The Heart of Worship
Matt Redman

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than just a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

Its all about YOU!
~Jesus~

Romans 8

Life Through the Spirit

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Future Glory
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 61

1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah

5 For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Increase the days of the king's life,
his years for many generations.

7 May he be enthroned in God's presence forever;
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

8 Then will I ever sing praise to your name
and fulfill my vows day after day.

I guess I'm in my stressful mood again...lots to do but so little time...it's not just school but other things too. I'm feeling really tired a lot which isn't good because then I'm not in the mood to study or to do homework but when I'm not I listen to music while I do homework even though it slows me down. So this past Sunday we learned how to incorporate the four parts of man/woman into our lives.
They are:
Man the worker
Man the thinker
Man the player
Religious man
I just love it when I think back on the things I learn on sundays, they really relieve me and just always remind me that it's not all about school or dance and I wouldn't have any of this if it weren't for God. I know that I'm not suppose to take things for granted but I still do sometimes...not being content with the things I have so then I ask for more, even of myself I ask more. Viewing my grades for this first trimester I wasn't really happy because I knew that I could do better... but I didn't and it was my fault. I didn't push myself hard enough and I could've done better especially if I want to take certain classes next semester and for next year. My friends are always worried about tests and the next exam but I'm always calm because I know that I've done everything I can do prepare for the test. Lowell is very competitive but do you ever wonder what it does to friendships? Like getting good grades? Some people often ask me why do I like school so much. I like it because it gives me something to do and it challenges me. I give myself goals to reach and I really want to succeed in the things that I do whether it be writing up an essay or choreographing with others on a dance in dance class.
I haven't written a long entry in a long time, but whenever I do, it feel great to write again even though it's just for one day. Sometimes it's hard to find things to write about because there are things that you don't want to share to the entire world and being as busy as I am nowadays it's also sometimes difficult to find the right people to talk to about these things. I'm really glad that I do have friends that are always there for me when I need them even though we may talk for hours and stay up even when I'm not suppose to and when I'm tired.

Some people are really stressed through school with test and pop quizes and all that stuff but after these first few weeks I have definately relied on God for many things. I don't mean not studying for tests and hopeing that he'll give me the ability guess the answers right but more of giving me strength and endurance to last a day of school, then go home, do homework well, study anything I need to, and do things that I want to like read a book or even stretch. Recently I wasn't really worried when it came to tests or quizzes and I think it's because I trusted God in that he would always look after me. It's not the only time that I trust Him, every moment I think about Him and knowing that he's keeping everyone around me safe, even those that I see on the bus or pass by on the way to school...
Anyways I've meeting people while I wait for the bus and stuff, it's pretty cool actually. I know I'm not suppose to talk to strangers but technically they're not. They attend Lowell and most of the time are sophmores. The others are just people that I randomly talk to like people that hold italian books hehe, I think they speak Italian so then it sparks a conversation and we talk until one of us leaves. oh well it's the weekend so I'm pretty happy...don't really know what I'm going to do yet though....

this was a very busy weekend indeed. I had lots to do, for instance about 3 hours of PSATs and then lots of cooking or well baking and assembling stuff for Teacher's Appreciation Day at church which was worth it though because of everything they've done for us. Then sunday was pretty relaxing and got back to into the path for God, I kind of lost sight of it during this past week because of my loads of homework and stuff to do. It was nice to be back in the House of the Lord. So I finished homework today, walked home from church, then listened to music and relaxed and cleaned up for school. Yep so now just relaxing and waiting for dinner. I guess that's it and another week of school coming up....

Like a Lowell Student

Natalie - Going Crazy

just a section of the song

"Its nice to smile when I get your phone call at night
But I'd rather have you here with me, right next to me
I miss the way you hold me tight


I gotta let you know I feel so weak without your touch
I never thought that I could ever love a man so much
I gotta let you know I think that we are destiny
For you I'd cross the world, for you I'd do anything"

I feel so sad today.....

It feels good to cry every once in a while,
I just wish there was someone here with me....
unfortunately it may not matter at all.

When I wanted to cry today
he wasn't there....
when I needed him the most
although God holds me close and says that it's okay
God says it's okay for you to cry....

