to be a writer, whether they know that through me practically being the ninth-grade-unofficial-proofreader for the whole class, being a blogger, writing poetry, or my fiction writing (which very few people have access to). But when it comes to music? "You sing well, but I don't know if you could make a career out of this" or some people don't even think I can do that. I gave up my valedictorian dreams when I found out I had an unforgiving C in math for the quarter. I have truly realized how much I've given up on myself.
A lot of it is fear. I'm doing either a sermon or essay for Fine Arts next year about fear. Fear that I can't do it. Fear that people won't like me. Fear that I'll look stupid. Those are the chains holding me back.
But listen. Your dreams are only as far away as you say they are. If you think you can do it, chances are you can. You need to take those chances. Fear God, not man. And don't doubt yourself. We are all weak, yes, but there is only One who is strong anyway. So chase those dreams. Go wherever God leads you. Pray about it, read the scripture, and soon it will all be clear.
The songs you are about to hear are on here for one reason: their lyrics. Ever listen to a song but you're only really hearing the beat? These songs make me want to stop and really hear what they're saying. What about you?
1. "My Oldest Friend" by Andrew Belle. "Do you know I miss you in my life... I was only looking out for me instead of getting you the help you need. Now who do you think you are? Who do I think I am, barely listening to my oldest, my oldest friend?" Andrew himself says this song is about losing a friend. Whether it's about death or loss of friendship, I do not know.
2. "With You I Never Lose" by Athlete. "I'm not letting go just yet but everything is telling me to."
3. "Chances" by Athlete. "It's all about your cries and kisses. Those first steps that I can't calculate... how to start again..."
4. "Get Up" by Barcelona. "Crawling on the ash, she's pitiful. She's lost her sense of light, she has to hold my hand. And I know we might be two kids without their jackets. My fear would come alive... she might not make it home tonight. Get up... get up..."
5. "Dare to Believe" by Boyce Avenue. "We've been in the dark for way too long. But when we turn around, we see a light shine through the haze. So forget about who was wrong, 'cause I have never been more ready to turn this page."
6. "Christmas Lights" by Coldplay. "When you're still waiting for the snow to fall, it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all."
7. "Birds" by Deas Vail and Matt Thiessen from Relient K. "When I'm just one fighting indifference, does it matter what I say? Oh God, how much does it take for us to be loved, for us to be saved? We are all birds stuck inside our cage, covered up with praise, and behind our saints we hide our face."
8. "Meeting in Doorways" by Deas Vail. "Your leaves are falling, dear. Our season's over. I will wait for one more year when leaves will fall again. 'Til your memory comes and goes, that slow reminder that my eyes will finally close and not come back again. Ooh ooh ooh ooh letting you go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o ooh ooh ooh ooh only to know-o-o-o-oh. Life is unpredictable oh oh oh oh oh..."
9. "Amen" by Edens Edge. "Yeah right, like I really could have said something. You wouldn't have heard it if a train was coming. You had your head so high in the clouds. Oh I, I had a really good reason for hiding my feelings but now I can finally spit it out. Someone give me an amen. SOMEONE GIVE ME AMEN! Can I get a 'thank God hallelujah'? He finally saw what she was doin' to ya. Your momma called and she was right. Glad to see you SO ALIVE! The whole town, yeah they hooped and hollered, she drove away, nobody stopped her. Na na na na na, I'll sing it again. Someone give me an AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEN!"
10. "Too Good to be True" by Edens Edge. "Too good to be true. Like diamonds on the soles of my shoes. Like money falling out of the blue. Don't be fooled. He ain't nothing but too good to be real. Don't believe the way he's making you feel. He'll break your pretty heart in two. Momma told me 'bout boys like you. Too good to be true... La la lied like a politician, should have read the headlines, payed more attention to my suspicion, my intuition, I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED..."
11. "Undone" by FFH. "The secrets I keep are tearing me up inside, I try to hide them and I wonder why... I wonder why I'm still running when I know there's no escaping."
12. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" by The Fray. "Suddenly, I've become a part of your past..."
13. "Happily Ever After" by He Is We. "We all wanna know how it ends. Oh, happily ever after! Wouldn't you know, wouldn't you know? Oh, skip to the ending! Who'd like to know? I'd like to know! Author of the moment, can you tell me, do I end up, do I end up happy?"
14. "Two hands" by Jars of Clay. "I use one hand to pull you closer. The other to push you away."
15. "Echo" by Jason Walker. "I'm out on the edge and I'm screaming my name like a fool at the top of my lungs. Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend I'm alright but it's never enough. 'Cause my echo, echo is the only voice coming back."
16. "Love Came Down" by Kari Jobe. "I am Yours, I am forever Yours."