I want to cry

Je Di Wo Ai Ni
Remember I Love You

LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY

What makes this world go round
Will the answer let her down,
She is so sweet and young,
And her life has just begun,

What does her future hold,
That's the story left unknown,
Will she make it through her days,
Let our love lead the way

Part of me laughs (oooh),
Part of me cries,
Part of me wants to question why (question why),
Why is there joy,
Why is there pain,
Why is there sunshine and the rain,
(one day) One day you're here,
Next you are gone (next you are gone),
No matter what we must go on,
Just keep the faith and let love lead the way,
Everthing will work out fine,
If you let love, love lead the way

Sitting there all alone,
In the window of her room,
Watching the world go by,
Brings tears to her eyes,

All she sees is hurt and pain,
She wants to break the chain,
She'll keep pressing every day,
And she'll find her own sweet way,

Part of me laughs (me laughs),
Part of me cries (I cry),
Part of me wants to question why (wants to question why),
Why is there joy,
Why is there pain (so much pain),
Why is there sunshine and the rain (sunshine and the rain),
One day you're here (you're here),
Next you are gone (you're gone),
No matter what we must go on (I will go on),
Just keep the faith and (keep your faith),
Let love lead the way (I know, I know, I know, whoa - ooh),

You can be all that,
And still can be who you are,
You gotta know for sure,
That it isn't make believe,

You may feel weak but you are strong,
Don't you give up, girl

If you keep holding on,
You'll never be wrong,
Just close your eyes,
Cause it lies deep in your heart, yeah,

Part of me laughs,
Part of me cries (I cry),
Part of me wants to question why (I do, I do),
Why is there joy (yeah yeah, oh-ooh-whoa),
Why is there pain (why is it),
Why is there sunshine and the rain
(why is there sunshine and the rain),
One day you're here (you're here),
Next you are gone (are gone),
No matter what we must go on (we must),
Just keep the faith and (keep the faith),
Let love lead the way (love lead the way),

Love lead the way,
Love lead the way,
Love lead the way,
Love lead the way.

I couldn't sleep....

anyways here's a poem.

The lonely writings on the white walls
The phone just made a short call.
The stars shine their light
They lead the way through the shadow of night.

It shines on you
It shines on me
It shines on us
It shines on we
it leads our way back home

The single rose that stands up tall
The flowers in the fields that bloom in fall.
The birds all take flight
It was all a beautiful sight.

The stars shine on you
the stars shine on me
The stars shine on us
The stars shine on we
The pair of eyes that lead our way home.

scared......

Only four days of school this week, it's going to be interesting but I've got many tests since the first trimester is ended for me. I didn't have much homework today because I finished it all in school before I came home. I had the time because I had to stay for a reg rep meeting today so I decided not to bring books home and I did my homework like a typical Lowell student. Anyways swimming has been really good and we were playing at the deep end today....it was kind of scary even though I had the flotation belt on...I was still afraid to jump off.

I Will Not Forget You
Paul Baloche

Many men will drink the rain
And turn and thank the clouds
Many men will hear You speak
They will never turn around

But I will not forget You
are my God and my King
With a thankful heart
I bring my offering
And my sacrifice is
Not what You can give
But what I alone can
Give to You

A grateful heart I give
A thankful prayer I pray
A wild dance I dance before You
A loud song I sing
A huge bell I ring
A life of praise I live before You

Many men will pour their gold
And serve a thing that shines
Many men will read Your words
They will never change their minds

This past summer I got the opportunity to choreograph and it was very exciting for me in the beginning and throughout the course, but then suddenly as it began to slow down because of school, things got a little hectic. I mean choreographing is not always easy especially for a group of people who don't usually dance. I have to say that I enjoy dancing as much as I do choreographing for others but it's very hard. Sometimes the results are rewarding but sometimes it can be negative. I got the opportunity again to choreograph a piece for this coming thanksgiving and I just feel so privileged to dance for God and praise Him for all He has done. Unfortunately this is not the case with the dancers or at least not all of them. I want people to dance because they enjoy it and are not afraid to move a little bit. I have a full schedule from morning to day whether it be homework and babysitting or just chores that I have to do but I do make time for God. At home sometimes I just put on Christian music and dance because that's what I feel like doing. It's really hard to pass on this passion to others when they don't feel the same as you. I really want to choreograph this piece because it involves so many emotions and it's complexity is so unique because it's actually really simple when done, but hard to explain. I put extra time into planning for practice sessions but yet I feel so unneeded for the purpose. ALL I WANT TO DO IS DANCE