17. "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry. "I wish I knew then, what I know now, wouldn't dive in, wouldn't bow down. Gravity hurts, you made it so sweet 'til I woke up on, on the conrete. Falling from cloud nine. Crashing from the high... Yeah I am born again, out of the lion's den, I don't have to pretend... Thunder rumbling, castles crumbling, I am trying to hold on. God knows that I tried seeing the bright side but I'm not blind anymore."
18. "Wonderwall" by Oasis. "I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now."
19. "Airplanes" by the Local Natives. "I love it all so much I call... I want you back! Back, back. You back..."
20. "Cubism Dream" by the Local Natives. "I make a friend, I make you sick. Could you even imagine a kiss? We joked at how they talked so differently. I spoke of how I felt so differently."
(The above kids must have an excellent Mat Kearney fan as a music teacher) 21. "Sooner or Later" by Mat Kearney. "Baby it's like we're walking on a wire through the fields. Take my hand, we'll get there."
22. "Begin Again" by Measure. "Begin again. You're no calendar, you're no concrete plan."
23. "Who Are You, Really?" by Mikky Ekko (yeah, it had to be a Doctor Who video for reasons). "We are the fire, we'll see how they run..."
24. "Like the Sun" by RyanDan. "Whenever you're close to me, you're like the sun."
25. "Alive (Mary Magdalene)" by Natalie Grant. "Who could speak and send the demons back from where they cmae with just one Name?"
26. "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles. "You're neither friend or foe though I can't seem to let you go. But one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me down."
27. "Superhero" by landon Austin and Luke Conard. "I may not be able to fly, but I'll tkae you on adventures. May not move at the speed of light but if you need me, I'll be there."
28. "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane. "This could be the end of everything, so why don't we go somewhere only we know?"
29. "Say When" by The Fray. "You're in a song, playing in the background. All alone, but you're turning up now... I'm breaking down an dyou're breathing slowly. Say the word an dI will be your man."
30. "Breathe" by He Is We. "You know, I fake it oh so well... my words are less than parallel with my feet. You ask me what I need and all I really need is to breathe."
31. "Shoreline" by Deas Vail. "This give and take, this waiting on time..."
32. "Liar" by Edens Edge. "I should win an Oscar, the best actress in a show. You always see me smiling, little do you know..."
33. "Last Supper" by Edens Edge. "Look through each other like a piece of glass. Is that what happens when the years fly past? Lately I've been feeling like that."
34. "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons. "It's time to build from the bottom of the pit right to the top."
I am a really crazy (or, according to the kids at my church, craycray) romantic. Why do you think I write poetry and novels (songs as well, but usually not love-related)? I've been thinking about it a lot lately.
People ask me why I'm single. I ask them why they're even dating. I want my guy to actually be able to drive me to our dates, to be mature, and to have an idea what he is going to do with his life. I don't want to affect his growth negatively, spiritually or mentally. In your freshman year, relationships are usually not forever. Sure, I know a couple who started dating when they were ten years old and are still together, now in the tenth grade. But that's only because they had really good taste in the fourth grade, I guess. But I'm not like that.
I have my eye on a guy for a long time before I even think about acting on it. Like, homecoming is killing me. No one wants to take me, except for my other friends who don't have have dates, and they're all seeking one. I might take my stuffed animal. Yeah. It's all good.
There is one guy I have my mind set on, though. He's one of the few people that I can find faults in them and actually be okay with them. He might be the only one. I can totally understand what he believes, his family is awesome, and well, he's not bad looking. But he's older (not by too much). And we're both kinda young--- neither of us are old enough for our drivers' license! And honestly, guys don't like me. They just don't. But that means more living for me. Better to be single and happy than single and heartbroken.
And when someone finally comes along... oh happy day.
"'Til then I'll patiently wait for you to come my way and I won't hesitate when you make your way right to my heart. For now I'll patiently wait for that sweet, sweet day when you take me away with you and our fairytale will start. 'Til then I'll patiently wait..."
I love anything herbal, and I will talk about how to make herbal tea in the springtime. But for now, I am trying to stay healthy and prevent illness this school year.
They say your freshman year is your most important year of high school, even though colleges don't care much for it. I'm trying to have perfect attendance, up until Fine Arts. Especially since Math and Chinese are stupid. Even my English grade isn't good. I'm not failing any classes, but I wanted a 4.0 and I don't think it's gonna happen.
I noticed that my performance goes up whenever I have herbs in my system. Natural plants are also a great way to spice up your diet, lower blood pressure, lose weight, and much more!
CINNAMON
WHY WE LOVE IT: What I love about this spice is that it can be used in both sweet and salty food, deserts, entrees and all. Popcorn, apples, bread, tea, hot chocolate--- you name it. From drinks to puddings to solids, cinnamon's got it all. But did you know it can help fight stress? Or strengthen your immune system? Lower your blood sugar? It's great.
HOWEVER: Pregnant women should avoid Cassia cinnamon. I'm guessing it can make you miscarry because it carries some toxins that can damage your kidney and liver. Cinnamon can also cause thinning of the blood, so if you are a Hemophiliac like my friend is, this will affect how your blood clots.
CHAMOMILE
WHY WE LOVE IT: If you have stomachaches, diarrhea, or nausea, you will love this flower, too. It is great for treating menstrual cramps---and who doesn't love that---and sleep disorders caused by the commonly disliked PMS. Chamomile can also relieve you of gas! Going somewhere fancy? Drink some chamomile tea before you leave. It's also great on restless children and helps them calm down, mothers. Plus, your kids won't mind the taste.
HOWEVER: Chamomile can have a harmful effect on those taking blood-thinners, and can cause hemorrhage if you have a disease like that. Don't drink too much of it, it is like a drug after awhile and there will be puke. The plant has huge amounts of botulism, and babies might die if they have it. Give it to children ages five and up, I say. But medical people say above six months is alright as well.
BASIL
WHY WE LOVE IT: This is a well-known sweet Italian seasoning. It is also THE most popular herb in America. I, personally, use basil when I make my not-so-world-famous salsa. It's probs my favorite herb as well. You can use it in marinara, soups (especially vegetable soup--- yeah baby), and my favorite--- PIZZA right after removing it from the oven. Aside from taste, you can clear up your skin with it, stop yo stress, make your PMS feel a little less like hell and a little more like heaven, detoxify your liver, and more.
HOWEVER: In some people, basil can cause low blood sugar. It also contains estragole, a chemical that can increase your risk of getting liver cancer. And don't use basil oil, for the same reason.
GARLIC
WHY WE LOVE IT: It adds a great amount of flavor to steak, potatoes, salads, etc. It is also very strong. Also helps with vaginal infections. It relaxes blood vessels and helps with blood flow-- probably good for pregnant women during labor. A garlic-rich diet can help protect you form cancer.
HOWEVER: Too much garlic can cause indigestion, but most of us are thinking about the odor it causes. We all have a garlic story. I had to sit next to someone on a plane for two hours who had eaten garlic, and it was rather painful. Not even uncomfortable. Just painful. For the both of us. To help with that, fennel seeds neutralize the smell.
LAVENDER
WHY WE LOVE IT: Everyone loves lavender. I love the smell, the color, the taste. Everything about it. At homecoming this year I want to wear a lotion or perfume scented like it. I will at my prom, graduation, and wedding as well. And at my funeral, my corpse will be wearing lavender. If it were up to me, my name would be Lavender. Okay, that's a little much. I used to wear lavender lotion on my face when I was sick and it would clear me up. You can use it to fight dandruff, and face it, we all get flakes every once in awhile. Can stop bloating and improve digestion health. It might make you sleepy. Can calm itchy skin. And it tastes yummy for desert!
HOWEVER: When taken by mouth, lavender cna cause constipation. If you are a boy and haven't reached puberty, don't put it on your skin. It cna disrupt the hormones in your body. Some boys have grown boobs as a result. Stay on the safe side. Can also slow down the central nervous system.
PEPPERMINT
WHY WE LOVE IT: It is great on sore throats, especially with some honey and hot cocoa. It is analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, decongestant, and even more. Can cure migraines. It is an antioxidant. Can protect agianst prostate cancer, it looks like (I'm looking at this website that is literally typing out the periodic table... what? Haven't taken chemistry yet...). It keeps skin pure.
HOWEVER: Peppermint may cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you are pregnant (or plan to become pregnant, like they say ont he medical commercials), avoide this herb as it can make you miscarry according to some Chinese people. The herb can interact with Neoral, Sandimmune, etc.
ROSEMARY
WHY WE LOVE IT: Rosemary is a beautiful name, but that's not all! It cna soothe your muscle and safeguard your summer food. You cna make an herbal tea out of this as well, and maybe I'll try it and talk about it in a later post. This is great on your scalp, too. Use it to prep your steaks and burgers to mkae them a lot less carcinogenic, by up to 92 percent. Put it in your marinade. Smell some of this to prep for the next college exam, SAT, or simply just learn a few new words for Spanish class (I would say learning characters in Chinese, but then I remember most students don't take Chinese) as it helps with memory skills. It can help your muscles relax, so gymnasts, use this. Other sports too, but gymnastics directly relates to me, so.
HOWEVER: Prego girls, this might kill yo baby, too. We don't want no miscarriages, do we? And if you have epilepsy or other seizure disorders, this can make the seizures much worse.
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Well, I'm off to bed, y'all. Sorry I haven't been posting much... I will write on here as often as humanly possible.
